Thread: Spoils of War (DareToDream and Nightingale)

Nathaniel took her hand and lead her out to the dancefloor. His motions slow, and dragged, his shoulder stiff. She compared his stiff movements to the fluid way she had watched Marcus' walk.. how confident Marcus had been.. and how.. unconfident Nathaniel was. She felt a little disappointed, and ashamed that she was comparing this poor nobleman to a man of knight status. Was it wrong of her to be so attracted to a man who could hold his own? Fend for himself as well as others and likely.. well.. those thoughts were to be shooed from her mind, she was to withold from such things.. and actually, love was not an option she was allowed to venture into. The code of the goddess called for her purity.. and a life of the acolyte.. was not a life most men wanted to incorporate into their own. She needed to distract from such thoughts..and Nathaniel was her first try. The man held poor conversation and seemed almost disappointed he was being asked to spend time with her. Illayna held back the urge to sigh exasperatedly and let her eyes begin to wander. That was when she saw him. Marcus was standing just within her sight, and she let her eyes meet his, he smiled, turned and walked away. Illayna felt the urge to follow, as if he had meant for her to. She looked back to Nathaniel and gave him a sweet, apologetic smile, dismissed herself and wandered off after the trail she knew Marcus had lead. Nimble digits gathered the delicate materials of her skirt and hoisted it up high enough for her to walk without really tripping over it. Easing her way through the throng of people she kept a few feet behind him. Barely catching where he was going, before she glanced back over her shoulder to ensure Nathaniel had not followed, not was he was watching. She did the same to ensure her father had not seen her depart in such a manner. With a brilliant, victorious smile upon her lips, she disappeared past the last group of people and followed him into the darkened alcove. She finally had closed the distance and as she approached him, a soft yet cautious smile on her lips as she spoke softly. Quietly, although she knew he'd hear her. Lord Marcus.. His name escaped her lips and she loved the taste of it, wanted to become familiar with its sound. She moved around to face him, a soft hand gently reaching to graze his arm as her brilliant green eyes studied his handsome face. Please forgive me for earlier. I shoulder have stayed my distance, and if I angered your men you have my sincerest apologies.. Not the words she wanted truthfully to be speaking, but they were the words that were necessary. With her free hand she tucked a strand of curls from her face and studied him. He was strong, defined, and handsome and the way he had smiled at her back there had drawn her even more to him than she thought was possible. Even so close, her heart beat in it's cage like a fluttering canary, singing... screaming however she was completely calm on the surface. I.. she was lost for words, and allowed herself to step further into the shadows to avoid attracting members from either party. Certainly her father could keep himself entertained, and the other patrons could do the same.. they would not miss her.