Renna

" Yes, I am," Seia answered with a straight face, but the kiss to her forehead made her smile and rest her cheek on his shoulder, looking content. "Imperia likes you, too," she told him, "And Alaricus and Barbara. They are nice to her and she loves it when they let her play....I think....I think she will be happy. She doesn't remember her father at all, and I know she's wanted one." The walk was too short, simply because she was so happy and could have revelled in walking with his hand in hers for ages more, but the sight of his domus quickened her pulse. Home. It would really be home. They were engaged. She could kiss him, and -- The slaves noticed first, hurrying out to greet their master. The sight of their entwined hands, though, the way Seia was cuddled into him, and at the first gasp, Seia's bashful revelation of her ring, made squeals rise through the home. This in turn made her blush, her skin turning bronze, but she smiled and hid her face against Alaric's chest like a girl. He was kind to them, for such opinions to be shown freely, and for these people to genuinely be pleased, and she hoped that her presence here would improve their lives even further. "Thank you," she managed to tell them, with her face still hidden shyly away, "I am so happy."

How well she fit, just in the curve of his arm! It delighted Seia, and made her forget so many other things. She was content to walk without speaking for some time, daydreaming, but at length something occurred to her. Something important. “Do you think Barbara and Alaricus is will be upset?” She asked. “Imperia won’t, she likes you so much... but I’m so young, only a little older than your daughter. Titus’ family was not happy with me and I don’t want that to happen again, I like your children.” She really did. Like their father, they were Good People.

That simple ring on her hand at last made Seia smile so bright she thought she must be radiating, like sunlight through raindrops, and Alaric's brow pressed to hers was everything she needed. She would have been content to stand there forever, but the vendor cut through their moment. "Oh!" She'd forgotten he was even there. "Of course, we'd like it. Thank you." The lady wiped at her eyes, waiting for Alaric to pay, but once that tome was in her basket she pressed herself right back to Alaric's side, whispering to him. "Can we go home now? Yours, or mine? I want to be somewhere quiet." Where they wouldn't be bothered, where they could just be happy without the entire world acting as witness.

His heart was thundering so strongly against her, it made Seia smile - it felt like his heart was beating for both of them, keeping them in the world, together. But she couldn't prevent herself from crying, not even when she caught a glimpse of the look in Alaric's eyes...no, especially not then. It made her weep harder, choking on a laugh mixed with a sob. He loved her. He truly, deeply loved her, and that was why he was asking, not out of pity, not out of kindness to an unfortunate widow. The kindness was there, certainly, but he wanted her, as deeply as she wanted him. "I've wished you would ask so long," she wept. "I didn't think it would ever happen." There was another wet laugh, and a sniffle into his shoulder, and poor Seia tightened her arms around Alric as if she was afraid he would vanish even while she was holding him. "Please, put the ring on my hand," she begged, "I'm going to drop it." Either from crying too much or kissing him too hard.

Did she want it? The question was ridiculous. Almost before Alaric had finished speaking Seia found herself in sudden tears, she wanted it so badly. She had to remind herself that her friend didn't know that, though; she'd been trying to keep her feelings reigned in, to prepare herself for the eventuality that their friendship never became anything more. It wouldn't have been right, to throw herself at him, when he had a family to provide for and his name to worry about, and certainly not after how kind he had been to her. It would be terrible to repay his generosity by bringing him shame, so she'd held herself back. Seia supposed he might have some idea, if only because of how rarely she refused his company, and the things she spoke of to him, and the way she never hesitated to hold his hand, but he didn't know. Not the full extent of the secrets she'd been keeping only in her own heart. She found herself momentarily mute, her voice drowned in sobs, but it occurred to Seia that such tears after a proposal could be taken as a bad sign and immediately shut the book on the ring, in order to safely whirl and throw her arms around Alaric's neck without sending the precious trinket flying. "You have no idea." The words came in a whisper meant only for him, muffled against his chest, and were followed by a choking confession. "Yes. I've wanted it so badly." The vendor was still too close for comfort, so Seia switched her language, to a halting version of the one Alaric had grown up speaking. Only he was meant to hear this, and she would be damned if she made it easy for any curious passerby to know her secrets. "If I...was lost," she ventured, "Lost ...all money, no hope for win..." She did not know the words for 'trial', 'court', or 'appeal', but based on the context of her life, which Alaric knew so well, Seia was fairly confident he would understand what she was referring to. "I decide, ask you - make slave." She drew back to look at his face, and lifted a hand to her chest for emphasis. He would have taken care of her, and Imperia, and it was her darkest fear at one point that selling herself and her daughter would be the only option to repay her court-ordered debts. "Safe," Seia tried again, trying to explain. "You are safe. And to stay - with you - would give me happy." He was given a smile, a shaky little one, and then her face was hidden in his shoulder again and she returned to Latin. "It isn't needed, now, but - gods -" How could she say this? "It's still true that staying with you would make me happy." So incandescently happy. Seia turned her cheek on his shoulder to direct her lips to his neck, pressing a kiss there. He had no idea how many nights she had made love to him already, daydreams born of a kiss that she could not forget. How many times she had wondered how it would be to brush her fingers through his copper hair, to smooth the worries from his face, to kiss that way again and not quench the fire that came after. It was better than dreaming of Titus, because for Alaric, there was still hope, however faint, that the ache could be filled. It was a hope rather than a memory, and this small thing had given her strength when she needed it most. And now, he had asked, and she could finally admit to herself how very much she loved him.

“Parthian horses?” Seia perked up at once, looking for all the world like a hound that had suddenly caught an elusive scent. N’aschi and her foals were a lifeline, could still be a lifeline, if she could only learn more about caring for them. Artaxias was gone, now, no longer somewhere she could turn to him for conversation, but his princely gift remained with her - the finest horse in all of Rome. Another gift remained, too, a secret time spent in armor, standing guard over nothing so she could understand something of what it felt to be a soldier. That memory had lingered, and, she felt, helped her to understand the men she knew just a little better. He had been a good friend. Small wonder, then, that this codex made her light up like a sunrise. The woman swiftly placed the honey into her basket and came over at almost a run, taking three long strides to get to the other vendor. “Let me see! Ohhh...” Seia took it with something like awe, admiring, then opened it to look over the contents. Of course it fell open to one specific page, neatly divided by a simple gold ring. Her first confused thought was that someone had left this behind, misplaced it while inspecting the merchandise. “Oh, look, someone's lost—“ She cut herself off right then as realization struck, a key turning in a lock, and slowly turned to look at the German with an expression that had never yet been seen in her eyes. Seia forced out a question, but could only manage a whisper. “Alaric, is this for me?” It couldn’t be. The ring was right there but if she dared to hope, and it wasn’t so... oh, she could never bear it.

“Look at you!” she laughed. “Three minutes in and not a single grumble. I should have tried this ages ago.” But Seia smiled at him, and veered over to the honey vendor to inspect his wares. “Right next to one of my favorite things, too. It’s fate. I’ll have to take a look once I’m finished here.” The woman began to browse, checking over the little earthenware jars in an inspection borne of habit - even in Rome there were some dishonest souls who would adulterate food, but as far as she could tell this stall was sound. “Fair warning, if you want to leave this market before the sun goes down, it is up to you to drag me away from the codices. Here, this one.” Seia selected a pot, handing it to the vendor, and then another, larger. “And this one, for my friend. Thank you.” She fished in her bag to pull out a coin, paying the man. “Don’t fuss, Alaric, I can afford to pay for a pot of honey. Consider it thanks for being my escort.”

The clasp of his fingers around hers made Seia’s teasing eyes soften, and she couldn’t help giving his hand the lightest squeeze. It was a soft gesture, holding her hand. It delighted her, and she had no desire for him to let go. It made her feel safe, and wanted again, and treasured. That feeling was a treasure just on its own, and she wanted to hoard it. Marriage or not, he cared for her. That was worth something. “Carpets?” The edge had gone from her voice, completely polished away by Alarics affectionate gesture. Seia glanced at the vendor, quickly. “I do love Parthia and they make such fine artwork... but maybe this vendor isn’t the best one to start with. He’s too enthusiastic. I’m sure he gets the best crowds because he’s easier to get to; perhaps there will be a stall deeper in the market that has better prices.” She tugged him along after her, sharp eyes scanning the stalls they passed. “I want to bring Imperia some honey. We love it.”

“Oh, I’m not worried.” Seia was smirking, and she turned about to walk the right way this time. “I’m certain you’ll be very fetching but I have a feeling the men won’t flock to you quiiiiite the same way.” At his offer, however, her eyebrows rose. Accept a gift from him? It seemed an easy wager, anyway...even if Alaric was thinking of a “gift” like a live beetle, he was likely going to lose. He nearly had already. “All right, you’re on, wager set.” The woman shook his hand, firmly. “So then, my grumbling lion, what do you need help shopping for?”

Seia feigned surprise at the question, opening her eyes wide in utter innocence. “Win, Alaricus? I should think that having approval and no one nagging you should be prize enough.” She didn’t have much to offer him, anyway, but this teasing flirtation they had was enough of a game on its own. Seia had done her best not to allow herself to be too invested, tried not to spend too long daydreaming about that first kiss, because the reality was that the choice was his. If Alaric did not wish their relationship to go further, it wouldn’t, and she had a life to live and a daughter to raise whether he wanted her to permanently be part of him or not. This was all right the way it was, the friendship with it’s teasing hints and somber confessions. He could quite possibly form a better match, a more favored one, and he had children so I’d that was what he chose Seia could not bring herself to blame him for it. Children came first. “Do you have a suggested prize?” She continued sweetly. “I have a particularly fine palla that would set off your hair just so.”

The markets were bustling, as usual, and people were looking, as usual, but what did Seia care? One of the few benefits of being widowed was being free to go where she wished, alone, if she wished, and even better, with a man, if she wished. Alaric had offered to take her shopping, with some grumbled sidenote about 'help finding something for Barbara', and of course she'd said yes. The German's company never failed to cheer her, and if she had to listen to him grumble about prices or how many clothes a woman could possibly need, or anything of that nature, it was a small price to pay. She'd learned at their first meeting that complaining words disguised a soft heart - maybe he really thought that women had too many clothes, but not enough to keep him from buying them for his daughter. It was all talk. She rather enjoyed people staring, too. The rogue Seia Imperia, with her new man - "such a step down!" people would say, or "she's fortunate any man is even looking at her, with that tongue," or "she's blessed by the gods, why should anyone be surprised?". How people would talk! And with a thousand different opinions, too, the gossip veering off into so many different strands. She didn't care. She might have, once, but at the moment was so much happier than she'd been in ages the gossip didn't matter. Seia turned to walk backwards, grinning into Alaric's face as she teased him. "I think we should play a game. Every time you grumble, you have to buy me something. If you aren't careful, poor Barbara won't get anything, and then you'll have two women irritated with you. I think it could break your habit."