The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

"Melina?"

Aeric did not know what to make of this. He'd made multiple guesses in his mind of who it could be by the door that had Ilyon so stricken with worry, but he'd never guessed that it would be a Daughter of Moonlight.

And she didn't even appear fazed or anything. Her face did seem visibly tired, with shadows under her eyes showing her weary she was. Her hands were clasped in front of her and her eyes shied away from his questioning gaze.

She looked very unhappy and clearly hurt, like something had happened to her. She was also dressed like she had just put on something in a blitz of thought, climbing on her Nightpanther which was standing close to a fountain, terrorising the men trying to trim the fields.

"Hey, Aeric," she waved nervously at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her, looking at her from head to toe. "Are you not aware of what time it is? You're all the way in the Starlight Region. Wha— what are you doing here?"

His gaze darted behind her, half-expecting someone else to appear. When no one didn't he bent his neck to look. "Does your mother and sisters even know you're here?"

"Not exactly," she admitted softly. "They don't know. Well, it's very complicated. I didn't run or anything if that's what you're worried about."

Aeric pretended to sigh with relief. "Oh, well that makes everything better. Don't you see where you are, Melina. This is the Starlight Region, an enemy Region to Moonlight, and you're a Princess of Moonlight. Don't you see the big issue here or am I just crazy?"

"I know, it's just that. I didn't have anywhere else to go. You see, my mother…" Her voice faltered, and she glanced away, her silver hair shimmering in the evening light.

"Your mother what?" Aeric demanded, looking back to make sure that his own mother wasn't coming.

"My mother banished me from our castle," Melina said with a sad frown. "Just for a week, but still."

Aeric frowned deeply. "What? Why would she do that?"

"She was angry about what happened," Melina said, still lowering her gaze away from Aeric's. "The fight with Luna, I mean. She says it's my fault." She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "She said I was the reason the battle happened at all. And that I had failed as a Daughter."

'Woah?' Aeric's eyes widened as he was taken aback for a second. 'Hey. Is this my fault? Mother Selene just basically disowned her daughter for a full week. That is very serious.'

His expression darkened. "That doesn't sound fair at all," he said firmly to her. "It wasn't your fault, Melina. In fact, you told Luna not to fight me, I remember that. If anything, you tried to stop it. But Luna's mind was made up."

Melina gave a weak smile. "Try telling her that. She didn't want to hear it. Said I should feel ashamed for letting my sister come back home battered and bruised because she was fighting for my honor. An honor that I do not seem to want anymore."

"I tried to explain that I'm only making up for the horrible things I did to you. And that I'm being strong in what I believe in for the first time, but she didn't want to hear it. And Aryanne..." Her shoulders slumped slightly as she continued. "Aryanne didn't even say anything to help me."

Aeric narrowed his eyes. 'So Aryanne knows about the fight now.'

"I needed somewhere to go. Somewhere I can stay for a while until I can return home. And you're the only one I could think of, Aeric. The only one I could trust." Her voice softened. "You're my Bondmaster."

The word hung in the air, and Aeric blinked, unsure how to respond. He crossed his arms and glanced over his shoulder, as if the answer lay somewhere in the vast corridors of the castle. "Uhhhh..."

"Don't worry," Melina said with a nervous laugh. "It's only for a week."

"Uhhhh...." Aeric gazed at her, seeing the look of hope in her eyes. But he was still rather confused. "You want to stay here? In the Castle of Starlight?"

Melina nodded. "If it's not too much trouble."

Aeric sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You couldn't go to one of the other Daughters' places? I thought you were pretty tight with the Twilight Twins. And their region is pretty close to yours, isn't it? Why didn't you ask Nyx and Nyssa?"

"I could have," Melina admitted, "but I didn't want to. For some reason I only wanted to be with you, Aeric. You're the only one I could think about, and it just... It just felt… right."

'Hmmph!' Aeric looked down at her with a tentative expression. 'I just hope this isn't the obsession thing that the Crest causes. She's only worn it twice so I doubt that's the problem. Frozen hells, for her to come all the way here. She must have really wanted to see me, huh?'

"Please," Melina begged, palm clutched as she begged.

'Ah, what the hell. Apparently, I'm the one who got her into this mess. I guess it's only fair that I help get her out of it.'

Reluctantly, he stepped aside, motioning for her to enter.

"Alright, fine. You can stay, but... hey!" He stopped her excited legs from just stepping in.

"You need to be careful. My mother…" He trailed off, the weight of his words clear as he glared into Melina's eyes. "You know how it is between my mother and yours. So you know she wouldn't take kindly to seeing the Daughter of her worst enemy walking around here."

"I understand," Melina said. She then gave Aeric a sudden hug that pushed out a lot of air from his lungs, then she let him go and stepped inside, glancing around the grand hall.

Ilyon appeared from the shadows, his usual formal demeanor replaced with a subtle unease as he kept glancing at the Moonlight Princess.

"Young Master Aeric, should I prepare a guest room?" he asked, his tone carefully neutral. "For the... guest."

"Yes, a guest room will be nice," Aeric replied quickly. "It should be on the highest floor and to the left, in order to avoid Mother or any of my sisters from finding out."

"I'll get right to it, Master Aeric." Ilyon took one final glance at Melina before heading towards the staircase in a hurry.

Aeric watched the courier leave, feeling glad he had someone who he could tell to do things in secret without his mother finding out. Then he turned to his side and saw Melina's face looking at him. With a large frown plastered on it.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"I thought… we'd share a room," she said, her voice light but with an edge of expectation.

Aeric's eyes widened. "What? No, absolutely not." He gestured down the hall. "This is a castle, Melina. There are dozens of rooms. We don't need to share one."

"I don't see why not," Melina shrugged.

He stared at her. "On a normal day, I wouldn't either. But my maid comes into my room and so does some weirdo who I haven't figured out yet. I have to keep you hidden until I think of what to say to my mother."

Melina sighed faintly. "Okay. I'll leave it all to you then."

She said nothing more, leaving Aeric scratching his head. He then led the way and she followed him through the hallways.

He walked with purpose, his mind racing as he tried to think of ways to keep her presence as inconspicuous as possible. To avoid stares, Aeric had asked for a wig and one of the maidens brought one for him. He quickly wore it on Melina and led her up the staircase.

Every corner felt like a potential hiding place for trouble. His mother didn't need to know about this, not tonight — not ever, if he could help it.

Reaching a spacious but modestly furnished guest room, Aeric pushed open the door to find Ilyon and a maid standing. Experience more tales on empire

"You are done?" he asked, stepping inside to inspect the room.

"The room is prepared now, Master Aeric," Ilyon replied. "Your friend..."

They both exchanged glances. "Anita," Aeric said.

"Your friend Anita can spend the time here," Ilyon said with a smile. "I'll be taking my leave."

Aeric nodded. "Well done, Ilyon."

The maid nodded too and left.

It was just Aeric and Melina inside now.

The room was warm, with a fire already crackling in the hearth. "So, this is your room for the next few days," Aeric said to her.

Melina glanced around, her gaze lingering on the ornate carvings of the bedposts and the silk curtains framing the window. "It's… nice," she said simply.

Aeric watched her as she looked around, then he spoke again, "Look, I'll be outside while you settle in. Okay? Once you're done, let me know so I can come in and tell you how we're going to do this."

Melina turned around just in time to grab Aeric's hand as he was about to leave. She looked up at him with her beautiful, glistening, silver eyes, and then she said; "Why don't you stay here? I don't mind."