Author's Note: It's been a while, hasn't it? You wouldn't think it would take much effort to post something that's already been written, but...well, I'm a lazy bugger. That's all there is to it. However, I happen to be a lazy bugger in university who puts her work first, so...I suppose I can reasonably beg for forgiveness? Maybe?

Disclaimer: I own neither Othello nor this chapter; this is a Jess chapter.

Emilia stopped in her footsteps, the smile melting from her countenance. He had detected it-the infinitesimal seed of discontentment that she had buried, somewhat unintentionally, within the soil of her words. Now she began to fear what terrible thorned weed she had sown in her carelessness.

"You mistake me," Emilia said, furrowing her brow slightly. "If I may be allowed to object, I simply stated a mere sentiment of mine, which I do claim was honest-more honest than what I might dare to share with you in commonplace-and it was you who turned my words on their head to find some defect in me. I never gave you cause for this sudden rush of unhappy choler-or if I did, in faith, I did not mean to." She paused, and then stepping forward, clasped Iago's hands in her own.

"Come, come, my tired warrior, my indomitable Iago," she said, lifting her fingers to stroke his cheek. "Talk we of blame? We both are too unyielding. I blame you, then you blame I, and I, then you, then you and I and I and you once more-there shall never be an end and we will be all the more exhausted for it. Let not us quarrel...or if we do, let it be in jest, but please...I do not wish to be your adversary."

She let her fingers glide softly back and forth over his skin, examining the stormy eyes. She wondered if she might kiss him and thus remedy him of his acerbity, but in the deepest part of her heart she felt that perhaps it would be more safe to refrain from doing so. To kiss him now would be to entrust her lips to a lion's jowl-she did not know if he was tame, or if the action should aggravate him and make her but his prey.

I'd love some reviews on this piece of work, if you guys would be willing to oblige a desperate author. :)