Hope Falls

“If it’s as Kael wishes, then I don’t see why not…”

---

“I only came here to be your wife - or so I thought. I suppose I was only here as a ruse… When whatever is planned is over and done with I imagine my father will demand my return for sure…”

"I will let him know the next time I see him then," Aodhän whispered. "It took me aback, Hawk doesn't often wish to cross such lines. Whatever happened that day, whatever Kaels initial reaction must have been, it must have been... concerning."

“He’s a father now isn’t he? I imagine there’s a new level of understanding and empathy that Hawk is now feeling that he hasn’t before.” Isolde rested her head against his chest. “The balance is hard. I let him know he can talk to us if needs be. And sometimes I want to lock the doors and not let him leave until he has, because I know he is carrying so much pain. But no good will come of forcing him to talk about his grief so soon will it? Not when he was so in love… when he is still discovering things about her to miss in his life, where her ghost lingers.”

"His.. episodes.. the ones where he can't breathe, he hasn't had one since she has left. Not any we have seen. That is what concerns me, the absence of it. Is he so numb the emotions no longer exist or is there one massive implosion he keeps from the world each time he is alone?" Aodhän shook his head, brushing his fingers through her hair as he looked up at the ceiling. "He will never burden us with how he is truly feeling."

---

Kael  pulled I'm his lower lip, silent for a few seconds as he studied her before cautiously stating, "If - If you really had nothing to do with it. If you don't want to go back I can speak to my mother and we can find some plan. You shouldn't go back to that."

“I will swear on your ancestors and mine if it would give you certainty that Zoya and I did not know anything about what happened that day, or anything at all.” Indira offered, before shaking her head sadly. “The ideal outcome for all of this is my father to realise he has been foiled and cease whatever he is up to, extend an apology to your mother and then for me and my party to leave and never return… if I stayed, willing or not, it would provoke my father into something else. More trouble… The offer is a kind one, considering, but would cause you so much trouble.”

---

“I wish he could understand he is not a burden. And I would sit awake with him every night if it’s what he needed to feel a little better.”

"He would never let us, but perhaps if he spends time with Lucian Zaretsky and Hawk he will find his way through it. He needs people to lean on, who isn't important."

---

"I have enough weighing on me to contemplate you going back to a home where you feel so small." Kael swallowed. "We have visitors from another Kingdom, I need to entertain them tonight but tomorrow night would you like to stretch your legs with me? Even if it is just around the castle halls."

“As long as those people are trustworthy enough to hold the information, mm?”

---

“Thank you, I’d like that, getting out of the room.”

"Mm, and we know Hawk is trustworthy. Lucian Zaretsky, I think we may simply have to risk it, trust Kael's judgement with that one." Aodhän grimaced. "Now is the time for him to make mistakes, you've said that yourself. Trust the wrong people."

---

"I wish I could offer for your friend to join us," He cast a glance around the room as he searched for Zoya, "But it will probably be risk enough with you. Two of you will be too stressful for my guards."

“Can Zoya be allowed a walk afterward? She needs to get out of this room too.”

---

“No time like the present for mistakes.”

"Perhaps, I'll see if we manage to have a walk ourselves without being caught." Kael chuckled quietly.

---

"Mm. I think we should make a fee right now," Aodhän hummed, ducking his head to dot a kiss to the crook of her neck. Whispering against her skin, "Shall we risk being late to our next meeting?"

“I’m sure they can wait.” Isolde chuckled, moving her hand to the back of his head.

---

“I think that’s fair enough.” Indira laughed with a small nod.

Kael smiled tiredly when he heard her laugh, "There are plenty of things within the palace walls I can show you that'll like, I am sure. No selkies though, I'm afraid."

---

"Wonderful," Aodhän purred, letting his mouth connect with her neck again - kissing deeply, slowly down it 's length.

“Maybe next time I see the see they’ll deign me special enough to appear…”

"The guests I am speaking to later are frequent travellers of your continent. I am going to ask for all of your folk stories from them."

“Nobody will know them better than a native.”

"I shall get their version, then on our walk you can tell me yours. Fill in details they have missed."

“Sounds like a plan, I am looking forward to see how much they get wrong.”

"I don't know if I would be particularly eager to tell pirates they have gotten infomation wrong, even if it is so. I don't think I would be walling around with the head afterwards."

“They wouldn’t dare harm you and you know it.”

He hesitantly tapped his fingertips against the knuckles of her hand, eyebrow furrowed thoughtfully. "I am learning not to feel so confident, in that regard. Better to br cautious, know its always a potential."

“You invited people here you believe will harm you?”

"No. I trust who was invited, I just don't know their guests. Tonight I will.. work out how I feel about them."

“Keep your wits about you then, with guards.”

"Mm, very wise advice considering the situation you are in." Kael answered dryly, raising an eyebrow.

“I am trusting you won’t harm me, aren’t I? Yet I’ve still got my wits about me.”