Nurturing hands had smoothed over every part of Kalliás' body, and here and there, his eyes would open, and a voice would hush him back to sleep. In and out of consciousness, the bristles caught up in his curly hair were nearly plucked out, and warm clothes went over his face, chest, and legs. Bruises shiny from olive oil rubbed in, and he was laid on a feather bed. Though he was in total darkness, he recognized these hands, and that distant humming was from someone who meant no harm.

Now, it was three days later when the sun was preparing its descent into the west. Kalliás' eyes opened, and he sat up, wearing new linen clothes that had a handmade quality to them. His nose was tickled by the scent of garlic and fresh onions followed by something hearty like a roast. The prince's mouth watered from the smell, and he looked around to see a woman in a chair; she had Zafeiri in her hands and had fallen asleep.

He was a touch nervous, trying to move quietly on the bed to stand up. However, when he stood up, the wood beneath him bent and creaked, causing the woman to stir and rub her left eye. She opened and saw that Kalliás, delicate as he'd been, was awake and standing. She stood up and let Zafeiri rest in the chair, and she approached him, her hand slowly coming out, and he flinched in response. "I won't hurt you, dear boy. I've been caring for you the past few days. You took quite the fall." She explained, and Kalliás eased up, sitting back down as the woman checked over his head and through his arm, checking every place she had treated.

"You must be hungry, forgive me." She turned away and walked to the bubbling pot. Grabbing a ladle and pouring the contents of carrots, leaks, potatoes, and bovine all in a savory, soul-warming broth. "Who are you?" Kalliás asked, taking a deep breath to recover from the light-headedness he was suffering from. The woman had sat next to him and handed him the bowl and a spoon, which Kalliás immediately started to ravenously devour. "Oh! I'm so sorry, dear. My name is Melina." She smiled brightly, and when Kalliás was able to sustain himself, he noticed her strawberry hair and full cheeks; she was as tall as he was, and her blue eyes like swirls of the ocean.

"You ran into me on the street, and I lifted you up and brought you here. Though your little friend wouldn't stop yapping until I got you here." She chuckled, a sweet, honey-like smile coming across her face. Kalliás furrowed his brows and put the bowl down; he was beginning to get nervous thinking about Aeschylus, Heron, Zosime, and Ale back at that shop. He knew the first three had an incentive to find and get rid of him and Ale, the palace guard, would surely stop at nothing to find the prince now.

"Is it...is it safe here? No one will find me?" Kalliás' voice was rather coarse and fearful. "No way, sweetness. Barely anyone comes out this way, and we are about a mile outside of the city." Melina reassured the prince, who would immediately hug her, and she hugged back, her hand running through those curls and holding him tight. She pulled away and held his face in her palms, "You're safe here, and I'll make sure nothing happens to you. Get your rest and you can continue on your path." Melina kissed his forehead and stood, grabbing a smaller bowl to set next to Zafeiri, who yawned and stretched, lapping up the broth.

"How did you-" Kalliás began, confused how she knew he was heading towards something.

"Oh dear, I'm afraid you talk in your sleep. Something about finding him." Melina admitted.

Kalliás blushed lightly and helped the woman with the bowls and cleanup, setting down on the makeshift bed and held Zafeiri in his hand. "Being in love, ah, you'd do anything to safeguard it." The woman reminisced in her chair and rocked back and forth. The prince moving further down his bed and resting his chin on the pillow, keeping his eyes on her. "Is love always this difficult?" He asked, genuinely seeking her wisdom and knowledge, and she nodded slowly, the fireplace casting dancing shadows over her face.

Her eyes drifted to the burning embers, and she sighed softly, "I remember only the love I once had. The kind of love that says I will always know you, through darkness and without my senses. I know you because I have loved you." Melina had tears beginning to form in the corner of her eyes, and she looked to the prince on the bed who was looking at her with an intrigued expression. "You were in love? May I hear about it?" Kalliás asked, trying to be considerate of her feelings and not pushing it. "If you feel comfortable! I just...it would be nice to know I'm not the only one." He felt a sense of guilt, especially when seeing that Melina had wetted eyes.

The woman brushed it off, "Sweet nymph, I've cared for you, and I trust your heart. Are you sure? It is quite the long story, and I fear the ending is not a happy one." Melina warned the prince, her hands coming up to wipe away the tears and noticed how Kalliás immediately agreed, "Yes ma'am. I would love to hear your story, good or bad." He said, and the woman sniffled.

"My story begins much like yours. A love suffering a separation, star-crossed like Pyramus and Thisbe. Unfortunately, our love wasn't barred because of our families; in fact, the man I loved lost his family young. And for us all we wanted was to make our own family, that was until the war began many years ago..." Melina began telling the story, and Kalliás kept his eyes open to listen to her, Zafeiri falling back asleep while cuddled to the prince's chest.