Tifa & Aerith IV

[The Painted Lady]

Delilah edged forward nervously, shoulders hunched insecurely.
"I shouldn't be standing here..." she whispered.
She moved a hand as if to touch her cousin, but withdrew it again.
"He'll hate me when he wakes... it's like I brought death with me..."
She glanced up to Aether.
"Why would someone do this?"

[Tifa Lockhart]

Aether followed a short distance behind Delilah as she moved closer to the slumbering Prince. He still feared for her safety, and her health following this grief.
"I am sure the Prince will not hate you, it is after all our festival that drew the assassins here. It gave them the perfect setting." He offered her a comforting smile, doing his utmost to calm her.
"We are unsure of the motive at present... but we assume they were trying to cause civil war by eliminating all those in line for the throne." The angel's soft features darkened a little as he frowned, "Regardless, we will be doing our best to track these murderers down My Lady. You have my word as an immortal." And of course that meant it was the strongest oath available, binding for all of eternity if so need be.

[The Painted Lady]

Delilah bit her lip, looking down, before giving Aether a small nod.
"May I... sit with him a while?" she asked quietly.
"If I'll be in the way, I understand," she added in quickly as she looked back up to him.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Aether smiled, placing a hand on Delilah's shoulder.
"Do as you wish my lady. I will be around if you need me, but i must go talk to my brother." He released her shoulder, turning it a swirl of white wings to walk to his brother's side over by the altar.

[The Painted Lady]

Delilah quickly found herself a chair once Aether had granted her permission. She sat by her cousin's side, gently taking his hand and resting her head on the stretcher carefully by his arm.

((A skip?))

[Tifa Lockhart]

Aether returned from a rather lengthy meeting with the King's advisor when it had already become dark. Delilah was still with prince Conrad in the chapel, where they'd chosen to house the royals for now as it was a small space and easily defensible. He found Delilah asleep by her kin's side.
He did not wake her, rather he settled himself near by and watched her quietly, intrigued by her sleeping face. There was something about her that just fascinated him so.

"Look, but do not touch my brother." A gentle voice spoke from behind him, surprising Aether from his thoughts. It was his sister Siera who watched him with concerned eyes. "You do not wish to meddle too deeply in the emotional affairs of mortals... it has been the ruin of many before us."
Aether frowned, confused by her words, "I do not understand?" He mused.
Siera simply shook her dark haired head, "Do not worry then brother." She turned away from him to go about her own business.

[The Painted Lady]

Some time later, and after some murmured words in her sleep, Delilah finally stirred, feeling eyes upon her. She brought her head up stiffly, her neck aching from her awkward position. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. How long had she slept? She spotted a winged figure not all too far away.
"My Lord?..." she said, with a sleepy tongue.
She winced a little as her back protested her sleeping arrangement too.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

There was a small chuckle from the silhouette of the angel. It was dark and silent in the chapel, and he appeared to be the only one around. He stood, whispering a word in a strange tongue, and in the palm of his hand and gentle light began to glow, one soft enough to not hurt Delilah's eyes.
"You needed your rest, i thought it best to leave you be." Aether said, the soft blue-white light in his palm casting gentle shadows over his face and causing a sparkle in his amethyst eyes. "How are you feeling." He asked, coming to kneel by her, an expression of concern etched on his perfect features.

[The Painted Lady]

Delilah paused for a moment, clasping her hands tightly in her lap. She wasn't quite sure there was a word for how she felt, or at least she couldn't come up with one while looking at that face that seemed even more perfect in the soft light.
"... Like I wish I had stayed home," she finally said very softly, sad eyes cast down.

[Tifa Lockhart]

A gentle hand reached out then, taking hold of her chin with the softest of fingertips and urging her to meet his gaze. "There is no guarantee that this would not have happened if you'd not come to the city." He said, his voice holding a firm note suggesting he was not pleased that she seemed to be blaming herself for this. "Chances are the attack would have still happened."

[The Painted Lady]

Delilah bit her bit nervously again, scared of displeasing the Guardian. There was a stillness in her expression before pure alarm flashed across her ocean-green eyes.
"You don't think they'll go after my family at home too?" she whispered.

[Tifa Lockhart]

A look of concern flickered through Aether's eyes and he released her chin, glancing off to the side as he seemed lost in thought.
"I dont think so... you're here and if i remember correctly your mother married into the bloodline..." He flicked his wings anxiously, "But I may go there and check if you would be more at ease."

[The Painted Lady]

Delilah bit her lip again.
"It is certainly not my place to give an Angel orders," she said quickly.
"I trust your judgement," she said softly. "I'm sure she is okay..."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Aether blinked, looking confused.
"I was offering, not requesting your permission." He chuckled, folding his arms over his chest and straightening back onto his feet. "As long as you will be well enough at ease if i don't go. Otherwise i will head off immediately."

[The Painted Lady]

Though Delilah felt undoubtedly much safer with Aether around - much more than the other Guardians - she wasn't going to say so. It was far from proper. And she was more concerned for her mother's safety than her own. She blushed a little as he chuckled at her. He must have found her incredibly foolish and clumsy...
"If my answer doesn't compromise you... then yes. I'd like to know she's safe..."