Alain and Atiya

Syrien

"Of course. I've had years to study the subtle signs of the human body language. From what I deciphered, it soon became apparent you had a definite crush on young Atiya. Well, that, and the fact that Rein told me she suspected you had a crush on her daughter." Syrien gave Alain a slight smile. "Though your reaction here has now just confirmed what I suspected."

Alain opened his mouth to say something, anything, in his defence, but could only stutter out the beginnings of a word before turning his head away. It had been that obvious? And he had just made the tactical error of giving away information! Ana would kill him, if she heard about this!

"And..." He finally managed to get the word out, to start actually making sounds. "Why did you have to pull me aside, to tell me this? If it's so obvious..." His flush darkened.

Syrien

"I merely wanted to confirm my suspicions, and....have a talk with you, I suppose." Syrien stated. "And, get a proper judge of your character, as well."

"Oh." Those last two things weren't very comforting at all. Alain swallowed nervously and then let out the breath he had been holding before pulling it back in, and then back out. He was getting way too flustered, but recognizing that fact didn't make it any easier for his emotions to settle. He had never been able to master that, like Ana had.

"And what's this talk about?" he dreaded the question as soon as he voiced it, for he dreaded the answer even more.

Syrien

"Hm, not much of a talk, truly." Syrien said. "More of a...question. You fancy my granddaughter, yes? So, what do you plan to do about it?"

Alain hadn't expected that question at all, and it left him scrabbling for an answer. "Uh... That is... I..." What did he plan to do about his love for Atiya? Wasn't the answer rather simple? Marry her, of course! If she would have him...

He cleared his throat and nervously looked up at Syrien. He was flailing so badly! Ana had taught him better. But she hadn't ever trained him for this conversation with somebody so close to Atiya. "Date her, I guess," he finally got out.

Syrien

Syrien gave a curt nod. "A logical step forward. And truth be told, I would not mind you dating my granddaughter. You seem like a responsible young man, unlikely to knock her up, unlike a certain someone I know who knocked up my daughter when she was Atiya's age. And Rein herself confided with me that she would be more than happy to see you date Atiya."

Syrien paused a moment, then continued.

"But I would act first, if I were you. It is not a good thing to keep such feelings hidden for so long. I know that Atiya has a crush on Maul's son, Bakar. How long may it be before she acts on that crush?"

(This image/line popped into my head after reading your post. XD Too bad Alain wouldn't say something like that in front of Syrien.
Alain scowled and turned his head away. "Maul can just jump off a cliff," he muttered savagely.)

Alain's expression dropped into a frown. "I know," he muttered. It wasn't his fault that he didn't get to see Atiya often. How was he supposed to fight for her when he was never around? "I'm working on it. I'm the one with her right now, not him, aren't I?"

((Hahaha. Though it'd be more appropriate to say "Bakar can just go jump off a cliff". Considering he's the one Atiya has a crush on.))

Syrien

"Indeed." Syrien conceded. "And thus it would be wise to use this time to your advantage."

(*facepalm* I meant Bakar. 'Twas a typo... Almost murdered the wrong person. XD)

"I'm working on it," Alain said with a scowl. Like he was going to waste this time alo... No, he wasn't alone with her, not with Syrien here, but at least there was no Bakar to interfere.

((Indeed. Hehe.))

((....So, time-skip to next day?))

(Sure thing. You start, or me?)

((I can start.))

General Narrative

The next morning soon came, and Atiya and her two companions set about packing up camp. Once the fire was put out and the tents stowed away, the three set out on their journey once more. As they walked, Atiya decided to break the silence amongst them and spoke.

"So, Alain, did you and Grandpa Syrien talk about anything while on patrol last night?" she asked curiously.

(*gasp* What's this? Am I actually posting? XD)

Alain glanced towards Atiya and then turned his gaze back to the horizon before them, willing himself not to blush, not to blunder. Why did she have to ask such a question? She couldn't know the answer!

"Just..." He gave her another glance. "Stuff, is all. Guy stuff."

((*gasp* IT CAN'T BE TRUE!?!?!?!?!? XD))

Syrien, Atiya

"Yes, guy stuff." Syrien echoed, giving Alain a briefly amused look. "You wouldn't be interested in it."

"Oh?" Atiya challenged, giving them both a cat-like grin. "Try me."

(Hehe.)

"Uh..." Why did she have to ask? But of course she would... She was Atiya, after all. "You know, like... guy stuff." What was guy stuff? Most of his life had been spent with a woman who didn't like chitchat, and the times they had really talked hadn't been spent on guy stuff because, well, because Ana was a girl.

Syrien

"Yes," Syrien said, a slight smirk to his otherwise emotionless face. He went on,

"We were discussing a little...crush Alain has, in fact."

Atiya's eyes perked up with great interest, as she gave her friend a teasing smile. "A crush, eh? Now why am I just now hearing about this?! So, who's the lucky girl, Alain? Hm? Wait, let me guess!

Atiya pointed dramatically at the young man. "It's my young sister Mazin, isn't it? I've seen you eying her." she accused, giving a light giggle. Her eyes sparkled with more intrigue, and she continued, not giving Alain the time to consider an answer.

"Or maybe it's Lord Kai's daughter? She certainly is beautiful, I admit, and I just KNOW she has a crush on you. She always blushes when you're around, and eyes you all the time when you're near. Is it her, then? Or was I right with Mazin? Or, perhaps, I am wrong on all accounts? Do tell, Alain!" Atiya exclaimed, giving her long-time friend a most eager and anticipating look.

Syrien, meanwhile, bit his lip to hold off a chuckle. Ah, the follys of the young, he marveled...

"Wha...? I... Uh... I..." His face was turning a deep red, as he sent a glare at Syrien. That information had been classified! His eyes found Atiya's eager face and he stumbled over his words a few moments more. What could he say? The truth? But here, now? He wasn't ready! But anything less than the truth and he would be pledging his love to somebody else...

"It's... It's..."

He couldn't do it, couldn't form the words.

Atiya, Syrien

"I believe Alain wishes to keep the identity of his crush secret, for now." Syrien casually said, deciding to give the poor blushing boy a break. Atiya sighed and pouted at Alain, knowing her Grandfather was right, but backed off nonetheless. Still, she gave Alain another teasing look.

"Fine, fine. I'll back off, you silly boy. But I'll get that secret out of you Alain, one way or another!" she declared challengingly.

Alain grinned back at Atiya, glad for Syrien's intervention to the problem that he had caused. He didn't have to spill anything, not right now. It would be a moment of his own choosing, and it would be special.

"You forget who raised me," he said to her. "I won't crack."

Atiya

"We'll see about that," Atiya replied with a smile. "Ana never prepared you for the torments that a teenage girl could cause, after all!"

"I still won't crack," Alain said, returning her smile with one of his own.

Their conversation remained light, as the hours passed and their steps were light, the excitement of a new journey propelling them forward. The sun moved directly over them, and then started its journey back down to the horizon. But it hadn't moved too far down when Alain became aware of somebody moving towards them. No, not just one somebody.

He glanced towards Syrien, to see if he had noticed as well.

They weren't in danger, were they?

Syrien

The Elf returned Alain's glance, and stared at the approaching small carriage-train as it came toward them. From what he could see it consisted of three carriages, with a man at the reigns of the horses for all three. Other than the three drivers, though, Syrien could not tell if there were any more inside the carriages (which there likely were).

Soon the carriages came to a stop near them, and in the middle carriage came an older looking man, about in the middle ages of his life, Syrien might guess. He was also balding, and had a few pieces of jewelry on him, but other than that not much else was remarkable about the man.

"Greetings, fellow travelers! I'm surprised to find anyone else taking this route. I am Varisoth, a traveling merchant from the Capital. Who might you be?" the balding man inquired.

((Hmm. I think 9 might be a more reasonable number for the mercenaries. What do you think, Casey?))

(That sounds good to me.)

A merchant? Alain's body relaxed, though he was still wary, and he offered the man a smile. "Oh, we're just passing through. Same as you." It wouldn't be wise to give out too much information, not when his mission was to protect Atiya. With her life on the line, everyone was an enemy.

But it wasn't as natural for him, to think that way, which had often frustrated Ana. He wasn't a machine, like her, but somebody who cared about others.

Syrien, Atiya, Merchant

"Indeed," Syrien echoed. "Much like you, we are just passing through the area. Our destination is the city of Lyandor. I am bringing my wards there, as we have family there. And you?"

Since the Elf was prepared for just about anything, he already had a false destination in mind should someone ever question them. True, saying they were heading to the forest where the Elven Tribes lived in wouldn't be that bad, but it was best to keep it a secret. One never knew what people they could run into during their journey.

"Ah! What a coincidence!" the merchant boomed with a jovial smile. "So am I! Well then, perhaps we should travel together? I have nine able escorts, and I would be more than happy to keep you all safe while they escort me there. Safety in numbers, and all that, after all."