[hider=Morning of Sola 22, The Blackwoods Sitting Room][center][h2][color=f26522]Roman[/color] & [color=#758173]Mina[/color][/h2][/center]

Time: Sola 22, Morning
Location: The Blackwoods Sitting Room

[hr]

The sun's warm rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow across the sitting area of Mina's quarters. Soft cushions adorned the plush couch, inviting relaxation and comfort. Mina reclined on the cushions, her petite frame sinking into their embrace. Her eyes closed as she listened to the soothing melodies of birdsong outside, letting the tranquility of the morning wash over her.

The events of yesterday still lingered in her mind. Fainting during the execution had been unexpected, but Mina attributed it to a momentary lapse in her usually composed demeanor. Her uncle, ever the doting guardian, had insisted she rest in their quarters, demanding she regain her strength and vitality after running into him in the halls as she’d left with Munir. He was always overly concerned for her well-being, worrying about her more than she believed necessary. She’d tried to argue that she was fine, but he was having none of it and even gave the Alidasht prince a disapproving glance. Now she’d been confined to their quarters since yesterday.

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and two servants entered the room, each carrying a tray adorned with delicate teacups and a plate of freshly baked scones. They placed the trays on a small coffee table in front of Mina before bowing and silently retreating.

Mina's eyes fluttered open, her attention drawn to the enticing aroma wafting from the cups of tea. She took a moment to savor the fragrant steam rising from the cups before delicately picking one up. The porcelain felt cool against her fingertips as she brought the cup to her lips, taking a small sip of the warm, comforting liquid.

Just as she set the cup down, her gaze turned to the plate of scones. They were golden-brown, still warm from the oven, and adorned with a dusting of powdered sugar. The sight of the delectable treats brought a flicker of a smile to her lips. She picked up a scone, breaking off a small piece and savoring its buttery sweetness.

A momentary pause filled the room as Mina's thoughts drifted to her uncle's concern. She couldn't help but find it unnecessary. Fainting was not uncommon, especially in the midst of an execution by fire. Her own strength had always surprised her, and she knew she could handle more than others anticipated.

As she indulged in another sip of tea, she pondered on how to persuade her uncle to let her stay in Caesonia instead of returning to Kolonivka. She knew she had to be convincing, to make him understand that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

Roman had woken up late, the actions of the night before proved to have taken more energy out of him then he had liked. Sleeping almost through the entire morning was not exactly something he wanted to do. At least the others had good news as he went about getting his attire in order after quickly washing himself off. The shaman Maja, an older woman intrusted with the health and wellness of the others while also keeping up with the wishes and celebrations of the gods. Maja was akin to the mother of their group. 

She had found a place to the western most portion of lovers lake that would make due for their summer solstice ritual. She was actually there right now with a few others making the necessary arrangements. The other guards did not report any unusual circumstances in the area and Erik had acquired the updated list of varian nobles that were still in the city for the summer.

These were all things that made him breathe a little easier but he still wanted to check in on the blackwoods before the afternoon blacksmith lesson. Mina had fainted the other day and her father was never one for bright sunny days. He could only hope that they would be interested in his offer as well to help him with the ritual, those two were the closest thing to blood related family that he had here. 

It wasn't long before he found himself at their place of residence for the summer. He knew where all of them would be staying after all if some kind of emergency came up. Taking a moment to make sure that he looked presentable enough the large man knocked on the door to their portion of the guest spaces. He was well aware that they wouldn't mind him just walking in but he still found it respectable to knock first.

Mina's maid paused her task at the sound of the knock, but before she could make her way to the door, Mina interjected with a warm smile. [color=#758173]"I'll get it, thank you,"[/color] she said to the maid, who nodded and resumed her work.

Making her way to the door, Mina found herself wondering who it could be. Moments later, she pulled the door open to reveal Roman standing there, looking as handsome as ever. Her eyes lit up with joy at the sight of her friend and her heart skipped a beat upon seeing her secret childhood crush. [color=#758173]"Roman! What a wonderful surprise!"[/color] she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. [color=#758173]"Come in, come in! You’re just in time for some tea if you’d like to join?"[/color]

She stepped aside, inviting him into the sitting area where they could relax and catch up. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. [color=#758173]"Please, have a seat,"[/color] she said, gesturing to one of the chairs. [color=#758173]"How have you been? Did I hear whispers that there is going to be a summer solstice ritual here this year?"[/color] She couldn't help but ask him excitedly.
He was quite surprised to look down and see his old childhood friend at the door, expecting a maid to answer instead she caught him off guard for a moment. [color=f26522]“Err um yes I would love some tea.”[/color] he didn't hesitate to step inside and follow her over to the small table. For a moment he felt a little awkward as her sudden appearance derailed his train of thought. [color=f26522]“Uhh yes i uh i am well and i did, that was one of the reasons i came by today.”[/color]

 answering her question about the ritual, his smile quickly returning. [color=f26522]“The main reason I came by was to see how you were doing? I heard you fainted at the execution the other day.”[/color] his smile dropped slightly as he mentioned the event did give him some worry for her health, it wasn't normal.

He smiled as the maid poured him some tea, [color=f26522]“Thank you.”[/color] taking a sip of the pleasant warm liquid and setting the small cup down again, [color=f26522]“the second reason was to tell you that I will be taking my fathers role for leading the ritual this year…”[/color] he trailed off for a moment and rubbed the back of his head. 

Mina always made him flustered when she stared at him like that, [color=f26522]“well I uh, I wanted to ask you to be my Echo this year. I know, I know, its a position normally held for the leaders wife or betrothed but i don't have either of those right now and i really do believe that you would be a great fit for the roll…”[/color] he couldn't keep eye contact with her and instead inspected the cup of tea again, he didn't know why but it felt to him like he was back in his younger days asking her for a dance. Mina always had the ability to steal his confidence but he wasn't sure why, he wasn't sure why he always showed her this side of him in private.

Mina couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with nostalgia. Though the feelings from her childhood had somewhat evolved over the years, there was still a lingering fondness for him. She tried to maintain her composure, not wanting to show her slight fluster at his presence.

Her heart sank a little as he mentioned her fainting at the execution. She didn't want him to worry about her as well, but she appreciated his concern. [color=758173]"Oh, it was nothing serious,"[/color] she said with a reassuring smile. [color=758173]"Just a momentary lapse, though Uncle Sebastian would like to believe otherwise. I'm perfectly fine now."[/color]

As he informed her about taking his father's role for leading the ritual, her eyes widened in surprise. She knew how important the role was, and it was an honor to be chosen for such a responsibility. [color=758173]"Oh, Roman, that's wonderful news!"[/color] she exclaimed, genuine excitement in her voice as she gently placed a hand on his arm. [color=758173]"Congratulations, I know you'll do an amazing job."[/color]

But as he stammered and stumbled over his words, asking her to be his Echo, Mina couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat. She had always admired Roman, and being asked to hold such an important position for him made her feel special. [color=758173]"I'd be more than honored to be your Echo,"[/color] she said with a warm smile, her eyes locking with his for a moment before she looked down to hide her slight blush and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

She knew they had always had a special connection, and it seemed that even after all these years, that connection was still there. Roman had a way of making her feel both excited and shy at the same time. She certainly acted differently around him then she did most other men. Her confident, flirtatious manner almost seemed to fly out the window…almost.

But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present. She was happy for him and honored to be a part of such an important event in his life. It was a chance for them to spend more time together, and Mina looked forward to supporting him every step of the way.

He gave her a quiet sigh at her dismissal of her health concerns with a look that said he did not truly believe her. Yet he did not press the issue further, believing that she would tell him more information about it when she was ready. The mention of her uncle reminded him of another thing he wanted to bring up to her about the man as well. He held his tongue in anticipation of her reaction to his proposition. 

The reaction was everything he hoped and gave her a toothy grin, the fireflies in his gut slowly subsiding with her answer. He sat the cup of tea down and reached for her hand cupping it gently in his calloused hand. [color=f26522]“Thank you, you have a beautiful singing voice. I can't wait to hear it again. You shouldn't need to prepare as I chose four of some of our more common songs. I uh, i was also hoping that you could talk to Sebastion about joining as well.”[/color] he let her hand slip from his regaining his composure and leaning back into his chair in a more comfortable fashion.

[color=f26522]“I know he has played music with my father in the past and it would bring me great pride if he would play with us.”[/color] he fondly remembered seeing the man play an instrument or two when his father led some of the rituals back home. [color=f26522]“So the plan right now is Maja found a spot on the western edge of Lovers lake and some of us are out there now setting up the bonfires, setting the stone patterns, and cooking pits. We plan to begin tomorrow night and you should get your official invitation tomorrow. I plan on running the ritual with the four seasons in mind, similar to how my father has run them in the past. Speech first explaining the rules for those present, call to the gods and ancestors then begin to sing while the others give offerings and dance. Four smaller fires around one large one…”[/color] he paused for a moment as he realized he was rambling and dumping information to her again. 

It was a nervous tick that he had around her and he felt like it had ruined some moments between them in the past. The fireflies began to make their way back out into his gut as he thought about those memories. When they would wander the forest as kids and he would tell her stories or talk to her about his craft for hours until they were called away. He really did like his friend but he could never really tell just how much she cared about him or if the voice in his head was right and she really didn't like him and was just being nice or polite. 

Mina found herself swept up in Roman's excitement and passion as he talked about the upcoming ritual. She listened attentively, her eyes shining with genuine interest. His words painted a vivid picture in her mind, and she could almost feel the warmth of the bonfires, hear the songs, and sense the reverence of the moment. She was truly honored that he had chosen her to be a part of this significant event in his life.

When he mentioned her talking to Sebastian about joining the ritual, Mina's eyebrows raised in surprise. [color=#758173]"Sebastian playing music? Now that's an idea,"[/color] she said with a chuckle. [color=#758173]"But I'll do my best to convince him. I'm sure he'll be intrigued by the idea, especially if he remembers the times he played with your father."[/color] Besides, it would be a good way for her to start the conversation again to convince him to let her stay. In fact, all of this would be a good way to convince him.

As Roman rambled on, Mina couldn't help but smile fondly. His nervousness and enthusiasm were endearing, reminding her of the times they had spent together as children. [color=#758173]"You know, Roman, you don't have to worry about overwhelming me with information,"[/color] she said with a teasing smile. [color=#758173]"Besides, I could kiss you for helping provide me with more ammunition to use against my uncle since he wants to send me back to Kolonivka even though I don’t want to go home."[/color] Mina's eyes widened in slight panic as her words spilled out without her usual filter. She bit her lip, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. [color=#758173]"I-I mean, not that I want to kiss you, I mean, you're my friend and I didn't mean to imply anything, I just...uh, forget I said anything,"[/color] she stammered, her attempt to backtrack only making her embarrassment more apparent. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

She let out a nervous laugh, attempting to lighten the mood. [color=#758173]"You see, I have this habit of saying things without thinking when I’m around you, and well, sometimes I just can't help myself,"[/color] she rambled, waving her hand dismissively. [color=#758173]"But, yes, I'll definitely talk to Sebastian about joining the ritual and see what he thinks. It's a great idea, really, and I'm sure he'll be thrilled... not about the kissing part, obviously, but about the music."[/color]

Mina mentally cringed at her own awkwardness. She had managed to make things even more uncomfortable, all while desperately trying to smooth over her slip of the tongue. [color=#758173]"Anyway, yes, the ritual sounds fantastic and I'm really looking forward to it. And I promise, I won't mention kissing again unless you wanted a kiss, I mean, not that I'm suggesting anything, I just, oh gods,"[/color] she groaned, covering her face with her hands for a moment before peeking out with a sheepish smile. [color=#758173]"I should really just stop talking now."[/color]

Roman’s heart beat only quickened as Mina kept talking. She was stammering out sentences while his face kept blushing through shades of red one would find in a forge. He wasn't sure what he should do and his fight or flight response was growing in his chest with every word. The way she could put his body into the same feeling as going into battle amazed him. So he did the only thing he thought would be appropriate to soothe both of their minds for the moment.

Slowly he turned in his chair and held her hands gently. Now that he had got this far he wasn't sure how to proceed resulting in him hesitating as he looked at what was likely one of his oldest and dearest friends. The urge to kiss her and bed her was strong but he didn't want to ruin the friendship that he coveted. A friendship that he adored almost more than his hammer. 

He found himself staring at her hands in his, staying stoic for a moment longer before speaking up. More of a whisper than anything, words just for them, as he looked her in the eye’s [color=f26522]“the light of the moon failed in comparison to the light of her soul.”[/color] he leaned forward to tell her this and in doing so the crystal necklace dropped from under his shirt. 

He took a moment longer to speak again, his face still red as he controlled his breathing and heart rate. [color=f26522]“Please don't, I've always enjoyed your company, your jokes, your smile. I um i would like a k-kiss but not right now… how about after the ritual? After our songs.”[/color] his smile softened for a moment. His hesitation once again prevalent until he remembered what she had said, [color=f26522]“wait, Sebastian wants you to go back already?”[/color]

His eyebrows furrowed in concern as he tried to think of how he could help with the situation, [color=f26522]“i uh i could take responsibility for your safety… if it helps i did bring two extra ships worth of people and supplies just for the summer. I probably have more men and guards here than some of the royalty.”[/color]

As Roman reached out to hold her hands, a calming warmth seemed to envelop Mina. His touch was reassuring, and she looked into his eyes, finding a familiar sense of comfort there. His whispered words, like a soft breeze on a summer night, had a soothing effect on her. The comparison to the moon's light and the light of her soul was both poetic and endearing. She felt her heart skip a beat as she absorbed his words, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten. And then came his request, delivered with a mix of hesitation and vulnerability. Mina's cheeks flushed once again, but this time it wasn't from embarrassment; it was from a different kind of excitement.

Then her eyes landed on the necklace and she couldn’t help but stare for a moment. There was a strange aura coming off of it, something she hadn’t experienced before, and the whispers of the spirits seemed to surge for a moment. Since she fainted they hadn’t disappeared completely, but they’d become bearable at least. Now, though, they were momentarily distracting, yet she continued to try to ignore them as she went back to focusing on Roman’s words.

[color=#758173]"After the ritual... our songs... Yes, that sounds lovely,"[/color] she replied, her voice soft, her heart fluttering in her chest. The thought of sharing a kiss with Roman, especially after such a meaningful and beautiful event, sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn't deny that she felt a strong connection with him, something beyond their childhood friendship.

As he mentioned her uncle's desire for her to return to Kolonivka, Mina's expression turned a bit more somber and it seemed to bring her back to reality. She sighed softly and nodded, her fingers still entwined with Roman's. [color=#758173]"Yes, unfortunately my uncle insists that I go back. He believes it's for my own good, but... I don't want to go back just yet,"[/color] she admitted, her gaze dropping to their intertwined hands. [color=#758173]"Your offer of protection means a lot to me, Roman. I'll have to speak to him about it and see if he's willing to consider it. Maybe it will help change his mind, at least for now."[/color]

She glanced up at him with a small smile, the vulnerability she felt mirrored in her eyes. [color=#758173]"Thank you for being so understanding and for always being there for me, Roman. You truly are a dear friend, and I'm grateful to have you in my life."[/color] The soft whispers in the background seemed to grow stronger for a moment again, but Mina pushed them to the back of her mind, focusing on the present moment with Roman.

He smiled at her softly memories of times long past sifted through his mind and he found himself stuck on one memory of the two of them stargazing. The warm summer night air and the smell of the forest drifted back to him for a moment. Mina was and continues to be a close friend who he always wished he could confess his secrets to. His thoughts shifted and he felt a pull from his necklace that reminded him of all the things he has done. All the reasons why he will never be worthy of her heart.

The pull grew stronger for a moment, the smell of fresh blood and something burning growing in his senses. Men and women screaming in his mind, children crying. For a moment he was back in that town, back in that battle. A moment to her seemed like hours to him reliving the killing and bloodshed that he brought down on those poor people. In a place that does not exist on any maps anymore, with people that were erased from the records. 

He did snap out of the thought, pushing the influence from his necklace back down and quickly hiding the crystal back into his shirt. He stood quickly and gave her a smile, [color=f26522]“I apologize I forgot I had another meeting that I have to take care of. Thank you for accepting my invitation, you and Sebastian should be receiving your official invitations sometime soon. I truly do hope you are able to stay for the summer.”[/color] he opened his arms offering her a hug before he left, his heart still racing. 

Mina's attention was briefly drawn to the strange aura emanating from his necklace. It seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, and the whispers of the spirits around her grew louder and more insistent. They were demanding her attention, their voices a cacophony of accusations.

[i]"Murderer." "Killer." "Blood on his hands."[/i]

Her breath caught in her throat and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. At first she thought they were talking about herself, but then she realized they said [i]his[/i] hands. She looked at the spirits and realized they were staring at Roman. The once-familiar presence of the spirits had taken on a sinister and accusatory tone, and it sent shivers down her spine. She had never experienced anything like this before.

She tried to focus on Roman's words, his offer of an invitation, but the voices in her head drowned out his words. Panic welled up within her, and she struggled to maintain her composure. She felt her head spin once more and she feared she was going to faint once more, but she shoved the feeling away as best she could as she tried to give Roman a smile. She was hesitant at first, but she moved and gave him a hug. She felt so small in his arms and for a moment, that panic she’d initially felt faded and she wondered what the spirits actually meant. How could Roman be any of those things? [color=#758173]”Thank you, Roman. I’ll see you at the Solstice then.”[/color] She finally managed to say to him before letting go. [color=#758173]”Now I think I should maybe go lay back down for a bit. I’m still a bit tired, it seems. Thank you for coming by.”[/color] She gave him a soft smile before turning and heading towards her room.[/hider]