Noble Virtue
The Affable Scot
Talia Hawke had had a terrible day, and now she was in Starkhaven and on her way to meet it's prince. A prince, bet he is a stupid prat with servants who do the thinking for him. Talia wasn't a nasty person, but something happened that day that really got her blood boiling. They had only just arrived there when Isabella decided to tell Varric about some fling Talia had with some rich man back in Kirkwall, and of course Varric took the bait. He told everyone, and it really was EVERYONE about this so called 'liaison'. It wasn't true, and what made Talia even angrier was people she didn't even know shouting profane words at her in the streets.
I bet princey-boy is a stuck up little arse. Argh! Maker forgive me. I need to calm down, and breathe. Breathe, right, now up these stairs. Oh no, what was the prince's name again? How do I address him? She stubbed her toe on the last stair. Ow, great, now I am limping and angry and my face is red and my hands are sweaty and...oh sweet Maker. Sebastian appeared from around the corner and Talia gulped. He's handsome, and tall and that jawline is exquisite. Sebastian must have said something to her, as he looked like he was awaiting a reply. "Sorry. Beg your pardon, but I seem to have forgotten your name, er, Sir". Sebastian laughed a little. "It's Sebastian and you don't need to call me Sir. You are Talia right?" He isn't stuck up. That voice, don't pass out Talia, you can deal with this in a respectable manner. "I am and it's nice to meet you". She shook his hand and regained her relaxed posture. "It's good to meet you too. I have heard a lot about you and your exploits".
Talia froze at that word, exploits. "Well I do try my best although I am a little worried about what has been said recently about me, you may have heard it". She scrunched up her nose and frowned. "Actually no, I have been away". She went to take a sigh of relief but Isabella had followed her, no doubt looking for a new man to be perverted towards. Talia put her head down and would not look in the prince's piercing sapphire orbs.
"Oh Hawwwkie? Oh Andraste's kinky breeches, hello there prince". Sebastian's eyebrows raised in either confusion or he was stunned at her use of words. He looked to Talia who now had her elbow on the stone banister and her hand covered her eyes. "Er, hello there, Miss?" Isabella bowed a little, and almost all of her chest was exposed. Now when he was younger, Sebastian would not have stood there. He would have picked her up and had his way right there and then. But he had grown up, he had to. "Isabella and Hawke, are you okay? You look a little flustered". Talia mumbled. "Oh, I see no possible reason for that, at all". She deliberately forced out the last two words and Isabella got the hint, bowed and walked away with a smirk on her caramel lips.
Sebastian saw that Talia was very upset. She took her hand away from her face, but still refused to look at him. She had begun to cry but there was no chance she was letting him see that, after all. She was Hawke, the rogue, brave and fierce, not Hawke, who cries and is ashamed. "Do you want to walk around the castle for a bit? It would be nice to walk these cold, lonely corridors with someone else for a change". Talia bit her lip and the crying had stopped. A little pool of tears had gathered on the banister. She wiped them away with her sleeve. "Really? Forgive me if I am flustered, something happened today and it just made me angry. I hope Andraste can forgive me". She was a devout Andrastian and that made him smile. "Aye, really. Come on". Talia looked up and followed him through a long corridor that led to an armory.
Talia's eyes lit up at the sight of the polished to perfection swords, axes and expertly crafted bows. She doubted he had polished them but she didn't care. She was in Heaven. Sebastian saw the silver glow reflected in her milk chocolate eyes and something fluttered in his chest. "These are wonderful". She couldn't stop smiling and she ached to touch the bows, pick them up and run her fingers down the string. She loved archery but her aim was bad, so she never pursued it. "I hear you are a skilled archer, we don't have anyone with that skill in my little rabble". She laughed. "Well, I have been told of your companions, and I should like to join your 'little rabble". He laughed too.
"I adore archery, but my aim is terrible". "I'll be the judge of that. Take that bow in front of you and I will take you to my shooting grounds". Talia became a bit nervous, what if she was picking up a family heirloom? Was that a joke from him and if she touched it, he'd get the guards and throw her out? He saw her hesitation. "Come on lass, I won't bite your head off for touching the bow". Talia picked up the bow and walked beside Sebastian. "Lass hmm? I'll show you lass, prince". She smirked and walked past him. He smirked too and lead her to the stairs.
Naughty Hawke was back, and with a vengeance.