Ranuk seemed thoughtful, carefully considering what the elf had said.  Tamlin knew it might not make sense; maybe he sounded foolish, the silly hopes and dreams of a child...  But he hoped the demon would understand, at least a little.<br/><br/>He watched as Ranuk stretched out, resting his massive head on the stone; he hadn't been this close to Tamlin yet, not even when dancing.  They were inches from each other; from here, Tamlin could see the texture of Ranuk's horns, the trail of fur along his snout and the dark lining around his piercing blue eyes.  The elf didn't move, stayed very still, and listened.<br/><br/><i>I was tired</i>.  Of course he was.  He had been fighting for days, weeks, months...  Longer.  He had simply needed to rest, to let his weary bones and aching muscles have a break.  It wasn't mercy that had held him back; it was exhaustion.  Simple.<br/><br/>Tamlin smiled, slow and soft, and nodded his head.  "I see..."  He couldn't fault Ranuk for his honesty, preferred it more than a lie...<br/><br/>"I still like it."  The smile turned into a grin, a flash of small, white teeth in the dark, his eyes bright, and the prince looked down at Ranuk with the kindest gaze he'd shown yet.  Perhaps it was the drink, perhaps it was because he was tired, but there was no fear at the moment... just calm.