The Lord Mikaelidas had found himself -unexpectedly- with some free time on his hands. His father, in some act of pique, had seen fit to reassign the responsibilities Achilleas was used to in respect of his barony, and not only that but had passed on the duties his eldest had been doing in his stead for the House of Mikaelidas onto Emilios. It was a sore blow indeed, and for one used to being busy, Achilleas was at a bit of a loss as to what to do to fill his hours.
Despite his father’s repeated reminders to ensure arrangements for the forthcoming wedding were all in hand, Achilleas had been assured by both his mother and Theodora that all was taken care of, so he could find nothing to do there. The morning then had seen him go into the city proper, seek out the jeweller that had been a long time favourite of the family. He had mentioned in to Theodora’s sister, that he wanted to get his betrothed a gift to give before they were wed. There had been so many delays and obstacles thrown in the path of their nuptials, and even since speaking to Olympia, the picture had shifted again, what with his cousin the King and his wife now being under house arrest in the Palati.
It was to be a token really, just something to let Theodora know that beyond all of the drama and unrest that had beset their home over the past months, that he was still thinking of her amongst it all. And given his suddenly unfull schedule, it had seemed an opportune time. Achilleas had sat patiently as the craftsman had pulled out piece after piece. Or at least, he had started off patiently, and then by the tenth item presented to him, he was beginning to wish he had just sent someone else to do this. The amount of attention he paid to women’s jewellery was clearly lacking, for he had no idea there were so many subtleties involved. It was as the man got out another case that he panicked.
“Look…just, perhaps just show me what you think a fitting gift to my bride” he interrupted, slight exasperation evident in his tone. He remembered what Olympia had said and threw that in too. “ Something to welcome her into the Mikaelidas family, something with a lion”
To his immense relief, that seemed to give the old jeweller some focus, and he bowed and then cleared away the many strands of gold and jewels that he had already shown to the Lord. It was much easier then, for Achilleas to select something he thought Theodora would like, request that the semi precious gems used were replaced with something finer, and arrange for the bracelet to be delivered to the manor the next day.
Nevertheless, he felt like he had been there a long while by the time he escaped into the sunshine, and made a note to avoid any such grand gestures for a long while. Theodora could just choose her own jewellery.
It did leave him at rather a loose end though, and he tried not to let the reason why sour his mood anymore than it already had. Aimlessly wandering was almost an unknown for the General, and he somehow ended up at the Naos to Aphrodite. He did not enter, but rather stood a while and watched the comings and goings of those offering their devotions. It was rumoured that the goddess herself had gifted Theodora with her beauty, and in was a Priestess of Aphrodite that would marry them in a few short days. With such things in mind, Achilleas decided it could not do any harm to make an offering to the Goddess to look favourably upon their match. He was here anyway, and it was not as if there was anything else demanding his attention. So he paid a few coin to one of the commoners selling armfuls of rose and myrtle, and headed toward the temple itself so he might lay them before the statue of the Goddess herself.
Despite his father’s repeated reminders to ensure arrangements for the forthcoming wedding were all in hand, Achilleas had been assured by both his mother and Theodora that all was taken care of, so he could find nothing to do there. The morning then had seen him go into the city proper, seek out the jeweller that had been a long time favourite of the family. He had mentioned in to Theodora’s sister, that he wanted to get his betrothed a gift to give before they were wed. There had been so many delays and obstacles thrown in the path of their nuptials, and even since speaking to Olympia, the picture had shifted again, what with his cousin the King and his wife now being under house arrest in the Palati.
It was to be a token really, just something to let Theodora know that beyond all of the drama and unrest that had beset their home over the past months, that he was still thinking of her amongst it all. And given his suddenly unfull schedule, it had seemed an opportune time. Achilleas had sat patiently as the craftsman had pulled out piece after piece. Or at least, he had started off patiently, and then by the tenth item presented to him, he was beginning to wish he had just sent someone else to do this. The amount of attention he paid to women’s jewellery was clearly lacking, for he had no idea there were so many subtleties involved. It was as the man got out another case that he panicked.
“Look…just, perhaps just show me what you think a fitting gift to my bride” he interrupted, slight exasperation evident in his tone. He remembered what Olympia had said and threw that in too. “ Something to welcome her into the Mikaelidas family, something with a lion”
To his immense relief, that seemed to give the old jeweller some focus, and he bowed and then cleared away the many strands of gold and jewels that he had already shown to the Lord. It was much easier then, for Achilleas to select something he thought Theodora would like, request that the semi precious gems used were replaced with something finer, and arrange for the bracelet to be delivered to the manor the next day.
Nevertheless, he felt like he had been there a long while by the time he escaped into the sunshine, and made a note to avoid any such grand gestures for a long while. Theodora could just choose her own jewellery.
It did leave him at rather a loose end though, and he tried not to let the reason why sour his mood anymore than it already had. Aimlessly wandering was almost an unknown for the General, and he somehow ended up at the Naos to Aphrodite. He did not enter, but rather stood a while and watched the comings and goings of those offering their devotions. It was rumoured that the goddess herself had gifted Theodora with her beauty, and in was a Priestess of Aphrodite that would marry them in a few short days. With such things in mind, Achilleas decided it could not do any harm to make an offering to the Goddess to look favourably upon their match. He was here anyway, and it was not as if there was anything else demanding his attention. So he paid a few coin to one of the commoners selling armfuls of rose and myrtle, and headed toward the temple itself so he might lay them before the statue of the Goddess herself.