AN: Red's the theme. Oh my, so many things come to mind...
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Having left the feast before the pig was finished, Sora asked if dinner was still available in the kitchen.
The innkeeper said he would send up some food.
In the meantime, Sophie's knees were cleaned and her dirty dress taken off. Still in her petticoat, the little girl patiently waited on the bed as Sora rummaged through their bag for a change of clothes. She blinked upon feeling something metallic, but decided against pulling it out. She'll catch cold without some clothes. The nights were still a little chilly.
When she pulled on a creamy sleeve, she took it out completely, having finally found a sleeping gown.
"Alright little one, lift your arms for me."
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The food came and dinner consisted of cold turkey, some bread with cheese, and potato soup.
Sophie ate a little, but she didn't have much of an appetite.
With nothing else for her to do for Sophie except to put her to bed, Sora grabbed the comb on the dresser and sat behind her on the bed. The comb went through her fine, wavy hair. Sora's fingers went through the locks after the comb for any tangles.
"You have soft hair," Sora murmured as she fell into a rhythm.
Comb, run fingers through. Comb, run fingers through.
"Thank you," came Sophie's sleepy response.
The room fell into silence. Faintly, Sora could hear the chirping of the crickets outside as it grew later into the night. I wonder how much longer Leon will be. Surely whatever he had to do couldn't take too longer. He was a visitor to this town, after all.
"Miss Sora?"
"Yes Sophie?"
"When will Leon be back?"
"I don't know, little one. But I'm sure he will be back soon." She put the comb down and started to divide Sophie's hair for a braid. "I'll stay until your father returns."
For some reason, that made the girl giggle.
"Leon's not my papa!" Sora's hands withdrew from her hair as Sophie's youthful face turned to her, laughter shining in her blue eyes. "Leon's my big brother!"
Sora blinked very rapidly at the news.
"Oh."
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Once Sophie was tucked into bed, the girl fell fast asleep.
Sora brought the chair in the corner to sit near the bed. Now that she didn't have Sophie to take care of, her mind was abuzz with the night's happenings thus far.
She kissed Leon; he kissed her back.
Leon wasn't Sophie's father-and she kissed him before knowing that little piece of information.
Face aflamed at her forwardness, she started to berate herself for being so hasty but the newer information made her heart lighter, especially since he kissed her as well. A big smile was on her face; she softly giggled to herself with the knowledge that she didn't have to guard her feelings from him anymore.
Stop being so hasty! her mind shouted at her.
"Why the caution?" she questioned herself.
She hadn't heard him say any female names except for Sophie's and then the brief mention of Sophie's mother teaching her good manners. He didn't seem like the type to be stomping about with his little sister when he had a fiancee or wife back at home.
Her giddiness ebbed. Why are two siblings traveling alone?
Were they meeting up with the rest of their family? Or maybe they were looking for a new home, having no other family?
The possibilities were endless.
She thought about the metallic something she found in their travel bag when she was searching for Sophie's sleeping gown. She was tempted to look at it, but her conscience was awake, telling her that it wouldn't be nice of her to do such a thing.
But she was ever so curious about him and Sophie...
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Leon stealthily walked back to his room.
He was frustrated that he broke one of his daggers, but there was nothing else he could do about it. Obviously the scouts' absence would soon be noticed, however, he wasn't sure where the rest of them were exactly. Seeing that the town gates went up at sunset, the scouts were not expected to return anytime soon.
They had at least one full day to leave and relocate.
Not that he knew where they'd go...
He sighed under his breath. He had thought this place was far away enough. They were getting desperate he supposed, which could mean that the battle was nearing its end. He knew his sister would be glad to be home once more.
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The oil lamp gleamed on the the medallion in her hands.
She rapidly blinked at the coat of arms with the lion emblem. The symbol was familiar to her, but she could not put a finger to where exactly. "The lion..."
Her eyes widened in recollection.
Her uncle had mentioned something about the political turmoil in the neighboring kingdom of the House of the Lion. Sophie's polite manners and the way she held her head up like a proper adult instead of a child and then this medallion in their bag. They were the markings of a higher class.
If Sophie was a royal and they were related, then that means...
In the middle of her thinking the door rattled.
She gasped, the sound startling her. Leon had told her to lock the door since he had the spare key and she had the original key. Before she could think to put the medallion away, the door unlocked and Leon's disheveled form greeted her eyes. His short hair was loose and hung along his shoulders. A cut on his cheek had stopped bleeding, but there was still some dried blood from when the wound was first made.
Despite his scruffed up form, she couldn't move on beyond the implications of the medallion.
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AN: 'Red' will be a two parter.