Thread: Noblesse Obligé [Ghostwolf and Thaedael]

As the smile crossed the Heros face, one that Elizabeth looked somewhat forced if she was being honest, after he had appeared to be lost elsewhere for a moment, she returned it with one of her own, patient and reassuring. A thankful, approving nod followed when he referred to her by name rather than title. She watched him pause, thinking for what to say, the crowd circling them and pushing in a little closer to hear the great Ilya Garin tell his first tale, to tell the story of the origin of his name. He began to speak, setting the scene, and Elizabeth smiled sweetly as he referred to her as beautiful, mouthing a quiet thank you in response. As he paused, Elizabeth moved closer to him, ushered nearer by the crowd pushing in about them. She inclined her head, looking up at him with interest in her big blue eyes. The Hero intrigued the young woman, she wanted to get to know him, to know more about him, and so although she was not usually keen on stories of love and romance, she was prepared to listen to his. A gentle smile on her full lips, Elizabeth idly with the ends of her hair as the crowd hushed, and they waited for Ilya to continue the story of his name. They were not expecting the story they were told, they were not prepared. For the most part they stood quiet, listening and unmoving. Some of the nobles occasioned butted in, asking for clarification or for Ilya to repeat something, but those interruptions did nothing to detract from the story Ilya was telling. By the end, they all stood silent. Some of the women in the crowed were crying softly, silently dabbing at the tears that fell from the eyes with fine monogrammed handkerchiefs supplied by the men they stood with, their faces equally solemn, their mouths drawn into tight lines. Elizabeths eyes never left his face as he told his story, reciting it from memory, as if it was a script for a great dramatic tragedy he had memorised long ago. Elizabeth thought that it was likely he had, she doubted anyone at the Schola had personally told him this story and so he must have read it, learnt it from somewhere. For almost twenty minutes she looked up at him. She had watched the expression change on his face, hardening as he recalled the tale. Then again as it finished, as he paused, resting his voice, before beginning again, explaining further what life at the Schola was like. As he spoke, the Hero seemed appreciative, thankful, of what the Schola had done for him. Reciting words that no doubt had been fed to him over and over as he was growing up, why he was lucky to be there, what he would get out of it. But Elizabeth picked up an edge to his words that the others in the crowd did not, she had almost missed it herself. That the privileged of Vorlancia had no true idea of what being a student of the Schola meant, what the orphans of the Imperium were put through in His name, what was still left to come. She was taken aback as he finally returned his attention to her, a small gasp escaping between her lips as she was faced with the sudden intensity of his gaze. Elizabeth stood before Ilya, her face solemn, lips turned down into a slight frown, as she looked up at him with sad eyes. They stood at the centre of a silent crowd, the anomaly within the mirth of the ballroom. His words turned introspective, retrospective, talking of the past challenges his face as his tone became almost bitter. Elizabeth was slowly beginning to understand, to get a sense of the hardship those who had returned to Vorlancia had experienced, what Ilya had experienced, in His name and for the betterment of the Imperium. Tragedy . What had he gone through? What had he done, what had he sacrificed to be here today, who had he sacrificed? She couldnt even begin to imagine, she didnt want to imagine. Have I done the name proud? I can only pray that history will see me that way. It seemed for a moment as if he was asking the question directly to her, demanding an answer, asking for her reassurance that he had. Until she realised that he was asking himself, asking Vorlancia. He fell silent, and the crowd began to increase in volume again as they started to talk amongst themselves, moving away and giving the two some space, removing the pressure. Elizabeth stood silent, watching the Hero before her. The sad, reflective expression upon her features not because of his words, but because she was starting to understand just a little of what he had been through. What the majority of Vorlancia were ignorant to. The far-away look had returned to his eyes, he was elsewhere, on some Emperor forsaken planet far away from the extravagant ballroom. All was not well with the man, Elizabeth was sure of it. He seemed haunted, by what she could not yet tell or know. His past, the friends he had lost, the things he had seen, the things he had done. It could be all of them. The Governors daughter did not know what to say. She wanted to take him in her arms, hold him tightly, and tell him that those things were long gone. Today was not meant to go like this, she was supposed to enjoy herself while not embarrassing her father, she was not meant to have her heart touched and her eyes opened. I need to excuse myself, my lady Wait, Il- she started, but he was already gone, moving through the crowd. Elizabeth paused for a moment, unsure of what to do, her closed had pressed to her chest. She looked over to where Clara had went, but she could not see her for the groups of tightly packed people involved in conversation. With a mildly irritated sigh, she set off after him, making her way through the pockets of nobles and their guests. Ah Lady Elizabeth, I was wondering if I could intro- Not now Sir cutting off sharply the elderly man and his son she swiftly passed. She had to catch up with Ilya. Clara noticed that the Aide seemed to have a following of men once the story was finished and the crowd had began to disperse, but she was not one to be put off by that as Victoria approached her, and spoke. Oh, I understand. It happens, besides we both know that men need a womans help every now and then she smiled as she spoke, taking in the improved mood of the Veteran. Clara glanced at the arm Victoria had extended before smiling once more and taking it with her own, positioning it so it barely brushed against the side of her breast, before resting the hand of her unlinked arm on Victorias, bringing them closer together. A marvellous idea she nodded, leading them away from the circle where Zach and Vince were still surrounded. She began to manoeuvre them through the crowds, the small tightly packed groups of people, heading back to where she had left Elizabeth and Ilya. As they walked, Clara could feel and see the eyes on her as she walked arm in arm with Victoria. Here and there they watched her, both men and women. Some eyes had belonged to those she had past experience and engagements with, others were still hoping for their chance. All were gazing at her longingly, and eying Victoria jealously. Clara found a smirk making its way to her lips. The pleasure of company was very much desired by the upper class of Vorlancia, in more ways than one. The only daughter of Lucas Lucero, the founder and owner of one of the largest business and trading empires in the system, Clara would inherit quite a fortune, and that made the woman a fantastic marriage prospect. However, her attention tonight was focused solely on the woman beside her, ignoring the looks and stares the two were receiving as they made their way through the crowded ballroom. By the time they had returned to where she had left Elizabeth and Ilya, after stopping to exchange a few small words and pleasantries with some very select people, the Governors daughter and the Hero were gone. Well, Im sure I left them here. Im afraid Im always misplacing things she joked, throwing Victoria a small smile. They cant have gone far. When she eventually caught up with him, he was standing on one of the open balconies that spread out from one of main hallways and looked out over the sea of Vorlancia, the plaza of the level below them visible, a sea of ivory buildings. The afternoon was turning into evening, the earlier bright sun of the afternoon beginning to fall while on the horizon the sky began to darken and cloud gathered. She stood watching him for a moment as he stood in the open air, looking out over the world seemingly lost in thought. She approached slowly, announcing her arrival, Sir? She moved closer, saying his name softly as she drew level with him on the balcony Ilya?