Chapter 14 of the Dreaming.
Please note: I have rewritten this chapter, because the previous one seemed too rushed, and it seemed unlikely for Serafina to move one to another man that quickly.
Although, yes, she is a very curious person, I do not think one is capable of being too curious. That is all.
LoneWolfofAForgottenForest: But is she really? We might never know...Thank you for the compliment, however, the school has yet to fully prepare for the new semester. Many are still absent, including those from the Literature Circle, which is why I have the time to finish a new chapter :)
Wanwan Chan: When you are in love, especially if it is true and deep, you disregard whatever your other half may be. Like Serafina's parents, it does not matter if you are rich or poor when you are in love. But since this also involves an inexperienced Ezio Auditore, we may never know if he fully comprehends the meaning of love. I hope my explanation has relieved you of your troubles :)
Canto XIV
"Are you unharmed Signorina Serafina?" inquired Mario, he and the young lady had been sauntering towards the villa, after handing the medical supplies to the injured soldiers. "I am perfectly well sir, though shaken, I am unharmed," replied Serafina, and added, "What of Ezio? Did he know of the attack?" Mario shook his head at her confidently, telling her that he sent him on a mission while she had gone. She was grateful at least, she did not like having him worry about her well-being from time to time, and it was sometimes troublesome for her to do normal tasks with him constantly checking on her. Mario requested Serafina not to speak of this incident to his nephew, and she agreed, although she could not help but ask him why. He said he did not want Ezio to be bothered during his training, and it was important that he finishes it on time.
Serafina bows her head in thanks, and ambles into the villa to give out the gifts Claudia and Maria might like. Though Maria could not speak, she smiled, and lightly patted Serafina's shoulder. The next day, Claudia, and a group of workers, began their job in the garden, and Serafina had spoken with the villa's horticulturist, Messer Lucas. He was glad to have been called into the country house once again, he utterly despised how masculine the town was, and he thanked the two young women for their splendor.
The dead shrubberies were dug out of the earth, and were placed into wagons; they might as well be used for cooking, and the fireplace, especially. Replacing them were mulberry saplings and cypress, as for the flowers, only the roses and daffodils arrived. Messer Lucas explains that it was difficult to order tulips, however, fresh ones were available in nearby cities.
Serafina did not want to repeat the same event, and so she settled with what they have instead. A pity, it would have been lovely to see them in person. The girls also engaged in small farming, by making their own cabbage and carrot patches. Claudia was disgusted at first, having to crawl on her knees, and to get her hands dirty with soil. Serafina softly chuckled at her ranting; she was already filling each plot with cabbage stalks, often inquiring the farmers about their livelihood.
They assisted each other in their labor, till a young crofter assisted Serafina in carrying a basket full of broccoli shoots. She had noticed that he was a handsome man, and was possibly near Ezio's age. He had short curly dark hair, opaque eyes, and sun-kissed skin. Like all male workers, he was wearing a simple chemise shirt, tucked in his dark hoses, and grimy goatskin boots. He gladly took the woven basket from her and did the chore himself.
"You seem like you do not want me to help," said Serafina, while walking back to the garden. "Oh no Signorina, I merely wish to aid you in this bountiful task. Forgive me if you find my gestures offensive," he stated. She was charmed by his courteous manner, her cheeks lightly turned pink at his intelligible response, and she asked him for his name. "It is Oliviero Bernagno, at your service Signorina Serafina." She thanked him, and allowed him to go on his way. She returned to the villa, not surprised to see Claudia dabbing a damp cloth across her forehead, and sat down on a chair close to her. Constantina gave them some biscuits and sweet wine, and went back into the kitchens.
"I never knew farming was this difficult than writing on a book," said Claudia, drawly. Serafina sipped a bit of wine from her cup, quietly agreeing to the older girl's statement.
"True," she said, "but at least we know who tends to the food we eat everyday."
They kept silent for a moment, and Claudia spoke again. "Who was that man you were conversing deeply with?" she inquired, "He appeared very captivated in your little dialogue."
Serafina smiled, yet she remained quiet, pretending her companion never mentioned him. She did not know how impatient Claudia was, and almost suffered in her irritable prodding as to who the handsome man was, Serafina explained that he was just a farm boy, and that his name was Lucas. The Auditore maiden raises an elegant brow at her, and casts an eye over the focus of their tête-à-tête. He was well-built, she said, and perhaps he could please any woman, much like Ezio. Serafina, again, blushed at her choice of words, saying it was rude to speak of something that has not been established.
"Do you wish to prove it then?" cried Claudia, "Or do you wish for me to do it myself?" Really, Claudia acted just like her older brothers! But it could not be blamed, they were her family after all, and it should not surprise her if she ever does the same activities. Serafina cleared her throat forcefully, not wanting to dwell in such a topic any longer. She was displeased, the following day, to find Ezio absent in the villa. She asked Mario where his nephew was, and he explained that the mission took longer than he had expected. She sighed, and when she was about to return to her room, Mario asked her:
"Serafina, are you well educated?" She nodded once, and allowed the condottiero to continue. "Ah, bene, you see this town has long been deprived of the outside riches since its wars against Florentines and others, the children are lacking basic edification, and if does not bother you—" "Of course, I'll teach them everything I know of, but, Signore Mario, the only problem are the books needed." Mario chuckled, lightly patting her back before asking her to accompany him somewhere in the villa. She trailed after him without question, silently staying by his side till they reached a door at the end of the hall, at the second level of the building. Mario pulled out his Master's key, and unlocked the door himself. To Serafina's surprise, it was a vast library, and it had books according to subject and age. Mario explained that his grandfather was an avid reader as well, and that he kept hundreds of books to keep himself occupied during his 'peaceful' days.
"I hope you find these books enough to fill the brain of a child," he said. "Yes," said Serafina, "They're enough alright. When shall I start teaching them?" "Tomorrow, at least, so they may have a good start."
For the rest of the day, Serafina busied herself in planning and studying. The gardens are a good place to be in, the fresh country air will do well for the young ones, and she will also keep an eye on the renovation. She was happy, though she missed the Florentine children she had educated, while still living within the walls of Florence. These were sons and daughters of farmers, they know only little, and with their current budget, they do not even have simple books to read.
In the succeeding day, Serafina stepped out wearing yesterday's chemise gown, a stiff violet kirtle, and a lilac overgown with dark purple lining along the neckline, and the sleeves, which were also lilac, were tied to the gown with the use of ribbons. Her hair was simply tied to a tail, she did not have to look grand in front of her students, the very thought of the term made her heart jump.
Serafina waited underneath the shade of the enclosure, and saw the children coming up to their very first classroom; she sighed deeply, and cautiously approached them with a smile. The children, all under the age of twelve, greeted her formally. She asked them if they could speak proper Italian, to her dismay, only a few know of their own language. Some spoke in the Tuscan dialect. Serafina brought out her own chalk, and began to write on the chalkboard provided for her, then asked them to recite what was written.
As they spoke, she spotted one that opened his mouth, but could not clearly speak the words. Serafina came up to him, and inquired his name. He was Cirino, the youngest son of one of the mercenaries, and he confessed that he did not know how to read. He could barely even read the words, if they didn't just fly about all the time. Serafina pitifully smiled at him, he was in most need of attention, and she told him to see her after class. She even taught the children about the mythological stories and accounts, and showed them a small map of the countries.
They were attentive, to say the least, and they were quite eager. Serafina enjoyed looking into their smiling faces, and when class was over, they were reluctant to leave. She had asked Cirino to help her carry the books back to the library, however, the child was nervous to enter Signore Mario's home. She assured him nothing would go wrong, she carried her own set of books, and he carried another, together they went inside and then upstairs. Cirino kept admiring the interior decoration of the home, and was even more astonished to see the library, much like Serafina.
Once she had settled the books into their correct places, she took out a book about Greek poetry and epics, and requested him to sit with her on the couch near the windows. Cirino sat comfortably next to her, and they read the story of the Trojan War.
"And when the citizens of Troy opened their gates, they nearly stepped back to see a wooden horse, as tall as a mountain, standing in front of them, with dark eyes penetrating their souls." Serafina turned to another page, Cirino was now lying on her lap, his eyes stared intently into the pages of the book. "So they brought all their men to deliver their trophy into their city, they celebrated, everyone was happy, but little did they know, there was something lurking inside of it!" Cirino gasped, turning to look at Serafina.
"What was it Signorina?" he inquired eagerly. Serafina had quietly closed her book, and settled it on the window sill. "We will know of that, tomorrow, it is nearly sunset my dear, go and rest, and we shall have a new activity again." The boy sighed, and got off her lap, she escorted him out of the villa, and watched as he ran home to his parents. At the exact time, Ezio appeared by the stairwell, and dodged the young boy as he did. He looked at Serafina with a raised brow, and she merely crossed her arms, and smiled.
"What have you been doing while I have been gone?" he inquired her. "Teaching, oh don't worry, I've been educating children back in Florence before we even met, I know I was younger than they were, but I wanted to inform them of a few things, and it earned me a few coins," she explained. "Really? If we had met sooner, you could have taught Petruccio a little or two, he was pulled out of school due to his illness," said Ezio, and they strolled in the front yard a little more.
"What kind of illness did he have?" Serafina inquired him. "We do not know the source, the dottore tells us it is unknown, and he even told us he might die if not attended. He was ironically right, in some way." She looked into his solemn gaze, and saw the depression in his dark eyes, he was still shaken from the death of his father and brothers, and he had done everything he could to save them. Serafina placed her hand on his chest, and he gazed into her eyes. She smiled at him, although, pitifully, and led him back to his room in the attic, and spent the evening with him.
Serafina awoke, feeling something warm leaning on her bare back, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Ezio, his strong arm was wrapped around her waist, and his face snuggled close to her nape. His breath tickled her slightly, and she quietly got out of bed. Before, it was always him leaving her in the early morning, and it was she who begged him to stay. But, she knew he never will stay. Serafina slipped into her chemise gown and kirtle, she was already tying the laces when she was suddenly lifted up from the floor, and found herself on the bed again. Ezio had somewhat grabbed her from behind, and brought her back to his favorite place. She scolded him for surprising her, and sighed when he kissed her shoulder affectionately.
"Ezio, please, I must help Constantina and the others prepare breakfast." She managed to push him off her, yet ended up in a position she would later regret. "Well then," said Ezio, his voice ever so low and seductive, "Why don't you help me prepare myself for the day?" He leaned up, tracing his lips on her exposed neck, Serafina let out a small moan, and tried to move away. "That is not very inviting Signore," she replied. She felt his hands slipping underneath her clothing, and her cheeks grew hot at the familiar contact. What was she to do? He barely had any attire on, and she was two skirts away, she was easy prey.
Serafina ran her own porcelain hands down his chest, and returned his kisses. She felt his manhood awakening beneath her, and without a moment to lose, Ezio slipped into her. Serafina instantly wrapped her arms around his neck, Ezio held her firmly, lifting her up and down on his pride, and searched for that spot she loved the most. Serafina could not contain her moans any longer, and released an audible one; she swore the whole villa might have heard it.
Ezio chuckled, and decided to join in her lovely melody. When they finally climaxed, Serafina and Ezio quickly turned their attention to the thundering footsteps approaching the bedroom. It was Serafina who first leaped out of bed, and threw Ezio's breeches into his face. She was disoriented a little, by the time the door burst open, revealing a disturbed Claudia running up the stairs, the two were already fully dressed, with Ezio helping Serafina to tie the laces of her overgown.
"What was that noise I just heard a few moments ago?" she questioned both of them. Serafina, who was holding up her long hair, glanced over to Ezio, and he replied with a grin. "It was nothing, my dear sister, Serafina and I were merely playing a game!" he explained. Claudia would not take his excuse, and demanded what had really transpired between them. Not wanting to embarrass Serafina, and himself, particularly, Ezio elucidated it to her in the most sincere, and innocent method.
His younger sister sighed, accepting whatever had occurred, but warned them to quiet down or she will have Uncle Mario to check on them. Serafina laughed, though she blushed madly at her serious joke, she turned to Ezio, lightly kissing him on the lips, and went downstairs to fix breakfast.