iv. dictated

[heloise]

Many of you expressed a need to return home for the sake of some great purpose, as if the castle's choosing is not so arbitrary.

Or perhaps it is because we all believe our purpose great.

And, a man's home is his castle.

[ Lucrezia is lying on the snow by the duck pond, hiding from the festivities today. Her white and gold dress serves almost as a disguise, though her blue coat forming a puddle nearby does not. She watches the sky and haltingly hums a song. ]

Comments

[assassino]

[He searches her face, too. He could suss out a number of options from the lectures he'd heard endlessly in his youth, but he can never be sure.]

Let me guess, then. That I will bed them and let them believe they alone have my affections, and then lose interest?

[heloise]

[ It begins again, the words growing louder in her mind, whenever she omits a detail. But she has already said she would not tell him. ]

No. [ She ventures a hand to brush dark strands from his face. ] I would not miss your presence if I do not love you.

[assassino]

[He lets her, just watching.]

True enough, I suppose. But why won't you ever tell me?

[heloise]

Because I said I will not. [ Said with a measure of regret. ]

Must I fear you, Ezio?

[assassino]

[Ezio worries about what brought this on. Where she's going with this. For the millionth time, he wonders if she knows.]

No, I would not have you fear me. I mean you no harm, Lucrezia. It worries me that you think so.

[heloise]

[ Dreams of Djem, mostly, brought it on. ]

I beg you not to worry.

[ She stands with some effort and trudges through the snow toward her coat in a hurry. She must leave before she blurts out whatever she means to keep to herself. Her mind is a traitor. ]

[assassino]

[Ezio gets up too, frowning.]

Where are you going?

[heloise]

[ She knows it is hardly reassuring to be running off like this, so she flashes him a smile over her shoulder. One that she hopes is more mischievous than fearful. ]

You were right. I am likely to turn into an ice statue.

[ Then she strides away as fast as she can. ]

[assassino]

[He moves to follow, knowing he could catch up with ease, but he doesn't. He doesn't want to frighten her, or get fixated on that answer. So he just stands there in the snow, perplexed, watching her rush off. He doesn't know what to make of that smile, so he doesn't smile back.

His heart feels heavy.

He watches her go for a moment, before trudging to his horse and mounting. They go in the opposite direction, and Ezio doesn't look back.]

♥!

[heloise]

[ It is when she hears the footsteps recede that she turns back to see him, relieved to see he means to leave. So now she can speak out her mind into her hands without breaking her word. ]

I fear to see you in my dreams. A restless, silenced ghost.