Retreating after allowing the Lady Selene time to bath and freshen up, Emilia had headed for the seamstresses in the palace, to check in on the new chitons and chlamys she had instructed to be made for the Feast of Sinners due to happen in a week. Off the side, there was also a few bolts of material she had taken out from her private storage, silks of the highest quality, with threads of gold and silver, to be made into suitable chitons and toga's as gifts for the Lady Selene. After reassuring that all would be ready for the lady by the next day, she drifted with her handmaiden Dawn to her room, allowing the maiden to take off the sea-green chiton she had worn to welcome the Lady at the harbor.

In its place, a shorter exomis was draped on her body, its material falling just under her knees. In bright yellow, the color set off her tanned skin beautifully, and was muted by the darker bronzed pins that Dawn quickly pinned on her to ensure the exomis stayed in place during her ride, for the princess favored riding astride to side saddle, finding the latter quite unstable and giving her less control over her steed.

With the colder winds that would blow from the top of the Naos, the handmaidens were quick to secure a white himation over one shoulder, draping it diagonally and securing it with more bronzed pins in the shape of swans. With her clothing down, the slaves scurried to her hair, braiding it before securing it to her head so the winds did not toss and tangle it. Over the braided chignon, a simple circlet of bronzed gold was place, where its middle dipped to have a teardrop sized diamond that rested just at the ridge where her hairline met her forehead.

Upon her finishing, Emilia stepped out of her room, checking on her father briefly in his room and staying for a few moments to converse with him and relay how wonderful it had been thus far with the Lady Selene. The King had been happy to see his youngest making friends, worried as he was with the way Persephone had confined her in the castle over the past few weeks, and Emilia had wanted to reassure her dad, giving him a kiss on his wizened cheek before she finally made her way down to where she had instructed for their steeds to be prepared.

Her eyes flashed with amusement when she entered the courtyard, and then smiled at how the blonde was speaking to the horses. One of them was her own steed, a calm and sedate cream colored gelding that Emilia knew was named Galathe. It was her favored ride everytime they took one, and the stablemaster knew well when he received the directive, to prepare the sedate male for her. While Emilia was no big fan of horses, certainly nowhere near the Lady Selene, she did have a soft spot for her cream colored, black maned gelding. He was stoic and steadfast, and has rarely failed her.

"I see Galathe likes you." Emilia commented gently, as a way to make known her arrival. Her words held a slight laugh in it, not of mockery but of amusement. Making her way down the steps, the girl stopped next to the lady from Taengea, and placed her palms on the satiny smooth nose of her own steed, as the other nudged at Selene. "Rohesia too. You have a way with them, Lady Selene." Emilia praised.

Making her way around, the guards were quick to assist her. Emilia's smaller,shorter stature meant she required a boost up to the saddle, but once there, she moved with ease, slipping her sandaled feet into the stirrups and picking up the reins, clicking with her tongue. Sure enough, Galathe responded easily, his ears flicking to her as if listening to her commands, and moving according to the pressure of her legs. "It should not be too long of a ride, but I fear the entourage my sister has insisted on may slow things down." Emilia updated, a wry grin directed at Selene when her guards Hermon and Teucer closed ranks around the two ladies. "Shall we go?"

It was obvious the blonde Taengean was very knowledgeable in horseflesh, something that Emilia found herself admiring a little. While she enjoyed being on horseback and the freedom (or the fake sense of it, what little she could find) it lent her, she can't say she was as invested in her steed as she was. She enjoyed Galathe and how easily he responded to her commands, but that was, at least to Emilia, largely thanks to the training the royal stablemaster had done to ensure all the horses that served the royal family were in tip top condition.

At the very least however, Emilia was well versed to being on horseback, and steered the steed as easily as a carriage driver would the vehicle. The soft clip-clop of the horses hooves on the cobbled pathway that led up to the entrance of the royal palati soon revealed a tall, dark and hulking figure that was waiting, a figure that made Emilia smile as she urged her cream colored steed forward.

"Nicholai! I assume Persephone sent for you?" the young princess greeted her personal bodyguard happily, the smile she wore warm and alert for who she considered a firm solid wall of protection and friend. Tossing a look to Selene as the blonde rode up next to her, she gestured at Nicholai. "You two did not meet in great conditions," Emilia murmured, trying to mute her flinch when she referred back to the disaster at the Dionysus festival. "This is Nicholai, my bodyguard. Nicholai, this is Lady Selene. She'll be with me for the next week, so I expect the same level of protection lent to her ladyship."

Turning back to Selene, Emilia gave a little grin, whispering, athough she was sure Nicholai could hear, given how close he was to her. "I don't think he'll agree to me running off. But on castle grounds... well, we'll see where the night brings us later, Lady Selene." Her conspiratorial whisper was accompanied with a light giggle that Emilia hid behind her hands, before she straightened up again. "Lets go then."

Leading the way, she briefly pointed out various things along the way to the Naos of the Gods, through the streets of Athenia as the markets wound down for the day. The Athenia Scholeio looked majestic in the setting sun, as the students streamed out as classes ended for the day. The Central Plateia was busy as it had been over the past two weeks, with preparations to ready for the feast her father had called for to happen by the end of the week. All in all, the city was busy and bustling whilst they wound their steeds through the various people out and about, until they began the steep ascent up the hill to the Naos of Gods perched on a cliffside.

With reins in her fingers, Emilia guided Galathe to pick his way up the mountainous pathway, until they got to the entrance where, obviously notified by Princess Persephone, the temple's clergymen stood waiting for her arrival. At the entrance, Emilia dismounted with the help of the guards who had been quick to her side, rearranging her outfit again before gesturing for Selene to step inside first, before doing so herself.

The Naos was a familiar place for Emilia, having came here at least once a month with her father and sister to pray. If not for something specific, then just for the health of their family and the prosperity of their kindgom in general. While others may find themselves awed by it, to Emilia, the towering white pillars of marble, carved to perfection and holding up the cavernous hall, was a home away from home. Right in the middle of it, Zeus and Hera's likeness stood towering over the rest of the marble figures of the other gods and goddesses. Before each marble figure was a basin of water where people occasionally would place offerings of the floral type. With the silence and the altitude of the Naos, it all lent an air of serene peacefulness to the Naos.

Turning back to her retinue, Emilia reached for the saddlebag one of her servants had attached to the horse, and there pulled out a lily flower, along with two pomegranates. Taking one of them, she extended a hand to offer it to Selene with a smile. "Here, take the time to pray, and give thanks. After that, we have all the time in the world to explore." the smile that Emilia wore was a sweet one, allowing Selene to take the pomegranate she had given, before taking one of her own, and along with the lily flower, Emilia headed for the marble figure of Hera.

There, in front of the Queen of Gods, Emilia laid the flower gently in the basin of water, and then placed the pomegrante on the table, before getting to her knees, her head bent to her clasped hands in front of her in her own silent prayer.

For Selene, the use of the reigns was simply a final safety net, for show. She didn't need to hold them, the control of the beast mostly maintained with a squeeze of her thighs. Perhaps it was because she had been riding just as long as she had been walking. Memories of sitting on her father's lap, riding across the Leventi property at breakneck speeds, laughing al the while. As she grew older, so did her experience on horseback. And now, as an adult, she was one of the finest riders in all of Taengea. She knew the techniques of those who ride into battle, mastering them without having to hold a weapon to prove it. Selene was even known to ride bareback,

Even if it caused her mother and uncle more grief that she cared to think about.

"It's a pleasure to see you again. My father bids you thank you for your assistance in getting us home." She made a mental note to remember to give him the coin her father had pressed into her hands to pass along. The ride was uneventful, but Selene tried to take it all in. From the people who made a point to wave at the group to those who called out their names. She was fascinated by the way the Royals were so obviously loved. And with how polite they all were. They were genuinely happy to see her, and she could see the curiosity written on their faces. Selene sighed in bliss, realizing how healing this all was for her.

When the guard gave his order to the princess, Selene wanted to nudge him, "Afraid you can't keep up?" She asked playfully, well aware that he knew how skilled she was on horseback. "We'd stay in sight." She promised, dropping the reigns to cross her heart with both her arms. As they approached the Naos, Selene slowed the horse and dismounted. She allowed the guards to take the reigns, even allowing them to offer her a hand down that she didn't need. Selene was thankful for the offering, wishing she had remembered to grab a rose for Aphrodite. She took the pomegranate over to the statute of the Goddess of Love, and she followed the example of Emilia, moving to her knees to say a deep prayer for her family, for her sister.

She moved briefly to the statue of Artemis, offering up a prayer for Olympia and the babe she carried. And she did the same with Hera, wishing a good and happy marriage for Theo. And maybe, just maybe, she prayed for a good match for herself. Selene had hoped that she would be able to return home and find herself celebrating her own engagement. Once Theo and Pia were settled, perhaps it would be her turn.

Because Selene was ready for it to be her turn.

She excused herself once she was done, going back out to the horses. She buried her nose in its mane, the familiar scent reminding her of home. But she wasn't homesick.

Not yet anyway.

When Emilia finally joined them, she gave her a bright smile. "Thank you. Hopefully, we will have time to come back before I depart. It is certainly a sight to behold." She complimented. A part of her wanted to wander the gardens, to just get lost in the surrounds. But her sister was waiting, and Selene truly was anxious to continue on and get to know Persephone better.