Arcaea/Dining Hall/The Shadow and the Sword
The morning was cool yet to be touched by the sun. The city streets quiet with only the very early birds up and about. He was one of them, the light morning air washed out his thoughts. The tranquility was soothing. It would seem this was what he needed. Without the thoughts of war weighing on his mind, he tingled slightly with excitement. His horse slowly trotted the well worn path to her estate. Thalathafn dismounted, threw down the hood on his cloak and knocked on the door.
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
As she finished getting ready to receive her visitor, Adine looked out the window to see the High Marshal coming down the path. She left her room and ordered for a pot of coffee to begin brewing. Smoothing down the front of her lilac dress and shooing away a servant, Adine went to answer the door herself. Opening it, she smiled. "Thal, it's been far too long," she said, kissing him before he had a chance to respond. A moment passed and she broke the kiss to usher him inside.
Adine Evadne (Dame of Remton)
Thalathafn looked back at Adine and smiled to himself as she ushered him inside. He knew he had made the right choice. They made their way to the sitting room and sat by the idle fireplace. Thalathafn watched the clouds roll across the stretching horizon. He looked over at Adine and smiled, the weight lifted from his shoulders and he could finally enjoy being. He hadn't yet spoken since the kiss, at least not to the extent of a thought out sentence. He relaxed in the chair. This was not his war to fight, his war was over. Arcaea stood strong and proud as it had since the collapse of the empire. After years of leading armies over the fields, was he rewarded with fame or fortune? No, but he had the satisfaction of a simple estate in a land he called home. What more could he want than a safe and secure home. The days of lusting for the glory of the battlefield were behind him. There was so much more which life had to offer that he previously had been too occupied to accept.
The servant entering with coffee broke the silence in the room. "It has been far too long, Adine. But it doesn't have to be anymore. I have decided to step down as High Marshal. This isn't my war to fight. My captain will still be leading the lads into battle, but I will free to enjoy the finer things in life such as your company." Thalathafn said as he accepted the coffee and took a sip.
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel (Knight of Remton)
