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WARNING: Guild Wars 2 Path of Fire SPOILERS AHEAD
For Rytlock, mountain climbing was new. Neither the trek through the Shiverpeaks to face the Dragonspawn nor the sortie into the Maguuma had been quite so vertical as the route that Rowan had insisted on taking him. A springer from the ranch made the trip less difficult, but no less terrifying for the Tribune. It wasn't until they reached nearly the peak of the cliff that Rowan had them dismount, and with a "Git," sent the springers back down the cliff to Highjump.
"Uh, boss," Rytlock ventured, watching the springers hop down the snowy slope. "That's our ride down."
"No it's not," Rowan replied, pulling himself up the short cliff in front of him. "Those are up here."
Rytlock frowned, but followed along anyways. With a grunt he sank his claws into the snow and ice and pulled himself up behind Rowan, silently glad that the Commander had insisted they leave the armour of their garb behind. Their robes billowed by their calves as the two charr stood at the apex.
With a sweeping gesture, Rowan turned Rytlock's attention to the nest before him. "They're our rides," he said, walking towards a griffon and her clutch. "More specifically..." He knelt down by the mother, who tilted her head in puzzlement, and scratched under her neck. The griffon cooed, the feathers on its neck fluffing up and eyes scrunching in pleasure. "...She is."
Rytlock waved his hands in a panicked refusal. "Nuh-uh, no way boss, that ain't happening. It was bad enough you pulled me up here on those damned giant rabbits, but now you're telling me we're gonna FLY?"
"Well Tribune," Rowan said, standing and walking to Rytlock. The griffon cooed and followed, using its tail to brush some of the straw and wood over its eggs. "You got two choices. You can jump down on your own, or you can fly down with me."
"Wrong," Rytlock growled. "I'm ordering you, Centurion, to fly down and bring me back one of those springers."
"And as Commander of Dragon's Watch, I belay that." Rowan grinned at Rytlock's scowl. "We're not home in the Citadel anymore Rytlock, out here I'm in charge. Besides, would you rather jump down in free-fall on a glorified giant gerbil, or float down slowly on her?" He scratched at the griffon's scruff again, and she fanned her wings in pleasure, displaying a fine silvery-white plumage. "Lesser of two evils. Besides, you said we could do whatever I wanted on this date. Trust me, it'll be worth it."
Rytlock's scowl did not falter. "You're lucky I left Sohothin with Stregas, or I'd probably gut you right now."
Rowan chuckled and mounted up on the large griffon, legs positioned right behind the shoulders of the wings, and extended his arm to Rytlock. "Love you too. Now hurry up and get on, or we're going to miss it."
The tribune turned back and forth, weighing his options between the cliff and the griffon. In the end, Rytlock grabbed Rowan's forearm and allowed the smaller charr to lift him up to sit behind the Commander on the griffon. "Fine. But when we get back I'm going to flay you so hard you won't be able to move tomorrow."
"Whatever you say Tribune." Rowan patted the griffon's scruff and she shot forward at a run. With a screech and a mighty push against the edge of the cliff, the griffon leapt into the night sky.
Rytlock kept his eyes screwed shut and his arms locked around Rowan's chest as they shot out into the open air, not liking how easily his behind was sliding around on the griffon. "You couldn't have put some magic straps on first?!" he roared into the wind. For his part, Rowan didn't reply, merely turning and directing the griffon to some location unknown to the Tribune.
After several moments of near-stillness from the griffon, Rytlock ventured to open his eyes. If he hadn't already been breathless from fear, the sight would have stolen his breath away. The sky was starlit and twinkling against a midnight blue backdrop, not the faintest hint of the sun on the horizon nor the violet haze of the brand. The wind breezed gently over his ears and horns, cold but strangely soothing, clean and crisp. The crimson-furred lining of his robe fluttered in the wind, and his tail trailed along behind him, tossed about playfully by the gusts.
Rytlock was so entranced with the experience that he barely noticed the crunch of snow as the griffon touched down. He turned his head from the sky to see a giant waterfall to his left, and felt Rowan's hand on his own. "If you don't mind, I'd like for you to stop trying to gut me with your claws now."
"Hmph, no promises," Rytlock grunted, but released his grip as he dismounted. "But I will admit, this is a nice view..."
Rowan grinned and followed the Tribune, sliding off the griffon. He gave it a pat and nudged it towards the cliff, and the griffon took off with a squawk. "Let's sit down, enjoy the view." The commander sat on the cliff, bracing one foot against the ledge and letting the other hang over. Rytlock pursed his lips, reluctant, but joined Rowan with a world-weary sigh. "Oh shut up," Rowan rumbled with a chuckle. "You know I can save us from falling."
They sat there for a time, Rowan content with the silence and the company, but Rytlock felt...on edge, and it was not from the height. He watched the sky, eyes tracing the constellations and following the paths of shooting stars. A full moon hung in the sky, bright and white against the backdrop, the moonlight casting an eerie and beautiful shimmer against the roaring waterfall beside them. The setting was beautiful, but Rytlock's mind was conflicted. Everything felt...odd. It wasn't until he felt Rowan's claws on his thigh the he snapped out of his head and back to the present.
"You're acting a lot less boisterous than normal Tribune," Rowan commented, turning his head to look at Rytlock. "What's on your mind?"
"We just gave an Elder Dragon the power of a god, that might be something."
"If that was it you'd be bitching and moaning and shouting about 'Let's go kill a dragon, rawr', but you're not."
"That's a terrible impression."
"But not inaccurate."
"Pfah!" Rytlock huffed. "Fine, this is just...this is new."
"What is?"
Rytlock placed his hand on Rowan's, gripping at it. "This. I'm not...I never even considered having a mate. I've never gone on a 'date', never even crossed my mind. This is our first real date since that day in Lion's Arch after we killed Mordremoth, and it has me on edge. It's such a human concept."
"Believe it not," Rowan said. "I understand. It's strange for me as well. But being the Commander, I've come to find that all the races and cultures have something interesting to offer. This is one of the human customs which I actually kind of enjoy, taking yourself out of all the conflict and enjoying time with others."
"Hmm, I'll concede that." Rytlock gripped Rowan's hand a little tighter, and Rowan returned the grip. "I'm not saying I don't enjoy it, Rowan, because I do. It's just very alien, and is taking some time to get used to." He turned back to the sky. "Charr don't really do what your warband has become so...comfortable doing. Life mates, marriage-"
"Hey, that wasn't my fault, we got roped into that by Tristan."
"I'm just saying, the romance has been enjoyable, but alien."
"Hmm, I'll admit it's a little odd for me too. Ferrus seems to take to it easily, but maybe that's because he's blood-related to Hafwen."
Rytlock nodded, and the two fell back into a comfortable silence for a time, watching the stars and the moon slowly turn in the sky. After a moment, and with a knowing grin, Rytlock asked, "So...how did it feel to hold Sohothin?"
Rowan frowned and used his free hand to lightly punch Rytlock in the ribs. "That reminds me, I've got a sword to pick with you. Why didn't you ever do anything like that? I felt like I had a piece of Balthazar himself in my hand, I brought hell to my enemies, all you do is swing it around like a regular sword!"
"It's not my fault!" Rytlock growled. "It's always just been a fiery sword till now, you're...I don't know, god-touched or something! Coming back from the dead, bonded to a dragon champion's scion; you're just a special little snowflake!"
Rowan punched Rytlock again. "Says the first revenant who speaks every day to Glint herself."
In response, Rytlock brought his arm behind Rowan and pulled him in close. "Hey, it wasn't an insult. If you weren't extraordinary, then I wouldn't be interested."
"I guess one person's special is another person's hell." He leaned into Rytlock, holding the Tribune's hand a little tighter. "We haven't been able to do this before, and once things heat up again we probably won't have many chances. So I'm gonna squeeze every second I can. And you know, it's only because of Tristan volunteering to study Sohothin that we were able to keep Hafwen and Forge off our back."
"So glad I could be of service." Rytlock mirrored Rowan's grip. "I'd like to do this more often, but you're right, our lives aren't exactly peaceful. We probably won't get another chance for a while, and I'll admit, I'm kinda liking this take on the mate thing." He leaned down and nipped Rowan's lower ear, a playful tease. "A night under the stars is exactly what we need. Even if you tried to kill me getting here."
"Well partner," Rowan quipped, nibbling Rytlock's ear in return, "Let's enjoy the night while we can."
So they did. For hours they sat watching the stars and the water and the rising mist from below, and then for hours they laid together, Rowan's magic fire warming them into the wee hours. When Rytlock woke, it was with a stiff neck, a chirping bird, and Rowan Darkedge curled against his front. It was still strange to Rytlock, but as the tribune pulled Rowan closer and the younger charr rumbled to wakefulness, he couldn't help but think that it was something he wouldn't hesitate to do again.
"So how do we get down boss?"
So when I messaged Syberfab for this I knew exactly what I needed. The bond between Rowan and Rytlock is, in my mind, actually very genuine. The two go through a lot together - from Rytlock being Rowan's hero and mentor to the dynamics being reversed, with Rowan becoming the Commander of the Pact and guild leader of Dragon's Watch. My friend and I have a complex headcanon for this pair, and I was super happy to write up this little story to try and communicate some of that to you guys.
Rytlock is worldly for a charr but he's not worldly when compared to the Commander. As the Commander, Rowan has had to learn customs and lifestyles of his soldiers, friends, and companions, and he's taken a liking to some of them. Rytlock doesn't always know how to handle these: he's a charr, born and raised as a member of the High Legions, and all these strange customs like dating and life-partnering are all very alien to him. He's realized that he enjoys some, but that doesn't make it that much easier to adapt. Still, he's always been one to speak his mind, and being able to isolate and qualify his thoughts would be a valuable tool to have as a high-ranking member of the Blood Legion.
Art © Syberfab
Rytlock Brimstone, charr race © ArenaNet
Rowan, Story © TibsThicktail
For Rytlock, mountain climbing was new. Neither the trek through the Shiverpeaks to face the Dragonspawn nor the sortie into the Maguuma had been quite so vertical as the route that Rowan had insisted on taking him. A springer from the ranch made the trip less difficult, but no less terrifying for the Tribune. It wasn't until they reached nearly the peak of the cliff that Rowan had them dismount, and with a "Git," sent the springers back down the cliff to Highjump.
"Uh, boss," Rytlock ventured, watching the springers hop down the snowy slope. "That's our ride down."
"No it's not," Rowan replied, pulling himself up the short cliff in front of him. "Those are up here."
Rytlock frowned, but followed along anyways. With a grunt he sank his claws into the snow and ice and pulled himself up behind Rowan, silently glad that the Commander had insisted they leave the armour of their garb behind. Their robes billowed by their calves as the two charr stood at the apex.
With a sweeping gesture, Rowan turned Rytlock's attention to the nest before him. "They're our rides," he said, walking towards a griffon and her clutch. "More specifically..." He knelt down by the mother, who tilted her head in puzzlement, and scratched under her neck. The griffon cooed, the feathers on its neck fluffing up and eyes scrunching in pleasure. "...She is."
Rytlock waved his hands in a panicked refusal. "Nuh-uh, no way boss, that ain't happening. It was bad enough you pulled me up here on those damned giant rabbits, but now you're telling me we're gonna FLY?"
"Well Tribune," Rowan said, standing and walking to Rytlock. The griffon cooed and followed, using its tail to brush some of the straw and wood over its eggs. "You got two choices. You can jump down on your own, or you can fly down with me."
"Wrong," Rytlock growled. "I'm ordering you, Centurion, to fly down and bring me back one of those springers."
"And as Commander of Dragon's Watch, I belay that." Rowan grinned at Rytlock's scowl. "We're not home in the Citadel anymore Rytlock, out here I'm in charge. Besides, would you rather jump down in free-fall on a glorified giant gerbil, or float down slowly on her?" He scratched at the griffon's scruff again, and she fanned her wings in pleasure, displaying a fine silvery-white plumage. "Lesser of two evils. Besides, you said we could do whatever I wanted on this date. Trust me, it'll be worth it."
Rytlock's scowl did not falter. "You're lucky I left Sohothin with Stregas, or I'd probably gut you right now."
Rowan chuckled and mounted up on the large griffon, legs positioned right behind the shoulders of the wings, and extended his arm to Rytlock. "Love you too. Now hurry up and get on, or we're going to miss it."
The tribune turned back and forth, weighing his options between the cliff and the griffon. In the end, Rytlock grabbed Rowan's forearm and allowed the smaller charr to lift him up to sit behind the Commander on the griffon. "Fine. But when we get back I'm going to flay you so hard you won't be able to move tomorrow."
"Whatever you say Tribune." Rowan patted the griffon's scruff and she shot forward at a run. With a screech and a mighty push against the edge of the cliff, the griffon leapt into the night sky.
Rytlock kept his eyes screwed shut and his arms locked around Rowan's chest as they shot out into the open air, not liking how easily his behind was sliding around on the griffon. "You couldn't have put some magic straps on first?!" he roared into the wind. For his part, Rowan didn't reply, merely turning and directing the griffon to some location unknown to the Tribune.
After several moments of near-stillness from the griffon, Rytlock ventured to open his eyes. If he hadn't already been breathless from fear, the sight would have stolen his breath away. The sky was starlit and twinkling against a midnight blue backdrop, not the faintest hint of the sun on the horizon nor the violet haze of the brand. The wind breezed gently over his ears and horns, cold but strangely soothing, clean and crisp. The crimson-furred lining of his robe fluttered in the wind, and his tail trailed along behind him, tossed about playfully by the gusts.
Rytlock was so entranced with the experience that he barely noticed the crunch of snow as the griffon touched down. He turned his head from the sky to see a giant waterfall to his left, and felt Rowan's hand on his own. "If you don't mind, I'd like for you to stop trying to gut me with your claws now."
"Hmph, no promises," Rytlock grunted, but released his grip as he dismounted. "But I will admit, this is a nice view..."
Rowan grinned and followed the Tribune, sliding off the griffon. He gave it a pat and nudged it towards the cliff, and the griffon took off with a squawk. "Let's sit down, enjoy the view." The commander sat on the cliff, bracing one foot against the ledge and letting the other hang over. Rytlock pursed his lips, reluctant, but joined Rowan with a world-weary sigh. "Oh shut up," Rowan rumbled with a chuckle. "You know I can save us from falling."
They sat there for a time, Rowan content with the silence and the company, but Rytlock felt...on edge, and it was not from the height. He watched the sky, eyes tracing the constellations and following the paths of shooting stars. A full moon hung in the sky, bright and white against the backdrop, the moonlight casting an eerie and beautiful shimmer against the roaring waterfall beside them. The setting was beautiful, but Rytlock's mind was conflicted. Everything felt...odd. It wasn't until he felt Rowan's claws on his thigh the he snapped out of his head and back to the present.
"You're acting a lot less boisterous than normal Tribune," Rowan commented, turning his head to look at Rytlock. "What's on your mind?"
"We just gave an Elder Dragon the power of a god, that might be something."
"If that was it you'd be bitching and moaning and shouting about 'Let's go kill a dragon, rawr', but you're not."
"That's a terrible impression."
"But not inaccurate."
"Pfah!" Rytlock huffed. "Fine, this is just...this is new."
"What is?"
Rytlock placed his hand on Rowan's, gripping at it. "This. I'm not...I never even considered having a mate. I've never gone on a 'date', never even crossed my mind. This is our first real date since that day in Lion's Arch after we killed Mordremoth, and it has me on edge. It's such a human concept."
"Believe it not," Rowan said. "I understand. It's strange for me as well. But being the Commander, I've come to find that all the races and cultures have something interesting to offer. This is one of the human customs which I actually kind of enjoy, taking yourself out of all the conflict and enjoying time with others."
"Hmm, I'll concede that." Rytlock gripped Rowan's hand a little tighter, and Rowan returned the grip. "I'm not saying I don't enjoy it, Rowan, because I do. It's just very alien, and is taking some time to get used to." He turned back to the sky. "Charr don't really do what your warband has become so...comfortable doing. Life mates, marriage-"
"Hey, that wasn't my fault, we got roped into that by Tristan."
"I'm just saying, the romance has been enjoyable, but alien."
"Hmm, I'll admit it's a little odd for me too. Ferrus seems to take to it easily, but maybe that's because he's blood-related to Hafwen."
Rytlock nodded, and the two fell back into a comfortable silence for a time, watching the stars and the moon slowly turn in the sky. After a moment, and with a knowing grin, Rytlock asked, "So...how did it feel to hold Sohothin?"
Rowan frowned and used his free hand to lightly punch Rytlock in the ribs. "That reminds me, I've got a sword to pick with you. Why didn't you ever do anything like that? I felt like I had a piece of Balthazar himself in my hand, I brought hell to my enemies, all you do is swing it around like a regular sword!"
"It's not my fault!" Rytlock growled. "It's always just been a fiery sword till now, you're...I don't know, god-touched or something! Coming back from the dead, bonded to a dragon champion's scion; you're just a special little snowflake!"
Rowan punched Rytlock again. "Says the first revenant who speaks every day to Glint herself."
In response, Rytlock brought his arm behind Rowan and pulled him in close. "Hey, it wasn't an insult. If you weren't extraordinary, then I wouldn't be interested."
"I guess one person's special is another person's hell." He leaned into Rytlock, holding the Tribune's hand a little tighter. "We haven't been able to do this before, and once things heat up again we probably won't have many chances. So I'm gonna squeeze every second I can. And you know, it's only because of Tristan volunteering to study Sohothin that we were able to keep Hafwen and Forge off our back."
"So glad I could be of service." Rytlock mirrored Rowan's grip. "I'd like to do this more often, but you're right, our lives aren't exactly peaceful. We probably won't get another chance for a while, and I'll admit, I'm kinda liking this take on the mate thing." He leaned down and nipped Rowan's lower ear, a playful tease. "A night under the stars is exactly what we need. Even if you tried to kill me getting here."
"Well partner," Rowan quipped, nibbling Rytlock's ear in return, "Let's enjoy the night while we can."
So they did. For hours they sat watching the stars and the water and the rising mist from below, and then for hours they laid together, Rowan's magic fire warming them into the wee hours. When Rytlock woke, it was with a stiff neck, a chirping bird, and Rowan Darkedge curled against his front. It was still strange to Rytlock, but as the tribune pulled Rowan closer and the younger charr rumbled to wakefulness, he couldn't help but think that it was something he wouldn't hesitate to do again.
"So how do we get down boss?"
So when I messaged Syberfab for this I knew exactly what I needed. The bond between Rowan and Rytlock is, in my mind, actually very genuine. The two go through a lot together - from Rytlock being Rowan's hero and mentor to the dynamics being reversed, with Rowan becoming the Commander of the Pact and guild leader of Dragon's Watch. My friend and I have a complex headcanon for this pair, and I was super happy to write up this little story to try and communicate some of that to you guys.
Rytlock is worldly for a charr but he's not worldly when compared to the Commander. As the Commander, Rowan has had to learn customs and lifestyles of his soldiers, friends, and companions, and he's taken a liking to some of them. Rytlock doesn't always know how to handle these: he's a charr, born and raised as a member of the High Legions, and all these strange customs like dating and life-partnering are all very alien to him. He's realized that he enjoys some, but that doesn't make it that much easier to adapt. Still, he's always been one to speak his mind, and being able to isolate and qualify his thoughts would be a valuable tool to have as a high-ranking member of the Blood Legion.
Art © Syberfab
Rytlock Brimstone, charr race © ArenaNet
Rowan, Story © TibsThicktail
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 832px
File Size 1.75 MB
Comments