The incident occurred in such a fast pace that by the time things had settled and the hush following Death's presence had fallen over the party goers Daphne would have sworn her heart had stilled with Agamemnon's. Silence stretched but when the shocked whispers and mumbled comments finally burst forth the sound created a low roar. When Eirene ushered the men and women out of her home, Daphne slipped from Orion's side to fine Eirene's where she quickly slipped her hand within her love's, squeezing the familiar, feminine grasp before moving onward to where her parent's stood.<br/><br/>Her mother, oh so proud, refused to meet her daughter's eyes instead raising her strong chin and catching the eyes of as many of her fellow gossipers as she could manage. There was little doubt the older woman would do everything in her power to silence as many with the Gift of Gab as she can manage. Daphne's father, however, with his stern jaw and stony gaze caught no one's curious looks. Instead, his posture straight and his strides focused, he passed through the crowd towards the last man standing and offered his hand in a strong clasp. Although Daphne could not hear the brief conversation she could only guess how her father congratulated Orion on his victory, all the more determined to marry his daughter off as quickly as possible.<br/><br/>With gentle fingers Daphne caressed the heavy golden brooch at her shoulder and allowed sapphire eyes to peer up at her Mistress, her free hand still holding the singular rose. Perhaps the young woman should have listened to her lover when she had warned her about the dangers of man. Had she not been on Orion's arm a body would not be being carried out in Eirene's servants arms. Had she not her mother would not be thrumming with nervous energy beside her, ready to repair some of the damage that had been. Had she not she would be assured the warmth of her Mistress' lush form pressed against her own and whispered words of love and passion filling the dark bed chamber later tonight.<br/><br/>But had Orion truly done any wrong? The figurative blood of another man may stain her suitor's hands but was he in the wrong? Surely if the Goddess, Themis, in her certain and well-weighed judgement of the recently deceased could find the rightful place for Agamemnon's wandering soul than so too can Athenian society mimic the Goddess' process and find the merchant sailor innocent in this. So too then must not she do the same?<br/><br/>Daphne, a trembling breath held locked within her lungs, slipped away from her mother once the last few stragglers fled Eirene's home. She approached the two men just as her father turned away, clearly intending to gather the women of his family and depart. Offering her sire a small if nervous smile, she stepped into Orion and placed her palm tenderly upon his bicep ignoring the still dripping fabric of his robes despite how they brushed against her chiton. With a gentle kiss to his cheek, she returned his rose to his lapel and met his gaze.<br/><br/>"Thank you for defending my honor as you have. You are a hero in my eyes and should be seen as such to the rest of the simpering fools that were here tonight." She offered another kiss to his cheek before turning to fall behind her mother as she was led into the night air, carefully keeping her gaze locked ahead for fear of her stray glances towards her darling be read as exactly what they were.