Samathan strode into the inn, ordered a meal and a beer from the bartender and collapsed at a table. He had travelled long and hard and and was in the mood for some good food, good drink and good entertainment. He rested his weary feet and sighed contendedly, Imythess was indeed a huge country and he still had many places to see. But he wished he had friends to travel with, it was getting to be so boring travelling on his own and he was growing tired of it. He licked his lips when his meal arrived and took a sip of his drink, so the food and drink here was as good as he had been told after all.

Shadeen wrapped Varonen’s cloak about her shoulders for added warmth and brushed her hair back behind her ears. Once she had gotten a shower and a brush she looked much better than her mud-stained self back in the stables. She pulled up a chair across from Samathan and breathed in the tavern air. The bitter scent of ale and burning wood entered her nostrils while a light music drifted into her ears. She felt more relaxed now that she was clean, and other people’s laughter brightened her spirits all the more.

A plate of potatoes and mead arrived at her table and she sipped on her ale and delicately nibbled on the food in front of her, eavesdropping on the occasional couple that walked by or sat near their table. It was the first time that she had been in this tavern but she found it much the same as all the rest. The atmosphere seemed just as friendly, since the late hours hadn’t crept upon them yet, and the bartender had tipped his head when she smiled to him. She settled down in her seat and continued nibbling her food.

Samathan smiled across the table at her and blushed softly at how beautiful she looked. He smiled at her and placed his hands on the table, one hand seeking hers nervously, he didn't know why but he loved holding her hand so much. Those brief times her hand was in his made him smile. "Shadeen you like so very beautiful," he said softly "and I am glad that you could make it." He poured her a drink and took a bite of her food "Well Shadeen since we first met I must admit I grew to like you. You are just so smart, so funny. There's just something about you that makes me really like being with you," he said and looked across at her with a smile.

She smiled back across the table at him. “Thanks,” She hadn’t done much but it felt refreshing nonetheless. When he poured her more ale she took a gulp of it letting the liquid warm her insides. She mostly kept her eyes on her food, moving it around with her utensils.

“I feel like I barely know you,” She said it without meaning anything offensive by it. She merely wanted an opening to explore who he really was and his personality. She found it hard to connect to someone she barely knew yet. He could be anyone and she wanted to know who that anyone turned out to be. A tavern seemed the perfect place to reveal true selves. Even the darkness things seemed less intense within the dimly lit tavern walls.

Samathan smiled warmly at her and then it dawned on him "Oh but of course you wish to know more about me. How foolish of me," he gave a nervous laugh and drew back his hands "you can't know if you like me if you don't know much about me now can you," he laughed nervously again. "Well here goes," he said "my name is Samathan Lynin, I was actually born her in this village nineteen years ago. But I was orphaned at a young age when my parents were taken from me when some wild Gryphons stumbled upon our picnic. I was only four at the time and escaped notice," he explained. "I grew up being looked after by a kindly farmer and his wife, but we were terrorised by bandits who demanded money and food. But one day, the farmer who had adopted me stood up against them and somehow managed to make them leave."

He was telling Shadeen more about himself and possibly after tonight she would be able to tell him whether she liked him or not "at the age of thirteen i left that farmhouse and journeyed to the Temple of Sword and started my training to become a warrior. I had been inspired by the farmer who had taken me in, I wanted to protect those who could not protect themselves. As you can probably guess I am of nineteen years of age, I have wandered Imythess since leaving the Temple of the Sword. When I ran into you I just thought that here is someone I can feel at ease with, someone who is not like the others. You see I have tried to make friends it just seems that people mistrust me, shoo me away," he grinned sheepishly at Shadeen "Well I hope that tells you about myself. Is there anything else you would like to know?"

She listened to the story of his life. It was rather tragic and she felt a tinge of sadness for him. She had heard of such things happening all over the place but she had only met a few people with tragic tales to tell. Her life seemed rather bland having grown up with both parents and little or no tragedy in her life. It didn’t matter overly much. She sipped at her drink and decided to just keep in within her fingers. She swirled the dark liquid in the glass. She watched it slosh up to the edge before tumbling back down to the center of the glass.

She really had no other questions that came to mind immediately, just one thing and it seemed rather bizarre to ask at all. She took another gulp and opened her mouth anyway. “Cats or Dogs?”

Samathan smiled at her warmly "but my life after that is pretty good. I am gradually making friends and making a name for myself," he said "so my life isn't completely tragic. I also often go to the library in Taras and read some of the books there, I have found that knowledge as well as physical strength comes in handy on numerous occassions. Since leaving the Temple of the Sword I must say my life has been more happy and stable, something about knowing that my father would be pleased. He had always wanted me to become a warrior," he smiled across at her and laid his hands down flat on the table. When she asked if cat or dog he grinned broadly "I would have to say I prefer cats. They're so warm and fuzzy, they make the perfect pets. In fact I have always wanted to get one," he smiled across at her.

A cat person. That was good then. She smiled at him, thinking over the kitten she was saving up for. She sipped at her drink unaware it was empty. She pulled the glass away and gazed into it, the bottom looked back, every drop consumed. She caught the nearest barmaid and whispered to her about another drink and smiled at her when she took her glass and headed back to the bar.

”Well it’s good that your whole life isn’t tragic. I might be harder to live that way,” She picked up the last of her food and placed it into her mouth letting the taste linger for a moment. She wondered what kind of sweets they sold here and found herself imagining tasty deserts. She would ask the barmaid when she came around with her drink. She folded her hands in her lap and gazed at Samathan.

Samathan purely by judging her mood sensed that she wished for something sweet "Would you like a desert? Perhaps something sweet, or would you rather have some more food?" he asked "just to let you know I am paying for the lot of this," he grinned. He looked into her eyes and smiled "Jessica," he called to the barmaid "could you please get Shadeen here your best dessert and another drink." He then smiled across at Shadeen and made a fumbled attempt at reaching for her hand which only made him blush ridiciously and he giggled embarassedly "here is a little more about me. I keep a journal of all the interest places I go to on my travels and the hilarious things that often happen to me," he chuckled softly remembering some of his more recent adventures "but you Shadeen when I meet you I was happy because you remind me of someone very dear to me, but I must say your prettier," he said putting a tone of flirtation into his vouice.

A cat person. That was good then. She smiled at him, thinking over the kitten she was saving up for. She sipped at her drink unaware it was empty. She pulled the glass away and gazed into it, the bottom looked back, every drop consumed. She caught the nearest barmaid and whispered to her about another drink and smiled at her when she took her glass and headed back to the bar.

“Thanks,” Shadeen smiled and played with her dress fabric. She listened to what he had to say and thought about her own journal tucked away in the room she was staying in. It was mostly full of random doodles and a few notes. Sometimes poems or short stories, she didn’t write about her own life very much.

“I remind you of someone?” Shadeen had never met anyone anything like her in her lifetime. Sure people shared the same interests or found the same things funny, but no one really like her. She believed everyone to be unique. “Who?”

Samathan smiled warmly at her "It's not that you look exactly like her, you just remind a little of her. Just your humour, the way you walk and the way your constantly smiling," he said meaning the words to be a compliment "you remind me of a good friend of mine by the name of Ellen, but her and I lost touch when I left for the Temple of the Sword." He looked across the table at her and lifted his hand and had a barmaid bring her another drink "It is a good thing that a lot of the time I see a smile upon your lips, when you smile it brightens a room," he said kindly meaning this too to be a compliment. Her lips, when he thought of her lips it made him blush softly and he wondered if she would notice. A thought struck him "But other than slight resemblances, you are unlike anyone I have ever met Shadeen. You are very pretty and when I look into your eyes I can see that you are intelligent," he said. Oh to heck with it he liked Shadeen and he decided to flirt again "It's your eyes Shadeen, I can't help looking into them, they are just so marvellous, like too pools of light," he blushed again and fingered the hem of his cloak shyly "I grew to like you Shadeen and not just because you are pretty like some men would, but because of your personality and character. You are a charming person, full of laughter and spirit, another thing that makes me like you," he said beginning to show his feelings, however he made sure that it wasn't overwhelming for her.

Shadeen looked down at her hands until the barmaid came back with a slab of what appeared to be custard and another drink. She sipped and her drink before digging into her meal.

“Thanks,” She said again, unsure of even what to say or do at this point in time. She’d never been on a date and it seemed a little awkward. It might have just been the way she felt but maybe it was always like this. She wasn’t sure.

She shifted in her seat not quite sure what to say next, she wasn’t used to the attention or anything of the sort. She continued to drink and eat, picking at her custard. It was sweet enough for her liking and she savoured the taste.

Samathan smiled at her softly and shifted nervously also and placed his hands down on the table, she could take his hand if she so wished. He looked at her and blushed softly, he sensed she was feeling something "Shadeen, what are you feeling?" he asked softly "I can feel it." He was shy as well, but that was what first dates were freqently like was it not? "Umm..I know this only our first date, but I know I like you Shadeen," he gave a nervous laugh "umm, first dates are always like this," he said and blushed again. He wanted to hold her hand, did she notice that? Samathan drew a singe rose for beneath the table where he had been keeping it hidden until this moment, he leaned forward and placed it softly on the table before her "For you Shadeen," he said and blushed deeply.

Shadeen reached out and plucked the rose from the table top, running her fingers down the stem careful not to prick herself on the sharp points. She rubbed the petals between her fingers and felt the soft flower between her finger tips. “Thanks,” She said while she continued to twirl the rose in her hands.

“What am I feeling?” She asked, a little unsure of the answer he wanted. She wasn’t feeling much. Well that wasn’t really true everyone always felt something, but expressible feelings had escaped her for the moment. “What am I feeling?” She repeated asking herself the question so she could mull it over for a moment before answering. “It’s a little weird . . .” She finally answered a bit nervously. “I mean. . . I don’t usually do this. I think it’s better to grow as friends before moving onto something more . . .” She lowered her eyes to the rose in her hands. “This is all very fast for me.”

Samathan nodded at her words "I know Shadeen, thats what I thought," he said softly "but you see I like you as more than a friend Shadeen. I couldn't hide it any longer, perhaps we could take things slowly for a start," he said and looking at her he blushed deeply "I...ummm..I want to be more than friends," he was blushing a deep scarlet now. He looked across the table at her and blushing again he fidgeted shyly again with the hem of his cloak "I am sorry Shadeen, I didn't mean for this all to be too fast for you. I just had to do it, I like you Shadeen." He found it hard to speak about his feelings, but he was with her.

“I’m sorry Samathan.” She fidgeted with her plate by moving around the uneaten food. She always found it hard to say bad news or what she thought someone would take as bad news. She hoped that he would understand that it was hard for her to do all this now.

“Its not like I don’t like you or anything. It’s just that I don’t like you in that way. It doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen but it means I don’t want to plunge into something I don’t even know if I’m really ready for.” She was only 18 and even if the age difference wasn’t much between them she felt she still had childish tendencies and that maybe she wasn’t ready for anything serious or...anything really. She hadn’t been in Imythess very long and she didn’t even know Imythess that well, let alone the people in it.

“Sorry,” She felt bad.

The light in Samathan's eyes dimmed at these words and he frowned "Oh how could I be so stupid!" he said aloud rebuking himself "how could I believe you would like me? Of course you don't like me, not many people do." He was taking it all the wrong way "You like Varonen don't you?" he said "I am such an idiot, I should have seen that." He sighed heavily, hard for her? How would it be hard for her? He was hurt and he knew that Shadeen would see this, it was clear in the way he spoke and the look on his face "I just like you Shadeen," he said again "we wouldn't have to plunge into anything, we could just make our way ahead slowly, see if you were comfortable. You are the first girl I've liked Shadeen and I...ummm...oh never mind. I was stupid to let my feelings for you out. I should have known you wouldn't like me," he said looking at the ground. She would need to do something to make him understand.

Samathan cursed in the elven tongue and for the first time Shadeen would notice his pointed ears showing him to be of elven birth. He looked to be nineteen in human reckoning and he continued to speak in the elven tongue "Please Shadeen I do not understand, do you have feelings for Varonen? I too have childish tendencies which is another thing that attracted me to you Shadeen, you have sense of fun and humour, which is a very good thing," he said and realsing he was speaking in elven he translated it for her.

Shadeen’s smile had faded and her features hardened at his display. She wasn’t sure how he would react but this wasn’t one of the options that had filled her mind. She had hoped he would respect what decision she made. But as it went he didn’t even seem to consider it from her side. He seemed to be trying to make her feel sorry for him and she didn’t really want to be played if this was what he was doing.

”Look Samathan, I said that we could be friends. That’s how I want to start things out. If you can’t respect that I’m not ready for this kind of relationship then how I can believe that you’ll respect me when we’re in a relationship?” She posed it as a question but she didn’t want it answered. The answer was she couldn’t. She just couldn’t believe that he would respect her in a relationship if he didn’t respect her now.

”This has nothing to do with Varonen. And whether I like him or not is really none of your business,” Something had come over her that she just couldn’t seem to stop. Once she had gotten worked up she was hard to stop sometimes, and she had gotten worked up. “I may be fun and have a sense of humor, and that may be what’s attracted you to me but I don’t like to start things this way. I like to know people, trust people, and be friends with people before it moves onto more serious things. We can be friends Samathan. That’s all for right now. Maybe it will change, but unless we start as friends we’ll never know.”

Samathan thought about what she had said, he smiled and nodded "Yes you are right," he said softly "I apologise, we shall be friends then. Perhaps after we are friends it shall grow into more but we shall be friends for the time being." He looked across the table at her, now he understood "I am sorry, I understand now. Very well we shall start off as friends. I do respect that about you. It's just that I like you Shadeen but I respect your decision." He stretched out a hand to her and shook it gently "Friends it is then."

”I’m glad that you understand.” She had calmed down a bit but she still kept a wary eye on him while she finished off her plate and downed the last of her drink. She pulled the cloak closer around her, still a little put off with his whole display a few seconds earlier.

”Friends is a good start. A better start than nothing at all,” She said these words more to herself than Samathan. She caught one of the barmaids as they sauntered by her and Samathan’s table, politely asking if the bill could be brought to them at this point.

”It was...interesting.” She wasn’t sure how else to describe the night anymore than that. It had been interesting but she felt that it was time that she took her leave. ”But now I have to go get ready for my trek through the desert, there’s a lot to do before dawn tomorrow and I feel that it’s best if I go now.”

Shadeen stood up from the table and thanked Samathan for the evening. She smiled at him before she tucked her chair back under the table and whirled around to take her leave. She chatting with the bartender thanking him for the service and drinks before giving him a small tip and exiting though the door and into the night.

Samatahn smiled after Shadeen as she left, he was glad that they were at least friends, after all a relationship could well grow from that now couldn't it? His cat Samson came scurring across the floor and into his lap, he was purring contentedly at being back with his master and Samathan reached down a hand and patted his faithful feline friend. "Ahh girls are confusing things Samson," he said softly "one has to trend carefully around them." But he was happy, at least he and Shadeen were friends now, a relationship could form between them. But he couldn't help being jealous of that other man, what was his name, Varonen.

Eliel walked into the tavern, Gwen by his side. He took a seat at a table, and Gwen curled around his chair. He drew a glare from the barkeep, but he said nothing. Eliel looked up to see Kyrus. Eliel waved him over. "Kyrus my friend! come and have a drink with me." He chuckled and scratched Gwen behind the ears. She rolled over and purred, standing up when she saw Samson. Striding over to him, she sat and nudged the cat.

Eliel's warm greeting shook Kyrus out of his thoughts about his wife and how much he missed her. He quickly kissed the locket which had Aris' name carved into it and slipped it back under his shirt for protection, he wouldn't let anything scratch the locket. He looked up at Eliel with a smile and walked over to his friend "Indeed I would welcome a drink with you my friend," he said and Samson licked Gwen's ear when she nudged him and he batted playfully at her other ear with his paw.