A Bad Hair Night

Twist. Pile. Fasten. It was simple, putting her hair back into the bun she always wore. At least, it was supposed to be simple. Most times, Daphne could put her long hair up while walking even! But not so, this night.

Her hands were still shaking, and this was her fourth attempt! The hair slid out of her fingers and untwirled easily as a noise caused her to jump. She was startled a moment, before realising the noise had been the sound of her own mouth letting out a groan of frustration and confusion. She did not think it possible, but her face turned a darker shade of red.

"What is wrong with you, Daph? Get a hold of yourself, woman!" She pressed both hands to her cheeks and tried one more time. Her flustered hands failed again and she decided it was a pointless effort. Her mind was too scattered to calm the shaking; rather, her thoughts caused her to grow more flustered as they continued in their loop. 

"This won't do tomorrow. He'll think I'm wearing my hair down because of what he said if I don't manage. Ugh! But now every time I put my hair up, I'll remember and get flustered anew..." She pinched herself, scowling as her face continued flaming.

She had begun the evening, worried about what he would say. She hadn't talked to him, not really, since she came back. When she began, he was so grave and serious, she felt it would be something unexpected and deeply painful.
But as he continued talking, she was not at all surprised. "I need my sword back," he'd said finally. She knew the moment she came back, finding all the trouble. In fact, she didn't think it was going to last very long when he first handed her his sword. But she still appreciated his effort more than she could convey.

When he'd spoken of trying not to let her down further, it hurt. He hadn't let her down, not really. Except when he was going to sneak away...but that was a fair amount of months before. But he wasn't letting her down now. She would rather he was well-protected, and she knew she could not do that constantly, every hour of every day.

She chuckled, thinking how surprised he was that she was not angry with him. "Oh, the time for that will surely come. Likely soon. When this mess is cleaned up." She had been, instead, furious at the man who dared threaten what had become her family. It took her many years to find it, and she was never going to lose it.

At last, she made it to her room and began to undress for bed. Out of her pocket, she gently retrieved a piece of paper. She nearly set it down on the table nearby, as she did every night. But now, she paused, holding it up and kissing the paper gently before holding it to her chest a moment. She smiled and shook her head, now knowing its contents.

"Ugh! Daph...really. You must be very tired. Stop being a silly little girl and put it down and get to sleep!" She obeyed her thoughts and slid into bed shortly thereafter. She was not going to allow anything to take away any of her family. Not while she lived.

But as danger lurked everywhere and was constantly attracted to him, she knew she had her work cut out for her. As had always been the case. Now, though, she understood that she needed to tell him. Time in life was short, and she would not let herself waste it.

Not anymore, now that she knew herself.