ravenDivinity

When the Flames Die

Gareth was about to honor Sophia's question with a response, but the bolt in the sky interrupted before he could speak. A loud crash was heard next to the breaking of wood, and he broke his stare at Sophia to look at the king's table, where the king stood looking grim and guards closed in. Karl Leid had fallen from the Tower of the Thistle. "Karl Leid!" He screamed and broke the silence among the crowd, him standing up from his chair and knocking it over. "Oh my gods!" He looked up to the top of the tower, and then he looked around him at the edges of the area, and finally Harker brought his blue eyes to look at Sophia's, himself frowning and appearing distressed, his face pallid and his body shaking. The half-elf balled up his fists until his knuckles turned white.

When the Flames Die

Gareth gaped at the sword on the king's belt; he presumed it was worth a lump sum of money and land from its appearance and Sophia's description. It was a mighty fine-looking blade. "Ah, I see..." Effortlessly, his hand lifted the pitcher off the table and poured a moderate helping of wine into his goblet, and he took a small sip from the cup, sighing with satisfaction. As he drank small sips, he listened carefully to Sophia's mellifluous voice, and Harker mulled over an answer while she spoke. He hadn't been around for as long as the princess believed, but he wondered anyway; the king didn't leave a strong nor weak impression on him in the few times he'd seen the king in public. "Ah, I've only been around for a month at least... He seems fine and moderate." Out away from the city he'd only heard of the actions of the kings, but never had he talked to one or met one in person. There was only so much he could draw about the kings with little information about them beyond the politics that concerned Gareth and his family.

When the Flames Die

Bumping into some people along the way with quick and rushed apologies, Gareth brushed past others in the crowd while he made his way to the seats Sophia took. She patted the seat for him, and he promptly sat in the chair next her, him adjusting his posture and his attire such that they would appear well. The king rummaged through the gifts as the pair looked at the king. "What did you bring the king?" Harker missed what Sophia's gift exactly was; for all he knew was that a long slender box contained it. The fact that he did not bring a gift bothered him, but he warily supposed that nobody would notice out of the sheer number of people present. He watched the king, the half-elf resting his chin on his bridged hands on the table, and he pondered what the king would do to secure an heir. 'Who would take the throne if the king were gone?' thought Gareth. 'He has no wife, no children. Does he have any suitors?'

When the Flames Die

Gareth bit his lip. "If you see it fit, my lady." He held her hand, him twirling her around, and he chuckled. His keen eyes looked over to the king, one set of eyes of only few that noticed the king arrive. "After all, um, I don't always like making decisions." The half-elf left the question up to Sophia's judgment.

When the Flames Die

Gareth noticed the crowd around them thickening, and silently he wished he wouldn't step on anybody's toes in the midst of his dance with Sophia. He continued to move about with her, also wondering about King Bard II's whereabouts. The only time he could see the king was at the morning feast, but he never saw him after that. The gentle wind of the night tossed his hair as he spun, and he looked up at the moon past a light haze. "Where do you suppose the king is at?" questioned Gareth, making smalltalk as they continued their little duet on the now-crowded dance floor.

When the Flames Die

The brunet coaxed his body to move with the music, his feet working around Sophia with more fervor, and he tried to play more of a smile on his face, biting his lip while he tried to go through the motions and catch the tempo. He relaxed into the dancing and even allowed Sophia to spin around him, and he found a balance with her, them twirling around each other even though he wasn't a quality dancer. Her movements were experienced and full of soul, and his were neophytic and trying. Gareth found his wait into the beat and moved with her, himself becoming a compliment to her dancing. "This... isn't so bad," he bubbled. "I could do this."

The World of Roulit

I'm interested - will this be free, casual, or advanced?

When the Flames Die

"Hey! Wait!" Gareth chased her onto the dancing area, but he was a little reluctant to dance. He didn't know how to dance extremely well, for he did the stray jig here and there but actual dancing was a mystery to him. Harker followed her despite his lack of expertise, and he attempted to dance with her anyway. The upbeat, celebratory music possessed his feet, and around her he went, himself trying earnestly to dance. "I hope you know, my lady, I cannot dance." He exhaled and supposed going with his spirit would give him the most passion in his untaught movements, simply expressions of soul rather than of any trained finesse. Anxiety followed him even there to the dance floor, for then he hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself for dancing badly.

When the Flames Die

Gareth sighed, and he noticed Thomas drift off. It didn't bother him; Thomas might have needed to be alone and look around. There he stayed by Sophia, among themselves consuming all manner of baked goods sweetly and quietly, himself trying to savor the flavor. He put a hold on the sweets after a few more cakes, and Harker leaned back against the table with his hands on its front edge, cautious not to put his hands on anything other than the table and make a mess. "Ah, that was quite refreshing. Hmm..." His eyes combed through the room, the half-elf spotting a good-looking man or two and thinking of what to do. Hands combed an imaginary beard as he aimlessly stared into the crowd at no person in particular.

When the Flames Die

Gareth followed suit, and he immediately engrossed himself in chocolate and cream-filled cakes. Though he ate them slowly to savor their flavor, it was clear he planned on devouring the feast voraciously from the sounds of delight that came with each bite. "Mmm!" He picked up one of the cakes and handed it to Sophia. "Here, mm, try this." Harker giggled like a child, obviously enjoying the food, for the finest bakers in Keilaudrin prepared it. No less than what was on the table would suit an occasion like the king's feast, and the bakers outdid themselves this time around, Gareth thought. They'd move up in society without any doubt, or at least that's what the chocolate told him.