Byron drained half his ale in one gulp and sucked the last succulent bits of chicken off the bone, suppressing a burp behind one hand. The Tub & Crown's cook, Molly, certainly undersold herself. When she put her mind to it, she could really whip up a delicious meal.
He looked over at the only company he had in the pub at the moment. Gav sat alone at a corner table, a half eaten and long forgotten bowl of carrot stew beside him. He had a map splayed out on the table in front of him, nibbling at one thumbnail as he did some calculations.
Byron smiled faintly. He hadn't needed to see something he thought he'd never see again- that ring- to realize how Clive felt about Gav. It was the way the ever-present tension in his nephew's body eased whenever Gav was around. How he'd bump his knee against the blonde's when they sat together. How he'd touch their forearms when they stood next to each other. The way Clive smiled at Gav was different too, like he'd seen the sun after a week of rain. Seeing that ring replace the pendant around Gav's neck only fortified what he already knew: his nephew was in love.
The man finished his ale and stood up, walking to the bar with his empty dishes in hand. "My compliments to the chef!" He exclaimed, handing the plates to Molly. "Could I get two ales please?"
Molly nodded to Maeve, who refilled Byron's tankard and filled a second one. He tried to pay, but Molly waved him off.
"Clive's orders. You eat and drink for free here."
"Very kind of him, but I insist."
Molly shrugged and took the gil, but Byron had a feeling his nephew would find a way to sneak it back to him later. One drink in each hand, he walked over to where Gav was sitting.
"This seat taken?"
Gav looked up at him and shook his head, "Pull up a chair, Lord Byron."
"Just Byron, please. Here you are, lad." He held out an ale as he sat down.
"Cheers!" Gav grinned, taking the tankard and bringing it to his lips.
"So," Byron sipped his own drink. "You and my dear nephew."
Gav stopped mid-sip, slowly lowering his tankard. "…Aye."
He met Byron's gaze head on. Gav's cool tone and hardened stare instantly allayed one of Byron's biggest concerns. The lad was ready to protect Clive, even from his own family if need be. Excellent.
"Be easy, Gav!" Byron laughed, clapping the blonde hard enough on the back to make him slop his drink a little. "You've nothing to fear from me!"
Gav relaxed and Byron let him have a couple sips of his ale before he spoke again.
"That ring you're wearing, Clive gave it to you?"
The blonde nodded, fingers automatically moving up to tangle in the chain. "The Undying searched Rosalith after the Ironblood sacked it."
Ah. Byron had wondered how Clive had gotten his hands on that little item. Elwin must've kept it in his personal vault.
"It belonged to Clive's grandfather, mine and Elwin's father." He chuckled at the look of concern on Gav's face. "Don't worry, my boy. I won't be asking for it back. The man was a right bastard."
In fact, the last time he saw that ring he'd been just a lad of sixteen. It glittered on his father's finger as he gestured angrily, lecturing Byron on "preserving the integrity their bloodline" and other such nonsense. A servant had caught Byron and the son of Leander Havel, one of his father's Dhalmekian allies, kissing in the back corner of the courtyard garden and his life had exploded.
His mother sat quietly, vaguely staring off into the distance as she always did when father went on one of his tirades. Their Lord Father had threatened to disown him. Elwin, flames bless him, had promised to make his parents' lives a living hell if he did. The atmosphere in the throne room was so frigid it could've frozen the Phoenix itself solid.
Despite his brother's promises, Byron left home that very night, much to Elwin's distress. Byron loved his brother dearly, his heart was in the right place, but he did have a habit of not realizing he held the key to his own fetters.
"…Lord Byron? Byron?" Gav's voice broke into his musings. "You alright?"
Byron smiled, "My apologies. I was just thinking… it's wonderful to see that ring has taken on a more pleasant significance." No doubt it had sent Father spinning in his grave. Real shame, that. He reached out, giving Gav's forearm a squeeze. "Swear to me you'll take care of Clive."
Gav flushed slightly, but his gaze hardened again. "I swear. On my life."
He meant it. Byron nodded, patting the lad's arm. "Good. Good…"
"Oi, Gav!" Otto's voice called in the distance, "Jill and Clive back!"
Gav looked at Byron, who waved an airy hand at him. "Go on. I'll clean up here."
The blonde stood and rolled up his map, tucking it under his arm. "Thank-you, Lo- Byron, for the drink… and the chat."
Byron watched him dash off to greet the pair by capturing them both in one hug, Jill giggling and Clive's hand instinctively caressing the small of Gav's back. He smiled, downing the last of his drink. He was happy Clive hadn't had to wait as long as he had. Not that he regretted (much of) the life he'd led, and the years had melted away when he'd reconnected with Eugen. It was like they were two headstrong lads of sixteen again, debating as passionately as they embraced.
He was working on finishing off Gav's ale when Clive came over to the table and sat down almost hesitantly. Byron was again reminded of the past, Clive a boy of fifteen and acting as though he was afraid he was being bothersome just by existing.
"Gav told me what you talked about… you're… really alright, with who I am?"
Byron's heart hurt for Clive even as he smiled, "Of course, my boy! Nothing could ever make me stop loving you. Never doubt that."
He nearly spilled his drink as Clive leaned over and hugged him tightly, his fingers actually clutching at his tunic. He patted his nephew's back with his free hand. He could guess where these feelings had come from. Anabella had always been cut from the same cloth as Father. And Elwin had probably dealt with it the same way.
"You're sure you don't want the ring back?" Clive asked, releasing his uncle and wiping at one eye with the heel of his hand.
He shook his head, "I meant what I told Gav. It's found a better home with better people. Keep it."
"Could I buy you another drink then?"
Byron laughed and gently mussed his nephew's hair, "Always!"