"Likely?" she said with a chuckle. "Oh, I should have Polonius' head for such uncertain rumors." Still, even her refuge in a jest didn't hide the surprise in her eyes, or the sorrow deeply held within. To marry him would be cruel. He wanted politics but he wanted happiness... that way lay dangers and betrayals that hurt worse than any poison.
"You... are always a surprise, Lord Tully," she said in a near whisper as his palm touched her cheek. Uncertainty warred with desire and in the end she went with safer territory. Elia caught his wrist in her smaller hand and smiled. "It is perhaps best then, for everyone, to ensure you make this venture fully informed of what the destination might be, do you not think so?"