Today was the day; she was going to ask him!

Now the only question was how she should go about asking him, one that involved success. No matter what she had to make her father agree to her request, Aurelia knew that would be a hard task but was ready for a challenge. That’s right, she could do this! She just had to keep telling herself that to up her success rate, Aurelia had even consulted with her grandmother about the matter. She hadn't been really positive about the outcome but neither was she completely negative.

How hard could asking her father to let her go to Maistheum be?

Very hard considering she was pacing around her room as she waited for her father to come home. Everything must be perfect and she had done everything within her power but it didn't stop her from being nervous. Aurelia let out a soft sigh, one too quiet that most wouldn't have even heard her make a noise. Walking over to the window she placed a hand on the glass and looked out hoping to see her father’s forms approaching.

She was starting to feel impatient, the longer she waited the more she had doubts about him agreeing. Aurelia let her eyes drift around the room again as her fingers started playing with her hair. She often wondered if she hadn't snuck out of the house back then things would have been different now. It was useless to think about such things, the past could not be changed and she still couldn't find her voice. A part of her wondered if she even had a voice, stupid as the thought was.

The faint click of a door broke her train of thought, perhaps her father was finally home. With a bright smile Aurelia rushed down the house to where she found her father. Not giving him any chance or choice she threw her arms around him. She was always happy to see him when he returned home; today she just happened to be even happier to see him. Letting him go she offered another smile, it was her way of saying welcome home.

He barely had time to push the door closed. Instinctively, he gripped her back and let his face be completely suffocated in her long locks but smiled more brightly than he'd smiled all week for there was nothing Levan Karun loved in this world more than his daughter.

"Well..." he gently said, putting her down on the ground and holding her slightly away so he could get a good look at her. She was so much more beautiful than her mother had been. Yes, she had the same eyes and the same features, but somehow much prettier. Prettier than anyone he'd ever met. His daughter... "I'm glad to see you too."

A yawn escaped his lips -- he'd had a long week. Marithseum's troubles weren't helping their position in Kyha. It was, in many ways, far more worrying than ever.

"What's your grandma prepared for dinner?"

Aurelia had missed him...she always missed her father when he was away.

In complete honesty sometimes she wondered what she would do if anything ever happened to him, trying to imagine life without seeing him again was beyond scary. He was her whole world, she realized her need to branch out and find more special people but her father would always be number one. He was her hero, even more so then the masked avenger which she loved hearing stories about.

She smiled even brighter at his reply at being happy to see her too; it always made her happy to hear such words. Aurelia watched her father carefully, he seemed kind of tired...maybe she shouldn't bring it up? No! If she put it off who knows how long she would have to wait to ask him again. Aurelia never knew how long she would be able to spend with her father before he went back to work. Now was not the time though, they would eat first and then she would bring it up.

Placing a finger to her lips with a smile, she was telling her father that it was a secret before grabbing his hand and attempting to drag him off to where her grandmother was waiting with their food. It was of course her father’s favorite, she had pleaded with her grandma for this favor. Everything would be alright; she would find a way to get him to agree. For now though she wanted him to relax a little sense he just came home.

Aurelia greeted her grandma with a smile watching her place the last dish on the table. Rushing over to the table she picked up her sketchbook writing a few words down before showing her father.

'How was work? I heard a rumor about a riot'

"Granny, I don't think my mother ever cooked something that smelled as good," he grinningly said, setting himself at the table after removing his coat and sword. Aurelia, when she used to speak, called Lev's mother-in-law 'granny' so the name had remained, over the years, even as she left the word of the spoken words and dropped into silence. Lev disliked thinking about that.

When Aurelia came back to the table, carrying her sketchbook he obediently took it and read the words she'd laid out for him. A darkness slipped onto his face, but it quickly faded. Tiredness took its place and he nodded. "In the Capitol, yes. The filth of the earth put their hands to making it as filthy as they are. But we needn't concern ourselves with it, sweet heart."

The laughter of her grandmother filled the room, she really did love it, always so warm. "You flatter me, your daughter helped me prepare dinner tonight. She always gets so excited when she hears your returning"

Aurelia was quite proud, thanks to her grandmas help she was getting better at cooking. She would become a good wife someday, it was her hope to find a nice guy preferably better off so that her father could retire from the military someday.

Her smile faltered a little at his news about the riot, it was in the capitol. In other words by mentioning it her chances of success had dropped some more. He definitely would be against her going now or even more then she was sure he already would be. She would have to think up something positive or else it would be a short conversation. Her father had mentioned filth, which was his nickname for refugees. She didn't understand why they needed to be so violent, it wouldn't solve anything.

'Thats good. Can I get you anything to drink?' She faced her notepad towards him.

There was pride in his eyes as he watched Aurelia. He couldn't help smiling.

"Thank you, darling. Some milk would be great. Had a long day." As he watched her fetch it, he added. "Then you're going to have to tell me what you've been up to today."

Aurelia flashed her dad a bright smile before rushing off to fetch his glass of milk. She had stopped at the door at the last part, but shook her head and entered the kitchen. She had returned shortly all the while telling herself to remain calm and act natural. She set the glass down with another smile before sitting down next to him, now came the hard part. Feeling slightly nervous her hands started fumbling with her hair as she tried to decide how to ask.

Her whole day had been concerning one thing, so there was really no way around this and Aurelia could never lie to her father. Picking up her sketch board she started to write, perhaps the only way was to be straight forward.

'I want to see the capitol'

He picked up the sketchbook with a loving smile which quickly dissolved into an expression of alarm, disappointment and anger. Levan put the sketchbook down and frowned at the table.

"Now what are you two talking about?" asked the grandmother, cheerfully.

Lev said nothing.

The woman turned and noticed his sour expression. "Levan, my boy, are you alright?"

"Oh yeah, Helena, I'm fine." He mustered a smile and the woman walked out of the room. He turned to his daughter and, in a hushed but serious voice, he said: "Aurelia. You just asked me about a riot in the capitol and now you're saying you want to go in it?"

Bad mood, check!

Disappoint hopes...unconfirmed.

Aurelia was sure her grandma knew what was going on but probably decided not to get involved which was for the best. She always knew it was between her and her father, it was best no one else interfered. She frowned, the word no seemed to just drip off of every word he said but she would not back down.

'That was in the refugee's part of town right? I just want to see the capitol where you used to live and to see grandpa again! Please dad'

She set the sketchbook down for him to read and clasping her hands together with pleading but serious eyes.

"Absolutely not!" Levan said, stringently. "My daughter will not go into that mess."

Aurelia could now place a check under disappointed hopes. She wasn't giving up yet though, she had to keep trying. With hands still clasped she mouthed the words please, no sound came out but she knew her father would know what she was saying.

He turned to look away, because the sight made him want to give in.

"No. Absolutely not, Aurelia. It is pointless to persist."

This was her chance; he turned away, so he was losing his conviction. Picking up her sketchbook she began writing before placing it down where he could see. Aurelia then took her father’s hand in hers, she had to make him understand.

'Please? You have friends in the capitol, I can get an escort. If not then I'm sure grandpa could help me. So please'

Lev refused to look at it. He went by the stove and, having picked up a dish, took some of the food and then a spoon and marched to the other end of the table -- as far away from Aurelia as possible -- and started eating with great gusto.

Her father was so stubborn but then she was the same, that’s why right now this was a battle. The one who faulted would lose, there was too much at stake for her to back down. She just had to see the capitol and meet the masked avenger! She had opted that out of her reasons to tell her father, somehow she knew he would not like hearing she wouldn't to meet a vigilante.

Aurelia didn't move from her seat, she just watched her father eat. She would not eat in less he gave in and listened to her.

Soon, his dish was empty. He went for seconds, deliberately avoiding her gaze.

No word was said.

The silent treatment was it, well Aurelia was a master at that! Her eyes never left her father, following him from his seat to the stove and back.

He had to give in eventually, he just had too!

When he was done with the food, he headed for his room, just as silent as before.

He was leaving, now what. If she let him get away now then he might sneak back to work and that would result in his victory. Pushing out her chair Aurelia went after her father grabbing his arm with both of her hands.

She was battling herself in truth, her father worked hard and she never wanted to upset him or cause him stress while he was in his own home. Aurelia could not hide her desire to go to the capitol any longer though, it was now or never. If he would not agree then she would be forced to do the unthinkable...go without his permission.

He was stopped and made turn. As he did so, his face showed the exasperation he was feeling.

"Aurelia..." Lev almost moaned. "This is ridiculous. What's got into you? Why now?"

Aurelia looked down suddenly feeling guilty, her father looked tired and she was selfishly denying him a chance to rest. She felt like a bad daughter now, but then what was she to do in this situation. She eventually looked back to her father shaking her head lightly. Using his hand as paper she wrote with her finger.

N-o-t n-o-w She paused a moment, A-l-w-a-y-s

"Well... I'll ask your grandfather to come and see you. How about that?"

That would be... doable. The last thing he wanted was to see his father, but, for Aurelia's sake, he would allow it. Surely her grandfather wasn't so busy to deny her that. He'd been sending him letters asking him to see her and Levan had ignored him. He'd be thrilled.

That defeated the whole purpose.

Sure, Aurelia would be thrilled to see her grandfather again but she still would prefer to see him in his home even if it meant being surrounded by mages. She frowned and shook her head lightly telling her father it was not enough, it was actually avoiding the whole matter they were arguing about.

Levan frowned. "I thought you wanted to see your grandfather."

She did

That wasn't all, had her father opted out her other reason of wanting to see the capitol his home. She frowned and nodded her head softly, it's not like she could deny that she didn't want to see him. Aurelia began to write on her fathers hand again.

'A-N-D' she paused a moment, 'C-a-p-i-t-o-l'

"That will have to wait then. Until the climate is more... peaceful. I'm not sending my daughter where she might be hurt." Not again. Not ever. She couldn't have forgotten, for she was still unspeaking, to this day. And Lev, as a result, had not either.

Wait

How could he expect that of her, she had been waiting for a long time. It had taken her time to get over what happened, it's not like she had forgotten and even after time had healed her wounds she had still waited. Waited to be older where she thought her father would let her go but still he said no.

Aurelia frowned and turned away from her father, there was no guarantee that things would become more peaceful. Even if the refugees quieted down, what about the barbarians? If they bring their fight to Escova then he would never let her go, she just couldn't wait any longer.

He felt his frown dissolving, but his resolve was far from being crushed. "I'm sorry, sweet heart, but I could not bear to have you hurt again." On that dreadful note, he stepped into the other room. He was so much more tired now than he'd been when he first walked through the door.

Aurelia felt her own resolve breaking as her hands found their way to her hair, fingers combing out the knots. She didn't go after her father this time because she couldn't think of anything else to say. She watched him leave and let out a soundless sigh, so it came to this. She didn't want to do it because she knew her father wouldn't take it well.

He would be worried about her and more than likely angry at what was probably a rash decision but what else could he expect her to do. Continue to wait like he wanted? Aurelia could not continue waiting, at least not anymore. Walking back into the dining room she ripped a blank page from her notebook scribbling a note down.

Father;

I'm sorry for the worry that this will cause you but I can't just wait for things to become peaceful. Life will pass me by if I continue to wait on the sidelines, please try to understand. I love you so much, try not to worry too much and I've prepared for the consequences when I return.

Your daughter

Aurelia Karun

He would not be happy and although she would feel guilty for making him worry it had to be done. As soon as she was positive he was asleep she would catch a ride with a merchant to the capitol.

Maristheum here she comes.

Levan awoke with a start, far too late than he was normally used to. He looked around, disoriented, only to realise he was home. That settled his racing heart, so he went and washed his face, and, in passing, noticed the piece of paper on the table.

He picked it up, carelessly and, by the end of it, had it torn on the edges, as his grip on it intensified. Without a word, he and the piece of paper left the house.