ravenDivinity

When the Flames Die

I love how serious we are IC. Haha, noooo. No...

When the Flames Die

Gareth quietly confided his two explanations in Sophia, "I mean I... fancy... Thomas, and I don't want to, uh, make a fool of myself before you." He was much calmer, pacified by Sophia's gentle reassurance, although he still seemed just a tad unsettled, he kept some degree of composure nonetheless. Harker wished she'd put no shame on him for his little outburst of trepidation, and she probably wouldn't mind him, but his petty paranoia tried to convince him otherwise. It seemed a little bit foolish itself, him stressing over something so small, so simple, too trivial to jeopardize anything, but it only happened because Gareth let emotions like anxiety have power over him. He felt like that man on the field, always forced into a position of defeat no matter how he moved, except his battle was not with swords and spears. The man on the field went down helplessly, and Gareth knew then that the knight had won.

When the Flames Die

Well, speak of the devil! That timing though.

When the Flames Die

Gareth shook his head. "No, no! I'm fine!" He lied to her through his teeth, his cheeks becoming a little pink with fluster, and Harker chuckled slightly. Two things were possible: Sophia either knew how he felt about Thomas or knew of his problem with talking to other people. Whichever it was, he fretted about it and plainly denied any sort of nervousness before her. He shyly looked back to the fight like she did, and it bemused him equally while he tried to hide away just how vulnerably apprehensive he was.

When the Flames Die

My, so much happens when I decide to sleep. :o

When the Flames Die

Gareth took his eyes off the fight, and he brought his eyes, themselves a meeting of sea and sky, back to Sophia's. His smooth voice spoke, and as usual failed to reflect how nervous he really was. "Ah, Thomas..." He trailed off as if he were thinking deeply or longingly about the man. Then again, Harker'd be lying if he said he didn't like Thomas at all. Words frantically returned to Gareth's mouth as soon as he became aware of his shortcoming. "Ah, yes, sorry, um," fillers spewed on the spot, "Thomas is a very... good... friend, and I admire his strength and character greatly." He pulled himself together again. "Really we only met yesterday however..." Embarrassing himself in front of a princess, he was sure of it.

When the Flames Die

"Oh, I see." Gareth saw Sophia's eyes look elsewhere for a split second, and his blues followed her gaze to the field, spotting a deadlocked man taken down by her escort. It seemed Sophia's escort succeeded in subduing the other man, but Gareth did not intuit celebration from Sophia, he felt suspense. Harker furrowed his brow and took a hand to his chin, analyzing what could be the fight's final moments.

When the Flames Die

"Ah, thank you. Who was that?" Gareth questioned Sophia about the lady who just left them, whom he swore that saw with Karl before. Whatever was on the field stopped concerning him once he began to speak with Sophia, and he faced her fully. And even if it did, he would honestly rather watch Thomas in combat, as Thomas was more important to him than the two on field whom he'd never spoken to. Still, that illustrious woman that departed from Sophia caught his eye. Perhaps she was a sophisticated upper class lady.

When the Flames Die

Gareth bowed. "I'll see you after the end of the joust round." He smiled at Thomas. "Bye." Harker strolled out of the tent and let the flap fall behind him, then the half-elf casually strode back into the fields, finding his previous position in the stands. There he found it, right next to Sophia, his seat still empty and in waiting, and he came as promised to sit next her. "Sorry for the delay, m'lady." Gareth apologized for leaving her to meet with Thomas, but his smile still played on his gentle lips as he sat forward in his seat, doing his best to try and catch up with the fight. Harker watched as one of the pair tried to destroy the other's defenses, the other he recognized as Sophia's escort. He knew whom he must cheer for in that moment, and he hoped that the escort would realize what the other man was doing in order to block accordingly. 'Come on, watch him carefully, sir...'

When the Flames Die

Gareth nodded. "Good. Rest now. But please, take it easy, if you will." Their conversation was interrupted by the clamor of trumpets, and Gareth rose from his seat before Thomas. "Ah, I promised Sophia I would rejoin her for the melee." He honestly recollected his earlier promise, nervous she might expecting someone who wasn't returning, but he was also conflicted for he had to leave Thomas. Gareth didn't like going against his word. The Harker only hoped the knight would go with Gareth, at least until Morgan had to prepare himself.