Why had Arin not sent any word to her? Why had he not come to see her? She'd left notes for him slipped beneath his office door but there was no indication that he'd been there or found them. At least, she'd received no acknowledgements. The Admiral had returned too but had spared no moment for Wenndolyne nor Simon. In fact, Simon chose not to go to his cabin on the ship for bedtime. He preferred his room in the castle now, for there he could more easily have Wenndolyne tell him a tale and hum or sing him to sleep.

On the next afternoon, Wenndolyne sat in the firehall, writing in her journal even though there was precious little to write. She'd given up on trying to speak to the Admiral. He was in fact in the hall at the moment, but seemed to be pouring over some ledger at a corner table.

Wenn was blowing on an inked page to dry it as she looked up to see a white wolf padding into the firehall. Here was another person whom she had not seen in days. The wolf continued across the firehall while his form was enveloped in bright light, obscuring his transformation from artic wolf to man. The light stretched upward then faded away, and Lord Wolf emerged but a few paces before Wenn.

She was still a bit flustered when Lord Wolf reached for her hand. He bowed and kissed the back of it then asked if he might join her. She nodded rather numbly for when Lord Wolf sat next to her, he did not release her hand. He left his fingers curled around hers and rested their clasped hands upon his thigh.

Wenn was unsure what to do about it but ended up grasping Wolf's hand as soon as the Admiral's voice boomed near them. "Wolf, I ask you once to unhand her."

Lord Wolf remained completely calm as he turned to Wenn. "Is that your wish, M'Lady?

Nothing intelligible came from Wenn's lips. Her heart was racing. She didn't know how much of her discomfort to attribute to Wolf or how much to Cartwright. The whole confrontation made her want to just run from the hall. Finally, she did at least slip her fingers from Wolf's hand. He stood then, and faced the Paladin.

Cartwright was unmoved in his resolve, "You shall not do that again. Am I understood?"

Wolf nodded, "M'Lord Paladin Cartwright, as you wish, but---"

Cartwright was sure to give him no leeway at all. "None but Sir Poet courts her with my permission. To do otherwise is a dishonor to me and a Paladin will fight to the death for his honor."

Wenn felt a shift. It was not a tangible thing, but the thick clash of moods between the two men was nearly so. She felt Wolf steel against the Admiral's words. Calmly, quietly, but with much import in his tone, Lord Wolf responded.

"Is this so, M'Lord Cartwright? Then you did lie to me and thereby you are no true Paladin. That... is your dishonor."

The Admiral drew his sword. It might as well have been tied to Wenn for his action drew her to her feet and she stepped to Cartwright's side. "Please! No swords!" The verbal conflict alone had her in a frenzy. She would burst if this should come to blows.

Wolf persisted. "If you had known the choice ere I did offer bid, then why make pretense of accepting me as a possible suitor? If you did not know before, but have since chosen to revoke your promise of a fair decision, then indeed your honor is forfeit."

The Admiral would not back down. He knew his decision was right. Protocol and Wolf be damned. "I give you one chance to apologize."

Whether to stave off a battle or to anger the Paladin further, Wolf stood before him, without weapon, arms out from his body in a defenseless stance. "Apologize for speaking the truth?"

Wenn stood with mouth agape. She was vaguely near the Admiral but had stepped away half a pace, possibly even pushed by his anger. She stood in disbelief of any of this and especially Lord Wolf pressing. Why would he do this?

The Admiral sheathed his sword but his hand lay ready upon the hilt. He took a long deep breath. He would have no further truck with the mage. "Sir Poet has my sanction. That is the end of it. Test me in this matter and you will test my steel as well."

Lord Wolf sighed, "The good Sir Poet has not even spoken with you, yet you give favor to him and uphold your lie to me. Is this then the Honor of Noble Camelot?"

Wenn realized it was possible for her heart to sink further, as she heard Wolf's words concerning Poet. Had he truly not spoken with her guardian still? If so, then how could Cartwright defend his decision? Only on her words to him?

Cartwright's anger flared anew and more vehemently. He drew off his armored gauntlet and slapped Wolf across the face with it. "Now we shall see if you have honor, honor to stand behind your accusations, your slurs to me, and to Camelot herself!"

The blow set Wolf back on his heels but not away from the conflict. He flexed his reddened jaw and set a hard glare on the Admiral. "No, I do not doubt the honor of Camelot herself but of one who claims to represent her nobility, yet fails in this duty, even on a rather simple matter."

"The challenge is issued. Draw steel and meet me in the arena, if you accept." Cartwright's eyes bored into Lord Wolf, but the mage did not waiver either, as the Admiral tossed his gauntlet to the stone floor between them.

"There my gauntlet lies. Pick it up, I dare you."

The entire hall had been buzzing around this activity until this moment. Now all were frozen, watching. Wenn looked from one man to the other, then down at the metal glove upon the floor, symbolizing a battle brought on by her own circumstances. She was completely unable to trace this dark path from what had seemed such light and joyful beginnings. And still, a part of her wondered why Sir Poet was not present as well.

Wolf almost had a smile on his face, or at least a crooked smirk. "Steel. I should expect no less from you."

"Then bare hands or lance or whatever weapon you choose. Pick it up!" His hand shot out to point at the gauntlet and emphasize his command.

Wenndolyne began to shiver. She was vibrating from her own fear and the violence that seemed insistent on manifesting between these two.

Lord Wolf looked aside to Wenn. He saw her struggling with this but would not stop the issues now. "Will you seal Wenn's hand to Poet with blood?"

"No. Wenn's hand is sealed by my word. This is now a matter of honor. Do you accept the challenge?"

Now rocking slightly in place, with her own arms wrapped around her, Wenn whispered, "Please do not fight. PLEASE do not fight on my account."

"Aye," Lord Wolf responded to Cartwright. "I accept, though as the one challenged, I will choose the weapons. I will choose the time, m'lord."

Looking to each man in turn, Wenn finally managed to speak audibly, "Can this not be stopped?"

Wolf was again watching Cartwright and further gauging him, though his words were meant for Wenn, "I am sorry, M'Lady." His voice did nothing to calm Wenn's shivers nor stop her eyes from welling with tears.

"This is my choice," Wolf continued, now to Cartwright and those watching this spectacle, "Know all that I will abide by what the Fates and the Powers decree. I will meet you in the arena on Friday. The weapon..." He paused. He has easily decided. He would not give the Paladin his choice of steel. In fact, he would select something the Paladin was generally loathe to employ. "The weapon is... magic."

Wolf started leaning to pick up the gauntlet but something in Wenn broke free. She knelt quickly and gathered up the gauntlet, hugging it closely to her chest as she backed away from them. Wolf watched her. He could say nothing at the moment. The gauntlet had been taken up by his words. He would have to coax the item itself from her later.

The Admiral nodded to Wenn and then to Wolf. His anger had gone quiet but was still sharp. "I shall see you on Friday then, to seal your death." Upon this word, Wenndolyne dropped to her knees and curled over the gauntlet. She'd rather have no one ever in her life if it was to cause such destruction.

After the Admiral was gone from the firehall, the crowd began to disperse and debate what exactly had happened. Lord Wolf knelt to Wenn. "I am truly sorry, M'Lady..."

She looked up with tears shining on her cheeks, "Can there be no other way?"

"Alas, it seems not. The challenge was made and to preserve my own honor, to stand by my own assertions, I had to answer it."

"But, M'Lord Wolf, if this began with me, can it not end with me?" She looked pleadingly into Wolf's eyes. He seemed to reflect her sadness. In truth, the challenge and the Admiral were of little concern to him, especially compared to what effect this was having on Wenn.

She surprised him by standing up then. She visibly straightened but did not loosen her grasp on the gauntlet. "I would not have either of you injured on my account." She sniffled as she regained her composure. With a rather flat voice, she added, "In fact... I would rather submit to your wish than let this challenge continue."

"Wenn, tis no longer only---" He spoke after her but she could not hear it. She turned with the gauntlet and ran up the stairs to her chambers. She would send more messengers to look for Poet. She would send further word to the Admiral to please stop this action. In a note to Lord Wolf, she would articulate her acquiescence again. She would disappear from Camelot forever... if it would prevent this senseless violent act.