I do not own 300 or anything affiliated with it. In addition, yes, the paring will be revealed in the next three chapters. See if you can pick it out.
Part 10
Winona awoke to the stench and sound of death. Black crows cawed and swooped in and out of her vision, the scent lingering in her nostrils, causing her to gag. Scrambling up, Winona hurried to the edge of the camp throwing up the small amount of contents that was left in her stomach after the previous night's activity. Again, she felt hands smoothing her hair back and rubbing circles on her lower back. Looking up, Dilios gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Unfortunately you get used to the smell." He informed her quietly while braiding her hair out of her face.
"I wouldn't think a soldier would know how to braid a woman's hair." Winona said roughly, trying to take her mind off the death around her.
"My wife was frequently sick." He told her softly. "Often she would be in bed and I would brush her hair away from her face. She died giving birth to my son. Daimos is now in his third year of the Agoge."
"So he is ten now?" she asked, sitting against a tree, looking at the red haired man in front of her.
He nodded, a sad look crossing his face. "I miss taking care of a woman. Not the illness, but being able to comfort a woman, being able to protect and love them. Even though I have my son, I still feel lonely." Winona leant over and squeezed his hand gently.
"You have a very kind heart, Dilios. Any woman you choose to love would be the luckiest woman alive." She said heartfelt. "I envy that woman."
Feeling a blush steal over her cheeks, Winona ducked her head and looked at her hands. Dilios smiled softly, his eyes soft and tender. "I have not found a woman yet that would be able to cope with me going off to battle."
"The Sweetest thought,
I had it all,
'Cause I did
Let you go.
All our moments
Keep me warm
When you're gone," Winona sang softly, smiling gently. "Before my brother died, he went to war, leaving his fiancé alone. I used to hear her sing that when she missed him the most. She was the most amazing singer and would have been a fantastic sister in law if my brother survived. Stellios reminds me so much of him." She ducked her head sadly.
Dilios used a finger to lift her chin so that Winona was looking in his eyes. "You are the most amazingly brave woman I have ever met. Yet your beauty can bring a man to his knees. I think you are very strong, allowing yourself to be close to Stellios, despite how much he reminds you of your brother. May I ask for his name?" Winona's mouth was open in shock because of his words.
"G-Gerry Ziggeronikis," she stuttered, her face red.
He smiled and offered her back, which he had dropped behind him when he noticed Winona was vomiting. Giving him a nod, she walked slowly to the stream where Astinos had shown her a few days previous. Glancing over her shoulder, Winona studied Dilios quickly before turning her head and steadfastly looking in front of her.
The red haired man was tender, soft-spoken and incredibly compassionate, yet, when faced with an adversary, he was fierce as an animal. Not like a wolf that Leonidas took after, more like a lion defending his territory. Dilios was terrifying, agile and battle scared; he was a veteran who knew how to bring down his foe. Nevertheless, she noticed characteristics that bridged the two juxtapositions of his personality, his passion, his wit and his loyalty and willingness to protect.
He was a man; nothing but pure male and that in itself caught Winona's eye. Never having the time for submissive men, Winona frequently cast her eyes on men that she knew could protect and dominate while still taking care of her like a man should a woman.
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