The bed was comfortable, the blankets and sheets were lovely, but for whatever reason, Mina couldn't sleep. For a while, she paced her room before deciding that she wanted to be under the open sky. Nothing like meditating under the stars. She put on some shoes and a heavy robe so that she was at least mostly decent before sneaking silently out of her room into the hallway that opened up onto the foyer. The floor creaked quietly under her light steps through the hallway and down the stairs until she made it to the stone floor of the entryway. Then she quietly made her way out to the courtyard and sat on one of the stone benches against the wall of the house. She leaned against the wall of the house and just stared up into the stars.
"Hello, little queen." Mina nearly jumped out of her skin at Egon's deep voice. He was standing against the wall on the other side of the door to the courtyard.
"Hello. I'm sorry, I can go…" she started as he walked over to her. She was unsure of herself, but he just sat next to her, shoulder to shoulder. Or really, shoulder to arm because he was so much taller than him.
"No stay," he insisted quietly. "It's really beautiful out here, huh?"
"It is." Egon absolutely reeked of booze and strong feminine perfumes. It seemed he was a little softer with a little liquor in him. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Never can when I first get back. You?"
"Not tonight for some reason." She admitted.
"Perhaps if your 'husband' was taking care of you properly. He didn't even want to be in the same room as you. I couldn't believe that." Egon quietly ranted. "If I had a wife like you, nobody could keep me away from you."
"Watch it!" she warned. "He's being respectful. This wasn't a whole romantic thing. It was fated. We didn't get a choice."
"That's rough. Falling in love is one of the best and worst things in life." Mina hadn't really taken Egon as a romantic, but here he was, drunkenly baring his soul to her. "It's great when it's happening. Then it gets very, very bad when it's not."
"I have some experience with that. Not me personally, but losing his love turned my dad into a shadow of himself."
"That's what I'm saying," He said, clapping his hand on her knee. "It's the worst."
"I'd love to fall in love," she gently put her hand over his and smiled at him. Unfortunately, he took it exactly wrong and leaned in for a kiss. Instead of meeting her lips, he met her hand. "Really? You smell like you drank the whole bar and had every woman there."
"Sorry. You're right. You're right." He leaned back onto the wall and looked up. "I should get myself to bed before I get into more trouble."
Evander was about as good at footwork as he was dancing. They had been in the courtyard for at least an hour, with Egon being frustrated at every step, literally.
"It's like a dance," Egon said, trying to encourage Evander through his own frustration.
"He can't do that either. I still have bruises to prove it," she laughed. "Let's give Evander a break and let me try."
"I don't think so, little queen."
"Come on. Are you scared?" She joked, getting up from the bench they had shared the night before.
"By all means, then," He said, motioning for her to join him.
She had been watching closely and was sure that she could get at least close enough to what he was going for. She might even be able to avoid getting knocked on her ass like Evander had several times. She lined up with him, pretending to hold a blade in her hand. When he drove her back, she followed. When she drove him back, he followed. Back and forth, duck, turn, shit… He got her round the ankles. She braced herself for a landing that never came. Egon had caught her around her waist to keep her from hitting the ground as Evander had so many times. He looked her in the eye as he placed her back on her feet, his warm brown eyes practically gold in the sunlight.
"Sorry, little queen." He said gently as she straightened herself out.
"No need. I asked for it. I'd say I did pretty well." She went back to her seat, where Evander was. He wore an odd face that she had never seen on him before. Was he upset?
"So you didn't have to let me fall on my ass all those times?" He said, getting up.
"It was more fun that way." Egon flashed her a smile and she rolled her eyes.
"He is your king, Egon." She reminded him. He sobered up a little.
"If I coddle him, he won't learn not to fall on his ass." He replied.
"Then why catch me?"
"We were just having a bit of fun. I'm not training you." He defended.
"Then train me. There's no reason we can't both become competent warriors." She wasn't sure when she'd come to the decision, but she wasn't turning back now. She'd learn how to handle a sword and dagger along with her husband.
"As you wish, little queen," Egon said with an exaggerated bow. "Both of you then. I'll call out what you should be doing. We'll start simple."
She got back up and joined Evander, not really looking forward to getting stepped on some more, but determined to do this. Thankfully, Egon wasn't kidding. They started very simply, with Egon just calling their names in turn and telling them to advance on the other. No toe stepping necessary. She wondered if he was being especially hard on Evander on purpose or if he was going easy on her. She didn't particularly like either option.
The bath was calling to her when they were through. The sun's intense afternoon heat, combined with what felt like an eternity of practicing advance and retreat had left her sweaty and disgusting. She collected the things she needed for her bath, undressed, put on a thick robe, and headed down to the bathing pool as quickly as her legs could carry her. She stepped into the room and took her shoes off, kicking them to the side of the door. Then she turned around and there he was, Egon, in the bath, nudity barely obscured by the water. His broad shoulders glistened in the light that came in through the high windows. His muscular arms draped on the edge of the bath on either side of him. She couldn't deny he was gorgeous, and for a moment she was glued to the spot. Then she was pulled from her stupor by the flushing of her face and turned away, desperately trying to get her shoes on and get out. Egon said nothing as she clumsily made her exit, only to bump into none other than Evander in a robe outside the door.
"S-sorry, I didn't know you guys would be here," she stuttered and quickly made her way to her room. She wasn't sure how she was going to face anyone after that.