Juno watched as Zealot put his smallclothes back on. His strong back was lit up from the dim light the candle made. His scars showed years of battle and hardship.
"You are coming back to Edessa once this is all over with, right?" She regretted saying it as soon as she finished. She ruined the moment and possibly started another fight about their future. She was tired of living a life of solitude and want. She missed her husband, why couldn't he understand that?
"We've been over this many times, Juno….I don't think I have the energy to argue."
He was upset and Juno had done it. Marriage was hard in Ilia, she knew that. In fact her whole life had been hard. She was forced to raise her two younger sisters. Maybe that was why they were always fighting? She wanted romance and the life she never had growing up.
Trying not to sound weak she held back the tears. Her throat burned but she would not break. "I just don't understand why you can't stay home, if just for a little while?"
He turned and tried to stay calm. She saw that he was trying. It was wrong of her to keep doing this to him. He couldn't possibly want to stay away from her and the baby. He was in pain too.
"You know I have to travel to make money. We can't survive without me working. Going over this won't change the reality of it." His voice was stern and emotionless as ever. She just wanted him to show emotion. Show her the passion she so desperately wanted.
Juno grasped at straws. She heard the fields would be plentiful this year. "The fields. We could—"
"No…I could not rely on something that changes with the weather. You know how unpredictable Ilian crops are." He saw that his scolding was not helping so he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I love you Juno. I hope you always know and feel it, but I also want you to have faith in me. There will be a time when I won't leave. Until that time I need your support. Without it I would have crumbled before now."
Juno trembled at his words. She could feel and understand him in the moment clearly and it had an effect on her body that she couldn't control. He rubbed her arm gently to comfort her and stood up to go. Juno grabbed his hand before he left and leaned up to kiss him. "I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget what needs to be done. I love you so much." She searched his eyes before kissing him again. His smile gave her strength. Her strong man would protect her and their family, just like she would be his rock and support. She understood her role now more than ever. After he left she took a moment to rest. She had faith that things would change and they could be together as a family. It didn't hurt to want the day to come sooner than later.