Zavien
Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.
Zavien leaned into the hug for support, the contact continuing to break away the darkness like nothing else could. With his friend beside him, it felt like he could cast aside every worry, take on every challenge. It was strange how a single hug could do that for him. A small smile even peeked through the pain and anxiety, lightening his mood somewhat. "You're very pretty, Tal." Certainly not as pretty as Lena, but handsome in his own right, and more than adequate enough to be a great confidant.
His hands stopped kneading against each other and his breaths came more easily with the echo of a familiar smile on his face. His head nodded slowly, willing himself to believe everything his friend said, to engrave it on his heart that he wasn't alone. Despite his efforts, the doubts still lingered. The fog clung to the edge of his vision, tainting any efforts to see clearly, but he vowed not to let them win. He wouldn't let the fear rule his life. He hadn't before, and he wouldn't start now.
Zavien lifted an arm to wrap it around Tal tightly. "Thank you, Tal. You're a good friend." Although his limbs were still heavy with anxiety and his eyes still rimmed with darkness, a soft smile melted onto his features like the glow of sunlight filtering through a frosted glass window. Maybe if he kept practicing, it would dissolve the ice obscuring everything.
Letting out a deep sigh, he shifted away. "I should probably talk with Lena again, and I'm sure you want to be with Alys right now. I'm sorry to have pulled you away." He didn't say how much she needed Tal, knowing that the courier would understand her best. She'd lost someone dear to her, and that wasn't something she would quickly recover from. Even occupying Tal's time for these few minutes felt selfish, but he'd needed a friend, and he'd cherished every moment. However, he couldn't monopolize him forever, so Zavien slowly stood, careful of his right side as he pushed off the bench. With a gentle smile, he asked, "Should we get back to the Feast, and our lovely ladies?"
His hands stopped kneading against each other and his breaths came more easily with the echo of a familiar smile on his face. His head nodded slowly, willing himself to believe everything his friend said, to engrave it on his heart that he wasn't alone. Despite his efforts, the doubts still lingered. The fog clung to the edge of his vision, tainting any efforts to see clearly, but he vowed not to let them win. He wouldn't let the fear rule his life. He hadn't before, and he wouldn't start now.
Zavien lifted an arm to wrap it around Tal tightly. "Thank you, Tal. You're a good friend." Although his limbs were still heavy with anxiety and his eyes still rimmed with darkness, a soft smile melted onto his features like the glow of sunlight filtering through a frosted glass window. Maybe if he kept practicing, it would dissolve the ice obscuring everything.
Letting out a deep sigh, he shifted away. "I should probably talk with Lena again, and I'm sure you want to be with Alys right now. I'm sorry to have pulled you away." He didn't say how much she needed Tal, knowing that the courier would understand her best. She'd lost someone dear to her, and that wasn't something she would quickly recover from. Even occupying Tal's time for these few minutes felt selfish, but he'd needed a friend, and he'd cherished every moment. However, he couldn't monopolize him forever, so Zavien slowly stood, careful of his right side as he pushed off the bench. With a gentle smile, he asked, "Should we get back to the Feast, and our lovely ladies?"
