Hope Falls

“Very much no longer a boy.” Isolde smiled almost sadly. “He’s doing well, finding his voice… I believe he has feelings for one of his members of staff. Cedric’s daughter. He’s a young male and she is of his age so I know he can hardly help himself - Fae males around his age go through a period of being nothing other than stupid when it comes to lovers at that age, but we left Oisin there to watch over the entire thing just in case.”

---

“So I no longer have a day in who is on my team? When I am the captain? You are to undermine me to them by reversing the choice I have made to let Vaughn off?”

---

“The choice is Karina’s. It is her who has been most affected by it all, it is her who is being pulled from all sides. It’s her who is glowing here in the presence of her sister who loves her truly. She’ll miss Aesira and Cassius, of course she will. Especially the little Princess. But she cannot put them above her own needs forever. I have no doubts that here is where Karina will want to stay.”

---

“A dead horse with claw marks on it… we need to get down and investigate. Surely one of the staff would’ve seen what lifted it?”

"You offer training as a choice to Vaughn; he is to redo training and you are to deem whether he is worthy of forgiveness or not. We have to meet each other half way here, Wyatt. Stop trying to work against me when I am trying to support you."

---

"Cedric won't be pleased with that. Poor girl. Oisin will have quite a job on his hands aswell." Florence grimaced, slowing to a stop outside of Iona's room. "I hope she is in a better mood today."

---

"Karina was mumbling something to Emmett, she may have seen. I- I'll go and check with the staff now, I just need to retrieve my wife from our safe house. Let her know the danger has passed."

---

"She has not put them above her own needs in months, she missed Aesira's birthday this year. My daughter was heartbroken! Karina was the only person she believed wouldn't ever leave her, Emmett."

“She loves Aesira but ultimately the Princess isn’t her first responsibility. Her own wellness and happiness is. Kari thrives here.”

---

“And if we enter war tomorrow and I don’t trust the man by my side?”

---

“I will be here, that should ensure good behaviour from her.”

---

“Karina? She was down here when it happened? Is she okay?”

"He isn't back on your team, Wyatt. You will be putting him through a trial of fire and then deciding if he has learned his lesson or not. If he wants to return, he will work for it. I won't put him back on your team though, the two of you clearly clash, but I need you to flesh him out and tell me if he is worth giving to anyone else."

---

Florence nodded, flinching in surprise as the door opened before she could even knock.

"I thought I heard your voice, you are like a bad smell." Iona reprimanded, straight for Florence's throat as the door swung open. "No matter what I do you just come back. Why did you come here snooping around the other day, what was the real reason? You can't hide behind your mate forever."

---

"I - Yeah I think so. Emmett took her to Devika, Conan has taken Dagmar there aswell. I - couldn't see what was wrong with Karina, Emmett's wings were in the way."

"I am sure they are all fine, a bit of debris is hardly life-threatening." Lynette hummed. "A heart attack is though so yes, your Majesty, you should go and tell your wife your home isn't under siege."

---

"You've not been showing your face much since the wedding, since you disappeared into the garden with Lucian." Karina spoke through gritted teeth, trying to distract herself as Devika looked over her wrists. "I was going to speak with Magnus about sending out a sear-" She cut off with a short scream then, Devika suddenly moving her hands to push the broken bone back into her skin.

"You need to come home too, Emmett. This isn't just about Kari-" Conan cut off with a flinch at the sound of Karina's cry.

“Come home to what?! Conan?!” Emmett hissed, shaking his head and cringing at the noise, clenching his fist as he resisted the urge to barge back into the room.

Dagmar slipped down from the table, using one hand to hold the cold compress to her nose, her free hand going to take Karinas, squeezing it tightly to offer her distraction.

---

“It appears you’ve forgotten your manners, Iona.” Isolde clipped, looking down at the healer with a frown.

---

“He’s a good warrior, and will do well if you find someone he is willing to take orders from.”

---

“Yes… go to the Queen. We’ll carry on investigating down here, Your Highness.”

"To home. Your job. I can not fix the rift I have caused between us if you aren't willing to come home and I really, really wish to fix it." Taking a shaky breath, Conan reached over to squeeze Emmett's shoulder. "She'll be okay. Horrible though, isn't it? When they're hurt."

---

Karina squeezed her hand back as much as she could, though the movement in itself caused pain. Continuing quietly to Devika; "Like - like I was saying, where have you been?"

"Here," Devika answered as she worked. "I socialised plenty the day of the wedding, I think it just depleted my energy."

---

"You- You're Highness." Iona grimaced, straightening her back so she could curtsy. "My apologies, I did not realise you were here. Florence has already came to me with fantastical claims, yet she couldn't even participate in the test I offered to diagnosis her symptoms."

"I drank plenty of water today. I have been instructed to try again in your presence." Florence hummed cheerily.

---

"I need to be sure his attitude can be corrected. Private Bryne was vague when I asked when you had arrived home. You must retrain them both, Hawk, and give me your report every half month. I need to know they are redeemable."

---

"You are very useful guests, I may invite you again." Magnus smiled tiredly, getting to his feet and leaving the room.

"You are in no state to offer your help, Lucian." Lynette scolded quietly when Magnus had left.

“The choice is Karina’s. It is her impacted most by all of this.”

---

“I’m here.” Dagmar assured gently, putting down the compress in her other hand and moving that over to Karina too, to offer comfort.

---

“I’m here to observe so - we may get on with this mm?”

---

“I am fine, urchin. You fuss and worry too much”

---

“If that’s your final command, Your Highness.”

"You must work with me here." Aodhän repeated quietly. "When you have your own child you will understand how the last thing you want to do after coming head to head with them is to return home and deal with things such as this."

---

"Very well." Iona mumbled, taking a step inside and grabbing what was needed - passing the same yellow tinged leaf to Florence who took herself to the bathroom.

---

"You forget the state you were in only half an hour ago." Lynette sighed. "Let me deal with this, you go back to your quarters and rest."

---

"Thea?" Magnus called, the shadow of his hand dancing across the stone walls as the torch light flickered around him. His knuckles grazing the iron door to their safe room nine times. "T, it's okay. It's safe."

---

"It is your choice too, both of you. You are both as love sick as any of us here, I am sure she would take your views into account and you - you have been elusive not to make it clear to me what you would like."

---

"No, you aren't Dagmar. You don't want me to come home." Karina whispered.

“I want you to come home so much…” Dagmar swallowed thickly. “But I want you to be happy more, and I know that you aren’t happy at home anymore…”

---

“I want my wife to not feel like she is on eggshells at home! I want her to feel safe in her own home and not around the corner from a fucking predator and his lapdog - I see that bitch is back and here of all places?! I want my children to not have people sniping about their parents in earshot, Conan!”

---

“You seem to have mislaid your manners, Iona. I remind you to find them.”

---

“Fine Sir, if that is your order.”

---

“I. Am. Fine.”

"Lapdog - ah, the redheaded girl? I - I don't feel comfortable with her either." Conan confessed quietly. "She is part of my cousins family though, and I - I don't know what happened with you, Magnus and her in the wine cellar. No one ever commented much on that. If I'm not told details though then I- I can't act."

---

"My husband doesn't have a job there anymore, Lucian is... prancing around the place which makes it all so incredibly awkward. You - you do not remember and I try not to blame you but I am only a person, you were foul to me when you were unwell. You screamed at me for - for.. it wasn't something to do with Aesira and Cas and I may not remember the details but I remember exactly how it made me feel. I am angry, I am angry that I went away when Emmett needed me -  I- I risked never seeing him again for all of you and he and I have been shoved to the side."

"Prancing." Devika snorted softly in amusment.

---

"I can not help but have my suspicions of her, ma'am. I have had them since she came to us as a Seer. I can not help my instincts." Iona whispered. "I believe she is using the mating bond to her advantage."

---

"Congratulations... on your news." Aodhän whispered then. "You may go."

---

"Prove it." Lynette challenged, narrowing her eyes at him as she made eye contact.

Wyatt nodded, going to leave the room before turning as he placed his hand on the door. “Sir? My child… being a father…”

---

“You’ll do well to keep your thoughts to yourself unless you have proof of your accusations. If Florence is with child then I expect this hostility to be relinquished at once. We are all aware of how the mothers mood can affect the child.”

---

“She’s a petty thief. Nothing but a salacious hanger on. She’s using your cousin for the opportunity for greed. You’re not doing him any favours by allowing her around.”

---

“I hurt Conan, whilst I was ill, and I know he doesn’t blame me either but it doesn’t stop the hurt it caused to see me that way. And I’m sorry that I caused you hurt too, Karina. I wish I could remember so I could apologise properly for it all.”

---

“You’re determined to make a mockery of me aren’t you?!”

"Do not raise your voice at me," Lynette retorted, leaning forward on the chair she had pulled up for herself. Her foot stretched out to rest against the animals body in front of her. "You are being melodramatic. A mockery of you? Please."

---

"You and Conan trying to get rid of me behind my back hurts much more than ill-fated words ever could." Karina shook her head. "How could I come home now you have made it clear that I am not welcome?"

---

"A thief indeed." Conan nodded his agreement. "My cousin sees her much differently though, which makes the situation difficult. I am hoping to give her enough rope that she merely hangs herself in the end. These kind of things don't come with a rule book."

---

"Hybrids for our kind are rare. Especially wolf hybrids." Iona answered quietly. "You must be as suspicious as I, it is quite the claim."

---

"In concerns to any of that, I am always available for advice. Not as your Queen's husband, but just as Aodhän. There are no titles in fatherhood."

“You are taking it the wrong way. It is not about trying to get rid of you, I can only say it so many times Karina. It was realising you would be happier here and making it easier for you to leave home. I would take you back with us tomorrow if you would allow it - but with how happy you are here you give off the impression there is nothing you’d like less. You’ve not replied to letters we’ve sent asking when you’re coming home - you didn’t even reply to Aesira’s when she asked if you’d be home for her birthday… because it’s hard to say you can’t give a day to come home when you don’t want to… isn’t it?”

---

“Yes. The chair. Challenging me. Constantly reminding me that I am weak in front of Vampires who can hear your stomach bubbling never mind the words you whisper. What’s the plan, Lynette? Make it so that bring around people here is too embarrassing for me to face so I have to come back with you? Is that it?” Lucian asked as he stood up, face twitching ever so slightly as he tried not to cringe. “Is that what the performance has been about for the last few weeks at home, and now the flagrant behaviour here? You want to make it so I feel I have no choice but to return to the ship where you think I need to be?”

---

“You’re a King. Act like one. Order her out. If you can make like unbearable for Karina and I at home why can’t you do it for her too?”

---

“I know that if the baby were not Captain Hawks he wouldn’t feel anything toward her the way he does. Mate or not he wouldn’t feel the need to protect the child.”

---

“How likely is it that the child will even make it to birth? Our kind rarely mix with anything but humans. Has there been a mix of our two species that you know of? Can it survive? We assumed that we were too incompatible as species to even conceive.” Wyatt asked tentatively, turning around fully to face Aodhän once more then. “The reaction isn’t one I am worried about like she is - I know how our kind are quick to fawn over children. I am worried about Florence if the child cannot be… viable. We have all heard the stories of the suffering endured by children born to Wolves and Vampires - moments of life in agony before dying, if they even make it to birth at all.”

"Kael's mother had friends in the Eastern continent. She would tell of many fantasictical stories she had gotten from them, but, hybrid children were always brought into it casually - often, too. I believe our land has been dessimated by war for so long, even before the two I have lived through, that the ancestors grew tired of gifting us children often. They are healing now though. If your child did not have a fighting chance of living then it would not be in existence at this moment." Aodhän whispered. "The land is healing, our ancestors are feeling peaceful. Anyone you have lost is trying to bless you, anyone Florence has lost is trying to bless her. Trust the ancestors, listen to the trees as they whisper to you. Do not fret too much, sometimes we can be our own undoing."

---

"Why a wolf is blessed by the mating bond with one of our kind I think unfair. What the ancestors must be thinking..." She shook her head, taking in a breath as Florence entered the room again. Placing the now scarlet coloured leaf down on the table before them.

"I don't lie."

---

"I never done that to either of you purposefully. I am not - I make mistakes, I am not intentionally mean. It is different."

---

"All I hear is that you are ashamed of me, and even more so ashamed that I love you." Lynette pushed herself to her feet. "I'll pack what I have brought, sail out to meet Farrah and Kenna tomorrow. I am sorry I have out stayed my welcome."

---

"Devika, are you done? Can I go?" Karina questioned, not waiting for the healers response as she got to her feet and left the room.

“I love Florence too much to see her so deathly hurt by the loss of a child. I’m not sure - “ Wyatt shook his head. “My own downfall mm? I’ll put it to the back of my mind.”

---

“You would question our ancestors?!”

---

Dagmar swallowed thickly as Karina left, moving the compress back to her nose and closing her eyes with a shaky breath.

---

“It’s up to Kari.” Emmett said once more to end their conversation as he followed Karina down the hall.

---

“Don’t twist it. You and I know how cunning you are when you want something. You’ve been pissed at me for staying with Conan the entire time, you didn’t want me to stay, you don’t think I belong here - so don’t trust this into me being ashamed of you because I’ve figured out you’re trying to get me back to sea.”

---

After a few moments, Thea opened the door and peeked out. Not opening the door fully until she has scoped that Magnus was behind it alone. Zaria was asleep against her shoulder, the twins behind her napping on the bed in the room. “Everything is okay?” She whispered.

---

"That does not mean you can't speak of it, just.. never speak of it with only yourself. Let others hear how you feel - otherwise you risk drowning in it. Pull up a chair, Hawk... I'll get you a drink."

---

Iona didn't dare speak again, staring at the leaf before motioning towards the bedroom. "Florence, go. Let me check you and baby properly."

---

"Of course you don't belong here! You belong with me! And Farrah, and Kenna and...  and me! These people do not know you! Not anymore! Of course  I didn't want you to stay! But I have sacrificed being with our family so you do not feel alone. If we are not needed, if I am not needed then say the word and I will go to where I am."

---

"The danger has gone." Magnus repeated quietly. "I don't..   quite understand what the danger was but people are investigating. It just seems like a strange phenomenon then an attack."

---

Karina only made it to the end of the second hall before a sob escaped he'd lips, gripping the corner of the wall to support herself as she crouched down. Trying to make herself small.

“Kari, are you in pain? Do I need to take you back to Devika?” Emmett frowned as he crouched behind her, gently squeezing her shoulder. “Did she not patch you up?”

---

“She hates me.” Dagmar stated bleakly, moving to lay her head back down as it began to throb. Grimacing before moving to sit up again. “Sorry Devi - we interrupted you.”

---

“Of course you’re needed, you are always needed. But I also need you to accept that I want to be with Conan, at least for a while longer. It doesn’t mean I’m never going to return to sea, it doesn’t mean I’m never going to come back to you - if you choose to leave again. But it means that I’m not leaving him any time soon.” Lucian swallowed thickly. “You know I love you, Urchin.”

---

“It’s fine Sir, it’s off my chest now. You’ve given me solid advice - try not to be in my head too much.”

---

“Would you like privacy, Florence?”

---

“A strange phenomenon? What - what was the glass smashing, and the noise?” Thea frowned as she stepped back to allow him in, holding tightly to Zaria as she kissed the top of her head.

"Be open with her, about your worries. It is a method I wish I used more. It It a good way to keep grounded." Aodhän finalised gently, giving a nod to approve his exit. "If you need anything else, as I said, I am available."

---

"Absolutelt not, I don't want to be alone with Iona. Stay here, Isolde."

---

"No you don't. You lay in pain rather than call for me, and now you yell at me for being concerned. Call me nothing but a petty thief." Lynette shook her head.

---

"I wasn't saying anything important." Devika waved her away quietly, moving her hands to touch her wounds gently - hands beginning to glow as she focused on soothing her pain.

---

Karina shook her head, hiding her face in her hands as she cried.

Emmett moved to sit by her then, pulling her into his lap. “It’s okay, give me a second and I’ll get you straight back to Devika. We’ll get you fixed.”

---

“Kari was right… I haven’t seen you since the wedding… are you okay?”

---

“Don’t do the woe is me thing, it’s not you and you know it.” Lucian sighed softly. “You were acting like a petty thief and you know you were.”

---

Isolde nodded once, glancing between them.

---

“Thank you Sir.” Wyatt headed out then, closing the door behind him.

((Night))

"I am fine. I slept with him, the conversation became deeper and he turned into... a different person go the one I knew. He flitted between the two for the conversation." Devika offered a sad smile, repeating quietly; "I am fine."

---

"They don't want me to go ho- home. The- they don't want me to g- go home and th- they said it in front of Th- Thea. N- now no matter wh- what I do, no- no matter what I say it is the wrong choice be- because someone will be ups- upset with me." She sobbed, curling into him.

---

"I am stating facts, Lucian! Every word is a fucking fact." Lynette snarled, lips curling with her anger. "You need to decide who you are! Who your family are!"

---

“You slept with - oh. Oh with Lucian?” Dagmar raised her eyebrows. “I thought there wasn’t anything between you? How did it escalate?”

---

“No. They want us back but they’re not stupid and they know we don’t want to be there anymore.” Emmett shook his head. “Conan was borderline begging for us to come back - but we won’t give them the satisfaction mm? We don’t have to go back and be walking on eggshells in our own home anymore. No tears Kari, my love. We’ll be settled here.”

---

“This is the issue. Just because I have come home to Conan doesn’t mean you are no longer my family. I have never said as such! You are still my family, as is Conan. How can you even think of making me choose?!”

"No, the issue is your attitude since we came here! Grow the fuck up, stop blaming my behaviour because I have not behaved any differently - you are behaving like a stranger though." Lynette muttered, turning on her heel and going to leave..

---

"I- I haven't had time to thi- think about it. They have taken away m- my time t- t- to think. Just thrown it on me. Thi- this isn't... I- Ira has to be arou-around angels his age, h- he has to learn to fl- fly with them. He can- can't have that here."

---

"I didn't think there was, not like that but he loosened my corset and... it was naturally occuring."

---

"Eat these, it'll soften the belly, make yiur skin translucent. I'll be able to press down enough then that the baby will come into view. From that we'll be able to determi-"

"See the baby? We can't do this yet then." Florence shook herchead, rolling the brown berries between her fingers. "No. We need to wait for Wyatt. Isolde.. A- Aodhän won't need him for much longer will he?"

---

"A flying horse, or... something carrying a horse or... throwing one. The poor thing had claws marks in it's stomach. It came right through our mosaic." Magnus grimaced

“I’m perfectly okay with teaching Ira how to fly, Kari. If you want to be here then we shall stay here. Don’t worry about the children.” Emmett assured.

---

“No. You dislike the fact that you are not all I consider family anymore, Lynette. I don’t know if it’s jealousy or something else but ever since I came back to see Conan you have been different.”

---

“A flying - oh.” Thea raised her eyebrows. “That’s not what I expected.”

---

“And you wanted it? It was all consensual? No issues surrounding that?”

---

“He could want him for the next hour Florence. Just get it done with mm, check your baby is okay.”

"In that case it will have to wait until then, or oerhaps if you are desperate to get on with your lives you can ask Aodhän to pause his neeting so that Wyatt can join us. If these berries make this baby visible then Wyatt is seeing it, it is a non-negotiatiable."

"How dare you behave like you are in charge, speak ro the Queen in that manner-"

"My child, my body." Florence answered bluntly. "If this isnt convenient for anyone then we can organise it for when the peoole who need to be here are."

---

"Consensual? Of course." Devika frowned at that, "How could you think - Lucian hasn't once struck me as the sort not to take no for an answer or even be able to read the subtle signs. I know what Karina claimed but... I really don't see that in him, Dagmar."

---

"What if I don't? What if I don't- I- I love it here, I do and - and you are so much happier but-" Tremors consumed Karina's body as she wept. "An- and now Th- Thea is excited. No- no matter what we choose people will be hurt."

---

"We have both changed then because you are certainly different too." She growled, pausing in the doorway. "All I have done today is tried to help you, and been rightfully hurt when you hid your pain from me. You are the one sneaking around me where normally you wouldn't."

---

"No. Conan's cousin suggested it may have had a rider on it so.. there is still the possibility it was an attack. Our home is being secured all the same."

“Iona do what you can without seeing the child. You’re adept enough at your craft to do so.”

---

“What Karina said and what Lucian said is the entire reason our familial unit at home is so fracture Devika… I don’t think Kari would ever make something like that up.” Dagmar whispered sadly. “But if you say the encounter you had was totally wanted and consensual then I can’t say anything against that mm?”

---

“Thea will understand if you want to stay, and she will understand if you want to go. Thea likes to be dramatic, but she will get over it… we do what is best for you, Karina.”

---

“Maybe I am tired of appearing weak. Maybe I am tired of relying on others to keep me upright. Maybe I am tired of feeling like I am beneath my own family because they fear I cannot be without them. I am wingless, and yet I am aware I look spineless too.”

---

“How can you be sure it is safe if we don’t know what happened? What if we leave here and another… winged horse… comes through the windows?” Thea swallowed thickly.