“You sound famished,” Aurin observed with a hardly concealed laugh as he glanced back towards the hungry mage. His eyes danced with humor at their situation, and he believed that while they seemed to everyone to be wasting time, it was time very well wasted. Besides, she really did seem hungry and he knew from long experience that she didn’t get hungry easily. He also knew that he was a black hole, and had learned from long experience that his appetite for most things was bottomless. It was a familiar thing to concentrate on, his hunger rather than other desires that plagued his mind.
And then without warning the game came to an end.
He knew the tone of the voice, and felt that sudden panic in his ‘partners’ release of his hand. He turned quickly to see just who it might be and covered a surprised look with a smile. “I prefer just Aurin, but that would be me.” He answered quickly enough the female elf. She looked annoyed, and so he simply nodded towards her. His own annoyance was hidden behind blue eyes and a friendly enough smile. It wasn’t the elf’s fault they were interrupted, it was just how fate had decreed it to happen. He regretted that it didn’t last longer, as well as the fact that they might not ever reclaim a moment like that anytime soon. He nodded his head once at the information, but he couldn’t keep the wry smile from his lips as the woman mentioned Redcliffe. “I’ve been there once or twice.” He replied. “It is a bit fishy.” His words were agreeable, and he took pains not to draw any more attention to Beth’s presence there than there was already. “The hall by the library, I’ll be there.” He replied with a firm nod of his head. “Maker’s blessing upon you as well.” He watched until the elf was around the corner before he turned his attention back towards his childhood friend.
“And now it looks like be both have our marching orders.” Aurin’s voice held a small sigh in them as he spoke. “You off into the unknown and me back towards what passes for my home.” It was true; the Tower was the only home he really ever knew. The apprentices and Templars were the only family he had. To be sure it was an odd, mistrustful, and rather dysfunctional family but it was all he had known growing up. He watched the mage…no…the Warden for a moment before giving a slight shake of his head. “If you want in on a secret, I can’t stand smoked fish. I’d rather be camping.” One more little bit of information about the Templar that she didn’t know a little bit more of the puzzle. His thoughts though he kept away from prying eyes behind just a slight curve of a smile. He disliked the interruption, and the hiccup it had thrown into what would have otherwise been a very pleasant way to spend the day. It was possibly his last chance, his only chance to spend a pleasant time with a woman that had become so very important to him. He was never sure exactly when it happened, she had simply always been important. There was never a specific point that he could point to and say that there is where it happened. It had snuck upon him gradually, a string a tiny moments that all fit together. It didn’t matter when or how, but only that it had happened. He had tried to prevent it, but it didn’t quite work it seemed. Now all he could do was learn to live with it, and draw what strength he could from that link. It took him a moment to shake himself out of his thoughts, and when his attention returned to the mage a thought struck him. “Beth,” his words came slowly and thoughtfully. “You said you wanted to do something for me in return for that gift.” He flashed the woman an easy smile. “Fine then, you can write to me while we are off on these separate missions. Keep them with you, or send them here to Vigil’s Keep. It’ll give me something to look forwards too when I get back.”