Sunbeam Lair singulus

the eagle set down the bundle of herbs. at last he regarded the lady meadow in true measure. she was comprised of lighter silver than himself, moonbeams rather than the dark face of the celestial body. her eyes were watchful and pointed, tawny as the offerings of the gentle bees in summertime. the mask that gently highlighted her gaze was bronzed. 

she was honey and coinage. and courage, to speak so directly and without fear of repercussion. germanicus found himself unsure how to answer for it was quite rarely that someone glanced behind the proverbial curtain.

"it is necessary," he said at last, in tones quieter than he meant them to be. and now words mounted on his tongue.  like meadow, the imperator spoke directly: "i was not known to you before today and yet you have sought to safeguard me as if we had known one another for several years."

his voice was measured but this time unveiled. "do you tire of tending others over yourself?" for he had seen her reduced mien, her slight body. he knew nothing of pregnancy or understanding its toll. he only observed all of meadow in entirety, as he had watched her do with him this hour.