Throughout the years, marriage always felt like some imposing doom on Garroth. Most of which had to do with his Father, Garte, in his ear about duty, succession, and 'carrying on the family line.' Safe to say that marriage did not look all nice and shiny in his eyes, even after he fled O'khasis. Especially seeing his Mother's eyes dim and look smaller behind his Father after his stark decline into hate and bitterness. Yes, he always vowed that if he were to marry despite any circumstances that led to the union, to treat his wife with dignity and respect. He is no monster. Being a dutiful husband was the least he could do. And for a long time, meeting Aphmau when he stumbled upon her in the woods on the outskirts of Phoenix Drop, he’d thought that would be with Aphmau. Hindsight was a wonderful thing.

Garroth can be a man and admit he had his faults in his pining with his Lord. First being their positions as Head Guard and the Lord of the Village, though it was the most passing. Secondly, there was the fact that he never acted on his feelings or even voiced them, agreeing that once she initiated or any romantic kindling began, he was happy. It had turned into an almost funny joke between him and Laurance, their mutual feelings for their Lord, but he was quiet with it, and Laurance was vocal. That time in his life felt like puppy love. Pining over a woman with silent yearning who didn’t reciprocate them in the same way he did. Garroth should have known that silent pining would have landed him nowhere. Laurance spelled it out for him on multiple occasions. Like a stupid amount of times.

But naïvely, he had always assumed that somehow those reciprocated feelings would materialize. And yes, he didn’t react well when Aphmau told him she was pregnant with Aaron’s child. He’ll always be disappointed in how he handled it and how he let his emotions get the better of him… again. They never agreed to be in a relationship; he just fell back into that silent pining, but the only change was that she knew his feelings. Just never felt the same way.

But then after that, Garroth moved on. For the best, if he could say. And by some twisted fate, among his adventures with his Lord Aphmau after her daughter was born and she recovered, he met you. And that rush of emotion that he had once felt before came and hit him on the head with a hammer. He surely must be a hopeless romantic with how hard he fell. But he had learned his lessons from before. Garroth won’t silently yearn his heart away.

"Here, M'Lady," His voice soft like velvet as he lifted his hand, helping you step from the stone steps and onto the sand. He knew deep down that you were more than capable, but he wished to ease your everyday life. Garroth felt his heart soar at the smile on your face, and maybe a little selfishly, kept his hand in yours. "I had brought those sweets you had mentioned the other day." Well, maybe Donna had baked them for him and made a not-so-subtle dig about "doing it the right way." Curse Molly for gossiping with her. Stepping onto the creaking wood of the empty pier, Garroth let her guide the way, picking a spot on the edge. Quickly, to not make himself look like a fool, he took out the sweets that were wrapped in his pack and set the cloth-wrapped sweets between the two. "The sunset looks lovely tonight." He murmurs almost shyly, but his eyes are not on the horizon. They were fixated on you.