He paused, because his own armor was louder to him than it was to her. Now he could hear it and he followed the source. Mud gave way to faint puddles, and then blessedly to a creek, and further up he could see water trickling down from it. The trouble was that the creek was in a small ravine that dipped into the ground a distance of about his own height. A twisted path of roots, trees, and stones presented a crude path down. One he could easily make, once he shed his armor.

So he reasoned it was time to do that first. Again, he tilted his head for her to follow and he found a log to sit on. "I'll fetch us some water, m'lady, if you'll help me with this armor." He paused a moment, remembered her admonishment before, and added as an afterthought: "Please."