Godwyn stared out at the dancing masses, his eyes observing patterns and rhythm, timing and subtle cues. An empty plate with the remains of the evening's dinner sat before him, ignored for his moment of crowd-watching. He almost didn't hear the conversation of the nobles around him as they spoke of petty things, until one of them cleared their throat to get his attention. Godwyn glanced to his right. "Ah, do forgive me... what was it you were saying?"

The man, well built and middling in stature, smiled. His green and gold marked him as a resident of the stretch of land that Specter Knight laid claim to, with no shortage of devastation. "Nothing, just yet. I was simply wondering if you were enjoying the evening." He chuckled. "You certainly seem as if you're longing to get out there."

"Perhaps I am. I haven't danced in quite some time." Godwyn turned his gaze toward the party again as the song they danced to finished, with a round of applause. "I understand the village bard composed most of what we're hearing this evening. It's quite good."

"Aye... and the sights are to be taken in as well." He leaned toward Godwyn. "You know... I never did get the appeal toward deerfolk and the equines, but seeing them dance like that... I begin to understand." He chuckled. "But enough of that. Tell me of your travels. I hear you've been fighting against a certain unscrupulous knight, who wields the same weapon as you."

Godwyn turned his gaze toward the table. "You speak of the Black Knight." He frowned. "We have had... altercations in the past. But he is not unscrupulous, as you say. The man has his own honor, he simply does not follow any sort of rules or structure but his own." Godwyn sighed, the fingers of his right hand drumming on the table. "We haven't quite finished our business yet."

The noble huffed. "You give him too much credit. I hear he was the final bulwark between you and the Enchantress. If he was in your way, you were right to take care of the matter. The fact that he still lurks out there disturbs me greatly."

"Well all you need to do is stay out of his way and you'll be fine."

The two men turned toward Alana, and for a moment, Godwyn stopped breathing. She sat in pale greens and shining golds, her dress a far cry from her armor. He'd forgotten she could look like that, and the way the fabric clung to her figure made his toes curl.

The look in her eyes, of cool indifference, silenced any other indecent thoughts he had of her, at least for now.

Alana gave a slight nod. "I am not one to presume anything, sir. I only suggest that you not bother him. He wishes to be left alone, and means no harm to anyone. That said, he does what he will, and listens not to any authority but himself. Try to impose yourself upon him, and he will retaliate."

The noble folded his arms. "I know who you are, Dame Alana. And while I respect your accomplishments, I fail to see why you defend him so. His powers are unearthly and he has defeated many a noble champion who has come against him."

She smiled, and it was cold. "Let me guess... they all assumed he was a demon from some outer plane, or possessed, or some brigand with a shovel blade, yes?" The nobleman fell silent, and Alana shook her head. "Such as I thought. Fret not, I will not speak any further out of turn. Suffice it to say that I defend him because he defended me."

The noble's eyes widened. "You mean to say that he saved you once?"

She nodded. "And what's more, he kept a promise to me at the Tower of Fate."

Godwyn leaned forward as he looked at her, the conversation between the noble and herself going right over his head. He always did appreciate her when she was like this. What promise they made there, he decided, was a question for later, when they had time to themselves.

The noble cleared his throat again. "Then you'll have to forgive me. Had I known, I'd have treated him with a bit more respect. I'll tell my soldiers to grant him a wide berth when next they see him."

Alana nodded. "My thanks." She stood and brushed the skirt of her dress, as if removing some unseen wrinkle. "Godwyn, shall we?"

"Of course." He stood as well and offered her his hand, which she took as they made their way to the dancers.

Atop the highest balcony of the eastern tower, Godwyn looked out upon the rest of Pridemoor Keep, the noble gryphons now guarding their rightful master again. He gave the stars above a glance, his mind tracing back to the dreams he'd had of Alana falling to her death, only for him to wake up just before he caught her... or after he'd failed.

But that was over now. He'd caught her in the end, and they were both fine.

Godwyn sighed. This unease would be the death of him before long, from old age if nothing else. He turned toward his bed and considered finishing off the night with sleep. Heavens knew he'd earned at least some measure of it, especially after all the dancing he'd done.

Turned out he was better at it than he thought.

Godwyn smiled. Alana had been as graceful outside of her armor as she was with it on, and when the orchestra took a livelier song to the crowd, she responded with levity. He couldn't keep up with her once she'd started, so he decided to bow out and watch her.

The order, the command to have fun, had paid off apparently.

A yawn saw him reach for the lamp light, yet before he cut it off, a knock on his door stopped his hand two inches away.

Godwyn stifled his groan. One more obstacle to his rest wouldn't hurt... "Enter, it's unlocked." For now, anyway.

He regretted his cynical thoughts when she entered, still in that dress of hers. "You left early."

"I did." Godwyn patted the space next to him on the bed. "Parties aren't my thing, though I did enjoy what all I partook of." He glanced toward the balcony. "I trust you had fun?"

Alana nodded. "Didn't even notice you were gone after a while." She sat and glanced out the window with him. "I remember you wanting to say something to me earlier. I think we have plenty of time now, so let's have it."

Godwyn said nothing for a good two minutes, then took in a breath. "Have you considered what your boon will be?"

"What, our talk's gonna be about this?" She gave him a half-hearted glare. "Of course I don't know what I want! I mean, I get a new shield for practically free, and that won't count, so I'm at a loss." She huffed. "It's a real pain, it is. Have you decided?"

Another pause, then, "I am... starting to." He glanced toward her again. "I'm thinking about getting us a permanent place to live." He rolled on before she could comment. "Just as a base of operations. We'll be needing it if we're going to roam the lands again."

Alana grinned. "Well now, that's something not even I've thought about. I was just used to us setting up camp and moving on, but that sounds much better." She tilted her head to the right. "Do you know where it'll be?"

Godwyn shook his head. "Still working out the particulars of that, but it'll come in time. I won't make my request until I have everything figured out, but at least I have a direction."

Alana sighed and leaned closer to him. "Well I'm glad you've thought of something." She placed an arm around his shoulders. "I think I'd like a place to put my feet up after we're done with an adventure. Keep me informed."

"I will." He paused to look out the window again. "Sometimes I wonder where the Black Knight went off to. He knew more than any of us, except for you of course. I feel the need to thank him for his efforts."

"Well you should," Alana replied with a smile. "I made him promise to keep you alive when the Tower fell."

Ah, there it was. The question he wanted to ask, neatly answered for him. It made sense now that he looked back on it. Finding her alive next to him, without a clue on how he got out. How could she have carried him with an injured arm?

Godwyn directed his gaze toward Alana. "Noble, as always." He was on the verge of saying something else, but then he yawned. "I must needs retire, it appears."

Alana pouted, and it made a part of him warm to see it. "The party's not even over yet." She sighed. "No help for it, then. I'll have to rest here with you." Her tone brooked no arguments.

She would get none from him anyway.

Three: Revelry

This one took longer than it should have.

You know what? Whatever. I'm glad I'm done with it, because I can move on to other things. Had to end it on a sweet note again, because I'm deliberately trying to tug at heart strings with these two. They're just made for each other (or at least I think so).

Bah, I'm a total sap.

Strike the earth.