by Glenn » Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:08 pm
She looked at both of them in the same moment, two moments in one, and both replied to her in kind. Glenn was aware of Rhaena, was aware of the tea changing, changing back, but more than that, he was aware of the dreamwitch. She had seen him enraged, proud, loving and doting. She had seen him insulting and an absolute gentleman.
None of that, however, could have prepared her for this. She spoke. He listened. It was such an admirable trait. As he listened, however, his smile would fade. His head would slowly turn to the left and then back to the right. A shaking. When he spoke back, it was with a softer tone, something kind, a prelude. "Oh, Galacia Talin." But not Vraal. Never Vraal. Did she see that? His voice now would not voice that word, would not sully her with such smallness.
She had warned him, but here he was. She had warned away his smile but drawn in his hand. It was a pleasant thing, a compassionate thing, caring, nurturing, as it would lay itself down upon her cheek. "I watch. I learn. Always. The new ways will blend with the old, but never for the sake of it, never for ritual, never as a slave. More. More than even you can imagine." Almost lyrical, sweet, young. Such youth in his eyes. She had likely seen this tone from Bromn, but with the former governor it was naivete, innocence of the simple, foolishness. With Glenn, it was something else. She had seen such emotion in him, yet such control. "All you have seen, all I have said and you still don't understand.
"I think you can't," and sadness, remorse, was that pity? Did this human dare pity her after insulting her, after trying to bind her, after overwhelming her with the very tamest of passions. Before, though, that love, that gesture had been focused on Rhaena. Now? Now, that selfsame force that he had generated through resisting propriety in the most measured of ways would be turned directly upon Galacia herself. Before she could bask in the sensation indirectly. Now it was for her and her alone. A sweet touch. A tender gaze. Caring words. The tiny kiss for Rhaena only had meaning and power because there was awareness behind it, realization. Truth.
So was there in this.
The frown had faded now, faded in the face of such compassion, of such sweetness. Now it was blossoming as something else, a gift of youth, an honest, earnest thing; insane? Perhaps but that did not make it less. It only made the emotion behind it stronger, more vehement, more assured, more confident but more open and giving. Would Rhaena fault him for the hand upon Galacia's face, for the taboo within? Of course not. Glenn Burnie's heart was large enough to encompass the world? Why else would she love him as she did? When he spoke again, two fingers brushing at her cheek so, so slightly, it was with hope. It was with determination, and it was all, for her. The smile that bloomed upon his face, that shined upon her, young and charming and most of all compassionate: that was for her. As was the wave of emotion that went with it. "You will though. You'll see. I'll break your chains too."