[Flashback]The Messenger Boy(Alevadra)

[Gareth Brock]

8th day of Summer, 504AV


A boy walked through the halls of the dormitory, younger than even the squires that lived there. In his hands was clutched a folded piece of parchment sealed with wax. The boy, certainly no older than ten years, held it as though it were a brittle jewel. The wooden doors of the suites passing him were turned back into trees, the torches that lined the wall were actually eyes, and neither were the stones of the citadel what they seemed. It was his first mission, a mission of great peril and importance. Knight Gareth walked through a forest of night and could feel the burning gaze of evil looking after him. Was he delivering a treaty to a queen? Yes, that's what he was doing. It was a noble quest of peace.

The sword at his side did not exist, of course. He rode no gallant steed. His clothes were that of a little noble servant, not the armor of a knight. Even for a boy who loved fantasy, this was pushing it. When would he first strap a sword to his side and go on adventures? There was so much time still to wait before they would let him do all those fun things. They were greedy with how they kept it all to themselves. How much would the world change before he got to go out and see it for himself? Eight years... why, all the fun things to do would have already been done after eight years. There would be nothing left for him, Gareth Brock.

It certainly didn't help that his brothers were going to get there before him. Just thinking about it made him mad. He wouldn't be able to stand their gloating! The buffoons would ruin everything he ever did. It wasn't fair that he had to be the youngest, why couldn't he have a brother to pick on? Maybe if he asked his mother really nice she'd have another one. She never said no to her Gareth when he put on his pitiful look. That's just what he'd have to do, it was settled! It wasn't fair he had to be the youngest, surely she'd see that.

But when would he see her? He was a page to another noble family now. Would she come to visit him? No, she was too busy. Everyone was too busy. He was alone now. He was ten whole years old now, he had to act his age and be a man.

Yet he just felt lonely and sad. Little Gareth sniffled and rubbed at his eyes as they began to water. He was a big page now, he couldn't cry. His father had never cried about being lonely. Knights couldn't cry. Adventures never ended with tears.

The page dried his eyes with the message in his hands, dampening one corner just a bit. Steeled now, thinking back to his own adventure, he checked the identifying numbers on one door. He had walked too far during his little fantasizing, but not by much. Retracing his steps only took a few doors before he was at the suite he had been instructed to find. The Gareth boy was not a lazy sort and neither was he forgetful when it came to duty. The noble son of knighthood could not afford either of those traits.

With one little hand, he smacked the door a few times instead of knocking. The effect was largely the same, if less polite-sounding. While he waited for an answer, he shuffled from foot to foot and tried to not get impatient. The little page was dressed in simple livery of the Druva household, with a Windoak embroidered on his little shirt. His hair was a mop of blonde and his eyes were an already piercing blue. He stood at a height of perhaps five feet on a good day, looking stocky like a spring being pushed down. He was a cute kid.

[Alevadra Druva]

Alevadra had just gotten back from the stables. Lyris had been cleaned, feed and enjoyed a short ride thanks to Ale. Of course, Lyris also enjoyed half of the Druva's apple; which always made her more willing to go for a ride. The squire had returned to her dormitory for a short while before she headed back out to work more on arching. She was gathering her mother's old bow, a leather arm guard with the Druva symbol engraved on it, and finger tabs. There were arrows for use at the range, most were dulled, but for good reason: some of the squires should have never picked up a bow. While the woman gathered her items, she also changed from a loose linen shirt into a linen shirt that was a little tighter and had short sleeves. The shirt was still long, ended at her mid thigh. A long brown belt was wrapped around her waist and looped through an o ring at the front. Dark brown eyes scanned her bed, the items she was going to be taking with her were laid out before her. Mentally the woman thought through her list of things. It appeared everything was in order. Alevadra leaned over her bed and began to pick up her items, strands a near black blue and purple strands fell forward into her face, which quickly were pushed behind an ear. Before Ale could pick up her Mother's bow there was a thumping at the door. Not a knock, a thump, it would suffice for getting someones attention, but it seemed like a childish thing to do. The squire set down her archery gear and slowly moved to the door, her brown boots informed the visitor of her movement. Upon opening the wooden door, a boy stood before her. He looked young, very young, and on his chest was the Windoak symbol. He also wore clothes of the Druva, but, he was no family Ale knew of, which left one thing. Brown eyes scanned the boy, he was tall for a page, or at least, Ale thought so. She was full grown and was topping out in height at five feet two inches, short, and no one would let her forget it. The boy had a cute, childish face and smooth blond hair. Ale smirked for a moment, she already could tell he would be teased about his looks; she was all too familiar with the taunts. After the brief moment of silence Ale looked directly into the boys bright blue eyes. “Good morning,” Her eyes drifted to the sealed letter the boy held. “My name is Alevadra, I presume that's for me?” A slender index finger pointed to the paper the boy held, her eyes flitted between the boy and the letter as she spoke. Ale was not one to receive letters, at most, she would occasionally get a note from Patrick about when he expected to see her for training, beyond that, she never received letters.

[Gareth Brock]

The page dumbly looked at the girl that opened the door. Particularly her colored hair. He'd never seen anyone with such unnatural colors, and couldn't help his head from tilting a bit as he stared quite plainly. He decided her hair was weird, and that girls were weird. Ten year olds rarely had time for anything but generalities. Life moved much too fast to waste time with being specific, after all. And even besides that, girls were still quite the enigma for a boy so young. Gareth certainly had no sisters to observe, thought that probably wouldn't have helped much either. It was natural.

And so that was how the silence stretched, until the boy realized that he was a messenger today.

"Oh..." He looked at the parchment in his hands and smoothed out some crumples, then met Alevadra's eyes again and smiled a thoroughly youthful smile that would one day be known as rakish. Even when he was supposed to be playing the page, the boy held no difficulty in meeting anyone's eyes. "Yeah, it is."

Gareth began to stretch it out, and then stopped halfway with a look of embarrassment. "Wait, I mean... Ser Victor Druva, Stewart Knight of the 1st Wing, Black Company, 2nd Regiment, Gold Quadron sends this message." The boy took a moment to regain his confidence, and then held out the sealed letter for the squire to take.

It wasn't that he wasn't used to proper knightly titles, he was raised around such respectful ranks and distinctions. No, the only thing awkward in the boy's speech was addressing on behalf of an unfamiliar knight. It had been only days since he was made a page. He still had little idea who Ser Victor Druva really was, or what the Druva family really was. The Brock had a grand history and an important place as the largest family of the First Wing. At times, it seemed like one could throw a stone in a dinner hall and not fail to hit a Brock. Who were the Druva?

After handing over the paper, the boy made no move to leave. He seemed to be waiting for something, the most likely conclusion being a reply to whatever was in the message.

[Alevadra Druva]

Ale stared at the boy for at least a chime as the silence rested between them. He simply stared at her, his head slightly cocked to the side. The squire couldn't help but wonder if the boy was daft or mute, either way, she was growing impatient. “Oh...” He finally said, looking down at the letter, smoothing it. He smiled at Ale and then spoke again. “Yeah, it is.” He was about to hand the letter to her when he paused, quickly blurting out her father's name rank and other various information. After he informed Ale who the letter was from he held it out for her. “Thanks...” she said slowly as she took it, looked down at the paper as she stood in the doorway. Ale looked back up at the boy, he was young, he was a page probably. Chances were, if he was delivering a letter from Victor, he was being a page to the Druva clan. “Come in,” She said calmly, motion with her left hand. Ale stepped back into her room and broke the wax seal that held it closed. Upon opening the letter she read what her father had scrawled in Pavi. Ale, This is Gareth Brock, he is our Page. I would like it if you could spend the day with him, as you will also be part of his learning, you are nearly a knight, and I am very proud of you. This is another facet to to being a Syliran Knight. I would enjoy your company for dinner. Much love, Victor Also, don't do anything....Rash. Victor knew Alevadra well, she would happily show Gareth around, show him the stables, the archery area, everything, and then tell him to try one of them. Ale had become demanding of those around her, expecting a great deal out of them, as her father did to her. Alevadra would expect a great deal out of Gareth, it was just her way. Murky brown eyes looked up to the blond boy that delivered the letter. “Well, Gareth. My name is Alevadra Druva. Victor Druva is my father.” Ale moved to her bed and picked up her archery items, she would not be using these today. “I am sure we will be getting to know each other quite well. My father has asked me to keep you company today, answer any questions you might have, things like that.” The items were placed back in their proper places and Ale grabbed her belt and pouch, which contained some money. “Well then, I'm not use to escorting others around, but is there anything you'd like to know, Gareth?”