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[davor_dandalrei]

Dave was a survivor, that before all other things. Before, in Fionavar, he’d lived through the war. He was there on Maidaladan, when Kevin went away. He was on the banks of the Aiden when his babies were killed. For so much, he was there, and for so much of it he had been fighting. It was a part of him, undeniable. All things leave their mark

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[apinkrose]

Cecily had been exploring the island, which was something she had not done in some time. She loved every inch of the place, but did not even realized that she hadn't even seen parts of it.

So she was quite surprised when she saw the paddocks, and the rather attractive young man with a horse. "My! What a beautiful creature."

[davor_dandalrei]

Dave arches his eyebrows at her over the black's dusty back. To him, the horse was dirty and a little scabbed up, but, he supposed, looking at the black's huge eyes, he was beautiful, too.

"He's seen better days," he offered after a moment, looking up at the girl. "Gettin' better, though, all the time."

[apinkrose]

As she took a few steps closer she could see what the man meant. Cecily pouted and placed her hand out in front of the horse to let him recognise her presence and then looked back at the man. "Whatever could have happened to it?"

[davor_dandalrei]

"There was a war," Dave said, after another deliberate pause. Women like this always made him feel uncomfortable - pretty, easy to talk to, floating through their social circles. It was a world Dave hadn't ever seen.

"He took me through it," he went on, "All the way to here."

[apinkrose]

"Oh, my!" Cecily spoke with not only shock, but also a slight amusement. "A war, how entirely exciting!" There was a pause before she added, "As long as you survive, I suppose." She knew very little of war and the horrors, having only studied the matter in mere schooling books during lessons she never truly paid attention in. She patted the horse on the neck, "Does it have a name?"

[davor_dandalrei]

Dave's expression darkened slightly and he glared at the young girl.

"Mmm," he grunted. "Many do not. Which is not nearly so exciting." He closed his eyes and could see Diar burning on Andarien at night.

"He does not," he went on after an awkward pause. "The Riders never gave their horses names. I don't think it ever would have occurred to them."

[apinkrose]

Once upon a time, Cecily could not tell when she had crossed a line of any sort at all. She was not used to being around people very much, and those who were around her were either paid to agree with her, or adored her, so her words were not something she had to worry about very often. Now that she had been on the island for almost nine months, she could hear the slight changes in people's tones and she immediately felt that she had said something very wrong.

"I know very little of war I suppose." Her words were softer now, almost as though her tone were trying to apologise.

[davor_dandalrei]

"Mmm," Dave rumbled again, watching her doubtfully. He returned his attention almost completly to the horse, smoothing his hands over the mount's mane.

"Be grateful for that, lady," was all he said.

[apinkrose]

Cecily gave him a bright smile, trying to lighten the mood by changing the topic to something she knew a bit more about: horses. "Well, now that you are no longer in a war, can you not name it?"

[davor_dandalrei]

The woman's perseverance alone made Dave glance up at her, considering. He hadn't known that they actually made people like this, save Diar and Kevin Laine.

And look what had happened to them, he thought uncharitably.

"I could," he admitted, looking up at the animal. "Wouldn't know what, though. Not all that great at that kind of thing."

[apinkrose]

Cecily looked over the animal for a moment, but then turned back to the man. "Well, I do have a few ideas, but would it not be a great mistake to name him the same as you. Therefore, pray, what is your name?"

[davor_dandalrei]

"Dave," he offered, awkwardly rubbing the side of his neck. He'd met more people, gone through more introductions, in the past two weeks than he had in years. With a war coming, it had almost been easier.

"Dave Martyniuk. From Toronto, originally." He glanced up at her briefly, her prettiness and irreverence making it hard to keep eye contact. "Not a good name for a horse, anyway."

[apinkrose]

She thought for a moment, looking over at the horse before glancing back at him. "I do not know where Toronto is, but I do like the sound of it." She smiled and patted the horse gently, "Why not name it that?"

[davor_dandalrei]

He was about to brush the suggestion off, roll his eyes. Young girl, knowing nothing, too quick to be friends -

You are too quick to denounce friendship, Dave Martyniuk. The Mage's words come back to him now more than ever. He wonders if he'll ever remember it without a dull and longing ache.

"You know," he said slowly, steadily looking up at the beast and then down at the young girl, who was still smiling. Dave felt almost amazed. "I think you might have something there..."

"What do you think?" he asked the horse, forgetting to feel stupid for once. "What do you think, Toronto? Toronto. Toronto..."

[apinkrose]

Cecily giggled the laugh of a little girl, repeating the name herself, "Toronto. I do believe it has a ring to it."

There was a pause before Cecily realised something of the utmost importance. "Oh! Dear me, I have forgotten my manners. I am Cecily"

[davor_dandalrei]

He nodded at the introduction, and allowed himself a moment's embarrassment for not thinking to ask her before.

"Where are you from?" he asked instead, glancing up. There were so many here from Earth, it seemed, but he'd yet to encounter one person who'd come from Fionavar.