Hope Falls

"You will not diminish my role because of our daughter," Aodhän bristled. "We will find the balance, between you, I and our staff. I refuse to be the male who stays home to fuss over the child though, Isolde, that is not me."

---

"Have the past few months not been traumatising enough?" Kael swallowed. "Are we not allowed to forget how our morals have been twisted and shattered, how families have changes. I - You may chastise me, all of you may chastise me for it but I am not cold, I am not heartless as'my parents expect me to be. I have no one. Wyatt is leaving me... Wyatt is - If you refuse me too then it is only me. It will only be me, Indira..."

“I’m not chastising you. I’m asking you what you want from me… what are you saying you want us to be… You cannot - you cannot say it will only be you as if it is not only me too. That’s not fair, Kael.”

---

“You don’t want to spend more time with her?”

"You are alone because your family are dirty little liars. If you wish to be fucking executed, if you wish for Ishaan to be then feel free to offer it. I don't know why I fought for you!' Kael retorted sharply, moving towards the other side of the room, raking fingers through his hair. "None of this is fair but that is your father's fault! Your brothers fault! Not mine!"

---

"I still wish to be me. Like you do."

Indira flinched as his voice raised, cowering on reflex further into the nook by the window, breath catching in her chest.

---

“I didn’t think I’d be wrong for assuming you’d like less duties to spend more time with the baby…”

((Night))

"You - You have until sunset to get ready to visit your brother." Kael stumbled over his words, fighting to keep his breathing steady. "If - if you want me to take you, that is. I'll be back at nightfall. We clearly need space, we - I can't - I can't breathe... I have to go."  

---

"We share the burden of our roles, it has always been that way. Always... felt that way at least." Aodhän lowered a steely gaze to the table. "I don't understand the sudden need for change."

(( Night ))

“Y-you have this undeniable habit of making everything about you, your feelings, and whether or not things are going your way right now. It reminds me of Arzen. Perhaps it is common with all those raised heir to their parents thrones. You just tried to guilt me into a relationship with you because otherwise you would be alone.” Indira said quietly, steeling herself as she spoke, as if expecting a violent reaction in return for her words. “You did the same thing when you woke up, you wanted me to be cruel to you so you could self flagellate. So you could cry that you had done the right thing and killer my brother but I hated you. And when my feelings didn’t match what you had set out, you broke down. You weren’t relieved that I don’t hate you, you were distraught about it. You are your most comfortable in self pity and being self centred. You don’t care about others feelings. You care about how their actions affect you and only you. You do not care that your oldest friend has been deeply wounded by your fathers words and it has rocked his pride and sense of self, all you care about is that he has not pushed his feelings aside to make sure you do not have to deal with it. You are not cruel, not a monster… but you are a selfish person. A selfish man. And you will keep having these moments of panic whenever something affects you until you work on that and learn to think about others for a fraction of a second. No doubt this itself will cause a spiral, so go and do it elsewhere please…”

---

“I do not want Morfyyd to grow up thinking she isn’t wanted by her parents. I wanted her to spend time with both of us. With her parents. I thought you would want the same.”

Kael stood silent in the doorway, his breathing remaining uneven as he took the hits. Expression neutral, and gaze steady until she mention Wyatt and he had to grip the edge of the door, a muscle in his jaw feathering. When she had finished, he stepped out, allowing the door to close gently behind himself.

---

"If I take on less, then you will have more to pick up. If you have more to pick up, then you will have less opportunity to spend time with her, keeping it even means that she sees us both as much as she can. She is not deprived of either. If we give Kael more of a role, the time increases again. Sharing the load out makes much more sense to me then one person taking on more."

---

Magnus sat at the top end of the table in the grand dining hall, collecting another glass of bubbling champagne from one of the trays with a silent smile of thanks to the staff who carried it. "Did you witness anyone who you think deserves personal recognition, during the rescue?" He asked Thea quietly, his gaze going to the generals in the room, and whatever privates they had nominated to join a feast in thanks for their work.

---

"You know, if you want my attention you can just ask for it." The chefs son, Sam, hummed happily as he pushed the door open to Kenna's quarters. A tray of sweet and savoury pastries, hams and cheeses arranged. "We needn't go to such extreme lengths, Kenna. I shall agree to not need rescuing in fires, if you agree to start only going places where you are fed."

“Mm, I deliberately went to be starved for months… you got me…” Kenna replied quietly, on the floor with her back against the wall as she read, forgoing a chair.

---

“I only know the stories I have heard, I wasn’t there to witness anything. I don’t know that I’d be able to contribute.” Thea shook her head, gently smoothing down Zaria’s hair, the child asleep leaning against her mother’s chest.

---

“Both me and Síofra had uninterested fathers… and I know you’re not uninterested it’s just… fathers are important… and I just want Mor to have that in her life, time with her father…” Isolde whispered then. “I’ll look at the duties list later this evening and assign more to you.”

"Women have done crazier things for my attention," He jested lightly, lowering himself down to sit cross-legged on the floor. Taking a pastry off of the tray to take a bite from himself. Adding a quieter, "I am glad you are back, glad you're okay."

---

"You may have heard stories that I haven't." Magnus frowned, reaching over to gently touch Zaria's arm. "I am going to mention Iszak, Farkas and Petra. I did not expect any of the wolves to join us, the fact they did may signal the start of a turning point in how they are accepted here. Though, I don't expect everyone in the room to be happy about it."

---

"And then this guy, this guy." Petra's pale blue eyes flickered onto Iszak as she replaced her half full glass of alcohol with a fresh, full to the brim one. Hair just past her shoulders almost become tangled on the back of her necklace as she leant her head back to laugh. "Out of no where, just - straight for the throat. Even the uh... who were they, they ones from the East who were helping us - it isn't important. Even they were impressed."

"Oh," Matilda pulled her lips into a line as she listened, trying to use the sequins in her blue dress to guise her discomfort of the situation. "It all sounds rather... messy. Were the three of you," she paused, looking from her mate, to Petra and then to the shorter man who sat at the table. "Were the three of you put together for a reason or did it just.. naturally occur?"

---

Aodhan nodded, resting his palm against her cheek. "We are a team, and I am worried you are going to exhaust yourself sooner rather than later. We haven't had any time to rest yet, Sol."

“All that comes with the territory of the job… but a rest would be most welcomed as soon as nothings are all sorted and I no longer worry about the state of the city…” Isolde rested her hand over his. “Hopefully it won’t take too long to come.”

---

“I imagine the castle has been quieter without my lot around…”

---

“People are all the more wary now, after Sarika and Draven escaping and rising up against Isolde. I know they’re worried of it happening here too. Looking at the wolves in our walls as potential cuckoos in the nest… are you sure drawing attention is wise?”

---

“I am not quite sure. I can’t say I remember too much of it. The night is a blur.”

"Too silent," Sam hummed his agreement. "I had to keep finding reasons to go into town just to speak to people that did not bore me to death. They were sending prayers to you, in Gyda's Tavern told me to remind you if - when you returned that the darts team still want you. Emphasised the free drink per game policy."

---

"Hopefully," Aodhan whispered, brushing his lips to hers gently. "Is there anything else you need from me today? I best relieve Mor from the nannies."

---

"They will be fearful until the Adair's heads are mounted at the front of the city. We have been tiptoeing around how much recognition to give the wolves for years now, and we may end up causing the issues if we continue. It took guts, to fight with us against their own. I want to congratulate them, like we would with any other individual who showed such bravery."

---

"He is being humble." Petra chuckled her disagreement, resting a hand on Iszak's shoulder and squeezing it. "It was much more of community out there then it ever has been here. We are all meant to work together, having to live in this society with these... people."

"These people are fine. You just refuse to make a life for yourself here." Farkas spoke from his seat, with a bored tone. "Tame your energy, Petra. This is not the place."

"I am going to get some air," Matilda leant in to whisper in Iszak's ear. "Are you going to join me?"

“I think I’m going to sail soon, I wouldn’t want to disappoint them by joining then leaving.” Kenna replied, putting her book down to the side. “I spent almost six months trapped in those walls. I have been behind these ones for years, longer than intended… I feel stifled. The air is thick, and the breeze isn’t right. I came here for my father and he has made it clear we are… not on the same thought pattern anymore. I don’t want to be here anymore…” she said honestly, pulling her bony knees to her chest and resting her head on top of them.

---

“No… the rest of today is mostly just checking up on things, making sure people are making the right steps to recovery.” Isolde murmured against his lips.

---

“You are King, and I trust you know what is best.” Thea nodded. “I’ll keep my third eye open for any possibility that people will react badly.”

---

“Do you want me to join you?” Izsak asked, moving his hand to take hers.

"Oh," He whispered his response, glancing down to look at the front page of her book. "Well, you have to go where your soul feels most at rest. I imagine the boredom here will suffocate you, the quiet." A sad smile tugged at his mouth as he finally looked back at her. "Walls can never contain someone so brilliant."

---

"It shan't take you long then. I will see you by dinner?" Aodhän asked as he pulled away, getting to his feet.

---

"I am offering you an out, if your new... friends are becoming overwhelming with their talk of battles."

---

"We will let everyone eat first, then make the toasts. If it is left too late into the night then we run the risk of people becoming too intoxicating to control themselves if they do take issue."

“We always have space for one more below deck… the food on the ship itself is nothing to write home about but… there’s a whole world out there.”

---

“Of course. If Mor gets hungry come get me though.”

---

“No. I don’t want to seem rude. But if you need me to come I shall.”

---

“I’ll have Zaria’s nanny take her to bed in a moment then - just in case people do get rowdy.”

"You would have a lot to teach me," Sam warned with a chuckle. "It is a dangerous offer you are making me when I have been on a ship, perhaps once, in the entirety of my life and it was docked."

---

Aodhän nodded, kissing her cheek and leaving the room.

---

"No, no. I will stay until food is served, but then I will leave you to socialise with them." Matilda kissed his cheek lightly, before turning her attention back to Petra whom had focused her chattering to Farkas instead.

"Izsak, Matilda, please sit between me and Petra before I do something I will not be proud of." Farkas encouraged, pushing the chairs beside him out for them to sit. "I need body buffers to cure the headache."

"Let her eat first." Magnus mused, glancing over his shoulder as the door opened and the food began to filter into the room and be placed on the tables.

“Zaria,” Thea encouraged, gently stirring her daughter by brushing her hair across her forehead. “The food your daddy has spent hours talking about is finally ready.” She chuckled a little.

---

“I don’t mind teaching you. Neither will anyone else - the more the merrier… Nonodu will object to you being there…”

"Get through the first two courses and then a dessert platter will arrive," Magnus encouraged her awake with a grin, shuffling his seat to the side so that he could pull Zaria's chair between his and Thea's. "The best part."

---

"When are you planning on going? I would have to discuss with my father, pack my things away."

“The ice cream?” Zaria mumbled, eyes flying awake. “The ice cream with the chocolate?”

“The ice cream, yes.” Thea chuckled, easing her daughter into her seat. “You’ve inherited your fathers sweet tooth.”

---

“Lynette and Farah won’t even entertain the idea until I look better - whatever that means anyway so… I’m not completely sure.”

"You have been more pensive then usual this week," Florence whispered, sat on her knees behind Wyatt, her hands shining with a coconut oil which she rubbed into the knots of his shoulders. "What have you been thinking about?"

---

"I have the time to slowly introduce the idea to him then? He isn't- it is just he and I, you see. To leave him alone, he'll allow it but it will be a big adjustment." Sam grimaced, taking a pastry and pulling it apart until only the fruit in its centre remained. Offering the red berries to her on an open hand.

---

"Mm, the ice cream. The warm cake." Magnus chuckled, tidying Zaria's hair on the side of her head closest to him. "There is one of those horrible yellow sour lemon sweets your mother likes too."

“You don’t - I don’t want to make you come. If you don’t want to. But - I think you’d love it. There’s so much to explore… so much out there.” Kenna took the fruit from his hand, popping one in her mouth.

---

“Nothing, nothing.”

---

“Can I eat my ice cream first, dad? Before the vegetables?”

"No, because I let you do it all of these soldiers and their families." Magnus lightly motioned to the room. "Will think that they can do the same. We have to set an example, Zaria. We're important people."

---

"I want to. Now I have met you and your family, heard the stories, seen how.... Full of life you all are. The months without you here have driven me half to death with boredom, I don't want to feel like that again. It ages me."

---

"Liar." Florence frowned, brushing her thumbs lightly against his skin. "Quiet, no complaints at the use of oil. Allowing me to pamper you. We do not have to speak on it, but don't lie."

“Would you rather I tell you to stop and leave me alone?”

---

“Unfortunately I won’t be returning to Baldruun any time soon so if that was on your list of places to travel you shall be disappointed.” Kenna murmured dryly.

---

“No. You are important. I just want to eat my ice cream!”

"Temperatures of such extreme heat, I don't know how well I would cope with them anyway. If I stay in the kitchen too long when the bread is being baked I get dizzy, and on summer days - you have seen - I go as red as a lobster." Sam chuckled. "I will manage without Baldruun."

---

"You and your mother are just as important," Magnus hummed, frowning as he felt the eyes of their guests fall to them. "Zaria."

---

"No." Florence frowned, though moved her hands away and rested them onto her lap. "Though if you-" She cut off, swallowing at the knock on the door moving away from him to pull it open. "Oh. Kael."

"Is Wyatt here? May I come in - I need to speak to him..."

Zaria grumbled under her breath, sitting back in her seat with a reluctant pout, ready to play her part.

---

“Kael? What is it?” Wyatt asked when he heard the Princes voice.

---

“Perfect. You shall be wonderfully suited to Hvitera if we end up there.”

"Hvitera the... continent of snow?" He offered a slight smile. "It has rarely snowed here, since I was born. Always raining, or cloudy but never snowing. It'll be nice to be able to enjoy it."

---

"Sit up straight," He encouraged gently then, resting his palm against his daughters back. "Shuffle further back in your seat if you must, use your chair as guidance. If you need more lessons the - " He cut off as the starter was put in front of them, "Ah, thank you."

---

"We need to talk." Kael answered, stepping inside when Florence backed away a step. "In - in private. We could go for a walk or - "

"I have things to collect from the kitchens, I have people to speak to myself." Florence grimaced, looking towards the bedroom to where Wyatt sat. "Shall I bring Sully with me?"