Hope Falls

"Eden..."

Eden swallowed, taking a step away from them all. Reaching her hand out for her brothers, pleading in a quiet whisper once more, "Promise me you'll still be around when whoever I end up with lets me come to see you. Promise me you'll be here, and okay."

"There is no time for this, girl. You have been given long enough." Lúthien's voice became sharper, irritation becoming clear.

"I will do all I can to keep them safe," Magnus promised quietly, lifting his head to momentarily watch the Aster children. "Ira, too."

“You aren’t taking her.” Lucian stated quietly as he wheeled himself up to the dais. Two of his guards behind him as he’d silently entered the room as the noise had risen. “Not for long like I know you sanctimonious bitches were planning. I’ve met enough of you over the years to know you would’ve used Eden and kept her as long as you could, a decade or more under the guise of her needing more training just because you wanted to get to her mother. I won’t have it.” His skin ashy and pale as he’d not seen the sun in a week.

“What is it with the men in this realm thinking they can speak to us how they like?!” Idunn seethed as she stepped towards the edge of the platform so she could directly stare Lucian down. “She is a Seer who has not been taught correctly by those she lives with. If her mother had paid her education more mind this would not be happening. If Eden doesn’t learn to control her gifts then she will burn out. Do you want to bury your stepdaughter with no eyes because they’ve melted from her skull?!”

"We grow tired of these public displays of defiance, you are all toeing a very delicate line. As was pointed out in your absence, Prince Zaretsky, we have allowed your marriage to one of our Seers to slide as there has been no use of you. That is changing, the longer your cousin fails at his duties.  You must mind your tone." Lúthien scoffed. "Is this a discussion we should have in private, perhaps?"

"Lucian..." Karina breathed

Eden used the distraction, and her mother's arms around Ira relaxing as a result to pull him back to her. Wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug once more, trembling.

“No discussion is needed, Luthien, with all due respect. You wish to take something of mine, my daughter. And if you were intending on being reasonable about the situation we wouldn’t have to have this conversation. But I won’t have her away from home for as long as I know your ilk will twist it in to.” Lucian pulled out a large tome from underneath the blankets covering his legs. The cover pure black with a silver circular symbol etched into it. The paper inside clearly old and fragile as he rested it on his knee. “I am aware Eden requires some training she has not had here and without being properly trained she may become injured during her visions. And I’m aware that the conditions for my marriage are currently on an edge. But I feel we can come to an agreement on that.” He stated, his eyes not even glancing down to the book as he stared between the Guardians.

“Where did you get that?” Idunn hissed, eyes widening.

“It’s not important. What is important is that I know your kind cannot touch this book unless it is gifted to you. Which I am willing to do. In exchange for you agreeing to only keep Eden a reasonable time and no longer than necessary.” Lucian reached out his hand, beckoning Karina over to involve her in the negotiation.

"This is a conversation to be had behind closed doors." Lúthien ordered, the only surprise she allowed being a second glance at the book in his lap. Turning on her heel and taking several steps towards the door that led to the Eastern hallway. "Come, you have all wasted enough of our time already."

Karina stepped forward, laughing tiredly as she done so with a small shake of her head. "When you hols the power you wish to make your announcements publically, but now the tide have turned you want to grant you the grace of keeping your humility? Absolutely not. My daughter will need the guidance you can give for no longer than a year, and after that she is to return home."

Lucian nodded, taking Karina’s hand and lacing his fingers with hers. “My wife has spoken. Our marriage will not be looked in to and you shall keep Eden no longer than a year.”

“A year is too - “ Ira started, cutting off when Thea gently patted his shoulders and murmured in his ear to calm down.

“And Lady Blackwood no longer than five.” Lucian added as he glanced to Conan briefly over his shoulder before turning back to the Guardians. “You are still getting to exert your power. She will still be punished for what you consider unreasonable actions. But you are not keeping her indefinitely either. In exchange for that, I shall gift you the book and we will speak no more about it.”

"Five? No." Lúthien scoffed, "You believe that to be an adequate amount of time for the kind of defiance she has shown to us through the decades? For the shame she has forced her sisters to suffer through. Fifteen years, at least, Blackwood has to repent for at the very least. As for the Seer." She looked across the room, watching Eden with an icy gaze. "I don't believe a year is long enough to ensure her safety. We are all on the same side, we wish for the girl to thrive. If you all claim to love her so much, why be so eager to rush training that will save her life?"

Lucien took the book and opened it up on the first page, turning slowly and opening his mouth to begin to read out loud.

“Do not.” Idunn hissed, moving forward as if to snatch the book from him, but being unable to do so. “Do not dare.”

“You not being able to teach adequately is not our issue. You should be able to teach her what she needs to know in that time. And Dagmar has suffered her own humiliation for years, and I have no doubt you plan to make her suffer further during her time with you as it is. If we were all on the same side you wouldn’t be using Eden to punish her mother for choosing to homeschool her in the first place.”

"He would not dare to speak any of that book aloud, the pirate knows what the consequences of doing that would be and how they would also effect him. Please do not embarrass us with over reactions, Idunn." Folding her hands in front of her waist, Lúthien raised an eyebrow at Lucien and Karina. "You are all very stupid, aren't you? The disrespect in this Kingdom always truly does astound me. Five years for Lady Blackwood then, fine, only because I wish to leave in this century but the Seer we need for 18 months at the least."

Karina swallowed, casting a glance over her shoulder to her children. "18 months, with visiting rights for myself and her brother after the first six."

“Five years for Dagmar, eighteen months with visitation for Eden and in return I hand this book over to you and will take a blood oath that I will not speak of what it contains.” Lucian held out his hand as he made his offer, raising his eyebrows at Lúthien, as if expecting her to make another rejection.

“You cannot barter my sister - “

“Ira shut up.” Thea hissed, grasping his shoulder tightly then to cut him off.

"Allow the young angel to speak, if this little negotiation is a family affair." Lúthien's eyes danced in amusmemt as they found Ira. "You are certainly spirited aren't you. Step up, as the rest of the people in this kingdom have. What is it that you demand?"

"Ira... don't even be tempted." Karina warned quietly.

“Take me with you. Take me with my sister. I don’t care if I have to be a groom or a fucking gardener or if I have to sweep the floors or - “

Idunn laughed sharply, unable to help herself. A few gentle snickers from those present echoed her sentiment. “Allow a man onto the grounds and break the sanctity of it? Endanger the girls we have there?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “I cannot tell if you have inherited your father’s dry sense of humour or if you are stupidly serious.”

“The boy meant no insult and you know it. He just wishes to be close to his sister. You know he meant no offence.” Lucian pointed out with a grimace.

"Visiting rights means allowing him in despite the rule, all the same. My son is only a threat to your ridiculous rules, and only to that. Offering you any labour you may need is hardly an insult, you do not get to invite him to speak and then react so dramatically."

"The visitation would take place outside of the grounds." Lúthien countered. "We have no need for workmen. I will agree to eighteen months with visitations, five years for Blackwood and a blood oath from yourself Zaretsky so you keep your mouth shut."

“Your knife or mine?” Lucien asked as he rolled the sleeve of his left arm up, flexing his palm, “Am I swearing with you or your second in command?”

Ira seethed, physically biting his tongue till the blood gathered at his lips to refrain from speaking any further.

"The oathes are Idunn's responsibility." Lúthien answered calmly, "She carries her own knife, we wouldn't want to go near the dirt that you may have been using your own for."

“You keep telling people to mind their tongue but I believe you would benefit from your own wisdom. You have no idea what else I have had access to over my time. This book isn’t the only one of its kind.”

“If you had more you’d be using it to negotiate totality with your demands, bluffing does not become you.” Idunn rolled her eyes as she took out a dagger from her belt, slicing Lucian’s palm before her own. “Do you swear not to speak of the contents of the book which you are about to willingly gift into our ownership?”

“This is what I had access to with the time I had. It does not mean it is all I have access to in total. You have been allowed to rule as a collective because the service you provided with keeping the Seers trained, distributed annd in order outweighed your meddling. Be wary of when people decide that is no longer the case.” Lucian shrugged as he took Idunns sliced hand with his own. “I swear.”

Karina turned to walk towards her children, lifting hands up to take Eden's face in her palms. "Six months, and then your brother and I will see you. It - it sounds like a long time, and I will nor lie to you and tell you that there won't be moments you are scared but you will meet your sisters there. They will show you things that I and your Aunt Thea can't, for want of protecting you or because the Fates haven't allowed us. They will be some of the best bonds you ever build, similar to familial ones. You will do well, time will move quickly."

Eden swallowed, throat to tight to speak. Closing her eyes to try and stem the tears.

“I’m going to find a way to hurt you.” Ira hissed at Lúthien, spitting the blood from his mouth at her feet. “Do not ask me to make anymore promises… I’m sorry it is letting you down but I can’t.” He whispered to his sister, gently squeezing her arm - unable to get any closer as Karina was there. “I will see you soon.” He promised before storming from the room, shoving one of the huge doors open so hard it splintered under his touch.

“Disrespectful little bastard. Control your fucking child Karina.” Idunn seethed as she pulled away from Lucian a moment later, almost snatching the book from him as he handed it over, returning to Lúthiens side. “Verena, Sitara - I want you to escort Blackwood. Have her bound to you both before you leave.”

“You will not allow me to fly? I know my - “

“I do not trust you to not try anything. If your wings are bound before they take you then if you choose to fuck around in the air it is signing your own death sentence.”

“And if they drop me I have no way to protect myself!”

“Best hope they keep a tight grip then.” Idunn snapped, waving a hand in gesture. Watching as the two Valkyries holding Dagmar dragged her from the room. One of them pushing the back of her head down to watch the floor so she could not catch anyone’s eye as they took her.

Conan raised a hand in Dagmar's direction as she was brought past him, taking half a step closer as his other hand raised to his mouth to muffle a strangled sob.

"Fiesty." Lúthiens mused with an impressed grin, raised eyebrows as she watched Ira storm out of the room.

"Ira! Ira, no. No you have to promise. Yo- you have to. I sa- saw... you have to promise so it changes!" Eden screeched her plea after him, pulling from Karina's grip to try and rush behind him. Grunting in surprise when she bumped into one of the vallyries who blocked her path.

"It is time for us all to get going," Lúthien hummed, looking towards Idunn. "Don't you agree?"

“Yes, please, do leave.” Lucian muttered with gritted teeth, gently moving to touch Edens shoulder. “Your mother and I will look after him Eden, and he has Cassius and Aesira. He will not be alone. It will be hard for the first few nights for you both I know, but you will return home sooner than you think and we can put this behind us.”

Idunn nodded before making another quick gesture into the thinning crowd of Valkyries, “Signe, Synnøve, the two of you are to stay. Seers require guarding and with Blackwood no longer here they will be under threat.” She instructed to two of the woman, whom both exchanged confused glances at the order, though said nothing. The taller of the two simply nodding in acceptance as they stood still and did not move with the crowd that had begun to leave the hall. “I am sure that The King and his council will make you welcome.”

"Spies," Karina noted quietly, studying the two valkyries with a cautious gaze.

"Don't touch me, do not touch me when you have abandoned us this week." Eden wept, flinching away from his hand. Motioning broadly towards her mother, "She almost got herself killed, got high and thought she saw my fucking dad at the top of a basic cliff because you weren't anywhere to say it was going to be okay. D- do not tell people I am your daughter... not wh- when I have be alone a- all week. We need- needed you and you abandoned us. You never even explained."

"Eden, stop." Karina reprimanded. "Now is not the time. Do you believe that we would have been able to drive such a hard bargain if Lucian had been searching so hard? Do not be rude when he has been helping us."

"Do not tell me how to be!"

“I could not say it was going to be okay because I did not know if I could find what I needed in time. I knew they planned to hold you to punish your mother. You heard them when I accused them of it, no denial was made. You would have been there for a decade or longer. And if I didn’t find what I needed… then it would not have been okay.” Lucian explained quietly, wrapping his hand in his blanket. “I have let you down, I know. And I should have explained before rushing down into the bowels of the castle to find the Book. I panicked at the thought of them taking you for so long. I can only say I am sorry Eden, and promise I will have your mother looked after whilst you are gone, and I will make it up to you when you return. I am sorry.”

"Eden Aster. It is time to leave." Lúthien's call came as she descended the dais and made her way out of the hall. Touching Eden's back as she walked past her to push her along beside them.

Karina let out a trembling breath, watching at the room continued to empty. Whispering to Lucian, "I was not as bad as my children would have you believe I was. It was a bad trip, nothing more."

“I came up when I heard but you were knocked out with pain medication. I know I have handled this… badly.” Lucian grimaced. “May I explain myself later? Will you be okay with Thea for a few minutes? Conan is alone and I - Cassius and Aesira cannot be caged forever.” He asked quietly, glancing as Eden left the room

"You were working to find leverage that'd save the day. I - I was angry at you, I won't lie to you and tell you otherwise." Karina reached down to take the hand that hadn't been cut. "Be with Conan. I will... I need to go after Ira."