Dinah sighed loudly as she ran her hands through her hair while they walked, tugging out any tangles that had worked themselves into her dark locks. Her strides were long and quick, so much so that it startled anyone they passed, all of whom would have jumped out of their path even if she'd been moving as slow as a slug anyway. Despite how frustrated and stressed she probably looked on the outside, Dinah felt satisfied. She didn’t’ feel calm by any stretch of the word, but she did feel content that she got her point across effectively. The Cobra was not a quiet woman and would bring up any concerns she had to Cayden no matter where they were or who was around to hear them whether he liked it or not. It hadn’t even been about Avery, not really. Unfortunately for the Raven, Dinah had just chosen her as a means of breaching the topic, of course. She’d have to apologize for that later, when the two of them had a moment to speak. At least so far, Dinah honestly liked Avery and didn’t want to push one of the few normal(ish) people she’d met so far away so quickly. Of course, if Avery still had intentions to join the Royal Flight, Dinah would be happy to support her if she had the opportunity, but how much her support mattered wasn’t entirely clear at the moment. Dinah could make Cayden uncomfortable and angry all she wanted, but that wasn’t the sort of person she wanted to be in this ordeal...marriage...thing, and any logical opinion she had on the matters of his people didn’t seem like something he would be too mindful about. She didn’t want him to hate her simply because she lost her temper here and there. She couldn’t entirely help that it happened. Just like him, she’d grown up in a place of general authority, having been the offspring of a ruler. And just like him, even though she hadn’t been the intended heir, she was pushed up even higher unexpectedly to rule over her people with little to no warning at all and minimal preparation for it. There was very little Dinah couldn’t do or say…but she was never a nag. Nagging at Cayden about something that really wasn’t any of her business wasn’t something Dinah wanted to do.
Damn balance…and damn them for not being able to achieve it. Nara was right in saying that none of this would happen overnight, but that didn’t stop Dinah from wanting it too. This first stage didn’t seem to be filled with much else other than tip toeing around each other, not saying what they wanted to say for fear of messing everything up…well, just plain holding back, and that wasn’t something Dinah could do for long, nor could she do it well even for a short time. Already she’d wanted to flat out tell Cayden he was an idiot and that he needed to relax just a little bit before he drove her absolutely insane just from the tension he dragged around with him. He probably already had his fair share of things he wanted to say to her as well…and honestly, she couldn’t wait. Maybe if the two of them just had it out at each other – verbally, not physically, of course – then some of the stress would be relieved? Not that she should have been looking forward to an argument with him. That wasn’t how married people were supposed to act. Her mother and father never really disagreed on too many things. Though, Dinah’s mother hadn’t really been a vocal or confrontational person to begin with. Abigail hadn’t been that quiet, but even she hadn’t fought with her father. Perhaps he just had a dominant sort of personality that very few people fought with? Either way, she wasn’t used to the idea of two people who were bonded not actually liking each other. It wasn’t like the two of them were going to like each other at all and Dinah had gone into this knowing that, but it was strange actually experiencing it. It wasn’t the way things were supposed to be.
“I’m fine.” Dinah said shortly, more because she was trying to think of a way to want to argue with her husband less, and less so because she was impatient with Nara. Catching the tone in her own voice quickly, Dinah sighed and shrugged her shoulders, hoping the tension in them wasn't too visible. Hoping in vain, probably. “I’m fine. Just…confused.” Dinah wanted to go home. She really, truly, and honestly did. There was nothing she wanted more, but she knew that it wouldn’t have been the right thing to do. She had to stay near Cayden, if for no other reason than just to keep up appearances. She didn’t want to start cutting corners or taking short cuts, afraid that the two of them would never stop once they started. Even if Dinah didn’t actually like Cayden, she didn’t like the idea of living completely separate from someone she was supposed to be married to either, and she didn’t see there being any other possible ending for them if they just ran away from each other.
Dinah could pick up what almost seemed to be understanding and patience in Nara’s tone – something that had been understandably lacking the night before. It was a pleasant surprise and Dinah was thankful for it. She did have to wonder what changed the Mamba’s mind, however. What had she been doing before the two of them showed up to the training grounds? No one looked dead or maimed, which Dinah figured was the only kind of Avian Nara liked, so she was a little suspicious in an odd, good kind of way. Dinah smiled at Nara’s “joke” only to regret it a moment later. That shouldn’t have been funny. But hell, neither of them was serious and there was no one around to take them seriously. Even Cayden’s guard was far enough away that he wouldn’t bother them. “We can’t leave just yet. It would only give them an excuse to run away if things don’t work out the way they want it tomorrow.” No doubt, spending time in the Serpiente Palace will be just as easy for Cayden as being here was for the two of them. He couldn’t have an excuse to leave just because he was uncomfortable, not that he seemed to be the kind of person that would give up easily to begin with. Too stubborn... Dinah just wanted to cover all her bases. Obviously, if Cayden decided to leave for whatever reason, she wouldn’t stop him, but Dinah sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one to cut and run first. Take plenty of walks and vent to her loved ones in the process? Absolutely. Run away? No way.
“I just wish I knew how this was supposed to work. It’s not like this is a normal marriage… I don’t think I really want normal – not with him, anyway. But I…have no idea how to do this. Being married to anyone…” Serpiente or not, Dinah had never intended to pair with anyone officially. Unless something ever happened to prevent Cecil from having children, she didn’t even plan on having any children of her own. She was just better off on her own. Things were far less complicated that way. Even the very casual, no obligations affair with Deccan tended to get clingy and most often, very annoying. At least he only made the habit of stepping on her toes occasionally. Now that she’d married a damned King, it was all the worse. She was tempted to joke at Nara and insist that she never get married, but she didn’t see that being an issue any time soon for the blonde. The two of them knew each other well enough to know their little quirks, and Dinah knew that Nara was not one for being tied down by anyone. All the sudden she was envious. Instead of commenting on it, Dinah just smiled and shook her head, happy that the other woman was there with her.
Maybe it was a cruel way of thinking, but Dinah was under the impression that Nara's aggression during this whole trip gave the Cobra a different way to look at things. Rather than attacking Cayden non-stop, she had to worry about stopping Nara from doing so. It was an odd way to think about it, but Dinah appreciated it none the less. Besides, nothing was ever boring with the Mamba around, and it was certain this place would be unbearably boring without some kind of tolerable company.
Just before the two of them reached the Market, Dinah stopped abruptly, dreading the thought of being surrounded by more birds, all of whom would stare at them like monsters. The reaction was a normal and very expected one, but that didn't make it any easier. Being the center of attention wasn't something that normally bothered her. In fact, Dinah reveled in it on any normal occasion, but this wasn't normal. No doubt they were all wondering, even expecting for one of them to lash out and hurt someone, if not worse, and it was already driving her mad. Breathing slowly through her nose, Dinah stood still and just stared in the direction of the Market, not at all wanting to go any further, though there wasn't really much of an option to begin with, if she remembered the navigation of this place correctly. "There are too many damn birds here." She mumbled under her breath, worried that someone might hear it if she spoke any louder. Sure, she was trying to make peace, but that didn't mean she had to like being surrounded by his people.
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