A Walk to Remember [Rayl/Gwen]

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

Guinevere latched her hand onto Rayl's as they started their walk. She started up at the Paladin as they moved along, but stayed quiet for the time being. She couldn't believe her luck. A lowly soldier like her, going on an almost date with the great Sir Rayl! And he liked her! It was almost too much to handle.

She felt her face starting to go red and quickly looked away. The blonde-haired soldier stared at the ground for a little bit before picking her head back up. "Is there anywhere certain that you wanted to go, Sir- I mean, Rayl?" Her cheeks started to red again but she ignored them this time.

[Rayl Torien]

As the duo made their way down the streets, they must have been the center of attention and of jealousy. There was the famous Paladin who liberated their town and was well known throughout the Lycian nations and in Ilia. Then there was the beautiful woman at his side, catching the fancy of the men and then envy of the ladies.

But Rayl said nothing for awhile as they walked down lane after lane, before she spoke. Smiling as always, he looked down to his right and opened his mouth to speak, but soon closed it to think a second longer, THEN finally spoke," Let's just walk for awhile...why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself? I know next to nothing about your life prior to joining the military, and I'd very much like to learn all I can of you."

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

Guinevere gave a small nod and started to talk about herself. "Well... I'm originally from Etruria, where my parents are nobles. I had always wanted to be a soldier, but they didn't care much for that. So I worked for a while at my family's cake shop for a few years. It was alright, but then they tried to get me to marry some other noble kid. That's when I left." She looked down for a bit after that, memories of her parents coming back to her. After about thirty seconds, she shook her head and continued. "After that, I wandered and trained for a little bit before finally joining up with Commander Ritcher and his troops. And that's all there really is." She finished, somewhat sheepily.

[Rayl Torien]

Rayl said nothing as she was talking, thought if this had been him five years ago he probably would have burst in at random moments saying things like WHAT?! You're a noble?! or "WHAT?! You ALSO bake Cakes?!". But instead he remained silently, but had begun chuckling to himself by the end, before turning and entering a small restaurant he visited when in Araphen: back when the prior marquess was in power (and not run through with his lance) he preferred to dine here than at the marquess' castle and his lavish parties...he'd probably STILL go here when on business.

As they were soon seated by a friendly young waitress whom he called to by first name ( he was an irregular regular, if that makes sense.), it was then he began talking (and ceasing his previous snickering)," It's quite odd really- thank you." he began, as a mug of water was placed before him and one before her (he usually just came in to the restaurant for water, sometimes for breakfast or a steak, but always leaving a nice tip), taking a sip of his as he continued," How similar we are. We both made a change in the ranks: by baking cakes."

Another calm sip of water," You went from Noble to Baker to Soldier...I went from Peasant to Baker to Soldier to...well." he shifted a bit in his seat, glad to have removed his armor:he'd been wearing it for quite a bit, and was glad to have fresh air.

(His armor which was currently being guarded by Elibe: and no one messes with a giant war horse.)

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

"Noble baker, actually. It's how my ancestors built up our name and wealth. We still run it as a way to keep it that way. Several of the noble families have lost their status by only relying on the money they had previously built up, but we try our best to not do that." She felt her cheeks blushing. She really didn't want to talk much about her noble roots, especially with everything going on with Etruria right now. She shifted around. Her armor wasn't very comfy when sitting down like this. She wished she had changed like Rayl did.

[Rayl Torien]

Rayl was enjoying Gwen's correcting him. She seemed proud of her past even though she willingly went to a lower class. That's not a trait you tend to see in the nobility. So he took to just watching her slowly reddening face as she squirmed in her seat,"...Are you all right Lady Guinevere?" Why yes, he was still his usual oblivious self...some things don't change quickly. Eventually, however, he figured the whole situation must have been rather odd, so he said nothing, going back to drinking his water, as their meals were brought before them: Rayl had an apparently simple sandwich:

"I don't know, but whoever came up with the concept of slicing two pieces of bread and sticking something in between was a genius! Ha. ha ha...hah..." nope, still awkward, so he went to eating the sandwich.

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

Guinevere gave a quick nod at Rayl's question. "Yes, Sir- I mean, Rayl. I was just wishing I had changed into something a little more date-appropriate than armor..." Her voice trailed off and her face stayed red. Right back in her pack she had the perfect dress for this and here she was on a date in armor. She sighed as their food came. Gwen started to eat her salad as Rayl made his joke. She gave a little giggle to try to make him feel better, but it didn't seem to work, so she just wet back to her salad. Maybe she could excuse herself from Rayl for a few minutes afterwards so she could change. That may work.

[Rayl Torien]

If ever there was a moment of intense awkward silence. You'd expect a man of Rayl's background to be used to nerve-wracking situations but...well, this was entirely different! It was not like the potential death by the enemy on the battlefield. As Guinevere said something about a change of clothes, he couldn't help but chuckle a bit and wave a hand," Well if you would like to go off and do so, be my guest."

While this was said with a cool manner, but it was obvious that it was hardly done as such. at least it would give him a chance to collect his thoughts, as this was all more...it...than it needed to be...yes that hardly made any sense, but that's how much he needed those moments to recollect himself.

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

Guinevere gave Rayl a swift smile and swept from the resturant. She hurried back to the inn and grabbed her bag. Slipping into her room, she finally took off all her heavy armor. Feeling an immediate relief, she pulled out her favorite dress. She grimaced when she saw it was wrinkled, but she didn't think Rayl would mind. She chanced into it quickly, adding a few choice braclets and a bow in her hair to top it all off before starting back. As she got quite a few looks as she walked, she figured it was enough. With a big smile on her face she moved back over to Rayl. "What do you think?"

[Rayl Torien]

As Guinevere dashed out of the restaurant, Rayl watched her head off, before putting a hand to his chin, leaning back in the chair as his mind went over everything that had been going on. Was this all in haste, and a sparked by instant attraction? She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that but the fact that she tended to him when he was sick...He was honestly confused, in such a way he had not felt for five years...well since he learned that Persephone was dead, that is...

Gah, why did he always have to compare every woman he met to Persephone. True she was his first (and currently only) real romantic partner, but...it was around this point that he went back to eating his sandwich, hoping that focusing on it would get his mind off everything else...

Of course this changed when Guinevere re-emerged into the restaurant. He watched as she returned to her seat, his expression not really changing from his usual calmness, but his heart was race on the inside, and one couldn't blame him at the sight of her beauty. Eventually though he set down his (mostly finished) sandwich, and stated "So what do you think of us?" in a way that was unearthly and unintentionally blunt, and he seemed to reel slightly in his chair from how he said it, but- it was already out there, so...

[Guinevere von Altenburg]

Guinevere felt her face go bright red as Rayl's little outburst. What did she think of them? She really hadn't given it much thought, to be honest. She had been focused too much on the present. "Um..."

She lowly lowered herself into her seat, giving Rayl a tentative look. He looked as though he was surprised he had said it, even nervous, as he waited for an answer. She played with a few of her bracelets as she thought. What DID she think of them? Well she certainly liked Rayl, that was certain. He made her feel good, and not just superficiously. And she could tell she made him happy, and that made her happy too. "I think... I think we make a good couple. And that we can maybe even be a great one. I-If you want to, I mean..." Her face went red again.

[Rayl Torien]

The way Guinevere answered his question...well, it was a greater boost to morale than any speech could provide. With a smile he leaned forward over the table and put a hand on her's," I'd very much like that...well, when you are finished, we'd best get the Etrurian troops and proceed to Pherae, I had best report to The Marquess about my...recent actions..." sure those last words made the situation slightly dire but as of this moment it wasn't really on his thoughts...nay, those were on other places.