Rannon leaned over his muscled arms, set on the table in front of him as he sat and listened to Feri. He tilted his head as she spoke, his normally stoic and fearsome face merely curious, almost like a puppy. He really did like listening to her speak, and her smiles and eyes caused him get a bit restless. His left leg began to bounce up and down like a tail wagging. 

But he had to admit, he felt a bit of jealousy tightening within himself when she began to recall her previous boyfriend. Or what he perceived she meant as boyfriend. He sobered up a bit at that. He wasn't resentful or angry, just his tone went from enraptured to more neutral, seeing how she remembered him fondly initially. He couldn't blame her for that, after all. He decided to merely listen then, his leg having stopped shaking for the moment and letting her mind wander back into her past. He had to admit it was good to hear some of her backstory, even considering the subject. 

Once she started saying how much of a mistake he was, however. He tilted his head again. "Yeah?" He asked, understanding how that feeling was. He'd never been serious with anyone, but the one or two girls he'd gotten somewhat close to turned out to be similar. He could definitely relate. He could also relate with a guy being a jackass. A lot of guys he'd known growing up treated their girlfriends like shit. He leaned in a tad closer naturally as she finished her story, his broad shoulders lowering a bit as he enjoyed the look of the firelight dancing across her pretty face, her green eyes and lush hair. 

"[i]To this day, he's been the second most captivating man I've ever met[/i]." Feri's eyes flicked back to Rannon, a knowing smile on her face. "[i]Though nowhere near the kindest.[/i]" 

He felt heat rise up into his face, and he let out a light chuckle of disbelief. "I'm not..." he began, shaking his head. "I just...you know. I look out for..." 

Even as blunt and forthright as Rannon usually was, he didn't quite know the words to say as she looked at him. He'd always felt like the term 'getting lost in their eyes' was cliche but, by the Maker he was all too lost at the moment. "Thank you," he breathed, his lips parting ever so slightly. They had quite the height difference, but he felt his face sinking lower as he gazed at her, his leg beginning to shake again before they- 

"Here's the check." The tavern maid said, slapping a bit of parchment before them. Rannon swallowed and pulled himself back up, face as red as corrupted lyrium. "Oh, um. Thanks. I got it." He replied, patting his chest. Gideon gave a small 'harum?' as he lifted his head from beneath them, as if to say 'we leaving now?' 
[hr] 

The trumpets blared along the sidelines, musicians standing before the audience seats bedecked with banners and cheering townsfolk. The sun was high in the clear blue sky, a wind drifting lazily across the contest field as the champions made their way out of the tents and into the sight of the crowd. All of them were carrying their own equipment and weapons, helmed and armored. Some had shields while others had larger, heftier weapons. 

Only half of the Champions from the day before were present on the field, but that still left about a dozen men. Rannon walked out among the center of the procession as the warriors marched out, halting in a line before the crowd and taking off their helms for a moment, as they had been bade. 

Bann Heathor sat upon a small throne at the very middle of the stands, snug within his own private viewing chambers above the rest. Beside him was his shapely blonde daughter, a flawless green dress hugging her feminine body, bright blue eyes gazing at the wonder of this spectacle before her. Many of the men looked up at her with longing, while some of the older veterans, as well as Rannon, simply looked forward at the crowd as the warriors saluted with their fists to their chest. 

Rannon did take a glance at the private boxes' way for a moment however, taking note of the Bann. He was fighting to speak to him after all. His eyes flicked to the side, and he saw Feri along with Gideon for a split second. He wished he hadn't seen them. Not out of any desire to not want to be around them, but he needed to focus on the task at hand. 

"Glorious warriors!" Bann Heathor called, his arms out wide. He looked positively plump, though in his younger years he might have been a soldier himself by the look of him. But now his trimmed beard was all but grey, and the bejeweled rings on his fingers, along with his belly, betrayed just how long ago his fighting years had been. "Today, you fight for honor and glory. Today, let Andraste shine upon your swords, and whosoever proves to have her favor, I shall reward thee with gifts, and honor a wish. Today, one of you shall attain fame! Luck be upon you, warriors. May the Maker watch over us all." 

"Blessed be the Maker," the Warriors repeated in unison. As one, they placed their helms back on their heads. Rannon did so with the rest of them, closing his eyes and trying to un-muddle his thoughts. He needed to remember the sacrifices of his friends. He needed to save these people from that fate. 
[@MiddleEarthRoze]