Hope Falls

"I need you to treat this as you would going into battle, Em. If another General were to confront you. Address the disrespect, yes, but without fuss and discreetly. When I see this Lucian I, too, will give him this warning. If Karina gets upset then Thea will, you will. If you get upset, Karina will, so will Thea and I. It is a spiral. So please; be responsible, as I know you can be - I'll ask the same of him."

---

"He speaks like he doesn't interact with vampires," Lynette laughed, resting her hand on Lucian's arm and squeezing it gently. "You adored the vampires in Hvitera."

"I have heard stories of the place, it sounds like myth though." Conan mused, taking the entire tray of canapés from the waiter and eating a few in a row before offering it to Lucian. "Say goodbye to your old life, because your taste buds will not know what to do with this."

Devika shook her head, face twitching in disgust as she noticed the touch between Lynette and Lucian. Unable to help herself as she blurted, in a whisper, "I hope she leaves soon. She is insufferable."

---

"Oh it is wonderful ot be loved by you." Karina laughed, twisting Thea's hair around the brush to help create the effect intended for the up-down do. Reaching across to pick up a pin with sapphire gems encrusted in it in order to keep the hair in place. "Ah, now that is the best I have done it."

"She will have her own, but I didn't think you would appreciate a.... Ah." Karina grinned as there were three consecutive, gentle knock against the door. Moving away from Thea to let a short woman with gray-ish black hair into the room. "I thought you would never be here."

"Apologies! Things took a little longer than expected." Lèna stressed, hard to see amongst the vast amount of fabric dresses; mostly black - that she was pushing ahead of her. Giving a low curtsy to Thea and whispering; "Applogies for arriving unannounced to you, Your Highness. King Magnus requested utmost secrecy, but he wishes you to choose something to wear of your choosing and to meet him in the hall."

---

"You're a good friend, Aster." Magnus praised quietly, patting his shoulder. "I will go and tell our guests to come in, if they wish, as long as they find their seats within the hour. You should mingle, with whomever you like - the soldiers, the guests. The night will take its course now."

---

"My man?" Devika scoffed, pausing to down half a glass of the champagne she swiped from a passing waiter. "Don't be ridiculous, he is a Prince."

"I do notice a considerable amount of our supplies, and a  increased amount of arguments between our tailors happening whenever you visit." Conan mused to Lynette, keeping one eye on Lucian to unspectacular his reaction to the food. "Do you have skills past thieving things?"

"That isn't for you to know." Lynette purred.

"You are a Valkyrie, a Warrior. One of the bravest woman to exist, emotionally and otherwise. The Guardian's may have stripped you of it, of your sisterhood but you are still exactly what you are. I see you no differently then the day I first met you, and I know many people who feel the same. You are born to be a Queen, to marry a King. I think Conan is a great leader, I do and I mean no disrespect to his abilities to lead but I believe he is motivated by you and the children. If he didn't have you, have them... we wouldn't be as strong."

"My team might benefit from skills picked up over in the East, if you are staying for any longe-"

"No," Lynette cut him off with laugh, reaching a hand out as she shook her head. "Sorry. This place is not home."

"Think on it. You'll be well looked after." Conan encouraged, grinning at Lucian; "You said it wouldn't like up to it, so you were wrong too, Luca."

---

"I won't be until I see her, but you can not hold my hand now." Magnus chuckled. "I'll be fine. Enjoy the celebrations, Em."

---

"I - uh."

"Magnus has organised something special for you," Karina smiled. "You know how he is with parties. You know how sentimental he can be."

"I can't tell you." Karina fussed, getting to her heel and waving Lèna away as she began to push through some of the dresses. "It is formal though, but not so formal that you have to be uncomfortable. You need something that feels like you."

---

"The title is irrelevant, yes." Devika grimaced. "It is much more to do with... people. I'm not a persons person, not in the way he is. I am a homeboy, he likes to travel. I want a quiet life, he is... a sailor. I have.. men who come from the sea are capable of violence that I have seen, that I remember more and more when I am with him. It is a moral crisis and... and he would never be interested anyway. We do not fit. Not like how everyone o have seen... fits."

"Nor did you. You need to come home, I will be dragging you with me." Lynette laughed.

"Home?" Lynette echoed, shaking her head to try and blur her own expression of hurt as she excused herself. "I need to piss." Disappearing into the crowd a moment later.

"Just enjoy the party," Conan encouraged softly, squeezing his cousin's shoulder. "And-"

"Lucian." Magnus interuppted, working through the crowd with ease and offering a hand out for a shake. "Magnus. It's a pleasure to welcome you. May we have a private word?"

"You do not remember." Devika whispered, "Which is fine, I feel no anger for that. I am a blip in the job you and your sisters had. I remember though, every moment of my death and what happened before it. It was caused people similar to those he is, those he calls family. So I struggle, emotionally....and he says things sometimes, that brings it all back. Then we bring clas into it all and... oh it is complex, isn't it?"

---

"Magnus wants to renew vows." Karina caved, keeping herself busy by looking through the dress options. "I don't know how long he wanted me to keep it quiet today, so - so act surprised when you see him, okay? When I asked him why he said so much had happened, the wars, the loss. He just wanted.. to celebrate getting through it all."

"I am here, Emmett. Your daughter. Conan, Dagmar.. I mean... everyone. He has invited everyone, Thea. He wants to show you off, show off how strong the two of you are." Karina grinned. "This is how it should have been."

---

Devika shook her head once more, though didn't vocalise her insecurities any further. Letting her gaze drift over to watch Lucian closely. Swallowing thickly when Conan approached, stepping back to try and disappear in the crowd.

"I hope you've helped yourself to food, Dasha darling." Conan fussed, ducking his head to press his lips to Dagmar's

"Why would I scold you when I do not know you? I have heard plenty though, of you and your crew. I never knew you were related to goody two shoes over there though." Lucian chuckled, gaze flickering to Conan. "Can I take you away to somewhere more private? People are too eager to listen."

.

"It isn't like you to say no to this food, are you okay?" Conan frowned, ducking his head to touch his forehead to Damgar's in silent affection. "I can find somewhere quiet for you ti sit if you need it."

---

"I don't know what Conan and Dagmar have told you of me but I would find a much more elaborate way of doing that if it were my intention." Magnus laughed, grabbing a glass to drink as he turned anx headed towards one of the side rooms; a more intimate office style space, oak bookcases lining the walls and a desk in it's centre which creaked as he leant back against it. "I hear you are a man of much... experience."

---

"'Blue is good luck in love," Karina grinned. "Black matches with anything though, and your husband knows you well enough to know even a vow renewal doesn't break the black only rule."

"That isn't a conversation to have now," Karina chuckled. "I don't believe your even meant to know right now, remember you still have to act surprised when you see it all."

---

"I can't wait to dance with you later."

---

"I've heard many things about you, and your relationship to my friends." Magnus continued, leaning down to pour a drink of whisky - offering him a glass. "I have gotten the jist of how you feel about many of my friends. I also don't have much time so I am going to make this clear; My wife and I have not been allowed to celebrate one another; you will not ruin this. Dagmar is a dear friend, so you will not call her Conan's mistress here - they would be married in moments if they were allowed and words like that upsets them both deeply. Emmett Aster is one of the bravest men I know, I can not depend on many people but I can depend on him so you will not upset him. Karina Aster is the second most important person to keep happy tonight, other than my wife. If she is sad, Thea is sad and I am not standing for it. Am I being clear?"

"We are beginning in an hour, so be cautious of the time you spend mingling." Magnus' face pulled up into a cheerful grin, throwing his hand to the side to motion back towards the door. "Enjoy the celebrations, my friend."

---

"Yes you do, as he deserves you. You compliment each other perfectly." Karina laughed, helping her into the dress that she picked out. "Today is the day to celebrate that."

---

"I am sure he'll find a way some point in the night to take you off me. There is always some excuse whenever the four of us are in the same place."

"Ah, that dress should be on the rack with yours. I'll find it now." Karina wrinkled her nose in concentration as she tied the corset, brushing her hand across the lace gently to make sure there weren't any frays. Walking to the plethora of dresses, she pulled out a small black dress with a lace top and ribbon around the waist; "Emmett told me Magnus has been stressing more over this dress then your options."

---

"Oh?" Magnus lifted the ring up to catch the rays of the sun, squinting to try and analyse the details of it. With a slow breath, he placed it in his pocket a moment later and stepped out into the main room. Beelining for Conan and Dagmar when they came into sight; "Hello."

"If you ever decide to wear white then I will be sure to rush any funeral arrangements for you." Karina laughed. "Now, I don't know if there is anything else to be done. I'll get your Princess ready, and change into something myself. Then it should be about time. Do you need anything?"

---

"Lèna went whizzing past with the dresses about forty minutes ago and I haven't seen Thea bulldozing in to scream at me so I think I am past the danger zone now." Magnus chuckled, reaching over to squeeze her arm in return. "I am glad you both managed to make it. It was wonderful to meet your cousin, Conan; he assures me you have him kn a tight leash."

"Absolutely not," Conan chuckled. "I don't think anyone has that ability. There will be no issues though."

---

"You don't have a drink in your hand." Devika mused, holding a champagne flute out towards Lucian. A small "hmph" escaping her when she got pushed in the hustle and bustle of a noble family trying to make their way through.

"Strangers are rare, and two wars in a row have taken their toll on everyone here." She explained quietly. "Karina and I were sent away with the children during the last war, we were supposed to have the King's first daughter with us. The wolves killed the babe though, before we could bring her to safety. King Magnus and Queen Thea suffered more than anyone else, out of all of the allies. That is what I believe at least."

---

"Wonderful." Karina hummed, coming back from the other room with Thea's daughter in her arms. Moving a free hand to take the dress from her. "I will get her ready, and myself. One of the maids will collect you when it is time."

---

"He had my father's ring. Claimed to have found it in a market." Magnus whispered. "Can I trust that, or do I have to-"

"No threats." Conan warned lowly. "I won't stand for any threats against him, Magnus, not even from you."