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Evangelina was determined it was going to be a morning like any other. She was going to rise and get ready for her morning ride. She was going to stop at Poseidon’s temple and then she was going to their oak tree. Her lips pursed at that thought. It wasn’t their oak tree. It was just an oak tree that they both knew of. Still she found herself being a little more careful with her appearance. The low set ponytail still wild with it’s beach waves, a few tendrils that were too short to make it to the ponytail framed her face. She gave one last look before she left.
Her ride to the temple was short and quick, as was her time there before she was blazing across the grasslands to the oak. The thought crossed her mind that he might very well stand her up yet again. She nibbled at her bottom lip, what in the world would she do if he did? Altair seemed to pick up on her tension and took advantage as he could spooking at unseen beasts and tossing his head against the strain of the reins in her hands. Soothing him with soft words about the things on her mind, she rode up to the oak. It stood there like a pillar, reaching and sweeping upwards and out. Gnarled roots rising up and out of the ground in a tangled beauty. It was a reminder that she didn’t have to be the same kind of beautiful as Selene or Theo… there was beauty in flowers and in tangled roots of the ancient oak tree.
Slipping off Altair, she looped the reins over a twig and she stepped off to investigate the area a little closer while she waited. The ground was still damp with dew, but the dark bronze of her chiton hid wetness on the hem well. Her arm stretched down to tickle some of the taller grass seed heads. She’d poured so much of herself out yesterday to him. More than she’d meant to that was for sure. She wouldn’t have blamed him for thinking about it during the night and coming to the conclusion of washing his hands of her. Chaos seemed to be her constant companion.
She hummed a sigh to herself and picked up a small stone and skipped it out across the open meadow that the large oak reigned court over. He hadn’t exactly told her why he’d wanted to see her when he’d asked… it’d all been very mysterious. If he’d wanted to go riding with her, she didn’t know why he didn’t just turn up in the similar fashion he had two days ago. He knew she’d been riding that day. He knew she’d rode the same path the next day. It was pretty safe to assume she’d have ridden that way again today. Nipping her bottom lip at that thought, she hated that she had obviously had a pattern or predictable nature.
The sound of Altair’s welcoming nicker had her turning around to squint into the sunlight at a horse and rider. Raising her hand to shield her eyes from the rising sun, she smiled as she recognized the familiar face. She straightened and slowly started to make her way back to the oak tree. Trudging up to Altair, she checked his reins to make sure that they were still settled securely on the branch before she walked too him. Her eyes went to the bow and quiver and her lips widened into a genuine dimpled smile. Reaching up to pet his horse as he came to a stop, she murmured softly to it first then looked up at him.
“Hello stranger,” Her voice dropped an octave and her gaze traveled up to him, taking the liberty to run over the lines of his face one more time.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Evangelina was determined it was going to be a morning like any other. She was going to rise and get ready for her morning ride. She was going to stop at Poseidon’s temple and then she was going to their oak tree. Her lips pursed at that thought. It wasn’t their oak tree. It was just an oak tree that they both knew of. Still she found herself being a little more careful with her appearance. The low set ponytail still wild with it’s beach waves, a few tendrils that were too short to make it to the ponytail framed her face. She gave one last look before she left.
Her ride to the temple was short and quick, as was her time there before she was blazing across the grasslands to the oak. The thought crossed her mind that he might very well stand her up yet again. She nibbled at her bottom lip, what in the world would she do if he did? Altair seemed to pick up on her tension and took advantage as he could spooking at unseen beasts and tossing his head against the strain of the reins in her hands. Soothing him with soft words about the things on her mind, she rode up to the oak. It stood there like a pillar, reaching and sweeping upwards and out. Gnarled roots rising up and out of the ground in a tangled beauty. It was a reminder that she didn’t have to be the same kind of beautiful as Selene or Theo… there was beauty in flowers and in tangled roots of the ancient oak tree.
Slipping off Altair, she looped the reins over a twig and she stepped off to investigate the area a little closer while she waited. The ground was still damp with dew, but the dark bronze of her chiton hid wetness on the hem well. Her arm stretched down to tickle some of the taller grass seed heads. She’d poured so much of herself out yesterday to him. More than she’d meant to that was for sure. She wouldn’t have blamed him for thinking about it during the night and coming to the conclusion of washing his hands of her. Chaos seemed to be her constant companion.
She hummed a sigh to herself and picked up a small stone and skipped it out across the open meadow that the large oak reigned court over. He hadn’t exactly told her why he’d wanted to see her when he’d asked… it’d all been very mysterious. If he’d wanted to go riding with her, she didn’t know why he didn’t just turn up in the similar fashion he had two days ago. He knew she’d been riding that day. He knew she’d rode the same path the next day. It was pretty safe to assume she’d have ridden that way again today. Nipping her bottom lip at that thought, she hated that she had obviously had a pattern or predictable nature.
The sound of Altair’s welcoming nicker had her turning around to squint into the sunlight at a horse and rider. Raising her hand to shield her eyes from the rising sun, she smiled as she recognized the familiar face. She straightened and slowly started to make her way back to the oak tree. Trudging up to Altair, she checked his reins to make sure that they were still settled securely on the branch before she walked too him. Her eyes went to the bow and quiver and her lips widened into a genuine dimpled smile. Reaching up to pet his horse as he came to a stop, she murmured softly to it first then looked up at him.
“Hello stranger,” Her voice dropped an octave and her gaze traveled up to him, taking the liberty to run over the lines of his face one more time.
Evangelina was determined it was going to be a morning like any other. She was going to rise and get ready for her morning ride. She was going to stop at Poseidon’s temple and then she was going to their oak tree. Her lips pursed at that thought. It wasn’t their oak tree. It was just an oak tree that they both knew of. Still she found herself being a little more careful with her appearance. The low set ponytail still wild with it’s beach waves, a few tendrils that were too short to make it to the ponytail framed her face. She gave one last look before she left.
Her ride to the temple was short and quick, as was her time there before she was blazing across the grasslands to the oak. The thought crossed her mind that he might very well stand her up yet again. She nibbled at her bottom lip, what in the world would she do if he did? Altair seemed to pick up on her tension and took advantage as he could spooking at unseen beasts and tossing his head against the strain of the reins in her hands. Soothing him with soft words about the things on her mind, she rode up to the oak. It stood there like a pillar, reaching and sweeping upwards and out. Gnarled roots rising up and out of the ground in a tangled beauty. It was a reminder that she didn’t have to be the same kind of beautiful as Selene or Theo… there was beauty in flowers and in tangled roots of the ancient oak tree.
Slipping off Altair, she looped the reins over a twig and she stepped off to investigate the area a little closer while she waited. The ground was still damp with dew, but the dark bronze of her chiton hid wetness on the hem well. Her arm stretched down to tickle some of the taller grass seed heads. She’d poured so much of herself out yesterday to him. More than she’d meant to that was for sure. She wouldn’t have blamed him for thinking about it during the night and coming to the conclusion of washing his hands of her. Chaos seemed to be her constant companion.
She hummed a sigh to herself and picked up a small stone and skipped it out across the open meadow that the large oak reigned court over. He hadn’t exactly told her why he’d wanted to see her when he’d asked… it’d all been very mysterious. If he’d wanted to go riding with her, she didn’t know why he didn’t just turn up in the similar fashion he had two days ago. He knew she’d been riding that day. He knew she’d rode the same path the next day. It was pretty safe to assume she’d have ridden that way again today. Nipping her bottom lip at that thought, she hated that she had obviously had a pattern or predictable nature.
The sound of Altair’s welcoming nicker had her turning around to squint into the sunlight at a horse and rider. Raising her hand to shield her eyes from the rising sun, she smiled as she recognized the familiar face. She straightened and slowly started to make her way back to the oak tree. Trudging up to Altair, she checked his reins to make sure that they were still settled securely on the branch before she walked too him. Her eyes went to the bow and quiver and her lips widened into a genuine dimpled smile. Reaching up to pet his horse as he came to a stop, she murmured softly to it first then looked up at him.
“Hello stranger,” Her voice dropped an octave and her gaze traveled up to him, taking the liberty to run over the lines of his face one more time.
He was the first one up in the house, even before the servants. The cool air held a hint of moisture, a hallmark of early morning. This was not an unusual time for him to wake. If he wanted to hunt, he needed to be up before the sun and the animals, in position and ready to strike. It was the same today. Although he wasn’t going to get to the tree before her, he was definitely going to be ready for her.
Taking no more time than usual to dress, he picked out a dark chiton - might have been a deep blue or a deep green. It was hard to see in the dim light, but for his purposes, it didn’t matter the color. Then he took up his bow and quiver, counting the arrows to make sure they were still in place, and headed out of his bedroom. Silent steps took him down the hall and to the lower level of the house, where he turned at the base of the stairs to the left. This had him walking through a hall and out into the crisp morning. Within an hour the air would lose any bite at all, but he enjoyed the way it felt now.
He set down his gear and bent down to retrieve the light columns that he sometimes used as pedestals for various objects. Some families had favorite games set out on tables for the family’s leisure. His family happened to prefer practicing archery as a way to pass the time. Carrying the columns, he placed them at the far end of the lawn which was not an insufficient distance from the flat porch. The columns sat between statues of the divine twins, Artemis and Apollo, both of whom were watching the blank space where a target should be sitting.
The walk through the house was quick and he felt a little bad about tracking grass through the hallway. By the time he hit the kitchen, there was no more trail. He moved swiftly toward the pantry area where the cook kept a small store of food. Mostly people went to market every day, but they usually had a supply of fruit on hand. He found what he was looking for in a small sack. Hoisting that over his shoulder, he walked back out to the pedestals, setting an apple on each one.
In the weak light, they still didn’t look red. The spheres of the apples were gray shadows - soon to be obliterated. He shouldered the quiver, adjusted the leather strap, and then nocked an arrow against the bow string. There was a momentary pause as he stared at the ground, then he raised the bow, bowstring already drawn back, stared at the apple for only a second, and released the arrow. In the same second, he’d already drawn another arrow from his quiver, releasing it at another apple and was going for a third by the time the first and second arrows hit their marks. The last apple sailed off the pedestal and Gavriil lowered the bow. He’d been unsure if his hands would be steady but this proved that whatever he did or did not feel on the inside, his aim was sure.
He went and retrieved the arrows he’d used, and cleaned them. Then he set his things by the front door and went to pray to Artemis. This included leaving the three apples he’d just shot as a sacrifice on her shrine. By now the house was waking. The cook had taken the bag of apples away from him but he took two and put them in the saddle bag once he got out to the stables. His own horse was ready to go, snuffling at him as he entered the stall. Once she was fitted up, he led her out to the estate’s front gate and swung up into the saddle.
It never entered his head that Evangelina would not be at the tree today and he half smiled when he saw her walking to meet him. He pulled his mare to a stop once he drew closer. “Hello stranger,” she said.
“Morning,” he returned and then twisted to reach into the saddle bag. Tossing her the first apple, he took the second one for himself and bit into it. “You look nice,” he said after a pause. Dismounting, he led his horse and secured her to a branch before turning and facing Evangelina.
“If I asked for your hand, would you say yes?” he asked and bit into the apple again, watching her. One arm loosely hugged his torso and while the other arm bent in a casual pose, keeping his hand close to his mouth while he ate.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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He was the first one up in the house, even before the servants. The cool air held a hint of moisture, a hallmark of early morning. This was not an unusual time for him to wake. If he wanted to hunt, he needed to be up before the sun and the animals, in position and ready to strike. It was the same today. Although he wasn’t going to get to the tree before her, he was definitely going to be ready for her.
Taking no more time than usual to dress, he picked out a dark chiton - might have been a deep blue or a deep green. It was hard to see in the dim light, but for his purposes, it didn’t matter the color. Then he took up his bow and quiver, counting the arrows to make sure they were still in place, and headed out of his bedroom. Silent steps took him down the hall and to the lower level of the house, where he turned at the base of the stairs to the left. This had him walking through a hall and out into the crisp morning. Within an hour the air would lose any bite at all, but he enjoyed the way it felt now.
He set down his gear and bent down to retrieve the light columns that he sometimes used as pedestals for various objects. Some families had favorite games set out on tables for the family’s leisure. His family happened to prefer practicing archery as a way to pass the time. Carrying the columns, he placed them at the far end of the lawn which was not an insufficient distance from the flat porch. The columns sat between statues of the divine twins, Artemis and Apollo, both of whom were watching the blank space where a target should be sitting.
The walk through the house was quick and he felt a little bad about tracking grass through the hallway. By the time he hit the kitchen, there was no more trail. He moved swiftly toward the pantry area where the cook kept a small store of food. Mostly people went to market every day, but they usually had a supply of fruit on hand. He found what he was looking for in a small sack. Hoisting that over his shoulder, he walked back out to the pedestals, setting an apple on each one.
In the weak light, they still didn’t look red. The spheres of the apples were gray shadows - soon to be obliterated. He shouldered the quiver, adjusted the leather strap, and then nocked an arrow against the bow string. There was a momentary pause as he stared at the ground, then he raised the bow, bowstring already drawn back, stared at the apple for only a second, and released the arrow. In the same second, he’d already drawn another arrow from his quiver, releasing it at another apple and was going for a third by the time the first and second arrows hit their marks. The last apple sailed off the pedestal and Gavriil lowered the bow. He’d been unsure if his hands would be steady but this proved that whatever he did or did not feel on the inside, his aim was sure.
He went and retrieved the arrows he’d used, and cleaned them. Then he set his things by the front door and went to pray to Artemis. This included leaving the three apples he’d just shot as a sacrifice on her shrine. By now the house was waking. The cook had taken the bag of apples away from him but he took two and put them in the saddle bag once he got out to the stables. His own horse was ready to go, snuffling at him as he entered the stall. Once she was fitted up, he led her out to the estate’s front gate and swung up into the saddle.
It never entered his head that Evangelina would not be at the tree today and he half smiled when he saw her walking to meet him. He pulled his mare to a stop once he drew closer. “Hello stranger,” she said.
“Morning,” he returned and then twisted to reach into the saddle bag. Tossing her the first apple, he took the second one for himself and bit into it. “You look nice,” he said after a pause. Dismounting, he led his horse and secured her to a branch before turning and facing Evangelina.
“If I asked for your hand, would you say yes?” he asked and bit into the apple again, watching her. One arm loosely hugged his torso and while the other arm bent in a casual pose, keeping his hand close to his mouth while he ate.
He was the first one up in the house, even before the servants. The cool air held a hint of moisture, a hallmark of early morning. This was not an unusual time for him to wake. If he wanted to hunt, he needed to be up before the sun and the animals, in position and ready to strike. It was the same today. Although he wasn’t going to get to the tree before her, he was definitely going to be ready for her.
Taking no more time than usual to dress, he picked out a dark chiton - might have been a deep blue or a deep green. It was hard to see in the dim light, but for his purposes, it didn’t matter the color. Then he took up his bow and quiver, counting the arrows to make sure they were still in place, and headed out of his bedroom. Silent steps took him down the hall and to the lower level of the house, where he turned at the base of the stairs to the left. This had him walking through a hall and out into the crisp morning. Within an hour the air would lose any bite at all, but he enjoyed the way it felt now.
He set down his gear and bent down to retrieve the light columns that he sometimes used as pedestals for various objects. Some families had favorite games set out on tables for the family’s leisure. His family happened to prefer practicing archery as a way to pass the time. Carrying the columns, he placed them at the far end of the lawn which was not an insufficient distance from the flat porch. The columns sat between statues of the divine twins, Artemis and Apollo, both of whom were watching the blank space where a target should be sitting.
The walk through the house was quick and he felt a little bad about tracking grass through the hallway. By the time he hit the kitchen, there was no more trail. He moved swiftly toward the pantry area where the cook kept a small store of food. Mostly people went to market every day, but they usually had a supply of fruit on hand. He found what he was looking for in a small sack. Hoisting that over his shoulder, he walked back out to the pedestals, setting an apple on each one.
In the weak light, they still didn’t look red. The spheres of the apples were gray shadows - soon to be obliterated. He shouldered the quiver, adjusted the leather strap, and then nocked an arrow against the bow string. There was a momentary pause as he stared at the ground, then he raised the bow, bowstring already drawn back, stared at the apple for only a second, and released the arrow. In the same second, he’d already drawn another arrow from his quiver, releasing it at another apple and was going for a third by the time the first and second arrows hit their marks. The last apple sailed off the pedestal and Gavriil lowered the bow. He’d been unsure if his hands would be steady but this proved that whatever he did or did not feel on the inside, his aim was sure.
He went and retrieved the arrows he’d used, and cleaned them. Then he set his things by the front door and went to pray to Artemis. This included leaving the three apples he’d just shot as a sacrifice on her shrine. By now the house was waking. The cook had taken the bag of apples away from him but he took two and put them in the saddle bag once he got out to the stables. His own horse was ready to go, snuffling at him as he entered the stall. Once she was fitted up, he led her out to the estate’s front gate and swung up into the saddle.
It never entered his head that Evangelina would not be at the tree today and he half smiled when he saw her walking to meet him. He pulled his mare to a stop once he drew closer. “Hello stranger,” she said.
“Morning,” he returned and then twisted to reach into the saddle bag. Tossing her the first apple, he took the second one for himself and bit into it. “You look nice,” he said after a pause. Dismounting, he led his horse and secured her to a branch before turning and facing Evangelina.
“If I asked for your hand, would you say yes?” he asked and bit into the apple again, watching her. One arm loosely hugged his torso and while the other arm bent in a casual pose, keeping his hand close to his mouth while he ate.
‘Morning.’ It was an easy, uncomplicated greeting. Curiously he twisted and reached into his saddlebag producing an apple tossing it to her. Blinking, she caught it as a sheepishly amused smile began. She hadn’t thought to eat that morning. Had he known that her mind would be elsewhere? The gesture was simple but intimately sweet. Offering his mare one last stroke of her fingers before she took a step backward to give him the space to dismount. Evangelina dropped her eyes to the ground but they didn’t stay down there long at his compliment.
Sweeping long eyelashes came up as she met the full force of his eyes after his compliment. Heat crept up into her cheeks that he’d noticed she’d spent a little extra time on her appearance. The corner of her lip curled up and she had to drop her gaze or this blush of hers was not going to be reined in, “Thank you, I think.” She stole another glance at him, her lips definitely pulling into a smile this time before she looked away.
Without the cover of darkness or whatever confidence the ocean had given her yesterday, she was feeling suddenly very exposed to him. More so than when she’d not had a single stitch on. It left her off balance.
He started to swing off his horse and suddenly she needed something else to do. Focusing on the apple, she took a bite of the apple and begin to chew, her index finger softly wiping at some of the juice from her lip. Taking a few steps she leaned her back against a low old branch of the oak tree and took another bite of her apple.
‘If I asked for your hand, would you say yes?’ Gavriil didn’t hold any punches asking that.
Sucking in a gasp of air, while chewing up a bit of apple was not a good thing. Her warmed honeyed eyes widened, as a fit of coughing overtook her. She hadn’t heard him right, had she? It was time to stop imagining what people were going to say to her. She was now hearing them. Turning her, she felt his keen sharp eyes watching her. Clearing her throat she managed to swallow her bit of apple and then turned back to him.
“Excuse me, what did you say?” She choked out at him. Reaching up she wiped her mouth, the apple temporarily forgotten about in her hand as she stared at him. “It sounded like you asked me if I’d say yes if you asked for my hand?” Evangelina continued to stare at him in bewilderment.
She waited his confirmation before she said anything else, letting herself rest her weight against the low hanging branch. Her eyes blinking processing the question, occasionally glancing suspiciously at him. She knew her answer but she was still recovering from the surprise of the question.
After a long moment, she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, questions lingering in her gaze but there was certainty in her softly spoken answer, “Yes, if you asked... I’d say yes.”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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‘Morning.’ It was an easy, uncomplicated greeting. Curiously he twisted and reached into his saddlebag producing an apple tossing it to her. Blinking, she caught it as a sheepishly amused smile began. She hadn’t thought to eat that morning. Had he known that her mind would be elsewhere? The gesture was simple but intimately sweet. Offering his mare one last stroke of her fingers before she took a step backward to give him the space to dismount. Evangelina dropped her eyes to the ground but they didn’t stay down there long at his compliment.
Sweeping long eyelashes came up as she met the full force of his eyes after his compliment. Heat crept up into her cheeks that he’d noticed she’d spent a little extra time on her appearance. The corner of her lip curled up and she had to drop her gaze or this blush of hers was not going to be reined in, “Thank you, I think.” She stole another glance at him, her lips definitely pulling into a smile this time before she looked away.
Without the cover of darkness or whatever confidence the ocean had given her yesterday, she was feeling suddenly very exposed to him. More so than when she’d not had a single stitch on. It left her off balance.
He started to swing off his horse and suddenly she needed something else to do. Focusing on the apple, she took a bite of the apple and begin to chew, her index finger softly wiping at some of the juice from her lip. Taking a few steps she leaned her back against a low old branch of the oak tree and took another bite of her apple.
‘If I asked for your hand, would you say yes?’ Gavriil didn’t hold any punches asking that.
Sucking in a gasp of air, while chewing up a bit of apple was not a good thing. Her warmed honeyed eyes widened, as a fit of coughing overtook her. She hadn’t heard him right, had she? It was time to stop imagining what people were going to say to her. She was now hearing them. Turning her, she felt his keen sharp eyes watching her. Clearing her throat she managed to swallow her bit of apple and then turned back to him.
“Excuse me, what did you say?” She choked out at him. Reaching up she wiped her mouth, the apple temporarily forgotten about in her hand as she stared at him. “It sounded like you asked me if I’d say yes if you asked for my hand?” Evangelina continued to stare at him in bewilderment.
She waited his confirmation before she said anything else, letting herself rest her weight against the low hanging branch. Her eyes blinking processing the question, occasionally glancing suspiciously at him. She knew her answer but she was still recovering from the surprise of the question.
After a long moment, she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, questions lingering in her gaze but there was certainty in her softly spoken answer, “Yes, if you asked... I’d say yes.”
‘Morning.’ It was an easy, uncomplicated greeting. Curiously he twisted and reached into his saddlebag producing an apple tossing it to her. Blinking, she caught it as a sheepishly amused smile began. She hadn’t thought to eat that morning. Had he known that her mind would be elsewhere? The gesture was simple but intimately sweet. Offering his mare one last stroke of her fingers before she took a step backward to give him the space to dismount. Evangelina dropped her eyes to the ground but they didn’t stay down there long at his compliment.
Sweeping long eyelashes came up as she met the full force of his eyes after his compliment. Heat crept up into her cheeks that he’d noticed she’d spent a little extra time on her appearance. The corner of her lip curled up and she had to drop her gaze or this blush of hers was not going to be reined in, “Thank you, I think.” She stole another glance at him, her lips definitely pulling into a smile this time before she looked away.
Without the cover of darkness or whatever confidence the ocean had given her yesterday, she was feeling suddenly very exposed to him. More so than when she’d not had a single stitch on. It left her off balance.
He started to swing off his horse and suddenly she needed something else to do. Focusing on the apple, she took a bite of the apple and begin to chew, her index finger softly wiping at some of the juice from her lip. Taking a few steps she leaned her back against a low old branch of the oak tree and took another bite of her apple.
‘If I asked for your hand, would you say yes?’ Gavriil didn’t hold any punches asking that.
Sucking in a gasp of air, while chewing up a bit of apple was not a good thing. Her warmed honeyed eyes widened, as a fit of coughing overtook her. She hadn’t heard him right, had she? It was time to stop imagining what people were going to say to her. She was now hearing them. Turning her, she felt his keen sharp eyes watching her. Clearing her throat she managed to swallow her bit of apple and then turned back to him.
“Excuse me, what did you say?” She choked out at him. Reaching up she wiped her mouth, the apple temporarily forgotten about in her hand as she stared at him. “It sounded like you asked me if I’d say yes if you asked for my hand?” Evangelina continued to stare at him in bewilderment.
She waited his confirmation before she said anything else, letting herself rest her weight against the low hanging branch. Her eyes blinking processing the question, occasionally glancing suspiciously at him. She knew her answer but she was still recovering from the surprise of the question.
After a long moment, she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, questions lingering in her gaze but there was certainty in her softly spoken answer, “Yes, if you asked... I’d say yes.”
Last night, she’d told him flat out not to hold back any punches. He was taking her at her word. No games. No being nice and putting her on her guard. If she wanted blunt, she was going to get it and there was no one in Taengea who could do that better than he could. Sometimes the trait served him and sometimes it didn’t. Today would prove one way or the other for her, at least, to see if she could handle that aspect.
He came closer to her when she began to choke and cough. “Are you alright?” She looked like she was going to survive and he stopped just short of her as she managed to choke out, “Excuse me, what did you say? It sounded like you asked me if I’d say yes if you asked for my hand?”
Hooking his thumb under the strap of his quiver, he ate his own apple in peace for a few seconds before nodding. “I did say that, yes.” Her disbelief at this was both gratifying and a little understandable. Yet also a smidge confusing. She blinked and stared at the ground. He took a few more bites of his apple, held it away from his mouth, considered it, and bit into it again. The core was what he needed.
Finally, she spoke. “Yes, if you asked... I’d say yes.”
“I will ask you under one condition,” he paused to allow her to answer but didn’t allow her to run on too long. Holding up his hand with the apple core in it, he held this out to her. “I need to have your absolute trust or this is folly. Stand against that tree, place this on your head, and do not flinch. If you so much as move a muscle, I will not ask you and we act as though last night never happened. Agreed?”
He was already pulling out an arrow from the quiver and examining the fletching by smoothing his thumb over the feathers. When he looked up, he only cut his eyes to her, keeping his face down toward the arrow.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Last night, she’d told him flat out not to hold back any punches. He was taking her at her word. No games. No being nice and putting her on her guard. If she wanted blunt, she was going to get it and there was no one in Taengea who could do that better than he could. Sometimes the trait served him and sometimes it didn’t. Today would prove one way or the other for her, at least, to see if she could handle that aspect.
He came closer to her when she began to choke and cough. “Are you alright?” She looked like she was going to survive and he stopped just short of her as she managed to choke out, “Excuse me, what did you say? It sounded like you asked me if I’d say yes if you asked for my hand?”
Hooking his thumb under the strap of his quiver, he ate his own apple in peace for a few seconds before nodding. “I did say that, yes.” Her disbelief at this was both gratifying and a little understandable. Yet also a smidge confusing. She blinked and stared at the ground. He took a few more bites of his apple, held it away from his mouth, considered it, and bit into it again. The core was what he needed.
Finally, she spoke. “Yes, if you asked... I’d say yes.”
“I will ask you under one condition,” he paused to allow her to answer but didn’t allow her to run on too long. Holding up his hand with the apple core in it, he held this out to her. “I need to have your absolute trust or this is folly. Stand against that tree, place this on your head, and do not flinch. If you so much as move a muscle, I will not ask you and we act as though last night never happened. Agreed?”
He was already pulling out an arrow from the quiver and examining the fletching by smoothing his thumb over the feathers. When he looked up, he only cut his eyes to her, keeping his face down toward the arrow.
Last night, she’d told him flat out not to hold back any punches. He was taking her at her word. No games. No being nice and putting her on her guard. If she wanted blunt, she was going to get it and there was no one in Taengea who could do that better than he could. Sometimes the trait served him and sometimes it didn’t. Today would prove one way or the other for her, at least, to see if she could handle that aspect.
He came closer to her when she began to choke and cough. “Are you alright?” She looked like she was going to survive and he stopped just short of her as she managed to choke out, “Excuse me, what did you say? It sounded like you asked me if I’d say yes if you asked for my hand?”
Hooking his thumb under the strap of his quiver, he ate his own apple in peace for a few seconds before nodding. “I did say that, yes.” Her disbelief at this was both gratifying and a little understandable. Yet also a smidge confusing. She blinked and stared at the ground. He took a few more bites of his apple, held it away from his mouth, considered it, and bit into it again. The core was what he needed.
Finally, she spoke. “Yes, if you asked... I’d say yes.”
“I will ask you under one condition,” he paused to allow her to answer but didn’t allow her to run on too long. Holding up his hand with the apple core in it, he held this out to her. “I need to have your absolute trust or this is folly. Stand against that tree, place this on your head, and do not flinch. If you so much as move a muscle, I will not ask you and we act as though last night never happened. Agreed?”
He was already pulling out an arrow from the quiver and examining the fletching by smoothing his thumb over the feathers. When he looked up, he only cut his eyes to her, keeping his face down toward the arrow.
Silence, it could be quiet and peaceful or it could scream with unanswered questions and uncertainty. The silence that filled the air between when she’d asked if that was what he’d said for certainty and his answer was definitely the latter. He’d stepped closer after she’d choked and was now standing just in front of her staring at her in that calm way he did. He shifted the strap of his quiver underneath his thumb and finally answered her.
She found her gaze on the ground, what had changed his mind? Would she say yes to him if he asked? Her eyes flickered to him, sizing him up, then falling back to the ground. Could she stand being married to him? Better yet, would she be happy? The last question had been the determining factor to her answer. It was an answer she knew she could claim.
When she raised her head to answer him, she might not have been able to hide the questions that flooded her mind but she could give him certainty in her answer. If he asked, she’d say yes.
‘I will ask you under one condition.’ Keeping her face carefully neutral, she waited to hear what that condition would be. Holding up the core of his apple as if it was some kind of prize, he offered it out to her. Slowly, she reached and took it from him. Where was this going?
‘I need to have your absolute trust or this is folly. Stand against that tree, place this on your head, and do not flinch. If you so much as move a muscle, I will not ask you and we act as though last night never happened. Agreed?’
Evangelina blinked, her eyebrows rising almost to her hairline. He wanted to shoot it off her head. There was a soft thump as her apple hit the ground, she didn't remember letting it go but with the realization of what he wanted it had fallen. Was he out of his mind? What if there was a breeze and it threw his shot off? Or… or… Or what if he missed? She’d never seen him shoot his bow. She knew he was undoubtedly the best marksman in Taengea if not Greece but… It wasn’t even a whole apple. Her lips fell open to argue about the insanity of this request but one glance at him and she knew it wouldn’t work.
Her dark eyes blinked a couple of times and felt herself numbly walking towards the tree. He needed this to trust her… for whatever reason… If that’s what he needed... She was a Leventi. The worthy inherit. Turning around she placed her back against the large oak and set the apple on her head. Making sure it was steady, she dropped her hands to her side.
He already had an arrow in his hand examining it. Her fingers clenched into the bronze fabric of her chiton and she stopped breathing. Stay calm…. Stay calm… Just...stay calm. If he missed… She wouldn’t think about that. She wasn’t going to move. Finding a calmness in his gaze she focused on that rather than the arrow set and ready to be shot at her.
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Silence, it could be quiet and peaceful or it could scream with unanswered questions and uncertainty. The silence that filled the air between when she’d asked if that was what he’d said for certainty and his answer was definitely the latter. He’d stepped closer after she’d choked and was now standing just in front of her staring at her in that calm way he did. He shifted the strap of his quiver underneath his thumb and finally answered her.
She found her gaze on the ground, what had changed his mind? Would she say yes to him if he asked? Her eyes flickered to him, sizing him up, then falling back to the ground. Could she stand being married to him? Better yet, would she be happy? The last question had been the determining factor to her answer. It was an answer she knew she could claim.
When she raised her head to answer him, she might not have been able to hide the questions that flooded her mind but she could give him certainty in her answer. If he asked, she’d say yes.
‘I will ask you under one condition.’ Keeping her face carefully neutral, she waited to hear what that condition would be. Holding up the core of his apple as if it was some kind of prize, he offered it out to her. Slowly, she reached and took it from him. Where was this going?
‘I need to have your absolute trust or this is folly. Stand against that tree, place this on your head, and do not flinch. If you so much as move a muscle, I will not ask you and we act as though last night never happened. Agreed?’
Evangelina blinked, her eyebrows rising almost to her hairline. He wanted to shoot it off her head. There was a soft thump as her apple hit the ground, she didn't remember letting it go but with the realization of what he wanted it had fallen. Was he out of his mind? What if there was a breeze and it threw his shot off? Or… or… Or what if he missed? She’d never seen him shoot his bow. She knew he was undoubtedly the best marksman in Taengea if not Greece but… It wasn’t even a whole apple. Her lips fell open to argue about the insanity of this request but one glance at him and she knew it wouldn’t work.
Her dark eyes blinked a couple of times and felt herself numbly walking towards the tree. He needed this to trust her… for whatever reason… If that’s what he needed... She was a Leventi. The worthy inherit. Turning around she placed her back against the large oak and set the apple on her head. Making sure it was steady, she dropped her hands to her side.
He already had an arrow in his hand examining it. Her fingers clenched into the bronze fabric of her chiton and she stopped breathing. Stay calm…. Stay calm… Just...stay calm. If he missed… She wouldn’t think about that. She wasn’t going to move. Finding a calmness in his gaze she focused on that rather than the arrow set and ready to be shot at her.
Silence, it could be quiet and peaceful or it could scream with unanswered questions and uncertainty. The silence that filled the air between when she’d asked if that was what he’d said for certainty and his answer was definitely the latter. He’d stepped closer after she’d choked and was now standing just in front of her staring at her in that calm way he did. He shifted the strap of his quiver underneath his thumb and finally answered her.
She found her gaze on the ground, what had changed his mind? Would she say yes to him if he asked? Her eyes flickered to him, sizing him up, then falling back to the ground. Could she stand being married to him? Better yet, would she be happy? The last question had been the determining factor to her answer. It was an answer she knew she could claim.
When she raised her head to answer him, she might not have been able to hide the questions that flooded her mind but she could give him certainty in her answer. If he asked, she’d say yes.
‘I will ask you under one condition.’ Keeping her face carefully neutral, she waited to hear what that condition would be. Holding up the core of his apple as if it was some kind of prize, he offered it out to her. Slowly, she reached and took it from him. Where was this going?
‘I need to have your absolute trust or this is folly. Stand against that tree, place this on your head, and do not flinch. If you so much as move a muscle, I will not ask you and we act as though last night never happened. Agreed?’
Evangelina blinked, her eyebrows rising almost to her hairline. He wanted to shoot it off her head. There was a soft thump as her apple hit the ground, she didn't remember letting it go but with the realization of what he wanted it had fallen. Was he out of his mind? What if there was a breeze and it threw his shot off? Or… or… Or what if he missed? She’d never seen him shoot his bow. She knew he was undoubtedly the best marksman in Taengea if not Greece but… It wasn’t even a whole apple. Her lips fell open to argue about the insanity of this request but one glance at him and she knew it wouldn’t work.
Her dark eyes blinked a couple of times and felt herself numbly walking towards the tree. He needed this to trust her… for whatever reason… If that’s what he needed... She was a Leventi. The worthy inherit. Turning around she placed her back against the large oak and set the apple on her head. Making sure it was steady, she dropped her hands to her side.
He already had an arrow in his hand examining it. Her fingers clenched into the bronze fabric of her chiton and she stopped breathing. Stay calm…. Stay calm… Just...stay calm. If he missed… She wouldn’t think about that. She wasn’t going to move. Finding a calmness in his gaze she focused on that rather than the arrow set and ready to be shot at her.
He knew the request was unusual. That was why he’d selected it. While he did not like games that people played with each other, this was not one of those. This was a test; one he felt necessary for the both of them. If this was just some passing fancy of hers, a whim, then she would not even bother. If she was serious, then she’d do what he said.
Evangelina took the apple core and stared at it, shock evident on her face. He could practically see her thoughts, blaring loud as confusion and a bit of fear, mingled with agitation warred across her features. The apple fell to the ground as her palm tilted of its own accord, dropping it with a soft thud. Gavriil nodded to himself. It was as he thought. A passing whim and they would now go their separate ways. He didn’t begrudge her. Other people had made the mistake of assuming he was simple and in some kind of desperation for what he no longer had.
But then, she drew his attention again when she picked up the apple in absolute silence and walked toward the tree. He felt his stomach flip as she turned her back to the rough trunk of the oak and settled the apple core on her head. As her hands fell to her sides, and she gripped her skirts in her fists, he felt that she’d made her point and that he did not even need to make his.
He held her gaze for a long moment before he took the arrow off the string and shouldered the bow. Walking over to her, he took the apple off her head and stabbed the arrow through it before handing it to her, saying nothing at all. Really, he had been going to shoot, because he knew for a fact he’d have pinned the apple to the tree with no difficulty. Her reaction, though, the fear but the doing it anyway, had made him rethink the plan.
One of the horses whickered, drawing his notice. His mare was staring at him, both ears perked forward. Her large brown eyes remained on the pair of them for a moment before she snorted at them, lost interest, and looked elsewhere. Gavriil looked again at her and then fixed his hands behind his back, prepared to accept whatever she might say.
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He knew the request was unusual. That was why he’d selected it. While he did not like games that people played with each other, this was not one of those. This was a test; one he felt necessary for the both of them. If this was just some passing fancy of hers, a whim, then she would not even bother. If she was serious, then she’d do what he said.
Evangelina took the apple core and stared at it, shock evident on her face. He could practically see her thoughts, blaring loud as confusion and a bit of fear, mingled with agitation warred across her features. The apple fell to the ground as her palm tilted of its own accord, dropping it with a soft thud. Gavriil nodded to himself. It was as he thought. A passing whim and they would now go their separate ways. He didn’t begrudge her. Other people had made the mistake of assuming he was simple and in some kind of desperation for what he no longer had.
But then, she drew his attention again when she picked up the apple in absolute silence and walked toward the tree. He felt his stomach flip as she turned her back to the rough trunk of the oak and settled the apple core on her head. As her hands fell to her sides, and she gripped her skirts in her fists, he felt that she’d made her point and that he did not even need to make his.
He held her gaze for a long moment before he took the arrow off the string and shouldered the bow. Walking over to her, he took the apple off her head and stabbed the arrow through it before handing it to her, saying nothing at all. Really, he had been going to shoot, because he knew for a fact he’d have pinned the apple to the tree with no difficulty. Her reaction, though, the fear but the doing it anyway, had made him rethink the plan.
One of the horses whickered, drawing his notice. His mare was staring at him, both ears perked forward. Her large brown eyes remained on the pair of them for a moment before she snorted at them, lost interest, and looked elsewhere. Gavriil looked again at her and then fixed his hands behind his back, prepared to accept whatever she might say.
He knew the request was unusual. That was why he’d selected it. While he did not like games that people played with each other, this was not one of those. This was a test; one he felt necessary for the both of them. If this was just some passing fancy of hers, a whim, then she would not even bother. If she was serious, then she’d do what he said.
Evangelina took the apple core and stared at it, shock evident on her face. He could practically see her thoughts, blaring loud as confusion and a bit of fear, mingled with agitation warred across her features. The apple fell to the ground as her palm tilted of its own accord, dropping it with a soft thud. Gavriil nodded to himself. It was as he thought. A passing whim and they would now go their separate ways. He didn’t begrudge her. Other people had made the mistake of assuming he was simple and in some kind of desperation for what he no longer had.
But then, she drew his attention again when she picked up the apple in absolute silence and walked toward the tree. He felt his stomach flip as she turned her back to the rough trunk of the oak and settled the apple core on her head. As her hands fell to her sides, and she gripped her skirts in her fists, he felt that she’d made her point and that he did not even need to make his.
He held her gaze for a long moment before he took the arrow off the string and shouldered the bow. Walking over to her, he took the apple off her head and stabbed the arrow through it before handing it to her, saying nothing at all. Really, he had been going to shoot, because he knew for a fact he’d have pinned the apple to the tree with no difficulty. Her reaction, though, the fear but the doing it anyway, had made him rethink the plan.
One of the horses whickered, drawing his notice. His mare was staring at him, both ears perked forward. Her large brown eyes remained on the pair of them for a moment before she snorted at them, lost interest, and looked elsewhere. Gavriil looked again at her and then fixed his hands behind his back, prepared to accept whatever she might say.
The rest of the world swirled into a blur of color reminiscent of one of Imma’s smudged paintings. At that moment, even if she’d wanted to she couldn’t have torn her eyes away from Gavriil’s. There were so many things that could go wrong with this idea. To her, it didn’t feel like an exercise in trust but rather more like he was drawing a line in the sand. Her head was spinning but his gaze kept her calmly backed against the tree, pinned there.
With the arrow in the bow, she waited but it had felt like time had stopped moving. She suddenly wished if he was going to shoot that arrow at her that he would do it and just get it over with. Her fingers tightened a bit more into the fabric against her thigh. If he missed what would he tell her father?
In an easy movement, the arrow was removed from the string and he shouldered the bow. She wasn’t quite ready to let her body relax though as he approached or when he plucked the apple from her head and pierced it with the arrow in his hand offering it to her. Swallowing, she slowly reached up and took it. He hadn’t shot at her.
Evangelina fought the urge to wrap her arms around him and hug him. She’d been so sure he’d intended to let that arrow go. So sure… But something kept her from reaching out. Maybe he’d agreed to offer for her hand but she didn’t think he was quite ready for her to throw her arms around him and hug him.
Closing her eyes, she let herself slide down the trunk of the oak until she was sitting on the ground. Leaning her head back, she slowly opened her eyes. Whatever fear was slowly starting to disappear and her bravado was dissolving. She needed a minute to come down off the adrenaline that was pouring through her. Taking a deep breath, she didn’t bother looking to see what one of the horses nickered at. The sweeping of her lashes fell back onto her cheek as she closed her eyes again as she let out another stilted breath.
Gavriil was still standing there where he’d been, she could feel him shifting and staring down at her, but at that moment she didn’t know what to say. Awkwardly mention his asking for her hand? No. Or how about how she thought he was going to shoot an arrow at her? No, that didn’t seem a good conversation. How about that this had felt more like some sort of punishment rather than a test of trust? Was he upset that she’d not run screaming away from this condition? Opening her eyes again, she looked up at him to find his steady gaze on her. Her lips pursed. There wasn’t any point in hiding the questions in her eyes. She wasn’t ready for the answers.
Dropping her gaze, it was one more thing she settled onto the shelf in the back of her mind. She wasn’t going to pressure him. He didn’t understand that he’d quickly become a person she wanted to share things with. Everything he said made her want more of him. He made her nervous at the same time he calmed her… it was an odd mixture. Had she made this too much about her and what she wanted? It was time for a slightly different approach with him.
She leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree to look up at him again from her spot on the ground. Softly, “Will you teach me?”
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The rest of the world swirled into a blur of color reminiscent of one of Imma’s smudged paintings. At that moment, even if she’d wanted to she couldn’t have torn her eyes away from Gavriil’s. There were so many things that could go wrong with this idea. To her, it didn’t feel like an exercise in trust but rather more like he was drawing a line in the sand. Her head was spinning but his gaze kept her calmly backed against the tree, pinned there.
With the arrow in the bow, she waited but it had felt like time had stopped moving. She suddenly wished if he was going to shoot that arrow at her that he would do it and just get it over with. Her fingers tightened a bit more into the fabric against her thigh. If he missed what would he tell her father?
In an easy movement, the arrow was removed from the string and he shouldered the bow. She wasn’t quite ready to let her body relax though as he approached or when he plucked the apple from her head and pierced it with the arrow in his hand offering it to her. Swallowing, she slowly reached up and took it. He hadn’t shot at her.
Evangelina fought the urge to wrap her arms around him and hug him. She’d been so sure he’d intended to let that arrow go. So sure… But something kept her from reaching out. Maybe he’d agreed to offer for her hand but she didn’t think he was quite ready for her to throw her arms around him and hug him.
Closing her eyes, she let herself slide down the trunk of the oak until she was sitting on the ground. Leaning her head back, she slowly opened her eyes. Whatever fear was slowly starting to disappear and her bravado was dissolving. She needed a minute to come down off the adrenaline that was pouring through her. Taking a deep breath, she didn’t bother looking to see what one of the horses nickered at. The sweeping of her lashes fell back onto her cheek as she closed her eyes again as she let out another stilted breath.
Gavriil was still standing there where he’d been, she could feel him shifting and staring down at her, but at that moment she didn’t know what to say. Awkwardly mention his asking for her hand? No. Or how about how she thought he was going to shoot an arrow at her? No, that didn’t seem a good conversation. How about that this had felt more like some sort of punishment rather than a test of trust? Was he upset that she’d not run screaming away from this condition? Opening her eyes again, she looked up at him to find his steady gaze on her. Her lips pursed. There wasn’t any point in hiding the questions in her eyes. She wasn’t ready for the answers.
Dropping her gaze, it was one more thing she settled onto the shelf in the back of her mind. She wasn’t going to pressure him. He didn’t understand that he’d quickly become a person she wanted to share things with. Everything he said made her want more of him. He made her nervous at the same time he calmed her… it was an odd mixture. Had she made this too much about her and what she wanted? It was time for a slightly different approach with him.
She leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree to look up at him again from her spot on the ground. Softly, “Will you teach me?”
The rest of the world swirled into a blur of color reminiscent of one of Imma’s smudged paintings. At that moment, even if she’d wanted to she couldn’t have torn her eyes away from Gavriil’s. There were so many things that could go wrong with this idea. To her, it didn’t feel like an exercise in trust but rather more like he was drawing a line in the sand. Her head was spinning but his gaze kept her calmly backed against the tree, pinned there.
With the arrow in the bow, she waited but it had felt like time had stopped moving. She suddenly wished if he was going to shoot that arrow at her that he would do it and just get it over with. Her fingers tightened a bit more into the fabric against her thigh. If he missed what would he tell her father?
In an easy movement, the arrow was removed from the string and he shouldered the bow. She wasn’t quite ready to let her body relax though as he approached or when he plucked the apple from her head and pierced it with the arrow in his hand offering it to her. Swallowing, she slowly reached up and took it. He hadn’t shot at her.
Evangelina fought the urge to wrap her arms around him and hug him. She’d been so sure he’d intended to let that arrow go. So sure… But something kept her from reaching out. Maybe he’d agreed to offer for her hand but she didn’t think he was quite ready for her to throw her arms around him and hug him.
Closing her eyes, she let herself slide down the trunk of the oak until she was sitting on the ground. Leaning her head back, she slowly opened her eyes. Whatever fear was slowly starting to disappear and her bravado was dissolving. She needed a minute to come down off the adrenaline that was pouring through her. Taking a deep breath, she didn’t bother looking to see what one of the horses nickered at. The sweeping of her lashes fell back onto her cheek as she closed her eyes again as she let out another stilted breath.
Gavriil was still standing there where he’d been, she could feel him shifting and staring down at her, but at that moment she didn’t know what to say. Awkwardly mention his asking for her hand? No. Or how about how she thought he was going to shoot an arrow at her? No, that didn’t seem a good conversation. How about that this had felt more like some sort of punishment rather than a test of trust? Was he upset that she’d not run screaming away from this condition? Opening her eyes again, she looked up at him to find his steady gaze on her. Her lips pursed. There wasn’t any point in hiding the questions in her eyes. She wasn’t ready for the answers.
Dropping her gaze, it was one more thing she settled onto the shelf in the back of her mind. She wasn’t going to pressure him. He didn’t understand that he’d quickly become a person she wanted to share things with. Everything he said made her want more of him. He made her nervous at the same time he calmed her… it was an odd mixture. Had she made this too much about her and what she wanted? It was time for a slightly different approach with him.
She leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree to look up at him again from her spot on the ground. Softly, “Will you teach me?”
Watching her slide down the tree made him feel like he shouldn’t have tested her this way, and yet he was glad of it anyway. The blatant questions in her eyes were not answered. He merely waited for her to recover herself. As much as he was a compassionate person, he also preferred that people were able to pick themselves up and not rely completely on him. That didn’t serve anyone. What would they do when he was gone? His children were self sufficient, but also looked to him for guidance. It was a good balance and he wanted her to do the same. She was allowed to want him, but never need him. Not in the truest sense of ‘need’. When he was gone, which he hoped to the gods would be before she ever was, then she needed to be able to make it on her own in this world without him.
“Will you teach me?” she asked as she leaned her head back.
“Away from the horses,” he agreed, though if she knew nothing about it, he didn’t imagine her shots would go very far. They might, however, accidentally spook one of the animals. Even worse, what if she did make a good shot but it went the wrong way and embedded in one or the other of their mounts? No. That was not allowed.
“Here,” he said, offering her a hand up. Once she was standing and dusted off, he decided that now might be a good time to formally ask. “Even though I scared the living daylights out of you,” he began, looking down at their still joined hands. “Would you marry me?”
This was why he’d prayed to Artemis this morning. For wisdom. Wisdom had come in the form of not actually shooting the apple core and her willingness to still go through with it was proof that he’d made the right decision. With Iason already engaged, he felt no qualms in asking Evangelina. If his son was free, then, of course, he would have directed her Iason’s way - though he didn’t feel that she fit Iason’s sensitive nature as well as his firmer one.
“I’ll speak to Fotios after the royal wedding,” he promised. It would be in poor taste, he felt, to speak to her uncle prior to Theodora’s being given away. Not that Fotios was the father, but Gavriil well knew the man’s proclivity for being very involved with family dealings. That was only a few days away, if that. If the Leventi’s were as desperate for matches as Evangelina claimed, then Gavriil didn’t expect much resistance in asking. He knew he wasn’t first choice but he certainly wasn’t dead last either. At this point, he’d have asked if Evie was still sure about this, but going on yesterday, and the fact that she’d still walked to the tree even though she’d looked scared out of her mind, he was pretty sure the answer was yes. So, no need to ask.
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Watching her slide down the tree made him feel like he shouldn’t have tested her this way, and yet he was glad of it anyway. The blatant questions in her eyes were not answered. He merely waited for her to recover herself. As much as he was a compassionate person, he also preferred that people were able to pick themselves up and not rely completely on him. That didn’t serve anyone. What would they do when he was gone? His children were self sufficient, but also looked to him for guidance. It was a good balance and he wanted her to do the same. She was allowed to want him, but never need him. Not in the truest sense of ‘need’. When he was gone, which he hoped to the gods would be before she ever was, then she needed to be able to make it on her own in this world without him.
“Will you teach me?” she asked as she leaned her head back.
“Away from the horses,” he agreed, though if she knew nothing about it, he didn’t imagine her shots would go very far. They might, however, accidentally spook one of the animals. Even worse, what if she did make a good shot but it went the wrong way and embedded in one or the other of their mounts? No. That was not allowed.
“Here,” he said, offering her a hand up. Once she was standing and dusted off, he decided that now might be a good time to formally ask. “Even though I scared the living daylights out of you,” he began, looking down at their still joined hands. “Would you marry me?”
This was why he’d prayed to Artemis this morning. For wisdom. Wisdom had come in the form of not actually shooting the apple core and her willingness to still go through with it was proof that he’d made the right decision. With Iason already engaged, he felt no qualms in asking Evangelina. If his son was free, then, of course, he would have directed her Iason’s way - though he didn’t feel that she fit Iason’s sensitive nature as well as his firmer one.
“I’ll speak to Fotios after the royal wedding,” he promised. It would be in poor taste, he felt, to speak to her uncle prior to Theodora’s being given away. Not that Fotios was the father, but Gavriil well knew the man’s proclivity for being very involved with family dealings. That was only a few days away, if that. If the Leventi’s were as desperate for matches as Evangelina claimed, then Gavriil didn’t expect much resistance in asking. He knew he wasn’t first choice but he certainly wasn’t dead last either. At this point, he’d have asked if Evie was still sure about this, but going on yesterday, and the fact that she’d still walked to the tree even though she’d looked scared out of her mind, he was pretty sure the answer was yes. So, no need to ask.
Watching her slide down the tree made him feel like he shouldn’t have tested her this way, and yet he was glad of it anyway. The blatant questions in her eyes were not answered. He merely waited for her to recover herself. As much as he was a compassionate person, he also preferred that people were able to pick themselves up and not rely completely on him. That didn’t serve anyone. What would they do when he was gone? His children were self sufficient, but also looked to him for guidance. It was a good balance and he wanted her to do the same. She was allowed to want him, but never need him. Not in the truest sense of ‘need’. When he was gone, which he hoped to the gods would be before she ever was, then she needed to be able to make it on her own in this world without him.
“Will you teach me?” she asked as she leaned her head back.
“Away from the horses,” he agreed, though if she knew nothing about it, he didn’t imagine her shots would go very far. They might, however, accidentally spook one of the animals. Even worse, what if she did make a good shot but it went the wrong way and embedded in one or the other of their mounts? No. That was not allowed.
“Here,” he said, offering her a hand up. Once she was standing and dusted off, he decided that now might be a good time to formally ask. “Even though I scared the living daylights out of you,” he began, looking down at their still joined hands. “Would you marry me?”
This was why he’d prayed to Artemis this morning. For wisdom. Wisdom had come in the form of not actually shooting the apple core and her willingness to still go through with it was proof that he’d made the right decision. With Iason already engaged, he felt no qualms in asking Evangelina. If his son was free, then, of course, he would have directed her Iason’s way - though he didn’t feel that she fit Iason’s sensitive nature as well as his firmer one.
“I’ll speak to Fotios after the royal wedding,” he promised. It would be in poor taste, he felt, to speak to her uncle prior to Theodora’s being given away. Not that Fotios was the father, but Gavriil well knew the man’s proclivity for being very involved with family dealings. That was only a few days away, if that. If the Leventi’s were as desperate for matches as Evangelina claimed, then Gavriil didn’t expect much resistance in asking. He knew he wasn’t first choice but he certainly wasn’t dead last either. At this point, he’d have asked if Evie was still sure about this, but going on yesterday, and the fact that she’d still walked to the tree even though she’d looked scared out of her mind, he was pretty sure the answer was yes. So, no need to ask.
He had the kind of eyes that could hold her captive for a decade. There was a steadiness there that told her ‘everything would be as it should be’. Evangelina wasn’t blind to the fact that her nervous energy needed grounding. She needed someone who could shelter her from her own chaos, perhaps one day she’d learn how to harness it. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that she’d not been able to pick herself up and trudge forward whatever lay ahead for her but needs were something fluid and flexible. They could change as paths altered. He'd find out soon enough that she was the sort of girl who landed on her feet.
Tilting her head back as she asked if he’d teach her how to wield the bow, she offered a half-smile at his answer that he would but it would be away from the horses. Maybe they weren’t perfect and maybe they had trouble communicating but there was so much potential there.
‘Here.’ His hand came down to help her back to her feet. Grasping it, she came back up to stand in front of him. With her hand lingered there in his as she used her free hand to dust herself off until he spoke again, ‘Even though I scared the living daylights out of you.’ His gaze fell to their hands. Awareness shot through her, had he noticed she’d pulled away? ‘Would you marry me?’ Her hand squeezed his at the question, he’d find the answer in the look she was giving him.
‘I’ll speak to Fotios after the royal wedding.’
A soft sigh escaped her, he’d taken the words out of her own mouth before she could have said them. Stepping closer to him, she didn’t dare look away. Reaching her hand up she brushed the pad of her thumb down his cheek. Her uncle probably wouldn’t hear of anything any sooner even if they’d wanted to. Besides, maybe it was selfish of her but a small part of her wanted to simply bask in this between them just a little longer without having her family involved.
“Even though you scare the living daylights out of me… Yes, I will marry you… Happily.” Her gaze traveled down the column of his neck to his chest and her hand fell away from his face. “If you are sure, are you sure?” Evangelina couldn’t stand it, she looked back up at him curiously. Was he sure? Her thumb brushed a tender path across his rougher hand.
Tilting her head back a little more, she licked her lips and continued, “I can’t promise that marrying me will be easy…” Her gaze flickered upwards in a small eye roll, “In fact, I can probably guarantee that it won’t be. I have a nasty temper and I am terribly possessive and things just sort of happen around me. My family is ambitious and mercenary and will more than likely at some point try and manipulate us…” Cutting her gaze back to him she sighed, “But I can promise to try and make all of the bad things better.”
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He had the kind of eyes that could hold her captive for a decade. There was a steadiness there that told her ‘everything would be as it should be’. Evangelina wasn’t blind to the fact that her nervous energy needed grounding. She needed someone who could shelter her from her own chaos, perhaps one day she’d learn how to harness it. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that she’d not been able to pick herself up and trudge forward whatever lay ahead for her but needs were something fluid and flexible. They could change as paths altered. He'd find out soon enough that she was the sort of girl who landed on her feet.
Tilting her head back as she asked if he’d teach her how to wield the bow, she offered a half-smile at his answer that he would but it would be away from the horses. Maybe they weren’t perfect and maybe they had trouble communicating but there was so much potential there.
‘Here.’ His hand came down to help her back to her feet. Grasping it, she came back up to stand in front of him. With her hand lingered there in his as she used her free hand to dust herself off until he spoke again, ‘Even though I scared the living daylights out of you.’ His gaze fell to their hands. Awareness shot through her, had he noticed she’d pulled away? ‘Would you marry me?’ Her hand squeezed his at the question, he’d find the answer in the look she was giving him.
‘I’ll speak to Fotios after the royal wedding.’
A soft sigh escaped her, he’d taken the words out of her own mouth before she could have said them. Stepping closer to him, she didn’t dare look away. Reaching her hand up she brushed the pad of her thumb down his cheek. Her uncle probably wouldn’t hear of anything any sooner even if they’d wanted to. Besides, maybe it was selfish of her but a small part of her wanted to simply bask in this between them just a little longer without having her family involved.
“Even though you scare the living daylights out of me… Yes, I will marry you… Happily.” Her gaze traveled down the column of his neck to his chest and her hand fell away from his face. “If you are sure, are you sure?” Evangelina couldn’t stand it, she looked back up at him curiously. Was he sure? Her thumb brushed a tender path across his rougher hand.
Tilting her head back a little more, she licked her lips and continued, “I can’t promise that marrying me will be easy…” Her gaze flickered upwards in a small eye roll, “In fact, I can probably guarantee that it won’t be. I have a nasty temper and I am terribly possessive and things just sort of happen around me. My family is ambitious and mercenary and will more than likely at some point try and manipulate us…” Cutting her gaze back to him she sighed, “But I can promise to try and make all of the bad things better.”
He had the kind of eyes that could hold her captive for a decade. There was a steadiness there that told her ‘everything would be as it should be’. Evangelina wasn’t blind to the fact that her nervous energy needed grounding. She needed someone who could shelter her from her own chaos, perhaps one day she’d learn how to harness it. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that she’d not been able to pick herself up and trudge forward whatever lay ahead for her but needs were something fluid and flexible. They could change as paths altered. He'd find out soon enough that she was the sort of girl who landed on her feet.
Tilting her head back as she asked if he’d teach her how to wield the bow, she offered a half-smile at his answer that he would but it would be away from the horses. Maybe they weren’t perfect and maybe they had trouble communicating but there was so much potential there.
‘Here.’ His hand came down to help her back to her feet. Grasping it, she came back up to stand in front of him. With her hand lingered there in his as she used her free hand to dust herself off until he spoke again, ‘Even though I scared the living daylights out of you.’ His gaze fell to their hands. Awareness shot through her, had he noticed she’d pulled away? ‘Would you marry me?’ Her hand squeezed his at the question, he’d find the answer in the look she was giving him.
‘I’ll speak to Fotios after the royal wedding.’
A soft sigh escaped her, he’d taken the words out of her own mouth before she could have said them. Stepping closer to him, she didn’t dare look away. Reaching her hand up she brushed the pad of her thumb down his cheek. Her uncle probably wouldn’t hear of anything any sooner even if they’d wanted to. Besides, maybe it was selfish of her but a small part of her wanted to simply bask in this between them just a little longer without having her family involved.
“Even though you scare the living daylights out of me… Yes, I will marry you… Happily.” Her gaze traveled down the column of his neck to his chest and her hand fell away from his face. “If you are sure, are you sure?” Evangelina couldn’t stand it, she looked back up at him curiously. Was he sure? Her thumb brushed a tender path across his rougher hand.
Tilting her head back a little more, she licked her lips and continued, “I can’t promise that marrying me will be easy…” Her gaze flickered upwards in a small eye roll, “In fact, I can probably guarantee that it won’t be. I have a nasty temper and I am terribly possessive and things just sort of happen around me. My family is ambitious and mercenary and will more than likely at some point try and manipulate us…” Cutting her gaze back to him she sighed, “But I can promise to try and make all of the bad things better.”
“Even though you scare the living daylights out of me… Yes, I will marry you… Happily.”
He watched her eyes travel over his face and down. The look she gave was so intense he felt almost physically touched by it. Her next words might have made him second guess if he ever did such a thing. His process of making decisions was one he trusted enough to never question himself. Since yesterday, he’d been considering many things. Why he had been alone for so long, why she might need him, why it was a good idea. Why it was a bad idea. The pros and cons had been equally considered but in the end, he’d come up with more pros than not, not least of which because his life really had been constant for a very long time. The day to day varied only slightly. He was existing, at this point. Marriage would most definitely change that. For good and bad.
“I am sure,” he said slowly and firmly.
“I can’t promise that marrying me will be easy…” That made him smile faintly. Even marriage to his late wife hadn’t been easy. No marriage was easy. A perfect one didn’t exist; not when two people had personalities and wants and likes and dislikes and desires. But therein lay the benefit. By practicing give and take, it made each stronger as people and together, if they chose. Or it could be the worst thing on the planet. He trusted that she would not make him come to regret this decision to change his mind.
She went on, seemingly trying to convince him that she was not good. At least, that was his guess. Usually people put their best selves forward and hid their faults. Certainly he wasn’t going to spill his own out for her to dissect and mull over. But her rush of speech made him smile wider, especially when she promised to try and fix everything bad.
“I think I may safely promise you will not see your family much, if you do not wish it,” he took her by the hand and began to lead her beyond the oak. “What you are attempting to do for me, I am doing for you. My estate is fortified by forest. It is tranquil and peaceful and you can ride as much as you like.” Though, if she was right about everything somehow going wrong around her, he wondered exactly how peaceful it would remain.
From here, Vasiliadon was definitely visible but it was far enough away that the guards on the walls looked like ants. The surrounding fields rolled gently, some golden with wheat, some vibrant green with horses grazing off in the distance. He had her stand and handed her his bow. “Put your feet like so,” he bent and tapped at her ankles to get them in the right position and then moved behind her, reaching around to position her hand on the bow and show her the grip with the string. What he didn’t do was hand her an arrow. If she actually wanted to learn to shoot, she needed form first.
“And don’t overthink marriage,” he said, continuing the conversation from earlier as though it had never had a break. “I will make sure you are happy.”
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“Even though you scare the living daylights out of me… Yes, I will marry you… Happily.”
He watched her eyes travel over his face and down. The look she gave was so intense he felt almost physically touched by it. Her next words might have made him second guess if he ever did such a thing. His process of making decisions was one he trusted enough to never question himself. Since yesterday, he’d been considering many things. Why he had been alone for so long, why she might need him, why it was a good idea. Why it was a bad idea. The pros and cons had been equally considered but in the end, he’d come up with more pros than not, not least of which because his life really had been constant for a very long time. The day to day varied only slightly. He was existing, at this point. Marriage would most definitely change that. For good and bad.
“I am sure,” he said slowly and firmly.
“I can’t promise that marrying me will be easy…” That made him smile faintly. Even marriage to his late wife hadn’t been easy. No marriage was easy. A perfect one didn’t exist; not when two people had personalities and wants and likes and dislikes and desires. But therein lay the benefit. By practicing give and take, it made each stronger as people and together, if they chose. Or it could be the worst thing on the planet. He trusted that she would not make him come to regret this decision to change his mind.
She went on, seemingly trying to convince him that she was not good. At least, that was his guess. Usually people put their best selves forward and hid their faults. Certainly he wasn’t going to spill his own out for her to dissect and mull over. But her rush of speech made him smile wider, especially when she promised to try and fix everything bad.
“I think I may safely promise you will not see your family much, if you do not wish it,” he took her by the hand and began to lead her beyond the oak. “What you are attempting to do for me, I am doing for you. My estate is fortified by forest. It is tranquil and peaceful and you can ride as much as you like.” Though, if she was right about everything somehow going wrong around her, he wondered exactly how peaceful it would remain.
From here, Vasiliadon was definitely visible but it was far enough away that the guards on the walls looked like ants. The surrounding fields rolled gently, some golden with wheat, some vibrant green with horses grazing off in the distance. He had her stand and handed her his bow. “Put your feet like so,” he bent and tapped at her ankles to get them in the right position and then moved behind her, reaching around to position her hand on the bow and show her the grip with the string. What he didn’t do was hand her an arrow. If she actually wanted to learn to shoot, she needed form first.
“And don’t overthink marriage,” he said, continuing the conversation from earlier as though it had never had a break. “I will make sure you are happy.”
“Even though you scare the living daylights out of me… Yes, I will marry you… Happily.”
He watched her eyes travel over his face and down. The look she gave was so intense he felt almost physically touched by it. Her next words might have made him second guess if he ever did such a thing. His process of making decisions was one he trusted enough to never question himself. Since yesterday, he’d been considering many things. Why he had been alone for so long, why she might need him, why it was a good idea. Why it was a bad idea. The pros and cons had been equally considered but in the end, he’d come up with more pros than not, not least of which because his life really had been constant for a very long time. The day to day varied only slightly. He was existing, at this point. Marriage would most definitely change that. For good and bad.
“I am sure,” he said slowly and firmly.
“I can’t promise that marrying me will be easy…” That made him smile faintly. Even marriage to his late wife hadn’t been easy. No marriage was easy. A perfect one didn’t exist; not when two people had personalities and wants and likes and dislikes and desires. But therein lay the benefit. By practicing give and take, it made each stronger as people and together, if they chose. Or it could be the worst thing on the planet. He trusted that she would not make him come to regret this decision to change his mind.
She went on, seemingly trying to convince him that she was not good. At least, that was his guess. Usually people put their best selves forward and hid their faults. Certainly he wasn’t going to spill his own out for her to dissect and mull over. But her rush of speech made him smile wider, especially when she promised to try and fix everything bad.
“I think I may safely promise you will not see your family much, if you do not wish it,” he took her by the hand and began to lead her beyond the oak. “What you are attempting to do for me, I am doing for you. My estate is fortified by forest. It is tranquil and peaceful and you can ride as much as you like.” Though, if she was right about everything somehow going wrong around her, he wondered exactly how peaceful it would remain.
From here, Vasiliadon was definitely visible but it was far enough away that the guards on the walls looked like ants. The surrounding fields rolled gently, some golden with wheat, some vibrant green with horses grazing off in the distance. He had her stand and handed her his bow. “Put your feet like so,” he bent and tapped at her ankles to get them in the right position and then moved behind her, reaching around to position her hand on the bow and show her the grip with the string. What he didn’t do was hand her an arrow. If she actually wanted to learn to shoot, she needed form first.
“And don’t overthink marriage,” he said, continuing the conversation from earlier as though it had never had a break. “I will make sure you are happy.”
Gavriil’s slow affirmation that he was sure about this decision could have melted her into the ground right where she stood. He was sure. Sure as in certain. He was certain he wanted to offer for her hand. Her eyelashes brushed her cheek as she closed her eyes in a slow blink as she processed his answer. Evangelina wasn’t sure what had changed his mind about this but he’d made her happy with such a simplistic phrase as ‘I am sure.’
It wasn’t so much that she was trying to dissuade him with the things that made this challenging, but she wanted him to go into this with her with his eyes wide open. Aware. Certain. And accepting. She wanted to let him know that whatever flaws she had didn’t detract from her. She wanted him to know she was worth every one of those flaws… but her words were failing her. Evangelina hoped the look in her eyes was enough to desperately tell him what she couldn’t put into words. Maybe she was too late to be his first love but she’d work twice has hard half the affection.
His smile started out faint maybe even almost amused, but it seemed to grow with every word that spilled out of her mouth. How could he make her warm from inside out and also exasperate her at the same time? With a sigh, she closed her mouth but the infectiousness of his smile spread to her. Closing her eyes for a second, she shook her head and smiled at him.
“You are more than welcome to tell me to be quiet when I start rambling you know? That’s one of the perks to marrying me.” Her puckish earthy brown eyes opened and she grinned up at him, “I’d also accept other diversions for my mouth too, should you decide to not waste your breath.” She teased cheekily.
‘I think I may safely promise you will not see your family much, if you do not wish it,’ He took her hand in his and lead her away from the security of the oak and the horses. Could he feel her heart racing through her fingertips? Glancing sideways at him before she dropped her eyes to the ground and smiled pensively, she wasn’t sure what to say to that. How much should she prepare him for her family? Luckily she didn’t have time to start on that before he spoke again. ‘What you are attempting to do for me, I am doing for you. My estate is fortified by forest. It is tranquil and peaceful and you can ride as much as you like.’ Casting him another sideways glance, this time she didn’t drag her gaze away. His words left her wondering if he had figured out why she’d asked for him to teach her how to properly use the bows and arrows or was he meaning something deeper like her attempting to make him happier by marrying him?
Coming to a stop, she took in the area… the wheat and the horses in the distance. The walled city. It was one of those perfect moments. Tilting her head up towards the early morning sunshine, she soaked it in for a couple of moments before she let him guide her body as he pleased. Passing off his bow to her, she blinked and then smiled, “It’s heavier then I was expecting.” Examining it, she let him bend down and adjust her stance before he was up and behind her reaching around and positioning showing her the grip on the string. She was soaking it up. Everything. The lesson with the bow. Him. The sunshine. All of it combined loading her senses with details for a memory.
Out of the blue, he picked up their earlier conversation, ‘And don’t overthink marriage.’ Drawing her eyes upwards, she studied his jawline and cheeks and mouth. It was a face she’d never grow tired of studying. Subtly shifting, she pressed the plush curve of her backside against him as she leaned towards the warmth of his body. ‘I will make sure you are happy.’ The words were shockingly honest and her body responded, tightening and flushing a delicate pink. Was there anything more attractive in this world than someone who wanted to make you happy? Her toes had curled at the words. Granted he’d probably not meant them in the sense that her mind instantly dove, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
“You sir, are not playing fair…” She murmured silkily, “Here I am trying to concentrate on all of these instructions and then you come in and deliciously promise to make sure I am happy.” Evangelina looked upwards at him again, her brows furrowing and her cheeks still pinkened. Had he figured out the power he wielded over her? If so, she wasn’t going to have a moment’s peace until a few things were settled. “I get the distinct feeling you are far more devious than anyone knows.”
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Gavriil’s slow affirmation that he was sure about this decision could have melted her into the ground right where she stood. He was sure. Sure as in certain. He was certain he wanted to offer for her hand. Her eyelashes brushed her cheek as she closed her eyes in a slow blink as she processed his answer. Evangelina wasn’t sure what had changed his mind about this but he’d made her happy with such a simplistic phrase as ‘I am sure.’
It wasn’t so much that she was trying to dissuade him with the things that made this challenging, but she wanted him to go into this with her with his eyes wide open. Aware. Certain. And accepting. She wanted to let him know that whatever flaws she had didn’t detract from her. She wanted him to know she was worth every one of those flaws… but her words were failing her. Evangelina hoped the look in her eyes was enough to desperately tell him what she couldn’t put into words. Maybe she was too late to be his first love but she’d work twice has hard half the affection.
His smile started out faint maybe even almost amused, but it seemed to grow with every word that spilled out of her mouth. How could he make her warm from inside out and also exasperate her at the same time? With a sigh, she closed her mouth but the infectiousness of his smile spread to her. Closing her eyes for a second, she shook her head and smiled at him.
“You are more than welcome to tell me to be quiet when I start rambling you know? That’s one of the perks to marrying me.” Her puckish earthy brown eyes opened and she grinned up at him, “I’d also accept other diversions for my mouth too, should you decide to not waste your breath.” She teased cheekily.
‘I think I may safely promise you will not see your family much, if you do not wish it,’ He took her hand in his and lead her away from the security of the oak and the horses. Could he feel her heart racing through her fingertips? Glancing sideways at him before she dropped her eyes to the ground and smiled pensively, she wasn’t sure what to say to that. How much should she prepare him for her family? Luckily she didn’t have time to start on that before he spoke again. ‘What you are attempting to do for me, I am doing for you. My estate is fortified by forest. It is tranquil and peaceful and you can ride as much as you like.’ Casting him another sideways glance, this time she didn’t drag her gaze away. His words left her wondering if he had figured out why she’d asked for him to teach her how to properly use the bows and arrows or was he meaning something deeper like her attempting to make him happier by marrying him?
Coming to a stop, she took in the area… the wheat and the horses in the distance. The walled city. It was one of those perfect moments. Tilting her head up towards the early morning sunshine, she soaked it in for a couple of moments before she let him guide her body as he pleased. Passing off his bow to her, she blinked and then smiled, “It’s heavier then I was expecting.” Examining it, she let him bend down and adjust her stance before he was up and behind her reaching around and positioning showing her the grip on the string. She was soaking it up. Everything. The lesson with the bow. Him. The sunshine. All of it combined loading her senses with details for a memory.
Out of the blue, he picked up their earlier conversation, ‘And don’t overthink marriage.’ Drawing her eyes upwards, she studied his jawline and cheeks and mouth. It was a face she’d never grow tired of studying. Subtly shifting, she pressed the plush curve of her backside against him as she leaned towards the warmth of his body. ‘I will make sure you are happy.’ The words were shockingly honest and her body responded, tightening and flushing a delicate pink. Was there anything more attractive in this world than someone who wanted to make you happy? Her toes had curled at the words. Granted he’d probably not meant them in the sense that her mind instantly dove, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
“You sir, are not playing fair…” She murmured silkily, “Here I am trying to concentrate on all of these instructions and then you come in and deliciously promise to make sure I am happy.” Evangelina looked upwards at him again, her brows furrowing and her cheeks still pinkened. Had he figured out the power he wielded over her? If so, she wasn’t going to have a moment’s peace until a few things were settled. “I get the distinct feeling you are far more devious than anyone knows.”
Gavriil’s slow affirmation that he was sure about this decision could have melted her into the ground right where she stood. He was sure. Sure as in certain. He was certain he wanted to offer for her hand. Her eyelashes brushed her cheek as she closed her eyes in a slow blink as she processed his answer. Evangelina wasn’t sure what had changed his mind about this but he’d made her happy with such a simplistic phrase as ‘I am sure.’
It wasn’t so much that she was trying to dissuade him with the things that made this challenging, but she wanted him to go into this with her with his eyes wide open. Aware. Certain. And accepting. She wanted to let him know that whatever flaws she had didn’t detract from her. She wanted him to know she was worth every one of those flaws… but her words were failing her. Evangelina hoped the look in her eyes was enough to desperately tell him what she couldn’t put into words. Maybe she was too late to be his first love but she’d work twice has hard half the affection.
His smile started out faint maybe even almost amused, but it seemed to grow with every word that spilled out of her mouth. How could he make her warm from inside out and also exasperate her at the same time? With a sigh, she closed her mouth but the infectiousness of his smile spread to her. Closing her eyes for a second, she shook her head and smiled at him.
“You are more than welcome to tell me to be quiet when I start rambling you know? That’s one of the perks to marrying me.” Her puckish earthy brown eyes opened and she grinned up at him, “I’d also accept other diversions for my mouth too, should you decide to not waste your breath.” She teased cheekily.
‘I think I may safely promise you will not see your family much, if you do not wish it,’ He took her hand in his and lead her away from the security of the oak and the horses. Could he feel her heart racing through her fingertips? Glancing sideways at him before she dropped her eyes to the ground and smiled pensively, she wasn’t sure what to say to that. How much should she prepare him for her family? Luckily she didn’t have time to start on that before he spoke again. ‘What you are attempting to do for me, I am doing for you. My estate is fortified by forest. It is tranquil and peaceful and you can ride as much as you like.’ Casting him another sideways glance, this time she didn’t drag her gaze away. His words left her wondering if he had figured out why she’d asked for him to teach her how to properly use the bows and arrows or was he meaning something deeper like her attempting to make him happier by marrying him?
Coming to a stop, she took in the area… the wheat and the horses in the distance. The walled city. It was one of those perfect moments. Tilting her head up towards the early morning sunshine, she soaked it in for a couple of moments before she let him guide her body as he pleased. Passing off his bow to her, she blinked and then smiled, “It’s heavier then I was expecting.” Examining it, she let him bend down and adjust her stance before he was up and behind her reaching around and positioning showing her the grip on the string. She was soaking it up. Everything. The lesson with the bow. Him. The sunshine. All of it combined loading her senses with details for a memory.
Out of the blue, he picked up their earlier conversation, ‘And don’t overthink marriage.’ Drawing her eyes upwards, she studied his jawline and cheeks and mouth. It was a face she’d never grow tired of studying. Subtly shifting, she pressed the plush curve of her backside against him as she leaned towards the warmth of his body. ‘I will make sure you are happy.’ The words were shockingly honest and her body responded, tightening and flushing a delicate pink. Was there anything more attractive in this world than someone who wanted to make you happy? Her toes had curled at the words. Granted he’d probably not meant them in the sense that her mind instantly dove, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
“You sir, are not playing fair…” She murmured silkily, “Here I am trying to concentrate on all of these instructions and then you come in and deliciously promise to make sure I am happy.” Evangelina looked upwards at him again, her brows furrowing and her cheeks still pinkened. Had he figured out the power he wielded over her? If so, she wasn’t going to have a moment’s peace until a few things were settled. “I get the distinct feeling you are far more devious than anyone knows.”
In handing her his bow, he hadn’t given a second thought to the weight. Evangelina tested it as he stepped back to assess her and said, “It’s heavier then I was expecting.”
“It’s meant for me. If you truly wish to learn, I’ll commission one for you.” It wasn’t a lady-like thing for her to have as a hobby, but he couldn’t really tell her no, in fairness, since he allowed Dorothea to do as she pleased. Besides, he was certain that Evangelina would be nothing like his first wife. Sybil hadn’t been born a noble woman, but she’d acted like one; graceful, elegant, quiet. She was not perfect; no one was, but she certainly hadn’t taken up any sort of hunting or archery. His eldest two children were most interested in that and his youngest was mostly wanting just to be independent, in whatever form that happened to take.
He didn’t step away when she leaned against him, like he might have yesterday but neither did he lower his arms from where he had them over hers in order to wrap them around her middle. His intent was to keep her on task, even though he knew that’s the last place she wanted to be. It didn’t take a genius to workout what she wanted but he wasn’t going to allow it. Not here and not at this very second, anyway.
“You sir, are not playing fair…Here I am trying to concentrate on all of these instructions and then you come in and deliciously promise to make sure I am happy.”
Speaking of concentration, he let go of her arms and used the gentlest, though firm touch to her jaw to turn her head forward again, away from him. Only then did he slide his hands back along her arms to get her to take up her previous position with the bow that she’d managed to get herself out of in her attempt to get closer to him. This involved having to push her hips just a bit forward, again, using his fingertips to encourage her to tilt just so, and shifting her legs exactly this way and that so that she held a strong position again.
“And raise,” he said quietly, meaning for her to take up her pose.
“I get the distinct feeling you are far more devious than anyone knows.” She accused.
Gavriil resisted smiling and maintained a calm exterior. His blue eyes were on a distant target. “Draw the bowstring back, like this…” hand over hers, pulling the string back. “Don’t put your arm like that. The string will snap forward and it will hurt. I’ll make you bracers. Aim,” he instructed, pointing out at a random flower. “Don’t let the bow dip down.”
There was no arrow nocked because he didn’t feel like having to walk all the way out in the field to get it from wherever she managed to shoot it. Neither did he want them accidentally broken. Practice arrows were one thing. Real ones were another. Once she was holding the bow to his satisfaction, he murmured, “Shoot.”
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In handing her his bow, he hadn’t given a second thought to the weight. Evangelina tested it as he stepped back to assess her and said, “It’s heavier then I was expecting.”
“It’s meant for me. If you truly wish to learn, I’ll commission one for you.” It wasn’t a lady-like thing for her to have as a hobby, but he couldn’t really tell her no, in fairness, since he allowed Dorothea to do as she pleased. Besides, he was certain that Evangelina would be nothing like his first wife. Sybil hadn’t been born a noble woman, but she’d acted like one; graceful, elegant, quiet. She was not perfect; no one was, but she certainly hadn’t taken up any sort of hunting or archery. His eldest two children were most interested in that and his youngest was mostly wanting just to be independent, in whatever form that happened to take.
He didn’t step away when she leaned against him, like he might have yesterday but neither did he lower his arms from where he had them over hers in order to wrap them around her middle. His intent was to keep her on task, even though he knew that’s the last place she wanted to be. It didn’t take a genius to workout what she wanted but he wasn’t going to allow it. Not here and not at this very second, anyway.
“You sir, are not playing fair…Here I am trying to concentrate on all of these instructions and then you come in and deliciously promise to make sure I am happy.”
Speaking of concentration, he let go of her arms and used the gentlest, though firm touch to her jaw to turn her head forward again, away from him. Only then did he slide his hands back along her arms to get her to take up her previous position with the bow that she’d managed to get herself out of in her attempt to get closer to him. This involved having to push her hips just a bit forward, again, using his fingertips to encourage her to tilt just so, and shifting her legs exactly this way and that so that she held a strong position again.
“And raise,” he said quietly, meaning for her to take up her pose.
“I get the distinct feeling you are far more devious than anyone knows.” She accused.
Gavriil resisted smiling and maintained a calm exterior. His blue eyes were on a distant target. “Draw the bowstring back, like this…” hand over hers, pulling the string back. “Don’t put your arm like that. The string will snap forward and it will hurt. I’ll make you bracers. Aim,” he instructed, pointing out at a random flower. “Don’t let the bow dip down.”
There was no arrow nocked because he didn’t feel like having to walk all the way out in the field to get it from wherever she managed to shoot it. Neither did he want them accidentally broken. Practice arrows were one thing. Real ones were another. Once she was holding the bow to his satisfaction, he murmured, “Shoot.”
In handing her his bow, he hadn’t given a second thought to the weight. Evangelina tested it as he stepped back to assess her and said, “It’s heavier then I was expecting.”
“It’s meant for me. If you truly wish to learn, I’ll commission one for you.” It wasn’t a lady-like thing for her to have as a hobby, but he couldn’t really tell her no, in fairness, since he allowed Dorothea to do as she pleased. Besides, he was certain that Evangelina would be nothing like his first wife. Sybil hadn’t been born a noble woman, but she’d acted like one; graceful, elegant, quiet. She was not perfect; no one was, but she certainly hadn’t taken up any sort of hunting or archery. His eldest two children were most interested in that and his youngest was mostly wanting just to be independent, in whatever form that happened to take.
He didn’t step away when she leaned against him, like he might have yesterday but neither did he lower his arms from where he had them over hers in order to wrap them around her middle. His intent was to keep her on task, even though he knew that’s the last place she wanted to be. It didn’t take a genius to workout what she wanted but he wasn’t going to allow it. Not here and not at this very second, anyway.
“You sir, are not playing fair…Here I am trying to concentrate on all of these instructions and then you come in and deliciously promise to make sure I am happy.”
Speaking of concentration, he let go of her arms and used the gentlest, though firm touch to her jaw to turn her head forward again, away from him. Only then did he slide his hands back along her arms to get her to take up her previous position with the bow that she’d managed to get herself out of in her attempt to get closer to him. This involved having to push her hips just a bit forward, again, using his fingertips to encourage her to tilt just so, and shifting her legs exactly this way and that so that she held a strong position again.
“And raise,” he said quietly, meaning for her to take up her pose.
“I get the distinct feeling you are far more devious than anyone knows.” She accused.
Gavriil resisted smiling and maintained a calm exterior. His blue eyes were on a distant target. “Draw the bowstring back, like this…” hand over hers, pulling the string back. “Don’t put your arm like that. The string will snap forward and it will hurt. I’ll make you bracers. Aim,” he instructed, pointing out at a random flower. “Don’t let the bow dip down.”
There was no arrow nocked because he didn’t feel like having to walk all the way out in the field to get it from wherever she managed to shoot it. Neither did he want them accidentally broken. Practice arrows were one thing. Real ones were another. Once she was holding the bow to his satisfaction, he murmured, “Shoot.”
They hadn’t really discussed things that interested them outside of the obvious things. Hunting and Horses. But Evangelina was one of those people who was always doing something, and her range of hobbies was rather vast and a bit all over the map. Horses were her primary interest but they’d led her into her lessons with apothecary from one of the local healers, which had, in turn, lead her into gardening It probably would have been rather surprising that the highly strung, little Leventi was an incredibly adept student.
She had a love for learning and soaked up teachings much like a sponge with water. Outside of the apothecary and gardening, she was formidable with her dagger, fairly well-read regarding military texts, nimble-fingered with a needle, and probably the most surprising thing of all was what a bewitching voice she had singing. Those were a few of the things though she’d found interesting, there had been however a great many other things that she’d tried but had never stuck too long enough to master. Dancing. Lute Playing. Painting or Drawing. Pottery Making. A very short stint with Bee Keeping. And silk screening. All in all, her free time was a whos-who list of various hobbies. Some she’d kept and had become rather skillful with. Some, she picked up half-heartedly and put them down just as easily though she knew the very basics of them. And some, she’d botched so badly that she would be happy if she never attempted them again. Archery was still in the researching phase with her.
‘It’s meant for me. If you truly wish to learn, I’ll commission one for you.’ Gavriil replied, his tone rather innocuous. She had to remind herself that he’d not been around her enough yet to have learned that if she hadn’t truly wished to learn that she wouldn’t have asked. Granted, this was an attempt on her part to pry open a little bit of his shell, it didn’t take away from the fact that she did want to learn.
Glancing up at him, she offered the sedate beginnings of a smile, “I kind of figured that considering it’s your bow.” Evie’s eyes flitted back forward to the open meadow, her voice quietly murmured, “I wouldn’t have asked you to teach me if I didn’t have an interest in learning.” And with that, she left that topic alone. She wasn’t about to ask him to commission her a bow or anything else. That wasn’t what she wanted, but she wasn’t sure how to ask for his time. She’d have much rather had that…
He hadn’t stepped away as she tempted him with the provocative curve of her backside pressed against him, but neither had his hand fallen away and dipped to draw her even closer. It was a win-lose situation it seemed. It wasn’t just about seducing him. If she’d wanted to do just that she’d had the words that could have brought him to his knees. It was about touch and knowing you were wanted. It was those intimate caresses she occasionally saw pass between her parents or her aunts and uncles. It was about simple affection. A part of her worried that even if he married her it would be this way. That he’d keep her just close enough but still at an arm’s distance.
Speaking of arms, his shifted from hers as he reached up and gently redirected her attention from him back to the meadow. Yielding softly to his guidance, she shifted so that her body was no longer pressed against him and she was once in the position he’d had her a moment before with a little bit of guidance from him.
‘And raise.’ She raised the heavy bow. ‘Draw the bowstring back, like this…’ His hand guided hers in drawing it back, but she felt her elbow drop just a fraction at the tension it took to pull the string backward. ‘Don’t put your arm like that. The string will snap forward and it will hurt. I’ll make you bracers. Aim,’ Her eyes blinked, this wasn’t as easy as it looked. She pushed her elbow back into position and in turn, the bow faintly dipped. ‘Don’t let the bow dip down.’ He murmured near her ear as he directed her towards a flower. She pulled the bow back upwards and kept her elbow from dropping. It was very nice form considering…
‘Shoot.’
Her fingers let go of the string, just as her elbow wavered dropping just enough to put the inside of her forearm in the path of the taunt string. Swallowing back the ‘yelp’ on her lips as the string bit into the sensitive skin a few inches down from her elbow, she stubbornly refused to give an inch and show how much that had hurt. Holding the pose for a few seconds without wavering, she glanced up at him and smiled faintly, “I think it’ll live to bloom another day.”
Dropping her gaze, she passed the bow back to him. Carefully, keeping the inside of her elbow hidden from view. He’d warned her not to drop her elbow. The nasty little red mark was rising and there was an instinctive urge to clutch it and protect… doing so though would have only drawn attention to it and that was not something she wanted. Clearing her throat softly, she used the opportunity to place her arms behind her back and look up at him. Passively, she used her free hand to rub at the angry welp on her arm, hoping for a bit of submission from the burning sting as she made an attempt at inquisitively asking, “So, what is it about hunting that you enjoy? The chase?”
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They hadn’t really discussed things that interested them outside of the obvious things. Hunting and Horses. But Evangelina was one of those people who was always doing something, and her range of hobbies was rather vast and a bit all over the map. Horses were her primary interest but they’d led her into her lessons with apothecary from one of the local healers, which had, in turn, lead her into gardening It probably would have been rather surprising that the highly strung, little Leventi was an incredibly adept student.
She had a love for learning and soaked up teachings much like a sponge with water. Outside of the apothecary and gardening, she was formidable with her dagger, fairly well-read regarding military texts, nimble-fingered with a needle, and probably the most surprising thing of all was what a bewitching voice she had singing. Those were a few of the things though she’d found interesting, there had been however a great many other things that she’d tried but had never stuck too long enough to master. Dancing. Lute Playing. Painting or Drawing. Pottery Making. A very short stint with Bee Keeping. And silk screening. All in all, her free time was a whos-who list of various hobbies. Some she’d kept and had become rather skillful with. Some, she picked up half-heartedly and put them down just as easily though she knew the very basics of them. And some, she’d botched so badly that she would be happy if she never attempted them again. Archery was still in the researching phase with her.
‘It’s meant for me. If you truly wish to learn, I’ll commission one for you.’ Gavriil replied, his tone rather innocuous. She had to remind herself that he’d not been around her enough yet to have learned that if she hadn’t truly wished to learn that she wouldn’t have asked. Granted, this was an attempt on her part to pry open a little bit of his shell, it didn’t take away from the fact that she did want to learn.
Glancing up at him, she offered the sedate beginnings of a smile, “I kind of figured that considering it’s your bow.” Evie’s eyes flitted back forward to the open meadow, her voice quietly murmured, “I wouldn’t have asked you to teach me if I didn’t have an interest in learning.” And with that, she left that topic alone. She wasn’t about to ask him to commission her a bow or anything else. That wasn’t what she wanted, but she wasn’t sure how to ask for his time. She’d have much rather had that…
He hadn’t stepped away as she tempted him with the provocative curve of her backside pressed against him, but neither had his hand fallen away and dipped to draw her even closer. It was a win-lose situation it seemed. It wasn’t just about seducing him. If she’d wanted to do just that she’d had the words that could have brought him to his knees. It was about touch and knowing you were wanted. It was those intimate caresses she occasionally saw pass between her parents or her aunts and uncles. It was about simple affection. A part of her worried that even if he married her it would be this way. That he’d keep her just close enough but still at an arm’s distance.
Speaking of arms, his shifted from hers as he reached up and gently redirected her attention from him back to the meadow. Yielding softly to his guidance, she shifted so that her body was no longer pressed against him and she was once in the position he’d had her a moment before with a little bit of guidance from him.
‘And raise.’ She raised the heavy bow. ‘Draw the bowstring back, like this…’ His hand guided hers in drawing it back, but she felt her elbow drop just a fraction at the tension it took to pull the string backward. ‘Don’t put your arm like that. The string will snap forward and it will hurt. I’ll make you bracers. Aim,’ Her eyes blinked, this wasn’t as easy as it looked. She pushed her elbow back into position and in turn, the bow faintly dipped. ‘Don’t let the bow dip down.’ He murmured near her ear as he directed her towards a flower. She pulled the bow back upwards and kept her elbow from dropping. It was very nice form considering…
‘Shoot.’
Her fingers let go of the string, just as her elbow wavered dropping just enough to put the inside of her forearm in the path of the taunt string. Swallowing back the ‘yelp’ on her lips as the string bit into the sensitive skin a few inches down from her elbow, she stubbornly refused to give an inch and show how much that had hurt. Holding the pose for a few seconds without wavering, she glanced up at him and smiled faintly, “I think it’ll live to bloom another day.”
Dropping her gaze, she passed the bow back to him. Carefully, keeping the inside of her elbow hidden from view. He’d warned her not to drop her elbow. The nasty little red mark was rising and there was an instinctive urge to clutch it and protect… doing so though would have only drawn attention to it and that was not something she wanted. Clearing her throat softly, she used the opportunity to place her arms behind her back and look up at him. Passively, she used her free hand to rub at the angry welp on her arm, hoping for a bit of submission from the burning sting as she made an attempt at inquisitively asking, “So, what is it about hunting that you enjoy? The chase?”
They hadn’t really discussed things that interested them outside of the obvious things. Hunting and Horses. But Evangelina was one of those people who was always doing something, and her range of hobbies was rather vast and a bit all over the map. Horses were her primary interest but they’d led her into her lessons with apothecary from one of the local healers, which had, in turn, lead her into gardening It probably would have been rather surprising that the highly strung, little Leventi was an incredibly adept student.
She had a love for learning and soaked up teachings much like a sponge with water. Outside of the apothecary and gardening, she was formidable with her dagger, fairly well-read regarding military texts, nimble-fingered with a needle, and probably the most surprising thing of all was what a bewitching voice she had singing. Those were a few of the things though she’d found interesting, there had been however a great many other things that she’d tried but had never stuck too long enough to master. Dancing. Lute Playing. Painting or Drawing. Pottery Making. A very short stint with Bee Keeping. And silk screening. All in all, her free time was a whos-who list of various hobbies. Some she’d kept and had become rather skillful with. Some, she picked up half-heartedly and put them down just as easily though she knew the very basics of them. And some, she’d botched so badly that she would be happy if she never attempted them again. Archery was still in the researching phase with her.
‘It’s meant for me. If you truly wish to learn, I’ll commission one for you.’ Gavriil replied, his tone rather innocuous. She had to remind herself that he’d not been around her enough yet to have learned that if she hadn’t truly wished to learn that she wouldn’t have asked. Granted, this was an attempt on her part to pry open a little bit of his shell, it didn’t take away from the fact that she did want to learn.
Glancing up at him, she offered the sedate beginnings of a smile, “I kind of figured that considering it’s your bow.” Evie’s eyes flitted back forward to the open meadow, her voice quietly murmured, “I wouldn’t have asked you to teach me if I didn’t have an interest in learning.” And with that, she left that topic alone. She wasn’t about to ask him to commission her a bow or anything else. That wasn’t what she wanted, but she wasn’t sure how to ask for his time. She’d have much rather had that…
He hadn’t stepped away as she tempted him with the provocative curve of her backside pressed against him, but neither had his hand fallen away and dipped to draw her even closer. It was a win-lose situation it seemed. It wasn’t just about seducing him. If she’d wanted to do just that she’d had the words that could have brought him to his knees. It was about touch and knowing you were wanted. It was those intimate caresses she occasionally saw pass between her parents or her aunts and uncles. It was about simple affection. A part of her worried that even if he married her it would be this way. That he’d keep her just close enough but still at an arm’s distance.
Speaking of arms, his shifted from hers as he reached up and gently redirected her attention from him back to the meadow. Yielding softly to his guidance, she shifted so that her body was no longer pressed against him and she was once in the position he’d had her a moment before with a little bit of guidance from him.
‘And raise.’ She raised the heavy bow. ‘Draw the bowstring back, like this…’ His hand guided hers in drawing it back, but she felt her elbow drop just a fraction at the tension it took to pull the string backward. ‘Don’t put your arm like that. The string will snap forward and it will hurt. I’ll make you bracers. Aim,’ Her eyes blinked, this wasn’t as easy as it looked. She pushed her elbow back into position and in turn, the bow faintly dipped. ‘Don’t let the bow dip down.’ He murmured near her ear as he directed her towards a flower. She pulled the bow back upwards and kept her elbow from dropping. It was very nice form considering…
‘Shoot.’
Her fingers let go of the string, just as her elbow wavered dropping just enough to put the inside of her forearm in the path of the taunt string. Swallowing back the ‘yelp’ on her lips as the string bit into the sensitive skin a few inches down from her elbow, she stubbornly refused to give an inch and show how much that had hurt. Holding the pose for a few seconds without wavering, she glanced up at him and smiled faintly, “I think it’ll live to bloom another day.”
Dropping her gaze, she passed the bow back to him. Carefully, keeping the inside of her elbow hidden from view. He’d warned her not to drop her elbow. The nasty little red mark was rising and there was an instinctive urge to clutch it and protect… doing so though would have only drawn attention to it and that was not something she wanted. Clearing her throat softly, she used the opportunity to place her arms behind her back and look up at him. Passively, she used her free hand to rub at the angry welp on her arm, hoping for a bit of submission from the burning sting as she made an attempt at inquisitively asking, “So, what is it about hunting that you enjoy? The chase?”
When he’d told her to shoot, her form had been as close to perfect as they were going to get. All it took was a simple shift, the work of a second, to undo the perfection. He’d seen it the moment she let go of the string but there was nothing he could do to stop it and he wouldn’t have even if he could. Without that mistake, she would not learn. The mistake didn’t bother him in the least. It was natural and everyone made them.
He did not laugh at her and he did not ask her if she was alright. She’d taken a fall face first off a horse. It’d be almost a disservice to check on her now if she took the other like a champion. The skin of her arm would be red, perhaps a little chafed. Nothing more.
“I think it’ll live to bloom another day,” she told him and he nodded, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Many days,” he corrected. With aim like that, there wasn’t a chance in Hades she’d ever hit it. She handed him the bow and he accepted it, resisting the urge to push it right back in her hands. This wasn’t the time. Later? Yes. Maybe he’d ask Dorothea if she could borrow her bow. That would be something easier to practice with, than his own.
Her attempts at hiding her annoyance with the stinging weren’t well hidden. It was easy enough to guess what she was doing, but he decided to let her quietly see to it in her own fashion. He had no reason to want to shame her or tease her for something everyone did while learning this particular skill. So he answered her question instead.
“So, what is it about hunting that you enjoy? The chase?”
“It’s rarely a chase,” he shouldered the bow and started walking, trusting her to keep up if she didn’t want his words lost to the breeze drifting by. “Mostly it’s a lot of waiting.” Waiting in trees. Beside trees. Hidden in bushes. Stationed on the back of a horse. All early mornings or staying somewhere all afternoon and getting into position at dusk. There was rarely any actual chasing when what he usually hunted was deer.
“It’s peaceful,” he walked with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes on the ground ahead. His steps were soft, moving through the tall grass in swishing hisses as the stalks rubbed together in his wake. “I never feel more powerful and humbled than when I have my sights on something and I release the arrow to take its life. Artemis puts her chosen animal into my path, and I pay homage to her by ending its life quickly. It’s as primal as something can be; the cycle of life and death. Everything is born and everything dies.”
He glanced over at her. “Why do you love horses so much?”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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When he’d told her to shoot, her form had been as close to perfect as they were going to get. All it took was a simple shift, the work of a second, to undo the perfection. He’d seen it the moment she let go of the string but there was nothing he could do to stop it and he wouldn’t have even if he could. Without that mistake, she would not learn. The mistake didn’t bother him in the least. It was natural and everyone made them.
He did not laugh at her and he did not ask her if she was alright. She’d taken a fall face first off a horse. It’d be almost a disservice to check on her now if she took the other like a champion. The skin of her arm would be red, perhaps a little chafed. Nothing more.
“I think it’ll live to bloom another day,” she told him and he nodded, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Many days,” he corrected. With aim like that, there wasn’t a chance in Hades she’d ever hit it. She handed him the bow and he accepted it, resisting the urge to push it right back in her hands. This wasn’t the time. Later? Yes. Maybe he’d ask Dorothea if she could borrow her bow. That would be something easier to practice with, than his own.
Her attempts at hiding her annoyance with the stinging weren’t well hidden. It was easy enough to guess what she was doing, but he decided to let her quietly see to it in her own fashion. He had no reason to want to shame her or tease her for something everyone did while learning this particular skill. So he answered her question instead.
“So, what is it about hunting that you enjoy? The chase?”
“It’s rarely a chase,” he shouldered the bow and started walking, trusting her to keep up if she didn’t want his words lost to the breeze drifting by. “Mostly it’s a lot of waiting.” Waiting in trees. Beside trees. Hidden in bushes. Stationed on the back of a horse. All early mornings or staying somewhere all afternoon and getting into position at dusk. There was rarely any actual chasing when what he usually hunted was deer.
“It’s peaceful,” he walked with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes on the ground ahead. His steps were soft, moving through the tall grass in swishing hisses as the stalks rubbed together in his wake. “I never feel more powerful and humbled than when I have my sights on something and I release the arrow to take its life. Artemis puts her chosen animal into my path, and I pay homage to her by ending its life quickly. It’s as primal as something can be; the cycle of life and death. Everything is born and everything dies.”
He glanced over at her. “Why do you love horses so much?”
When he’d told her to shoot, her form had been as close to perfect as they were going to get. All it took was a simple shift, the work of a second, to undo the perfection. He’d seen it the moment she let go of the string but there was nothing he could do to stop it and he wouldn’t have even if he could. Without that mistake, she would not learn. The mistake didn’t bother him in the least. It was natural and everyone made them.
He did not laugh at her and he did not ask her if she was alright. She’d taken a fall face first off a horse. It’d be almost a disservice to check on her now if she took the other like a champion. The skin of her arm would be red, perhaps a little chafed. Nothing more.
“I think it’ll live to bloom another day,” she told him and he nodded, clasping his hands behind his back.
“Many days,” he corrected. With aim like that, there wasn’t a chance in Hades she’d ever hit it. She handed him the bow and he accepted it, resisting the urge to push it right back in her hands. This wasn’t the time. Later? Yes. Maybe he’d ask Dorothea if she could borrow her bow. That would be something easier to practice with, than his own.
Her attempts at hiding her annoyance with the stinging weren’t well hidden. It was easy enough to guess what she was doing, but he decided to let her quietly see to it in her own fashion. He had no reason to want to shame her or tease her for something everyone did while learning this particular skill. So he answered her question instead.
“So, what is it about hunting that you enjoy? The chase?”
“It’s rarely a chase,” he shouldered the bow and started walking, trusting her to keep up if she didn’t want his words lost to the breeze drifting by. “Mostly it’s a lot of waiting.” Waiting in trees. Beside trees. Hidden in bushes. Stationed on the back of a horse. All early mornings or staying somewhere all afternoon and getting into position at dusk. There was rarely any actual chasing when what he usually hunted was deer.
“It’s peaceful,” he walked with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes on the ground ahead. His steps were soft, moving through the tall grass in swishing hisses as the stalks rubbed together in his wake. “I never feel more powerful and humbled than when I have my sights on something and I release the arrow to take its life. Artemis puts her chosen animal into my path, and I pay homage to her by ending its life quickly. It’s as primal as something can be; the cycle of life and death. Everything is born and everything dies.”
He glanced over at her. “Why do you love horses so much?”
She glanced over at the horses and pulled the corner of her lower lip into her mouth between her teeth. There was a salve in her saddlebag. It lived there after too many times of needing in when she was out riding and not having any. Evangelina’s teeth let go of her lip as she pulled her gaze back. It can wait.
‘Many days.’
Her eyelashes swept downward as she blinked up at him. Was it possible he was making just a little bit of fun of her? After a moment, she smiled, her head dipping softly and she nodded her head. “That is probably very true,” Evangelina replied lightly, her smile still lingering.
At her question, he seemed to have an answer ready and waiting for her. ‘It’s rarely a chase.’ Her attention was drawn back to him with the simple smooth movement of him shouldering his bow and walking. Without a thought, she fell into step with him and listened quietly as he continued talking, ‘Mostly it’s a lot of waiting.’
So it wasn’t the stalking of prey that had drawn him into loving hunting. That somehow surprised her. It also surprised her that there wasn’t a lot of stalking in hunting. It proved how much she truly didn’t know about it or the man walking next to her. Licking her lips, a chestnut curl falling free of her lazy pins as she tilted her head to watch him and where they were going at the same time.
‘It’s peaceful.’ That was something she could understand the appeal of. There were days that she needed something to quiet her mind and draw her back from her inner thoughts. Somewhere or something to pull her back to the ground and root her. It was a hard balancing trick to try and meet her family’s expectations and still maintain any resemblance to who she was. Finding herself watching him, she awkwardly dropped her gaze to the ground for fear of being caught staring at him. ‘I never feel more powerful and humbled than when I have my sights on something and I release the arrow to take its life. Artemis puts her chosen animal into my path, and I pay homage to her by ending its life quickly. It’s as primal as something can be; the cycle of life and death. Everything is born and everything dies.’
Try as she might, she found herself staring at him again. He’d revealed quite a lot about himself within his answer and it was something she would find herself mulling over. Did that mean he felt that everyone crossed paths for a reason? Had they crossed paths that day at the feast for the Egyptians for a reason? It wasn’t something she’d ever really considered before this moment. Drawing her eyes back to the ground she pondered silently on those questions until a warmth started up her neck. She could feel his attention on her, ‘Why do you love horses so much?’
The instant his question was out, a small smile touched her lips. There were a lot of answers to that particular question. Some of them, she wasn’t quite she was ready to admit out loud. The petite brunette could stand a lot of things but she wasn’t sure she was ready to let her armor completely strip away in front of him. She’d already given him a great deal of power by admitting how much she wanted him. What if he hurt her? A glance at him, she knew he wouldn’t ever mean to but the fact was… there were parts of her that still very raw and very damaged and she wasn’t entirely sure he was ready for that much of her.
“They are the only steady thing in my life,” She admitted, her gaze still on the ground. Forgotten was the stinging red welp as her arm dropped and her fingertips brushed across the taller grass’ seedheads. Her tongue wet her lips and she carefully chose her words, “Everything around me can be falling down around my ears and I can go outside and wrap my arms around one of the horse’s necks and bury my face there and for a few moments everything else can be forgotten.” An uncertain smile touched her lips and she continued, “I don’t ever have to wonder about how they feel. If they like you… you’ll know it. If they don’t, well… you’ll know that too. Everything they do means something…” Her gaze softened and her fingers plucked a blade of the grass, “Ears moving. Nostrils flaring. Even something as small as softness in their eyes can tell you so much more then people do…” She glanced back at him and smiled again, “I really am not good with people and subtleness. There are so many different ways to interpret them and their meanings… or what they want and it’s just not that way with the horses.”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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She glanced over at the horses and pulled the corner of her lower lip into her mouth between her teeth. There was a salve in her saddlebag. It lived there after too many times of needing in when she was out riding and not having any. Evangelina’s teeth let go of her lip as she pulled her gaze back. It can wait.
‘Many days.’
Her eyelashes swept downward as she blinked up at him. Was it possible he was making just a little bit of fun of her? After a moment, she smiled, her head dipping softly and she nodded her head. “That is probably very true,” Evangelina replied lightly, her smile still lingering.
At her question, he seemed to have an answer ready and waiting for her. ‘It’s rarely a chase.’ Her attention was drawn back to him with the simple smooth movement of him shouldering his bow and walking. Without a thought, she fell into step with him and listened quietly as he continued talking, ‘Mostly it’s a lot of waiting.’
So it wasn’t the stalking of prey that had drawn him into loving hunting. That somehow surprised her. It also surprised her that there wasn’t a lot of stalking in hunting. It proved how much she truly didn’t know about it or the man walking next to her. Licking her lips, a chestnut curl falling free of her lazy pins as she tilted her head to watch him and where they were going at the same time.
‘It’s peaceful.’ That was something she could understand the appeal of. There were days that she needed something to quiet her mind and draw her back from her inner thoughts. Somewhere or something to pull her back to the ground and root her. It was a hard balancing trick to try and meet her family’s expectations and still maintain any resemblance to who she was. Finding herself watching him, she awkwardly dropped her gaze to the ground for fear of being caught staring at him. ‘I never feel more powerful and humbled than when I have my sights on something and I release the arrow to take its life. Artemis puts her chosen animal into my path, and I pay homage to her by ending its life quickly. It’s as primal as something can be; the cycle of life and death. Everything is born and everything dies.’
Try as she might, she found herself staring at him again. He’d revealed quite a lot about himself within his answer and it was something she would find herself mulling over. Did that mean he felt that everyone crossed paths for a reason? Had they crossed paths that day at the feast for the Egyptians for a reason? It wasn’t something she’d ever really considered before this moment. Drawing her eyes back to the ground she pondered silently on those questions until a warmth started up her neck. She could feel his attention on her, ‘Why do you love horses so much?’
The instant his question was out, a small smile touched her lips. There were a lot of answers to that particular question. Some of them, she wasn’t quite she was ready to admit out loud. The petite brunette could stand a lot of things but she wasn’t sure she was ready to let her armor completely strip away in front of him. She’d already given him a great deal of power by admitting how much she wanted him. What if he hurt her? A glance at him, she knew he wouldn’t ever mean to but the fact was… there were parts of her that still very raw and very damaged and she wasn’t entirely sure he was ready for that much of her.
“They are the only steady thing in my life,” She admitted, her gaze still on the ground. Forgotten was the stinging red welp as her arm dropped and her fingertips brushed across the taller grass’ seedheads. Her tongue wet her lips and she carefully chose her words, “Everything around me can be falling down around my ears and I can go outside and wrap my arms around one of the horse’s necks and bury my face there and for a few moments everything else can be forgotten.” An uncertain smile touched her lips and she continued, “I don’t ever have to wonder about how they feel. If they like you… you’ll know it. If they don’t, well… you’ll know that too. Everything they do means something…” Her gaze softened and her fingers plucked a blade of the grass, “Ears moving. Nostrils flaring. Even something as small as softness in their eyes can tell you so much more then people do…” She glanced back at him and smiled again, “I really am not good with people and subtleness. There are so many different ways to interpret them and their meanings… or what they want and it’s just not that way with the horses.”
She glanced over at the horses and pulled the corner of her lower lip into her mouth between her teeth. There was a salve in her saddlebag. It lived there after too many times of needing in when she was out riding and not having any. Evangelina’s teeth let go of her lip as she pulled her gaze back. It can wait.
‘Many days.’
Her eyelashes swept downward as she blinked up at him. Was it possible he was making just a little bit of fun of her? After a moment, she smiled, her head dipping softly and she nodded her head. “That is probably very true,” Evangelina replied lightly, her smile still lingering.
At her question, he seemed to have an answer ready and waiting for her. ‘It’s rarely a chase.’ Her attention was drawn back to him with the simple smooth movement of him shouldering his bow and walking. Without a thought, she fell into step with him and listened quietly as he continued talking, ‘Mostly it’s a lot of waiting.’
So it wasn’t the stalking of prey that had drawn him into loving hunting. That somehow surprised her. It also surprised her that there wasn’t a lot of stalking in hunting. It proved how much she truly didn’t know about it or the man walking next to her. Licking her lips, a chestnut curl falling free of her lazy pins as she tilted her head to watch him and where they were going at the same time.
‘It’s peaceful.’ That was something she could understand the appeal of. There were days that she needed something to quiet her mind and draw her back from her inner thoughts. Somewhere or something to pull her back to the ground and root her. It was a hard balancing trick to try and meet her family’s expectations and still maintain any resemblance to who she was. Finding herself watching him, she awkwardly dropped her gaze to the ground for fear of being caught staring at him. ‘I never feel more powerful and humbled than when I have my sights on something and I release the arrow to take its life. Artemis puts her chosen animal into my path, and I pay homage to her by ending its life quickly. It’s as primal as something can be; the cycle of life and death. Everything is born and everything dies.’
Try as she might, she found herself staring at him again. He’d revealed quite a lot about himself within his answer and it was something she would find herself mulling over. Did that mean he felt that everyone crossed paths for a reason? Had they crossed paths that day at the feast for the Egyptians for a reason? It wasn’t something she’d ever really considered before this moment. Drawing her eyes back to the ground she pondered silently on those questions until a warmth started up her neck. She could feel his attention on her, ‘Why do you love horses so much?’
The instant his question was out, a small smile touched her lips. There were a lot of answers to that particular question. Some of them, she wasn’t quite she was ready to admit out loud. The petite brunette could stand a lot of things but she wasn’t sure she was ready to let her armor completely strip away in front of him. She’d already given him a great deal of power by admitting how much she wanted him. What if he hurt her? A glance at him, she knew he wouldn’t ever mean to but the fact was… there were parts of her that still very raw and very damaged and she wasn’t entirely sure he was ready for that much of her.
“They are the only steady thing in my life,” She admitted, her gaze still on the ground. Forgotten was the stinging red welp as her arm dropped and her fingertips brushed across the taller grass’ seedheads. Her tongue wet her lips and she carefully chose her words, “Everything around me can be falling down around my ears and I can go outside and wrap my arms around one of the horse’s necks and bury my face there and for a few moments everything else can be forgotten.” An uncertain smile touched her lips and she continued, “I don’t ever have to wonder about how they feel. If they like you… you’ll know it. If they don’t, well… you’ll know that too. Everything they do means something…” Her gaze softened and her fingers plucked a blade of the grass, “Ears moving. Nostrils flaring. Even something as small as softness in their eyes can tell you so much more then people do…” She glanced back at him and smiled again, “I really am not good with people and subtleness. There are so many different ways to interpret them and their meanings… or what they want and it’s just not that way with the horses.”