Re: Hope Falls

**BestNameEva** Sun 21 Aug - 22:37

"You weren't weak, and you weren't wrong. You have always done what you believe to be right, and you have always given your whole self to whatever you have commited to." Matilida hummed, "You have gone through hell with all that you have lost, you're heart is sore and... and broken in a way that will never repair. Sometimes you are going to lose control, you are going to snap... just.. this time you were unlucky with who got the brunt of it. You are her world, I promise... whatever happens, if you can forgive her for what she may have to do then you'll be okay. Whatever happens, I've got you too." She soothed, pressing her lips to the top of his head.

"I don't fit here! I don't fit.. i don't even know if you like me... I- I don't even know why you speak to me. I don't know why I came to you, I just didn't know where to go and I was scared and.. and I'm so fucking scared."

"I - I don't know but we can ask? Right?"

"No." Dušan denied adamantly then, changing his mind with admitting it. "No, no. Not at all actually."

Phoenix Sun 21 Aug - 22:50

“She doesn’t need forgiveness for anything she had to do to me, it’s my fault. And I feel shit that she’ll feel guilty.” Draven closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.

Thea nodded, closing her eyes and leaning back, taking in a deep breath to steady herself.

“You don’t need to be scared… he can’t hurt you now. You can stay here if you need to.”

“Ah ah Ah, no take-backs!”

((Night))

**BestNameEva** Sun 21 Aug - 23:11

"See, there is the proof, you're very brave and weak people are never brave." She hummed softly, looking up when the door opened and standing when Sarika walked in. Bowing her head slightly in respect.

"Sit back down, you've felt what the Fae Seer bitch felt. I hope Draven is looking after to you as opposed to the other way around."

"Of course he is, he prepared the fire to keep me warm. The whisky bottle has been opened." Matilda assured, making her way back to settle on the sofa.

"Mm." Sarika mumbled in disbelief. "Draven come here."

"Do you need me to carry you?"

Florence fell back onto the bed tiredly, bringing her knees up to her chest as she curled into the fetal position and whispered, as sincerely as she could muster; "Thank you."

Dušan opened his mouth to speak, though soon a smile took over as they reached the stone cottage with a wooden sign over it's door. Small balls of fire floating just above the ground, suspended in air lighting the building up entirely. "Home sweet home."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 19:36

Draven stood up, wrinkling his nose as he kept his gaze low as he headed over to her.

“No need to thank me, you’re welcome here any time. Going through this alone is shit.”

“No, can you bring her here?”

“You have a major advantage, your land being so close to the citadel. I envy you, it’s at least two days back home for me.” Andrea hummed as she glanced around.

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 19:47

Sarika took in a trembling breath, lifting her hands up to cup his face in her palms and watch him closely. Moving her thumbs to trace every wrinkle and freckle as if it were the last time she could.

"If I were any further away from this I would not be able to drag myself to any of those meetings, this far is a struggle enough sometimes."

"Can we hug?" Florence asked quietly, holding an arm out to him.

Magnus grimaced and nodded, "You'll be okay alone for a few minutes?"

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 19:55

“I will, I will.” Thea nodded, settling back into the bed.

“Imagine how I feel.” Andrea groaned dramatically.

“I’m sorry, Sarika.” Draven murmured as he closed his eyes in her touch.

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 20:18

Sarika turned her face away as her eyes shone with tears, taking another breath before stepping back and whispering; "No, I- I'm sorry. You need to go out to the yard, to the post.... the staff are getting word out to the people. Ten lashes... eight hours on the post afterwards so it can be seen no one is immune from the rules."

Matilida tensed, curling her fingers into the sofa as she listened. "Sarika..."

"I assume you will be on stand by to tend to him afterwards, Matilda. So the injuries don't get infected, so that-" She cut off when her voice began to waver.

Magnus nodded, watching her cautiously for a moment before leaving the room.

"You just said you wish daddy dearest had officially handed you the reigns, you may be more fun than the responsible rabble but you still want to be there."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 20:31

“I accepted the responsibility that fell.”

Draven nodded stiffly, “I understand, my love. I understand.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 20:38

"Make your way out there immediately, Draven. The people are probably already gathering and we shouldn't keep them waiting, we shouldn't... drag this out. I'll see you out there, I just need to... I'll be having a moment." Sarika whispered, turning on her heel and heading out of the room, disappearing into her office.

Matilida sighed, getting to her feet when Sarika left the room and walking to one of the cupboards. Pulling out a box of herbs and taking out a singular leaf from a cotton bag; "Draven.. come and take this. Chew it, five chews before swallowing. It'll numb you for a few hours, the pain will be more... bearable."

Dušan shook his head as he stepped into the bar, flicking the lights on and going straight to the cellar for something cold. "You aren't so different to them."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 20:42

“You say it like I’m disgusting you.” Andrea snorted as she grabbed herself a drink from behind the bar.

“No… no. I did this, I deserve to be punished for what I did. But thank you.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 20:44

"This is being done so that the people don't throw hissy fits, you are still getting punished. You'll still have the injuries. Take the herb and don't be a fucking matyr."

"Going to those meetings, being a part of it all is a curse not a blessing. You could of wriggled you way out, you didn't have to get involved. I'd would love to have that choice."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 20:53

“Responsibility isn’t something I can throw away. My dad has let these people down, I can’t.”

“I fucked up, I deserve it.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 20:59

Matilida paused, turning the leaf over in her hand thoughtfully as she made closed the space between them. Offering it out on her palm properly then; "You may deserve it, but Sarika doesn't. Don't do this to her Draven."

"What do you owe the people? The people have never done anything for me, I doubt they have for you either."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 21:04

“A child doesn’t owe their parents anything, the people don’t owe those meant to govern them anything…”

“If anyone suspects this then it’ll be all over for her. I cannot.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 21:10

"Fine. I'll see you on a few hours." Matilda sighed. "Good luck."

"And you don't owe the people anything because of your father's actions." Dušan mumbled, opening up a bottle of port to swig from.

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 21:19

“Duty.” Andrea shrugged, taking a sip of her own drink.

Draven nodded, taking a breath to steel himself before heading outside.

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 21:35

Sarika stood at a podium a top of a set of stairs that looked towards one of the wooden posts in the centre of a stony area that members of the public had formed a circle around. When Draven stepped out, Sarika looked away as men moved to escort him down to the post. "I havent called for us all to gather since I had to announce, with a heavy heart, our retreat from our battles with the other kingdoms." She began, voice unwavering. "This announcement, I also give with a heavy heart. We fight stereotypes every day that claim we lack control. The other Kingdoms believe we are animals, that we should be banished into woods and not have our voices heard. This is simply not true, and due to these assumptions I have put rules in place that protect our morals - not to prove anything to the other Kingdoms but so that we can adamantly deny their claims with no feelings of self doubt. Today, Draven Adair, lost control and he bit one of our guests; as a result, a new wolf was born tonight. This was not consented to. No matter what position of power we hold, rules are rules, and I would not be doing my job if I did not make it known to you all this aborheny disregard for the rules. This is why you have all been invited to see that this rule has consequences when broken, for everyone." She glanced toward the guards near the post, her fingers digging into the wood of the podium to keep herself steady as she ordered; "You know what is required. You may begin when you are ready."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 21:40

Draven was silent as his hands were tied to the post to keep him from moving, clenching his teeth at her command.

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 21:47

"Duties are shit, the only thing worse is a legacy. No one should get to decide what you do other than yourself, you know? The original Council members got to choose to take on all of that; to go to stuffy rooms and argue with people over tiny issues."

Sarika turned her head away, only waiting until all eyes were off her before walking away and stepping back inside so she didn't have to witness anything. Promptly locking herself in her room so she couldn't be disturbed.

(( Skip the eight hours? ))

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 22:26

((Sure))

“In a perfect world, mm?”

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 22:33

As the time hit the eight hours, most of the crowd had dispersed with only a few lingering around the area to see what would happen next. Even the guards who had been told to stand near by in case Draven tried to break himself free, had snuck off back to their homes five minutes earlier.

The sound of light footsteps in Draven's direction grew louder as Matilida approached, face solemn as she had her bag of herbs resting from her shoulder, a bottle of water in her hands and a small knife in her pocket. "Draven, hey... times up."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 22:46

Draven was on his knees with his head against the post, hands tied just above it. Breathing shallowly to avoid disturbing the cuts on his back.

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 22:51

"Draven." Matilida called softly again, dropping to her knees beside him and gently wrapping one arm around his shoulders so she could take his weight - her free hand lifting up to the ropes with the knife to cut his hands free. "It's over; it's done. I've got you."

Phoenix Mon 22 Aug - 22:52

Dravens arms fell to his side as the rope was cut, flinching rapidly as the movement on his skin pulled at the wounds on his back from where they had tightened.

**BestNameEva** Mon 22 Aug - 23:00

"Here," She whispered, opening the bottle of water and placing it to his lips; a little clumsily as she tried to keep that arm around his shoulder. "Drink.. it's infused with that herb from earlier so the edge will come off the pain soon. The pain will hopefully numb enough for you to be able to walk inside, away from the eyes of the vultures still lurking."

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