Blood, Sand and Tears (1X1 with tichems)

[tichems]

Andromedus nods slowly. "If anyone finds out, we will both be dead." He frowns and takes Callisto's hands in his. Callisto, not Benedict, a woman not a man. Yes he could accept his feelings now, but as the emperor's daughter she would never feel the same. A being of royal blood could never...love...a being of lower significance. His eyes meet Callisto's again "I won't tell anyone who, or what, you are. Just promise me you will be careful. Don't tell anyone else your secret."

Emidius leaves the colosseum after the last bloody battle is fought. Today has been a good day; plenty of deaths to feed the thirsty crowd. He makes his way slowly back to his carriage and waits for the guard to take him back to the palace. During the journey, he begins planning the royal guards' new armour in his head. The new armour will be stronger, more impressive and most importantly, will not be closely matched by any other armour in the world.

[Crabbiey]

Callisto smiled and nodded "I will be careful; don't worry and I won't tell anyone else. If I did want people to know; do you think I would cut my hair?" She glanced down at his hand, it was so comforting, just having him hold hers. Relief washed over her; Andromedus wasn't going to tell anyone anything.

[tichems]

Andromedus smiles in return, "Tell me about life in the palace, I'm sure it is far different from what I experienced when I owned my own villa?" he keeps Callisto's hands wrapped in his while he waits for the reply.

[Crabbiey]

Callisto looked at Andromedus "To sum it up; Hell." She noticed Andromedus was still holding her hands, of course she didn't mind. She liked it, but wouldn't he have let go by now?

[tichems]

Andromedus frowns, he like everyone else could never think of living in the palace as Hell. "Why do you think the palace is like Hell? Surely Hell would be a more fitting name for this place?" Realising he's still holding Callisto's hands, he finally lets go, his heart sinks slightly.

[Crabbiey]

Callisto sighed and sat down "If you're male, then I bet it's great. But I'm not male am I? What do you think my father thought when he found out that I was a girl? I bet even those palace ladies enjoy themselves......"

[tichems]

Andromedus' eyes follow Callisto as she takes a seat beside him. "If I was the emperor and I had a daughter, I wouldn't treat her any differently to if I had a son. I'm guessing he didn't treat you very fairly? To many men who have lots of power, the only thing they care about is having a suitable heir." He casually wraps an arm around her "I don't blame you escaping, it must have been awful. At least here we are all equal, there is no superior man here."

[Crabbiey]

Callisto's eyes widened when Andromedus put his arm around her, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. It faded when she smilied weakily and looked at Andromedus "Yes, it was awful. I wish my father thought like you do."

[tichems]

Andromedus smiles back, did Callisto just blush? He shakes his head, he must have just imagined it or the faint light from the flames is playing tricks.

[Crabbiey]

Callisto sighed and stood up "Well I'm going to go back to my room." With that she left and went into her room, closing the door she took her armour off. Her skin turning ice-cold as the air quickly cooled the sweat. Letting out a long sigh she collasped onto the lumpy bed. All her joints, her entire body ached. She was just so tired and still shaken from today. There had been a fair number of close-calls, she just hoped that tomorrow she'd be lying on this bed and not on the floor of the arena.