A gentle evening light caressed the landscape, the air was still warm and the forest around started to wake up to the night. Denna brushed her hair slowly at the mirror, preparing for the dinner. She felt warm on her cheeks when she remembered her experience with Cara earlier that day. Her body ached a little and her mind continued to play the moment of Cara's lips joining hers, half-closed eyes and hands sweetly pushing her down. It was a moment everybody would dream of.
Now it was clear to Denna: Cara wouldn't hesitate, even it meant that she would experience such kind of passions with her. Female passions, moments which she had thought would shake Cara's calm attitude and would risc her devotion to protect Richard. Denna had counted on that. She had counted that such moments would have set Cara off guard. They would have allowed Denna to play on Cara's insecurities, but in Cara's actions she didn't see any insecurity or hesitation. It would be only magic that could turn the situation around, to turn Cara back to the same side she was in.
"So, how was it?"
"How was what, Cara? "
"My kissing. You wanted that I kiss you, didn't you? You left me to beat you on purpose, right? Like in the game that who wins can kiss the other?"
"Alright Cara, you won, you got it. I wanted you to kiss me," Denna smiled, she accepted that her game was revealed. "Yes I wanted to test you."
"Well Denna... I guess I passed the test. I'm not that easy, haha!"
They ate and chatted lightly, finished the dinner and had dessert wine. Denna stood up and walked to the window of the parlor. She watched Cara with a soft, slightly enigmatic expression and then turned her gaze over the forest.
"I can tell you how it was, Cara. And I have dreamt about it...so many times. It was perfect."
"Oh yeah, Denna please! You tricked me, what did you expect? We kissed, long, and we liked it. I would do it again. Kiss the girl when you can. Right?"
But Denna just smiled and looked from the window. Cara slowly realized this was something new from Denna. Was Denna just showing a fragment of her emotional side by her silence? Cara had thought that what had happened, was just Denna's game, but apparently it wasn't, at least not only.
"I'm leaving Denna. And even if it sounds strange, I appreciate these moments together."
"I know."
Cara stood up and walked at Denna. Romantic evening... Cara was about to say with her typical style, but swallowed quickly the words when she saw Denna unmoved, just looking out from the window.
This Denna is a curious personality, Cara thinks. Cold, very cold, but I can see something special inside. Something searching its way out...Their hands touch at the side of the balcony... Was I like her in the beginning? So cold but so distorted inside…She caresses gently Dennas hair... Really was I like she is now?…I was...I was once...it's hell...
"You surely hate me Cara." Denna's eyelids were half closed.
For a short moment Cara felt pity for Denna. And now Cara recognized what Denna had said in the first day: that she had started to have feelings that she didn't expect. Yes, yes she had, and now even compassion toward this distorted soul that Denna was. Denna had been correct even Cara didn't want to admit it: she had changed from inside, due to her new quest, due to her serving Richard.
"You don't need to leave today. Stay overnight."
Cara saw the forest and heard sounds of animals moving invisibly at the forest edge. She hadn't stopped caressing Dennas hair and looking at her profile, hadn't stopped feeling the softness of her cheek and sensing the suppleness of her body. Two birds flew close by the window. Cara took Denna's hand in hers. They were enemies, but enemies with a damn deep connection.
"You know Denna, I could use a soft bed for one more night."
Denna's room was really beautiful. Cara was touched how Denna was miraculously calm at this moment, in her long dress and hair open. Am I underestimating her, the question went through her mind, but she realized soon its vanity. She is how she is. Dangerous, cruel, unsure but all the more difficult enemy. Yes, challenge, fire, all the stuff Cara loved. The best for dealing and working through her own past.
She watched Denna undress and go under the sheets. Cara smiled, looked out from the bedroom's window and listened again the sounds of the forest, singing of blackbirds in the nightfall. She took off her Mord-Sith costume and came next to Denna.
"Damn you hit me so well in that fight Denna! You will have some serious work to do this night to make me feel better!" They both bursted into laughter.
Next morning Cara woke up early and saw Denna still sleeping. She slowly moved over and pulled the sheets better on Denna. She looked at her white skin and caressed it, gently, her hair and her back, gave a kiss, saw her closed eyes and her smile. It was time for Cara to move on but she knew very well that they would meet again. And she didn't hear what Denna whispered to just when she closed the door: "You won this time Cara, but one day I'm gonna get you!"
