The days that followed Hera's visit were filled with torment for Cilla. She had to keep an eye open for any new faces, yet she also had to take care of her own health. Aside from those she was also now faced with being escorted by Biton around. This was the first time they were left alone. It was a chance for him to size her up once more as a wife. He had called her to his home and now walked her through a lush garden. The grounds were beautifully kept and the courtyard alone could swallow up the garden she had grown up knowing. Biton droned on and on about the government, city state of affairs, and other such chatter. She understood none of it and believed he only spoke now to hear himself speak. Every once in awhile he would probe her for an answer, then ponder on her answer. She guessed she answered correctly since he would nod and continue on with his words. Finally she got a chance to breathe as one of his servants called him away.

On the breath of a sigh, Cilla prayed her twisting thoughts would but still for only a moment. What was she to do? The marriage to Biton only seemed to be getting closer and closer and she feared not finding Hephaestus before Lady Hera lost her patience and punished her. All she had to do is locate him and report to Hera what he was doing… It wasn't so bad. She wasn't dooming him to death or anything. She simply had to report… And then she would have a fine husband and able to bare children. Everything would work out.

"Lady Cilla, the lord has requested I escort you home." A muscular man in uniform approached her, hand over his chest, with his upper body bowed down just slightly.

"Oh? Alright." She stood and allowed the man to show her out. She had to admit she was a bit relieved. Biton wasn't a bad man, but he took no real interest in her nor she him. They both were just using each other.

Back at home she changed from a decorated peplos to a simple and light chitin. She wrapped a himation around her shoulders before stepping out into their courtyard. She needed to think of an excuse to go into town. Something that would allow her to see most of the town and look for Hephaestus. She stopped at the entrance to her home. Her stomach knotted as she thought of how Hera had described her own son. Was he really so monstrous?

"Miss?" The gentle voice drifted to her easily. Turning her head, Cilla saw a now familiar sight of a tattered cape. Without realizing she smiled brightly at Heron. "You are not with your brothers today?"

"No. They are both with father.I had just been returned from a courtship affair and was thinking of going into town for some…. Fish." Yes that seemed like a good excuse. All she needed now was an escort, for an unwed woman should never be alone.

"May I join you?" The tilt of his head alongside the question made Cilla chuckle slightly. He was like a lost pup waiting for a treat. She almost automatically said yes, but common sense nipped at her. She may know this man's job and name, but she did not know him. Still… She had to locate Hephaestus as requested.

"That would be lovely." She smiled warmly at him, causing him to stare in a silent awe. It stunned him that she still did not flee from his sight or recoil though he knows she has seen his scarring. The happiness it brought kept bringing him back among the mortals despite the chidding he would get once more if he was found gone. Hesitantly he offered her his arm. When she paused to study it a ball rose in his throat. A clear scar had peeked out from under the fabric and he worried it would bother her, but after a moment she took his arm and allowed him to lead her.

Her warmth felt nice and he could smell a faint wisp of flowers. He kept careful track of where they were walking while also flickering his sights to her. Taking in her profile as her own eyes seemed to search every passersby. He noted how much smaller she was than him. The top of her head only coming about mid chest on him. She was of small frame as well, but he could also see the curve of her waist hidden slightly beneath her attire. Why was he paying so much attention to these details of her? Why did they seem to matter in his mind?

"What fish are you looking for?"

"Hm?" The lull of her voice as she looked at him from the corner of her eyes made his thoughts stop for a moment. She waited patiently for his reply, however.

"You said… you were coming for fish?"

"Oh! Yes right...I'm not sure. Someone requested I searched for one I had never heard of before." Her eyes quickly went back to their wandering and they continued on in silence. He didn't mind it though. He realized quickly the silence while with her wasn't maddening like the silence in his home. Here he was content to be in it.

Time had passed too quickly and the sun had begun to set and send streaks of saffron and poppy colors across the sky. The pair had stopped on the outskirts of the town where Cilla had taken a seat on the ground. She attempted to keep her composure, however her breathing had become hard and she could feel pain starting to seep into her body. She was nearly a fifteen minute walk from her home and she knew she wouldn't be able to make it. The pain would only grow. Trying to keep her breathing even she looked up at Heron. He was patiently waiting for her. She could see the worry in his two toned eyes, however. Forcing herself to smile she attempted to dismiss him. "Please head home. I am but a short walk from mine and should be fine on my own now."

Shaking his head he moved a step closer. "Your breathing has become more and more labored as we walked. Was trying to find a fish this important?"

She sighed. "It's very important to my family yes… but I couldn't find it. I'm not sure what… my mother was talking about. No fish like that could be found in this city."

Silence fell upon them. Cilla didn't know what to do. She has yet to notice any new faces let alone one that was- her train of thought screeched to a halt as she looked up at the man before her. He was a new face to her and he had said he was a smith. From where she sat she could see his face clearly, no fabric obscuring her view. The scar on his cheek she had seen the first night was jagged and she could faintly see dots along the edges where it looked like it had been crudely stitched. Another scar wrapped around his neck. She also remembered the one poking out of his cloak earlier. Did he have more? Hera had mentioned a scarred body.

Her brows furrowed as she debated with herself. The Queen had said he was monsteros. Ugly. However, the man before her was anything but. He had tanned olive skin, broad shoulders, squared jaw and sculpted nose and cheeks framed with earthy brown hair. And those eyes. Breathtaking by any means and so unusual. Though this man wasn't how Hera describbed, Cilla wondered. "Hephaestus?"

Silence swirled around them as they stared at each other. She would have pondered about being wrong if the pain within her didn't swell. She jerked her gaze from his and clutched at her stomach. Her breathing became more ragged and her head began to swirl. She had pushed her body too far all to look for a god. Even thinking it to herself made her sound crazy. Placing a hand on her head to try and clear her mind she looked up to Heron once more. "Please. Help me home."