Huntress (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

24

I wake in a light and airy room the next morning, sunlight and gentle salt air breeze through open doors that lead to a balcony overlooking the ocean. My room itself is ornate, as if dwelled in by a goddess, with a bed bigger than I have ever had the privilege of sleeping in, as well as ornate furnishings of white and gold throughout.  I roll out of bed, finding dresses in a separate dressing room through another door, and a bathing room with a sunken bath that has a view once more overlooking the sea outside.

Everything is so...celestial - then again the man who has just saved my life was created by them, so no wonder his taste in home decorating is rich.

The palace itself is, well from what I have seen so far of it anyway. Marbled floors, light and open rooms. Balconies. It provides more freedom, more air to breathe without feeling suffocated. In comparison to Auburndale, some of the rooms were stuffy, dark due to furniture and décor. But there were places to hide there. Here is open.

I wonder about intruders, but given that Ikaris is an Eternal one, I have no doubt the palace has it's own invisible defences - that and no one really dares to cross the border into this realm.

I hear light footsteps from the bedroom and walk back in to see a petite young woman standing there. Her ears resemble that of an elves, her eyes a bright green against her icy blonde hair. She is not human though - I can tell just by looking at her. "I'm Thalia". She now gives a quick bow of her head. "I'll be your maid".

"I'm Hale" I smile. "You are not Eternal though? A fae perhaps? Elf?"

"Wood nymph". She confirms. "Most of us dwell here in these lands. I have been serving here for years".

"And is this place? Good?" I now ask cautiously. "Do they treat you well?"

She nods quickly. "They do. Whereas across the border we would be killed like your kind, here we can live peacefully. Ikaris has been kind to us".

Well that puts my mind at rest.

"I've come to help you dress for breakfast. He would appreciate your company". Thalia now says as she begins to look through the rack of light and flowy dresses, all as beautiful as one another.

I wonder what Steve is doing now. This is probably the first breakfast I've had without him in a while (pushing aside the times he was sleeping in his study and working).My spirits dampen at the thought of him alone, but then I think to the way he looked at me as I was knelt on the floor awaiting my death sentence, and I wonder just what he would have done had Ikaris not have interrupted.

Would I have died by his hand?

Would he have disagreed with his father and pardoned me, but sent me into exile? I suppose I kind of am exiled now. Except I get to live out my days in this palace with an Eternal god. There are worse punishments...

Thalia selects a dress of sage green with some gold celestial-like detailing, helping me to dress before braiding my hair into a fishtail braid - her hands quick and skilful, as though she has done this numerous amounts of times before.

"Ikaris sent for some jewellery to be brought to you, although it will not arrive until this afternoon. Pieces selected to remind you of home". Thalia now tells me.

"I don't really know what to call home anymore". I admit sadly, now looking at myself in the vanity I'm set at, the reflection of her smile weak as she finishes securing the braid. "I've not lived with the ocean for years".

I couldn't even tell you how many.

Her expression become inquisitive. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you exactly?"