"Of course, my love, what is it?"
Alannah went into the same story she told Anya earlier that day. Barely able to keep herself from breaking out in tears. She included all the gory detail she told Anya, when she concluded she waited for the reaction she expected, but instead Dominic wrapped her in his arms and just held her. The room was as silent as a church on Sunday, not one eye was dry.
"Alannah, I knew that you had come from a horrible background, I never knew you carried the burden of the wars your father supplied. I am so sorry, if there is anything we can do to help you." At that everyone in the room echoed his offer of help. Alannah was broken, looking for healing and she had found a love to sustain her through the scars and nightmares to come.
"Dominic…." Alannah started to say something, but stopped in mid sentence, her tears cascaded once more down her cheeks. She could no longer hold back the flood of emotions that were struggling to break free.
Dominic appeared to have a look that could kill when he said, "I would like to personally strangle that man. Not only has he beaten you, but he has sujected you to his his war crimes, he has made you a prisioner in your own fear. I am furious, beyond measure. I will forever protect you Alannah, and to prove that our wedding will be at the end of the week, and then he will have no more ties to you."
Alannah stared at him with a blank face, she was unable to comprehend his state of mind nor what kind of mood he was in. He turned to look at her, the look in his eyes made her stomach turn. What she saw in his eyes was something that she never thought she would see in him, something so unimaginable that she was suddenly afraid of him. As if in a daze, Dominic said his good-bye's, took Alannah's hand and led her outside to the buggy. Dutch had already been hitch to the buggy, as Dominic untethered his own horse and tied its reins to the back, then assisted her into the buggy and he wrapped a warm wool blanket around her shoulders. They sat in silence as the horse and buggy carried them off into a moonless night. It was so dark that she placing her hand in front of her face, brought nothing. Neither Dominic nor Dutch seemed to have the least difficulty finding their way back home.
Dominic broke the silence when he blurted out, "For your sake, Alannah, do not object to this marriage. There are to be no hesitations, we will be married by the end of the week. I will make it known, here across Los Linga demonios, in Dalkey Ireland, Germany and in every place that your father does business, however large or small that he has no right to you. It will be made known that the Beringer gauntlet has been thrown down where your life and your welfare is concerned."