"They're all sorry to see you go, you know."

The words came from the crown prince, sitting inside the dark interior of the carriage. Despite the dim light of the early morning, the curtains had been pulled over the little windows, casting the inside of the vehicle into shadow and Vangelis form was only revealed when Selene's door was opened by the footmen and she was handed inside.

Sitting on the far side of the royal carriage with his arms folded across his chest, Vangelis gave a small smile at her obvious shock.

The woman was clearly upset are her leave-taking as her eyes looked more glassy in the limited light than they would normally and she hadn't had the same smile in her tone when he had heard her outside, bidding his family good health and glad tidings.

Listening to her, he had chosen his words carefully when she stepped up into the carriage.

"My family aren't experts at showing or sharing their emotions, but I can assure you that they are going to miss your presence in our home." He told her, hoping that she wouldn't find his brothers' stoicism or his sister's gruff refusal to show weakness a sign that she had been unwelcome in his kingdom.

He said little more and simply sat where he was, lent back, arms folded with both of his feet up on the opposing seat, so that he could rest his leg, allowing her to catch her breath back at the shock he had clearly given her and simply encouraging her to take one of the two still available seats in the carriage.

Vangelis crossed his ankles where he sat with his legs up and kept his arms folded as he stared Selene down. He knew that her words came from a place of caring. As did his mother's. And his brothers'. And his sister's. And Nike's. And Euphemia's. And by this point, he was getting sick of people catering to what his body needed over what he wanted. And he had wanted to bid goodbye to the woman whose company he had enjoyed over the last few weeks. And so, he ignored her comment about his health entirely and moved the conversation on...

"I think you have developed a bad habit while you have been here in Colchis, my Lady." he told her with a serious glint to his eye that was only betrayed as a joke by the tightening at the corners of his mouth - as if he were trying to subdue a smile. "I highly doubt your crown princes back home will take to such flippant remarks from you - no matter how well-meaning that might be." He raised an eyebrow at her imperiously.

With the carriage now rolling through the streets of Midas and heading down to the harbour, he fell into a moment of quiet, waiting on her response, but also not truly knowing what he wanted to say in this moment. He had simply known that he had wanted to see her off - in person. What he said or did during that time, he wasn't sure.

They rode in silence for a moment after the girl's admittance not being perfectly content with returning home.

"It is natural to be apprehensive." He commented into the cool darkness, after taking a moment to decide his words. "You should look at it as if you're not returning home... Your nervousness comes from the differences you're expecting... between the home you left and the one you're going to." Vangelis shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with offering any kind of advice in this area. "Try not to look at it like you're returning to the home you left but to a new one - full of things you don't know and won't understand but things you can learn."

He smiled his little encouraging half smile at her. "I leave my home for years at a time and things are always different when I return. The manor, the city, the people, the laws... The only thing I know to be the same are my family's love for one another." He shrugged again, this time clearly uncomfortable with discussing such feminine elements as emotions. "If you trust in that family bond, then just remember that it's the only thing that makes a family. It will be no different when you return home - and therefore you have nothing to be concerned about..."

Looking out at the street through the slice between the curtain and window, Vangelis was clearly awkward about such advice. He had no idea if he was completing the "emotional support" that one might expect from a friend correctly. The few friends that Vangelis had, had never required open support in such a manner and he was rust at giving it.

Instead, he decided to turn the idle chatter to something he hoped would be less deep.

"Why would you not attend Colchis in a familiar manner?" He asked Selene, his eyes narrowed. "I assure you, you would always be welcome here, as a friend over a foreign dignitary..."

Vangelis fell quiet for a moment after Selene's words. It was not unusual for him to pause mid-conversation to consider his next input, nor to think over his intended suggestions or statements before they came out of his mouth. Vangelis was not impulsive nor emotional with his language; but calm, calculated and thoughtful. He had found that Selene liked to speak in a similar manner, which was pleasing, as it meant that either one of them would pause to consider their words and that, when they spoke them, they could be sure of the honesty and thought that went into them. There was no reading between the lines, deceit or trickery - simple truth that they had each worked hard to place into their words. At least that was the case when their formalities were dropped... occasionally the two of them were too polite or regal and the words lost a little of their depth but when they were alone together their words were far more candid. It was refreshing. Vangelis had never enjoyed the courtly politics and double meanings of the nobility when they attended court. He far preferred simple and factual communication - the kind he found on a battlefield... and now with Selene; though both of entirely different subjects and context.

As she spoke of her sisters being married and that such a fate would soon befall herself, Vangelis felt uncomfortable. As if he was already speaking with someone else's wife. Or with a woman destined to be someone else's and therefore whom he shouldn't be speaking to with such candour. But then, he also felt disappointed and frustrated at the idea that he couldn't, or wouldn't be able to, continue sharing the banter they had between them.

Turning to look out of the window, through the slight slit in the curtain, Vangelis was careful not to be seen by his people as the carriage trundled further towards the docks. He could smell the sea air now and knew that they had descended through the city enough to reach the salty brine winds of the harbour.

He noted how his people were recovering from the storm, rebuilding some of their homes and readjusting their lives to fit with the requirements and scenarios that the Gods had sent them.

He considered how women were required to do the same. Unable to fully dictate their own lives in the same way that men were. Forced to adjust and bend to the wills of their husbands. Being raised by a strong and opinionated woman, Vangelis had always followed a very particular belief in marriage. That the male of the couple was indeed the leader. That he was the decision maker and the appointed master of the house and family. That he was to be obeyed without question and without obstinacy. But with that power came the duty and responsibility to one’s family; to keep them safe, to keep them happy. And that included their wives. Women that were vital to the continuing line of any home and lineage. Women that deserved respect for such a role and to be guarded and pleasured for their importance in life. They were to be kept joyful and secure in their livelihoods and homes. And it was their husband's responsibility to ensure that that happened. Just as it was the wife's responsibility to obey her man.

"I think..." Vangelis spoke, choosing his words carefully. "That any man who does not allow you to speak or travel as you wish to - provided the social setting permits it - is not a man deserving of your hand."

Finding himself feeling awkward regarding this conversation and almost unable to look at the blonde beauty - for reasons he wasn't so sure - Vangelis said nothing else on the topic, as the carriage finally reaching the docks. Still under construction in many areas, Vangelis knew, the docks sounded lively and were clearly back on the mend and functioning as they should. He had even consulted with the Master of Sea regarding any possible storms during Selene's intended route and journey and was content to know that her voyage was most likely to be smooth and calm.

Unsure what to do in terms of bidding her farewell, now that the carriage had stopped, Vangelis pulled his feet back down and shifted along his seat so that he could at least hold out a hand to help Selene down the step to the ground.

The crown prince smiled at the woman's entreaty to write to her. While he was no great literary or even particularly fond of writing - he disliked the way one could read multiple intonations of a single written sentence and found face to face discussion far more to his liking - he had no issues or qualms bowing his head to her request. Their letters had been awkward initially, as they would be with any new acquaintance but given the friendship they had built through the written word and more recently in person, he found Selene's letters a pleasant exception to the rule. Perhaps it was a trust between them, or because he knew how she communicated in person, but he found that he could take her letters at face value - in the same way he could her spoken words. He was finding that a lot... that Selene was an exception to his rules...

He opened his mouth to ask her. His instinct wanting to know how it could be that a woman of her education, heritage and House was so open and honest without the same slimy or layered meanings to her words that other women of her rank and position held. When really, given he beauty and her age as the eldest in her family, she should really have been the most skilled in courtly subterfuge.

Then again... perhaps she was just an incredibly good actress... said a small voice in the back of Vangelis' head but he stamped down on it hard. He had seen the woman blush, be embarrassed at her words causing affront, had seen her shocked, panicked and surprised. - Often because of the antics of his brother. No-one was that good an actress. Plus, it had never been Vangelis' style to assume everyone was lying. He always preferred to trust in other people and to take them at face value, until they proved to him otherwise - and then there was no going back - no forgiveness and no forgetting.

He snapped his mouth shut, feeling his question to now be too bold or to concern her that such doubts had bubbled for just a second. He would say nothing on the topic.

Instead, he spoke only a moment later to accompany his nod.

"I shall endeavour to do so, my Lady." He vowed, with regards to her request to write her letters. Given how his family confined him to his rooms so much nowadays, he suspected he would have plenty of time for letters he might otherwise not have the time to write. Then again, he had a suspicion that he would find the time where Selene was concerned, even if his daily life was back to normal.

The woman took his hand and Vangelis felt a moment of self-consciousness he didn't understand...

While there were small and soft callouses on the lady's palms and in particular places on her fingers - the areas in which reins would rub - Vangelis was unable to notice them at all when they were pressed against his own palm - a hand that was rougher than most soldiers, because he worked with all kinds of weapons and not just one. His palms were hard and rough, his knuckles harsh and the sides of his fingers where he would handle throwing knives or a bow were worn. His other hand was no better as he had trained himself to be as good with both on the battlefield.

Next to his, Selene's hand felt nothing but small, elegantly slim and unfeasibly soft. Vangelis couldn't help but notice the mismatch and how his touch must be rough to a woman of such beautiful and silky skin. A noble man without combat history would be the kind of man she would become engaged to... he thought without analysing the words... someone who matched her soft touch.

Feeling his chest tighten at the way her thumb had taken to brushing over his palm, Vangelis looked up sharply as the carriage driver pulled open the door, flooding their intimate space with light.

Without hesitation, Vangelis was quick to react, moving his hand to lead her outside of the carriage, so that she descended to the step with her back to the outside world, his eyes still on her face as she focused on what she was doing.

As she was about lower herself from the step to the ground, Vangelis tightened his hold on her hand for a moment to draw her attention and stay her feet.

Pausing for a moment and entirely uncertain why he had gripped her so, Vangelis tried to search her face for the answer. Seeing nothing but an honest and questioning expression on her face and the beauty he had always noticed about her, Vangelis felt himself lean forwards.

Protected from view by the door of the carriage and the fact that Selene had barely left its confines already, Vangelis was uncaring as he lent in closer to her, her personal space severely invaded and his face close to hers. He looked as if he wanted to say something and his lips parted as if to mould the words but his mind came up empty. His gaze dropped to her own lips and he felt his mouth water at their elegance - the lower lip slightly plumper than the upper.

Leaning in further, something gentlemanly in Vangelis had him turning his head and drew his lips to the side of her face... where cheekbone met temple. The kiss he placed there was quick and chaste but after his lips had met soft skin, he lingered, the rasp of his cheek against hers... - even his face was likely too rough for her tastes.

With his breath tracing over her ear and sending several stands of her hair aflutter, Vangelis closed his eyes for a moment as he murmured into her ear.

"Safe winds, Selene."

And as the lady was helped to the ground by the footman, Vangelis lent back, returning to the shadows.

He watched long enough to see that the woman was greeted by the captain of her ship and that her servant - who had already been escorted to the docks met her almost immediately. It was then that he wrapped his knuckles against the roof of the carriage and the coachman obeyed his command to turn the vehicle around and head back to the Kotas manor.

For some reason, he did not care to watch her ship sail away.