August 25, 1300BCE
The city of Byzantium roared with life as the street vendors, the common people, children gathered on the streets--their eyes glinting with admiration as they watched the military parade, their brave soldiers, head up, walking with pride--Knowing exactly what's coming for them.
They cheered and waved chanting slogans--Soon, some stopped to their loved ones--Wives bid their husbands goodbye, newlyweds & lovers, clung to each other, hands intertwining, eyes hollow--Knowing this may or may not be the last time they will see each other.
Admits the environment--Slav stood, his gaze low as he watched his fellow soldiers bid farewell to their families--He then saw mothers kissing their son's temple in assurance--Their eyes swelled up with unshed tears--As root--like hands grazed with the young ones, they couldn't cry because is there anything that could give a mother pride than having a son sacrificing himself for the nation? certainly not.
Soon, after exchanging hugs and kisses--The soldiers began marching --their swords glued to their hands--Hearts bleeding--As none dared to turn back.
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Out of the city--Far in the fields in a tiny--full house, looking out the window was Eleanor--her gaze wandering, dazed, as her palms slipped away from her cheek--She sighed, "Maybe he wouldn't come" she murmured, then got up. She then turned to the window one more time--Her eyes desperately darting--then she reached for the curtains--just as she was about to close it--Eleanor! a deep voice emerged from outside.
She quickly looked out--Her lips curled as her eyes met with that same insufferable striking pair of eyes. Flaytus... she breathed.
He stared at her from outside, his lips unknowingly curled--He then got of his horse--soon she emerged from the house--her steps, fast yet coy.
She then finally stood in front of him--Her fingers gripping the edge of her sleeve--Though he noticed something else within her--Her fiery hair, how it fluttered against the wind--And her eyes which seemed to be never leaving his--As she stepped in closer.
Flaytus's heart thudded hard against his ribs--though he didn't move--He then felt her fingers grazing his cloak--Lingering just there. You came...she murmured, voice low.
He nodded--Of course, how could I not? She shot him a look of mock surprise--Her lips then curled into a soft smile.
Flaytus then went in closer.
-I will come back for you... he murmured before he could stop himself. his voice low, reassuring.
Then she glanced up at him--Her eyes questioning--As she met his gaze, her lips quivering, who am I to you, Flaytus? she asked, her voice cracking slightly.
He stared at her dumfounded--"Flaytus" she called him.
Soon a droplet of water clung to her lashes--As it began to rain heavily.
They stood their staring at each other--One in defiance drowning the other in silence.
Flaytus gaze then became unreadable--As if he was trying to mask something he didn't wants her to know, his voice became barely a whisper: "Kindness" he murmured. not believing his own words. Eleanor shook her head internally--Really...? that was it? she asked, her voice pressing.
Flaytus gazed at her as he found himself at loss for words--This was Flaytus--the commander of the Byzantine army--Son of emperor Augustus--The possible heir to the throne--The fierce warrior who had waged hundreds if not thousands of wars and had delivered countless of speeches that had helped boost the morale of his soldiers under any circumstances--But now, now he seemed tongue-tied at the mere gaze of a women--A slave women who acquire no power, not in status--But in something else...
"Soul" that was it.
Flaytus turned--His hands tightening the hold of his sword--as he then walked to his horse--Without uttering another word, he got on top of it--Then lashing the horse--it sprinted.
Eleanor gazed at him as he went--Every time she had asked him or thought about it--This was him, always without an answer.
Her jaw clenched slightly, whatever it is--She had to know it, her gaze then fell to her ring once again, clasping it.
Maybe, one day he will come, her husband Vojislav--Her blue gaze fluttered up the sky shutting her eyes as the droplets of rain trickled down her neck--"He will come"