Blasphemous Rumours (Cleo/Adara)

[Adara Snow]

Any hidden worries that Emilian might have slipped, that he might have fallen into old habits at knowing she was out of reach, faded at Cleo's words. She latched onto that last sentence, holding it close as a lifeline. He was ok. "Thank you, Cleo," Adara said, her voice tense with emotion. She had been so afraid for him, now that she knew at least part of what her father was doing.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo ignored the rules of propiety and leaned closer to Adara. She enveloped her in a hug briefly, reassuring her. "Your welcome Adara, if I was in your situation I know I would worry." She smiled at the girl. She felt close to her now, even though they hadn't been talking for long. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "There may be a way I can get a message to him. I discussed returning to make more purchases so I have a viable reason to go to the shop."

[Adara Snow]

Adara's eyes widened, that additional hope spreading through her so that she could not contain herself. She returned Cleo's hug, perhaps a bit more enthusiastically than she'd meant to, but she had heard so little of Emilian otherwise, and any thread, any possibility, was a joy. "Thank you, Cleo!" she exclaimed, gratitude gleaming in her eyes along with the excitement of Cleo's offer.

But then the excitement faded, and worry clouded her gaze. "My father has men stopping people on their way out of the shop," she said, her heart constricting. "I cannot ask you to put yourself in danger." Adara's brows knitted at the thought.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo was surprised at that Adara knew, but she shook her head. "I have already been stopped" she said honestly. "I played the bimbo, and they left me alone" she said, hoping Adara would be satisfied with that answer, although it did briefly occur to her that Adara might not know who a bimbo was.

[Adara Snow]

Adara blinked, turning over the word bimbo in her mind, and again, not finding the meaning. She did not want to be distracted from the topic at hand, but she supposed that it was related, in a way. She only hoped that Cleo would be patient with her curiosity. "What is bimbo?" she asked. "Perhaps I could tell Michael and Dare, and they could try?"

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo smilewd slightly, her suspicions had been confirmed. "A bimbo is a girl who is very stupid and doesn't know much at all. I pretended that all I had in my head was jewellery and clothes and make up. I giggled a lot and was let on my way, obviously they thought I was no use" she said, her voice reaiming even as she lied so there was no reason to not believe her.

[Adara Snow]

"Oh, well, I do not think that would help Michael and Dare at all," Adara said. It had been a hope, though, and a chance. There was no deceit in Adara, and so, though she had learned much about trusting and not trusting others, it still did not occur to her to imagine that she might be lied to. She did not at all suspect that Cleo might have lied.

[Cleo Frost]

"Like I said, I can try and get a message to him." she said, repeating her offer. She liked Adara and wanted to help her, even though she had agreed to help her father. Thinking about that at the moment made her head hurt as she got caught up between family again so she left it be.

[Adara Snow]

"I would be very grateful," Adara said, the words an undeniable understatement. She considered opening her journal right then to write a note, but at that moment, an owl landed on the grass at her side, a scroll tied to its leg. Adara glanced up at Cleo, then back down at the owl, which hooted impatiently. Adara's heart seemed to stop as she took the scroll and unrolled it, the owl waiting impatiently for a reply.

Adara read the note quickly, a wave of fear replacing the hope which had infused her only moments before. Her pale skin paled further, and her mind raced through all the things she had learned over the past weeks. Cleo was, for the moment, forgotten.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo watched, anxious as she saw Adara's expression change. "Adara, what is it?" she asked, almost urgently. She knew it had to be something to do with her father and Emilian, that was taking up all her time at the moment. "I can help, please tell me" she pleaded.

[Adara Snow]

Adara blinked, the sound of Cleo's voice bringing Adara out of her thoughts enough to recall that the other girl was there. "My father wishes to see me," she said, though those simple words represented so much more. She had not heard from Emilian, and so she knew that her father had come to no agreement with him. That could only mean that he had decided to take her home.

"I cannot go," Adara said, opening her journal to a blank page. "I cannot go," she said again to herself, absently, as she wrote on the delicate parchment, then tore it free of the book. She had promised Emilian that she would not leave the castle. "Emilian is safe," she told herself as she tied the parchment into a roll and the owl flew off with it. She had to believe that Emilian was safe!

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo nodded, "Please don't leave, Adara you have to stay here ok?" she said, hoping the girl was focused enough to hear her warning. "I can make sure Emilian is of if you want. Don't worry about me. I don't want you two to be pulled apart" she said softly, squeezing Adara's hand reassuringly. She didn't know what to do, she was caught in the middle again, caught between her heart and her head.

[Adara Snow]

"I will not go," Adara said, her hand clutching at Cleo's even as her mind struggled to sort things. She recalled her father's warnings before she had left, though she had fought so hard not to think of them, to let them remain in the deepest shadows of memory. "If I go, he will take me home, he will marry me to an old man I do not love. I cannot go," she said, finally focusing desperate eyes on Cleo's. Still, she was near shaking with knowing she had just defied her father, something she could not recall ever having done before. She could not hope to guess what he might do.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo nodded bravely at Adara. "I will look after you. I would refuse if it was my father demanding this." she said, supporting her decision. "You are safe here" she said, hoping it would be enough. She knew what Herr Snow was capable of and the thought frightened her slightly, but she pushed it away, she ahd to be strong for Adara and keep her head if she was going to be any use.

[Adara Snow]

"Thank you, Cleo!" Adara exclaimed, throwing her arms around the other girl, unable to control herself. She was still frightened, but Cleo's support gave her courage, and where, alone, she might have begun to withdraw into herself, she forced herself to hold on, to be strong in acceptance of Cleo's words.