Hades

Chapter 7

ELARA

Leo and I were seated in the dining hall at a massive Oak table that could easily seat twenty individuals. The table we sat at was at the head of the room and raised slightly meaning that whoever sat there would be looking down at the other diners. When we had entered the hall I tried to take a seat at one of the dining tables that where smaller and where low-down Leo looked at me like I had grown an additional head, He swiftly took my hand and made a noise of disgust before telling me that we simply could not sit there. Leo had explained that those tables where reserved for those who did not hold status and did not deserve to sit at the grand table. I had no idea what the big deal was, it was just a table and technically I should not have been sitting at the grand table as I held no status. I tried to argue my point with Leo and he simply stated that I was his guest and therefore had permission to sit at the grand table, he also made a point of saying that a pretty girl like me should be treated with grand gestures and sitting at the so called 'peasants' table simply would not do. 

It was nearing lunch by the time that we sat down and the food had been delivered to the table. Leo had explained that the palace worked to a tight schedule and if you missed a meal time you would simply have to go without, there was no time for tardiness in the underworld as there was always work to be done. I unfortunately had missed breakfast so was now was having to wait patiently to eat, although food had been laid on the table it seemed as if we were waiting for someone. I looked around the room and saw that almost every chair was in use apart from the one that was adjacent to mine at the head of the table... that must be where the king sits I thought to myself. 

a few minutes had passed and Leo looked spaced out almost as if he were in deep thought but his eyes were glazed over and his facial expressions changed as if he were having a conversation. I was confused by his present state so I waved my hand infront of his face, after one wave he did not respond to my actions so I went to wave some more but he quickly grabbed my wrist and held it in place. Minutes seemed to pass and he did not let go of my wrist and I was starting to grow uncomfortable by the somewhat secretive gazes I was earning from the people around us. 

Eventually Leo let go of my wrist and moved his hand to grab mine from over the table not letting me remove it from his grasp. I looked puzzled by the action seeing his cocky smile and watching as he turned his head slightly to face the others in the room, "The King shall not be joining us this afternoon... you may begin" His voice boomed. It was odd all traces of genteelness had escaped his voice when he spoke to the others and he exuded authority. Leo turned back to face me his hand still attached to mine,  he stared down at them and used his thumb to rub circles into mine. Leo sighed taking his hand away and smiling at me before grabbing a spoon and tucking into his soup. I hesitated taking a moment to process his actions, he was acting soft with me and even though I do not know him I could tell that it was not his natural state of behaviour. I shrugged the incident off and picked my spoon up and tasted the soup, it was perfect I had not tasted anything like it before but whatever it was, it was delicious. To go along with the soup there was a variety of breads, potatoes, and salads that were equally as delicious  - I had never tasted lettuce so nicely prepared. 

Once people had finished their food they began to leave and the staff who had brought the food out started to collect their dishes and whisk them away to a kitchen hidden from sight. I had noticed that there where more male members left in the room and saw that some had let the females eat first before they even started to eat. It was an odd sight to see so I returned my eye to Leos blue hues and questioned him "why are the men waiting for the women to finish?". Leo looked puzzled for a moment before biting his lip, and i've got to admit he did look kinda good in that moment. Leo looked like he was in some kind of internal battle, it was as if he didn't know how to answer my question or he simply just didn't want to tell me. I felt guilt for asking a question that I fear may have made him uncomfortable and with a sympathetic look I walked around the table to where he was sitting. Leo watched my movements wondering what I was doing and calculating what his next move should be, little did he know I had not come to attack I had come to console. I looked into his eyes giving him a lopsided smile before pulling him into a hug. it took Leo less than a second to respond, he stood up and wrapped his muscular arms around me drowning me in warmth.