Hope Falls

"Why don't you believe in my strength?! Am I weak to you?!"

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"I'm sure it is," Conan agreed quietly. "It is too cynical to think that people as soft as that wouldn't have a place anywhere at all; isn't it? We have to hope for the best."

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"Your face does this thing. You'll be laughing away with me until Dagmar approaches, it's like you turn into your job title - you snuff out the little lights in your eyes that make you you."

"I wasn't going to be going alone!" Sarika sighed in frustration then, hitting a hand against a stack of book on the side causing them to tumble onto the floor.

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Conan pressed his lips to the top of her head gently, whispering; "She knew that you were one of her friends, she knew that."

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"I have never heard you laugh with people the way you laugh with me and your soliders; the ones just beneath you. Never."

"I have already hurt you once I will not put you in a situation where you can be hurt again, especially before you have even recovered. Why can't you understand that?"

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"She will be grieved as one of our own, I promise."

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Karina shook her head, getting to her feet and placing their daughter down in her moses basket gently. "No, no, you're laugh is much more than just a laugh." She hummed as she stalked across the room to him, tilting her head to press her lips to the crook of his neck.

"We'll have to go a little later, Sira. Your mummy isn't feeling well, so I need to look after her; we'll go at sundown, okay? It'll all look much more beautiful then anyway, you'd prefer it."

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"I can't lose you!"

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"You don't see yourself," Karina almost purred, grazing her teeth against his neck with every peck of a kiss.

"Give me a moment," Conan sighed, kissing Dagmar's forehead gently and leaving the room to see to Aesira. Lifting her up into his arms as he walked by, whispering; "Sometimes feeling poorly can come on very quick, okay? You get lots of hugs when your not feeling good, don't you?"

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Sarika leant back against her desk, turning her head up to blink forming tears out of her eyes. Whispering; "Why do you always have to argue with me when I am tired?"

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"Yes?" Karina bteathed against his ear, moving her hands up to undo the top button of his shirt; giving her room to run fingertips across his collarbone.

"I may be too sore for pleasure but why should you miss out?" She hummed. "Let me kiss you, let me do a little more than just kiss you."

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"And we can, Sira, Princess. In a few hours, when the sun is setting. It'll just be me and you though, okay?"

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"It never makes a difference when I do, you don't care so what's the point in asking me the question?"

"I want to make you happy," Karina answered quietly, though slowly peeled herself away from him and took a step back with a wounded face. Opening her mouth to speak again, before changing her mind and just looking away.

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"I had no choice!" Sarika yelled, face growing pale as her breathing quickened.

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"Because of Cas? No, no." Conan frowned. "Your little brother has hardly been any bother, has he?"

"So that's it? Because I've given you the twins your not going to let us kiss properly again? You'll not let me touch you?" Karina asked quietly, tense in his arms.

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"Stop it! Stop it, I can't catch my breath..." She whispered, moving a hand to her chest as she closed her eyes with a sob.

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"Oh no, no nothing like that. She'll be better soon, she just needs us around her for a little while."

"Of course not." Conan answered with faux offence. "However can you think such things of me?"

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Sarika lowered herself to the floor, wailing hysterical screams between gasped breaths by the time she had her knees pulled to her chest.

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Karina shook her head, leaning her weight against him. Not having the energy to express herself so simply stating a quiet; "I think I'm tired."

(( Night ))

"Not me! When have I ever lied to you? Lying is bad."

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"Super dad," Karina praised gently, kissing him softly before moving away and heading into the bedroom.

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(( Do you want to skip until the exchange? Obviously she'd cave and Draven would end up coming ))

(( Do you want to post first or shall I? I'm just finishing up this chapter ))

Florence sang loudly out of tune from where she rocked in the saddle with every step the horse she was seated upon took. Her hands tied together with chains, and the horses reigns being attached to one of the Adair's guards preventing her from escape so instead she had taken to trying to be as irritating as possible. Replacing words in the song to have Draven or Sarika's name in it on the occasion.

"Perhaps we should kill Raffetry just for entertaining the girl. He's given her too much confidence." Sarika growled, not directing it at anyone in particular.

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"They are late." Aodhän sighed, glancing down the tree-filled hill where a river flowed and Kael happily skimmed rocks across the water. "This... these negotiations will be important for him to see, won't they? Beneficial."