Happiness
Chapter 12
�Who is it?� Dionysius was rather annoyed by this intrusion.
�A man from Persia, your majesty. He says he has an important message for you from his king.�
Dionysius motioned for his treasurer to leave. �Let him in.�
The servant bowed and opened the door for Balthazar to come in.
The Persian walked proudly into the middle of the room and stood boldly in front of the tyrant of Syracuse, his hands folded defiantly on his chest.
Dionysius pursed his lips, irritated by this display of disrespect, but pretended to ignore it.
�What is your business with me, man?� he asked coldly.
�My sovereign wishes to inform you that a man by the name of Damon has returned to Syracuse.�
�Damon?� the tyrant narrowed his eyes, watching the Persian closely.
�Yes,� Balthazar grinned slightly. �My king told me you would recognize the name. My king also told me to inform you that Damon happens to be a very close friend of his majesty.�
�So?� Dionysius� voice became very tense and almost icy cold.
�So, his majesty wishes you to know that if anything should happen to this man, my king will not hesitate to start a war against your state.�
Dionysius stepped up to Balthazar, looking him straight in the eyes. �Is this a threat, man? Do you dare to threaten me?�
Balthazar�s face hardened. �I am not here to make threats, sir. I am simply telling you that if you harm Damon in any way, your state will be invaded by Persian soldiers and you yourself will become a slave of my majesty. And I can promise you,� he smiled coldly, �my king will not be a very merciful owner for a slave of your kind.�
Dionysius did not utter a word, knowing in his mind that a man in front of him was telling the truth. Syracuse could never withstand the Persian army.
Balthazar nodded in confirmation. �I believe we understand each other, sir.� He bowed slightly and went toward the door. Before walking out, he turned and said evenly, �Just remember, sir, there will always be someone watching.�
***
The sun was setting over the Syracuse, slowly immersing the city in the sea of twilight, as Damon made his way to the old familiar house at the end of a small winding street. Making no more noise than a cat, he climbed up onto the roof. His heart was now racing so fast, pounding in his ears, that he thought it would break out of his chest any second. He lowered himself from the sloping roof onto the flat surface, and then he saw her, bending over the heath. For a moment it seemed to him that he was dreaming. He stood perfectly still, devouring every little detail of her with his eyes, afraid that if he turns away she would disappear. Adriana felt his intense stare on her. She turned around and froze, unable to believe her eyes.
They stood like that � motionless and speechless � until Damon finally shook off his numbness and smiled, �Don�t I even get a �hello�?�
This was a cue for her. With a barely audible �Oh, Damon!� she rushed into his arms, and they both dropped to their knees, holding each other in an embrace so tight that no force on Earth could separate them. His lips found hers and the two merged in an insatiable passionate kiss. When their lips finally parted � minutes later � they remained in the same position, breathing heavily, barely able to contain the storm of emotions raging inside of them. Damon licked his lips, feeling a salty taste in his mouth. He could not tell if those were Adriana�s tears or his own that flowed freely down his cheeks. He wasn�t trying to hold them back. He merely kept looking at her, looking into her tear-stained eyes that told him so much without a single word. His heart was full, overflowing with happiness � bittersweet happiness. He was finally home, in the arms of the one he dreamed about every agonizing moment of their separation. She lifted her hands to his face and began stroking it gently, wiping the streaks of tears off his cheeks. He closed his eyes blissfully, giving all of himself to the touch he longed for all this time.
A frightened child�s voice broke the reigning silence. �Mama? Who is this, mama?�
Damon opened his eyes and saw a tiny brown-eyed creature that peeped out from behind an aras that enclosed a small bedroom. Adriana turned around without moving away from Damon and said tenderly to the child, �This is your daddy, Thea. Come here, honey, do not be afraid.�
Damon�s heart stopped beating for a moment as he watched the little figure with tousled head of hair move hesitantly toward them. The girl stopped a few steps away, uncertain, eyeing him curiously. Damon swallowed nervously and opened his arms, inviting her in. A bright dazzling smile lighted up the girl�s face, and she ran toward him, falling trustfully into his tight embrace. He could not imagine a man being any happier. He looked into Adriana�s laughing eyes, and his lips were drawn again toward hers, their hands wrapped around each other and a scrawny big-eyed creature � the fruit of their love.
***
That was how Balthazar found them a few moments later.
�You will pardon, sir, � ma�am, � he said, bowing respectfully to Adriana, who eyed him in surprise, �but my mission is done here. I just wanted to let you know before leaving.�
�What was your mission, Balthazar?�
The Persian smiled enigmatically, looking at the little girl who clung fearfully to her father�s leg. �You have a wonderful family, master Damon. Ruler Dionysius was very happy to hear about your safe return, and he promised me that he will do anything in his power to make sure that you and your family will find life here in Syracuse as carefree as possible.�
The two men looked at each other, and the spark of understanding flashed in Damon�s eyes. He gently stroked the child�s hair and held out his hand to the grinning soldier. �Thank you, Balthazar,� he said gratefully, shaking the man�s hand.
�It was my pleasure, sir,� the latter said evenly. �My best wishes to you and your family. Perhaps we will see you again in Persia.�
Damon nodded, smiling. The Persian bowed again and left.
�Who was this man?� Adriana looked at him questioningly.
�A friend,� he answered mysteriously.
�You believe what he said about Dionysius?� a worried look clouded Adriana�s tender features.
A light smile touched Damon�s lips and he bent slightly and kissed her gently on the forehead. �Yes, darling, I believe him.�
His journey was indeed over. Any cloud of doubt or worry that might have hung above him at the thought of Dionysius has dissipated. He looked up at the first stars that began appearing on the dark firmament. The warm evening sky reflected the feeling of love and tranquility that filled his soul. A light breeze touched his cheek, gently ruffling the freely flowing cloth of his toga.
�Come,� he whispered to Adriana, hugging his newly found family. �Let�s go inside �we have a lot to catch up on.��
The end.