Chapter 5

Two months since Raphael appeared...

He had barely recovered from his injuries.

Cassandra was walking with Raphael. She had agreed to give him a tour of the Greek village. She said it was for letting him understand their culture better. But secretly, Cassandra was just looking for an excuse to get to know him better. Raphael had been agonizing over whether to make the first move, but when Cassandra opened this opportunity, he was surprised. It came as a help to him, as Raphael wasn't sure if he could muster up his courage to ask her out. But as he was totally unfamiliar with the place, he wouldn't know where to take her. Cassandra, on the other hand, thought Raphael didn't understand her intentions. Anxious to develop a relationship, but unwilling to hasten herself, she gathered up her inner strength to invite him on a tour.

"Here is our bakery..." said Cassandra, her voice quavering just slightly. She stole glances at Raphael at every chance, afraid he would spot her. Raphael was looking at her from the corner of his eyes intermittently, trying to disguise the fact he was looking at her. "A pleasant place." the Frenchman said in fluent Greek. Cassandra's French was picking up, but they focused on Greek as the main conversing language. "The décor is attractive." he said, trying to force some conversation. His tongue seemed like it kept sticking to the roof of his mouth. The fencer attempted vainly to moisten his lips, but they remained dry. God, she's beautiful...he thought, stealing another look. An attractive blue ribbon tied up the hair at the back of her hair nicely, emphasizing the glory of the hair hanging down the back. Her blonde hair glistened in the sunlight, the random strands hanging down the sides of her face added to her natural beauty. Her face was fair, and free of any blemishes. Raphael liked her green eyes the most though. He thought they were exquisitely unique. Raphael's face started to grow hot.

"My sister did it up," Cassandra answered, immediately angry at herself for speaking so abruptly. "She's...um...quite good at decorating places..."her voice trailed off as words slowed to a trickle.

She noticed, not for the first time, Raphael was stunningly good-looking.

Cassandra brought Raphael around the village as Raphael tried to memorize the locations of recreational outlets and restaurants. They might come in handy next time...he thought.

Cassandra invited Raphael to lunch at an inn, where the food was moderately priced. "I think I'll have horta (boiled greens)," Raphael announced to the underpaid waiter.

"May I have an omehletah (omelet)?" Cassandra asked pleasantly. The waiter nodded, and walked towards the kitchens.

Suddenly, Raphael produced an Anemone flower. "Here, please accept this gift," he said, squirming just slightly.

Cassandra was touched. "Thank you," she whispered while taking the flower gently. "Where did you find it?"

"I erm, spent six days looking for something like this. I heard the legend behind it..."Raphael's voice trailed off, and he looked embarrassed. Cassandra knew it only too well.
The name of anemone plant is connected with the ancient myth, telling the famous love story between Adonis and Aphrodite. This specific myth inspired great poets like Ovidius or, much later, Shakespeare, to compose hymns dedicated to love, but we will only quote the part related to the flower. According to this myth, when Adonis lived with Aphrodite, the two lovers would go hunting in the woods. As Adonis chased game through the forest, the goddess would follow closely behind, in her swan-driven chariot, dressed as a huntress. Aphrodite's ex-lover, the god of war Ares, grew jealous of her affair with the mortal. While his rival was hunting alone, Ares disguised himself as a boar and attacked Adonis causing him lethal injuries.Adonis used his spear to strike back to Ares, but was soon gored to death by the boar's great tusks. Aphrodite hurried to Adonis in her chariot, but his soul had already descended into the Underworld. In despair, she sprinkled nectar on Adonis' wounds. As Aphrodite bore her lover's body out of the woods, crimson anemones sprung up where each drop of blood and nectar fell onto the earth. It is said that that the wind which blows the blossoms open, will soon afterwards blow the petals away; so it is called the Anemone, or Wind Flower, for that which brings forth its life, ends it.

When the meal had ended, Cassandra felt empty. She wanted so badly to extend the stroll, but she was at a loss at where to go.

"Cassandra, do you know how to ride a horse?" the question appeared out of Raphael's lips, stunning her slightly.

"Um...no," she replied. He'll probably be disappointed I can't ride with him!

"If you'd like it, I could teach you," Raphael offered, a hint of desperation in his tones. He wanted to extend the day so badly.

Cassandra blushed slightly. "Please do!" she said.

"This is a saddle. It's what you to sit upon. And this thing here, it's called a stirrup, to support your foot when you're riding. Why don't you try mounting first? It's an essential part of horse-riding," Raphael coached patiently.

Cassandra hesitated, and then swung her leg over the horse; she almost lost her balance, but caught herself. Raphael had stirred, his hands half-raised, but she had managed to stumble back onto her feet. "Argh," Cassandra said in playful frustration. Raphael smiled and told her to try again.

Cassandra this time put her foot in the stirrup, and hauled herself onto the horse's back. She was positioned on the saddle, and Raphael began coaxing the horse to move forward slightly. Cassandra held on to the reins tightly, her fists clenched.

Raphael couldn't help but stare at her beautiful face, glistening with determination. The horse's clip-clopping of the hooves was rhythmic, clattering in a pattern. Raphael attuned his senses to the beauty of it, his love riding upon a beauty of a horse.

Just then, the horse just went a little faster, and Cassandra started. The horse was going faster, with little control exerted by its rider. "Ahh!" she gave a slight yelp of surprise. Raphael watched in horror as she slipped off the saddle and fell. In an almost lightning quick motion, Raphael's hands shot out, in the same position they had been earlier on, and he squared them perfectly to catch Cassandra gently as she fell. One hand was scooped around her neck, and the other was supporting her waist. Her feet were just brushing the ground. Raphael and Cassandra could both feel the tension wrapped in coils of spring, as they waited, both in an exalted moment of perfection. It was an awkward position, but both looked tenderly into the other's eyes. Beads of perspiration formed at Cassandra's cheeks. Raphael brushed her hair to the side and tucked it under an ear. She looked absolutely wondrous.

Raphael leaned in, and Cassandra closed her eyes in anticipation. She waited...

Cliffy! Don't kill me!