Maiden and Warrior [TAG: Gevin]

"Guide me, wise lady. Show me the path I must walk." Belina murmured her prayer, hands clasped against her chest as she gaze up at the statue of the Crone. "And do not let me stumble in the dark places that lie ahead."

She'd had another nightmare the previous night. So far she had been lucky that her screams would die in her throat--before they woke anyone up and provoked questions she had no answers to. She didn't want anyone to think her completely mad and be sent off somewhere before she dishonored the family.

"Tell me what they mean, wise lady." Belina begged quietly, even though the sept was relatively empty at that moment. "What are these things that I see?" The answer was silence. Always silence. Belina sighed, feeling weary. It had been before dawn that she'd first awoken and the sun was climbing above the horizon now. Perhaps she needed to return to her quarters; her parents no doubt were wondering where she was. She stood and turned to leave, resolving to search the royal library for answers if the gods could not give them to her.

Gevin was doing his usual tour of duty; even if the Dayne family wasn't at Starfall but in King's Landing, the knights weren't allowed to 'take a break' and their guard had to be up any moment.
Obviously he didn't have to look after the whole castle, just the places where he knew that a member of the family could be.

The last place to control was the Great Sept. He gave a look inside, not expecting to see someone inside: it was only sunrise and everyone would probably still sleeping. At least every noble.
Gevin took a few steps inside, remaining totally indifferent by the paintings or the decorations - everyday they were all the same - As he expected only a few people, but it was like it was empty. He turned to leave when a young lady appeared in front of him, almost bumping on him. It was lady Belina, the daughter of Lord Dayne.

Belina still had the presence of mind to avoid crashing into someone. Looking up, she saw it was a somewhat familiar face from Starfall. She remembered seeing him here and there in the periphery of her time at home. "Oh, beg pardon, ser." she said, curtsying. "I am usually more attentive." Goodness, where was her head? "Er, what is your name, ser?" Most knights at home she knew by their given name, so it was rather off putting that she couldn't recall his.

Gevin observed the young girl for a few seconds, pondering the words he should use to reply. He couldn't be rude in her regards or stay in silence since she clearly asked him a question. He actually never talked more than he should with any member of House Dayne; often he wondered how the other knights found it easy to 'socialize' with them, being called by their first name and such. The only thing that really mattered to him was to do his duty and serve House Dayne faithfully.

"No need to excuse, my lady." he politely answered bowing his head "My name is Gevin Sand, knight at service of House Dayne and at yours."
Only the necessary informations, everything she needed to know about him.

Sand. Belina had heard about a bastard knight from those she spoke with. She'd not put that name to this man, however. "A pleasure to finally meet you properly, Ser Sand." She said, smiling. He seemed a nice, polite man. If a bit quiet and brief... "Did you come to pray this morning?"

Gevin tried to hide a laugh, pray?! The goddess didn't need his prayers and most of the time it was useless, the gods never replied at his prayers when he was young so he just stopped and continued what he could do best: fight.
"No, my lady!" he replied "The gods don't have enough time for both of us!" he said bitterly.

"Oh, I see..." Belina said meekly, placing a hand on her heart. The tone of his voice was as sharp as any blade. "You keep no gods. I am sorry if I have offended you, good ser." She should've thought before saying anything. Not everyone followed the Faith or other gods. While she respected it, she couldn't imagine the beauty of the world without someone looking after it from another realm.

Gevin observed the girl without speaking for a few seconds, she didn't need to apologize, especially to him. Why should she? In the end he didn't get offended by her words, amused was the right adjective.
"No need to apologize.." he raised his hand to stop her. She was too young to see the world's real face, better if she stayed in her own world, with gods and prayers.

Belina nodded, feeling more unsteady than she had been since arriving. The shadows of the night still lingered for her. "If I might ask, what was your purpose in coming here if not for prayer?" she asked, glancing around them. Maybe he had a love for beautiful buildings? Or maybe someone had noticed her absence and sent people to look for her?

Gevin titled his head, right. If he wasn't there for praying what was he doing there?
"Patrol." he nodded giving a quick look around "We protect house Dayne everywhere, not only at Starfall. Danger is hidden in every shadow of this world." he said touching instinctively the blade of the big sword he used to keep on his back.
Just because the Dayne family was in King's Landing, it didn't mean that they were safe. He could trust nobody and nobody could trust him.

Belina blanched at the suggestion that they were in danger--in the Sept of all things! "Surely no criminal would dare attack with the gold cloaks around every corner, good ser." She spoke, lip trembling. But if he had the right of it... She glanced around as he had, suddenly feeling very exposed. In her haste to visit the Crone's shrine, she hadn't taken anyone with her. How easy could it have been for her to just disappear, without trace? "But I suppose some are more daring than others..." she said. The distance between them closed almost imperceptibly. He had the sword. Maybe she should stay with him.

Gevin turned his attention to Belina again, noticing how close she was now. He took a slight step back, she was too close for his taste.
You suppose right, my lady. he laughed sightly. Did he scare her? Good. That would have helped her to understand faster how dangerous and treacherous the world was.
"That's why we can't let our guard down. Men always seek violence." At least that was Gevin had always believed.

Belina frowned at his words. "Not always, I think. There must be times when they tire of such things." One could not survive off of just violence and death for a lifetime. The heart would grow too heavy and they would seek an end to it. Wouldn't they? "Still, being prepared is wise." Like the visions. She'd had them far too long now to just be dreams. Something was on the horizon, she could feel it. "Oh, goodness, I've kept you from your duties." she spoke, looking up at him. He had said he was on patrol, very important work no matter where they were.

Gevin titled his head; not always? She didn't know how men truly were, how he truly was. Violence and danger were permanent elements in his life, always making him wonder how other people's life could be.

"My duty is to protect the members of House Dayne." he shock his head at her words "And that's what I'm doing. If you let me, I would like to escort you to a safer place." Gevin watched Belina, after all his patrol was finished with the Sept and in that way he could be sure that she would have arrived at her rooms safe and sound.

Belina waited as he seemed to consider her words, as if the concept of no fighting were foreign to him. He was strange indeed. It made her curious as to how he lived outside of his duties and the castle at Starfall. "Oh, thank you, Ser Sand." She accepted, bowing her head in a grateful manner.

Gevin smiled sightly - even if it looked more like a grimace - as Belina accepted his help. He moved a few steps outside of the Sept waiting for her to came too. He was sure that gaining the lords' daughter's trust would have helped him to take a step closer to the title of Sword of the Morning. One more step and he could finally have to respect that he deserved.

"Please, try to keep pace." he said as Gevin started to walk.