Metal and Dust

He shrugged, pursing his lips. It was most likely the after effects of the stress taking its toll on everyone, including himself. “It seems that you are not the only one who is tired, I for one suspect illness as a likely cause. Perhaps you should take a day off and find some peace of mind so you need not apologize again.”

Noah had never considered himself an optimist, nor did he enjoy being called a fool, but he kept his mouth shut. After all, this man worked for Arthur, and that meant, he had at least some power. “And what is it you were hoping to speak to me of? It is not often you come looking for me.”

“I know that Arthur has brought up the issue of your joining the Royal Guard, and I also know that you have refused.” He paused for a moment before continuing, carefully weighing his words. “May I ask you why? I understand partly why you have refused, but still, I wish to hear the explanation from your own lips.”

Maia looked up from the papers she held in her hand. Godric Romelo was standing before her with an amused expression on his features. The mess of papers could be returned to once the matters he was here for were taken care of. Him, on the other hand, might not appreciate her trying to recreate the semblance she had before it was ruined. Her back straightened as she left the papers where they were on her desk. “A story for another time.” She said. “What matters have brought you here?”

He disliked, no rather hated, making social trips to discuss his more private matters with people. This was no different, but it was more bearable, seeing that he was here to cancel the appointment. If there was one benefit of the riots, it was that the pressure to hurry up and get married was significantly less. “On the matter of my own...wedding,” he grimaced slightly at the word, “I will have to postpone all previous appointments that I have made. The state of the city is rather dismal and I would prefer if we could discuss your hiring later on.” Much later on, if he could help it.

“That would make the two of us then.” It wasn’t a secret that she wasn’t a native to the city. It made no difference to her whether people knew or not, though from the look on Godric’s face, it seemed as though he didn’t feel the same. “You say you don’t have the spirit to spare for travel, and yet here you are pouring over a map, wondering about far off places. Interesting,” she mused. “Had things turned out differently and you had less responsibility, I think you’d be quite the traveler.”

He laughed, and it came easier than most times. Godric shrugged, relaxing a bit more than he was used to. “It is hard to imagine, even in another life. But I can see the appeal it would have. Ancient civilizations and history were subjects of some interest to me.” He looked at her, a curiosity lingering in his mind. “I wonder though, how you came to be in this miserable city, if you dislike it as much as I do?”

“Younger?” A trace of a smile passed over her face. “You are hardly decrepit, Mr. Romelo. Egypt seems like it would be lovely, if a bit hot, if the stories are true. I admit, I always wanted to see the Mughal Empire.” She too had once had wild dreams about the city, overcome by romantic ideals. “Perhaps you should consider a home in the countryside for you and your future bride?”

Future bride, those were words that Godric needed to get used to. Marriage was never really an option on his plans, as much affection as he had for Briar.  “It is perhaps an option, if I ever feel secure leaving the King alone with a different advisor. Whether that will happen, I am fully doubtful.” Staying with Arthur was something he had decided on long before his supposed marriage. Besides, he had worked too hard for it to give it all up, just because he felt tired. “Have you ever considered leaving all together, or is it not an eligible option for you?”

Beverly lowered her head slightly out of respect for Godric. Despite how she felt, she always remembered her manners. It felt strange, though, today for some reason to be acting like this around Godric. There was something…strange, something she could not place that crept up on her as he spoke. Still, she gave a small smile, waving a hand. “Oh, no, I am well, truly. I only need a bit more sleep and I’ll be right as rain.” She tilted her head at the man, nodding at him. “I trust that you are well, though, Sir Romelo?”

“Better than most, I suppose.” It was the truth, or at least part of it. Godric’s dreams had been better since he had visited the physician, who had prescribed him a herb infusion that drowned out the sound of his dreams. He disliked the feeling of drowsiness it made him feel, but it was better than being distracted. But seeing Beverly’s face had an effect of a dream as well. “With all that is happening in Albion, it would be rather odd if we were not a little disturbed.”

“I have. I was born…outside the city.” His answer was short, few knew where he came from and why he had did so. Godric disliked revealing too much about his past, it not being a very enjoyable period of life for him. “After settling in Albion, I have never left the city other than to regional provinces, mostly on matters of business. I have never found the time, or rather, the spirit to spare for actual travel.”

Noah wasn’t one to talk freely to others, but for some reason, this man, who he saw very rarely, inspired words from him. “The human nature of good and love.” He shrugged lightly, looking at the other man. “I don’t believe you have to choose one over the other.”

He raised his eyebrows, a skeptical look crossing his face. “Then you are either a very optimistic man or a fool, which it is not something that I can judge.” Godric straightened up to get a better look of the man, he was oddly familiar, which was rather strange seeing that the two of them rarely crossed paths. “Anyhow, enough of that matter. I wish to speak to you about more...concrete matters.”

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her air at the other’s words. “It was organized,” Maia sad without glancing up from what she was doing. “Someone else happened to mess up the organization plan.” 

He made a face of amusement and cleared his throat to get her attention. “I wonder how exactly that happened, I am positive it is an extremely entertaining story. But, I am afraid I am here for different matters.”

“Surely there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to go though. And I should think that you of all people would have more freedom to leave than most.” It was no secret that Godric was close to the king. “I suppose I do know that feeling. I also suppose if we just decided to stop caring about what we must do, it would change everything, but I doubt either of us will do that.” Duties were a curious, self-imposed prison. She looked at the map, her eyes tracing every place she had sailed and all the places she had yet to sail. “I think hope is equally instinctual. Perhaps it just comes down to what type of person you are.”

He noticed her eyes wander to places on the map. Godric had studied foreign lands (less vigorously than, say, politics or rhetoric), but he had never actually traveled to any of the places. Perhaps the experience made her a more hopeful person, he thought. “I would say freedom is not the exact word. Being in a position of responsibility ties me down to this place, as I have much to lose from leaving. More like…privilege. It comes with a cost, as all things do.” He said this all with his normal casualty, but his own words made him think. “As for hope, if it is an instinct, I seem to have missed that trait.”

“Not what I am looking for. Still not.”

Godric eyed the stack of unorganized papers on her desk with a wary look. “Perhaps you would benefit from a better organization plan.”

“You seem like the type to have trouble and chaos follow you wherever you go. I don’t think a change of city will make a difference.”

“I have never seen it that way, but maybe you are right.” His brows knitted together as he thought of his...rather unfortunate past. “Maybe, though, it is still worth trying. At the moment, it seems that any place should be more agreeable than Albion.”

“That solely depends on you. Do you wish to leave, Godric?”

“Not without you, no.” He turns to look at her, a rare smile playing on his lips. “Maybe one day, after I am wrinkled with age and Arthur no longer needs my service, I will consider it.”

“it depends on which peace you are looking for. If it is from the war, then I believe war comes with human nature. If it is peace from something else, something within you, then I fear it will simply travel with you.”

It was not often he sought counsel or took genuine interest in other’s opinions, but this man made him oddly curious. “A wise observation. Then, what do you suggest as an alternative to the human nature of destruction and quarrels?”

Beverly hadn’t been sleeping well of late. Perhaps it was the sickness she’d been combatting the past weeks, slowly taking its toll on her, or perhaps she couldn’t sleep because of the strange dreams she was having. Either way she had a job to do and pointed in the direction of the courier. “He went down the that wing not half an hour ago. Would you like me to find him for you?“

Godric looked at Beverly, the tired look in her eyes and the way her rather sallow face. It seemed that the entire castle was plagued with a certain illness of dreams and general well being. He shakes his head, hands resting on the kitchen counter. “No, I trust I can do that on my own. You look rather ill though, perhaps you should consult a physician.” 

“I would think that hope would be the only way people get through situations like this,” she shrugged, “I don’t know if I’d call it brave.” She certainly didn’t feel brave, knowing she wished she could get out before things got worse. “Nowhere specific, I think. I would travel the seas. What about you? Where would you go?”

“Anywhere other than this place. I have learned, especially these days,” he lets out a sigh, “that what I want factors very little into what I must do and what I am doing. I am sure you share the sentiment.” He took a step away from the map, looking at the shape of the continents, the colors. “I have to disagree with you about hope, though. There is always submission to one’s own instincts of brutality.”

Alissa frowned. “No, I doubt that. Where would you like to go?” She asked, gesturing at the map

“Far back, in my more younger and happier days, I used to have a certain affinity for the old civilizations. Egypt in particular.” He laughs, a dry laugh at the immaturity of his past self. There were different dreams he had, but all of that he had pushed away when Arthur had appointed him as treasurer. Godric looked at Alissa, wondering about the frown on her face. “But, now I just wish for some place quiet, away from all the racket and noise of the city.”