Hope Falls

“You should have contacted me! I should - let me go get changed. I need to see her. I’ll meet you at the stables in an hour.”

---

“Until it does, I am fine with just you.”

"I brought her here, didn't I?" Lynette's nose wrinkled, moving to pin him against the stone pillar that had been shadowing her face. "She is resting, as is Farrah. They aren't to be disturbed tonight - if your cousin will shelter us until it is safe to go home then I will bring them here tomorrow. You'll see her then."

---

Conan swallowed, turning his head to glance towards the stage and musicians upon it to distract himself. "We have found a young boy who speaks a tongue we don't understand, you are experienced in languages. Maybe you can meet him, recognise the tongue, or find similarities. It might help us find his parents."

(( Oh wow look at the time. I need to sleep - night night! ))

“You just told me that my daughter almost died and you expect me to just sit here?! Don’t - “ Lucian cut off when he was pinned against the wall, breathing ragged.

---

“Of course,” Liara nodded. “I’ll get round to it in the next few days, hopefully I can help.”

"When I tell you she is resting with Farah, you need to fucki-"

"It is awfully rude to lay your hands on people, Lynette, perhaps you should take a step back."

Lynette's head turned, sharply, towards Karina when she spoke. Anger in her eyes dispersing into amusmemt as she threw her head back to laugh, "Lucian and I were having a private conversation, thank you. Carry on with your..." Lucian's change of breathing caused her to trail off with a frown, glancing towards his back she took a quick step backwards, hands raising in the air, "Shit... sorry Lucian."

---

"There is no rush, though he makes Lucian and Karina nervous."

“Find Xavier, you know who he is b-by now. Tell him to send riders and a carriage out to the tavern where you left the others to escort them b-back. Tell him to have rooms readied for you all. Then you can have a bath a-and rest.” Lucian instructed, voice tight, shoulders rolling forward a little as he struggled to stand straight with his back beginning to spasm. “I’ll have f-food and a healer sent up to y-you in a little while.” He added, trying to keep his voice neutral, face blank.

---

“I would do it tomorrow but there is so much to do, people that want to meet us, sit down and talk. My brother has told me of it all. I fear I’ll be overwhelmed. But I promise I will do it.”

Karina hurried towards where seats had been organised around tables, taking one of the cushioned ones and bringing it over. Taking Lucian's arm to guide him to sitting, whispering, "Sit, Luca.. sit down, take the weight off."

"I'm sorry, I didn't.. I didn't mean to." Lynette mumbled, grimacing when Karina glared at her. Walking away to find Xavier.

---

"You will take it in your stride. It is.. exhausting. Before my cousin arrived, when I was overwhelmed but he has taken a load from my shoulders and, as soon as you are comfortable, it will be divided even further."

“I can’t look weak, I can’t. Not today. Not - not in front of everyone today. No.” Lucian shook his head, exhaling deeply. “Kenna is hurt - I need you to try see her, please. Lynette is telling me she’s recovering but she almost died and I - “ he swallowed what almost sounded like a low whine.

---

“My brother trained me well, no need to worry. I know everything expected of me. And I enjoy being busy. Idle hands being the devils best friend and all that.” Liara chuckled.

"You sit here or we go to the closest private room, lockable room so no one can step in. Once you akre sat down I'll do whatever you need me to do." Karina spoke softly, brushing her thumb in small circles against his arm. "Come, wrap your arm around me. It'll look like I'm drunk, your helping me but I'll be able to take your weight."

---

"It is a lot, and it is overwhelming...if you ever need a break, tell me and I'll lighten your load."

Lucian hesitated before lifting his arm around her, face straining as he pulled himself back to standing. “Today of all days… it needed to be perfect.”

---

“Has anyone ever told you that you worry too much?” Liara hummed, gently resting her palm on his face and bringing his attention back to her. “Relax a little, please? Guests are mingling, I can hear your children laughing over the music, our people are happy. I was kept safe by my brother during the wars, so I cannot pretend to know what you went through, but I know you lead these people through the worst of it all and came to the other side. I’m here now, to help lighten the load of the burden you’ve carried since then…”

"It still is. You've put all the plans in place, it is running smoothly so far." She soothed, reaching one arm across to rest her hand on his waist. Steps slow, tentative, as they headed inside.

Lucian was silent, clenching his teeth as he concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

"You're doing great," She praised as soon as the corridor was empty, brushing small circles against where her hand had fallen on his waist to try and distract. Using her foot to open one of the smaller room, the first lockable one - a biege fabric sofa nestled in the side of the room, along with a book case, oak desk and accompanying chair.

“I’ll be fine, I’ll be okay. Just some painkillers and an hour sat down and I can get back to it all… I need to go to Kenna.”

"I'll get someone to fetch Devika," Karina grimaced, wandering back toward the door when he had once more sat down. "I'll reach out, see if I can see anything to do with Kenna for you. I - I don't know how best to help, you'll have to tell me and be honest with it. No bravado Luca, please."

---

"They... They haven't, actually, no. Not so plainly." Conan frowned, letting out a slow breath through his nose, eyes closing at the touch. Dropping his voice low enough so only she would hear, "I have often regretted coming back, taking up my birth right. Horvat and Darach are considered great leaders, I hear their council talk about them, how they are praised for this and that. I.. my cousin tells me, Dasha too but- This makes me seem desperate, I'm aware of that. Like I have some kind of inferiority complex. Ignore my ramblings."

“Making sacrifices and wanting a little acknowledgment for it doesn’t make you desperate… it makes you a person.” Liara shook her head. “And you’ve made the ultimate sacrifice today. Part of your happiness, the happiness of the one you love, to be good to the people and what they need. I think it’s incredible. I think you’re a good King, a better man, and an even greater father. And I have a feeling you’ll be a stellar husband too.”

---

“Devika will have the balms and such I need. The stronger ones required for a flare up. I need these clothes off, the fabric is touching and it’s - it’s getting too much.”

"Mm, not quite the reason I wanted to rip your clothes off of you today, Mister." Karina tutted with a playful grin, taking a step out of the room and closing the door behind her to beckon a guard. Only being gone a minute before she was back inside, perching on edge of the sofa beside him and beginning to undo his shirt - careful not to brush the fabric further against his skin.

---

"You've sacrificed too. I think we'll both be fine at this."

“So then… stop worrying at least for today?”

---

“Sorry - I was coming up to get you.”

"Today I will grant you that." He agreed with a quiet laugh.

---

"It's a nice surprise, to have them here." Karina whispered, coaxing his shirt off of his shoulders. Palm moving to touch his face later, "There. Now what else can I do?"

“Nothing - nothing. Devika will be here soon, and then I’ll likely be in here for a few hours whilst I wait for it to sink in and take enough of the edge off that I can walk back to my room…”

---

“Vivian was right, it is easy wrapping your partner around your finger!” Liara chuckled teasingly.

"I dislike that," She laughed humourlessly, leaning in to brush her nose against his. Whispering, "It is very rare that I can't help."

"It has been awhile since I've had to bring you these," Devika mused, the first part of her sentence muffled by the sound of the door pushing open, a small bag crossing her body and resting against her hip. "What did you do this time to cause?"

---

"I very much look forward to meeting this Vivian." Conan chuckled. "She sounds very... strong."

“I was backed into a wall…” Lucian gritted his teeth, taking in a deep breath in anticipation of the pain.

---

“She is wonderful, even more so at the moment because she is carrying my niece or nephew.”

"I hope you gave 'em a punch, especially if they knew." Devika snorted, walking to the back of the sofa as she opened the zip of the bag to access a pot of salve. "Edge forward, I need more access than that.".

Karina frowned, offering Lucian her hand.

---

"Is she too far along to have travelled here today? She would have been welcome."

“Mm, but my brother has promised that when the child is here and she’s when to travel that they’ll come visit me.”

---

“We both know if I hit the Urchin she’d hit me back harder.”

"Oh, her again." Devika muttered, wrinkling her nose. Placing a featherlight touch at the base of his neck to encourage him a bit further forward.

---

"I hope he keeps that promise. Your family is mine now."

“As yours is mine… though I promise not to impose on your children. They have their mother, I don’t want to interfere with that.”

---

Lucian exhaled sharply through his nose, moving forward and jerking a little as the muscles twitched.