When we arrived at the Madrigal estate, we let Philip know what was up, and I went to see Hilda. She did seem pleased to see me. I told her I was sad I didn't get to see her off when she left Alestia a couple of weeks ago and asked if she could give me a tour. It was a modest estate, not too ostentatious. Since it was almost dusk, she took me to one of her favorite places on the estate, a balcony overlooking the grounds. We stood there in silence, enjoying the sunset, but every now I'd steal glances at her. Well, that would imply I was being covert about it, I knew she knew I was staring, and I could tell she was blushing.
I kept inching closer, and she made no move to get away. The air was cool, and she had wrapped her arms around herself, but when I caught her shiver, I used the opportunity to pull her in close. “Thanks,” she said, looking up at me with her deep brown eyes, our faces just inches apart. I leaned in and kissed her, this time no one interrupting us. After a few minutes, we came up for air. She seemed to have enjoyed it.
Then we heard someone approaching from inside so we nervously jumped apart, but it was only a servant letting us know dinner would be served soon. When we were alone again, I told Hilda to meet me again tonight, I had something I wanted to give her. She told me she knew of a nice secluded place where we wouldn't be likely to be bothered. Perfect, I said.
Dinner was an interesting affair. Philip was worried obviously, but I swore I would protect Hilda with my life. Cass kinda snorted at that, and every so often she'd say something flirty at Grey. Whatever, I was paying more attention to the cute redheaded girl at the table anyways. Besides the Madrigals, we were joined by Poul Villiers, who seemed to serve as a trusted adviser for Philip and his daughter. He was a tall, handsome man with dark hair and an olive complexion. Since Cass' flirtatiousness seemed to be lost on monk boy, I could tell she was checking out Poul, even though he was a little older than us. I noticed him too, or rather the gaudy holy symbol he wore around his neck. From what I could remember from my religious studies, the design marked him as a follower of Lilim. I was a little nervous about that, as his kind were known to be mind readers, and I'm not sure he would not be looking too kindly if he knew the dirty thoughts I was having about his master's daughter.
Midway through the dinner, an air elemental showed up with a message for Philip. From the look on his face, we could tell whatever it said was most troubling. He told us he had to immediately take his leave and head for Alestia posthaste. Philip called me on my promise to watch his daughter, asking me and the rest of us to guard her while he traveled back up to Alestia. He was glad we could do this for him, because he didn't want to take his daughter on the road again knowing the danger that was lurking about.
Afterward, while the others were gossiping about what the message could possibly have said and Trent trying to figure out ways to find out, I went up to my room. I polished the silver necklace as best as I could and snuck out to meet Hilda in her secret spot, a sitting room that was hardly ever used anymore. There was a large portrait of a younger her and her parents on the wall, and I was all, “Oh, you looked so cute when you were little!” and she got faux-mad that I was mocking her and redirected the conversation to the “something” I had for her. I pulled out the silver necklace and told her when I saw it I thought it would look good on her. She liked it, and I asked her if she would let me put it on her.
Stepping behind her, she pulled her smooth hair aside, exposing her neck. I wrapped the necklace around her and clasped it. “Beautiful,” I whispered, and she knew I couldn't really talking about the jewelry since I couldn't really see it from my position. I kissed her neck, and she moaned in approval as I worked my way up to her ear, wherein I whispered sweet nothings to her. She turned around and we began to make out. I eventually broke our kissing and fondling off long enough to tell her that we should take this to her room. I could tell she was resistant at first, but I looked into her eyes and said, “please?” She eventually acquiesced and we snuck off to her room. Luckily it wasn't too far away and I used a bit of magic to make sure we made it back and into her room without getting caught.
I quickly pulled my shirt off and we continued exploring each other's mouths before falling onto her bed. We carried on like that for several more minutes when I told her I wanted to “be” with her. She seemed unsure at first, but after planting a few more sweet nothings in her ear, she changed her tune. Hilda stood up from the bed, and after going to the door to make sure it was locked, she stood in front of me. I sat at the base of the bed while she slipped the straps of her dressing gown off her shoulders and let the garment fall to the floor. She stepped over me, looking shy, her nude body bathed in the moonlight. I looked at her with longing and hunger and pulled her on top of me. I rotated us back onto the bed so she was beneath me.
“I've never done this before,” she told me meekly. I looked into her pretty face, strands of red hair cascading onto the bed below and told her not to worry, that I would be gentle. And I was. We made passionate love and in the end I told Hilda she was amazing as I snuggled her close. After she drifted to sleep, I snuck out of there, as her father probably wouldn't be too pleased with this turn of events.