Olarion

The Dwarven Epic

"Oh...right"
He felt himself blushing and with a nervous laugh he shrugged.
"Well...I er...Look I'm not going to be leaving again for a long while, my thirst for glory has turned sour, and...I feel tired of treachery and cowardice. I would still like...I mean if we were to kind of...try again...t'would be nice"
He was no so embarrassed that talking had become difficult. He grunted and stared at a nearby tree.

The Dwarven Epic

The sudden intimacy was both a nerve racking and pleasant surprise.
"Well...I would know who was responsible for the deaths of those men. For their families cannot be kept in the dark forever, and I wish people to mourn not only for my men, but the warriors of the opposing force as well. The ones who charged us, who roared war cries as they crashed into our line...they were nothing but grunts, given orders to follow. I do not judge a man for doing as he is ordered by his seniors, but I do intend to judge whoever ordered me and my men dead"
He sighed and put an arm round her.
"I suppose we had better start digging, and maybe once I can walk without fear of pain I should inform the king of this tragedy"

The Dwarven Epic

Garanth closed his eyes and let his head loll onto her shoulder, her long hair tickled his face as he willed the embrace to never end.
Eventually they broke apart, but he kept a hold of her forearm just in case she tried to walk away, in his state her absence was a truly daunting prospect.
"I'm sorry I know I...I haven't been..." He gulped, suddenly feeling nervous and guilty again.
"I haven't been very caring, and I don't want you to think that I don't, because I...I really do...really do"
All hint of pride and manliness was gone, to be replaced by a quiet and rather cautious voice. Most people wouldn't have recognized that to be the voice of the Paragon.
"Would you like to er...walk with me?"

The Dwarven Epic

Her touch was warm and reassuring, but out of principle he almost felt like shaking it off.
With a sigh he looked into her eyes and shook his head sadly.
"My father ruined me Ves, I am but a confused child in a Warlord's body. He threw me into fights and attacked me himself...my world was so abrupt and straightforward, and often painful. It has stunted me, made me a pathetic child man hopelessly incapable of witnessing things that I once committed"
A tear rolled down his cheek and he seemed to sag, his head dipped to the floor as the memories returned to his mind; of the defenseless villagers and old folk being slaughtered at his command...and when he was forced to watch as his father interrogated a noble for hours, pulling off finger nails, burning him with red hot irons, and finally when given the information pulling out his eyes and pouring scalding water down his throat.

The Dwarven Epic

"Repulsed?"
Garanth scowled.
"No it's...we've had some tough times in the past. We're very different, where I carry a sword she carries a voice, which is her weapon, it kills some people and lies to others"
He glowered. He hated politics, they had always bored him, what with all the backstabbing and lying and hidden threats. On the battlefield there was your enemies and your friends, and all you had to do was kill your enemies before they kill your friends, simple and just, how everything should be.
Gron shook his head.
"By Gorug, you two are the limit. It couldn't be more obvious when you two look at each other, it's like being in an old love story for the God's sake. If you would stop arguing and get married and have dozens of children then we'd all be happy"
Garanth rounded on him, his eyes bright with anger.
"You speak out of turn Gron, unlike you I have more to think about than the size of a woman's breasts and the heat between her legs!"
Gron looked abashed and was about to reply when Garanth shook his head and waved a hand at him.
"Leave me, I want to be on my own"
After some hesitation the old warrior retreated.

The Dwarven Epic

"Right you lazy halfwit get up!"
Garanth jolted from his slumber, his dizziness matching his confusion. He looked up to see Gron standing in the doorway, grinning at him.
"Gron wha-" But before he could finish the Dwarf strode over and gave him a gruff hug.
"Well you look almost as bored as I feel, so I thought we could go for a wander"
Garanth looked around wearily, half expecting the damned healer to bustle back in and give him another dose of piss flavored medicine.
Gron thumped him hard.
"Not getting scared of old men in white robes now are we?"
"Never"
With a grunt Garanth pulled back the covers and slid out of bed.
He was still in a lot of pain, physically and in his heart, but it was not too much to stand.
Gron looked him up and down a few times before speaking.
"Well apart from the smell you seem to be almost back to normal"
Garanth laughed at that.
"Well if I don't get herded back here I could always have a bath...have you had one?"
Gron grinned and stroked his beard.
"Earlier today I did, twas a wonderful and refreshing thing"

With occassional support from Gron, Garanth wandered around the grounds for nearly an hour. Enjoying the fresh air and bird song, Gron seemed relaxed too. But beneath the calm aura's lay confusion, bewilderment, and fear.
After a while they headed back to the castle, both now aching from their wounds and pulled muscles.
Once they were back inside Garanth turned to his old friend and grasped his shoulder.
"Tell me Gron, do you know where Ves is?"
Gron shook his head.
"Sorry but the last time I saw her was a few hours ago when she was checking in on us lot"
"She was checking on you?"
So that meant she had indeed been avoiding his room, he wasn't very surprised, but nonetheless it hurt to think they still had these quarrels, when beneath it all he knew they had something.
Gron blushed as he realized his mistake.
"Err...yes...she was...err"
"Never fear Gron"
And with that he strode off in search of Ves.

The Dwarven Epic

"Damn that bloody woman!"
Garanth's roar echoed around the room and the medic who had been sent to care for him scowled as a hairbrush bounced off his nose.
"You had better heal me fast or you'll find me crawling out of that door!"

Few things ever sent him into such a rage, but Ves was one of them. She was the most wonderful Lady he had ever met, and ever would meet he was sure. And yet she had this way of transforming into someone else, a cold, heartless woman who he disliked. He wanted Ves, not this impostor. Now that imposter had left him with this stupid man who kept prodding him with damp cloths and ointment, bloody medicine. He was already feeling the aches in his legs from lack of use, and it had barely been a day.
He'd have to move soon, or he and Ves would have another argument and then he wouldn't see her for a year at least...maybe that was a good thing. He shook his head and turned over, putting his back to the healer.

The Dwarven Epic

Garanth sagged as she shouted, scowling himself also.
When the hairbrush bounced off his nose he glared at her, his own anger flaring.
"Oh I'm so sorry I haven't pampered after you and checked every syllable that has left my mouth in case it may upset you! I lost so many men and I'm in pain, it's your bloody turn to look after me, and if you don't agree then you should have left me at the damn door!"
With a great heave he sat up and got head rush and sagged back, nearly screaming with frustration.

The Dwarven Epic

He gave a shrug.
"Oh I don't know, old times sake maybe?"
He knew he shouldn't have said it, but it was too late now, the words had been said and all he could do was pray that another argument wasn't about to erupt. With an almost guilty look on his face he stared rather intently at the wall.

The Dwarven Epic

He grumbled something about old sayings and expressions before replying.
"No one was informed other than the King, his council, myself and two of his Blood Knights...although they were merely standing guard at the door"
He glared at her with a look of annoyed hurt etched upon his handsome features.
"You could be a little warmer, as you say I nearly died from my grievous wounds, what does a Lord have to do to get some mead round here!"
He chuckled and lay back, hastily hiding his impending fear and confusion.