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It had been nearly a month since the assasinations. A month since the city streets had run red with blood and the peace of Vasiliadon had been so shattered. Achilleas, summoned back to reside in the city by his father, still found it hard to believe.
Irakles had been summoned to the palati, and Achilleas would have offered to be close by anyway, though it was difficult, sharing what had been the family home with his father’s mistress, and his daughters. It was what had led him to to escape this day.
There was a curiosity too, to see how the people of Vasiliadon rallied, how they were coming back from the horrors that had besmirched their city. It was important- he judged- that they led by example. There would be no hiding away.The Creed were silent for now, and even if they decided not to be, the warrior would relish the chance to bleed them like the pigs they were.
Swathed in the colours of House Mikaelidas, the deep red was stark against the crisp white of the chiton he wore, and his sword hung at his waist, burnished bronze and a comforting and familiar presence. He made for a formidable sight, years of training and fighting carving muscle into his form, and with the height that saw him tower over many. Achilleas wore it well, having been primed and groomed for greatness all his life.
His face was not severe though, as he wandered through the agora. Indeed, he had a smile to spare for most who caught his eye, because that was what the people needed now. They needed to see that their leaders were not afraid.
Achilleas accepted a goblet of wine pressed upon him by a trader, leaving in to the guard that trailed him to offer the man some payment.. He eyed it a moment and considered if he ought to just discard it, but he was Taengean and it was good wine, so he did not.
He paused a while to listen to a bent old man playing a lyre, tossing him a couple of obol for his efforts, and then when he looked up, he caught a sight of a tall girl wandering in the opposite direction, something familiar in her, though he could not for the life of him put a name to the face. Puzzling over it, he watched her a while, until it struck him. One of the Leventi girls...the youngest, and the name tripped off his tongue as it had been there all along.
“Dafni?” He called out to her, head tilted a little to the side as if he were uncertain that it was indeed the girl he remembered. She had grown up a little since he had seen her last, must be 18 or so now. She had the look of her mother about her, he thought, though sweeter.He glanced around to see who she was here with, even as he approached to greet her properly.
“ My lady Dafni.” The tall man inclined his head, pressed a hand to his own chest in case she did not recognise him “ Achilleas. It has been a while, but I thought I knew your face. Are you here with your family?” He hoped she was not out alone. Despite his own determination to present an unconcerned outlook, there had been too much unrest, in his opinion, for a noblewoman to wander unaccompanied.
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It had been nearly a month since the assasinations. A month since the city streets had run red with blood and the peace of Vasiliadon had been so shattered. Achilleas, summoned back to reside in the city by his father, still found it hard to believe.
Irakles had been summoned to the palati, and Achilleas would have offered to be close by anyway, though it was difficult, sharing what had been the family home with his father’s mistress, and his daughters. It was what had led him to to escape this day.
There was a curiosity too, to see how the people of Vasiliadon rallied, how they were coming back from the horrors that had besmirched their city. It was important- he judged- that they led by example. There would be no hiding away.The Creed were silent for now, and even if they decided not to be, the warrior would relish the chance to bleed them like the pigs they were.
Swathed in the colours of House Mikaelidas, the deep red was stark against the crisp white of the chiton he wore, and his sword hung at his waist, burnished bronze and a comforting and familiar presence. He made for a formidable sight, years of training and fighting carving muscle into his form, and with the height that saw him tower over many. Achilleas wore it well, having been primed and groomed for greatness all his life.
His face was not severe though, as he wandered through the agora. Indeed, he had a smile to spare for most who caught his eye, because that was what the people needed now. They needed to see that their leaders were not afraid.
Achilleas accepted a goblet of wine pressed upon him by a trader, leaving in to the guard that trailed him to offer the man some payment.. He eyed it a moment and considered if he ought to just discard it, but he was Taengean and it was good wine, so he did not.
He paused a while to listen to a bent old man playing a lyre, tossing him a couple of obol for his efforts, and then when he looked up, he caught a sight of a tall girl wandering in the opposite direction, something familiar in her, though he could not for the life of him put a name to the face. Puzzling over it, he watched her a while, until it struck him. One of the Leventi girls...the youngest, and the name tripped off his tongue as it had been there all along.
“Dafni?” He called out to her, head tilted a little to the side as if he were uncertain that it was indeed the girl he remembered. She had grown up a little since he had seen her last, must be 18 or so now. She had the look of her mother about her, he thought, though sweeter.He glanced around to see who she was here with, even as he approached to greet her properly.
“ My lady Dafni.” The tall man inclined his head, pressed a hand to his own chest in case she did not recognise him “ Achilleas. It has been a while, but I thought I knew your face. Are you here with your family?” He hoped she was not out alone. Despite his own determination to present an unconcerned outlook, there had been too much unrest, in his opinion, for a noblewoman to wander unaccompanied.
It had been nearly a month since the assasinations. A month since the city streets had run red with blood and the peace of Vasiliadon had been so shattered. Achilleas, summoned back to reside in the city by his father, still found it hard to believe.
Irakles had been summoned to the palati, and Achilleas would have offered to be close by anyway, though it was difficult, sharing what had been the family home with his father’s mistress, and his daughters. It was what had led him to to escape this day.
There was a curiosity too, to see how the people of Vasiliadon rallied, how they were coming back from the horrors that had besmirched their city. It was important- he judged- that they led by example. There would be no hiding away.The Creed were silent for now, and even if they decided not to be, the warrior would relish the chance to bleed them like the pigs they were.
Swathed in the colours of House Mikaelidas, the deep red was stark against the crisp white of the chiton he wore, and his sword hung at his waist, burnished bronze and a comforting and familiar presence. He made for a formidable sight, years of training and fighting carving muscle into his form, and with the height that saw him tower over many. Achilleas wore it well, having been primed and groomed for greatness all his life.
His face was not severe though, as he wandered through the agora. Indeed, he had a smile to spare for most who caught his eye, because that was what the people needed now. They needed to see that their leaders were not afraid.
Achilleas accepted a goblet of wine pressed upon him by a trader, leaving in to the guard that trailed him to offer the man some payment.. He eyed it a moment and considered if he ought to just discard it, but he was Taengean and it was good wine, so he did not.
He paused a while to listen to a bent old man playing a lyre, tossing him a couple of obol for his efforts, and then when he looked up, he caught a sight of a tall girl wandering in the opposite direction, something familiar in her, though he could not for the life of him put a name to the face. Puzzling over it, he watched her a while, until it struck him. One of the Leventi girls...the youngest, and the name tripped off his tongue as it had been there all along.
“Dafni?” He called out to her, head tilted a little to the side as if he were uncertain that it was indeed the girl he remembered. She had grown up a little since he had seen her last, must be 18 or so now. She had the look of her mother about her, he thought, though sweeter.He glanced around to see who she was here with, even as he approached to greet her properly.
“ My lady Dafni.” The tall man inclined his head, pressed a hand to his own chest in case she did not recognise him “ Achilleas. It has been a while, but I thought I knew your face. Are you here with your family?” He hoped she was not out alone. Despite his own determination to present an unconcerned outlook, there had been too much unrest, in his opinion, for a noblewoman to wander unaccompanied.
The assination had changed the city's heart so palpable, even Dafni could feel it. Her parents were a little more on edge, the servant whispered quietly in the corners of the estate and even Agape seemed somewhat affected by it, protecting and chastising Melina and Dafni more than usual. It had taken days for Dafni to get permission to just go out to the agora and while Dafni did not understand many things, she understood she was only allowed to, because her value for the family and therefor any interest in killing her, was near zero.
Accompanied by a maid and two soldiers - who kept some distance - Dafni strolled around, bought a necklace here, spoke a bit with some of the peddlers she knew. But nothing could elevate the mood, neither her's nor that of the other people. It was like a big, rainy cloud hanging all over the city. But no rain and no relief came.
Eventually Dafni came across a storyteller, who spun a tale of great grandeur and so she stood there and lost herself in it. Dafni liked stories. She did not like reading them, for that her attention span was never long enough, but she loved getting stories told. And Melina, bookworm as she was, sometimes took her time to tell Dafni tales of faraway countries, of wars, of history. Her sister had become quite the storyteller, developing a feeling for when she was about to lose her younger sister and when she had to embellish the story a bit. This made Dafni learn a bit about political things, but never very accurately so. She knew about the wars and the Creed and about the assination, but never really could put everything in it's place.
Dafni had chosen a light blue epiblema - also with the crest of her family woven on it. The hair was loosly tucked up, but the heat had freed some of the more rebellious strands of her thick, brown hair, so she already looked messy, though the activities at the agora had hardly started. A slow sigh escaped her mouth, as she shifted her weight from one side to another and took a small sip of the juice, which was way to sweet for her taste and this weather, but had been the only thing her poor servant had gotten. She scolded him anyways.
This is when Dafni caught his gaze, a tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes, a muscular frame and fine clothes. Even Dafni could deduce that he must have been a soldier or maybe even a general for he had such a strong build. There was something familiar about him, but she could not quite pinpoint it. And then he started coming over and with each step Dafni's heart began beating faster.
Dafni?
Oh, gods, why did he knew her name? She was so bad with names. That was probably some really important friend of her father and she once again blew it! She would never hear the end of it.
Achilleas. It has been some years, but I thought I knew your face. Are you here with your family?
Of course, she knew him now! Many years ago her fantasy had saved his face and features and put him over the face of any hero Melina told her about. Achilleas, the hero, the strong soldier, the feisty lover. No matter how Melina described the men in her stories, Dafni always envisioned him. Sure, he had become older, there were more scars and he was darker than when they last met, but it was him. Achilleas, Dafni's secret childhood crush.
Her mouth opened ever so slightly, but all that escaped was:
"G-Nah?!"
It was no longer just the heat that drove the blood into her cheeks. Then she muttered:
"L-Lord....I'm sorry. The heat is just..."
Dafni realised she had to say something witty, funny, bold to rescue herself, but she could not think of anything else but a breathless:
"By the gods, you are handsome..."
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The assination had changed the city's heart so palpable, even Dafni could feel it. Her parents were a little more on edge, the servant whispered quietly in the corners of the estate and even Agape seemed somewhat affected by it, protecting and chastising Melina and Dafni more than usual. It had taken days for Dafni to get permission to just go out to the agora and while Dafni did not understand many things, she understood she was only allowed to, because her value for the family and therefor any interest in killing her, was near zero.
Accompanied by a maid and two soldiers - who kept some distance - Dafni strolled around, bought a necklace here, spoke a bit with some of the peddlers she knew. But nothing could elevate the mood, neither her's nor that of the other people. It was like a big, rainy cloud hanging all over the city. But no rain and no relief came.
Eventually Dafni came across a storyteller, who spun a tale of great grandeur and so she stood there and lost herself in it. Dafni liked stories. She did not like reading them, for that her attention span was never long enough, but she loved getting stories told. And Melina, bookworm as she was, sometimes took her time to tell Dafni tales of faraway countries, of wars, of history. Her sister had become quite the storyteller, developing a feeling for when she was about to lose her younger sister and when she had to embellish the story a bit. This made Dafni learn a bit about political things, but never very accurately so. She knew about the wars and the Creed and about the assination, but never really could put everything in it's place.
Dafni had chosen a light blue epiblema - also with the crest of her family woven on it. The hair was loosly tucked up, but the heat had freed some of the more rebellious strands of her thick, brown hair, so she already looked messy, though the activities at the agora had hardly started. A slow sigh escaped her mouth, as she shifted her weight from one side to another and took a small sip of the juice, which was way to sweet for her taste and this weather, but had been the only thing her poor servant had gotten. She scolded him anyways.
This is when Dafni caught his gaze, a tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes, a muscular frame and fine clothes. Even Dafni could deduce that he must have been a soldier or maybe even a general for he had such a strong build. There was something familiar about him, but she could not quite pinpoint it. And then he started coming over and with each step Dafni's heart began beating faster.
Dafni?
Oh, gods, why did he knew her name? She was so bad with names. That was probably some really important friend of her father and she once again blew it! She would never hear the end of it.
Achilleas. It has been some years, but I thought I knew your face. Are you here with your family?
Of course, she knew him now! Many years ago her fantasy had saved his face and features and put him over the face of any hero Melina told her about. Achilleas, the hero, the strong soldier, the feisty lover. No matter how Melina described the men in her stories, Dafni always envisioned him. Sure, he had become older, there were more scars and he was darker than when they last met, but it was him. Achilleas, Dafni's secret childhood crush.
Her mouth opened ever so slightly, but all that escaped was:
"G-Nah?!"
It was no longer just the heat that drove the blood into her cheeks. Then she muttered:
"L-Lord....I'm sorry. The heat is just..."
Dafni realised she had to say something witty, funny, bold to rescue herself, but she could not think of anything else but a breathless:
"By the gods, you are handsome..."
The assination had changed the city's heart so palpable, even Dafni could feel it. Her parents were a little more on edge, the servant whispered quietly in the corners of the estate and even Agape seemed somewhat affected by it, protecting and chastising Melina and Dafni more than usual. It had taken days for Dafni to get permission to just go out to the agora and while Dafni did not understand many things, she understood she was only allowed to, because her value for the family and therefor any interest in killing her, was near zero.
Accompanied by a maid and two soldiers - who kept some distance - Dafni strolled around, bought a necklace here, spoke a bit with some of the peddlers she knew. But nothing could elevate the mood, neither her's nor that of the other people. It was like a big, rainy cloud hanging all over the city. But no rain and no relief came.
Eventually Dafni came across a storyteller, who spun a tale of great grandeur and so she stood there and lost herself in it. Dafni liked stories. She did not like reading them, for that her attention span was never long enough, but she loved getting stories told. And Melina, bookworm as she was, sometimes took her time to tell Dafni tales of faraway countries, of wars, of history. Her sister had become quite the storyteller, developing a feeling for when she was about to lose her younger sister and when she had to embellish the story a bit. This made Dafni learn a bit about political things, but never very accurately so. She knew about the wars and the Creed and about the assination, but never really could put everything in it's place.
Dafni had chosen a light blue epiblema - also with the crest of her family woven on it. The hair was loosly tucked up, but the heat had freed some of the more rebellious strands of her thick, brown hair, so she already looked messy, though the activities at the agora had hardly started. A slow sigh escaped her mouth, as she shifted her weight from one side to another and took a small sip of the juice, which was way to sweet for her taste and this weather, but had been the only thing her poor servant had gotten. She scolded him anyways.
This is when Dafni caught his gaze, a tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes, a muscular frame and fine clothes. Even Dafni could deduce that he must have been a soldier or maybe even a general for he had such a strong build. There was something familiar about him, but she could not quite pinpoint it. And then he started coming over and with each step Dafni's heart began beating faster.
Dafni?
Oh, gods, why did he knew her name? She was so bad with names. That was probably some really important friend of her father and she once again blew it! She would never hear the end of it.
Achilleas. It has been some years, but I thought I knew your face. Are you here with your family?
Of course, she knew him now! Many years ago her fantasy had saved his face and features and put him over the face of any hero Melina told her about. Achilleas, the hero, the strong soldier, the feisty lover. No matter how Melina described the men in her stories, Dafni always envisioned him. Sure, he had become older, there were more scars and he was darker than when they last met, but it was him. Achilleas, Dafni's secret childhood crush.
Her mouth opened ever so slightly, but all that escaped was:
"G-Nah?!"
It was no longer just the heat that drove the blood into her cheeks. Then she muttered:
"L-Lord....I'm sorry. The heat is just..."
Dafni realised she had to say something witty, funny, bold to rescue herself, but she could not think of anything else but a breathless:
"By the gods, you are handsome..."
As Achilleas had approached the young woman, he had watched a strange play of emotions across her face, not entirely able to pinpoint each one. And he was then further confused by girl’s rather incoherent greeting, if it could even be termed such. His look of mild amusement soon shifted into one of concern though, as Dafni mentioned the heat and stumbled through an apology. She did look rather flushed come to think of it.
He had been about to agree that the heat was oppressive, but the next words that fell between them had his eyebrows climb towards his hairline, a grin flashing across his face. It made him look younger.
“You are kind” It was said on the back of a laugh, amusement at how flustered the girl seemed to have grown, but Achilleas soon smothered it and instead took pity upon the young woman. He chanced that the flush might be more embarrassment than the effects of the sun, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“ Are you quite well,Lady Dafni? Perhaps you should sit a while. Apollo is indeed fierce in his attentions today” He made to guide the young woman over to a stone bench that was at least partially shaded, and spoke to the servant girl to fetch a cool cloth that Dafni might lay across her neck. The heat could addle thoughts quite easily, he thought, as he helped her sit, and then lowered himself to the space beside her.
“What has brought you out into the city?” he asked, with a glance at the soldiers who accompanied her, running a critical eye over them, habit more than anything.
As they waited upon the return of the servant, Achilleas let his attention fall upon the young woman beside him. She was fair, her skin pale and untouched by the sun. It was likely why it had affected her so. As a soldier, there was no hiding from it, even as it warmed bronze armour to scorching, and made a man dizzy. He had grown hardened to it because he had to. Enemies would not make allowances for heat fatigue.
Realising there had been a stretching silence, the Lord Mikaelidas pushed such thoughts away and forced a smile, talked to fill the space so the girl might not feel awkward or embarrassed.
“ You would be better off in your home, Dafni.” he counselled. “ I am surprised you were given leave to be here, now. Things are mostly safe but…” he lowered his voice, not wanting to undermine his very reason for coming out this day by suggesting they were still under threat. “ It is perhaps not wise to wander just for the sake of it.”
He stood as the servant girl returned, gave her some space to lay the cool cloth on the back of her Mistress’ neck in attempt to relieve some of the heat. Achilleas had a murmured conversation with his own guard, glanced back at the young woman and eventually returned to her side.
“ Do you feel any better?” he queried. It would not do to leave Dafni if she was unwell, and he was considering how it might be best to get her home again.
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As Achilleas had approached the young woman, he had watched a strange play of emotions across her face, not entirely able to pinpoint each one. And he was then further confused by girl’s rather incoherent greeting, if it could even be termed such. His look of mild amusement soon shifted into one of concern though, as Dafni mentioned the heat and stumbled through an apology. She did look rather flushed come to think of it.
He had been about to agree that the heat was oppressive, but the next words that fell between them had his eyebrows climb towards his hairline, a grin flashing across his face. It made him look younger.
“You are kind” It was said on the back of a laugh, amusement at how flustered the girl seemed to have grown, but Achilleas soon smothered it and instead took pity upon the young woman. He chanced that the flush might be more embarrassment than the effects of the sun, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“ Are you quite well,Lady Dafni? Perhaps you should sit a while. Apollo is indeed fierce in his attentions today” He made to guide the young woman over to a stone bench that was at least partially shaded, and spoke to the servant girl to fetch a cool cloth that Dafni might lay across her neck. The heat could addle thoughts quite easily, he thought, as he helped her sit, and then lowered himself to the space beside her.
“What has brought you out into the city?” he asked, with a glance at the soldiers who accompanied her, running a critical eye over them, habit more than anything.
As they waited upon the return of the servant, Achilleas let his attention fall upon the young woman beside him. She was fair, her skin pale and untouched by the sun. It was likely why it had affected her so. As a soldier, there was no hiding from it, even as it warmed bronze armour to scorching, and made a man dizzy. He had grown hardened to it because he had to. Enemies would not make allowances for heat fatigue.
Realising there had been a stretching silence, the Lord Mikaelidas pushed such thoughts away and forced a smile, talked to fill the space so the girl might not feel awkward or embarrassed.
“ You would be better off in your home, Dafni.” he counselled. “ I am surprised you were given leave to be here, now. Things are mostly safe but…” he lowered his voice, not wanting to undermine his very reason for coming out this day by suggesting they were still under threat. “ It is perhaps not wise to wander just for the sake of it.”
He stood as the servant girl returned, gave her some space to lay the cool cloth on the back of her Mistress’ neck in attempt to relieve some of the heat. Achilleas had a murmured conversation with his own guard, glanced back at the young woman and eventually returned to her side.
“ Do you feel any better?” he queried. It would not do to leave Dafni if she was unwell, and he was considering how it might be best to get her home again.
As Achilleas had approached the young woman, he had watched a strange play of emotions across her face, not entirely able to pinpoint each one. And he was then further confused by girl’s rather incoherent greeting, if it could even be termed such. His look of mild amusement soon shifted into one of concern though, as Dafni mentioned the heat and stumbled through an apology. She did look rather flushed come to think of it.
He had been about to agree that the heat was oppressive, but the next words that fell between them had his eyebrows climb towards his hairline, a grin flashing across his face. It made him look younger.
“You are kind” It was said on the back of a laugh, amusement at how flustered the girl seemed to have grown, but Achilleas soon smothered it and instead took pity upon the young woman. He chanced that the flush might be more embarrassment than the effects of the sun, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“ Are you quite well,Lady Dafni? Perhaps you should sit a while. Apollo is indeed fierce in his attentions today” He made to guide the young woman over to a stone bench that was at least partially shaded, and spoke to the servant girl to fetch a cool cloth that Dafni might lay across her neck. The heat could addle thoughts quite easily, he thought, as he helped her sit, and then lowered himself to the space beside her.
“What has brought you out into the city?” he asked, with a glance at the soldiers who accompanied her, running a critical eye over them, habit more than anything.
As they waited upon the return of the servant, Achilleas let his attention fall upon the young woman beside him. She was fair, her skin pale and untouched by the sun. It was likely why it had affected her so. As a soldier, there was no hiding from it, even as it warmed bronze armour to scorching, and made a man dizzy. He had grown hardened to it because he had to. Enemies would not make allowances for heat fatigue.
Realising there had been a stretching silence, the Lord Mikaelidas pushed such thoughts away and forced a smile, talked to fill the space so the girl might not feel awkward or embarrassed.
“ You would be better off in your home, Dafni.” he counselled. “ I am surprised you were given leave to be here, now. Things are mostly safe but…” he lowered his voice, not wanting to undermine his very reason for coming out this day by suggesting they were still under threat. “ It is perhaps not wise to wander just for the sake of it.”
He stood as the servant girl returned, gave her some space to lay the cool cloth on the back of her Mistress’ neck in attempt to relieve some of the heat. Achilleas had a murmured conversation with his own guard, glanced back at the young woman and eventually returned to her side.
“ Do you feel any better?” he queried. It would not do to leave Dafni if she was unwell, and he was considering how it might be best to get her home again.
His smile made her insides tingle and that was a very confusing first for Dafni. She had the sudden urge to pounce on him, not really sure what to do afterwards, but somehow she wanted to touch and smell him. She tried focussing on his eyes, but went down to his soft, perfect lips, that moved. They moved! He must have said something in the meantime! Dafni gave a stifled laugh and before she could even recover he led her away, talked to her servant and when the woozy feeling in her head subsided, they were sitting next to each other on a bench.
What has brought you out into the city?
For a moment she concentrated on her breath, trying to calm her heart down, but the heaviness of the answer to that question, sobered her up quite enough, to shortly glance into his direction.
"Honestly, the house feels suffocating right now. Everyone is on edge, like something bad could happen again at any time. I just had to get out..."
For a moment she lost herself in a scene happening right in front of them. A young man bumping clumsily into a women having a child on her arms, nothing serious happened and the force of the hit was not even enough to hurt her in anyway, but he reacted with panic as if it had been her plan to murder him and she almost squealed like it was not a shoulder, but a knife that touched her. The scene was absolutely bizarre and both treated each other as they had secretly plotted to kill the other. There were no apologies, no words, just raw emotions and the instinct to run, which both did shortly afterwards. Weirdly this situation made Dafni calm down further.
You would be better off in your home, Dafni. I am surprised you were given leave to be here, now. Things are mostly safe but… It is perhaps not wise to wander just for the sake of it.
Dafni listened carefully to his words and once she realised that they were useless to her, she focussed on the sound of his voice. It was pleasant, deep, but not scratchy. He would be a good story teller, just like Melina. Though she knew what stories she wanted to hear from him. When his voice stopped, she turned head and body towards him.
"You sound just like my father." The was an accusing undertone to this and a short break, a moment where she thought to apologize. But apologizing meant that she was not holding her father in high esteem, which she did, but his rules were all too strict and sometimes in her eyes - and she would never say that loud - unnecessary. Dafni lowered her gaze, fixating some rock on the street before them.
"The thing is I am unimportant, my Lord. The third daughter that will never inherit anything. You on the other hand are far more in danger than I." Dafni furrowed her brows in a rare bright moment. "Which is not a threat from me, but more an observation."
Her maid returned and the cool of the clothes did wonders. Dafni thanked the woman briefly and gestured her to stay away a bit, then Achilleas spoke again.
Do you feel any better?
"Do you think we can stay a few more minutes? This is quite pleasant, right now."
And even Dafni was sometimes able to channel the tactics of her mother, leaving it quite open, whether she meant the cool of the cloth or Achilleas presence himself.
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His smile made her insides tingle and that was a very confusing first for Dafni. She had the sudden urge to pounce on him, not really sure what to do afterwards, but somehow she wanted to touch and smell him. She tried focussing on his eyes, but went down to his soft, perfect lips, that moved. They moved! He must have said something in the meantime! Dafni gave a stifled laugh and before she could even recover he led her away, talked to her servant and when the woozy feeling in her head subsided, they were sitting next to each other on a bench.
What has brought you out into the city?
For a moment she concentrated on her breath, trying to calm her heart down, but the heaviness of the answer to that question, sobered her up quite enough, to shortly glance into his direction.
"Honestly, the house feels suffocating right now. Everyone is on edge, like something bad could happen again at any time. I just had to get out..."
For a moment she lost herself in a scene happening right in front of them. A young man bumping clumsily into a women having a child on her arms, nothing serious happened and the force of the hit was not even enough to hurt her in anyway, but he reacted with panic as if it had been her plan to murder him and she almost squealed like it was not a shoulder, but a knife that touched her. The scene was absolutely bizarre and both treated each other as they had secretly plotted to kill the other. There were no apologies, no words, just raw emotions and the instinct to run, which both did shortly afterwards. Weirdly this situation made Dafni calm down further.
You would be better off in your home, Dafni. I am surprised you were given leave to be here, now. Things are mostly safe but… It is perhaps not wise to wander just for the sake of it.
Dafni listened carefully to his words and once she realised that they were useless to her, she focussed on the sound of his voice. It was pleasant, deep, but not scratchy. He would be a good story teller, just like Melina. Though she knew what stories she wanted to hear from him. When his voice stopped, she turned head and body towards him.
"You sound just like my father." The was an accusing undertone to this and a short break, a moment where she thought to apologize. But apologizing meant that she was not holding her father in high esteem, which she did, but his rules were all too strict and sometimes in her eyes - and she would never say that loud - unnecessary. Dafni lowered her gaze, fixating some rock on the street before them.
"The thing is I am unimportant, my Lord. The third daughter that will never inherit anything. You on the other hand are far more in danger than I." Dafni furrowed her brows in a rare bright moment. "Which is not a threat from me, but more an observation."
Her maid returned and the cool of the clothes did wonders. Dafni thanked the woman briefly and gestured her to stay away a bit, then Achilleas spoke again.
Do you feel any better?
"Do you think we can stay a few more minutes? This is quite pleasant, right now."
And even Dafni was sometimes able to channel the tactics of her mother, leaving it quite open, whether she meant the cool of the cloth or Achilleas presence himself.
His smile made her insides tingle and that was a very confusing first for Dafni. She had the sudden urge to pounce on him, not really sure what to do afterwards, but somehow she wanted to touch and smell him. She tried focussing on his eyes, but went down to his soft, perfect lips, that moved. They moved! He must have said something in the meantime! Dafni gave a stifled laugh and before she could even recover he led her away, talked to her servant and when the woozy feeling in her head subsided, they were sitting next to each other on a bench.
What has brought you out into the city?
For a moment she concentrated on her breath, trying to calm her heart down, but the heaviness of the answer to that question, sobered her up quite enough, to shortly glance into his direction.
"Honestly, the house feels suffocating right now. Everyone is on edge, like something bad could happen again at any time. I just had to get out..."
For a moment she lost herself in a scene happening right in front of them. A young man bumping clumsily into a women having a child on her arms, nothing serious happened and the force of the hit was not even enough to hurt her in anyway, but he reacted with panic as if it had been her plan to murder him and she almost squealed like it was not a shoulder, but a knife that touched her. The scene was absolutely bizarre and both treated each other as they had secretly plotted to kill the other. There were no apologies, no words, just raw emotions and the instinct to run, which both did shortly afterwards. Weirdly this situation made Dafni calm down further.
You would be better off in your home, Dafni. I am surprised you were given leave to be here, now. Things are mostly safe but… It is perhaps not wise to wander just for the sake of it.
Dafni listened carefully to his words and once she realised that they were useless to her, she focussed on the sound of his voice. It was pleasant, deep, but not scratchy. He would be a good story teller, just like Melina. Though she knew what stories she wanted to hear from him. When his voice stopped, she turned head and body towards him.
"You sound just like my father." The was an accusing undertone to this and a short break, a moment where she thought to apologize. But apologizing meant that she was not holding her father in high esteem, which she did, but his rules were all too strict and sometimes in her eyes - and she would never say that loud - unnecessary. Dafni lowered her gaze, fixating some rock on the street before them.
"The thing is I am unimportant, my Lord. The third daughter that will never inherit anything. You on the other hand are far more in danger than I." Dafni furrowed her brows in a rare bright moment. "Which is not a threat from me, but more an observation."
Her maid returned and the cool of the clothes did wonders. Dafni thanked the woman briefly and gestured her to stay away a bit, then Achilleas spoke again.
Do you feel any better?
"Do you think we can stay a few more minutes? This is quite pleasant, right now."
And even Dafni was sometimes able to channel the tactics of her mother, leaving it quite open, whether she meant the cool of the cloth or Achilleas presence himself.
If he noticed the girl’s distraction, the baron did not let it show. He was more concerned with establishing if she was recovered, or if perhaps there was more to her apparent lightheadedness than the sun. He was solicitous, as befitting a man looking out for a member of his betrothed’s family.
There was a brief frown at Dafni’s words, indeed the undercurrents of tension ran thick still, and he found himself wishing the day in which they would face they Creed, destroy them, would come sooner. Then they would be able to breathe again, and feel safe in their own city again. He did not usually relish the premise of bringing death, but his fingers itched for it now, vengeful and wanting to punish those who had dared to bring such horrors to the doorstep of the Vasiliadon people.
His gentle expression of concern for the young woman was not best received however, and Achilleas could not quite decide if he were offended or not at her accusation. He sounded like her father? Was it overbearing to suggest she might be better off at home in such circumstances? He might have told her she ought to try having the Prince as a father if she found that so hard to bear.
“ If I do, it is only out of concern for your wellbeing, Dafni. You will allow me that privilege at least, given we will soon be family?”
She seemed subdued though, and when she spoke again, he was surprised that she was so frank. That she held herself in such little value was sad, he thought. And it was a rather terse laugh at her suggestion that he were in more danger than she.
“ I fear I may be better able to defend myself than you, Dafni. And it is important, especially now, that the people see we are not afraid.”
He would not chide her any further though, she was safe enough whilst with him, and he would see her home himself if it came to it. And when the girl said she would sit for a few moments longer, he thought nothing of it, waving a hand at his guard to stand at ease as he leant back on the stone bench, cup of wine clasped in one hand, the other resting atop his thigh.
“Of course” he smiled, before lifting the cup to his lips, the watered wine a welcome refreshment. He might have offered some to his companion but for the juice she held, and so he did not, but rather sat quietly a moment thinking perhaps Dafni was still recovering from her spell in the heat. After a beat or two’s silence, the Lord Mikaelidas attempted some further conversation, though he feared he did not have much in common with this young daughter of his father’s friend.
“How are your sisters?” he asked, looking for some familiar ground. He was not well acquainted with either of the other women, not having seen much of them since they were children. Achilleas found himself with little time for socialising, and having been away with the Lions for some years, felt a little out of the loop with those who might have otherwise been his peers. Indeed, it had been something of a revelation to rediscover Theodora again, though that had been a rather different sort of realisation. But Dafni and her sisters would be family to him before the month was out, so there was no harm in restablishing such connections, he decided.
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If he noticed the girl’s distraction, the baron did not let it show. He was more concerned with establishing if she was recovered, or if perhaps there was more to her apparent lightheadedness than the sun. He was solicitous, as befitting a man looking out for a member of his betrothed’s family.
There was a brief frown at Dafni’s words, indeed the undercurrents of tension ran thick still, and he found himself wishing the day in which they would face they Creed, destroy them, would come sooner. Then they would be able to breathe again, and feel safe in their own city again. He did not usually relish the premise of bringing death, but his fingers itched for it now, vengeful and wanting to punish those who had dared to bring such horrors to the doorstep of the Vasiliadon people.
His gentle expression of concern for the young woman was not best received however, and Achilleas could not quite decide if he were offended or not at her accusation. He sounded like her father? Was it overbearing to suggest she might be better off at home in such circumstances? He might have told her she ought to try having the Prince as a father if she found that so hard to bear.
“ If I do, it is only out of concern for your wellbeing, Dafni. You will allow me that privilege at least, given we will soon be family?”
She seemed subdued though, and when she spoke again, he was surprised that she was so frank. That she held herself in such little value was sad, he thought. And it was a rather terse laugh at her suggestion that he were in more danger than she.
“ I fear I may be better able to defend myself than you, Dafni. And it is important, especially now, that the people see we are not afraid.”
He would not chide her any further though, she was safe enough whilst with him, and he would see her home himself if it came to it. And when the girl said she would sit for a few moments longer, he thought nothing of it, waving a hand at his guard to stand at ease as he leant back on the stone bench, cup of wine clasped in one hand, the other resting atop his thigh.
“Of course” he smiled, before lifting the cup to his lips, the watered wine a welcome refreshment. He might have offered some to his companion but for the juice she held, and so he did not, but rather sat quietly a moment thinking perhaps Dafni was still recovering from her spell in the heat. After a beat or two’s silence, the Lord Mikaelidas attempted some further conversation, though he feared he did not have much in common with this young daughter of his father’s friend.
“How are your sisters?” he asked, looking for some familiar ground. He was not well acquainted with either of the other women, not having seen much of them since they were children. Achilleas found himself with little time for socialising, and having been away with the Lions for some years, felt a little out of the loop with those who might have otherwise been his peers. Indeed, it had been something of a revelation to rediscover Theodora again, though that had been a rather different sort of realisation. But Dafni and her sisters would be family to him before the month was out, so there was no harm in restablishing such connections, he decided.
If he noticed the girl’s distraction, the baron did not let it show. He was more concerned with establishing if she was recovered, or if perhaps there was more to her apparent lightheadedness than the sun. He was solicitous, as befitting a man looking out for a member of his betrothed’s family.
There was a brief frown at Dafni’s words, indeed the undercurrents of tension ran thick still, and he found himself wishing the day in which they would face they Creed, destroy them, would come sooner. Then they would be able to breathe again, and feel safe in their own city again. He did not usually relish the premise of bringing death, but his fingers itched for it now, vengeful and wanting to punish those who had dared to bring such horrors to the doorstep of the Vasiliadon people.
His gentle expression of concern for the young woman was not best received however, and Achilleas could not quite decide if he were offended or not at her accusation. He sounded like her father? Was it overbearing to suggest she might be better off at home in such circumstances? He might have told her she ought to try having the Prince as a father if she found that so hard to bear.
“ If I do, it is only out of concern for your wellbeing, Dafni. You will allow me that privilege at least, given we will soon be family?”
She seemed subdued though, and when she spoke again, he was surprised that she was so frank. That she held herself in such little value was sad, he thought. And it was a rather terse laugh at her suggestion that he were in more danger than she.
“ I fear I may be better able to defend myself than you, Dafni. And it is important, especially now, that the people see we are not afraid.”
He would not chide her any further though, she was safe enough whilst with him, and he would see her home himself if it came to it. And when the girl said she would sit for a few moments longer, he thought nothing of it, waving a hand at his guard to stand at ease as he leant back on the stone bench, cup of wine clasped in one hand, the other resting atop his thigh.
“Of course” he smiled, before lifting the cup to his lips, the watered wine a welcome refreshment. He might have offered some to his companion but for the juice she held, and so he did not, but rather sat quietly a moment thinking perhaps Dafni was still recovering from her spell in the heat. After a beat or two’s silence, the Lord Mikaelidas attempted some further conversation, though he feared he did not have much in common with this young daughter of his father’s friend.
“How are your sisters?” he asked, looking for some familiar ground. He was not well acquainted with either of the other women, not having seen much of them since they were children. Achilleas found himself with little time for socialising, and having been away with the Lions for some years, felt a little out of the loop with those who might have otherwise been his peers. Indeed, it had been something of a revelation to rediscover Theodora again, though that had been a rather different sort of realisation. But Dafni and her sisters would be family to him before the month was out, so there was no harm in restablishing such connections, he decided.
If I do, it is only out of concern for your wellbeing, Dafni. You will allow me that privilege at least, given we will soon be family?
Only how could she ever forget. Olympia got a handsome and powerful man and now Theodora was next, while Agape, Melina and her stayed sheltered and grew older and nothing ever happened. It was not so much that she wanted something to happen, because that would have meant physical stuff with men, but it meant that she and her sister were denied something that everyone else seemed to find with ease. That something might be wrong with them. That they were not desirable. And if Dafni wanted anything, she wanted attention.
"Yes, soon we will be family." She simply repeated his words without focussing on him. There was an undertone to it, sadness and envy, Dafni was either not very good at hiding that or simply did not want to. "I'm not good in etiquette, my Lord. This is probably why a man like you, will never chose a girl like me. You see, I don't play games, because I'm terrible at them." For a moment she almost seemed shocked by her own words, her own honesty, but then a sad smile came across her lips as if she was satisfied with herself.
Dafni touched the cool cloth and shifted it to a different position, leaving little pearls of water on her pale skin in which the light of the sun broke itself. Carefully she touched her cheeks with it and closed her eyes with a small sigh. When she opened them again, she looked into his eyes and smiled softly.
"The fact that I am here shows them I am not afraid. Hiding in our mansion would suggest exactly that, would it not? So in a way I am doing, what you want me to, am I not?" For a moment longer than needed, she kept both gaze and smile up and then looked to the front again. Her mind raced, looking desperately for some interesting topic that might prolong this moment. Something that might make him reconsider or something which would simply draw him to her. Dafni thought about what her mother would do, who always looked so comfortable in her body and so her eyes went to the empty hand on his thigh. She could simply grab it or caress his thigh. It would be bold, it would be stupid. His voice brought her back and to her senses.
How are your sisters?
This provoked an honest reaction from her: She burst into laughter. Honest, soft laughter, which made her look younger than she was. "Achilleas, I am so glad you are just as terrible at this than I am." For a moment she tried to find his perfect blue eyes again, before she further explained: "You see, if you are alone with a woman, the last thing she wants to talk about are other women and certainly not those, she naturally compares herself to." Then a hint of seriousness went back into her face as she added with some bitterness: "It makes it obvious you are not interested in her."
Dafni put the wet cloth next to her on the bench and enjoyed the refreshment it brought. So far she had been brutally direct, so she decided, to charge ahead even more.
"How did she win your heart?"
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If I do, it is only out of concern for your wellbeing, Dafni. You will allow me that privilege at least, given we will soon be family?
Only how could she ever forget. Olympia got a handsome and powerful man and now Theodora was next, while Agape, Melina and her stayed sheltered and grew older and nothing ever happened. It was not so much that she wanted something to happen, because that would have meant physical stuff with men, but it meant that she and her sister were denied something that everyone else seemed to find with ease. That something might be wrong with them. That they were not desirable. And if Dafni wanted anything, she wanted attention.
"Yes, soon we will be family." She simply repeated his words without focussing on him. There was an undertone to it, sadness and envy, Dafni was either not very good at hiding that or simply did not want to. "I'm not good in etiquette, my Lord. This is probably why a man like you, will never chose a girl like me. You see, I don't play games, because I'm terrible at them." For a moment she almost seemed shocked by her own words, her own honesty, but then a sad smile came across her lips as if she was satisfied with herself.
Dafni touched the cool cloth and shifted it to a different position, leaving little pearls of water on her pale skin in which the light of the sun broke itself. Carefully she touched her cheeks with it and closed her eyes with a small sigh. When she opened them again, she looked into his eyes and smiled softly.
"The fact that I am here shows them I am not afraid. Hiding in our mansion would suggest exactly that, would it not? So in a way I am doing, what you want me to, am I not?" For a moment longer than needed, she kept both gaze and smile up and then looked to the front again. Her mind raced, looking desperately for some interesting topic that might prolong this moment. Something that might make him reconsider or something which would simply draw him to her. Dafni thought about what her mother would do, who always looked so comfortable in her body and so her eyes went to the empty hand on his thigh. She could simply grab it or caress his thigh. It would be bold, it would be stupid. His voice brought her back and to her senses.
How are your sisters?
This provoked an honest reaction from her: She burst into laughter. Honest, soft laughter, which made her look younger than she was. "Achilleas, I am so glad you are just as terrible at this than I am." For a moment she tried to find his perfect blue eyes again, before she further explained: "You see, if you are alone with a woman, the last thing she wants to talk about are other women and certainly not those, she naturally compares herself to." Then a hint of seriousness went back into her face as she added with some bitterness: "It makes it obvious you are not interested in her."
Dafni put the wet cloth next to her on the bench and enjoyed the refreshment it brought. So far she had been brutally direct, so she decided, to charge ahead even more.
"How did she win your heart?"
If I do, it is only out of concern for your wellbeing, Dafni. You will allow me that privilege at least, given we will soon be family?
Only how could she ever forget. Olympia got a handsome and powerful man and now Theodora was next, while Agape, Melina and her stayed sheltered and grew older and nothing ever happened. It was not so much that she wanted something to happen, because that would have meant physical stuff with men, but it meant that she and her sister were denied something that everyone else seemed to find with ease. That something might be wrong with them. That they were not desirable. And if Dafni wanted anything, she wanted attention.
"Yes, soon we will be family." She simply repeated his words without focussing on him. There was an undertone to it, sadness and envy, Dafni was either not very good at hiding that or simply did not want to. "I'm not good in etiquette, my Lord. This is probably why a man like you, will never chose a girl like me. You see, I don't play games, because I'm terrible at them." For a moment she almost seemed shocked by her own words, her own honesty, but then a sad smile came across her lips as if she was satisfied with herself.
Dafni touched the cool cloth and shifted it to a different position, leaving little pearls of water on her pale skin in which the light of the sun broke itself. Carefully she touched her cheeks with it and closed her eyes with a small sigh. When she opened them again, she looked into his eyes and smiled softly.
"The fact that I am here shows them I am not afraid. Hiding in our mansion would suggest exactly that, would it not? So in a way I am doing, what you want me to, am I not?" For a moment longer than needed, she kept both gaze and smile up and then looked to the front again. Her mind raced, looking desperately for some interesting topic that might prolong this moment. Something that might make him reconsider or something which would simply draw him to her. Dafni thought about what her mother would do, who always looked so comfortable in her body and so her eyes went to the empty hand on his thigh. She could simply grab it or caress his thigh. It would be bold, it would be stupid. His voice brought her back and to her senses.
How are your sisters?
This provoked an honest reaction from her: She burst into laughter. Honest, soft laughter, which made her look younger than she was. "Achilleas, I am so glad you are just as terrible at this than I am." For a moment she tried to find his perfect blue eyes again, before she further explained: "You see, if you are alone with a woman, the last thing she wants to talk about are other women and certainly not those, she naturally compares herself to." Then a hint of seriousness went back into her face as she added with some bitterness: "It makes it obvious you are not interested in her."
Dafni put the wet cloth next to her on the bench and enjoyed the refreshment it brought. So far she had been brutally direct, so she decided, to charge ahead even more.
"How did she win your heart?"
It was a….lukewarm reaction to the idea of them becoming family, and Achilleas frowned a little as he heard it, wondered if he had offended the girl somehow. The match was a good one, two houses of royal blood strengthening their connection. Better for the Leventi’s, if he were honest. Her next words did not ease his confusion.
This is probably why a man like you, will never chose a girl like me. You see, I don't play games, because I'm terrible at them
He looked perplexed."Who is playing games”.A pause and he smiled encouragingly “ You are a beautiful girl. I am sure your father will not be short of suitors for you”. Indeed, her face was fair, even if she were a little slender still, not much to fill out the epiblema she wore but for a hint of curves. Achilleas found himself watching as she pressed the cool cloth to her face, and then blinked, shook himself.
She was a girl, and seemed young even for her age he thought, as her eyes found his, and he shook his head at what she said next. “ It is different and you know it” he advised seriously. “...but you have guards with you, and that is something. I can escort you home myself, when you feel well enough, of course.”
The Lord Mikaelidas had not planned such a trip, but it did not hurt that to take Dafni home would take him to Theodora’s doorstep.Nor could it be wrong to be chivalrous to the daughter of the Head of House Leventi, even if the man was his father’s oldest friend. It all aligned quite nicely, if he thought about it.
Or perhaps did, until what happened next. Terrible at what? There was a definite frown then. “ I certainly meant no offence, Dafni” Achilleas looked mildly displeased.” You are presuming much. Of course I care about your sisters, for they will be family too. But I am sitting here with you am I not?”
He chose to interpret ‘interest’ in the platonic, friendly sense, because for the young woman to be thinking anything different was absurd given that he was to wed her cousin in a matter of weeks. He had been polite, friendly only, he thought. Gracious even, when she had embarrassed herself earlier. He would not wish to hurt her feelings though, so perhaps he ought to gently correct her.
But before he had even had chance to stamp out any such misconception, she was talking again, and he found himself pondering how this conversation had run away from him so much.
“Your cousin?” He wondered how to answer. In truth, it had been years ago that Theodora had snuck into his affections, a throwaway instant of youth. Only more recently he had thought on it, and his regard for her had grown into something else, he mused
She was beautiful, but that did not need speaking. When he thought of her, it conjured memories of one of the few carefree moments that he could recall of his younger years. There had never been much space for him to be young. And Theodora, she was all entangled with that elusive feeling of freedom and possibility. But that was not for sharing.
“She is bold and not afraid to speak her mind” he settled on, and then he laughed quietly to himself “ Perhaps you have that in common.” And then he swept them on from the subject as if they had never been there at all. “ Now tell me you are feeling better, young Dafni?”
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It was a….lukewarm reaction to the idea of them becoming family, and Achilleas frowned a little as he heard it, wondered if he had offended the girl somehow. The match was a good one, two houses of royal blood strengthening their connection. Better for the Leventi’s, if he were honest. Her next words did not ease his confusion.
This is probably why a man like you, will never chose a girl like me. You see, I don't play games, because I'm terrible at them
He looked perplexed."Who is playing games”.A pause and he smiled encouragingly “ You are a beautiful girl. I am sure your father will not be short of suitors for you”. Indeed, her face was fair, even if she were a little slender still, not much to fill out the epiblema she wore but for a hint of curves. Achilleas found himself watching as she pressed the cool cloth to her face, and then blinked, shook himself.
She was a girl, and seemed young even for her age he thought, as her eyes found his, and he shook his head at what she said next. “ It is different and you know it” he advised seriously. “...but you have guards with you, and that is something. I can escort you home myself, when you feel well enough, of course.”
The Lord Mikaelidas had not planned such a trip, but it did not hurt that to take Dafni home would take him to Theodora’s doorstep.Nor could it be wrong to be chivalrous to the daughter of the Head of House Leventi, even if the man was his father’s oldest friend. It all aligned quite nicely, if he thought about it.
Or perhaps did, until what happened next. Terrible at what? There was a definite frown then. “ I certainly meant no offence, Dafni” Achilleas looked mildly displeased.” You are presuming much. Of course I care about your sisters, for they will be family too. But I am sitting here with you am I not?”
He chose to interpret ‘interest’ in the platonic, friendly sense, because for the young woman to be thinking anything different was absurd given that he was to wed her cousin in a matter of weeks. He had been polite, friendly only, he thought. Gracious even, when she had embarrassed herself earlier. He would not wish to hurt her feelings though, so perhaps he ought to gently correct her.
But before he had even had chance to stamp out any such misconception, she was talking again, and he found himself pondering how this conversation had run away from him so much.
“Your cousin?” He wondered how to answer. In truth, it had been years ago that Theodora had snuck into his affections, a throwaway instant of youth. Only more recently he had thought on it, and his regard for her had grown into something else, he mused
She was beautiful, but that did not need speaking. When he thought of her, it conjured memories of one of the few carefree moments that he could recall of his younger years. There had never been much space for him to be young. And Theodora, she was all entangled with that elusive feeling of freedom and possibility. But that was not for sharing.
“She is bold and not afraid to speak her mind” he settled on, and then he laughed quietly to himself “ Perhaps you have that in common.” And then he swept them on from the subject as if they had never been there at all. “ Now tell me you are feeling better, young Dafni?”
It was a….lukewarm reaction to the idea of them becoming family, and Achilleas frowned a little as he heard it, wondered if he had offended the girl somehow. The match was a good one, two houses of royal blood strengthening their connection. Better for the Leventi’s, if he were honest. Her next words did not ease his confusion.
This is probably why a man like you, will never chose a girl like me. You see, I don't play games, because I'm terrible at them
He looked perplexed."Who is playing games”.A pause and he smiled encouragingly “ You are a beautiful girl. I am sure your father will not be short of suitors for you”. Indeed, her face was fair, even if she were a little slender still, not much to fill out the epiblema she wore but for a hint of curves. Achilleas found himself watching as she pressed the cool cloth to her face, and then blinked, shook himself.
She was a girl, and seemed young even for her age he thought, as her eyes found his, and he shook his head at what she said next. “ It is different and you know it” he advised seriously. “...but you have guards with you, and that is something. I can escort you home myself, when you feel well enough, of course.”
The Lord Mikaelidas had not planned such a trip, but it did not hurt that to take Dafni home would take him to Theodora’s doorstep.Nor could it be wrong to be chivalrous to the daughter of the Head of House Leventi, even if the man was his father’s oldest friend. It all aligned quite nicely, if he thought about it.
Or perhaps did, until what happened next. Terrible at what? There was a definite frown then. “ I certainly meant no offence, Dafni” Achilleas looked mildly displeased.” You are presuming much. Of course I care about your sisters, for they will be family too. But I am sitting here with you am I not?”
He chose to interpret ‘interest’ in the platonic, friendly sense, because for the young woman to be thinking anything different was absurd given that he was to wed her cousin in a matter of weeks. He had been polite, friendly only, he thought. Gracious even, when she had embarrassed herself earlier. He would not wish to hurt her feelings though, so perhaps he ought to gently correct her.
But before he had even had chance to stamp out any such misconception, she was talking again, and he found himself pondering how this conversation had run away from him so much.
“Your cousin?” He wondered how to answer. In truth, it had been years ago that Theodora had snuck into his affections, a throwaway instant of youth. Only more recently he had thought on it, and his regard for her had grown into something else, he mused
She was beautiful, but that did not need speaking. When he thought of her, it conjured memories of one of the few carefree moments that he could recall of his younger years. There had never been much space for him to be young. And Theodora, she was all entangled with that elusive feeling of freedom and possibility. But that was not for sharing.
“She is bold and not afraid to speak her mind” he settled on, and then he laughed quietly to himself “ Perhaps you have that in common.” And then he swept them on from the subject as if they had never been there at all. “ Now tell me you are feeling better, young Dafni?”
You are a beautiful girl. I am sure your father will not be short of suitors for you.
That's when she could not hold it in and downright scoffed. "Achilleas, Agape is almost 30. If father had plans to marry any one of us off, he would start with her, otherwise she would lose her face. And Mother would never let that happen. So Melina and I have to wait for Agape's wedding or either a really good husband that would make him reconsider. Someone like you. But you chose Theodora, so that's that. But maybe I could come watch your children grow up, if I'm not allowed to have some of my own?"
It was like he had opened the floodgates of bitterness in her and for once she did not hold back and when it was all out, she took a deep breath and turned to him. "I have to apologize, this is not of your concern and my words were ill-chosen." The tone of the apology was formal, spoken as if to a stranger, spoken as a chore.
I certainly meant no offence, Dafni
"You did not offend me. I don't think you could, if you tried to." Her face softened and she dared to glance at him for a second. A short glance, head to toe and she sighed softly again.
You are presuming much. Of course I care about your sisters, for they will be family too. But I am sitting here with you am I not?
"I would never assume you are not well-raised or not a kind person. But we both know what I was speaking about, yet you are too polite to address it directly. THAT is playing a game, Achilleas, even if you are not aware of it." Dafni carefully rose next to him, waiting if any dizzy spell would hit her and when it did not, she thought for a moment about faking it. But then she looked at him and realised she had lost. Not that he ever gave her a fair chance to win. It had been idiotic to even gamble.
She is bold and not afraid to speak her mind. Perhaps you have that in common. Now tell me you are feeling better, young Dafni?
As soon as he had labeled her young, her eyes narrowed for a second, almost angrily so. Then she turned towards him and nodded.
"Well enough to find my way home alone. I would not wish to further impose on you, old Achilleas." She was not able to swallow this remark. Then she bit her lip and added: "I apologize again. You do not deserve this, but I cannot handle rejection well, I'm afraid. We probably see each other at the wedding, then?"
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You are a beautiful girl. I am sure your father will not be short of suitors for you.
That's when she could not hold it in and downright scoffed. "Achilleas, Agape is almost 30. If father had plans to marry any one of us off, he would start with her, otherwise she would lose her face. And Mother would never let that happen. So Melina and I have to wait for Agape's wedding or either a really good husband that would make him reconsider. Someone like you. But you chose Theodora, so that's that. But maybe I could come watch your children grow up, if I'm not allowed to have some of my own?"
It was like he had opened the floodgates of bitterness in her and for once she did not hold back and when it was all out, she took a deep breath and turned to him. "I have to apologize, this is not of your concern and my words were ill-chosen." The tone of the apology was formal, spoken as if to a stranger, spoken as a chore.
I certainly meant no offence, Dafni
"You did not offend me. I don't think you could, if you tried to." Her face softened and she dared to glance at him for a second. A short glance, head to toe and she sighed softly again.
You are presuming much. Of course I care about your sisters, for they will be family too. But I am sitting here with you am I not?
"I would never assume you are not well-raised or not a kind person. But we both know what I was speaking about, yet you are too polite to address it directly. THAT is playing a game, Achilleas, even if you are not aware of it." Dafni carefully rose next to him, waiting if any dizzy spell would hit her and when it did not, she thought for a moment about faking it. But then she looked at him and realised she had lost. Not that he ever gave her a fair chance to win. It had been idiotic to even gamble.
She is bold and not afraid to speak her mind. Perhaps you have that in common. Now tell me you are feeling better, young Dafni?
As soon as he had labeled her young, her eyes narrowed for a second, almost angrily so. Then she turned towards him and nodded.
"Well enough to find my way home alone. I would not wish to further impose on you, old Achilleas." She was not able to swallow this remark. Then she bit her lip and added: "I apologize again. You do not deserve this, but I cannot handle rejection well, I'm afraid. We probably see each other at the wedding, then?"
You are a beautiful girl. I am sure your father will not be short of suitors for you.
That's when she could not hold it in and downright scoffed. "Achilleas, Agape is almost 30. If father had plans to marry any one of us off, he would start with her, otherwise she would lose her face. And Mother would never let that happen. So Melina and I have to wait for Agape's wedding or either a really good husband that would make him reconsider. Someone like you. But you chose Theodora, so that's that. But maybe I could come watch your children grow up, if I'm not allowed to have some of my own?"
It was like he had opened the floodgates of bitterness in her and for once she did not hold back and when it was all out, she took a deep breath and turned to him. "I have to apologize, this is not of your concern and my words were ill-chosen." The tone of the apology was formal, spoken as if to a stranger, spoken as a chore.
I certainly meant no offence, Dafni
"You did not offend me. I don't think you could, if you tried to." Her face softened and she dared to glance at him for a second. A short glance, head to toe and she sighed softly again.
You are presuming much. Of course I care about your sisters, for they will be family too. But I am sitting here with you am I not?
"I would never assume you are not well-raised or not a kind person. But we both know what I was speaking about, yet you are too polite to address it directly. THAT is playing a game, Achilleas, even if you are not aware of it." Dafni carefully rose next to him, waiting if any dizzy spell would hit her and when it did not, she thought for a moment about faking it. But then she looked at him and realised she had lost. Not that he ever gave her a fair chance to win. It had been idiotic to even gamble.
She is bold and not afraid to speak her mind. Perhaps you have that in common. Now tell me you are feeling better, young Dafni?
As soon as he had labeled her young, her eyes narrowed for a second, almost angrily so. Then she turned towards him and nodded.
"Well enough to find my way home alone. I would not wish to further impose on you, old Achilleas." She was not able to swallow this remark. Then she bit her lip and added: "I apologize again. You do not deserve this, but I cannot handle rejection well, I'm afraid. We probably see each other at the wedding, then?"
He was a little taken aback, if he were honest. They were not well-acquainted after all, far from the closeness that such coarse appraisal of her prospects might be acceptable. The man’s eyes flickered briefly up to the servants and guards who stood nearby, pretending as if they had not heard the young lady’s outburst, his gaze a silent warning that they would hold their tongues beyond this day too.
Achilleas blinked as he surmised that yes, perhaps the older Leventi sister was over the age one might have expected her to be wed...He had not thought on it before. Why would he? And yet no matter, it was not a thing he expected to be brought up by this girl he had merely sought to see safely home.
He had opened his mouth to stay her words before she could commit any further faux pas,but she beat him to it, and Achilleas’ lips thinned at the offhand apology that she made. Her father would do well to work upon the girl’s manners if he ever did wish to see her wed he mused, unimpressed at the turn their conversation had taken.
But she looked at him again, and as her expression softened into something a little moony, the Lord Mikaelidas reminded himself of her youth, and flattered himself that she was perhaps not a little overwhelmed by his company. He would have relented, sternness already melting away in favour of a bemused sort of smile
“I think we have misunderstood each other, my lady” he began, fully intending to tell her that it was not a game he played, to gently rebuff her. Surely she would know that he could hardly be seen to be expressing any kind of interest in her. Achilleas began to question the wisdom of venturing into discussion of his relationship with Theoroa.
He was surprised again though when Dafni stood, and the baron rose to stand with her, ready to catch her if she should waver. Such solicitude was rather thrown back in his face a moment later and he almost laughed at the anger that bled into the girl’s expression, the impertinence in her response even as she attempted to wash it away with yet another limp apology.
“Hold a moment” His voice was firm, well used to giving orders, though there was a spark of amusement dancing in the very blue eyes that locked upon her. “ You are not being rejected, Dafni. I am betrothed to your cousin...and old it would seem. Stop this silliness and let me escort you home. It is no bother, and I am not certain you are yet yourself”
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He was a little taken aback, if he were honest. They were not well-acquainted after all, far from the closeness that such coarse appraisal of her prospects might be acceptable. The man’s eyes flickered briefly up to the servants and guards who stood nearby, pretending as if they had not heard the young lady’s outburst, his gaze a silent warning that they would hold their tongues beyond this day too.
Achilleas blinked as he surmised that yes, perhaps the older Leventi sister was over the age one might have expected her to be wed...He had not thought on it before. Why would he? And yet no matter, it was not a thing he expected to be brought up by this girl he had merely sought to see safely home.
He had opened his mouth to stay her words before she could commit any further faux pas,but she beat him to it, and Achilleas’ lips thinned at the offhand apology that she made. Her father would do well to work upon the girl’s manners if he ever did wish to see her wed he mused, unimpressed at the turn their conversation had taken.
But she looked at him again, and as her expression softened into something a little moony, the Lord Mikaelidas reminded himself of her youth, and flattered himself that she was perhaps not a little overwhelmed by his company. He would have relented, sternness already melting away in favour of a bemused sort of smile
“I think we have misunderstood each other, my lady” he began, fully intending to tell her that it was not a game he played, to gently rebuff her. Surely she would know that he could hardly be seen to be expressing any kind of interest in her. Achilleas began to question the wisdom of venturing into discussion of his relationship with Theoroa.
He was surprised again though when Dafni stood, and the baron rose to stand with her, ready to catch her if she should waver. Such solicitude was rather thrown back in his face a moment later and he almost laughed at the anger that bled into the girl’s expression, the impertinence in her response even as she attempted to wash it away with yet another limp apology.
“Hold a moment” His voice was firm, well used to giving orders, though there was a spark of amusement dancing in the very blue eyes that locked upon her. “ You are not being rejected, Dafni. I am betrothed to your cousin...and old it would seem. Stop this silliness and let me escort you home. It is no bother, and I am not certain you are yet yourself”
He was a little taken aback, if he were honest. They were not well-acquainted after all, far from the closeness that such coarse appraisal of her prospects might be acceptable. The man’s eyes flickered briefly up to the servants and guards who stood nearby, pretending as if they had not heard the young lady’s outburst, his gaze a silent warning that they would hold their tongues beyond this day too.
Achilleas blinked as he surmised that yes, perhaps the older Leventi sister was over the age one might have expected her to be wed...He had not thought on it before. Why would he? And yet no matter, it was not a thing he expected to be brought up by this girl he had merely sought to see safely home.
He had opened his mouth to stay her words before she could commit any further faux pas,but she beat him to it, and Achilleas’ lips thinned at the offhand apology that she made. Her father would do well to work upon the girl’s manners if he ever did wish to see her wed he mused, unimpressed at the turn their conversation had taken.
But she looked at him again, and as her expression softened into something a little moony, the Lord Mikaelidas reminded himself of her youth, and flattered himself that she was perhaps not a little overwhelmed by his company. He would have relented, sternness already melting away in favour of a bemused sort of smile
“I think we have misunderstood each other, my lady” he began, fully intending to tell her that it was not a game he played, to gently rebuff her. Surely she would know that he could hardly be seen to be expressing any kind of interest in her. Achilleas began to question the wisdom of venturing into discussion of his relationship with Theoroa.
He was surprised again though when Dafni stood, and the baron rose to stand with her, ready to catch her if she should waver. Such solicitude was rather thrown back in his face a moment later and he almost laughed at the anger that bled into the girl’s expression, the impertinence in her response even as she attempted to wash it away with yet another limp apology.
“Hold a moment” His voice was firm, well used to giving orders, though there was a spark of amusement dancing in the very blue eyes that locked upon her. “ You are not being rejected, Dafni. I am betrothed to your cousin...and old it would seem. Stop this silliness and let me escort you home. It is no bother, and I am not certain you are yet yourself”
Dafni had grown up surrounded by servants and guards. They did not really count as people to her and thus she was not even aware of their presence, but she had shown that more than clearly. When he spoke to the guards and icecold tingly feeling started to dwell in her stomach. She had once again proven that the game in any form was not her's to play. She was idiotic at it and aware of it. Her focus had laid solely on him, because of admiration, of desperation. And thus she had once forgotten that they were not alone. And she knew Achilleas authority would not be enough to quiet servants and guards down. Only cutting out their tongues would suffice and for a very short moment - in this train of thought - her expression resembled Fotios'.
Then her gaze became almost penetrating. Trying to read Achilleas, trying to figure out what was happening behind his perfect face. Dafni suddenly felt the desperation boiling over. She had ridiculed herself anyways. In front of him and the servants, so why not treasure the moment and just kiss him? Her eyes darted to his lips. Why did the seem so soft? So nicely-shaped? Why did her lips suddenly tingle? What was that feeling?
I think we have misunderstood each other, my lady.
His words were first sound only and her brain just listened from the "my lady"-part again, so she looked at him a bit puzzled and blank. Having been swayed by his look for a moment, she regained her cognitive abilities again and remembered what just happened and what he did to her. So her expression gained once again a seriousness to it.
You are not being rejected, Dafni. I am betrothed to your cousin...and old it would seem. Stop this silliness and let me escort you home. It is no bother, and I am not certain you are yet yourself.
Dafni froze suddenly as if he had performed one last deadly strike. Her body language, so poised it was almost unnatural, ceased to exist, the shoulder slumping down, her gaze hitting the ground. Her mind yet was racing.
Liking Achilleas, wanting him was going against what was good for her family. And it was family first. Always. This was not even a mantra taught to her, but something she felt and wanted with her entire heart. And she was acting up against it. She had to stop this nonsense now. So she faked it. Her eyes empty and her voice a little darker than before, she looked at him and nodded.
"Yes, my lord. It must have been the heat. Please escort me to safety. It is probably best I lie down. I really look forward to your wedding."
Dafni was over-playing it again, but this time she truly did not care for it.
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Dafni had grown up surrounded by servants and guards. They did not really count as people to her and thus she was not even aware of their presence, but she had shown that more than clearly. When he spoke to the guards and icecold tingly feeling started to dwell in her stomach. She had once again proven that the game in any form was not her's to play. She was idiotic at it and aware of it. Her focus had laid solely on him, because of admiration, of desperation. And thus she had once forgotten that they were not alone. And she knew Achilleas authority would not be enough to quiet servants and guards down. Only cutting out their tongues would suffice and for a very short moment - in this train of thought - her expression resembled Fotios'.
Then her gaze became almost penetrating. Trying to read Achilleas, trying to figure out what was happening behind his perfect face. Dafni suddenly felt the desperation boiling over. She had ridiculed herself anyways. In front of him and the servants, so why not treasure the moment and just kiss him? Her eyes darted to his lips. Why did the seem so soft? So nicely-shaped? Why did her lips suddenly tingle? What was that feeling?
I think we have misunderstood each other, my lady.
His words were first sound only and her brain just listened from the "my lady"-part again, so she looked at him a bit puzzled and blank. Having been swayed by his look for a moment, she regained her cognitive abilities again and remembered what just happened and what he did to her. So her expression gained once again a seriousness to it.
You are not being rejected, Dafni. I am betrothed to your cousin...and old it would seem. Stop this silliness and let me escort you home. It is no bother, and I am not certain you are yet yourself.
Dafni froze suddenly as if he had performed one last deadly strike. Her body language, so poised it was almost unnatural, ceased to exist, the shoulder slumping down, her gaze hitting the ground. Her mind yet was racing.
Liking Achilleas, wanting him was going against what was good for her family. And it was family first. Always. This was not even a mantra taught to her, but something she felt and wanted with her entire heart. And she was acting up against it. She had to stop this nonsense now. So she faked it. Her eyes empty and her voice a little darker than before, she looked at him and nodded.
"Yes, my lord. It must have been the heat. Please escort me to safety. It is probably best I lie down. I really look forward to your wedding."
Dafni was over-playing it again, but this time she truly did not care for it.
Dafni had grown up surrounded by servants and guards. They did not really count as people to her and thus she was not even aware of their presence, but she had shown that more than clearly. When he spoke to the guards and icecold tingly feeling started to dwell in her stomach. She had once again proven that the game in any form was not her's to play. She was idiotic at it and aware of it. Her focus had laid solely on him, because of admiration, of desperation. And thus she had once forgotten that they were not alone. And she knew Achilleas authority would not be enough to quiet servants and guards down. Only cutting out their tongues would suffice and for a very short moment - in this train of thought - her expression resembled Fotios'.
Then her gaze became almost penetrating. Trying to read Achilleas, trying to figure out what was happening behind his perfect face. Dafni suddenly felt the desperation boiling over. She had ridiculed herself anyways. In front of him and the servants, so why not treasure the moment and just kiss him? Her eyes darted to his lips. Why did the seem so soft? So nicely-shaped? Why did her lips suddenly tingle? What was that feeling?
I think we have misunderstood each other, my lady.
His words were first sound only and her brain just listened from the "my lady"-part again, so she looked at him a bit puzzled and blank. Having been swayed by his look for a moment, she regained her cognitive abilities again and remembered what just happened and what he did to her. So her expression gained once again a seriousness to it.
You are not being rejected, Dafni. I am betrothed to your cousin...and old it would seem. Stop this silliness and let me escort you home. It is no bother, and I am not certain you are yet yourself.
Dafni froze suddenly as if he had performed one last deadly strike. Her body language, so poised it was almost unnatural, ceased to exist, the shoulder slumping down, her gaze hitting the ground. Her mind yet was racing.
Liking Achilleas, wanting him was going against what was good for her family. And it was family first. Always. This was not even a mantra taught to her, but something she felt and wanted with her entire heart. And she was acting up against it. She had to stop this nonsense now. So she faked it. Her eyes empty and her voice a little darker than before, she looked at him and nodded.
"Yes, my lord. It must have been the heat. Please escort me to safety. It is probably best I lie down. I really look forward to your wedding."
Dafni was over-playing it again, but this time she truly did not care for it.
Achilleas was not one to be cowed by a searching gaze from a young girl - indeed he looked steadily back at Dafni, expression neutral aside from the barest hint of humour that presented itself as a quirk at the edge of the lips she had been so diligently studying. It faded though, when he had spoken and the girl so obviously withered before him, shoulders dropping, voice flat and eyes dull. Her answer devoid of the spark she had shown earlier their conversation. Ahh. Well it was most likely for the best he decided. She would do better not to hold onto any fanciful ideas, even if it was flattering.
“Can you ride?” he asked, scrutinizing the youngest of Fotios’ daughters. “ Or do I need to send for a carriage?”
He had ridden here himself, but it would not take overlong for his guard to go back and organise for a more hospitable form of transport for them if Dafni was really so unwell. She really had not been making a lot of sense he mused.Deciding it better to be safe than sorry, Achilleas dispatched his man and offered his arm so they might head to meet the carriage when it arrived.
The Agora was still busy, and the sun was hot as it beat down upon their heads. Achilleas kept a careful eye on his charge as they made their way through the myriad stalls and merchants, and the few that chanced their luck in approaching, he dismissed with a few words and a wave of his hand. He measured his pace so as not to hurry the young woman, and spoke a little as they walked as Dafni had fallen silent and sullen almost.
“I have seen men go mad with sun” he said, brow furrowed. “Fighting all day in the worst of it, and they are laid low not by blade nor spear but by the heat and lack of fluids. You should not underestimate its strength.” He shot a hard look at her maid then, who should have known better than to let her lady get in such a state. “But you are right in that rest and water should have you feeling well again soon.”
By the time they had reached the edge of the markets, the carriage had arrived, and Dafni was offered a hand to step up inside. “Can you manage?” He would lift her if not, she was so slender a thing he thought his hands would wrap all the way around her waist. And then he motioned for her maid to follow before joining them. It was a little cramped, if he were honest, folding his large frame into the carriage alongside Dafni and the maid, but given the girl’s odd behaviour, Achilleas thought it wise not to take any chances.
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Achilleas was not one to be cowed by a searching gaze from a young girl - indeed he looked steadily back at Dafni, expression neutral aside from the barest hint of humour that presented itself as a quirk at the edge of the lips she had been so diligently studying. It faded though, when he had spoken and the girl so obviously withered before him, shoulders dropping, voice flat and eyes dull. Her answer devoid of the spark she had shown earlier their conversation. Ahh. Well it was most likely for the best he decided. She would do better not to hold onto any fanciful ideas, even if it was flattering.
“Can you ride?” he asked, scrutinizing the youngest of Fotios’ daughters. “ Or do I need to send for a carriage?”
He had ridden here himself, but it would not take overlong for his guard to go back and organise for a more hospitable form of transport for them if Dafni was really so unwell. She really had not been making a lot of sense he mused.Deciding it better to be safe than sorry, Achilleas dispatched his man and offered his arm so they might head to meet the carriage when it arrived.
The Agora was still busy, and the sun was hot as it beat down upon their heads. Achilleas kept a careful eye on his charge as they made their way through the myriad stalls and merchants, and the few that chanced their luck in approaching, he dismissed with a few words and a wave of his hand. He measured his pace so as not to hurry the young woman, and spoke a little as they walked as Dafni had fallen silent and sullen almost.
“I have seen men go mad with sun” he said, brow furrowed. “Fighting all day in the worst of it, and they are laid low not by blade nor spear but by the heat and lack of fluids. You should not underestimate its strength.” He shot a hard look at her maid then, who should have known better than to let her lady get in such a state. “But you are right in that rest and water should have you feeling well again soon.”
By the time they had reached the edge of the markets, the carriage had arrived, and Dafni was offered a hand to step up inside. “Can you manage?” He would lift her if not, she was so slender a thing he thought his hands would wrap all the way around her waist. And then he motioned for her maid to follow before joining them. It was a little cramped, if he were honest, folding his large frame into the carriage alongside Dafni and the maid, but given the girl’s odd behaviour, Achilleas thought it wise not to take any chances.
Achilleas was not one to be cowed by a searching gaze from a young girl - indeed he looked steadily back at Dafni, expression neutral aside from the barest hint of humour that presented itself as a quirk at the edge of the lips she had been so diligently studying. It faded though, when he had spoken and the girl so obviously withered before him, shoulders dropping, voice flat and eyes dull. Her answer devoid of the spark she had shown earlier their conversation. Ahh. Well it was most likely for the best he decided. She would do better not to hold onto any fanciful ideas, even if it was flattering.
“Can you ride?” he asked, scrutinizing the youngest of Fotios’ daughters. “ Or do I need to send for a carriage?”
He had ridden here himself, but it would not take overlong for his guard to go back and organise for a more hospitable form of transport for them if Dafni was really so unwell. She really had not been making a lot of sense he mused.Deciding it better to be safe than sorry, Achilleas dispatched his man and offered his arm so they might head to meet the carriage when it arrived.
The Agora was still busy, and the sun was hot as it beat down upon their heads. Achilleas kept a careful eye on his charge as they made their way through the myriad stalls and merchants, and the few that chanced their luck in approaching, he dismissed with a few words and a wave of his hand. He measured his pace so as not to hurry the young woman, and spoke a little as they walked as Dafni had fallen silent and sullen almost.
“I have seen men go mad with sun” he said, brow furrowed. “Fighting all day in the worst of it, and they are laid low not by blade nor spear but by the heat and lack of fluids. You should not underestimate its strength.” He shot a hard look at her maid then, who should have known better than to let her lady get in such a state. “But you are right in that rest and water should have you feeling well again soon.”
By the time they had reached the edge of the markets, the carriage had arrived, and Dafni was offered a hand to step up inside. “Can you manage?” He would lift her if not, she was so slender a thing he thought his hands would wrap all the way around her waist. And then he motioned for her maid to follow before joining them. It was a little cramped, if he were honest, folding his large frame into the carriage alongside Dafni and the maid, but given the girl’s odd behaviour, Achilleas thought it wise not to take any chances.
Can you ride? Or do I need to send for a carriage?
Achilleas' words hardly reached her ears. She still had no clue, how everyone managed to entrance others and how she just managed to irritate or anger people. Realising Achilleas waited for some sort of reaction, she managed a mumbled: "Yes, sure." Not paying attention to him further in this situation. Home seemed nice by now, she could lie on the bed and cry a bit. Maybe cuddle with Phoebe. Cats were certainly better than men. Men were complicated.
She ignored his talk about the sun, swallowing down a remark, that she would love to touch the sun just once, even if it meant to be burned. Somehow that comment even sounded tacky in her mind. And she was all for her maid taking the blame, the only instance, where Dafni was alright with shifting the attention to someone else. Dafni was so lost in those thoughts, that she hardly realised the carriage had arrived, so she was lifted into it by Achilleas and suddenly found herself cramped into it with the maid and Achilleas. He smelled nice, too. Why did he have to smell nice as well? Could he not smell like onions and garlic just to break the spell? No, he had to smell nice! Dafni closed her eyes and leaned onto the carriage wall.
It was not the sun, but it was smart to act on it now, so she played along and suffered a bit. The maid - still rather unimpressed - had checked her mistress carefully and assessed that she was playing for attention, so it fell to Achilleas again to react to Dafni. It was not a long ride to the mansion and once Achilleas and the maid left the carriage, Dafni feigned a dizzy spell as an excuse to stay inside, while the maid went to fetch Eirini. From the inside she spoke quietly.
"I hope that one day I will find someone nice like you to steal my first kiss, Achilleas."
Dafni was well aware that it was beyond mean to put him into such a situation again. But she wanted a bit of revenge, so she put on the full drama.
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Can you ride? Or do I need to send for a carriage?
Achilleas' words hardly reached her ears. She still had no clue, how everyone managed to entrance others and how she just managed to irritate or anger people. Realising Achilleas waited for some sort of reaction, she managed a mumbled: "Yes, sure." Not paying attention to him further in this situation. Home seemed nice by now, she could lie on the bed and cry a bit. Maybe cuddle with Phoebe. Cats were certainly better than men. Men were complicated.
She ignored his talk about the sun, swallowing down a remark, that she would love to touch the sun just once, even if it meant to be burned. Somehow that comment even sounded tacky in her mind. And she was all for her maid taking the blame, the only instance, where Dafni was alright with shifting the attention to someone else. Dafni was so lost in those thoughts, that she hardly realised the carriage had arrived, so she was lifted into it by Achilleas and suddenly found herself cramped into it with the maid and Achilleas. He smelled nice, too. Why did he have to smell nice as well? Could he not smell like onions and garlic just to break the spell? No, he had to smell nice! Dafni closed her eyes and leaned onto the carriage wall.
It was not the sun, but it was smart to act on it now, so she played along and suffered a bit. The maid - still rather unimpressed - had checked her mistress carefully and assessed that she was playing for attention, so it fell to Achilleas again to react to Dafni. It was not a long ride to the mansion and once Achilleas and the maid left the carriage, Dafni feigned a dizzy spell as an excuse to stay inside, while the maid went to fetch Eirini. From the inside she spoke quietly.
"I hope that one day I will find someone nice like you to steal my first kiss, Achilleas."
Dafni was well aware that it was beyond mean to put him into such a situation again. But she wanted a bit of revenge, so she put on the full drama.
Can you ride? Or do I need to send for a carriage?
Achilleas' words hardly reached her ears. She still had no clue, how everyone managed to entrance others and how she just managed to irritate or anger people. Realising Achilleas waited for some sort of reaction, she managed a mumbled: "Yes, sure." Not paying attention to him further in this situation. Home seemed nice by now, she could lie on the bed and cry a bit. Maybe cuddle with Phoebe. Cats were certainly better than men. Men were complicated.
She ignored his talk about the sun, swallowing down a remark, that she would love to touch the sun just once, even if it meant to be burned. Somehow that comment even sounded tacky in her mind. And she was all for her maid taking the blame, the only instance, where Dafni was alright with shifting the attention to someone else. Dafni was so lost in those thoughts, that she hardly realised the carriage had arrived, so she was lifted into it by Achilleas and suddenly found herself cramped into it with the maid and Achilleas. He smelled nice, too. Why did he have to smell nice as well? Could he not smell like onions and garlic just to break the spell? No, he had to smell nice! Dafni closed her eyes and leaned onto the carriage wall.
It was not the sun, but it was smart to act on it now, so she played along and suffered a bit. The maid - still rather unimpressed - had checked her mistress carefully and assessed that she was playing for attention, so it fell to Achilleas again to react to Dafni. It was not a long ride to the mansion and once Achilleas and the maid left the carriage, Dafni feigned a dizzy spell as an excuse to stay inside, while the maid went to fetch Eirini. From the inside she spoke quietly.
"I hope that one day I will find someone nice like you to steal my first kiss, Achilleas."
Dafni was well aware that it was beyond mean to put him into such a situation again. But she wanted a bit of revenge, so she put on the full drama.
It was not what he would have termed a comfortable carriage ride. Dafni continued to be silent, her maid simply sat and looked disapproving and at one point Achilleas could have sworn that the young Leventi girl was..sniffing him.
Glancing once more at the girl’s escort, the man had leaned back as far as he could and studiously looked out at the passing scenery for the rest of the journey, only occasionally looking to see if Dafni had stirred at all.
In truth, he wasn’t quite sure what had seen her worsen, she seemed more faint now that she had at the Agora, and he wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of delivering back to her family in such a state. It were almost as if he was being punished for his good deed. But his initial argument still stood, and he could not have left the girl, even with her escorts. She was young, and foolish yes, but still soon to be family.
When the carriage finally jolted to a holt, the Lord Mikaelidas was quick to exit, hovering by the door impatiently even as the maid disembarked and hurried to fetch the Lady Eirini. “Dafni” he prompted, leaning forward so he might see the girl. “ I can help you out if you require” He was debating the wisdom of offering to carry her inside,the words ready to fall off his tongue when there came a feeble sounding murmur from within the carriage, and at this, Achilleas exchanged a glance with his driver and rolled his eyes to the heavens.
“First kisses should be given and not stolen Dafni. And I am certain you will find someone in good time. But please, for the love of the Gods, get out of the carriage.”
His patience was dwindling, and he was telling himself that she was unwell, reminding himself how she had all but swooned at the marketplace, even as a less kind voice suggested that perhaps there was a touch of play acting about her condition. With a sigh and a press of his lips together as he considered that maybe he was being played for a fool, he reached for the girl’s hand.
“Come here, put your arms about my neck and I’ll carry you” he instructed in a no nonsense sort of voice, prepared to do just that. He would be glad to hand her over to the care of her mother or sisters, and take his leave. The youngest of the Leventi girls was a rather perplexing creature, he had decided.
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It was not what he would have termed a comfortable carriage ride. Dafni continued to be silent, her maid simply sat and looked disapproving and at one point Achilleas could have sworn that the young Leventi girl was..sniffing him.
Glancing once more at the girl’s escort, the man had leaned back as far as he could and studiously looked out at the passing scenery for the rest of the journey, only occasionally looking to see if Dafni had stirred at all.
In truth, he wasn’t quite sure what had seen her worsen, she seemed more faint now that she had at the Agora, and he wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of delivering back to her family in such a state. It were almost as if he was being punished for his good deed. But his initial argument still stood, and he could not have left the girl, even with her escorts. She was young, and foolish yes, but still soon to be family.
When the carriage finally jolted to a holt, the Lord Mikaelidas was quick to exit, hovering by the door impatiently even as the maid disembarked and hurried to fetch the Lady Eirini. “Dafni” he prompted, leaning forward so he might see the girl. “ I can help you out if you require” He was debating the wisdom of offering to carry her inside,the words ready to fall off his tongue when there came a feeble sounding murmur from within the carriage, and at this, Achilleas exchanged a glance with his driver and rolled his eyes to the heavens.
“First kisses should be given and not stolen Dafni. And I am certain you will find someone in good time. But please, for the love of the Gods, get out of the carriage.”
His patience was dwindling, and he was telling himself that she was unwell, reminding himself how she had all but swooned at the marketplace, even as a less kind voice suggested that perhaps there was a touch of play acting about her condition. With a sigh and a press of his lips together as he considered that maybe he was being played for a fool, he reached for the girl’s hand.
“Come here, put your arms about my neck and I’ll carry you” he instructed in a no nonsense sort of voice, prepared to do just that. He would be glad to hand her over to the care of her mother or sisters, and take his leave. The youngest of the Leventi girls was a rather perplexing creature, he had decided.
It was not what he would have termed a comfortable carriage ride. Dafni continued to be silent, her maid simply sat and looked disapproving and at one point Achilleas could have sworn that the young Leventi girl was..sniffing him.
Glancing once more at the girl’s escort, the man had leaned back as far as he could and studiously looked out at the passing scenery for the rest of the journey, only occasionally looking to see if Dafni had stirred at all.
In truth, he wasn’t quite sure what had seen her worsen, she seemed more faint now that she had at the Agora, and he wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of delivering back to her family in such a state. It were almost as if he was being punished for his good deed. But his initial argument still stood, and he could not have left the girl, even with her escorts. She was young, and foolish yes, but still soon to be family.
When the carriage finally jolted to a holt, the Lord Mikaelidas was quick to exit, hovering by the door impatiently even as the maid disembarked and hurried to fetch the Lady Eirini. “Dafni” he prompted, leaning forward so he might see the girl. “ I can help you out if you require” He was debating the wisdom of offering to carry her inside,the words ready to fall off his tongue when there came a feeble sounding murmur from within the carriage, and at this, Achilleas exchanged a glance with his driver and rolled his eyes to the heavens.
“First kisses should be given and not stolen Dafni. And I am certain you will find someone in good time. But please, for the love of the Gods, get out of the carriage.”
His patience was dwindling, and he was telling himself that she was unwell, reminding himself how she had all but swooned at the marketplace, even as a less kind voice suggested that perhaps there was a touch of play acting about her condition. With a sigh and a press of his lips together as he considered that maybe he was being played for a fool, he reached for the girl’s hand.
“Come here, put your arms about my neck and I’ll carry you” he instructed in a no nonsense sort of voice, prepared to do just that. He would be glad to hand her over to the care of her mother or sisters, and take his leave. The youngest of the Leventi girls was a rather perplexing creature, he had decided.
Fotios looked up from his work as a young maid - a newer addition to their family unit who had been placed in the care and following of his youngest daughter - found herself to be standing in the doorway of his study. His features dropped into a frown as it was widely recognised across the household that he was not to be disturbed in his work for any reason aside from direct instruction from his wife. And as he knew the Lady Eirini had been out for the morning and across the midday repast, she couldn't have been the one to send the young girl to him now.
His pause in his work and an impatient shake of his hand was all the indication he needed to encourage the girl to speak before he became annoyed at the disturbance. It could have, after all, been something significantly important.
"Lord Achilleas is here, my Lord." The young girl offered, by way of explanation for her appearance in his private space. "He has the young mistress with him?"
Confused and aware that the woman had been assigned to Dafni before another woman of the Leventi family, but sure that there was no cause or propriety that would have Achilleas of Mikaelidas in the company of any other female of his family, Fotios felt the need to confirm verbally.
"With Lady Theodora?" He asked to be assured of the inaccuracy by the shake of the maid's head, her long braid shaking and wiggling down her back with the gesture.
"Lady Dafni, Lord Leventi."
With a tired and frustrated sigh, Fotios threw his stylus down onto the desk, placed his hands on the arms of the chair he had spent the last three hours sitting in and pushed himself to standing. Quick in his tasks, he fastened the window shuttered over the study's open orifices and then strode to the door. The young maid scarpered backwards to remain out of his way and he drew the door shut behind him, locking it into place. He had sensitive information in his study that he didn't need others seeing and if Dafni was causing a scene, it was likely he wouldn't return the chambers in a while.
"I was sent to fetch My Lady," the girl explained, clearly nervous at his obvious irritation at having his work day interrupted and feeling the need to justify what was normally so unacceptable an act. "But I could not find her within the estate, my Lord."
Fotios waved a hand in the girl's direction, non-verbally communicating that further explanation was not needed. He knew where Eirini was and there was no need to inform the girl of it, so there was no need for further conversation on the subject. New as she might have been the girl did, at least, shut up when indicated and walked demurely at his back as he made his way down the corridors of the main estate and towards the side entrance that led out into the courtyard and stables where any carriage or horse would likely be stationed.
There was a brief moment of brightness that blinded Fotios when he stepped outside into the summer sunlight, and when it cleared the vision before him was not a prospect that pleased. Dafni - who looked thoroughly flushed - was holding into the neck of Lord Achilleas as he helped aid her to the ground. How the two had even come into contact, Fotios had no idea but whatever it was had seen to the two of them sharing a carriage back to the Leventi estate and Dafni looking thoroughly overheated.
"What exactly is going on?" Fotios asked in a voice that was by no means raised but in a tone that was impossible to ignore and demanded an immediate answer.
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Fotios looked up from his work as a young maid - a newer addition to their family unit who had been placed in the care and following of his youngest daughter - found herself to be standing in the doorway of his study. His features dropped into a frown as it was widely recognised across the household that he was not to be disturbed in his work for any reason aside from direct instruction from his wife. And as he knew the Lady Eirini had been out for the morning and across the midday repast, she couldn't have been the one to send the young girl to him now.
His pause in his work and an impatient shake of his hand was all the indication he needed to encourage the girl to speak before he became annoyed at the disturbance. It could have, after all, been something significantly important.
"Lord Achilleas is here, my Lord." The young girl offered, by way of explanation for her appearance in his private space. "He has the young mistress with him?"
Confused and aware that the woman had been assigned to Dafni before another woman of the Leventi family, but sure that there was no cause or propriety that would have Achilleas of Mikaelidas in the company of any other female of his family, Fotios felt the need to confirm verbally.
"With Lady Theodora?" He asked to be assured of the inaccuracy by the shake of the maid's head, her long braid shaking and wiggling down her back with the gesture.
"Lady Dafni, Lord Leventi."
With a tired and frustrated sigh, Fotios threw his stylus down onto the desk, placed his hands on the arms of the chair he had spent the last three hours sitting in and pushed himself to standing. Quick in his tasks, he fastened the window shuttered over the study's open orifices and then strode to the door. The young maid scarpered backwards to remain out of his way and he drew the door shut behind him, locking it into place. He had sensitive information in his study that he didn't need others seeing and if Dafni was causing a scene, it was likely he wouldn't return the chambers in a while.
"I was sent to fetch My Lady," the girl explained, clearly nervous at his obvious irritation at having his work day interrupted and feeling the need to justify what was normally so unacceptable an act. "But I could not find her within the estate, my Lord."
Fotios waved a hand in the girl's direction, non-verbally communicating that further explanation was not needed. He knew where Eirini was and there was no need to inform the girl of it, so there was no need for further conversation on the subject. New as she might have been the girl did, at least, shut up when indicated and walked demurely at his back as he made his way down the corridors of the main estate and towards the side entrance that led out into the courtyard and stables where any carriage or horse would likely be stationed.
There was a brief moment of brightness that blinded Fotios when he stepped outside into the summer sunlight, and when it cleared the vision before him was not a prospect that pleased. Dafni - who looked thoroughly flushed - was holding into the neck of Lord Achilleas as he helped aid her to the ground. How the two had even come into contact, Fotios had no idea but whatever it was had seen to the two of them sharing a carriage back to the Leventi estate and Dafni looking thoroughly overheated.
"What exactly is going on?" Fotios asked in a voice that was by no means raised but in a tone that was impossible to ignore and demanded an immediate answer.
Fotios looked up from his work as a young maid - a newer addition to their family unit who had been placed in the care and following of his youngest daughter - found herself to be standing in the doorway of his study. His features dropped into a frown as it was widely recognised across the household that he was not to be disturbed in his work for any reason aside from direct instruction from his wife. And as he knew the Lady Eirini had been out for the morning and across the midday repast, she couldn't have been the one to send the young girl to him now.
His pause in his work and an impatient shake of his hand was all the indication he needed to encourage the girl to speak before he became annoyed at the disturbance. It could have, after all, been something significantly important.
"Lord Achilleas is here, my Lord." The young girl offered, by way of explanation for her appearance in his private space. "He has the young mistress with him?"
Confused and aware that the woman had been assigned to Dafni before another woman of the Leventi family, but sure that there was no cause or propriety that would have Achilleas of Mikaelidas in the company of any other female of his family, Fotios felt the need to confirm verbally.
"With Lady Theodora?" He asked to be assured of the inaccuracy by the shake of the maid's head, her long braid shaking and wiggling down her back with the gesture.
"Lady Dafni, Lord Leventi."
With a tired and frustrated sigh, Fotios threw his stylus down onto the desk, placed his hands on the arms of the chair he had spent the last three hours sitting in and pushed himself to standing. Quick in his tasks, he fastened the window shuttered over the study's open orifices and then strode to the door. The young maid scarpered backwards to remain out of his way and he drew the door shut behind him, locking it into place. He had sensitive information in his study that he didn't need others seeing and if Dafni was causing a scene, it was likely he wouldn't return the chambers in a while.
"I was sent to fetch My Lady," the girl explained, clearly nervous at his obvious irritation at having his work day interrupted and feeling the need to justify what was normally so unacceptable an act. "But I could not find her within the estate, my Lord."
Fotios waved a hand in the girl's direction, non-verbally communicating that further explanation was not needed. He knew where Eirini was and there was no need to inform the girl of it, so there was no need for further conversation on the subject. New as she might have been the girl did, at least, shut up when indicated and walked demurely at his back as he made his way down the corridors of the main estate and towards the side entrance that led out into the courtyard and stables where any carriage or horse would likely be stationed.
There was a brief moment of brightness that blinded Fotios when he stepped outside into the summer sunlight, and when it cleared the vision before him was not a prospect that pleased. Dafni - who looked thoroughly flushed - was holding into the neck of Lord Achilleas as he helped aid her to the ground. How the two had even come into contact, Fotios had no idea but whatever it was had seen to the two of them sharing a carriage back to the Leventi estate and Dafni looking thoroughly overheated.
"What exactly is going on?" Fotios asked in a voice that was by no means raised but in a tone that was impossible to ignore and demanded an immediate answer.
The ride home was a somber one. She felt disillusioned with Achilleas and the maid confined in such a small space. She viewed it as an allegory for her situation. Trapped in an uncomfortable position, unable to act without stirring a scandal, unable even to touch what she desired most. At a certain point she wondered, whether Achilleas stood for something else and her feeling were not bound to him at all, but then she felt dizzy, because she had thought too much. At least she did not have to entirely fake her faint spell now. Dafni had not realised that they had arrived, when Achilleas suddenly leaned over to her.
"I can help you out if you require."
Finally. Finally he would kiss her and help get rid of the fact that she was so inexperienced. He was right, screw society, screw expectations. Finally he was showing his true colours. So he REALLY was a dangerous and interesting man under all that bullshit. Dafni could feel her heartbeat up to her throat, but then he talked more and ruined everything.
"First kisses should be given and not stolen Dafni. And I am certain you will find someone in good time. But please, for the love of the Gods, get out of the carriage."
She stifled only a weak: "W-What?" So he was teasing her again? Forget dangerous, that man is cruel as hell. She sighed deeply and sank a bit back into the seat of the carriage. Dafni did not want to leave, she did not want this chance to be over. Not when nothing had happened yet. Achilleas left the carriage and expected her to follow, but she just sank deeper into the seat. By now even her maid had left the carriage and so he became commanding.
"Come here, put your arms about my neck and I’ll carry you."
The tone of his voice made her shiver in a way, she had not experienced before and this meant, she did not even have to play the shaky part anymore. Without realising what was happening to her, she suddenly found herself in his arms, feeling his warmth, smelling him, like a bride. Like a bride! This is how it must feel. Dafni's mouth escaped a soft moan.
"I feel so safe with you....." She closed her eyes for a moment, escaping into one of her world's, where she had succeeded in making Achilleas fall for her with the intrigue and grace of her mother. Where she got what she wanted and had a devoted and strong husband at her side. But like with all dreams, you have to wake up.
"What exactly is going on?"
Dafni could not have asked for a worse wakeup-call. She knew that voice immediately. The demanding, ice-cold undertone. Immediately she dropped dead in Achilleas arms, her head landing somewhere close to his ear.
"Pretend I'm really sick or we are both screwed."
It was not more than a hushed whisper, but she hoped he had heard her.
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The ride home was a somber one. She felt disillusioned with Achilleas and the maid confined in such a small space. She viewed it as an allegory for her situation. Trapped in an uncomfortable position, unable to act without stirring a scandal, unable even to touch what she desired most. At a certain point she wondered, whether Achilleas stood for something else and her feeling were not bound to him at all, but then she felt dizzy, because she had thought too much. At least she did not have to entirely fake her faint spell now. Dafni had not realised that they had arrived, when Achilleas suddenly leaned over to her.
"I can help you out if you require."
Finally. Finally he would kiss her and help get rid of the fact that she was so inexperienced. He was right, screw society, screw expectations. Finally he was showing his true colours. So he REALLY was a dangerous and interesting man under all that bullshit. Dafni could feel her heartbeat up to her throat, but then he talked more and ruined everything.
"First kisses should be given and not stolen Dafni. And I am certain you will find someone in good time. But please, for the love of the Gods, get out of the carriage."
She stifled only a weak: "W-What?" So he was teasing her again? Forget dangerous, that man is cruel as hell. She sighed deeply and sank a bit back into the seat of the carriage. Dafni did not want to leave, she did not want this chance to be over. Not when nothing had happened yet. Achilleas left the carriage and expected her to follow, but she just sank deeper into the seat. By now even her maid had left the carriage and so he became commanding.
"Come here, put your arms about my neck and I’ll carry you."
The tone of his voice made her shiver in a way, she had not experienced before and this meant, she did not even have to play the shaky part anymore. Without realising what was happening to her, she suddenly found herself in his arms, feeling his warmth, smelling him, like a bride. Like a bride! This is how it must feel. Dafni's mouth escaped a soft moan.
"I feel so safe with you....." She closed her eyes for a moment, escaping into one of her world's, where she had succeeded in making Achilleas fall for her with the intrigue and grace of her mother. Where she got what she wanted and had a devoted and strong husband at her side. But like with all dreams, you have to wake up.
"What exactly is going on?"
Dafni could not have asked for a worse wakeup-call. She knew that voice immediately. The demanding, ice-cold undertone. Immediately she dropped dead in Achilleas arms, her head landing somewhere close to his ear.
"Pretend I'm really sick or we are both screwed."
It was not more than a hushed whisper, but she hoped he had heard her.
The ride home was a somber one. She felt disillusioned with Achilleas and the maid confined in such a small space. She viewed it as an allegory for her situation. Trapped in an uncomfortable position, unable to act without stirring a scandal, unable even to touch what she desired most. At a certain point she wondered, whether Achilleas stood for something else and her feeling were not bound to him at all, but then she felt dizzy, because she had thought too much. At least she did not have to entirely fake her faint spell now. Dafni had not realised that they had arrived, when Achilleas suddenly leaned over to her.
"I can help you out if you require."
Finally. Finally he would kiss her and help get rid of the fact that she was so inexperienced. He was right, screw society, screw expectations. Finally he was showing his true colours. So he REALLY was a dangerous and interesting man under all that bullshit. Dafni could feel her heartbeat up to her throat, but then he talked more and ruined everything.
"First kisses should be given and not stolen Dafni. And I am certain you will find someone in good time. But please, for the love of the Gods, get out of the carriage."
She stifled only a weak: "W-What?" So he was teasing her again? Forget dangerous, that man is cruel as hell. She sighed deeply and sank a bit back into the seat of the carriage. Dafni did not want to leave, she did not want this chance to be over. Not when nothing had happened yet. Achilleas left the carriage and expected her to follow, but she just sank deeper into the seat. By now even her maid had left the carriage and so he became commanding.
"Come here, put your arms about my neck and I’ll carry you."
The tone of his voice made her shiver in a way, she had not experienced before and this meant, she did not even have to play the shaky part anymore. Without realising what was happening to her, she suddenly found herself in his arms, feeling his warmth, smelling him, like a bride. Like a bride! This is how it must feel. Dafni's mouth escaped a soft moan.
"I feel so safe with you....." She closed her eyes for a moment, escaping into one of her world's, where she had succeeded in making Achilleas fall for her with the intrigue and grace of her mother. Where she got what she wanted and had a devoted and strong husband at her side. But like with all dreams, you have to wake up.
"What exactly is going on?"
Dafni could not have asked for a worse wakeup-call. She knew that voice immediately. The demanding, ice-cold undertone. Immediately she dropped dead in Achilleas arms, her head landing somewhere close to his ear.
"Pretend I'm really sick or we are both screwed."
It was not more than a hushed whisper, but she hoped he had heard her.