Are
That look, that broken, pleading look of a man with nothing left in life and slowly circling a maelstrom of despair. How it deep it cut a cobbler's heart, yet it was a warrior's heart that answered the cry. A falling man needed a strong, steady hand to get him up, not a friend to follow him down into the abyss. So Are swallowed his sorrow, his empathy, and tears. Even as his heart cried to follow the outlander into the deep waters of a lost life he forced himself to grit his teeth and smile at the answer barely more than a whisper.
"Good." was all he managed to say before he almost lost it again. As he could almost see a life flashing past black eyes tearing up, his own followed suit. Jaw clenched so hard it almost cracked teeth, a deep breath and a short respite behind closed eyes kept it down. Kept tears from rolling down his cheek and kept the gaze steely in the face of the pain.
It seemed whatever he'd put out was mirrored by the stranger gathering what little courage remained after the reality of the situation had been made apparent and clear. His question made Are's gloomy expression crack up and he offered a smile. A sign of life from one who's lost one, promising enough to give Are hope for the one not much younger than himself.
In an uncharacteristic moment of clarity he couldn't shake the feeling of absurdity. There he stood, a cobbler posing as a warrior, offering courage, advice and a helping hand to a man who's situation was exactly his own just a few moons before. He shook his head at it all, accepting that he was far from perfect, but better than the stranger's options, alone, or worse, Álfar.
"What to do? That, my friend, is something I've yet to answer myself." Are said, laughed and placed a strong hand on Sascha's shoulder. "I couldn't answer that for you even if I tried, not without lying, and I'll spare you that. Although I can say this much, these are ripe lands of heroes. One eye on you and I can already tell you'll be among them before long." another laugh and a reassuring squeeze before he let go and turned back from whence he came. "Hang on for a moment, I've got something." Are said and fished his pack out of the brush. From it he pulled a neatly wrapped parcel of bread and fruit he passed to Sascha.
"Good." was all he managed to say before he almost lost it again. As he could almost see a life flashing past black eyes tearing up, his own followed suit. Jaw clenched so hard it almost cracked teeth, a deep breath and a short respite behind closed eyes kept it down. Kept tears from rolling down his cheek and kept the gaze steely in the face of the pain.
It seemed whatever he'd put out was mirrored by the stranger gathering what little courage remained after the reality of the situation had been made apparent and clear. His question made Are's gloomy expression crack up and he offered a smile. A sign of life from one who's lost one, promising enough to give Are hope for the one not much younger than himself.
In an uncharacteristic moment of clarity he couldn't shake the feeling of absurdity. There he stood, a cobbler posing as a warrior, offering courage, advice and a helping hand to a man who's situation was exactly his own just a few moons before. He shook his head at it all, accepting that he was far from perfect, but better than the stranger's options, alone, or worse, Álfar.
"What to do? That, my friend, is something I've yet to answer myself." Are said, laughed and placed a strong hand on Sascha's shoulder. "I couldn't answer that for you even if I tried, not without lying, and I'll spare you that. Although I can say this much, these are ripe lands of heroes. One eye on you and I can already tell you'll be among them before long." another laugh and a reassuring squeeze before he let go and turned back from whence he came. "Hang on for a moment, I've got something." Are said and fished his pack out of the brush. From it he pulled a neatly wrapped parcel of bread and fruit he passed to Sascha.
