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Marietta wasn’t too sure about this. Her friend was really adventurous, but sometimes adventuring could get people into trouble. There weren’t any guards in sight, so Sofia had the idea to climb trees. Trees. They were dirty, they were big, and if you catch the wrong branch they were dangerous! Marietta shook her head a thousand times as her friend went on and on, pestering the young girl about climbing the tree. No, nope, this would be the first time Marietta held her ground. Sofia wasn’t going to go climbing trees. If she got hurt, Marietta would cry. And the Marikas family would be mad. And her friend would be sad because she was in pain. And it would be a whole mess! Marietta was almost nine years old. That’s past halfway to being an adult, which meant she was practically there. She needed to be responsible.
There is absolutely no way Sofia will climb that tree.
The spring sun was high in the sky, shining down upon the two girls. Or rather, it would be if they were not in the shadow of a huge Judas tree. The tree was massive and was likely older than Archontikó Marikas was. The pink flowers were blooming so prettily. The child’s fingers ached to run home and pluck her harp, for just the sight of this beautiful tree was filling her with inspiration.
Inspiration, however, had to wait. It was replaced with a feeling of anxiety and worry. “Don’t climb so high!” The child said from the base of the tree. Marietta had, of course, failed and caved under Sofia’s desires once again. Though it was fortunate that she was too small to properly reach the first branch, so she could stay at the bottom. And yet, despite her feet remaining firmly on the ground, her heartbeat was wild. Each time Sofia climbed onto a higher branch, Marietta would feel her breath catch. “Be careful!”
All around Marietta flowers began to flutter onto the ground, as the branches shook with a weight they never once held before. Marietta could barely watch anymore, instead electing to peek behind her fingers covering most of her vision. This would end terribly. At this height, if Sofia fell, she could be hurt for ages! What if she died? This would be a terrible way to die. And how would Marietta go back to the Marikas and say that Sofia died? She couldn’t! That would be scary. And besides, Marietta would likely be sobbing too hard to get the words out. And her mom and dad would also be angry with Marietta. And worst of all, her friend would be gone forever!
“Sofia!” Marietta’s worried voice called out to the older child, “Come back down now! You climbed it! Can’t we play something else now? Anything else?” Why did Marietta let Sofia do things like this? Why did she let Sofia convince Marietta to also do things like this? This was a horribly unbalanced friendship that more often than not frightened the small child.
But what could you do when Sofia at such a young age was already a crazy, free spirit?
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Marietta wasn’t too sure about this. Her friend was really adventurous, but sometimes adventuring could get people into trouble. There weren’t any guards in sight, so Sofia had the idea to climb trees. Trees. They were dirty, they were big, and if you catch the wrong branch they were dangerous! Marietta shook her head a thousand times as her friend went on and on, pestering the young girl about climbing the tree. No, nope, this would be the first time Marietta held her ground. Sofia wasn’t going to go climbing trees. If she got hurt, Marietta would cry. And the Marikas family would be mad. And her friend would be sad because she was in pain. And it would be a whole mess! Marietta was almost nine years old. That’s past halfway to being an adult, which meant she was practically there. She needed to be responsible.
There is absolutely no way Sofia will climb that tree.
The spring sun was high in the sky, shining down upon the two girls. Or rather, it would be if they were not in the shadow of a huge Judas tree. The tree was massive and was likely older than Archontikó Marikas was. The pink flowers were blooming so prettily. The child’s fingers ached to run home and pluck her harp, for just the sight of this beautiful tree was filling her with inspiration.
Inspiration, however, had to wait. It was replaced with a feeling of anxiety and worry. “Don’t climb so high!” The child said from the base of the tree. Marietta had, of course, failed and caved under Sofia’s desires once again. Though it was fortunate that she was too small to properly reach the first branch, so she could stay at the bottom. And yet, despite her feet remaining firmly on the ground, her heartbeat was wild. Each time Sofia climbed onto a higher branch, Marietta would feel her breath catch. “Be careful!”
All around Marietta flowers began to flutter onto the ground, as the branches shook with a weight they never once held before. Marietta could barely watch anymore, instead electing to peek behind her fingers covering most of her vision. This would end terribly. At this height, if Sofia fell, she could be hurt for ages! What if she died? This would be a terrible way to die. And how would Marietta go back to the Marikas and say that Sofia died? She couldn’t! That would be scary. And besides, Marietta would likely be sobbing too hard to get the words out. And her mom and dad would also be angry with Marietta. And worst of all, her friend would be gone forever!
“Sofia!” Marietta’s worried voice called out to the older child, “Come back down now! You climbed it! Can’t we play something else now? Anything else?” Why did Marietta let Sofia do things like this? Why did she let Sofia convince Marietta to also do things like this? This was a horribly unbalanced friendship that more often than not frightened the small child.
But what could you do when Sofia at such a young age was already a crazy, free spirit?
Marietta wasn’t too sure about this. Her friend was really adventurous, but sometimes adventuring could get people into trouble. There weren’t any guards in sight, so Sofia had the idea to climb trees. Trees. They were dirty, they were big, and if you catch the wrong branch they were dangerous! Marietta shook her head a thousand times as her friend went on and on, pestering the young girl about climbing the tree. No, nope, this would be the first time Marietta held her ground. Sofia wasn’t going to go climbing trees. If she got hurt, Marietta would cry. And the Marikas family would be mad. And her friend would be sad because she was in pain. And it would be a whole mess! Marietta was almost nine years old. That’s past halfway to being an adult, which meant she was practically there. She needed to be responsible.
There is absolutely no way Sofia will climb that tree.
The spring sun was high in the sky, shining down upon the two girls. Or rather, it would be if they were not in the shadow of a huge Judas tree. The tree was massive and was likely older than Archontikó Marikas was. The pink flowers were blooming so prettily. The child’s fingers ached to run home and pluck her harp, for just the sight of this beautiful tree was filling her with inspiration.
Inspiration, however, had to wait. It was replaced with a feeling of anxiety and worry. “Don’t climb so high!” The child said from the base of the tree. Marietta had, of course, failed and caved under Sofia’s desires once again. Though it was fortunate that she was too small to properly reach the first branch, so she could stay at the bottom. And yet, despite her feet remaining firmly on the ground, her heartbeat was wild. Each time Sofia climbed onto a higher branch, Marietta would feel her breath catch. “Be careful!”
All around Marietta flowers began to flutter onto the ground, as the branches shook with a weight they never once held before. Marietta could barely watch anymore, instead electing to peek behind her fingers covering most of her vision. This would end terribly. At this height, if Sofia fell, she could be hurt for ages! What if she died? This would be a terrible way to die. And how would Marietta go back to the Marikas and say that Sofia died? She couldn’t! That would be scary. And besides, Marietta would likely be sobbing too hard to get the words out. And her mom and dad would also be angry with Marietta. And worst of all, her friend would be gone forever!
“Sofia!” Marietta’s worried voice called out to the older child, “Come back down now! You climbed it! Can’t we play something else now? Anything else?” Why did Marietta let Sofia do things like this? Why did she let Sofia convince Marietta to also do things like this? This was a horribly unbalanced friendship that more often than not frightened the small child.
But what could you do when Sofia at such a young age was already a crazy, free spirit?
Hanging out with Marietta was supposed to be fun. Though her younger friend was often nervous and concerned about Sofia’s grand, larger-than-life schemes (that, more often that not, never came to exist), Sofia of Marikas was generally able to coax her into smaller adventures. So why couldn’t the Antonis girl play along this time?
Sofia pouted, sticking out her bottom lip from her perch a few branches up. She had chosen this tree for its huge pink flowers, mainly. She thought they would look pretty braided into her hair, and Marietta’s, too. And while the flowers at the bottom of the tree were nice, further up she could spot the truly glorious blooms. Sofia wanted them, and when the young royal wanted something, there was little chance of discouraging her.
It was easy enough to pull herself onto the lowest branch, where she had grinned cheekily down at Marietta, who was pacing anxiously on the ground below. “See? This isn’t so bad,” Sofia chirped, balancing easily. A few branches higher and she could already see out across the expansive Marikas ground, lit up by the wonderful spring sun. Her home was beautiful, sprawling, flawless. Surrounded by garden on all sides, this tree would be the perfect place to watch the sun rise or set, or to watch all the visitors to Archontikó Marikas parade around in their finery. Already she was concocting plans to play spy games in this tree—maybe she’d get a rare glimpse of Papa! Sometimes he discussed things with important people on a stroll in the gardens. Seeing Papa did sound lovely.
One more branch, and then another—Sofia was near the top. Flowers were falling around her, floating softly through the air. She grinned in delight, reaching out to catch a drifting petal, other hand clinging to the ever-thinner trunk. “But it’s so wonderful up here, Marietta! Why would I ever want to come down?” She simply could not understand why Marietta wouldn’t want to be up here, too. She could see for ages and everything smelled so sweet and it was so beautiful and—the branch beneath her feet wobbled. The breeze that had felt so refreshing and lovely at first now felt menacing as it whistled through her hair, knocking even more petals to the ground. Suddenly, Sofia was scared. She often did things without thinking, but it rarely turned out badly. There was always a guard or one of her ladies around to set things right or tell her to apologize or instruct her. But in all the Marikas gardens, no one was in sight except for little Marietta of Antonis, trembling, at the base of the tree.
“Marietta?” she called out, voice trembling a little even as she tried to be brave. Ladies could be brave, right? Raf always told her she could be whatever she wanted. He was the best brother, much better than boring Pavlos who paid her even less attention than Papa. But Raf wasn’t here to tell her how to be brave, and Sofia was usually just obstinate. That wasn’t the same thing, and obstinance wouldn’t get her down from this tree. “I think I’m—” she swallowed hard, finally looking down at the ground. She was higher up than she had thought. It was dizzying, really, and took all her strength to pull her eyes back up, focusing instead on the flowers. That’s it, she thought, little nose wrinkling, You’re just in a cloud of flowers. Not scary at all. It didn’t work. “I think I’m stuck.”
Sofia thought about her options. She could wait until a guard wandered past, but that could take ages. She’d have to send Marietta to fetch someone. None of her ladies would be much use, and she would not want to bother Papa with something this silly. He had more important things to worry about. “Can you go and find Raf, please?” she asked in a small voice. Raf would help. He might tease her, and he probably wouldn’t be happy about finding her in a tree, but he would rescue her. Sofia just knew it.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Hanging out with Marietta was supposed to be fun. Though her younger friend was often nervous and concerned about Sofia’s grand, larger-than-life schemes (that, more often that not, never came to exist), Sofia of Marikas was generally able to coax her into smaller adventures. So why couldn’t the Antonis girl play along this time?
Sofia pouted, sticking out her bottom lip from her perch a few branches up. She had chosen this tree for its huge pink flowers, mainly. She thought they would look pretty braided into her hair, and Marietta’s, too. And while the flowers at the bottom of the tree were nice, further up she could spot the truly glorious blooms. Sofia wanted them, and when the young royal wanted something, there was little chance of discouraging her.
It was easy enough to pull herself onto the lowest branch, where she had grinned cheekily down at Marietta, who was pacing anxiously on the ground below. “See? This isn’t so bad,” Sofia chirped, balancing easily. A few branches higher and she could already see out across the expansive Marikas ground, lit up by the wonderful spring sun. Her home was beautiful, sprawling, flawless. Surrounded by garden on all sides, this tree would be the perfect place to watch the sun rise or set, or to watch all the visitors to Archontikó Marikas parade around in their finery. Already she was concocting plans to play spy games in this tree—maybe she’d get a rare glimpse of Papa! Sometimes he discussed things with important people on a stroll in the gardens. Seeing Papa did sound lovely.
One more branch, and then another—Sofia was near the top. Flowers were falling around her, floating softly through the air. She grinned in delight, reaching out to catch a drifting petal, other hand clinging to the ever-thinner trunk. “But it’s so wonderful up here, Marietta! Why would I ever want to come down?” She simply could not understand why Marietta wouldn’t want to be up here, too. She could see for ages and everything smelled so sweet and it was so beautiful and—the branch beneath her feet wobbled. The breeze that had felt so refreshing and lovely at first now felt menacing as it whistled through her hair, knocking even more petals to the ground. Suddenly, Sofia was scared. She often did things without thinking, but it rarely turned out badly. There was always a guard or one of her ladies around to set things right or tell her to apologize or instruct her. But in all the Marikas gardens, no one was in sight except for little Marietta of Antonis, trembling, at the base of the tree.
“Marietta?” she called out, voice trembling a little even as she tried to be brave. Ladies could be brave, right? Raf always told her she could be whatever she wanted. He was the best brother, much better than boring Pavlos who paid her even less attention than Papa. But Raf wasn’t here to tell her how to be brave, and Sofia was usually just obstinate. That wasn’t the same thing, and obstinance wouldn’t get her down from this tree. “I think I’m—” she swallowed hard, finally looking down at the ground. She was higher up than she had thought. It was dizzying, really, and took all her strength to pull her eyes back up, focusing instead on the flowers. That’s it, she thought, little nose wrinkling, You’re just in a cloud of flowers. Not scary at all. It didn’t work. “I think I’m stuck.”
Sofia thought about her options. She could wait until a guard wandered past, but that could take ages. She’d have to send Marietta to fetch someone. None of her ladies would be much use, and she would not want to bother Papa with something this silly. He had more important things to worry about. “Can you go and find Raf, please?” she asked in a small voice. Raf would help. He might tease her, and he probably wouldn’t be happy about finding her in a tree, but he would rescue her. Sofia just knew it.
Hanging out with Marietta was supposed to be fun. Though her younger friend was often nervous and concerned about Sofia’s grand, larger-than-life schemes (that, more often that not, never came to exist), Sofia of Marikas was generally able to coax her into smaller adventures. So why couldn’t the Antonis girl play along this time?
Sofia pouted, sticking out her bottom lip from her perch a few branches up. She had chosen this tree for its huge pink flowers, mainly. She thought they would look pretty braided into her hair, and Marietta’s, too. And while the flowers at the bottom of the tree were nice, further up she could spot the truly glorious blooms. Sofia wanted them, and when the young royal wanted something, there was little chance of discouraging her.
It was easy enough to pull herself onto the lowest branch, where she had grinned cheekily down at Marietta, who was pacing anxiously on the ground below. “See? This isn’t so bad,” Sofia chirped, balancing easily. A few branches higher and she could already see out across the expansive Marikas ground, lit up by the wonderful spring sun. Her home was beautiful, sprawling, flawless. Surrounded by garden on all sides, this tree would be the perfect place to watch the sun rise or set, or to watch all the visitors to Archontikó Marikas parade around in their finery. Already she was concocting plans to play spy games in this tree—maybe she’d get a rare glimpse of Papa! Sometimes he discussed things with important people on a stroll in the gardens. Seeing Papa did sound lovely.
One more branch, and then another—Sofia was near the top. Flowers were falling around her, floating softly through the air. She grinned in delight, reaching out to catch a drifting petal, other hand clinging to the ever-thinner trunk. “But it’s so wonderful up here, Marietta! Why would I ever want to come down?” She simply could not understand why Marietta wouldn’t want to be up here, too. She could see for ages and everything smelled so sweet and it was so beautiful and—the branch beneath her feet wobbled. The breeze that had felt so refreshing and lovely at first now felt menacing as it whistled through her hair, knocking even more petals to the ground. Suddenly, Sofia was scared. She often did things without thinking, but it rarely turned out badly. There was always a guard or one of her ladies around to set things right or tell her to apologize or instruct her. But in all the Marikas gardens, no one was in sight except for little Marietta of Antonis, trembling, at the base of the tree.
“Marietta?” she called out, voice trembling a little even as she tried to be brave. Ladies could be brave, right? Raf always told her she could be whatever she wanted. He was the best brother, much better than boring Pavlos who paid her even less attention than Papa. But Raf wasn’t here to tell her how to be brave, and Sofia was usually just obstinate. That wasn’t the same thing, and obstinance wouldn’t get her down from this tree. “I think I’m—” she swallowed hard, finally looking down at the ground. She was higher up than she had thought. It was dizzying, really, and took all her strength to pull her eyes back up, focusing instead on the flowers. That’s it, she thought, little nose wrinkling, You’re just in a cloud of flowers. Not scary at all. It didn’t work. “I think I’m stuck.”
Sofia thought about her options. She could wait until a guard wandered past, but that could take ages. She’d have to send Marietta to fetch someone. None of her ladies would be much use, and she would not want to bother Papa with something this silly. He had more important things to worry about. “Can you go and find Raf, please?” she asked in a small voice. Raf would help. He might tease her, and he probably wouldn’t be happy about finding her in a tree, but he would rescue her. Sofia just knew it.
She was getting really, really high now. Marietta could barely see her friend. She was hopping up and down trying to keep Sofia in her sight. Occasionally flowers would shroud her only for her to reappear, higher up the tree. Suddenly, though, Sofia stopped. Marietta stood on her tippy toes to try to get a better look at Sofia.
I think I’m stuck.
What did she just say? Was that fear she heard in her voice. Marietta never heard fear come from Sofia. She was the bravest girl she knew! Her stomach dropped to the floor. Sofia was in danger. She was going to die! Marietta wasn’t ready for Sofia to go to Tartarus. She didn’t even have coins on her to give to Sofia! What if she can’t afford to take the ferry? What if she was poor there?!
“I… Okay! Okay! You hang on tight! I’ll find him!” Marietta said as she was backing away, before turning into a full on sprint. Her little legs carried her as fast as they could, which admittedly wasn’t too fast but she was trying!
Marietta knew where Raf’s bedroom was. Sofia and she snuck in there once when they were playing and looked at all his pretty stuff. Marietta burst through the door of his bedroom, ignoring propriety because this was an emergency. She needed an adult, and fast! But the bedroom was empty and Marietta’s heart sank. Her friend could be bleeding out onto the grass! She could be scared and alone with no one around to hold her hand!
No, Marietta had to keep looking. Uh, if she were Raf where would she be? What did Raf like? Marietta didn’t really know. He was older and scary. People in general were scary, but Raf was like extra scary to Marietta. Sofia liked Raf a whole lot and Marietta didn’t want to look like a bad friend and then have him convince her not to hang out with Marietta anymore. So she didn’t know the boy very well. She supposed… that she heard he liked horses. That stuck with Marietta since horses were also really scary.
She elected to try the stables. The girl was off sprinting again, accidentally leaving the door open but it wasn’t time to worry about things like that. Her little legs moved faster and faster, bounding through the grounds until she finally saw Raf there. He was with two really pretty girls who were giggling like he had told the funniest joke in the world. Maybe he did. Sofia was really funny, so she could have gotten it from her big brother. He also had a nice smile thanks to his fixed teeth. Maybe Marietta would compliment them later, but not now there wasn’t any time.
The child pushed past one of the girls who huffed annoyed that a child would dare shove past her. She grabbed his wrist and started to pull. “Raf, Raf, Raf! Sofia is in trouble!” She tried yanking him along. “She could die, Raf. You need to save her! You’re her only hope! C’mon! There isn’t time!”
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She was getting really, really high now. Marietta could barely see her friend. She was hopping up and down trying to keep Sofia in her sight. Occasionally flowers would shroud her only for her to reappear, higher up the tree. Suddenly, though, Sofia stopped. Marietta stood on her tippy toes to try to get a better look at Sofia.
I think I’m stuck.
What did she just say? Was that fear she heard in her voice. Marietta never heard fear come from Sofia. She was the bravest girl she knew! Her stomach dropped to the floor. Sofia was in danger. She was going to die! Marietta wasn’t ready for Sofia to go to Tartarus. She didn’t even have coins on her to give to Sofia! What if she can’t afford to take the ferry? What if she was poor there?!
“I… Okay! Okay! You hang on tight! I’ll find him!” Marietta said as she was backing away, before turning into a full on sprint. Her little legs carried her as fast as they could, which admittedly wasn’t too fast but she was trying!
Marietta knew where Raf’s bedroom was. Sofia and she snuck in there once when they were playing and looked at all his pretty stuff. Marietta burst through the door of his bedroom, ignoring propriety because this was an emergency. She needed an adult, and fast! But the bedroom was empty and Marietta’s heart sank. Her friend could be bleeding out onto the grass! She could be scared and alone with no one around to hold her hand!
No, Marietta had to keep looking. Uh, if she were Raf where would she be? What did Raf like? Marietta didn’t really know. He was older and scary. People in general were scary, but Raf was like extra scary to Marietta. Sofia liked Raf a whole lot and Marietta didn’t want to look like a bad friend and then have him convince her not to hang out with Marietta anymore. So she didn’t know the boy very well. She supposed… that she heard he liked horses. That stuck with Marietta since horses were also really scary.
She elected to try the stables. The girl was off sprinting again, accidentally leaving the door open but it wasn’t time to worry about things like that. Her little legs moved faster and faster, bounding through the grounds until she finally saw Raf there. He was with two really pretty girls who were giggling like he had told the funniest joke in the world. Maybe he did. Sofia was really funny, so she could have gotten it from her big brother. He also had a nice smile thanks to his fixed teeth. Maybe Marietta would compliment them later, but not now there wasn’t any time.
The child pushed past one of the girls who huffed annoyed that a child would dare shove past her. She grabbed his wrist and started to pull. “Raf, Raf, Raf! Sofia is in trouble!” She tried yanking him along. “She could die, Raf. You need to save her! You’re her only hope! C’mon! There isn’t time!”
She was getting really, really high now. Marietta could barely see her friend. She was hopping up and down trying to keep Sofia in her sight. Occasionally flowers would shroud her only for her to reappear, higher up the tree. Suddenly, though, Sofia stopped. Marietta stood on her tippy toes to try to get a better look at Sofia.
I think I’m stuck.
What did she just say? Was that fear she heard in her voice. Marietta never heard fear come from Sofia. She was the bravest girl she knew! Her stomach dropped to the floor. Sofia was in danger. She was going to die! Marietta wasn’t ready for Sofia to go to Tartarus. She didn’t even have coins on her to give to Sofia! What if she can’t afford to take the ferry? What if she was poor there?!
“I… Okay! Okay! You hang on tight! I’ll find him!” Marietta said as she was backing away, before turning into a full on sprint. Her little legs carried her as fast as they could, which admittedly wasn’t too fast but she was trying!
Marietta knew where Raf’s bedroom was. Sofia and she snuck in there once when they were playing and looked at all his pretty stuff. Marietta burst through the door of his bedroom, ignoring propriety because this was an emergency. She needed an adult, and fast! But the bedroom was empty and Marietta’s heart sank. Her friend could be bleeding out onto the grass! She could be scared and alone with no one around to hold her hand!
No, Marietta had to keep looking. Uh, if she were Raf where would she be? What did Raf like? Marietta didn’t really know. He was older and scary. People in general were scary, but Raf was like extra scary to Marietta. Sofia liked Raf a whole lot and Marietta didn’t want to look like a bad friend and then have him convince her not to hang out with Marietta anymore. So she didn’t know the boy very well. She supposed… that she heard he liked horses. That stuck with Marietta since horses were also really scary.
She elected to try the stables. The girl was off sprinting again, accidentally leaving the door open but it wasn’t time to worry about things like that. Her little legs moved faster and faster, bounding through the grounds until she finally saw Raf there. He was with two really pretty girls who were giggling like he had told the funniest joke in the world. Maybe he did. Sofia was really funny, so she could have gotten it from her big brother. He also had a nice smile thanks to his fixed teeth. Maybe Marietta would compliment them later, but not now there wasn’t any time.
The child pushed past one of the girls who huffed annoyed that a child would dare shove past her. She grabbed his wrist and started to pull. “Raf, Raf, Raf! Sofia is in trouble!” She tried yanking him along. “She could die, Raf. You need to save her! You’re her only hope! C’mon! There isn’t time!”
Rafail was having a good day. Up until recently, he had been prescribed some foul-looking and worse-tasting substance to dull the pain in his mouth caused by the uncomfortable shifting of his teeth and, while he was grateful for the man that Papa had hired from Egypt to fix the crookedness with which he had suffered since his adult teeth had come in, the fifteen-year-old was happier his mouth was free again. Free and now even more appealing to those pretty noblewomen with which he liked to associate. In fact, those girls themselves were only another factor in his wonderful day, for he had managed to draw a few of them away from their dull duties tending to his sister's or nieces' affairs, and had led them to the stables, where they were being regaled with all his best flirtatious techniques.
He had been telling the pair of them a story about the latest race in which he had competed, pointing out the horse which had led him to victory - a beautiful white stallion named Thalassos - and describing just how arduous the contest had been. One of them had dropped her hand onto his upper arm and was commenting on just what a fantastic rider he must have been, and he had answered that he would be happy to show her a good ride later that day, flashing her the most gorgeous of smiles. The pair liked that enough that it elicited a slew of giggles from both girls, and his expression widened into a satisfied smirk. Someone was going to have an excellent night.
The conversation would have continued positively if some child had not burst into the scene and grabbed his wrist as if he was not who he was. He knew her, of course, because though the little girl was almost half his age, she was one of Sofia's close friends, and seemed to hang around their home regularly. Rafail would have pushed her away and told her to run off and play with her toys and leave him alone, if she had not mentioned his sister.
The middle Marikas child was not traditionally selfless, and he did not care for charity all that often, but he had always looked after Sofia as best he could. She had not had as much as he in life, and although he too craved their father's attention at times, he already knew he had far more of it than she, not to mention Mama. Sofia deserved something, and Rafail would protect her with all he had. He paused in his conversation, ignoring the stroppy complaints made by his ladies at the interruption, turning towards Marietta with genuine concern and allowing her to drag him along, despite the worries for the blue silk of his chiton (she was going to stretch the fabric!).
"Calm down," he told her, shaking the child's hand off the fabric of his clothing so that he could walk after her more comfortably, a hand reaching down for Marietta to take instead, hoping that she wouldn't be sticky. Children were always sticky - that was something he had learned - although, of course, he had never been because Mama had raised him properly. At least girls liked it when you seemed to be caring towards children. That would earn him valuable points with the ladies he had just abandoned. "What happened? Is she hurt?"
Rafail didn't quite need the answer, because as they approached the tree in question, he could already see the figure of his sister trapped in the branches. He frowned, a hand falling to his hips as if irritated, though he could never really be with Sofia, and called up to her: "Sofi! What have you done now? Where are your guards? Honestly." What was he supposed to do about this?
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Rafail was having a good day. Up until recently, he had been prescribed some foul-looking and worse-tasting substance to dull the pain in his mouth caused by the uncomfortable shifting of his teeth and, while he was grateful for the man that Papa had hired from Egypt to fix the crookedness with which he had suffered since his adult teeth had come in, the fifteen-year-old was happier his mouth was free again. Free and now even more appealing to those pretty noblewomen with which he liked to associate. In fact, those girls themselves were only another factor in his wonderful day, for he had managed to draw a few of them away from their dull duties tending to his sister's or nieces' affairs, and had led them to the stables, where they were being regaled with all his best flirtatious techniques.
He had been telling the pair of them a story about the latest race in which he had competed, pointing out the horse which had led him to victory - a beautiful white stallion named Thalassos - and describing just how arduous the contest had been. One of them had dropped her hand onto his upper arm and was commenting on just what a fantastic rider he must have been, and he had answered that he would be happy to show her a good ride later that day, flashing her the most gorgeous of smiles. The pair liked that enough that it elicited a slew of giggles from both girls, and his expression widened into a satisfied smirk. Someone was going to have an excellent night.
The conversation would have continued positively if some child had not burst into the scene and grabbed his wrist as if he was not who he was. He knew her, of course, because though the little girl was almost half his age, she was one of Sofia's close friends, and seemed to hang around their home regularly. Rafail would have pushed her away and told her to run off and play with her toys and leave him alone, if she had not mentioned his sister.
The middle Marikas child was not traditionally selfless, and he did not care for charity all that often, but he had always looked after Sofia as best he could. She had not had as much as he in life, and although he too craved their father's attention at times, he already knew he had far more of it than she, not to mention Mama. Sofia deserved something, and Rafail would protect her with all he had. He paused in his conversation, ignoring the stroppy complaints made by his ladies at the interruption, turning towards Marietta with genuine concern and allowing her to drag him along, despite the worries for the blue silk of his chiton (she was going to stretch the fabric!).
"Calm down," he told her, shaking the child's hand off the fabric of his clothing so that he could walk after her more comfortably, a hand reaching down for Marietta to take instead, hoping that she wouldn't be sticky. Children were always sticky - that was something he had learned - although, of course, he had never been because Mama had raised him properly. At least girls liked it when you seemed to be caring towards children. That would earn him valuable points with the ladies he had just abandoned. "What happened? Is she hurt?"
Rafail didn't quite need the answer, because as they approached the tree in question, he could already see the figure of his sister trapped in the branches. He frowned, a hand falling to his hips as if irritated, though he could never really be with Sofia, and called up to her: "Sofi! What have you done now? Where are your guards? Honestly." What was he supposed to do about this?
Rafail was having a good day. Up until recently, he had been prescribed some foul-looking and worse-tasting substance to dull the pain in his mouth caused by the uncomfortable shifting of his teeth and, while he was grateful for the man that Papa had hired from Egypt to fix the crookedness with which he had suffered since his adult teeth had come in, the fifteen-year-old was happier his mouth was free again. Free and now even more appealing to those pretty noblewomen with which he liked to associate. In fact, those girls themselves were only another factor in his wonderful day, for he had managed to draw a few of them away from their dull duties tending to his sister's or nieces' affairs, and had led them to the stables, where they were being regaled with all his best flirtatious techniques.
He had been telling the pair of them a story about the latest race in which he had competed, pointing out the horse which had led him to victory - a beautiful white stallion named Thalassos - and describing just how arduous the contest had been. One of them had dropped her hand onto his upper arm and was commenting on just what a fantastic rider he must have been, and he had answered that he would be happy to show her a good ride later that day, flashing her the most gorgeous of smiles. The pair liked that enough that it elicited a slew of giggles from both girls, and his expression widened into a satisfied smirk. Someone was going to have an excellent night.
The conversation would have continued positively if some child had not burst into the scene and grabbed his wrist as if he was not who he was. He knew her, of course, because though the little girl was almost half his age, she was one of Sofia's close friends, and seemed to hang around their home regularly. Rafail would have pushed her away and told her to run off and play with her toys and leave him alone, if she had not mentioned his sister.
The middle Marikas child was not traditionally selfless, and he did not care for charity all that often, but he had always looked after Sofia as best he could. She had not had as much as he in life, and although he too craved their father's attention at times, he already knew he had far more of it than she, not to mention Mama. Sofia deserved something, and Rafail would protect her with all he had. He paused in his conversation, ignoring the stroppy complaints made by his ladies at the interruption, turning towards Marietta with genuine concern and allowing her to drag him along, despite the worries for the blue silk of his chiton (she was going to stretch the fabric!).
"Calm down," he told her, shaking the child's hand off the fabric of his clothing so that he could walk after her more comfortably, a hand reaching down for Marietta to take instead, hoping that she wouldn't be sticky. Children were always sticky - that was something he had learned - although, of course, he had never been because Mama had raised him properly. At least girls liked it when you seemed to be caring towards children. That would earn him valuable points with the ladies he had just abandoned. "What happened? Is she hurt?"
Rafail didn't quite need the answer, because as they approached the tree in question, he could already see the figure of his sister trapped in the branches. He frowned, a hand falling to his hips as if irritated, though he could never really be with Sofia, and called up to her: "Sofi! What have you done now? Where are your guards? Honestly." What was he supposed to do about this?
Once Marietta was gone, the brave face Sofia had been trying to portray vanished. She was scared. Scared and alone at the top of a very tall pink tree. Her knuckles were the palest white as she clung to the thin trunk, breaths coming out uneven and shallow. Why had she done this? Sofia liked to think she was smart and, more than that, clever, but she wasn’t. Smart, clever, royal girls wouldn’t climb to the top of pretty trees without a guard nearby. Frightened eight-year-olds hardly made good guards, even when playing pretend. And where was Marietta? For all Sofia knew, it had been hours. Was the sky darker? It looked darker. Marietta must have abandoned her, too scared to face Rafail and the ire of the Marikas family. Not that they would be mad at her for Sofia's decisions. Well, maybe Raf would be. But Papa would just be disappointed in Sofia for causing worry, and Pavlos wouldn’t care at all, if he ever found out.
Sofia didn’t want to be trapped in this tree forever. Once or twice, she tried to lower her foot to the next branch, but her foot seemed to dangle in the air. It was too far. She was going to have to stay here. Then, desperately trying to calm down, she tried squeezing her eyes shut to forget just how far from the ground she was. But the darkened world swirled around her and she felt dizzy and even more lost than before. Eventually, she settled on staring at the flowers all around her. That helped a little. There was even a little bee to keep her company, buzzing softly and flitting around. “You’re not afraid of heights,” she murmured, impressed, but as soon as she spoke, her new friend flew away, abandoning her to her fate.
The world felt so cold and empty. That felt dramatic—she probably learned from Raf—but it was true. The gardens, so expansive and colorful, felt impersonal and distant. Where was everyone? Shirking her guards and ladies had felt so liberating at first, but now Sofia of Marikas wanted nothing more than for someone to appear. Papa would be best, of course. He could give her a rare hug and smile at her and tell her he was proud of her for being brave. He would even forget to be disappointed in her silliness! It would be wonderful. But Papa wasn’t there. No one was.
Unless—was that—? Yes! In the distance, coming from the direction of the stables! Raf, tall and brave and coming to rescue her! And little Marietta too, still looking distressed but perhaps a little pleased with herself. Sofia let out a huge breath of air, already a bit calmer. Raf wouldn’t let her starve to death at the top of this tree. “Raf, Raf!” she called out, smiling hopefully. When he got to the bottom though, her excitement faltered. It was hard to see him through the intertwining branches and flowers, but he looked annoyed. That wasn’t good. She hoped he hadn’t been doing anything terribly important. Maybe he’d been doing something for Papa and now they would both be disappointed in her. “Oh,” she mumbled, pressing her cheek against the rough bark of the trunk, “We—” no, this wasn’t Marietta’s fault. Real royals took responsibility for their actions. “—I snuck away from them. They kept snickering at our pretend games!” she continued hastily, already trying to deflect blame again. She couldn’t stand it if Raf was bored of her, too. “I just wanted the prettiest flowers for our hair,” she mumbled again, just loud enough for her brother to hear. “We were going to play dryads.”
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Once Marietta was gone, the brave face Sofia had been trying to portray vanished. She was scared. Scared and alone at the top of a very tall pink tree. Her knuckles were the palest white as she clung to the thin trunk, breaths coming out uneven and shallow. Why had she done this? Sofia liked to think she was smart and, more than that, clever, but she wasn’t. Smart, clever, royal girls wouldn’t climb to the top of pretty trees without a guard nearby. Frightened eight-year-olds hardly made good guards, even when playing pretend. And where was Marietta? For all Sofia knew, it had been hours. Was the sky darker? It looked darker. Marietta must have abandoned her, too scared to face Rafail and the ire of the Marikas family. Not that they would be mad at her for Sofia's decisions. Well, maybe Raf would be. But Papa would just be disappointed in Sofia for causing worry, and Pavlos wouldn’t care at all, if he ever found out.
Sofia didn’t want to be trapped in this tree forever. Once or twice, she tried to lower her foot to the next branch, but her foot seemed to dangle in the air. It was too far. She was going to have to stay here. Then, desperately trying to calm down, she tried squeezing her eyes shut to forget just how far from the ground she was. But the darkened world swirled around her and she felt dizzy and even more lost than before. Eventually, she settled on staring at the flowers all around her. That helped a little. There was even a little bee to keep her company, buzzing softly and flitting around. “You’re not afraid of heights,” she murmured, impressed, but as soon as she spoke, her new friend flew away, abandoning her to her fate.
The world felt so cold and empty. That felt dramatic—she probably learned from Raf—but it was true. The gardens, so expansive and colorful, felt impersonal and distant. Where was everyone? Shirking her guards and ladies had felt so liberating at first, but now Sofia of Marikas wanted nothing more than for someone to appear. Papa would be best, of course. He could give her a rare hug and smile at her and tell her he was proud of her for being brave. He would even forget to be disappointed in her silliness! It would be wonderful. But Papa wasn’t there. No one was.
Unless—was that—? Yes! In the distance, coming from the direction of the stables! Raf, tall and brave and coming to rescue her! And little Marietta too, still looking distressed but perhaps a little pleased with herself. Sofia let out a huge breath of air, already a bit calmer. Raf wouldn’t let her starve to death at the top of this tree. “Raf, Raf!” she called out, smiling hopefully. When he got to the bottom though, her excitement faltered. It was hard to see him through the intertwining branches and flowers, but he looked annoyed. That wasn’t good. She hoped he hadn’t been doing anything terribly important. Maybe he’d been doing something for Papa and now they would both be disappointed in her. “Oh,” she mumbled, pressing her cheek against the rough bark of the trunk, “We—” no, this wasn’t Marietta’s fault. Real royals took responsibility for their actions. “—I snuck away from them. They kept snickering at our pretend games!” she continued hastily, already trying to deflect blame again. She couldn’t stand it if Raf was bored of her, too. “I just wanted the prettiest flowers for our hair,” she mumbled again, just loud enough for her brother to hear. “We were going to play dryads.”
Once Marietta was gone, the brave face Sofia had been trying to portray vanished. She was scared. Scared and alone at the top of a very tall pink tree. Her knuckles were the palest white as she clung to the thin trunk, breaths coming out uneven and shallow. Why had she done this? Sofia liked to think she was smart and, more than that, clever, but she wasn’t. Smart, clever, royal girls wouldn’t climb to the top of pretty trees without a guard nearby. Frightened eight-year-olds hardly made good guards, even when playing pretend. And where was Marietta? For all Sofia knew, it had been hours. Was the sky darker? It looked darker. Marietta must have abandoned her, too scared to face Rafail and the ire of the Marikas family. Not that they would be mad at her for Sofia's decisions. Well, maybe Raf would be. But Papa would just be disappointed in Sofia for causing worry, and Pavlos wouldn’t care at all, if he ever found out.
Sofia didn’t want to be trapped in this tree forever. Once or twice, she tried to lower her foot to the next branch, but her foot seemed to dangle in the air. It was too far. She was going to have to stay here. Then, desperately trying to calm down, she tried squeezing her eyes shut to forget just how far from the ground she was. But the darkened world swirled around her and she felt dizzy and even more lost than before. Eventually, she settled on staring at the flowers all around her. That helped a little. There was even a little bee to keep her company, buzzing softly and flitting around. “You’re not afraid of heights,” she murmured, impressed, but as soon as she spoke, her new friend flew away, abandoning her to her fate.
The world felt so cold and empty. That felt dramatic—she probably learned from Raf—but it was true. The gardens, so expansive and colorful, felt impersonal and distant. Where was everyone? Shirking her guards and ladies had felt so liberating at first, but now Sofia of Marikas wanted nothing more than for someone to appear. Papa would be best, of course. He could give her a rare hug and smile at her and tell her he was proud of her for being brave. He would even forget to be disappointed in her silliness! It would be wonderful. But Papa wasn’t there. No one was.
Unless—was that—? Yes! In the distance, coming from the direction of the stables! Raf, tall and brave and coming to rescue her! And little Marietta too, still looking distressed but perhaps a little pleased with herself. Sofia let out a huge breath of air, already a bit calmer. Raf wouldn’t let her starve to death at the top of this tree. “Raf, Raf!” she called out, smiling hopefully. When he got to the bottom though, her excitement faltered. It was hard to see him through the intertwining branches and flowers, but he looked annoyed. That wasn’t good. She hoped he hadn’t been doing anything terribly important. Maybe he’d been doing something for Papa and now they would both be disappointed in her. “Oh,” she mumbled, pressing her cheek against the rough bark of the trunk, “We—” no, this wasn’t Marietta’s fault. Real royals took responsibility for their actions. “—I snuck away from them. They kept snickering at our pretend games!” she continued hastily, already trying to deflect blame again. She couldn’t stand it if Raf was bored of her, too. “I just wanted the prettiest flowers for our hair,” she mumbled again, just loud enough for her brother to hear. “We were going to play dryads.”
Why was Raf so tall? This was uncomfortable having her hand held by a giant. But that was the least of Marietta’s concern right now. She was busy leading him to the tree. “I hope she’s no-” Raf had already seen Sofia. Marietta flushed with relief. She was safe! She wasn’t bleeding out on the ground broken and alone. Sofia just needed to get down and they could play dryads with less pretty flowers. They didn’t need the flowers from way up there. That wasn’t important at all!
Marietta bit her lip standing on her tippy toes to look at Sofia. Was the branch going to snap? How long could it possibly hold her weight? Just because Raf was here doesn’t mean Sofia was in danger. In fact, the man put his hands on his waist to lecture her instead of immediately climbing the tree to help! Every second mattered.
“They were snickering at us. It was awfully mean. They hurt our feelings! You can’t blame us for wanting to get away from a bunch of bullies. ” The Antonis guards weren’t bullies. They knew not to talk to Marietta because Marietta would be too scared to talk back. In fact, it was a miracle she was stringing words into sentences to Raf together. Typically she was a mess, hiding behind her friend if she ever ran into the Lord.
Marietta’s grey eyes snapped up to Sofia when she felt another breeze roll through. The different branches all moved and swayed with the wind. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Thumpthumpthump. The breeze would have felt nice in the spring sun, but right now she cursed the gods. It was as if nature itself was trying to kill her best friend.
“Sofia, hold on tight!” Marietta shouted from the base. Marietta’s own fear of heights and of tree climbing was completely forgotten. She tried to jump to reach the lowest branch, but failed spectacularly. She tried a second jump but the small girl could not grasp it. Her fingers just scraped the bark and even if she were to get a proper hold, she did not have the upper body strength to pull herself up properly.
Marietta turned to the boy, remembering that time was of the essence. “She’s going to fall, Raf. I’m too tiny to climb. I can’t even reach the first branch. You’re like super, super tall. You’re the tallest person I ever met. You have to save her! I never, ever heard Sofia be scared before.” The young girl frowned. It broke the child’s heart. Marietta just wanted Sofia back down so they could hug and play dryads and forget this whole day even happened! Plus dryads were fun and if Marietta wasn’t so scared for her friend… she’d be really bored just waiting down here alone.
Marietta ran behind the man and put both her hands on his back, using all her weight to push him towards the tree. (Which admittedly was not that much weight at all, but the point was at least made.) “Hurry!”
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Why was Raf so tall? This was uncomfortable having her hand held by a giant. But that was the least of Marietta’s concern right now. She was busy leading him to the tree. “I hope she’s no-” Raf had already seen Sofia. Marietta flushed with relief. She was safe! She wasn’t bleeding out on the ground broken and alone. Sofia just needed to get down and they could play dryads with less pretty flowers. They didn’t need the flowers from way up there. That wasn’t important at all!
Marietta bit her lip standing on her tippy toes to look at Sofia. Was the branch going to snap? How long could it possibly hold her weight? Just because Raf was here doesn’t mean Sofia was in danger. In fact, the man put his hands on his waist to lecture her instead of immediately climbing the tree to help! Every second mattered.
“They were snickering at us. It was awfully mean. They hurt our feelings! You can’t blame us for wanting to get away from a bunch of bullies. ” The Antonis guards weren’t bullies. They knew not to talk to Marietta because Marietta would be too scared to talk back. In fact, it was a miracle she was stringing words into sentences to Raf together. Typically she was a mess, hiding behind her friend if she ever ran into the Lord.
Marietta’s grey eyes snapped up to Sofia when she felt another breeze roll through. The different branches all moved and swayed with the wind. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Thumpthumpthump. The breeze would have felt nice in the spring sun, but right now she cursed the gods. It was as if nature itself was trying to kill her best friend.
“Sofia, hold on tight!” Marietta shouted from the base. Marietta’s own fear of heights and of tree climbing was completely forgotten. She tried to jump to reach the lowest branch, but failed spectacularly. She tried a second jump but the small girl could not grasp it. Her fingers just scraped the bark and even if she were to get a proper hold, she did not have the upper body strength to pull herself up properly.
Marietta turned to the boy, remembering that time was of the essence. “She’s going to fall, Raf. I’m too tiny to climb. I can’t even reach the first branch. You’re like super, super tall. You’re the tallest person I ever met. You have to save her! I never, ever heard Sofia be scared before.” The young girl frowned. It broke the child’s heart. Marietta just wanted Sofia back down so they could hug and play dryads and forget this whole day even happened! Plus dryads were fun and if Marietta wasn’t so scared for her friend… she’d be really bored just waiting down here alone.
Marietta ran behind the man and put both her hands on his back, using all her weight to push him towards the tree. (Which admittedly was not that much weight at all, but the point was at least made.) “Hurry!”
Why was Raf so tall? This was uncomfortable having her hand held by a giant. But that was the least of Marietta’s concern right now. She was busy leading him to the tree. “I hope she’s no-” Raf had already seen Sofia. Marietta flushed with relief. She was safe! She wasn’t bleeding out on the ground broken and alone. Sofia just needed to get down and they could play dryads with less pretty flowers. They didn’t need the flowers from way up there. That wasn’t important at all!
Marietta bit her lip standing on her tippy toes to look at Sofia. Was the branch going to snap? How long could it possibly hold her weight? Just because Raf was here doesn’t mean Sofia was in danger. In fact, the man put his hands on his waist to lecture her instead of immediately climbing the tree to help! Every second mattered.
“They were snickering at us. It was awfully mean. They hurt our feelings! You can’t blame us for wanting to get away from a bunch of bullies. ” The Antonis guards weren’t bullies. They knew not to talk to Marietta because Marietta would be too scared to talk back. In fact, it was a miracle she was stringing words into sentences to Raf together. Typically she was a mess, hiding behind her friend if she ever ran into the Lord.
Marietta’s grey eyes snapped up to Sofia when she felt another breeze roll through. The different branches all moved and swayed with the wind. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Thumpthumpthump. The breeze would have felt nice in the spring sun, but right now she cursed the gods. It was as if nature itself was trying to kill her best friend.
“Sofia, hold on tight!” Marietta shouted from the base. Marietta’s own fear of heights and of tree climbing was completely forgotten. She tried to jump to reach the lowest branch, but failed spectacularly. She tried a second jump but the small girl could not grasp it. Her fingers just scraped the bark and even if she were to get a proper hold, she did not have the upper body strength to pull herself up properly.
Marietta turned to the boy, remembering that time was of the essence. “She’s going to fall, Raf. I’m too tiny to climb. I can’t even reach the first branch. You’re like super, super tall. You’re the tallest person I ever met. You have to save her! I never, ever heard Sofia be scared before.” The young girl frowned. It broke the child’s heart. Marietta just wanted Sofia back down so they could hug and play dryads and forget this whole day even happened! Plus dryads were fun and if Marietta wasn’t so scared for her friend… she’d be really bored just waiting down here alone.
Marietta ran behind the man and put both her hands on his back, using all her weight to push him towards the tree. (Which admittedly was not that much weight at all, but the point was at least made.) “Hurry!”
"The guards are supposed to protect you," Rafail answered, furrowing his brow further at the suggestion that they had laughed enough that the girls had felt the need to run away from them. He would never have allowed that to happen had he been there: any guard who looked at his little sister the long way would have been treated to a hard stare and the promise of a stern word to Papa. In fact, they still would be, as there would be no chance he would not be reporting this incident to their father. Panos may well have been a busy man, but he cared enough for the safety of his children, only daughter included, that all of the soldiers and ladies in question would be in for a harsh awakening. "I will handle them. But next time, even if they laugh at you, you do not run away. You find me, and you tell me immediately, or if I am not here, you tell them that you will be telling Papa. Is that understood, Sofi?"
A breeze was running through the sky, and the tree quivered in response, enough that his sister's friend shouted in response, trying to push him towards the tree, no matter how little strength she might have had. He bent down, the distance between them ridiculous (if he was the tallest person she had ever met, then she was the shortest he had ever met), and reached out a hand to rest on her shoulder, looking at her sincerely. "Marietta. Calm down. I'm going to fix this. It's going to be fine, but you need to take a deep breath and relax." He smiled, pulling himself up again, looking up at where Sofia was stuck.
The tree was likely dirty, and looked horrendously unsafe, but it was either dirty this chiton or let his sister fall to her death or, at best, serious injury. Rafail might have acted nonplussed about most matters of this sort, and preferred selfish actions over charitable movements, but his relationship with Sofia was different to most, and he cared for her enough that he wanted her to remain safe above all else. Besides, those girls might still have been watching, and the man could not resist a little female attention, especially if he was performing an act of heroism.
Glancing up at his sister, he smiled brightly at her as if to be reassuring, then rubbed his hands together as if to prepare himself for the climb. Gods, Rafail wasn't sure he had climbed a tree since the age of six, if ever. It seemed the sort of pastime for poor children who couldn't afford proper toys or games or people who wanted to spend time with them. If they'd wished for flowers, they could have ordered it from the staff. "It's going to be alright, Sofi, alright? Hold onto that branch." He reached past the first branch that hovered a little past five feet off the ground, reaching directly for the second which seemed sturdier, and pulling himself up. Sofia wasn't that far up in his opinion, and once the Marikas had pulled himself up two or three more branches, there was very little difference in distance between them.
It was challenging to balance, but Rafail did his best to stand, feet planted firmly a few branches below his sister, one arm wrapped around another for safety, the spare one reaching forwards to wrap around Sofia's waist, pausing for her to drape her own arms around his neck and shoulders in her own time, knowing the action must have been terrifying given how high up they were. "You need to hold on tight, and don't let go for anything at all. Even if a bee flies into your face or you think you're going to sneeze because of all the flowers, you need to stay holding onto me. I'm going to keep you safe." Once her grip seemed secure enough, he started the same journey back down, though infinitely more careful this time around with only one hand to mark his movements. It was awkward, and seemed unsteady, but it was all he could do, and so long as he matched the same branches as he had on the way up, they should be safe on the way down.
When he reached the bottom branch again, he shifted to a seated position as best he could, tightening his hold on Sofia and then slowly sliding off to jump onto the ground, wobbling slightly as he landed but not loosening his grip. Rafail bent to lower his sister back to the ground, then straightened up, hands back to his hips as he looked at both of the girls. "No more climbing, girls, alright? If you need anything, then you ask the servants - flowers included. Finish your playing somewhere the guards can reach you; I will not have you in danger. Papa hires them for you. Sofi. You are the only sister I have. I love you, and I don't want you hurt." He reached up to pluck several thin offshoots of the pink flowers - ideal for twisting into pretty crowns - from the lower branches of the tree, still too high for either girl, holding them out. "Promise me you'll both stay safe and with the staff at reach always."
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"The guards are supposed to protect you," Rafail answered, furrowing his brow further at the suggestion that they had laughed enough that the girls had felt the need to run away from them. He would never have allowed that to happen had he been there: any guard who looked at his little sister the long way would have been treated to a hard stare and the promise of a stern word to Papa. In fact, they still would be, as there would be no chance he would not be reporting this incident to their father. Panos may well have been a busy man, but he cared enough for the safety of his children, only daughter included, that all of the soldiers and ladies in question would be in for a harsh awakening. "I will handle them. But next time, even if they laugh at you, you do not run away. You find me, and you tell me immediately, or if I am not here, you tell them that you will be telling Papa. Is that understood, Sofi?"
A breeze was running through the sky, and the tree quivered in response, enough that his sister's friend shouted in response, trying to push him towards the tree, no matter how little strength she might have had. He bent down, the distance between them ridiculous (if he was the tallest person she had ever met, then she was the shortest he had ever met), and reached out a hand to rest on her shoulder, looking at her sincerely. "Marietta. Calm down. I'm going to fix this. It's going to be fine, but you need to take a deep breath and relax." He smiled, pulling himself up again, looking up at where Sofia was stuck.
The tree was likely dirty, and looked horrendously unsafe, but it was either dirty this chiton or let his sister fall to her death or, at best, serious injury. Rafail might have acted nonplussed about most matters of this sort, and preferred selfish actions over charitable movements, but his relationship with Sofia was different to most, and he cared for her enough that he wanted her to remain safe above all else. Besides, those girls might still have been watching, and the man could not resist a little female attention, especially if he was performing an act of heroism.
Glancing up at his sister, he smiled brightly at her as if to be reassuring, then rubbed his hands together as if to prepare himself for the climb. Gods, Rafail wasn't sure he had climbed a tree since the age of six, if ever. It seemed the sort of pastime for poor children who couldn't afford proper toys or games or people who wanted to spend time with them. If they'd wished for flowers, they could have ordered it from the staff. "It's going to be alright, Sofi, alright? Hold onto that branch." He reached past the first branch that hovered a little past five feet off the ground, reaching directly for the second which seemed sturdier, and pulling himself up. Sofia wasn't that far up in his opinion, and once the Marikas had pulled himself up two or three more branches, there was very little difference in distance between them.
It was challenging to balance, but Rafail did his best to stand, feet planted firmly a few branches below his sister, one arm wrapped around another for safety, the spare one reaching forwards to wrap around Sofia's waist, pausing for her to drape her own arms around his neck and shoulders in her own time, knowing the action must have been terrifying given how high up they were. "You need to hold on tight, and don't let go for anything at all. Even if a bee flies into your face or you think you're going to sneeze because of all the flowers, you need to stay holding onto me. I'm going to keep you safe." Once her grip seemed secure enough, he started the same journey back down, though infinitely more careful this time around with only one hand to mark his movements. It was awkward, and seemed unsteady, but it was all he could do, and so long as he matched the same branches as he had on the way up, they should be safe on the way down.
When he reached the bottom branch again, he shifted to a seated position as best he could, tightening his hold on Sofia and then slowly sliding off to jump onto the ground, wobbling slightly as he landed but not loosening his grip. Rafail bent to lower his sister back to the ground, then straightened up, hands back to his hips as he looked at both of the girls. "No more climbing, girls, alright? If you need anything, then you ask the servants - flowers included. Finish your playing somewhere the guards can reach you; I will not have you in danger. Papa hires them for you. Sofi. You are the only sister I have. I love you, and I don't want you hurt." He reached up to pluck several thin offshoots of the pink flowers - ideal for twisting into pretty crowns - from the lower branches of the tree, still too high for either girl, holding them out. "Promise me you'll both stay safe and with the staff at reach always."
"The guards are supposed to protect you," Rafail answered, furrowing his brow further at the suggestion that they had laughed enough that the girls had felt the need to run away from them. He would never have allowed that to happen had he been there: any guard who looked at his little sister the long way would have been treated to a hard stare and the promise of a stern word to Papa. In fact, they still would be, as there would be no chance he would not be reporting this incident to their father. Panos may well have been a busy man, but he cared enough for the safety of his children, only daughter included, that all of the soldiers and ladies in question would be in for a harsh awakening. "I will handle them. But next time, even if they laugh at you, you do not run away. You find me, and you tell me immediately, or if I am not here, you tell them that you will be telling Papa. Is that understood, Sofi?"
A breeze was running through the sky, and the tree quivered in response, enough that his sister's friend shouted in response, trying to push him towards the tree, no matter how little strength she might have had. He bent down, the distance between them ridiculous (if he was the tallest person she had ever met, then she was the shortest he had ever met), and reached out a hand to rest on her shoulder, looking at her sincerely. "Marietta. Calm down. I'm going to fix this. It's going to be fine, but you need to take a deep breath and relax." He smiled, pulling himself up again, looking up at where Sofia was stuck.
The tree was likely dirty, and looked horrendously unsafe, but it was either dirty this chiton or let his sister fall to her death or, at best, serious injury. Rafail might have acted nonplussed about most matters of this sort, and preferred selfish actions over charitable movements, but his relationship with Sofia was different to most, and he cared for her enough that he wanted her to remain safe above all else. Besides, those girls might still have been watching, and the man could not resist a little female attention, especially if he was performing an act of heroism.
Glancing up at his sister, he smiled brightly at her as if to be reassuring, then rubbed his hands together as if to prepare himself for the climb. Gods, Rafail wasn't sure he had climbed a tree since the age of six, if ever. It seemed the sort of pastime for poor children who couldn't afford proper toys or games or people who wanted to spend time with them. If they'd wished for flowers, they could have ordered it from the staff. "It's going to be alright, Sofi, alright? Hold onto that branch." He reached past the first branch that hovered a little past five feet off the ground, reaching directly for the second which seemed sturdier, and pulling himself up. Sofia wasn't that far up in his opinion, and once the Marikas had pulled himself up two or three more branches, there was very little difference in distance between them.
It was challenging to balance, but Rafail did his best to stand, feet planted firmly a few branches below his sister, one arm wrapped around another for safety, the spare one reaching forwards to wrap around Sofia's waist, pausing for her to drape her own arms around his neck and shoulders in her own time, knowing the action must have been terrifying given how high up they were. "You need to hold on tight, and don't let go for anything at all. Even if a bee flies into your face or you think you're going to sneeze because of all the flowers, you need to stay holding onto me. I'm going to keep you safe." Once her grip seemed secure enough, he started the same journey back down, though infinitely more careful this time around with only one hand to mark his movements. It was awkward, and seemed unsteady, but it was all he could do, and so long as he matched the same branches as he had on the way up, they should be safe on the way down.
When he reached the bottom branch again, he shifted to a seated position as best he could, tightening his hold on Sofia and then slowly sliding off to jump onto the ground, wobbling slightly as he landed but not loosening his grip. Rafail bent to lower his sister back to the ground, then straightened up, hands back to his hips as he looked at both of the girls. "No more climbing, girls, alright? If you need anything, then you ask the servants - flowers included. Finish your playing somewhere the guards can reach you; I will not have you in danger. Papa hires them for you. Sofi. You are the only sister I have. I love you, and I don't want you hurt." He reached up to pluck several thin offshoots of the pink flowers - ideal for twisting into pretty crowns - from the lower branches of the tree, still too high for either girl, holding them out. "Promise me you'll both stay safe and with the staff at reach always."
It was so difficult to listen to Raf’s lecture about guards when the tree was so very tall. The breeze kept blowing and ruffling her chiton. She’d picked it out especially for their pretend games, and now it was dirty and crumpled and sprinkled with pink petals. She hardly looked royal, up there in the tree. Sofia just felt like another scared little girl. “I understand,” she mumbled, holding on even tighter. Raf was here, and that was enough to reassure her a tiny bit, but she still couldn’t get down. And she definitely didn’t want a speech about running away from the men assigned to protect her—she already felt stupid enough.
She was just about to call out to him again—what was he doing?—when finally, finally, he announced that he was coming to rescue her. Sofia let out a huge breath, some of the fear dissipating. It was going to be alright. Raf said so, and Raf wouldn’t lie to her. Not her dramatic big brother, not at a time like this. No, he was climbing up to save her. He wouldn’t let her fall. She returned his bright smile, her own still laced with a certain nervousness. What if Raf fell? What if he got hurt? That really would be the worst thing possible, because then it would be her fault, and she just couldn’t stand it if her silliness got her favorite person in the world hurt.
But he was climbing now, rather quickly, and Sofia could start to imagine that things really would be alright, after all. She watched him anxiously, though the twisting started again in her belly each time she caught a glimpse of the ground, dizzyingly far away. And then, oh, then, there he was! Just a foot below her, holding her steady. “Raf,” she breathed, still smiling, though her eyes filled once more with fear as she realized that she would have to let go of the branch. Slowly, so slowly, Sofia removed one trembling arm from the tree, wrapping it carefully around her brother’s shoulders. They didn’t fall. Bolstered by the small success and Rafail’s steadying arm around her waist, her other arm soon followed suit. “I won’t let go, not ever,” she promised, pressing her face into his neck to hide her view of the ground below.
Later, Sofia would not remember much of the slow, jolting journey back to the ground. She would always recall, however, the safe feeling that vanquished her fear and the joy she felt the moment her feet were firmly back on the ground. Giving Marietta the tightest hug, she stood with her head slightly bowed, listening to Raf’s instructions. And then, for the second time in only minutes, she gave her brother a promise. “I promise,” she breathed, looking up at him with sorrowful green eyes. Dropping her arm from around Marietta’s shoulders, ignoring, even, the lovely flowers Raf had picked for them, Sofia flung herself back into his arms, cheek pressed against his abdomen, squeezing tight. She pulled back a few long moments later, managing a small smile as she looked at her brother, then back at Marietta, “Thank you. Thank you both. I love you too, Raf, and I would’ve been stuck up there forever if you hadn’t found him, ‘Etta.”
Reaching down to pick up the forgotten flowers Raf had picked, she offered them to Marietta. It was hard to resist the urge to tell her brother that there was no need for servants when they had a friendly giant like him around, but she thought that might be pushing her luck too much for one day. “No more climbing,” she repeated firmly, grinning sideways at Marietta. Climbing, she could do without, but there would surely be more adventures in the future.
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It was so difficult to listen to Raf’s lecture about guards when the tree was so very tall. The breeze kept blowing and ruffling her chiton. She’d picked it out especially for their pretend games, and now it was dirty and crumpled and sprinkled with pink petals. She hardly looked royal, up there in the tree. Sofia just felt like another scared little girl. “I understand,” she mumbled, holding on even tighter. Raf was here, and that was enough to reassure her a tiny bit, but she still couldn’t get down. And she definitely didn’t want a speech about running away from the men assigned to protect her—she already felt stupid enough.
She was just about to call out to him again—what was he doing?—when finally, finally, he announced that he was coming to rescue her. Sofia let out a huge breath, some of the fear dissipating. It was going to be alright. Raf said so, and Raf wouldn’t lie to her. Not her dramatic big brother, not at a time like this. No, he was climbing up to save her. He wouldn’t let her fall. She returned his bright smile, her own still laced with a certain nervousness. What if Raf fell? What if he got hurt? That really would be the worst thing possible, because then it would be her fault, and she just couldn’t stand it if her silliness got her favorite person in the world hurt.
But he was climbing now, rather quickly, and Sofia could start to imagine that things really would be alright, after all. She watched him anxiously, though the twisting started again in her belly each time she caught a glimpse of the ground, dizzyingly far away. And then, oh, then, there he was! Just a foot below her, holding her steady. “Raf,” she breathed, still smiling, though her eyes filled once more with fear as she realized that she would have to let go of the branch. Slowly, so slowly, Sofia removed one trembling arm from the tree, wrapping it carefully around her brother’s shoulders. They didn’t fall. Bolstered by the small success and Rafail’s steadying arm around her waist, her other arm soon followed suit. “I won’t let go, not ever,” she promised, pressing her face into his neck to hide her view of the ground below.
Later, Sofia would not remember much of the slow, jolting journey back to the ground. She would always recall, however, the safe feeling that vanquished her fear and the joy she felt the moment her feet were firmly back on the ground. Giving Marietta the tightest hug, she stood with her head slightly bowed, listening to Raf’s instructions. And then, for the second time in only minutes, she gave her brother a promise. “I promise,” she breathed, looking up at him with sorrowful green eyes. Dropping her arm from around Marietta’s shoulders, ignoring, even, the lovely flowers Raf had picked for them, Sofia flung herself back into his arms, cheek pressed against his abdomen, squeezing tight. She pulled back a few long moments later, managing a small smile as she looked at her brother, then back at Marietta, “Thank you. Thank you both. I love you too, Raf, and I would’ve been stuck up there forever if you hadn’t found him, ‘Etta.”
Reaching down to pick up the forgotten flowers Raf had picked, she offered them to Marietta. It was hard to resist the urge to tell her brother that there was no need for servants when they had a friendly giant like him around, but she thought that might be pushing her luck too much for one day. “No more climbing,” she repeated firmly, grinning sideways at Marietta. Climbing, she could do without, but there would surely be more adventures in the future.
It was so difficult to listen to Raf’s lecture about guards when the tree was so very tall. The breeze kept blowing and ruffling her chiton. She’d picked it out especially for their pretend games, and now it was dirty and crumpled and sprinkled with pink petals. She hardly looked royal, up there in the tree. Sofia just felt like another scared little girl. “I understand,” she mumbled, holding on even tighter. Raf was here, and that was enough to reassure her a tiny bit, but she still couldn’t get down. And she definitely didn’t want a speech about running away from the men assigned to protect her—she already felt stupid enough.
She was just about to call out to him again—what was he doing?—when finally, finally, he announced that he was coming to rescue her. Sofia let out a huge breath, some of the fear dissipating. It was going to be alright. Raf said so, and Raf wouldn’t lie to her. Not her dramatic big brother, not at a time like this. No, he was climbing up to save her. He wouldn’t let her fall. She returned his bright smile, her own still laced with a certain nervousness. What if Raf fell? What if he got hurt? That really would be the worst thing possible, because then it would be her fault, and she just couldn’t stand it if her silliness got her favorite person in the world hurt.
But he was climbing now, rather quickly, and Sofia could start to imagine that things really would be alright, after all. She watched him anxiously, though the twisting started again in her belly each time she caught a glimpse of the ground, dizzyingly far away. And then, oh, then, there he was! Just a foot below her, holding her steady. “Raf,” she breathed, still smiling, though her eyes filled once more with fear as she realized that she would have to let go of the branch. Slowly, so slowly, Sofia removed one trembling arm from the tree, wrapping it carefully around her brother’s shoulders. They didn’t fall. Bolstered by the small success and Rafail’s steadying arm around her waist, her other arm soon followed suit. “I won’t let go, not ever,” she promised, pressing her face into his neck to hide her view of the ground below.
Later, Sofia would not remember much of the slow, jolting journey back to the ground. She would always recall, however, the safe feeling that vanquished her fear and the joy she felt the moment her feet were firmly back on the ground. Giving Marietta the tightest hug, she stood with her head slightly bowed, listening to Raf’s instructions. And then, for the second time in only minutes, she gave her brother a promise. “I promise,” she breathed, looking up at him with sorrowful green eyes. Dropping her arm from around Marietta’s shoulders, ignoring, even, the lovely flowers Raf had picked for them, Sofia flung herself back into his arms, cheek pressed against his abdomen, squeezing tight. She pulled back a few long moments later, managing a small smile as she looked at her brother, then back at Marietta, “Thank you. Thank you both. I love you too, Raf, and I would’ve been stuck up there forever if you hadn’t found him, ‘Etta.”
Reaching down to pick up the forgotten flowers Raf had picked, she offered them to Marietta. It was hard to resist the urge to tell her brother that there was no need for servants when they had a friendly giant like him around, but she thought that might be pushing her luck too much for one day. “No more climbing,” she repeated firmly, grinning sideways at Marietta. Climbing, she could do without, but there would surely be more adventures in the future.
The whole time Marietta was watching Raf climb up the tree she was nervous. What if he didn’t get up in time? Or worse, what if they both fell? Lord Panos would be really, really mad then. He would for sure yell at Marietta. And then get mad at her parents. What if he put Marietta to death! That would be awful! Marietta was too young to die! Also, Lord Pavlos would be scary too. Marietta didn’t much like Lord Pavlos. He was old and boring and not at all fun like his little sister was. Also he wouldn’t climb the tree like Raf was doing. Sofia would be dangling all afraid and Lord Pavlos would just go find a guard and go back to his work like a boring person.
But worse of all, if the pair fell and they both died Marietta would be sad. Sofia was her friend, and Raf was cool too! She was afraid of Raf, but he was cool! So the child stood at the bottom of the tree, worried, biting her lip. “Be careful!” She called out to both of them. Marietta could barely watched. She covered her eyes and peeked through her fingers, cringing when Sofia was climbing into Raf’s arms. She held her breath, only letting go when the two were safely on the ground.
And then her friend was hugging her, and Marietta’s face lit up the brightest it’s ever been. “Yay! Yay! Yay!” she cheered hugging Sofia back as tight as she could. The height difference was slightly awkward, but Marietta didn’t mind. Her friend survived! And it was like one of the stories that Marietta got told before going to sleep! She was like a princess and she got saved by certain danger. And Sofia in the face of that danger was so, so brave. She didn’t even cry! She was so cool!
And so was Raf! When Sofia finished hugging Raf, Marietta did the same. She was so excited, so relieved, that the child forgot that she was completely shy. She just wrapped her tiny arms around his waist and looked up at him. “You’re a hero, Raf! The biggest hero ever! I’m gonna tell all my cousins how cool you just were. You climbed the tree like Prometheus climbed to Mt. Olympus! But you won’t get punished by him, nu uh! Vasia going to be so jealous she didn’t get to see this. Patros too! Maybe even Stelios. Oh, and my sisters are gonna want me to tell the story again and again!”
Marietta let go of Raf and went back to Sofia, taking the flowers she was handing to her. “We can make a crown, Sofi!” her eyes lit up at the prettiness of the flowers. “These are perfect to play dryads with!” Marietta’s smile was ear to ear now. She looked back up at Raf. “Thanks, Raf! I’m glad I found you and not Lord Pavlos. You’re the bestest! I wish I had a big brother like you!”
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The whole time Marietta was watching Raf climb up the tree she was nervous. What if he didn’t get up in time? Or worse, what if they both fell? Lord Panos would be really, really mad then. He would for sure yell at Marietta. And then get mad at her parents. What if he put Marietta to death! That would be awful! Marietta was too young to die! Also, Lord Pavlos would be scary too. Marietta didn’t much like Lord Pavlos. He was old and boring and not at all fun like his little sister was. Also he wouldn’t climb the tree like Raf was doing. Sofia would be dangling all afraid and Lord Pavlos would just go find a guard and go back to his work like a boring person.
But worse of all, if the pair fell and they both died Marietta would be sad. Sofia was her friend, and Raf was cool too! She was afraid of Raf, but he was cool! So the child stood at the bottom of the tree, worried, biting her lip. “Be careful!” She called out to both of them. Marietta could barely watched. She covered her eyes and peeked through her fingers, cringing when Sofia was climbing into Raf’s arms. She held her breath, only letting go when the two were safely on the ground.
And then her friend was hugging her, and Marietta’s face lit up the brightest it’s ever been. “Yay! Yay! Yay!” she cheered hugging Sofia back as tight as she could. The height difference was slightly awkward, but Marietta didn’t mind. Her friend survived! And it was like one of the stories that Marietta got told before going to sleep! She was like a princess and she got saved by certain danger. And Sofia in the face of that danger was so, so brave. She didn’t even cry! She was so cool!
And so was Raf! When Sofia finished hugging Raf, Marietta did the same. She was so excited, so relieved, that the child forgot that she was completely shy. She just wrapped her tiny arms around his waist and looked up at him. “You’re a hero, Raf! The biggest hero ever! I’m gonna tell all my cousins how cool you just were. You climbed the tree like Prometheus climbed to Mt. Olympus! But you won’t get punished by him, nu uh! Vasia going to be so jealous she didn’t get to see this. Patros too! Maybe even Stelios. Oh, and my sisters are gonna want me to tell the story again and again!”
Marietta let go of Raf and went back to Sofia, taking the flowers she was handing to her. “We can make a crown, Sofi!” her eyes lit up at the prettiness of the flowers. “These are perfect to play dryads with!” Marietta’s smile was ear to ear now. She looked back up at Raf. “Thanks, Raf! I’m glad I found you and not Lord Pavlos. You’re the bestest! I wish I had a big brother like you!”
The whole time Marietta was watching Raf climb up the tree she was nervous. What if he didn’t get up in time? Or worse, what if they both fell? Lord Panos would be really, really mad then. He would for sure yell at Marietta. And then get mad at her parents. What if he put Marietta to death! That would be awful! Marietta was too young to die! Also, Lord Pavlos would be scary too. Marietta didn’t much like Lord Pavlos. He was old and boring and not at all fun like his little sister was. Also he wouldn’t climb the tree like Raf was doing. Sofia would be dangling all afraid and Lord Pavlos would just go find a guard and go back to his work like a boring person.
But worse of all, if the pair fell and they both died Marietta would be sad. Sofia was her friend, and Raf was cool too! She was afraid of Raf, but he was cool! So the child stood at the bottom of the tree, worried, biting her lip. “Be careful!” She called out to both of them. Marietta could barely watched. She covered her eyes and peeked through her fingers, cringing when Sofia was climbing into Raf’s arms. She held her breath, only letting go when the two were safely on the ground.
And then her friend was hugging her, and Marietta’s face lit up the brightest it’s ever been. “Yay! Yay! Yay!” she cheered hugging Sofia back as tight as she could. The height difference was slightly awkward, but Marietta didn’t mind. Her friend survived! And it was like one of the stories that Marietta got told before going to sleep! She was like a princess and she got saved by certain danger. And Sofia in the face of that danger was so, so brave. She didn’t even cry! She was so cool!
And so was Raf! When Sofia finished hugging Raf, Marietta did the same. She was so excited, so relieved, that the child forgot that she was completely shy. She just wrapped her tiny arms around his waist and looked up at him. “You’re a hero, Raf! The biggest hero ever! I’m gonna tell all my cousins how cool you just were. You climbed the tree like Prometheus climbed to Mt. Olympus! But you won’t get punished by him, nu uh! Vasia going to be so jealous she didn’t get to see this. Patros too! Maybe even Stelios. Oh, and my sisters are gonna want me to tell the story again and again!”
Marietta let go of Raf and went back to Sofia, taking the flowers she was handing to her. “We can make a crown, Sofi!” her eyes lit up at the prettiness of the flowers. “These are perfect to play dryads with!” Marietta’s smile was ear to ear now. She looked back up at Raf. “Thanks, Raf! I’m glad I found you and not Lord Pavlos. You’re the bestest! I wish I had a big brother like you!”
There was a lot of hugging going on. Not that Rafail disliked hugs much, he just preferred to save such close relations for women who weren't his sister or eight years old. Still, he tried not to stiffen too noticeably as both girls wrapped their arms around him in turn and made their promises, his own arms curling around them to return the gesture much more gently. He hoped someone was watching this all because, honestly, it was all well and good being heroic, but there was no purpose to it if nobody knew.
"Yes, Pavlos is less built for heroism," he agreed, though it was not as if Rafail was much less scrawny than his older brother. None of the Marikas men particularly resembled warriors, despite any personal martial prowess (Rafail, for one, liked to think himself one of the greatest soldiers ever to grace his military unit, and cited such a fact as the reasoning behind his making captain at such a young age, although that had likely more been Papa's doing). "But, please, do share tales of my heroism with all your friends and family. Perhaps someday someone shall write a well-deserved epic about me." Wouldn't that just be a dream? Rafail wanted nothing more than eternal glory, and the supposed these little acts of kindness were only one way to let the gods know that he, of all people, deserved it.
Once all the touchy-feely moments were over, at last, Rafail pulled away from his sister and her friend, glad to see that they were sufficiently satisfied with the flowers he had taken down from the tree for them. "Stay safe," he warned them both again and, then, because he could only manage the kindness for so long: "Now, try not to get into trouble again. I love you, Sofia, but I have brotherly things to be doing, and I cannot be interrupted." Of course, in an emergency, there were no doubts he would rush to his sister's aid once more, but he did so want to get a little further than nowhere with those two ladies, and he had been doing so well. It would have been a shame to waste it all because some little girls wanted to play games.
When suitably satisfied that all his words of warning had been understood and would be heeded, the youngest Marikas lord reached out to place a hand gently and lovingly on his little sister's head. "Behave yourselves," he told them again, though he was already starting to walk away. Hopefully, that pair of ladies from earlier would have noticed how good he was with children and be eager to receive some more of that attention themselves (and perhaps even get a little involved in the process of making children with him, although preferably without the end result).
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There was a lot of hugging going on. Not that Rafail disliked hugs much, he just preferred to save such close relations for women who weren't his sister or eight years old. Still, he tried not to stiffen too noticeably as both girls wrapped their arms around him in turn and made their promises, his own arms curling around them to return the gesture much more gently. He hoped someone was watching this all because, honestly, it was all well and good being heroic, but there was no purpose to it if nobody knew.
"Yes, Pavlos is less built for heroism," he agreed, though it was not as if Rafail was much less scrawny than his older brother. None of the Marikas men particularly resembled warriors, despite any personal martial prowess (Rafail, for one, liked to think himself one of the greatest soldiers ever to grace his military unit, and cited such a fact as the reasoning behind his making captain at such a young age, although that had likely more been Papa's doing). "But, please, do share tales of my heroism with all your friends and family. Perhaps someday someone shall write a well-deserved epic about me." Wouldn't that just be a dream? Rafail wanted nothing more than eternal glory, and the supposed these little acts of kindness were only one way to let the gods know that he, of all people, deserved it.
Once all the touchy-feely moments were over, at last, Rafail pulled away from his sister and her friend, glad to see that they were sufficiently satisfied with the flowers he had taken down from the tree for them. "Stay safe," he warned them both again and, then, because he could only manage the kindness for so long: "Now, try not to get into trouble again. I love you, Sofia, but I have brotherly things to be doing, and I cannot be interrupted." Of course, in an emergency, there were no doubts he would rush to his sister's aid once more, but he did so want to get a little further than nowhere with those two ladies, and he had been doing so well. It would have been a shame to waste it all because some little girls wanted to play games.
When suitably satisfied that all his words of warning had been understood and would be heeded, the youngest Marikas lord reached out to place a hand gently and lovingly on his little sister's head. "Behave yourselves," he told them again, though he was already starting to walk away. Hopefully, that pair of ladies from earlier would have noticed how good he was with children and be eager to receive some more of that attention themselves (and perhaps even get a little involved in the process of making children with him, although preferably without the end result).
There was a lot of hugging going on. Not that Rafail disliked hugs much, he just preferred to save such close relations for women who weren't his sister or eight years old. Still, he tried not to stiffen too noticeably as both girls wrapped their arms around him in turn and made their promises, his own arms curling around them to return the gesture much more gently. He hoped someone was watching this all because, honestly, it was all well and good being heroic, but there was no purpose to it if nobody knew.
"Yes, Pavlos is less built for heroism," he agreed, though it was not as if Rafail was much less scrawny than his older brother. None of the Marikas men particularly resembled warriors, despite any personal martial prowess (Rafail, for one, liked to think himself one of the greatest soldiers ever to grace his military unit, and cited such a fact as the reasoning behind his making captain at such a young age, although that had likely more been Papa's doing). "But, please, do share tales of my heroism with all your friends and family. Perhaps someday someone shall write a well-deserved epic about me." Wouldn't that just be a dream? Rafail wanted nothing more than eternal glory, and the supposed these little acts of kindness were only one way to let the gods know that he, of all people, deserved it.
Once all the touchy-feely moments were over, at last, Rafail pulled away from his sister and her friend, glad to see that they were sufficiently satisfied with the flowers he had taken down from the tree for them. "Stay safe," he warned them both again and, then, because he could only manage the kindness for so long: "Now, try not to get into trouble again. I love you, Sofia, but I have brotherly things to be doing, and I cannot be interrupted." Of course, in an emergency, there were no doubts he would rush to his sister's aid once more, but he did so want to get a little further than nowhere with those two ladies, and he had been doing so well. It would have been a shame to waste it all because some little girls wanted to play games.
When suitably satisfied that all his words of warning had been understood and would be heeded, the youngest Marikas lord reached out to place a hand gently and lovingly on his little sister's head. "Behave yourselves," he told them again, though he was already starting to walk away. Hopefully, that pair of ladies from earlier would have noticed how good he was with children and be eager to receive some more of that attention themselves (and perhaps even get a little involved in the process of making children with him, although preferably without the end result).