Midnight Sun

"Is that like Artemis, from the lore?" He questioned, trying to ignore her other comments. Really, he agreed with her. Dirt wasn't something he was particularly comfortable wearing, especially not in a place like this. The quicker he could get it off, the better.
 
"My name is not Artemis, and there is no lore here with that name. My name is only Artem. In my language it means Safe-" She opened a set of doors into a giant room covered in colors of dark blue and black, turning to smile at him wickedly she continued as she plopped on her bed. "Or Butcher." Sighing she watched a set of maids drop a pile of clothing on her dresser. "The bath is on your left, and the clothing that was placed there is yours. I will wait for you here, after you will eat and then sleep. You will need it." Her tone wasn't as harsh as before but it still wasn't friendly. The stress of the day had escaped her, be a lady act this way and that she was rather tired.
 
The boy nodded warily, dropping the subject. Provoking the latter version of the name was something he would rather avoid doing.

Saifu took the opportunity to clean himself thoroughly, scouring between his toes and creating a right-lot of earthy water. At least he wasn't muddy anymore, and newer clothes felt nice against his freshly-restored self. As had been promised, he found Artem afterwards.
A little bit of water made quite a bit of difference, it seemed. With the mud gone, he almost looked akin to a starving wet cat. It seemed comical at best.
He was perpetually brushing his hair out of his eyes, since it hung lower over them when it was damp. On the other hand, without the stray leaf to derive, it had a certain soft, healthy sheen to it. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but one wouldn't know without reaching forth a hand to see.
 
Artem lifted herself into a seating position when he stepped out of the bathroom, he looked like a nearly drowned animal. She tilted her head and watched him brush out his hair, it looked silky. She reached out her hand to touch it and see, "You don't smell nearly as bad as before." She was lying again, his natural smell was stronger now. She turned and took off the wool hold that wrapped around her, "Follow me," She opened her door and waited for him before walking down the hall and descending the stairs.
 
He flinched slightly as she touched his hair, but didn't pull away. It was soft, like fur. Beneath his unique natural odor was the faint scent of something like a mixture of herbs; reminiscent of blackberries and mint. He didn't hesitate nearly as long before trailing after her, figuring by this point she probably wasn't planning to skewer him should she have the chance. Skepticism was one of his more prominent traits, however, and it remained vigilant even in the midst of peace. He continued to harbor his distrust towards her, as well as everyone else he had encountered so far. But there was something he seemed to be missing in all of this.... He just couldn't put his finger on it. Not quite yet.
 
Artem walked down the halls towards a giant dining room, the table in the center was grand and lined in fine meats and fruits. Sitting at the table was various faces, three Saifu had already met. The king sat at the head of the table, two empty chairs for Artem and Saifu, opposite those chairs were Stix and the white-haired boy from before. "We sit next to my father, don't mind my brothers they are beyond being idiots." Artem sighed and passed her brothers, there were 12 other seats filled with various males. They greeted their sister and eyed Saifu suspiciously, some curious.
 
Saifu sensed many eyes on him, more than he felt comfortable with. Taking his seat, he tried to avoid looking at anyone else in hope they would stop watching him. Accepted or not, he was an outsider in the midst of royalty. This fact alone made him more uncomfortable than Artem's gleaming blade against his throat.
 
Artem only gave short replies to her siblings before they sat at the table. After her father said their blessings to the goddess the staring stop and was replaced with rowdy boys at the table grabbing food and talking. Artem motioned to Strix and he left the table before arriving with two plates, one for Artem and one for Saifu filled with meats cheese and fruits. "Eat." Her tone was curt and she proceeded to eat, unlike the rest of her family she ate like a lady, one of the few ladylike things she managed to so. Even still she ate fast.
 
Saifu thanked Strix.
He picked gingerly at the food placed in front of him, avoiding the meat and savoring the fruits. Cheese he felt indifferent towards, only nibbling at it now and again, but mostly it went ignored atop his plate. The boy was relieved that the eyes had since left him, and occasionally did glance up to observe the rambunctious goings-on of the table. It was a moment of sudden epiphany as he noted Artem to be the only female present. Was it simply chance? Or was there another reason?
Not understanding did not move him to ask questions. He held his peace.
 
"Are you a rabbit? Do you not eat meat?" Artem looked at him curiously but confused, as though there was no way a growing boy could go without meat. Maybe it was because that was all she knew but it didn't deter the curiosity. She noticed he kept glancing up and around, "What do you keep looking at?" Artem moved so he was facing her, her plate was empty as were most of the rest. They ate like wolves, or in this case foxes
 
"No, I don't," Saifu replied, "And l'm also not quite comfortable in a den of kitsune during dinner." He pushed against the meat remaining on his plate. "You want this? Better someone eats it than it goes to waste."
 
Artem only stared at him and shrugged, she pushed the plate of for down the table. One of her brothers was bound to eat it. She stood and looked at him, "Let's go." She started walking and made her way up the stairs and back to the room they were in prior. She walked in and looked at Saifu, "I am going to wash and then we will sleep, do not mess up anything. And before you think of running my brother's will eat you alive if you leave." She turned away not caring or waiting for a reply before walking to the bathroom and closing the door. The sound of running water could be heard through the door.
 
And just when he though she was past slitting his throat. He rubbed his palms against his sides nodded. The boy was doomed, he knew it. This was going to get him killed.
Not knowing what else he should be doing, Saifu sat on the floor beside the bed, legs crossed, and waited.
 
After a long while the bath door opened and Artem walked out, she looked down at Saifu standing in her night sort and shorts before climbing in her bed. "You have a choice to sleep on the floor or bed. You pick." She blew out the lights surrounding her beside and covered herself with her blanket turning her back to Saifu. Closing her eyes she willed herself to sleep for the journey tomorrow.
 
There was a long moment of indecisiveness as he weighed the odds; the floor against the bed with the woman most likely to disassemble him while he slept. For a while, he didn't move, but in the end he determined it was too cold to remain down where he was. In a feat of sheer courage, he braved finding a spot on the mattress.
 
Artem felt the weight in the bed shift, it was a big enough bed for them to share so she didn't mind. Plus she considered him too weak to dare try anything. "Don't dare think of any funny business, though I doubt you'd be brave enough to try regardless." Artem pulled the covers over her shoulder and drifted off to sleep.

~

Artem woke up at the first sign of light and stretched in her bed, her white hair gleamed against the sunlight. She turned and rubbed her eyes looking down at the small boy who she had deemed no threat.
 
Saifu slept on his side, arms tucked close to his chest. Interestingly, he had not turned his back to her. Deep red hair fell messily across his forehead, slipping further as the bed shook slightly, but he didn't stir at her movements.
Without the constant expression of nervous tension, he seemed almost satisfied. It would be quite a while before seeing him this calm would occur again. Of course, waking him would be a disturbance, however necessary consciousness need be if they were to begin their adventure.
 
Artem stared at the boy for a moment, the want to touch his soft hair again hit her before she shook her head. She supposed she should start preparing for their adventure. Thinking her might be a bother she didn't wake him yet. She climbed over him and softly let her feet hit the floor making sure her tail didn't smack him in the process, letting out a breath she began gathering her things. Books, potions, clothes, weapons laid aside. The food had been packed the night prior by the servants, though she had her brother ask them to add more fruits, it would be only a pain if he died from hunger. Stretching the morning lag from her body she reached in her drawer and grabbed her clothes for the day, she glanced over at the boy noticing he was still sleeping before she decided to change.
 
All the while, Saifu did not stir. He had completely succumbed to exhaustion, especially after the events of last night, and was not liable to wake up any moment soon.
 
Artem finished changing and waited for the maids to return with clothing for him for the adventure. When the did she walked over to the bed "Hey! Get up, it's time to go!" She shoved his shoulder trying not to be so rough, she promised her father she wouldn't hurt him so she didn't plan to start here. Sighing she stared at him, the urge to rub his hair was irresistible. Her hand reached out to pet him as she peered at him.
 
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