Tomas had not seen lady Ellara since the church and after some time he had stopped thinking about her entirely, writing their collision off as the lady being in a bitter mood. Himself and Ellara existed in two completely distinct words and he could see no reason for them to intersect.
He certainly never expected her to turn up on his doorstep.
"Well?" Her glare made Tomas realise he had been staring at her for a few moments. He managed a late bow and a muttered "my lady", but it was not enough for Ellara.
"How long do I have to wait for you to finally pay me enough respect? Haven't you learned anything?"

"I... haven't... my lady..." Tomas was still too shocked to muster a proper response, even if he had a clue what a proper response might be. He wasn't aware of ever insulting the lady and had no idea what was expected of him.
Before he could make any sense out of the situation, Ellara slapped him across the face, far harder than he would have expected of a gentle noblewoman.

He did his best to mutter an apology, wondering at the same time whether it sounded as absurd to her as it did to him, or whether it had something to do with his ears still ringing from the slap.
He definitely felt confused and maybe that was the reason of what happened a few seconds later. Ellara reached out to slap him again, Tomas held out his hand instinctively, pushing her away... and then they were somehow trading slaps and pushes.
Tomas didn't know which of them started the real fight, he didn't think at all. All he knew to do was defend himself from Ellara's nails.

When he finally managed to break free and wrestle the woman to the ground, it felt good at first. She had felt so vicious that his victory did not seem as self-evident as it probably should have.
It was only a seconds later that he started to fully realise what had happened, what had he done, and what the consequences might be...

Before this realisation was complete and before he could gather his thoughts, Alysanne was there, her face full of terrified anger.
"You idiot! You... what had you done?!" She didn't shout, her voice was too shocked for that, but it was more than enough for Tomas to draw back.
Alysanne gasped for breath. She wanted to scream, but her throat was too tight with fear to do so. This felt so much like the incident that had sent her father to the prison camp for the rest of his life that it was almost unreal.

Lady Ellara smiled to herself as she watched both Alysanne and Tomas. This wasn't exactly what she had wanted, but it would have to do. She would teach him respect, by the Watcher she would, and nobody would ever dare question her again.
As she turned to leave and Alysanne darted after her to try and beg for mercy, Tomas could only burst into tears as the visions of possible future for his whole family came flooding before his eyes.

"My lady... your highness...?" Alysanne managed to catch up with lady Ellara, but she couldn't help the uncertainty that creeped into her voice as she bowed as low as she could.
Before Alysanne could start begging for mercy, Ellara turned and froze her in place with a single stern look. "Haven't you learned your place?"
"...please... your highness, I beg you..." Alysanne tried once more, determined to at least do her best, but the lady didn't let her finish.
"Don't you dare. You don't deserve to speak to me at all. Now get out of my way, before I have you punished as well."
With that Ellara swept past Alysanne and left the girl standing there close to tears.

When Tomas was called before lord Anselm for judgement, Alysanne didn't have to go with him, but she still saw it as her duty. Her mother had been rejected by her family, her father and herself ultimately disgraced, but she was still the young lord's cousin. She had heard rumours Anselm was kind, maybe he would take pity, if nobody else would?
They both fell on their knees before Anselm and Ellara. Tomas once more begged for mercy while Alysanne could only look pleadingly up at the young lord.
"You attacked someone of noble blood, kin to your liege, and, worst of all, a lady. Is there any reason you shouldn't be executed?" Ellara's first words shocked them both.
Tomas froze and Alysanne only wrung her hands in helpless plea. She wanted to say it had been Ellara who attacked Tomas, but she knew that would only make everything worse.
Tomas mumbled something about deepest regret, but fell silent when Ellara just kept smiling.
And then Anselm spoke. "I don't think that is necessary."  Ellara glared at him, but the young lord continued, as if he had heard Alysanne's thoughts: "I believe the man must have been driven momentarily mad by some circumstances and no harm or disrespect was made."
Alysanne found herself nodding furiously and hoping against all hope.
"He attacked me! He must be punished!" Ellara almost spit the words out, full of rage and shock, but Anselm's face was saying everything Alysanne needed to know. By then she knew the lord understood and whatever the punishment would be, whatever it had to be for such a crime, it would not be fatal.

When Tomas heard the final sentence, all he could feel was relief. While the young lord measured the money he would have to pay as a fine and the severity of corporal punishment, the only thing Tomas heard was that he would live.
It wasn't until after he was chained to the punishment pillar and the number of whip strokes was announced once again that the idea penetrated his mind at all.
He knew he was lucky, he knew in the eyes of laws no circumstances could ever fully justify raising a hand to a noble lady. But still, just as the punishment was about to commence, he was terrified.
A few moments later everything disappeared in the haze of pain and Tomas didn't feel anything else anymore.

He spent the rest of the day in his bed, cared for by his worried wife. The next day he was called to Lorimer Manor again, to pay the fine to the lady in person.
Still moving stiffly, he made sure to bow as low as his back would allow him when he presented the tribute. Ellara was beaming with satisfaction and Tomas didn't care whether it was because of the fine itself or because she had noticed his pain. He was just hoping this would put an end to the whole thing.

Still, the pain, humiliation and fear took more time to fully pass. Tomas had done his best to be brave, to forget everything and continue with his life, but there were moments when he simply could not.
At least he made sure to hide these moments from his daughter and especially his wife, saving his tears for when he believed he was truly alone. He didn't want to appear weak.

He needn't have worried.
When Alysanne found him crying, she didn't even speak. She just pulled him in a hug and held him tight until he stopped. He held on gratefully. Had he completely forgotten how warm and gentle she was?
When they finally broke apart, she drew back a little and bit her lip, suddenly nervous.
"I'm sorry. Have I...?"
Tomas only shook his head. He didn't really know what to say, but he knew she had nothing to be sorry about.
"Thank you." He managed eventually, which didn't say anything, but it was the best he could do.

After that, mas made sure to notice Alysanne more. At first she blushed nervously after every kind word, unsure it was real. She expected Tomas to turn around again any moment, but he didn't.

At first she didn't even believe her luck, but eventually she allowed herself to relax and smile again. There were many things that were troubling her, be it her husband's conflict with lady Ellara or Alvin's strange magic, but it was good not to feel alone anymore.
When they took comfort in each other, Alysanne felt she might even be falling in love with Tomas for real.

And when they cuddled together in bed, after what felt like forever, she was happy and at peace.