Approximately five years ago....
"You've been grieving the Admiral's departure for weeks now, Dianthe."
"Is that what you think I'm doing?" the girl asked, her face turned toward the sea, a cool evening breeze stirring the long silken mane of dark hair that fell to her waist.? She'd locked herself away in the guest quarters since the day he'd left, unwilling to part with the memory of him just yet, though she knew they'd come for her eventually, to return her to her studies, her training, her life.? It had only been a month since the Admiral's departure, though to Dianthe, it had seemed like a lifetime.
"I know it is," the man replied, setting his hands upon the girl's shoulders and turning her gently to face him.? "You love him, yes?"? He watched as her face revealed her heart, golden brown eyes pooling with tears, and he sighed.? Ever since the Admiral's arrival, he'd anticipated this, knew it was inevitable, and yet, it was not easy for him to witness his daughter's pain.
"Oh, Father," the girl cried, burying her face against his white robed chest.? "I fear I shall never see him again."
The man sighed again as he took his daughter in his arms, stroking the long mane of dark hair with a hand.? Despite several wives and mistresses, she was his only child, and her happiness and welfare had always been his utmost concern.? "I believe you made quite an impression on the good Admiral, Dianthe.? I am quite certain you will see him again."
The girl lifted her golden eyes to regard him, her face wet with tears, hope stirring in her heart.? "How can you be so sure?"
He gently brushed the tears from her face.? Despite her training, she was still very young, barely sixteen years.? It wrenched his heart to see her this way, and yet, he knew it was for the best.? "You must trust me, Dianthe," he answered her softly.
"I do, but...."
"He loves you in his own way. He just doesn't know it yet."
"What shall I do, Father?? I miss him so."
"Continue your training, and when you are through, I will send for the good Admiral."
"But what if he doesn't come?? What if...."
The man laid a finger to his daughter's lips to quiet her doubts.? "I would have you live with hope in your heart, not despair.? You must trust the gods to guide you, Dianthe, and to keep the Admiral safe."
The girl nodded obediently, though her heart was aching.? "I shall try, Father.? I promise."
Lysander smiled down at his only daughter and folded her protectively in his arms to hold her close.? "You must do more than try, daughter, and I shall pray the gods have mercy on us both."
"You've been grieving the Admiral's departure for weeks now, Dianthe."
"Is that what you think I'm doing?" the girl asked, her face turned toward the sea, a cool evening breeze stirring the long silken mane of dark hair that fell to her waist.? She'd locked herself away in the guest quarters since the day he'd left, unwilling to part with the memory of him just yet, though she knew they'd come for her eventually, to return her to her studies, her training, her life.? It had only been a month since the Admiral's departure, though to Dianthe, it had seemed like a lifetime.
"I know it is," the man replied, setting his hands upon the girl's shoulders and turning her gently to face him.? "You love him, yes?"? He watched as her face revealed her heart, golden brown eyes pooling with tears, and he sighed.? Ever since the Admiral's arrival, he'd anticipated this, knew it was inevitable, and yet, it was not easy for him to witness his daughter's pain.
"Oh, Father," the girl cried, burying her face against his white robed chest.? "I fear I shall never see him again."
The man sighed again as he took his daughter in his arms, stroking the long mane of dark hair with a hand.? Despite several wives and mistresses, she was his only child, and her happiness and welfare had always been his utmost concern.? "I believe you made quite an impression on the good Admiral, Dianthe.? I am quite certain you will see him again."
The girl lifted her golden eyes to regard him, her face wet with tears, hope stirring in her heart.? "How can you be so sure?"
He gently brushed the tears from her face.? Despite her training, she was still very young, barely sixteen years.? It wrenched his heart to see her this way, and yet, he knew it was for the best.? "You must trust me, Dianthe," he answered her softly.
"I do, but...."
"He loves you in his own way. He just doesn't know it yet."
"What shall I do, Father?? I miss him so."
"Continue your training, and when you are through, I will send for the good Admiral."
"But what if he doesn't come?? What if...."
The man laid a finger to his daughter's lips to quiet her doubts.? "I would have you live with hope in your heart, not despair.? You must trust the gods to guide you, Dianthe, and to keep the Admiral safe."
The girl nodded obediently, though her heart was aching.? "I shall try, Father.? I promise."
Lysander smiled down at his only daughter and folded her protectively in his arms to hold her close.? "You must do more than try, daughter, and I shall pray the gods have mercy on us both."