[closed/complete] Characters: Merlin [merlyn] & Hebe [ganymeda] Date/Time: A few days ago before the fights were announced. Location:Their home Rating: PG Warnings: None. Pedobear Summary: Merlin offers Hebe some hope.
Something about the heat didn't sit well with Hebe, who had come to appreciate the breezy material of her dress. She didn't thrive in such heat, but it had grown on her somewhat over the days. New York had seen its warm afternoons, yet this felt different. Perhaps it was owed to the extreme change in scenery.
The goddess of youth had fallen quiet across the days, often drifting into her thoughts and worries. Sweet and kind she remained, but her mind was often elsewhere: on Raven. Raven was a gladiator. No matter how much she did love him, she knew his chances of winning were slim. Even so, even so -- she hoped for that sliver of a chance.
That early afternoon had found her near an open window weaving flowers into her braid, her mind on other things. Mundane things. Raven had yet to cross her mind, but she knew he would eventually.
Waking up married was quite the disaster. Merlin had never been married before (and he certainly had no aspirations to do it any time soon) - yet here he was. To the goddess of youth no less, it was almost like Khaos was mocking his once preference (or not so once but, perhaps that is a story for another time).
Mostly he'd picked to leave Hebe to her own devices, keeping his nose in his affairs and leaving her to her own. In truth, it wasn't that he thought her capable of stabbing him (the notion had pass by, but not stuck) he was more concerned with someone stabbing her because of him. Now, Merlin was not a fan of senseless bloodshed (launching babies into the sea does not count- there were reasons).
By early evening he returned home from the senate and went to check up on Hebe, waiting for an attendant to direct her to where she was. For a moment or two he contemplated her- how young she was. Or at least felt like it. (This was going to be an uncomfortable train of thoughts, Merlin wanted to get off- and not like that).
"Hebe." he made his presence known, smiling and lifting a hand in greeting but moving to make no other gestures. No kissing, no hugging, he did allow himself a light pat on her back. Friendly, alright, nothing creepy here.
To Merlin marriage might've been a nightmare, but Hebe, who knew what it was to be a wife, was less inclined to think so after days of mulling it over. She had been young when given to Heracles, still young when she gave him sons. As far as husbands went, Merlin was not the worst (but she had only ever known one).
His voice sent a chill through her, but not out of fear of him. She knew what he'd done to Morgause's son, knew it and yet still -- she wasn't afraid. Those who were formidable like Minos frightened her, not Merlin. It was Morgause that she feared. How was she meant to keep a secret like that? She had to tell someone, anyone, but her selfishness had taken the reins. Guilt was going to swallow her up the longer Morgause did and said nothing.
But she gave him one of her smiles, not quite turning to face him completely. "How was your day?"
"Exhausting." Merlin gave an exaggerated yawn and propped himself across from her, enjoying the breeze of the afternoon. "Seriously, all that arguing, and nothing to show for so many complaints." It was really frustrating that he couldn't find a king, to give him a destiny and- where was Arthur when he needed him? Frustrating. He shook his head to clear those thoughts.
"More importantly, how is my lovely wife?" He tone was teasing, betraying that he didn't actually meant to take any of this seriously, last thing he wanted was Hebe being skittish around him. Not that Merlin thought he was very frightening at all, but... people. Besides his reputation...might give a bad first impression. But hey! He was not like that (mostly) anymore.
A little color graced Hebe's cheeks, to be hidden as she faced the breeze. Even if it was a tease that she caught onto, any compliments, joke or no, still got to her. She absentmindedly played with the tip of her braid.
"I'm okay. I've been... I've been thinking about the games." About Raven. About Apollo, Artemis, Athena -- her family was fighting and there was no way to support them but sit in an arena surrounded by hundreds of people she didn't know. Her heart ached for them. What use was Hebe, goddess of eternal youth when it came to fighting?
The madman watched her intensely, picking out the fine details of her face, the way her fingertips curled around the end of her braid. "Yeah, have you? Is there someone you are worried about?" Merlin was curious, but he always tended to have his own ulterior motives, he wanted to see if there was someone, and if there was... leverage was always good. Still, he personally thought his wife far too innocent to do anything, looks were deceiving though. He had been tricked before. Never again.
"Or is it simply that you wish to go? I didn't think they were your type of thing." That was not meant unkindly, in fact Merlin's tone was understanding, friendly. "I will be going to quite a few." After all, a few knights were involved. He wanted to watch. "You can come with me - I'd like that - but you don't have to - it does not offend me. Despite what stories say, I can take a no for what it stands for." Besides, he hadn't actually done anything, unlike...most Greeks.
The little goddess sucked in a deep breath. "I don't want to go. But I have to, to support my family," she admitted, eyes following movement through the glass-less window. "My brothers and sisters are fighting. And I'm..." Here, she finished in her mind. Here and useless, unable to provide any comfort for her more powerful, wonderful siblings. She had always paled in comparison to them.
Not wanting to permit the selfish thoughts any longer, she turned them to Raven (but they were still selfish). "And I have a friend who's fighting. His name is Raven."
"I'll accompany you," the offer was sincere, plus it worked quite well since Merlin was planning to attend anyway. "It may be best that you're not alone or unguarded." Alright, so he might have condemned thousands of innocent babies to death, but his stomach felt more than just light guilt when he considered Hebe could be a target for the Orkney faction. Those crazy fucks. Merlin waved the topic aside, if Hebe wished to inquire further, he'd explain, right now hearing about her friend was far more interesting.
"Raven, you say? And is he a slave then?" Kudos if he was, Merlin would purchase him for his young wife. Both a leash and a gift. Merlin always liked those kind of gestures.
The word 'slave' made her stomach flip. Thinking about Raven in danger, in poor care, as a slave or a gladiator or whatever word was easiest to bear -- it pained her, and she knew he would feel the same. She gripped the end of her braid tightly as a light breeze drifted past them.
"He's going to fight, and I can't protect him," she quietly confessed, all of her unease and guilt crashing down on her at once.
There was a certain tension in her fingers, in her. Merlin would have to be blind not to notice it, but he didn't quite know what to make of it. Instead he took her hands, drawing them away from the tip of her braid. "Hey, it will be alright." Even if that was most likely a lie. "Where is your friend now, who owns him?" Treading carefully, Merlin was trying to pry enough information to form conclusions. Theories proven by hypothesis. Numbers and statics always had a comforting certainty- no, he would not let his mind drift off again.
Merlin gave her hands a little squeeze, making sure not to grasp them too tightly, he wasn't going for creepy, just comfort. Quiet encouragement for her to share. The more he knew, the better, why didn't people understand that?
Her eyes met his, lashes already wet with unshed tears. But she wasn't going to cry. She couldn't, wouldn't. "I don't know who owns him. He would have mentioned if someone did. What do I do? How can I help him?"
The idea of someone owning Raven was unsettling. Even now, Hebe didn't quite grasp what it meant. When people owned slaves, didn't that mean they treated them poorly? Was a slave meant to be given proper treatment? Her mind didn't believe it, but her heart hoped for a better outcome.
All Merlin could think of was 'Dear Lord don't let her cry, I have no idea what I would do' and not in a romantic way. More like in a panic, dear-fucking-lord-way. Thankfully she didn't seem to be quite at that stage and so the prophet tried to curb his words and adjust. "Well, I may have a way to help him. It does not fix everything but it should keep him safe for now." While Merlin didn't share Helen's enthusiasm for people shopping, there were advantages to it. Like right now.
Taking a small pause, Merlin went on, "I could see if there is a way to buy him off his current owner. Bring him here, to this house-" you "-though he would still remain a slave, at least here you can be sure he will not be mistreated, beaten, starved or such other things." Emotional blackmail, yup.
Something in Hebe's eyes changed: hope. She had spent so long worrying, all without coming up with any solutions to save Raven. What did that say about her? Guilt washed over her all over again.
"You can do that?" Raven safe and in her care. It was all she wanted.
Merlin gave her a huge smile, "Of course I can." Technically he could, of course if someone else owned him or there were problems... well. Considering how important this was to his wife, Merlin would find a way around it. He needed Raven in his possession. A gesture of trust and goodwill to someone like Hebe- it stood to reason that it would have a deep impact, yes? He'd like to think so. "Chin up." His hands moved to rest on her shoulders and he tapped her chin playfully. "It'll be fine, I'll get your friend."
It was a blessing really, being able to sound more confident than he felt. Everything stood to chance and probability, sometimes those were good - other times, not so much.
Everything that had been weighing on her shoulders felt lifted by his touch and his promise. Her naivety was ever so clear here -- believing in promises from a man she barely knew despite being married to him. But Hebe had to believe in his words. A smile blossomed on her lips.