Beautiful eyes like starlight

Kian went out of the chamber, closing the door behind him carefully. He didn't want to wake his daughter, which he now left alone in the room with a maid. He sighed and stroke through his brunette hair. It felt strange to leave her alone, but he couldn't let Rose Lannister go home alone as well. If something would happen to her, he'd be the one who had to take responsibility. He liked to be alive a while longer and see his daughter rise up to a beautiful woman.

Kian turned around and bumped into someone. "I'm sorry, I haven't seen you...", he reached out his hand to help the woman who fell to his feet. When she raised her head and he looked into her eyes, he hesitated for a moment. Then he bend down and put her back on her feet. "My apologies, mylady.", he bowed slightly. "Mr. Innis at your service."

She had just checked-in and walked upstairs to get to her room. Daemon Lannister did not seem to know much about her family. Or he is just a great actor, she thought. But she tended to trust him for now. He seemed nice and maybe he could be helpful.
When she reached the first floor and went around a corner, she bumped into a man standing in the middle of the way. She was not able to get in balance again and fell on the ground. What stupid head- ?! She raised her eyes up to that man and their glance became one. Slowly and without averting his eyes she laid her hand in his put forth one and let him raise her up. Her anger was washed away. What a handsome man! And he seemed to be very strong, she could tell by the way he raised her without any effort.
She gave him a smile. "Don't worry. So, Mr. Innis... are you always this overwhelming?"

He smiled back at her, slightly amused. "Only when I see something worth it.", he chuckled shortly. "Did you hurt yourself, mylady?", now he frowned concerned. "My thoughts drifted away, sadly. It's not easy to worry for more than one woman at the moment."

Kian was still surprised at his reaction on her. She got his interest in only a short moment. That was... quite unpleasant and interesting at the same time. Only Maleas mother had this effect on him. When she was around he had only eyes for her.

"May I know your name, so I can repay my fault?"

"No, I am fine, thank you. So you have several women to worry about?" She could not deny he had the look of a womanizer. She was sure he makes women fall in love with him in a row. Maybe she should be careful.
"You may. It's Melos. Athena Melos."

Kian gave her a warm smile. "It's nice to make your accompany Lady Melos.", he bowed slightly. "No, normally just one and that's my little daughter. She's distracting me enough. I just had a talk with a woman before we met. I tend to avoid the accompany of women, if I don't need to be at there side due to my profession.", he smiled forced, while thinking about all those yelling and screaming women, when he came with his merchandise.

"Oh" she was really surprised that he had a daughter. He didn't seem to be that old...but maybe he was very young when he fercundated some woman."
And what about her mother? You don't avoid her company, do you?" She was sure this woman had to be in the room he just left.
"Really? How comes that? And what is your profession if I may ask?" Something about him made her really curious.

"I never avoided the company of my beloved wife.", he sighed and stroke through his hair. "Sadly she passed away before five years. Raising a child all alone isn't that simple as it looks like.", he tried to joke. Kian didn't knew why he told her all that. She was a stranger. He never told strangers his life story. Well, not even half of it like he did now.

"I'm a merchant. So if you need anything you might come to the market and get something from me.", he shrugged. "Not sure how long I stay this time though. I haven't been here for months now, but I might leave in a few days again or if something keeps me here I stay.", he wasn't sure about the trip. If Malea wanted to stay longer, he would stay. Somehow he knew the life on a ship annoyed that little girl ,ore than she showed him. Eventhough she seemed to be curious enough to learn new things in different countries.

"Oh, I'm very sorry. I didn't know that", she said honestly and touched slightly his shoulder, just for a second. She knew the pain of loosing someone beloved very well. Even after all this time she has not gotten over her lost. Otherwise she wouldn't be here, of course.
"Maybe I will come for a visit some time", she said with a wink. This could be a great chance. He definitely could know something about Acropolis. "But isn't that a hard life? In particular for your daughter?" She really couldn't handle kids. She guessed she was simply not the mother-type. But who knows? Maybe someday.. far, far in the future. She has to focus on other things right now.

Kian looked at her hand that touched his shoulder gently. Then he looked back into her eyes. "Did you loose someone yourself?", he asked softly and tilted his head for a moment. Maybe that was the peculiar connection, he felt towards her?

"I'm waiting for you then, mylady.", he smiled. "Well, I think it is. But she doesn't know a different life. I'm a bit concerned about her training as wife, when she comes to that age, but I don't really care about it either. I won't force a marriage upon her, nor will I push her out of my house if she never marries. It's her life, she can decide it.", while mentioning the forced marriage, his glance was almost angry, but he calmed down fast. "She can learn to be a good wife, if she wants to, I find someone to teach her. But she can be wild and casual too, if that's her wish."

He left his home because of the strict rules and the things his father wanted to force upon him, he would never urge his daughter to act against her personality neither would he do that to his wife. If he indeed liked to marry again. Not yet though.

"Uhm, no not really. My parents are dead but I never really knew them.", she lied. She was not gonna tell him anything about her real person, that was just too dangerous for her.

"I will be there", she smiled again. "Well, that's really... open-minded. I don't know any man who said that before.", she said. "I have to admit you're really.. unconventional"

"Let's say I've seen enough from this world to have my own mind and rules about life.", he shrugged. Not that it could cause problems. But he wouldn't just obey to royality when their orders were wrong. Kian tilted his head and looked at Athena.

"Well, well, Mr. Innis. It was very nice to meet you. I'm sure it was not the last time we met.", she said and smiled promising. She really needed some rest, even if she had someone that interesting to talk to. "Have a good night then.", she added with a tempting voice and turned around to walk down the corridor.

"The pleasure is mine Lady Melos.", Kian bowed towards Athena. "Sweets dreams, I'll be waiting for you.", and then he walked with a nod to the stairs, back to Lady Rose. He had to bring her home or she might get in danger.

She couldn't resist and took a look behind her, but he already went down the stairs. Hopefully it won't be long until she sees him again... She walked over to her room and went to bed. The room was very small, but she had seen much worse rooms and the bed itself was really kind of comfortable, for this price.... She turned. Tomorrow she will be going to the market... for information of course, not only to see Mr. Innis again. But this could be a reinforcing reason....Maybe. She turned again. She was so tired but she just could not sleep. She sighed.
After a few minutes passed - they felt like hours - she stood up again and walked over to the small window and opened it. It was a very clear and starful night. Beautiful... She looked up to the sky for a while. Could it be true that her family was watching her from above there? She smiled and shaked her head. It didn't make sense to think about that now. She stepped back and closed the window again. Maybe it would help if she just walked around a bit. She left her room and went downstairs. Nobody was here, not even some drunken guests. That was a good thing though. She  sat down at a table and just looked around in the room.

Kian walked along the roads back to the inn. It had took some time to bring Rose back home safe and he already started to worry about his daughter. He wanted to hold her and get some sleep too. The hard day now called itself and made him exhausted. He sighed deeply.

In front of the inn he stopped. Something caught his eye before he could even step in. Someone was standing in front of a window and staring up to the stars. Like he did a million times at night. Someone who felt lonely like he did?

When the person left the window, he lowered his head and shook it. Maybe just a stranger. He couldn't see the person properly, it was just a dark scheme against the moon and starlight. Kian opened the door to the inn and walked in. The owner already dimmed the lights and it seemed like he would close it in a few moments. He just came back in time.

Kian opened his cloak and layed it over his arm, when he recognized someone at the table he always used to sit at. He went over and smiled when he realised it was Miss Melos. "Good Night, mylady. Can't you sleep today?", he asked politely in a warm voice.

As a certain someone came to her table she raised her head. "Oh, Mr. Innis. It's you." She smiled. "Unfortunately not. And you, Sir? Took a little walk in the moonlight?", she asked a little sneering and leaned her chin in her hand.

Kian sat down in front of her at the table and layed his cloak next to him. "Unfortunately not. I had to bring a young lady home. She came all the way alone to see my new merchandise. I couldn't show her today, so it was at least something I could do and she wouldn't be harrassed by other men.", he smiled. "Besides the fact that her father might get thoughts to let me being killed cause I left his precious daughter all alone."

He leaned back at the seat and looked at her. "So what is it, that lets a beautiful lady like yours stay awake till the middle of the night?"

"A real gentleman.", she said with a wink. "Sounds like you and this lady know each other already. Old friends I guess?" She really likes his smile. His teeth were so incredible white ..

She smiled with a slow blink of her eyes. "Maybe I was hoping to see someone who likes to bowl down ladies?"

"Yes, we know each other for a few years now. Sometimes I feel like I'm her personal merchant.", he chuckled. "I think the years just showed me, what kind of stuff she likes the most, and that I better have something prepared for her, when I visit Lannisport."

He laughed warm and softly at her last question. "As you already said miss, I'm a gentleman, not a womanizer. I don't have the intention to get a woman by my side soon.", his eyes shimmered in amusement.

She chuckled, too. "Sounds like a good relationship. And so, what is it that she likes? Typically women-things? Something special? Or are you not allowed to tell me what you're selling?", she grinned. As a merchant ha had to know very much about many people and cities. She should definitely spend more time with him. If he trusts her, he will probably tell her what he knows. Every information can be useful. She wondered what colour his eyes had, but she couldn't see it in this dimmish light.

"Well, you could be one", she skewed her head and smiled at him doubtfully. "I'm sure the girls stand in line waiting for you, don't they?" They definitely did, she was sure about that. But maybe he had so much to do with his daughter that he didn't notice that... Or it didn't matter to him.

Kian leaned back forward. "She loves dresses and jewels. Like almost every woman does. Sometimes she buys cloth, to make a special dress.", he shrugged. "My merchandise has although a lot more variety than just dresses and jewels.", he looked at her slightly concerned now. "It' always good to bring a bigger variety. It attracts more customers and helps bounding relationships.", though the loss of it, would cause a lot more trouble. He had been through it a few times.

He shrugged. "I'm not interested. My daughter keeps a lot of my attention, as well as my profession. Most woman I know just want the money, a better state in society or something else, that's not love. I only marry the one that can hold my heart.", his smile went sad. "But before it has the be re-lighten I guess."

"I understand. And what else can you offer?" She smiled because of the ambiguity that could be seen in her question. She really enjoys it to talk like that, even it was not very lady-like...but the men always have liked her for that facette of herself. She didn't have many dresses and they were all not that costly. She needed her money for travelling. No way to "waste" it for beautiful things like big dresses or jewels...Of course she sometimes dreamed of that, but..it was not possible right now.

"Well, that is what their family have said them all their life, I guess. How can they search for love if they don't even know that this is what they need to look for?"

"You're highly romantic, aren't you, Mr. Innis? And I'm sure there will be a woman someday that you will burn for." She smiled again.

"Well, that comes to the things you are searching for.", he tilted his head shortly. "Are you searching for something special?", he really started to enjoy talking to her. She was quite different like the women he was used to. Like the ones he had to listen to all day.

"I am who I am. And I don't like to marry a girl that could be my daughter, or the sister of my daughter. No, thank you.", he shook his head. "Haven't met her yet. Should I go and search somewhere else?", he answered teasingly.

"Well...have you heard of the Helena-stone?", she asked with a low voice. Of course she was not looking for this stone itself. But whoever murdered her family had their familyjewel. Maybe he has heard something about it...

She chuckled. "Well, you could try your best, Mr. Innis, but I think you're not gonna find the woman of your dreams all alone outside in the middle of the night." Everything he would find now were some loose women or worse.

Kian looked at her seriously, hiding his surprise about her question. "Mmh... Just the normal rumours, or more the tragic story about the family, which owned the jewel. They got killed... obviously normal these days if you are rich.", he shook his head. "Why are you asking? Do you want it? Or more informations about it? I might... knew a few people I can ask for more details.", he tilted his head. Asking those people would create rumours and maybe trouble.

Kian smiled again. He liked her laugh. "So you want me to stay with you then?"