10 What Is This Feeling?

He kept watching noticing only the lady's red hair.

[How can someone have hair so red?], Seth thought.

Around here, at least for the whole time, he's been in the palace, Seth hadn't seen anyone with that color of hair.

[Who could this lady be?]

He had to know her.

* * *

As the woman was about to come out of the water, Seth had to avert his eyes because he knew she was naked. Then, he literally counted up to a hundred, giving her time to get her clothes.

Seth decided then, that he was going to approach her. He didn't feel like letting her slip out of his hands. [I had to make her acquaintance]

He felt like if he didn't get to know her now, he might not see her again. [What if she was a stranger passing by that just stopped for a bath?]

When Seth turned to see if she was fully dressed, he was still standing where he had been practicing his sword dance. Seth noticed how fair and spotless her skin was, with a face so slim that he immediately felt the urge to cup it in his hands.

Seth didn't understand what was stirring within him, [but that will be sorted out later], he thought to himself.

He felt nervous. A feeling he wasn't used to one bit. Seth noticed he had been staring and he had been told earlier on, that staring was rude but he couldn't peel his eyes off this beautiful human he was looking at.

He noticed she was now deep, very deep in thought.

[What could she be thinking about? what could be troubling her so?]

He willed himself to come out of where he was, and that startled her, pulling her out of her reverie.

"Hello! I'm Seth". [I have never introduced myself like that to anyone, I never needed to]

The way her eyes widened didn't go unnoticed to Seth. His best guess was, it was because of his strange eye. [Oh, how strange and weird it must look to her], he thought.

For the first time, a little worry came over him concerning his looks but he pushed that to the back of his mind quickly. [I have something important at hand], he thought.

Seth smiled and it wasn't hard for him, unlike how it was smiling at people he had to greet in the palace.

A small smile appeared on her face also and she replied to him; "I'm Ruby".

Seth saw her hand coming out and was offered a handshake. His stomach flipped.

[What the hell is this?], He almost hit his belly for it to behave itself.

He took her hand and instead of shaking it, turned it, and placed a light kiss on the back of her palm. Seth was impressed that she hadn't run away, or she didn't suddenly retract her hand from him. [This lady was one of a kind]

And he had seen ladies...women. Since Seth's arrival in the palace, despite his 'scary' eye and markings, they didn't stay away from him. His halfbrother had told him that women were attracted to danger.

Seth wondered how that was logical but he soon saw that Sek had been right. Whenever both Sek and Seth went out to drink, they would flock around them. It was worse when Seth went out by himself. The woods were his escape from prying eyes, frightened looks, and yes, pretty ladies.

* * *

Ruby thought that this young man was dangerously handsome, and he looked dangerous too. Was that a snake's eye she was seeing? She felt scared the moment she saw him, and Ruby hardly got scared. Actually, if he was going to harm her, he would've, she thought. She noticed that he had been training here while she was bathing in the river.

Ruby suddenly felt self-aware because she had been naked just moments ago.

[His voice...so collected and under control. He seemed like a warrior and weren't warriors known for their self-control because of all the training?]

He spoke; "Are you out here all by yourself?"

"Shouldn't I be? Is there some danger out here that I don't know about?"

"No, there's none. Except, the danger could be me. Aren't you scared?"

"Um... if I were, I'd have run by now, and trust me, I run very fast you'd think I'm flying".

They both chuckled.

He continued; "Are you a stranger here?"

"Are you?", Ruby replied immediately. [He sure asked lots of questions], Ruby thought.

"Not really, but I come here a lot to train. I like the peace and quiet".

"It sounds like where you stay is full of noise"

Ruby noticed a flicker of something on his face...as if as she mentioned where he stayed, it had struck a nerve.

"I'd really like to see you again if that won't be troublesome to you, and I hope you don't stop coming to take your swim because of me"

She blushed at that, remembering her swim...

"Did you see me as I walked out of the water?", Ruby asked with her mouth pouted.

Now, it was Seth's turn to blush... "Of course not"

They laughed out loud together again.