Sarina made her way back to her room slowly, thinking about about the stone gray eyes that had looked at her tonight. She wondered what he was thinking as looked at her so intensely. Once in her room, Darya entered, starting a bath for her and bringing her a nightgown. She bathed, thinking how luxurious this all was.
The bath was set up in one of the side rooms connected to her main room and it had a beautiful view of the moon and stars that shined outside, as well as the waving palms. In her home in Bamm, her mother and father and her all shared a small bath that had to be heated manually with boiling water from the kitchen. Here, Darya had already prepared everything for her. When she was done bathing, she slipped into the beautiful silk nightgown she was given. She marveled over it, rubbing the material that was on her skin and it's beautiful navy color. Darya was waiting in the main room when she was done.
'Do you need anything else madam' she asked kindly.
'No that was heavenly, thank you so much for preparing it' Sarina thanked.
Darya nodded her head, noting the thoughtfulness of the young girl. 'Alright then, I'll take my leave. My room is 4 doors down if you need anything at all.' She smiled kindly at Sarina again and then left, leaving her alone. She sat on the bed, thinking about her mother, Alana. She missed her terribly. She laid down and closed her eyes, and her parents came to her in her dreams. Everything was like before, and she was happy to have them, but something important felt like it was missing from her life. Or maybe someone.
Sarina awoke early in the morning right as the sun was starting to rise. She was famished! Both times when there had been food, she had been so caught in conversation with Caspar that she had hardly touched her plate. She stood and fixed her hair in the mirror, giving herself a long braid that rested on on the side of her body and cleaned her face. She looked around for more clothes, but it was still early and Darya had not come to her room yet. Sarina didn't want to bother her and since it was so early, she hoped no one would be up. She would just sneak to the dining room and have a little food before Caspar came for breakfast.
Determined and hungry, she left the room and walked quickly towards the dining room she had visited last night. The walls were still lit with candles, since the sun was not up to grace the mansion with it's light and warmth. She shivered since all she still had on was the silk nightgown that Darya had left for her and the temperatures had dropped to freezing that night, making the house feel like ice.
She finally reached the dining room and was elated to see that food had already been prepared and set on the table. The manservant wasn't in the room, so she helped herself, grabbing a plate and filling it with fresh fruit and bread that had a thick looking cheese on it. She settled herself into a chair and began to eat eagerly, forgetting her manners and eating with haste, smiling to herself as she filled her belly.
This was the picture that Caspar and Nasir intruded upon, discussing their plans for the day. Caspar stared at her intensely, watching her smiling and chomping away at food while Nasir smiled roguishly, both of them noticing her informal attire, to say the least.
Caspar cleared his throat to get her attention, which it did quickly. Sarina startled and tried to stand quickly, but as she was standing, her dress caught on the arm of the chair and she lost her footing. She began to fall towards the ground and she closed her eyes for the mortifying moment, but she never felt the ground. Instead strong arms had caught and steadied her. Caspar held onto her for a moment,
'Are you alright' he asked with concern.
Sarina closed her eyes again and hoped the floor would swallow her whole. Not only was she dressed inappropriately in front of men who were not her betrothed, she had just barely escaped smashing her body into the floor. When she accepted that the floor was in fact not going to open itself and welcome her, she sighed and opened her eyes.
'Yes, I am alright, just got a little startled' and then she laughed nervously.
She felt his strong arms around her and it gave her goosebumps. She finally stepped away from him awkwardly, not wanting to seem inappropriate.
Caspar smiled at her. 'What are you doing here so early?'
'I was just a little hungry, so I came and had an early breakfast. I apologize, I didn't realize you both would be here so early or I would've waited' she answered, looking down.
'No problem at all' Nasir said with a devilish smile on his face.
Caspar shot him a look. 'Why don't you go get ready for the day, Nasir and I are headed to the council now and then I will meet back with you' he suggested.
'Yes, I will do that. Good-bye' and the girl ran like a ghost was chasing her from the room.
Caspar smiled again, watching her run away and Nasir laughed out loud. Caspar turned sharply and glared at his friend, and Nasir just smiled and held his hands up in surrender. He looked at Caspar curiously.
'This is the second time' Nasir said.
Caspar turned and grabbed some food to eat on the way. 'Second time what' he said distractedly.
'That you've defended.' He answered simply and grabbed some food as well.
'What of it' Caspar said, as they began walking out of the room.
'Just tell me how much you like her' Nasir said finally.