His words gave her pause and even more so the fluctuation in his emotions whether being sarcastically comical or straight forward and real. When one had to play the game of appeasing others it often wore at the very fabric of their character, leaving them in a sea of turmoil more often than not. She hoped to provide a bit of consistency for him and yet truly didn't understand her own desire to care or give anything other than what her father had taught her to dish out - retribution and slavery. He was a tyrant of sorts and she was not interested in the slightest in his methods or his madness.
He spoke of various things she'd brought up, slowly take a step toward her and then another as she stood her ground, her posture quite regal and yet relaxed, no sign of fear or trepidation. He was an imposing figure but she had confidence in her skills and in her own ability to read people and their intentions. If he were to murder her in her sleep she truly figured she deserved it for her ignorance. She took the last three steps to stand just before him, her long hair reaching out to brush along his skin as she lowered her head, her thoughts on how much she hated the idea of anyone defending honor that was already bestowed.
Slowly her head tilted until she looked up at him, her body almost touching his as she lifted to her toes and looked him in the eyes, her breath brushing across his lips. "For your bravery you will be worshiped as a God, but for your charity in the ring I shall respect you as a man. Do not take lightly that I abhor death and unmerited vengeance." She leaned forward as if to kiss him, her lips almost touching his before turning and walking toward the door, her movements relaxed a languid, a woman well aware of her power in the courts and yet able to care and extend kindness because her heart beckoned her to.
The door opened just before she reached it and three young maidens brought in several large platters of food, meats and cheeses, grapes and olives and various types of bread in slices. A tall thin male moved in behind them with a large jug of deep crimson liquid and two stone glasses, everything placed on a large table that ran the length of her room. She thanked then and picked up a grape, pressing it to her lips and inviting him to join her before she started to try a bit of this and that. "Do come and join me. Gather your strength from the food my father has to offer and when you're ready you can use my bath area to clean up and then we rest."
She moved back, her small plate filled with various bites from the platter and in her other hand was a glass of wine, the pungent aroma from the fermented fruit filling the room with something that called for carnality and passion all in the same moment. She sat down on one of the stone crafted chairs and crossed her legs, her glass finding residence beside her on a small table as she watched him closely. Where would he stay that night? Should she ask the guards to find him a room or would they mistreat him with her father's orders as their escape route?
Would he try and kill her as she slept, or press her to the softness of her reprieve and take from her that which no man had held in his grasp? Innocence was a beautiful thing and not to be taken lightly. Was she playing along the razors edge or was her first impression correct upon meeting this man who appeared so much more than perhaps he was given credit for?