Hope Falls

"When you see otherwise, when you begin to understand the circumstances you find yourself in then I will be here for you, if it is allowed." She swallowed, grabbing the door handle behind her gently. "Now, as I said, I don't want to get the guard in trouble. When the tyrant queen allows it, I will see you and we can speak properly."

---

"They still do, partly." Aodhän chuckled. "I believed I had covered. I had covered the same amounts as Kael, and he took to that environment like it was in his blood. I was like a beached fish."

"Of course I am, I am just cloudy headed now." He confessed quietly. "My mother and I barely argue, never mind all the other revelations of the day. By tomorrow things will be better, I am sure."

“Shall I go fetch Aoife to get some ointment for you? If you are still burned it must be painful.” Isolde shifted slightly as if intending to sit up. “It is impossible for Kael to not thrive in his environment isn’t it? Each letter I got surprised me more and more with how he had charmed the nobles wherever he went, the activities he’d try, the offers he’d received… Finding out he picked out one of the brides I rejected at first because I thought he would find too boring. And then I get your letter that says not only is he happy with her he is smitten… constantly surprising me.”

---

“I - thank you Avani. For coming all this way to see me, without your boys. I can’t - you do not know how much it means to me that I have seen you again after all this time when I never thought I would.” Indira pushed herself up from where she was sat and headed over to her sister, gently pulling her into a quick embrace. “We will be allowed to speak again, I will ensure it. Isolde has tried to put her foot down with me but I am carrying her grandchild, she bends very easily I have learned. I will make sure you have the freedom to come to me again, we have so much to talk about.” She whispered, giving her a gentle squeeze before pulling away. “I love you… I can’t state how good it is to see you again.”

---

“Rest will do us all good. And once our wedding is complete I can begin to help you with whatever burdens you. Once your ancestors recognise me, we will be a true team. If things are not good with your mother by then… then we will work it out together.” Daphne assured, “You have faced so much on your own, but not any longer.”

"It is your cousin, she was always fearsome. Goodness knows who Nerissa is whipping into shape to ensure luck on his side, I fear to think about the chaos she causes to keep him safe from things out of our control. Don't fetch anything, I would like you to rest."

---

"My boys are at the edge where Rafi is limiting our contact, it has become younger with each boy. I make them soft, mm? Boys can not be men if their mother chases away their demons, even if they are still babies. He is - " She shook her head. "Arzen used to keep him in check. All - all conversation for another time though. I love you too, we'll speak soon." She finalised, slipping out of the room and looking where Rauri had last been.

“May I escort you to your rooms now, Lady Avani?” Ruari asked quietly, he’d been stood against the wall opposite Indira’s door, waiting for her to come out. Arms folded as he leaned back.

---

“We must get it looked at sooner rather than later then, before dinner tonight.” Isolde compromised, eyes slipping closed.

"I have faced very little alone, I have been very blessed." Kael laughed tiredly. "There has always been someone to turn to, in some place. Building circles is a wonderful thing. They'll all welcome you, and the ancestors certainly will. Ada and Dmitri, they'll like you. Fiadh will be pleased too. My mother, Nerissa, I - I don't know her really but from what I do know... you'll be okay."

---

"Why are you being so kind?" Avani questioned cautiously, offering his her arm so she could be led. "Why are you taking such risks when you are so fearful of them?"

---

"Of course, Sol. Later..." Aodhän whispered, keeping her with him as he leant back to lay more comfortably. Tangling his fingers in her hair to keep her against his chest, free hand pulling covers up to encompass them into the warmth. "'I love you,"

“I can’t wait to become part of your family. My mother warned me about marriage. About my duties. And it pains me to know that she saw it as something to warn against. That my father did not treat her so well in his quest for a son… And I was wary, she warned that once we were no longer where my family’s forces could save me, that you may change, you may become cruel. That it may be something I just have to learn to grin and bear. But you… you got on your knees and told me you wished me to stay. I never expected any man to ever do that. Not for me. I am very lucky to be here with you, I realise that.”

---

Isolde had already drifted off the moment the extra warmth of the blanket had washed over her, breathing softly into Aodhän’s chest as she slept soundly for the first time since Aodhän had left her.

---

“I loved my little sister, as you love yours. She died. She would want me to give you time with your sister that I never got with mine.” Ruairi offered up, but his tone made it clear that would be all the information he would be answering with as he linked his arm with hers and began carrying on down the corridor.

Avani nodded, resting her hand against Ruairi's arm and brushing her thumb in gentle circles against his uniform. Leaning in to reiterate, quiet enough this time, "If your Captain is the giant from the tale, then you are most certainly the slayer. Just allow him to believe he is powerful for now, mm? Your time will come, Ruairi."

---

"My ice queen," Aodhän hummed affectionately, arm settling around her waist to keep her secure as he let his own eyes slide close.

---

"I am not too proud to beg for what it is important for me, despite it being a weakness I know many people frown on, that needs to be changed." Kael whispered, "We will take everything at your pace, and there is no pressure to feel comfortable here but when you do, when you can talk to everyone else here as you speak when it is just us then you will see that my admiration for you isn't unique. You are just a remarkable person, and there is nothing else to say on that to argue against it."

(( Night night ))

“Not everyone is a villain, Princess. Hawk is a good man, he loves his mate and his son fiercely. He has protected Kael with his life.” Ruairi said, almost sadly as he eventually stopped outside the door to her room. “And I cannot imagine the life you have lead that makes you see everyone as such. It cannot have been easy. We do not know one another past a few conversations as we sailed, but I give you my word that whilst you are here, you won’t be harmed. “You won’t believe it at first, I can tell that just from how wary you are of all around you. But if you are here for a while, I hope you eventually come to believe that I take my word very seriously.” He unlocked the door, opening it wide enough for her to step in.

---

“You will come see me later, before dinner?” Daphne asked as she played with his fingers, lacing hers with his after a few moments. “I will need your advice on what to wear, to make it is appropriate, that you like it.”

"I will come and see you, and we will step into that room together. As for what you wear, that isn't my choice to make, I am sure whatever you choose will be fine." Kael whispered, leaning in to kiss her cheek as they stopped outside of the door to her rooms. "Anyone here will help you if you ask, and if you need me then have someone fetch me."

---

Avani took in an anxious breath, rolling back her shoulders and stepping into the room.

“Your things should be in here, but if you need anything feel free to ask. I can send someone to come sort you a bath or some food if you want?”

---

“Not your choice no, but you’re my husband, these are your people, your family. I value your opinion.” Daphne turned her head and caught his lips with hers briefly. “I shall see you soon…”

"A bath, please, yes." Avani whispered, pacing the perimeter of the main living space. Fingertips brushing against the bumps of the walls, feeling for lose paint or holes that others could use to peer inside without her knowledge.

---

"I am just a staff member away," He reminded gently before turning and heading down the halls. Straight toward Indira's rooms, lifting up his hand to try and wipe off the now dried blood from his cheek.

“I assure you the upkeep of the rooms is very good, Princess. No damp or mould will be found by your inspections.”

---

Indira had moved to sit herself back down with her feet up on her couch in front of her fire, a blanket covering her lap that she was working on embroidering for her children, concentrating deeply as she passed the needle back and forth through the fabric.

"Castles have passages, Sir. Every castle has one, they are safety nets for royals, I have no doubt when Arzen was here they were all inspected in case your noble families needed to hide within the walls. What is the use in a passage, however, if you can't see what is on the other side?"

---

Kael knocked once, a quick graze of his knuckles before pushing the door open. Too eager to wait for permission to enter, "Indira?"

“Forgive me - but your room doesn’t have anything as such. Other than a large crawl space under the floorboards by the window I believe, to hide; but it doesn’t lead anywhere. This part of the castle is an extension, built long after the first. The south wing, where the Queens quarters are, has the thicker maze of passages.”

---

“You are supposed to wait - “ Indira murmured as she heard the door open before she had even had time to answer, though her minor irritation disappeared instantly as she looked up at hearing Kael’s voice and realised who had entered. Taking in his features wordlessly for a moment, before offering him a soft smile; “Hi, you..” she greeted, moving the blanket and needle to the table in front of her, intending to get up and greet him properly.

"Stay off your feet, I have heard the reasons you should be resting. Do you need anything? I think I have perfected how to make the tea you love, I brought back fresh leaves for it too. I can make some for you. Oh, no, wait could you even have it? I don't know the properties, would it hurt them?"

---

"Show me." Avani ordered quietly, looking down toward the floorboards. "Show me where this space is, let me see it is empty."

“You have heard - and you are not angry with me?” Indira raised a hand to beckon him over, shifting a little to make space. “I am okay for tea, Aoife was here not long ago…”

---

Ruairi nodded, gently using his arm to have her stand back a few paces as he got on his knees in front of the window. Lifting the rug there and rolling it to the side as he used his hand to sweep over the floorboards. Stopping when his hand felt something - a narrow opening in between boards just large enough for him to slip his hand down and hook his fingers on the other side before prising it open. A few square feet of boards lifted on a hinge to reveal a crawl space as described by Ruairi earlier. Only big enough to fit a full grown man the size of himself in if he crouched down in it. Nothing but a few webs and dirt lay at the bottom.

"Angry with you? No. No, this is a gift from the ancestors, a gift they bestowed to you. I am glad you decided to keep them." Kael whispered, lowering himself down to sit on the edge of the seat beside her. "How - How do you feel? How are they? I - I thought bringing Zakar back with me would be a shift in mentality enough but now this..."

---

Avani dropped onto her hands and knees beside the gap left by the floorboards, leaning down to peer into it. A satisfied, "Mm," escaping her lips as she leant back to sit on her feet.

“Not keeping them was never an option. The moment Aoife told me that I was pregnant… I would have clawed my way out of this castle if anyone had suggested otherwise.” Indira moved to take his hand, examining it quietly as she turned over to see his palm, amusing herself with the colour difference as he had tanned. “I am… it has been difficult, especially as time goes on, I won’t be dishonest. The more they grow, the more uncomfortable it gets. But Aoife has been incredible, she checks on me often, and if she can’t she sends one of her other girls to do so. And your mother has been… prickly, since she found out they - oh! They are boys, Aoife is almost certain, I did not mention…” she added with a grin before continuing. “Your mother has not been polite, but she has made sure I have everything, made sure I have been tended to, and not just for the children either, she enquired that I am well outside of them… Aoife tells me she is just worried about the succession. But I am well, just tired. Aoife says they are okay too. One is smaller than the other, she has noticed, but she assured me it’s very common and that they will catch up once they are here…” she moved his hand to rest against the top of her bump, by her ribs just as she felt movement. “I like to think your ancestors heard us, talking about Idris… and they gave him to us… And you were saying that your Ada said I would be in your life forever. It made sense, we would share the children, of course we are forever entwined.”

---

“You have people hide in your rooms often?” Ruairi moved to close the space back up once more. “Insisting on seeing it is empty…”

"Idris," Kael laughed cheerfully, mouth falling afape in amzement at the childs movement. "We only named one theoretical child, have you begun to think of a name for the second? I - my mother was rude to Princess Daphne today too. I shall be having words with her, whatever her reasoning it is unacceptable."

---

"Since Arzen's death, people have done many things to my family and I." Avani whispered, glancing up at him. "He kept us safe."

“I came up with Idris. I had hoped that when you came home you would be happy about them, and would help me with a second name.” Indira grinned and placed both hands over his then. “We have a few weeks left, I think. Or we should do.” She chuckled. “I am so relieved you are not angry with me. Or upset. I was worried you’d not want them… or not want them with me.”

---

“I’m sorry whatever has happened, has happened.” Ruairi got to his feet and offered her his hand. “I know people can be especially cruel to women.”

"If my father would have passed on the message then I would have had time to think of names, I could have come here with a list for you. If the letter came whilst we were still East then I could have told Ishaan and Zoya, it would have...." He shook his head. "My father is a controlling bastard."

---

"You needn't pity me, I am not a victim." Avani snorted, taking his hand and using his weight to pull herself to standing. "It is easy to remove someone's manhood, most of them succumb to it through one way or another."

“You - you did not know? Your mother promised me she had written to you, she promised she would tell you. When I didn’t hear anything back… When I didn’t get a letter, and when your mother said you had made no mention of it… I thought you were angry at me…”

---

“I dare not ask you how you know removing appendages is easy.” Ruari grimaced, moving to stand a little further away from her when he noticed how close they were, and alone.

"You are a solider, guard... whatever it is you like to call yourself. I am sure you are aware of how to easily remove limbs, hearts, heads. I can't imagine there is much difference in it." Avani laughed quietly when he stepped away.

---

"I found out when your sister was dragging her nails into my face, not a moment before. Even if I were angry at you, I wouldn't have ignored it, Indira."