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in a battle that's been waging for all eternity
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Posted on September 17, 2014 at 00:30:51 AM by rohmarr

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Rohmarr wondered what it was the King saw as he looked at him, a part of him surprised to realize that yes, this king really did look at him. He was a busy man, had to be with a nation to run, but in that moment his focus was on Rohmarr and his plea. There was a part of him that felt... prickly, one could say, at such a thorough study, but it was a small and easily ignored part. He would have to become accustomed to close scrutiny, he knew. Words could only do so much, and the word of a pirate was not typically one that was highly trusted. No, Rohmarr knew he would have to work, and work hard, if he was ever going to redeem himself and his crew. But would this man, this king, see that honest desire? Or would he see only what others did: a good for nothing pirate, who spent his youth on wicked ways and wicked seas? If Rohmarr hoped to glean anything from the Arthur's face, those hopes were dashed by the man's collected exterior. No emotions were visible in his clear eyes and, though Rohmarr would never admit it, every third beat of his heart sang a low, sickly beat ripe with doubt and anxiety. At the quiet sound above, Trouble's head tipped towards the ceiling but, although he could make up the vague shape of something high above, his eyesight was particularly poor in the daylight and he could not figure out what it was. His claws dug even more into Rohmarr's leg, grateful when Ro pointedly ignored him. It was either claw his leg or set off to investigate - he was incurably curious - and given the circumstances... well, scampering off didn't seem like a very good idea.

Rohmarr felt it, the slight stiffening of his shoulders and the subtle tip downwards of his left lip, at the correction. Not because he was corrected, really, or because said correction came from a noble, but because it was one thing - perhaps the only thing - he'd forgotten to learn before his meeting, and he felt embarrassed at the mistake. Meetings with kings... Well, they weren't exactly commonplace for pirates like himself. His head ducked, a small nod of acknowledgement and apology, before he spoke again.

"Apologies, Your Grace," he said politely. That same corner tipped upwards slightly, the closest to a self-deprecating smile Rohmarr's stoic features usually took. "It's all a bit... new to me, this is."

Rohmarr's head dipped again, a small nod, at Arthur's question. This time his right lip tipped downwards as his right eyebrow tipped slightly upwards, a vague expression of confusion at the king's comment about break-ins. There was no one in their right mind who would seek to be in such a place. True, he'd never been in Shaman's prisons, but he'd been in enough to last a lifetime and he knew they were never pleasant places.

"No, sir," Rohmarr began. His shoulder twitched slightly, as if in preparation of a blow, in a movement that looked habitual rather than because he actually thought Arthur or his men would harm him. "Ah, Your Grace. It's true that I have not returned to my criminal ways since my arrival, and that my time was spent in another prison, but the toll is the same. My past is my past and I cannot deny it, cannot deny who I was then, but I can work to change my future, if you will permit it."

Perhaps he should have elaborated, should have explained that he sought to cleanse his soul and free those of his companions, but he was a man unaccustomed to grand speeches and the words felt trapped in his throat. Perhaps one day he could bring himself to tell someone, anyone, the tale of his past, but for now... Now Arthur would have to take him, or leave him, with what he offered. When the King sat forward, his words honest, Rohmarr listened intently. His amber eyes were sharp, focused. The scribe was forgotten, his attentions devoted to the man who could offer him a path to salvation or send him away without it. Once more, the uselessness, the emptiness, of mere words weighed heavy on Rohmarr's tongue and on his mind. He could offer assurances, make promises. But they were only the words of a pirate, of a man who had lied, and cheated, and stolen for the better part of his of life. His hands clenched against a feeling of helplessness, but he quickly caught himself. His fists opened at his sides and, for a rare moment, gratitude shone in his eyes as the man continued. Arthur was giving him the chance he so desperately wanted, no, needed, despite all that stood against him and all that Arthur had to protect.

Wilfred dashed from the room at the King's direction, and Rohmarr used the brief moment of silence to steady himself and regain his legendary composure. He approached as directed, his eyes falling to the agreement before them. His head shook slightly at the question, his attention temporarily consumed by the study of the lengthy parchment. He read it carefully, despite the fact that his mind was already made up; he was careful to tilt his head in Arthur's direction as the man spoke, making it clear that he listened as well as read. His eyes lifted eventually, met the king's. Again, that flash of gratitude and hope flashed in those amber depths.

"This is very fair," Rohmarr replied after a moment. "More so than I had expected, truth be told." His eyes drifted slightly away, then back. "My word has not meant much to anyone, myself included, for some time. But I give it to you now with honesty, and will work my hardest to prove myself worthy of this trust eventually."

He paused then, unsure if he should speak up or not. After a moment or two he decided he might as well. "Do you know yet what duties I will be responsible for, Your Grace? I am in no position to make requests, and wouldn't know what to ask for even if I was, so I must say I'm curious." A rare, and rather rusty-looking, smile - both lips twitching this time - curved on his face. "There isn't much I'm familiar with, when it comes to life at Court."

He was prepared to sign, even without knowing what his duties would be, and would even if Arthur wasn't yet sure, but he was rather curious. A side-effect of the bond with Trouble, he supposed. Speaking of Trouble... Rohmarr's eyes abruptly widened, sliding a look around the room in search of his familiar. Where had the naughty beast gotten to now?!


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