[img]https://i.imgur.com/MQ1gtzU.png[/img]

Gil deployed a hefty grip upon Erick’s shoulder and he rattled him somewhat, likely with unintended force given the size of him, as the half-orc spoke in Orcish, Erick only partially understood the statement with knowing a couple of words ‘brother’ and a concept of quietness or peace depending on context; regardless, Gil’s cheerful disposition made it clear of his intent on reassuring him. The Jörda prince expressed a grin and nodded fondly, responding to Gil with a firm slap on his other arm to acknowledge the sentiment. Gil then turned his attention to the princesses, he accepted the challenge and took a seat - he already seemed at ease.

Erick wasn’t sure from which place within him his tension seemed to arise, though this was a different kind of battlefield he supposed.. there was no thundering cavalry, no clash of metal, no crunching of bones or the slip of a blade through flesh, and yet, somehow, Jörda’s fate still rested upon him. The silence, the peace, the tranquility which, recently, had been foreign to him, was what unnerved him, even before he’d have to begin to woo a bride and with this too, he was also fairly out of touch. If it was any consolation, Astalia’s daughters seemed to be as free-women were; spirited and independent, and the third daughter in particular appeared to enjoy entertaining if not toying with the suitors, whilst Annalise, although seemingly quieter than her younger sibling, observed with a sense of confidence before she had spoken to the princes trying to put them at ease; Erick had met her eyes, smiled and blinked in appreciation of her efforts - he would take her up on this invitation.

Sulhana acknowledged the Afdan prince when he passed her to be seated, she turned her attention to Erick and her playfulness seemed to temper, as though she understood he perhaps needed her compassion, he glanced as she placed her hand on his shoulder before he reconnected with her gaze, he thumbed the rings on his right hand but did not move otherwise. He scanned her eyes as she spoke, and followed them too as she examined him, but as she took a pace back, quite unexpectedly she produced the glass - Erick felt both impressed yet foolish for the trick to deceive him which he could not contain - he bit his lower lip and smirked, “very good” he acknowledged, as Sulhana passed him the wine he raised it to her for a moment in a gesture of praise. He drank deeply from the glass and observed her as she made her way to the prince Gil to continue her mischief, Erick’s hazel eyes slipped from her to Annalise, he approached her and leaned in, looking at her from under his brow he glanced to Sulhana, “do you also drink like your sister?” he remarked, amused, although there was not a tone of disapproval in his voice, he seemed to be resisting yet again another smirk from unfolding across his lips for he did not wish to offend, this concern disappeared as the princess Loreena seemed to apparate to his side - he’d not seen her skim the fringes of the courtyard between the dancing light of the torches before Uriah encouraged her to emerge. She greeted him convincingly in his own language, so well-practiced his mind faltered for a moment he was about to respond in kind before he tumbled back into Astalian, as a result his first few words were something of an amalgamation, he seemed to pause to glance away with some embarrassment; Erick cleared his throat briefly and began again, “we do not have these such items” he gathered together the reply but Loreena’s openness, her touch caught him off-guard. The princess’s words were incredibly exposing, she’d said aloud what the others had also easily perceived as much as he’d tried to mask it, perhaps yet still he could pass it off as some quiet reservedness? Regardless, she’d admitted they too didn’t seem comfortable with the necessary arrangements, but yet they found it within themselves to extend warmth to the foreign suitors in their home, Loreena smiled and he returned one of some kind of gentle sympathy.

[i]You have nothing to prove to anyone here, Erick[/i].

His expression broke into the smirk he’d fought earlier to contain, “oh.. don’t I?” he stifled a laugh as he looked at both the princesses Loreena and Annalise in turn before passing his gaze once again in the direction of Sulhana, whom seemed eager to bait them to her challenges..