Eirene's fingers delved into her young lover's golden locks and caressed tenderly the delicate head which rested on her knees, going all the way to her rosy cheek, wordlessly thanking Daphne for her love and devotion.  The woman would have liked to enjoy more that night, but she felt and understood Daphne's soft gestures and blissful state of peace beckoning to sleep. Eirene herself found joy in the idea of having the young woman curled next to her in bed, her delicate bare frame tenderly embraced by her own.<br/><br/>"Come, my love" she said lifting Daphne's head with tenderness "let us rest for the remaining of the night, for tomorrow we'll have a feast."<br/><br/>They fell asleep embraced, basking into each other's warmth like two kittens curled up under the same blanket.<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>The next morning both Eirene and Daphne mingled with the rest of the early risers who came to the market. Most were either slaves or folks from the lower classes who couldn't afford to keep their own slaves, but there were also women from good families who - like Eirene - preferred to do shopping for fun. Amongst the stalls filled with food and spices there where fabric salers as well. Eirene had a favorite, a man of short stature who sold pricey things, but all of good quality. She  needed something to match her dress as well as Daphne's for that night's celebration.<br/><br/>As they passed by the fountain where Eirene first saw her future pupil and lover, the older woman took a moment to dip her fingers into the cold water, remembering how she used to play there as a little girl. The fountain was important for her in a strange way. It looked like it had been there long before Eirene was born and will probably remain on the same spot long after her death...but for the time she had on Earth, Eirene felt as if that fountain had been specially built for her. This is were she had her first kiss - it was with a boy from the neighbouring family at the time and in the same exact spot she turned down the first man her family wanted her to marry with. Then she met Daphne, seeing her there for the first time.<br/><br/>Eirene smiled to herself and took Daphne's arm, tenderly placing a kiss on her cheek. "I will buy you the best gift for tonight. It will remain a secret until then, however." In truth,  she bought it a long time ago, but sometimes Eirene could barely contain her excitement when it came to the young woman beside her.