Gren was in love with Amaya.
From the moment he met her, he was captivated by her sheer strength and skill. He admired the absolute ease she could put a soldier into the ground while unarmed and they had been. He admired that fierce look in her eyes whenever a particularly dicey challenge arose, the way her pearl-white teeth would bare in determined effort and the spark in her eyes when victory was assured. He admired the gleam of intelligence and sharp, sure instincts that emanated from her.
He admired the confident, but oh so warm woman he grew to learn of behind the grand tales of the fierce, iron-willed general passed among the ranks, seen every day during training and out in the field. He admired how caring she was with her men, the gentleness with which she would treat them when they were hurt. Admired how much love she held within her for the family she had and the way he swore she seemed to glow and look far more alive and so fond at the mere mention of them.
The beautiful, proud smile she would give him after a job well done.
By no means did he wish seek to have it returned. Well, of course he would like to, it would be nice if it were to ever happen. But his first priority was to serve to the very best of his ability. Serving Katolis, and serving her. But by no means did that mean he had to brush his feelings aside, to hide them away in such shame as though they were a dark secret. He would never make a mention of it, but not because he was ashamed. His feelings were what he was most proud of. Using such an attachment--pure, unadulterated loyalty to her-- he had even more motivation to be the best possible solider. With those feelings, he could turn them into determination, a drive more powerful than any other.
After all, what force was stronger for a human like him to have than love?
It was that love that helped forge him into the man he was now. Commander and second-in-command in Katolis’s Standing Battalion, close friend, confidant and interpreter for Amaya. How could he be anything but thankful to have them?
He was quite alright with her not returning his feelings. More than that, he valued her friendship and their mutual loyalty. It didn’t matter if she would eventually find herself someone to love, someone that wasn’t him, he would be more than happy that she had found happiness. He already had an important place next to her. He was her aid and right hand, what more could he ask? Her presence was enough for him. Both were duty-bound to serve Katolis and the Royal Family, and he wouldn’t change a thing. He gave them the same dedication she did. He gave her his utmost respect and everything he had to offer. To dedicate himself, every last bit of him, to her and the causes she cared for was the greatest honor he could have.
To be able to give her his full trust and receive hers in its entirety in turn was more than enough for him.
