Re: Hope Falls

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 21:18

"I will pick them up in a few hours then. Will you like to join us in a walk, we'll be searching for a flock of birds to watch throughout the season. " Karina offered, space on her forehead crinkling in the beginnings of a smile. "I'm glad Eden enjoyed something, anything. What about Ira? I - I've always worried more of him. He's so much more reserved."

"Can't lectures wait until Vanessa has brought Dasha and I our morning tea?" Conan groaned, lounged on the sofa, his head propped up by a pillow. Sleep still crusting the corners of his eyes. "This conversation like a much too serious one?"

"How can I -" Kael shook his head. "Fine, fine. I'll send him out, but you have to stay. You have to stay and enjoy all of the fancy fruit."

"Of course not, never. No." Orna nodded. "What are we doing today? Do we have a mission, or are we still on.. mundane duties?"

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 21:30

“Your stubbornness is going to get people killed. I’m talking civil war by next spring if you don’t steel yourself and marry.” Lucian crossed his arms, teeth gritted. “I have tried to tell you that the Seers have foretold unrest amongst your nobles and you keep assuring me you can placate them. Karina has had a vision - it is past that point now, Conan. We were discussing it last night, and this morning it triggered a vision.”

“You spent the night with Kar-“

“Not the point, Dagmar. We talked about anything and everything to distract her. And she could see that I am struggling.” Lucian snapped, sighing before turning back to Conan. “Struggling because you won’t do the one thing that’s needed. Do you remember what happened last time the nobles were unhappy with the royal family? I do, every damn second of every day I remember because my back reminds me of it! Do you know how many people will die because of your fairytale idea that if you cannot marry who you love them you just won’t marry? You’ll just continue to rule without a legitimate heir?”

“Aesira is - “

“A bastard hybrid from his disgraced mistress, Dagmar!” Lucian put his hands on the sideboard then with a sigh. “A lovely, beautiful little girl, with endless wit and enough compassion to warm ice but she is not enough to settle them and quell their fears that there will be a struggle for ascension if anything happens to you.”

“Ira actually beat Magnus at chess… several times…” Thea snorted, glancing toward her husband. “Though he’s promised to never tell anyone in case they laugh at the King who cannot beat a child.”

“I’m not trying to make you choose, Sapling. Not at all.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 21:43

Conan had barely been listening, stubbornly remaining laying propped up against the sofa cushions with his eyes half closed. Though when Aesira was insulted, he moved, swiftly - his fingers curling to form a white-knuckled fist. Chest heaving with the effort to restrain himself as he stood, nose-to-nose with his cousin. "How dare you. You have no right to come into this room and insult Dagmar. Insult my daughter. My leadership! You are not the only one who suffered lose that day, I may have kept my wings but I was run out of my home - I had my crown stolen. I lost everything too! I came back for it though, I have led these people through two wars since! This is the first time of peace I have been allowed to indulge in! You were sleeping around, gambling, drinking whilst I was in the literal fucking trenches! Don't you dare walk in here and throw insults, who do you think you are?"

"I let him win, the kid needed a win." Magnus chirped, lifting his head to glance across.

"He's an attentive little brain box," Karina grinned. "I don't think I am smart enough to raise him, I can't keep up."

"You aren't giving me any other choice but to choose. Neither of you."

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 21:59

“You think that Aesira won’t be the first one they come for when they decide they are done with our family Conan?! They’ll learn. The last people to complete a coup didn’t manage to actually kill us - the heirs. The last ones failed. These ones will make sure they fucking won’t. Your method of sticking your fingers in your ears and humming this all away is not working.” Lucian roared, squaring up to his cousin. “If you don’t fucking step up and be a King then your children’s wings will be decorating the fireplace by the next Summer Solstice! Why is it okay for your daughters marriage to be political, for her to be sent to the Fae to maintain peace but you won’t even do it yourself?!” You are the one insulting your family. She’s not your wife and never can be - you won’t declare her your official mistress, so she is nothing but your whore to everyone else! Not everyone lives in these walls! Not everyone sees! Down in the taverns in the towns miles from here they speak of the King who won’t marry, who won’t take a mistress and is happy fathering and claiming mongrel children that the people don’t want on their throne! You think Dagmar won’t be killed too?! When they come for the rest of us?! They see her as the temptress, she’s bewitched you so deeply you won’t do what is right for your country because you cannot have her by law! Open your eyes Conan! Do I need to get on my fucking knees and beg you to see what you are risking?!”

“You did not.” Thea snorted, shaking her head before turning back to Karina. “You look… more well rested than you did when I saw you yesterday. How are you?”

Isolde sighed softly, rubbing her forehead. “I’m sorry, Kael. It’s not the intention, far from it. I want you to enjoy the time with your father.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 22:20

"Get out! Get out before I summon my men to escort you off of the grounds entirely!' He bellowed in retort. "I am not entertaining this! I am not entertaining you! if you have something to say to me then you will request my presences and wait until I have the time for you! You do not come in to my private quarters and shoot your damn mouth."

"I... slept." Karina whispered. "Knowing the children were safe helped it, I didn't feel the need to sleep with an eye open just in case. All I have to thank for that, is the two of you."

Kael just stared at her, shifting his weight back and forth with a lost expression. Flicking a hand up I'm defeat.

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 22:36

“Oh Kael.” Isolde folded her son into a hug, sighing softly as she gently rubbed his back. “Okay… okay.”

“I’ve been trying the eggshells, softly softly approach for far too long now. You’ve heard what I have to say. If you’re going to ignore it then let me know sooner rather than later so I can write my goodbyes to my daughter and warn her not to come back here. Because if they come for you they’ll be coming for me too!” Lucian hissed before leaving the room, slamming the door behind him.

“I’m glad you managed to get some sleep. I could tell you were exhausted.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 22:48

"You know the heaviness that comes with death, exhaustion you can't ever shake. I'll learn how to live with it being... heavier." Karina whispered. "If I survive the next few months, however. Conan is going to get all of us into trouble, fighting is coming again for the angels."

Conan's eyes narrowed, sending dagger sharp looks even through the door for a few long moments after his cousin had gone. His body twisting to grab a hold of the first thing he could take a hold of - a black marble lamp - and launch it at the closed door in a delayed response, the pieces of it shattering and embedding into the carpet below.

The sounds of the yelling, having crept out of the room and reverberated off of the stone walls had encouraged Devika to step out of her quarters just in time for Lucian to pass. Automatically reaching out for him.

"Okay?" Kael swallowed thickly, glancing over his shoulder to the breakfast hall. "He's dramatic, you are too... you just need to be in each others company for like.. an hour."

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 22:52

“What now?” Thea sighed softly, gesturing for Karina to sit down opposite her as she made her way to the seating.

“Conan…” Dagmar whispered, reaching her hand out for him, trembling a little.

“Devi, hi.” Lucian greeted when he saw her, straightening himself up a little.

“Go ahead.” Isolde gestured, letting him go a few moments later.

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 23:01

"I am never going to marry some stranger, I am never going to put any woman in a isolation where she is forced to play at airs and graces. I will not be a cog in that machine." Conan stated gruffly, trying to keep his own voice from shaking. Eyes still firmly fixed on the door. "Magnus and Thea got to marry, we will too, eventually. Our daughter is the heir, and she will get to lead - it is her right. I will not father a child with a stranger just to - just to-"

"I was expecting you last night, you never came." Devika whispered, though cast a glance over his shoulder towards Conan's rooms. "Do you want to come in? You can talk about it or - or not..."

"Nothing that hasn't happened before, angel nobles are entitled assholes and Conan being a romantic just gives them ammunition. Lucian is trying yo make him see how bad it is getting, but Conan isn't listening and the visions become more and more pressing every time. Its a crash course."

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 23:15

“You - we - are going to put a woman in that situation, Con… Our daughter.” Dagmar pointed out sadly, moving to sit back down when she realised he wasn’t going to go to her, wrapping her arms around herself. “With the Fae Prince… we made a deal… for peace. They’ll collect soon…”

“I’m sorry. A pressing topic came up and it got heavy so I - I drank. A lot.” Lucian apologised.

“Then it’s even more important you and the twins come stay with us so you don’t get caught in the crossfire.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 23:23

"This is my home, this was his home." Karina offered with a sad smile. "I'll be talking to Dagmar when I get the chance, I'll try and convince her to change Conan's mind. Lucian already has a list of suitable Queens, I've organised looking through the files to see if any of them trigger a vision. I am... owkring towards fixing it."

"Do you need to come in? Do you need a moment of peace before trying to fix whatever it is, as you always do?"

"Don't you dare, don't. That was a bargain I was forced into so I could ensure she was safe! They would never hurt her if their boy was supposed to form an alliance with her. It was to keep her safe!'

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 23:29

“She’s not married yet… and therefore Isolde and her son have no obligation to her. So if the nobles attempt anything… she has no protection. Neither of them do.” Dagmar worked through, the horror seeping into her voice as she came to the realisation. “We need to fix this. We need to work out how to placate the nobles to keep them safe…”

“I can’t fix this.” Lucian laughed without humour, wiping at his face. “I can’t fix this.”

“And if it doesn’t work? What then? You won’t be safe.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 23:36

"Come in," Devika encouraged softly, her fingers curling around his wrist to try and lead him into her quarters. "Come inside, before people see your concern. We can talk through this, there is always some sort of solution. You just need to tell me what it is you're trying to fix."

"This is my home." Karina whispered, swallowing thickly. "If an attack happens, I will send the twins to you but I will be staying. I promised myself I would not walk away from the next fight, I would never feel so helpless again. If it kills me, then at least I will be with my husband again."

"I will not do what Lucian is adamant I do." Conan stated, his voice breaking. "I can't. I can't do that to you, I can't do that to me. A fake marriage, all that comes along with it..."

Phoenix Mon 10 Jul - 23:48

“And your children orphaned? Kari…”

“It wouldn’t be fake… just not one of love…Which most marriages for people of your status aren’t, at the start. Like Aesira…” Dagmar said sadly, moving her head into her hands. “If not that… then what can we do? We need another solution…”

Lucian sighed, allowing himself to be lead.

**BestNameEva** Mon 10 Jul - 23:56

Devika pushed the door closed once he was inside, pulling him into a firm hug as she whispered in her ear. "I heard the yelling, it echoed so I imagine a lot of people did. It didn't sound... nice. Are you okay?"

"You would not walk away from Magnus. I will not walk away from Conan. We have duties to fulfil, as Seers. I stayed during the last uprising - nobles would not kill a Seer. They are uninterested in war the ways that the Fae were. Civil uprisings are... much different. It's only the royals put in intentional danger."

"Stop mentioning Aesira."

Phoenix Tue 11 Jul - 0:09

“Conan insists on living in a fantasy world where he can have his cake and eat it too… without any payment.” Lucian breathed shakily.

“How can I not when Lucian is right and both she and Cassius - “ Dagmar shook her head as her voice broke.

“How likely is it that Conan will listen?”

**BestNameEva** Tue 11 Jul - 0:21

"Okay, lean into me, ground yourself." Devika encouraged softly as she noticed his breathing. "Just take a few minutes first, sweetheart."

"Stop it!" Conan yelled. "Stop it! Stop blaming me! How am I to know?! How am I meant to know what I should of done and when!? This isn't my fault!'

"He might, if it is Dagmar who speaks to him. He is King, but to him she is the reason he does most things. I think she is the key."

Phoenix Tue 11 Jul - 0:30

“I am not blaming you! I am talking to you! Trying to discuss what we’ve just heard - that our children are in danger Conan!”

“He’s an idiot for it all. Him and his cousin. It’s clearly in the genes.”

“I don’t know what else to do… I promised him I wouldn’t… and I especially can’t leave him to be hunted.”

**BestNameEva** Tue 11 Jul - 0:37

"Lucian isn't an idiot. Lucian is trying to fix this." Karina mumbled, grabbing her own arm for self comfort.

"I - I can't betray you." Conan repeated, voice breaking as he lowered himself to the edge of the sofa.

"Okay, okay." She hummed softly, arms wrapping around his shoulders to sway gently with him. "Whatever has you so spooked, the danger isn't immediate. Find the time to breath."

(( Night night ))

Phoenix Tue 11 Jul - 0:52

“I - I know.” Dagmar nodded, swallowing thickly. “I don’t want to think of you with someone else, either… but…”

“He’s - he’s got you under his spell already. Karina.” Thea sighed softly, reaching for her hand and grabbing it. “He knows you’re not okay right now.”

“Not immediate… but not too far off.”

**BestNameEva** Tue 11 Jul - 8:43

"You can take one minute, just one. You'll work yourself up into hyperventilation." Devika whispered, "Lean into me, close your eyes. Focus on my breathing."

"I can't produce a fully fledged heir with someone who... the woman they force me with is no whore, and nor am I. I can not be forced to... be intimate with someone." Conan swallowed.

Karina yanked her hand back, shaking her head at her. "What are you talking about? You are being ridiculous."

Phoenix Tue 11 Jul - 9:34

“Nobody can force you, no.” Dagmar agreed, reaching across to take his hand and give it a squeeze.

“You spending the night with Lucian. Emmett has been gone for less than a few weeks and he’s already snaking his way in.”

Lucian sighed deeply, pulling away. “Did you go see a healer?”

**BestNameEva** Tue 11 Jul - 10:54

"No," Devika snorted softly in amusment, lifting her hand up to her face. Trying not to flinch as her own fingertips grazed the purple bruising - the cut, however, having already scabbed over. "It is nothing I can't manage myself. How - how was she?" She swallowed. "I haven't heard anyone scream like that in a long time."

"He is not 'snaking his way in'. You have spent the night in the same vicinity as many people and have not been scoffed at." Karina sneered, folding her arms. "You are insulting me, Thea, not Lucian."

"What am I meant to do?"

Phoenix Tue 11 Jul - 11:39

“Maybe… maybe marry and hope that it placates them? There are some married decades with no children so they can’t be expecting one straight away. There’s every chance the girls they put forward would be excited about the prospect of being Queen, holding court and everything that comes with it. It may feel less like she’s being sold out and more like she’s getting something out of it too? Maybe it’s possible to… interview the girls and see which one thinks most like you - maybe try bring her into an agreement that you’ll both just lie and say you’re trying for a child. Both play the dutiful couple in public but allow her her own life and freedom beyond that? I don’t - I don’t know, Con. I wish I had the answer… I’m sorry that it’s because you love me that this is the mess you’re in.”

“No… no she isn’t. I think she’ll apologise to you at some point though. I made it clear it was my orders you followed by not telling her about his wings. Im very sorry you got caught up in that Devika. Is there anything I can do?”

“Im not insulting you. But I’m also not stupid. I saw the two of you together last night. I had hoped it was just him comforting you and not being a prick and taking advantage but when I also saw you leave this morning it became clear he’s preyed on you.”

**BestNameEva** Tue 11 Jul - 16:56

"You saw Lucian and I together doing what? Go on, do divulge the details." Karina answered irritably.

"I hold nothing against her if she doesn't, she is looking for someone to blame when currently there is no one, nothing." Devika offered a smile. "Don't you apologise either. It is just bruising, it'll fade. The woman is stronger than she appears."

"Interview... " Conan rubbed his hands down the length of his face. "I won't lose you, if I have to do this? Promise me."

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