Re: Hope Falls

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 9:49

Kael's forehead wrinkled with his frown, taking her hand in his and kissing from her knuckles, and down her arm as he guided it to stretch outward. Taking her face in both of his hands a moment later, touching his forehead to hers and whispering, "It sounds like you were terribly brave. Those wars were... my parents brought me to a trade off, they returned one of the wolves prisoners to them and we got - i cant even remember what we got." He swallowed, "The state this man was in, Fia... I - I his face haunts me though... what we done to him."

"I don't see him reacting badly. He's always so pleased for everyone, our boy." Aodhän hummed. "He is rarely unhappy, isn't he?"

Conan got to his feet and stepped out of the room so she could change, grabbing the attention of a guard and instructing them quietly to prepare the horses.

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 9:53

“My father wouldn’t talk about anything that happened out on the battlefield. The men he killed, what he saw…” Fiadh leaned her weight into him. “I only hope it’s not something and of us have to experience again.”

Isolde nodded, closing her eyes and taking in the moment before opening them and giving him a grin. “If you get everyone’s attention I’ll announce the Hawk child.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 10:11

"There will never be another war again, I won't allow it." Kael whispered, swallowing thickly. "There are no winners when it comes to things like it, everyone loses. Bargaining, negotiation, compromise... they'll stop conflict. They have to."

Aodhan gave a nod, setting only a glance towards the musician to signal for them to become silent. Picking his glass up from the small table behind them and tapping it in order to gain the crowds attention, voice projecting across; "We only wish to stop your revelling briefly, but your Queen has an announcement - news to share with you all."

Florence frowned, fingers running gently through Wyatt's hair as she leant back from how she had been holding him. Whispering as she turned her attention up to the royalty on the dias, "This will be interesting."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 10:26

“A war of words will have a lot less casualties than one of weapons.” Fiadh nodded in approval. “You will be a great King when the time comes.”

“We’ve all suffered great loss over the years. Most recently due to war, but before that we were all affected so deeply by the wasting sickness. Not only did it take the lives of those we love. It strangled our ability for new life too. The number of children slowed and slows and slowed and shortly after our Prince Kael was born, for almost a decade the births stopped completely with our ancestors no longer able to support us.” Isolde began, moving to take her husbands hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Since we claimed back our land that has changed. Our halls and villages are filling up again with the sound of children, our future. There is no sound better than that of a child’s laughter is there?” She smiled fondly, glancing to her husband before looking over to Florence and Wyatt. “And in the spirit of that - we’d like to announce that one of our most loyal commanders, General Wyatt Hawk and his beloved mate Florence are expecting a sapling of their own in the Autumn. Doubly blessed with recognition from the ancestors first for their mating bond and now with their own child too. We’d like to wish them the best, and hope you will all join us in a toast of celebration.” She turned around and grabbed a glass of wine before lifting it into the air. “To Baby Hawk!”

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 10:39

"To Hawk," Aodhan led the echo, lifting his own glass to follow suit. Gesturing quickly towards the musicians once more to signal their eruption back into a upbeat tune. Chuckling beneath his breath, "You do wonderfully with speeches,"

"Loyal commander." Florence hummed softly in amusement, doing her best not to shy away at the faces that now turned to them. Ducking her head in silent thanks towards Isolde and Aodhan, as her palm resting gently against Wyatt's chest. Continuing in a whisper, "See, Aodhan may be a dick, but the Queen knows your worth."

"As long as whatever Queen they find for me shares the same morals," Kael chuckled. "A war of words with other Kingdoms will be enough, I wouldn't want to have one with an equal."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 10:49

“The announcement from her puts our child in good standing, gets him respect from birth. It’s a good thing.” Wyatt couldn’t conceal the proud smile on his face from Isolde’s speech, moving to rest his hand on Florence’s stomach when he too became aware of the eyes that were now on them after the toast had concluded.

“You can do the one for our own soon enough.” Isolde smiled, waiting until she was sure most of the guests had gone back to not minding what they were doing before she placed her untouched drink down on the side.

“I’m sure your mother will make a choice that’s best for you and the Kingdom. I doubt she would make even the most politically advantageous match for you if she thought it would result in you being unhappy with the bride to be.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 11:09

"I will start thinking of it from tomorrow, it is going to take a long time to perfect." Aodhan shook his head, only sipping at his drink before placing it down beside hers. "Which would you rather we do now, we can bid our leave whilst the attention is no longer on us or we could meld into the crowds of our people and dance."

"You are going to be a wonderful father," Florence grinned, brushing her thumb in small circles against his chest to stop herself from touching his face again. "I hope our little one has your bravery," Continuing with jest, "Maybe not your terrible sense of humour though. I don't think I could handle two people making the kind of 'jokes' that I keep needing explained to me."

"I wouldn't be mad at her for choosing politics over how well I get along with the woman. My happiness will come from you, my Fia."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 13:24

“I think a dance is necessary, don’t you?”

“You find me incredibly funny, don’t pretend otherwise, love.”

“Oh, that’s a lot of responsibility.” Fiadh chuckled nervously.

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 13:27

"Not you alone," Kael snorted with light laughter. "I am not that miserable. Don't take me so literally, you have to know what I mean."

Aodhän nodded, taking one step down off of the dias as he reached his hand up in offering. "Let us dance then."

"I find you as funny as you enjoy the scented bathes I draw for you."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 13:36

“If you don’t find me funny you’re more than welcome to find your own quarters and we can draw up a custody arrangement of the baby when he’s here. I won’t force you to live in a home when you have to pretend to laugh. It sounds so awful.” Wyatt put his hands to his chest with fake forlorn.

Isolde took his hand with a gentle grip and followed his lead. “I want to tell our son first, and soon, about his sibling.”

“And if you fall for your new Queen, if you mother makes a match so perfect?”

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 13:58

"Oh, I would be the one to leave? That is very beastly of you." She raised an eyebrow, tucking a piece of her own hair behind her ear and pouting. "Wouldn't you want to go back to your little cottage where you had to duck to walk through the doors and almost hit your head on the beam in the living room?" Humming a moment later, more seriously, "I miss that house. Our esteemed palace quarters don't feel like us. All of the room, too much room."

"How soon?" Aodhan asked as he led her into the centre of the crowd, those whom were to drunk from wine to move out of the way for them being forcibly moved along by their guards.

"I don't see that happening." He shook his head, ducking his head to press his lips to her collarbone. "As far as I am aware, my mother has no plans to have me wedded any time soon. That is something she'd be honest with me about. So, it isn't a fear you need to have right now."

Matilda jolted awake from her nap, up right and hand lashing out to try and find Izsak - though her fingers only managed to grip the blankets beside her before a vision took hold. Her eyes rolling to white, and breathing hitching into her throat.

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 14:14

“And if I say I want a family if we’re lucky enough to be blessed? Your mother - she wouldn’t take issue with us having that?”

“Perhaps tomorrow? We have tonight, with just us revelling in the knowledge.”

“But look at all the things we already have collected for the child. We wouldn’t have been able to fit that in the cottage. Nor everything that will come now people have been made aware.”

Iszak came out of their bathroom, holding Eris wrapped in a towel in his arms, using the top of it to ruffle her hair dry after he’d bathed her. He was humming softly to her under his breath, kissing just behind her ear. “Do we feel all clean now little pup? After all that fun splashing in the puddles outside?”

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 14:31

Kael laughed, shaking his head - not needing even a second to think of it. His response dripping with arrogance, "I will let you in on a very, very confidential royal secret, Seagrave. The Queen is a strong woman, whom lets no one tell her what to do - not even her most trusted advisor. What she also is though, is wrapped around my little finger. She loves me, she'd let me have almost anything that I wanted."

"And it gives him tonight to revel in his own love aswell, so it is perfect. We can tell him over breakfast in the morning."

"Ever the practicalist." Florence hummed, her self-control finally too frayed to resist the urge. Reaching up to take his face into her hands, and brush her thumbs across his cheek bones, "Maybe when I am as old as you I wont be sentimental over bricks and mortar, but for now I am. It is where I bound your ribs, when you took that tumble. It is where you introduced me to that honey and poppy flower drink - I still don't understand how I had lived at all without knowing how good that tasted. It is the first place that has felt like home, ever since the valkyrie brought me to this land. It's special."

"All clean, ready to go and find another puddle." Eris answered with a confident nod, leant into her father entirely. The smile she held faltering when her eyes landed on Matilda, "Mother is doing that scary thing again, all... twitchy like a doll."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 14:48

“Whole world in your hands.” Fiadh chuckled, moving in to kiss him once again.

“Kael deserves all the happiness coming his way, I wish I could bottle it all for him so it’s always there.”

“We still have access to the cottage. It’s still ours it’s just… not where we live anymore. What can I do to make our quarters feel like home?”

“Oh. Go get dressed, sweetheart.” Iszak gently placed his daughter on the floor and turning her toward her room before heading over to Matilda and gently taking her hand.

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 15:05

"What he deserves, what you deserve, they are both the same." Aodhan hummed, resting one hand on her waist as he took hers in his other to begin the dance. "There has been too much misery for too long. I hope that, with everything we have learnt today, all of us give to revel in the happiness for as long as possible."

"I would say you've fallen on your feet with me." He laughed, words becoming muffled as he kissed her back.

"Nothing, it will get there in time.. I hope. Maybe when the baby arrives it will help."

Matilda remained as she was for several minutes, her hand twitching in his, followed sporodical by other muscles making the same involuntary movement - a muscle feathering in her jaw, her shoulder jerking violently forward, toes curling. The only part of her that didn't move was her chest, breathing having stopped long enough for her lips to begin to tinge blue.

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 15:19

“After we tell Kael we should arrange that little trip you’ve been suggesting we take.”

Fiadh laced her fingers at the back of his neck, pulling him down toward her.

“We can spend nights in the cottage every now and then if that will help?”

“Tilly? Breathe, please.” Iszak kneeled beside her, taking her hand and moving to gently rub her back.

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 15:29

"And leave the main palace in Kael's capable hands until we return." Aodhan nodded his agreement. "He has ran the summer palace without any hitches, navigated the territory through that beast making itself known. I think he is well prepared for a slightly bigger, temporary, challenge."

"We should get back to the party," Kael groaned against her lips. "They will begin to wonder where I am. I have pushed the amount of time I can be absent as it is."

"I'd like that."

Matilda's chest heaved with the gasp she took in for air moments later, her eyelids fluttering closed as her body went slack - weight falling against him, burying her face against his clothes as choked gasps turned into terrified sobs.

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 15:49

“There’s nothing in there at the moment, but tonight I’ll speak to someone to get it stocked up with some food for a few days, we can stay undisturbed then can’t we? No need to leave.”

“We won’t go too far, but giving him free rule should let us see how he works. We can see where he needs guidance.”

“Are you sure we can’t stay out here for a little while longer?” Fiadh breathed, running her hand down his chest.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” Izsak moved Matilda so he could sit on the couch, bringing her onto his knee and gently rubbing her back to encourage the flow of air.

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 16:06

"We don't have to be reclusive to it," Florence hummed, rising to her tiptoes to brush her nose against his. "You're going to want to have the fuss off of everyone, the congratulations and pats on the back for the little one. Just going there to eat, to sleep for a few days is perfect enough for me."

"A test, a very, very small test and a get away for us too."

Kael bit back a groan, arching towards her touch. Answering breathlessly, "No, no. We can - we can come back to it later though? Tonight... when it gets dark."

"No, n- no. Th- They are going to t- take h.. her an- and hu- hurt you an- and take her." Matilda sobbed, terror-filled eyes raising up to stare into his face. "N - No Izsak, th- they are going to come here. They-"

A groan of relief escaped Sarika mouth, shoulders cracking as she stretched thin arms behind her back to try and loosen the muscles after a shift. Her skin, once sun-kissed tan, was now closer to the shade of porcelain from the lack of exposure. Her muscles, aching from where they had been slowly wasting, were hidden by baggy beige clothing a young sentry had given her as he had guarded the small double, en-suited room that had been given to herself and Draven. "Oh, it was so good to shift - to run."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 16:15

“Fuss can be overwhelming for you though and I don’t want that.”

“I can’t tempt you?” Fiadh pouted, moving to pepper kisses down his neck.

“May be the only chance at peace we get for years now.” Isolde chuckled.

“Slow down, what did you see? Who did you see? What happened?”

Draven lay face down on the bed, naked from the shift and panting heavily to regain himself. Groaning with every small movement as his muscles burned from the movement. His hair hadn’t been cut the entire time he’d been imprisoned, he’d just managed to tie it up on top of his head after he shifted back before his shoulders gave up completely.

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 16:33

"We compromise, and if it gets too much for before you are ready then I can return to the cottage without you. If the territorial fae instinct will allow it." Florence chuckled quietly.

"Fiadh." Kael moaned, his breath hitching in his throat. "Don't make this harder than it already is."

"I will try not to vocalise the excitement, or say anything ridiculously fanatic in case you take it as me offering to be the only one to wake up with the child in the night or something to that sense."

"S- Sarika, D- Draven too I - I think but I didn't see him." Leaning back, she pulling up the front of his top with trembling hands. A strangled sob escaping her lips as she traced a line across the muscles of his abdomen. Mumbling quiet pleas to the air, "N- No, no. N- N- Not again. Wh- Why would t- they ma- make me see i- it a- again. P- please no."

Allowing her knees to fall to the side, she twisted her body with a grunt to lean against the bed from where she sat on the floor. Her hand falling to rest, fingers splayed against his back. Taking a breath to speak again, when a gruff voice of a man barked from the other side of the door, "Five minutes, then you are both out here. You eat with the rest of us today, or you don't eat at all."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 16:54

“You are a Prince, you can do what you want, can you not?” Fiadh murmured against his skin, moving back up to press her lips to his.

“Mm, for as long as the child needs feeding throughout the night that will be my job anyway, so don’t worry.”

“They’re gone, Tilly. They’re gone. Sealed up inside the Manor. I’m alive, they’re not going to do anything, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Izsak assured, gently rubbing her back.

“As soon as I grow back my strength we are killing these bastards who seek to treat us like fucking pets they can walk out and we are taking a boat east.” Draven grumbled into the covers.

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 17:09

"I - I saw it. I - I saw her grab Eris t- to make me.. Sh- she is going t- to g- gut you t- to make me p- pay for l- letting Th- Thea go." She gasped, her cries robbing her of the ability to take in a proper breath. "Wh- why d- do th- the Fates sh- show me a- again? Wh- why do they giv- give me ma- mates and ma- make me wa- watch th- them d- d- die twice?"

"You propose we run? When did you become so cowardly." Sarika scoffed, though her touch affectionate as small circles pressed into his skin to soothe the ache of his muscles. "If we are useful enough to be paraded, we still mean something."

"Feeding, yes, but the more... smelly problems." Aodhän wrinkled his nose in anticipation of the smell, though an excited grin soon replaced it.

"You are bad. You are so bad."

Phoenix Mon 21 Aug - 17:12

“We are as weak as children at the moment Sarika. We have no followers, we are being used like propaganda. I won’t have it.”

“Mm, but something is telling me you like it.” Fiadh murmured against his lips, nipping gently.

Isolde chuckled, shaking her head. “We shall see, when the problem arises.”

“They’re not going to hurt Eris. Or me, or you. They’re locked up, nothing will happen.”

**BestNameEva** Mon 21 Aug - 17:24

"I saw them!" Matilda yelled then, slapping the arm of the sofa beside them as her terror bubbled into frustration. "That is what I do, I see things! They are locked up now but they won't always be! I saw it! I saw it!"

" 'At the moment' - exactly. We get stronger, we kill these people, yes, absolutely but I will not be running away. We have scores to settle here."

"A problem it will be," Aodhän hummed, though didn't believe the words he spoke.

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