Odyssey fic: Unexpected

[sarahlascelles]

Unexpected...
"I bring a peace offering; I did not come here to fight"
An offer of fine port (way above anything her family would ever believe a Tiberillus would ever drink), and joking conversation as he finishes his meal. Yes, that was unexpected.


Unexpected...
His words hit a nerve, she finds herself fingering the small wolf that hangs around her neck. But his conclusion is unfounded
"No I'm not" she responds.
She continues, telling him what she has heard about him
"No I am not" he responds.

She frowns
"Then can we at least agree that neither of us want civil war and discuss this like sensible adults rather than throwing 'your patron this, your patron that' in each other's faces?"

He agrees.
His proposal is something entirely other than what forum rumour would have it.
Far more palatable.

Unexpected.

Unexpected...
But thankfully cheering.
The other woman hugs her, and she whispers something in her ear.
"Oh of course" replies the other woman.

Why was it unexpected? After all, the other woman has remained constant, but she feels the blooming of friendship where she did not expect it.


Unexpected...
A sudden thought occurs to her. A kind of kinship, had developed, but now it is threatened, a wedge nudging between them, plans crumbling.

Was it intentional? If so, cleverly done.

But unexpected.