Hope Falls

"Mm, I haven't quite decided that yet. I suppose the next couple of decades will tell."

---

"I'm... doing better, yes." Florence nodded. "Dagmar has been talking to me more often and you've been a help aswell."

---

"I am fucking fantastic." Karina agreed. "You're..m fine, I suppose. Infuriating but fine."

“I have done my duty and given you an heir, am I your favourite person?”

---

“What is it about me you loathe so much?” Emmett laughed as he downed his glass and poured another.

---

“And the Kings mistress treats you well?”

"It would be much faster to answer if the question was what do I find pleasant about you." Karina shrugged, glancing around the room as she sipped her drink.

---

"She does, she always has."

---

"No, now the heir is my favourite person. I am done with you now, I'm afraid." He joked.

"It would be much faster to answer if the question was what do I find pleasant about you." Karina shrugged, glancing around the room as she sipped her drink.

---

"She does, she always has."

---

"No, now the heir is my favourite person. I am done with you now, I'm afraid." He joked.

“That’s good, I’m glad she isn’t taking her unfortunate position out on you.” Cadoc nodded as they began to see light at the edge of the forest leading towards the castle grounds.

---

“So you can reply with nothing?”

---

“You must still give me food and board, I had to give up everything else to carry your heir, the least I deserve is good cheese and a soft pillow for the rest of my days don’t you think?”

"No. So I could say that the sex was okay; I've had better but.. it was fine."

---

"Unfortunate position?"

---

"I suppose you are right,"

“Being the mistress to a King. Never being able to officially be his legal wife. Never being his equal, his Queen.”

---

“You didn’t exactly blow my mind either. Although I’ve never had mediocre sex quite so loud... or with my back so shredded. I didn’t realise your artwork was there until I had a shower after and it burned. Impressive”

---

“Damn well we had a good run”

"All titles though, aren't they? It isn't fair on her, or him but from what I can tell he still treats her as an equal, seeks advise as if she is his Queen." Florence answered quietly, glancing towards the castle. "And as he is the King all of his people will follow his example. It's very sweet."

---

"It was something to pass the time," Karina snorted softly.

---

"We did, all things do end though." Conan hummed, before laughing quietly and leaning over to press his lips to hers. "Rest now, darling."

(( Night night ))

"All titles though, aren't they? It isn't fair on her, or him but from what I can tell he still treats her as an equal, seeks advise as if she is his Queen." Florence answered quietly, glancing towards the castle. "And as he is the King all of his people will follow his example. It's very sweet."

---

"It was something to pass the time," Karina snorted softly.

---

"We did, all things do end though." Conan hummed, before laughing quietly and leaning over to press his lips to hers. "Rest now, darling."

(( Night night ))

“Let’s hope he continues to treat her as such.”

---

Dagmar nodded, kissing him back briefly before closing her eyes and sinking back into the pillows.

---

“Mm, a little activity you’d be willing to try again.”

"You arent one of the people who disagree with it then? How the two of them broke the rules?"

---

Conan rested an arm around her waist, closing his eyes with a yawn.

---

"Sex with you?"

“You already booked in for tomorrow night did you not?” Emmett smirked as he poured himself another glass.

---

“It is none of my business in the end… I understand why the rules are there. But sometimes even the most rational beings cannot control how they love someone.”

---

“Love you… so much.”

"The heart wants what the heart wants." Florence agreed quietly.

---

Karina shook her head, wiggling her three quarters empty glass at him. "Top up, please."

---

"I love you too,"

Dagmar was soon asleep, curling up into his side with her head against his chest.

---

“As the lady commands.” Emmett rolled his eyes, filling up her glass.

---

“They’re not harming anyone I don’t believe… I don’t see why they shouldn’t continue.”

""Thank you kindly." Karina smirked, bringing the glass back to sip. "I wonder what they are going to name the Princess. That is one thing I haven't seen yet."

---

Florence nodded her agreement. "They are both consenting adults so, there should be no rules against it. It is silly, very old fashioned."

“What do you name a hybrid that shouldn’t exist because their parents shouldn’t be together who’s going to rule over an entire kingdom one day unless her father has legitimate children? Quite the puzzle.”

---

Cadoc nodded as they got back into the castle grounds, everything being more visible then.

"What should you name a much loved child, who has been born to parents who adore her and are very much in love with each other too." Karina corrected, a little sharply. "For a General you speak very badly of the King. It should fall to you to be hid biggest support."

---

"Ah, here we are. You weren't joking about navigating back in the dark, were you?"

“The King that exiled me and made no attempt to collect me from the Fae. The king who apparently shrugged initially when he heard I had been captured? Who was heard laughing saying does he have to be when told I would be returned along with you? The King has no love for me, I dare say he hates me more than you do.”

---

“Senses.” Cadoc grinned.

"Perhaps if you didn't question him, threaten his love to be executed then he would of reacted more kindly. He exiled you for those reason, and for trying to force infomation from me." Karina snorted in disgust. "You were a dick, you didn't deserve to be captured but you deserved to be exiled."

---

"Senses, mixed with you." Florence grinned.

“He was going to have Sasha killed for coming across them by accident. He hurt her. That was unacceptable and that is why I found what he was doing so abhorrent. A King should never punish people for his own mistakes.”

---

“It is a Fae thing, not just me. Don’t worry.”

Karina snorted softly and shook her head in disagreement, glancing up when the door opened and Sasha stumbled inside. "Speak of the devil and they appear."

"Oh." Sasha mumbled, staring in surprise at the scene. "Hello. Am I - I'm interuppting?"

---

"Worry? No. No worry at all."

“We we’re just sniping and drinking.”

---

“Let me walk you back to your rooms?”

"Drinking... you came back and drank after trying to start a fight with me when I suggested the exact same thing - right. Whatever, fucking hypocrite." Sasha mumbled bitterly.

"Oh," Karina hummed in amusement, reaching across for the wine bottle to top herself up once again. Entertained.

---

"Of course," Florence smiled, squeezing his arm gently as they began to head inside.

“You have a problem with drinking. You drinking excessively is a problem at the moment. Mine isn’t.”

---

Cadoc lead her through the castle happily.

"I do not have a problem with drinking, you just decided I do and - and-" Sasha cut herself off, shaking her head as her hands began to tremble.