Hope Falls

“You were both half dressed. You were inspecting him.”

---

“You shouldn’t have been struck. It’s unfair. I’ll be pissed with her if she doesn’t apologise and she knows it.”

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“You won’t lose me, it’s not like you’re coming to me to tell me you’ve fallen in love with someone else… this is duty catching up with us… we always knew it would, didn’t it?” Dagmar said sadly, resting her head on his shoulder.

A burst of laughter escaped Karina's lips then, deep stomach centred giggles that made her double over with the force. "We wer- were showing each other our sc- scars! Exchanging stories. It was completely platon- platonic."

---

Conan wrapped a trembling arm around her, coaxing her onto his lap so he could hold her tightly against his chest. Burying his face in her hair.

---

"Be careful, your Prince-ly charm is overriding your swashbuckling pirate." Devika teased softly.

“We will get through this. We’ve gotten through everything else. We can get through this too”

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“Oh I have charm? News to me.” Lucian laughed then; rubbing tiredly at his face.

---

“Oh that’s so typical. Show me yours I’ll show you mine? Of course he tried to do it that way! It seems innocent!”

"I showed him mine first," Karina shook her head. "You're being ridiculous. Thank you for the care but, stop. I'm not a damsel."


(( Brb about 30 minutes or so ))

“I don’t think you’re a damsel. I think Lucian is a snake.”

"I think you need to mind your own fucking business." Karina answered pleasantly. "I didn't ask you for your opinon of him."

---

"Mhm, though only when you are tired it seems." Devika grinned. "If I encourage you to leave, will you go back to your room and sleep or do I have to keep you here to make sure it happens?"

---

"I'll send word to Lucian, get someone to deliver the message to him. He can.. start putting things into place."

“I’m your friend, your sister. It’s my job to care about you.”

---

“You’re going to go through with it?” Dagmar asked almost silently.

---

“I have far, far too much to do today.”

'"We don't have a choice, Dasha, darling." Conan spoke sullenly, leaning back from the hug enough to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "And h- he is right. The first people they'll come for is Sira and Cass. You... I can't lose you."

---

"Are there any jobs I can do, let's share the load at least. The quicker you get your list done, the sooner you can rest."

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"You are not expressing care for me, you are insulting someone who helped me last night. Just stop."

“You do not see what he is doing. It’s - you deserve to be allowed to grieve and not be coerced into - “

The door swung wide open as Zaria ran in and straight toward her father with her hands out. They were blue from juices and covered in sticky pieces of leftover fruit from breakfast. Crumbs still stuck to her face too - a notoriously messy child with her meals.

“Mama.” Ira greeted happily as he followed in, moving to hug his mothers leg affectionately.

---

“Harvest season is soon, there’s the festivities that need arranging. There’ll be ships beginning to arrive at the port soon too as they dock home for winter. The Princesses favourite horse had to be put down three nights ago due to becoming lame so I need to source her another one to console her when she’s told. And I promised my beloved nephew that I’d find him some shinies to put on the sword he was gifted for his birthday by the Lord of Wherever.”

---

“You wont lose me… we will get through this.” Dagmar reiterated once more with certainty, moving to brush her nose against Conans. “If being the other woman keeps our children safe then… it must be done.”

"You take the ships, those are your niche and I have no doubt the ocean air will help you stay awake; rejuvenate you. Whilst you are there, you can keep an eye out for some jewels for Cass' sword. I will handle the rest." Devika reached her hand out to squeeze his. "This will be done by the middle of the day."

---

"I hate it so much when the asshole is right." Conan chuckled, letting his eyes close at the affection. "It's gone from Emmett, to him. Each one is getting worse too, so we can't lose Lucian - I would hate to meet the next person in line for calling me out on my wrong doings."

---

Karina opened her mouth, to argue - to cut her off with a sharp witted retort though swallowed it az the children came into the room. Her hand moving down to smooth the back of Ira's head, whispering softly, "Hi there, Ira. I heard you beat Uncle Magnus at chess last night."

"He did, it was funny." Eden grinned, following out of the room behind the both of them with a confident stride. "Uncle Magnus got really angry."

"Woah, woah, woah." Magnus grimaced, wrinkling his nose as he caught his daughter. Pushing her shoulder lightly to turn her around, picking her up with her back against his chest. "Dirty hands, Zar, dirty hands. No running at people wiry dirty hands."

“Not dirty! Just food! Not dirt!” Zaria shook her head as she wiggled in his arms, holding her hands flat and waving them so he could see.

“Then we got a bedtime story. He does the voices like daddy…” Ira nodded, closing his eyes and leaning into his mother.

---

“Are you sure? You should rest - you took a gif to the head.”

---

“It comes from a place of love, I am sure. You and Luca are more like brothers. Even fearing war he was willing to stay by your side. He loves you dearly, we all do.”

"Not like daddy," Eden disagreed, voice growing quiet - though she remained a considerable distance away. "Daddy's were better."

"His were the best." Karina agreed, swallowing thickly as she lowered herself to sit cross legged on the floor. Gently pulling Ira into her lap and only needing to use one arm to engulf him into a hold, frowning when as she offered her other arm out to Eden she shook her head and moved towards Thea instead.

"Sometimes food counts. Sharing food is good, but not when it is on your hands." Magnus chuckled, placing her down on her feet. "Go, wash those hands and then come back to me."

---

"That is not the first time I have been hit and it won't be again, I'm sure. I have nothing on my schedule today, and idle hands irritate me. You would be helping me by giving me something to do."

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"High sentiments and morals run in the family," Conan mused.

Dagmar nodded, brushing her nose against his again before kissing him deeply. Moving her hands to hold his face.

---

“I’m sure your daddy’s did sound better to you.” Thea agreed gently. “Daddies do the best for their children.”

“Can daddy come home now?”

Zaria pouted, dramatically sliding from her fathers lap and walking toward the bathroom.

---

“Nothing on your schedule? How we’ve did you swing a day off around here?”

"No, my love." Karina whispered, using her free arm to untangle knots from Ira's hair when it became clear Eden was staying out of reach. "He isn't allowed to, he's-" She choked on her words, voice thick. "He's gone, we're not going t - to get to see him again."

"It not fair. Za gets both. Both..." She motioned to Thea, then Magnus. "Both stay."

Magnus frowned, glancing towards the conversation being had. Hesitantly pushing himself yo and following Zaria to supervise.

---

"I can let you in on the secret, but you mustn't tell anyone."

---

Conan closed his eyes, tightening his grip on her waist to tug her against him.

“It’s unfortunate, I know. Sometimes not everyone gets to keep theirs.” Thea said sympathetically as she moved to sit with Eden. “But he still loves you very much.”

---

“Oh do tell.”

---

“We’ll be okay.” Dagmar breathed as she pulled away.

"Oh he loves you both, so, so much." Karina whispered in agreement, glancing over to Eden. "He...'

Eden looked away, turning her shoulders so that she completely deflected her mother's gaze. Shoulders trembling.

---

"I'm part witch. It's magic." She giggled. "Now, off to the port with you. You don't want to miss the ships, and I need to go to the market for a horse."

---

Conan forced a half smile, nodding lightly. "We will. We are too strong for it to falter."

“He go because Ira bad?”

“No, no. Your father didn’t go because of anything you or your sister or your mother did.” Thea assured, reaching her arm around Eden. “You didn’t cause him to leave.”

---

“Thank you.” Lucian offered her a small smile before heading out.

---

“Doesn’t matter who you end up marrying… it’ll always be you and me, mm?”

"He went because of something." Karina corrected quietly, "He went because he didn't have a choice and something took him away. We are going to find it though, I am going to find whatever took your daddy from us and I am going to make sure it doesn't take anyone else away, from anyone." She ducked her head, kissing the top of Ira's; "Ira not bad, Eden not bad. Perfect, both of you. Always perfect to me."

---

"Maybe it will be fun, I can find us a farm hidden out of sight and we can sneak around like we used to. Maybe we can pretend it is all a game."

“You mean we haven’t been this entire time?” Dagmar teased.

---

“Will it take us away too?”

"No. No, not at all. You are safe, son, you're perfectly safe." Karina hushed, rocking him lightly as she glanced up towards Eden. "Do you still both want to walk - we can collect flowers, find birds that are nesting."

Eden shook her head. "'I stay here with Tia."

---

"I have to catch Lucian," Conan whispered apologetically. "Before he sulks all day, worries all day."

“He didn’t say bye bye…”

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“Of course.” Dagmar nodded, moving up off his lap. “I’ll see you later.”

"He didn't know he wouldn't-" Karina choked back a sob, leaning her head back to stare at the ceiling, inhaling deep breathes to contain herself. Trying again with a more stable voice; "He never would have left if he thought for any second he wouldn't be coming home."

"No! No! Stop now! Stop talking! Both you!" Eden yelled, shaking her head. "No help... no better. No."

---

"Love you, Dasha, darling." He hummed, hesitating before pulling himself away from her and heading out of his room. Hurrying through the halls to find Lucian.

“Okay, okay. Why don’t we go get our blankets and close our eyes? We were talking just last night about how naps are really good medicine for when we don’t feel good.” Thea encouraged gently. “You were up very early, after such a busy night, and you’ve already had lots of fun this morning. I bet we’ll all feel better for an hour or two mm?”

---

Lucian was in the stables, racking up his horse as he readied it to leave.

"We were meant to..." Karina began, shaking her head and narrowing her eyes at Thea as she spoke. "Yes, you go to Aunt Thea, Ira... Eden.. nap. We can go for our adventures another day."

---

"Luca," Conan called as he stepped inside, "Wait.. whatever you are going to do.. find someone else to do it. I need you."

“No. Not tired. No sleep.” Ira shook his head, clinging onto his mother further.

---

“I’m off to go make sure the prep work for the festivities is going well. We’re already pissing the nobles off, can’t add a shoddy party to the list now can we?” Lucian replied curtly.