Hope Falls

“Then allow me to look after Idris.” Daphne sighed softly, reasoning. “If you want to maintain your image, but refuse to allow him to be with a nanny, then give him to me to take care of. I can swallow the titters that will come with it from the court, if I must. I will hear about how amusing it is that I am taking care of a child you fathered outside of the marriage. And if you will not allow that then the only other option you have is trusting that Princess Avani and her ladies can look after the both of them whilst you work. I know it feels like being backed into a corner for you, but you cannot carry on as you are Kael. You must pick an option before it is chosen for you.”

---

Mor was silent, slipping off her father’s lap and walking back to her room, slamming the door with a huff.

“This attitude developed whilst you were away and it has not receded even an inch with you being back. If she does not like what she is hearing she sulks and creates problems until otherwise.”

---

“Is it a successful job when the order was to bring back the Wolves alive for questioning and out of over a dozen of them I managed to bring back three? Is it success when my men lost all sense upon seeing the wolves? Claiming revenge for Seagrave, for all the souls lost during the siege, for Wyatt’s men lost a few days ago? I could not control my men… Isolde has every right at this point to sack me. What use is a Captain whose men do not respect him?”

Avani grimaced as the door creaking stopped, and a floorboard creaked with someone shifting their weight to listen. Wrapping her arms around his torso with a dramatic, "Oh- I feel- I-though it was her hand that pushed him into the nearest room - praying it was empty and sighing in relief at the small room being nothing more than storage. Wedging a box beneath the bar so no one could walk in behind them.

---

"She is testing the boundaries, starting to work out who she is." Aodhän wrinkled his nose. "It is going to be a difficult ten years until that calms down, longer with her being part of us both."

---

Kael swallowed, trying not to visibly tremble as he offered Idris to her.

“W-we cannot do this, Avani. I need to leave, I have things to do. We’ve clearly been compromised.”

---

“She needs guiding to make sure who she is does not end up so rude permanently. It will not gain her any favours to be as jealous as she is over where people spend their time.”

---

“I have cared for many of my sisters. I know exactly what I am doing with infants.” Daphne assured, balancing the baby in one arm and using her free one to brush her hand against his cheek. “But before you do anything you need a few hours to sleep, or you will be of no use to anyone. Sleep and a good meal Kael, please.”

"You have worked yourself up into a panic, you are not thinking before you speak and it will end up with you getting yourself into more trouble." Avani spoke quietly, lifting her hands up to take his face in her hands. Leaning her head forward to touch her forehead to his, "Do as I tell you. Close your eyes, follow my breathing."

---

"She has missed him. It is a big change, to go from him being so focused on her to so absent, to... well, he's grown up very quickly hasn't he? She needs to adjust to it. She is not Kael, a clip won't fix it."

---

"Okay," Kael swallowed. "Okay, I will. Only a small one, a short one."

“At least three hours. I won’t have anyone expecting you before then. Go get some food, and then sleep. I’ll keep Idris with me for a few hours, to make sure his cries do not disturb you.”

---

“She knew it was coming, it is not as if she weren’t prepared. And she shows no understanding at all for what he has gone through - which is my concern.”

---

“I am not panicking.” Ruairi sighed deeply, though did as he was told.

"I think we may have to disturb Kael, so he can explain it to her. She doesn't understand it coming from us, but if she sees him then there may be more.. she might get it."

---

Avani took in slow, deep breathes for him to mimic. One hand moving behind his head to tangle her fingers in his hair, as the thumb of the other brushed his cheek. Remaining that way for several minutes before whispering, "You brought him home, and the others too? That is such a success. What are a couple of dead wolves? There will be more. Vermin, all of them, they can't stay quiet for long. You tell Isolde that you had to make keeping Florence safe a priority - that she was rogue, driven mad with worry over her mate. You had no choice but to slaughter them, how else could you protect her? Make sure she didn't mess up?"

---

"Three - Right. Yes, okay. That's not too long."

“To which Isolde will say she knew what she was getting herself into and orders should have been obeyed.” Ruairi shook his head, leaning back. “I told you before I left… I did not see this ending well.”

---

“Is that not rewarding her insolence. Giving in and disturbing Kael? He has only just laid his son to rest… I wasn’t coherent for years.”

---

“At least.”

"Three." He repeated, "No more than that, I don't have the time, there is too much to do. I've given you a compromise, haven't I?"

---

"I believe she is scared, rather than... blatantly insolent."

---

"'You done your best, Ruairi. You had unexpected obstacles, ones you hadn't planned but it - it wasn't a complete failure. You will be okay, mm? No matter what... you are in my favour. You won't be without job."

“Mm, what does that mean? That you will keep me fed until you sail back home where you’d have me follow?”

---

“Well I shant be sending someone to wake you. I believe you need all the rest you can get.” Daphne leaned up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I shall see you later.”

---

“Scared is no excuse for the attitude some times. She has very little grace left with it.”

"You could work for my family in some capacity, yes. It doesn't have to be in the East... what you would want to do, and what can be offered could be worked out if it comes to it." Avani frowned, unsure on his reaction. "I won't have you starving on the street, won't have you homeless."

---

"When she has had time to calm then I will be bringing her to Kael," Aodhän frowned. "Be gentle with her, Sol. You said yourself, she doesn't understand."

---

"You are infuriating," Kael huffed in petulance, though allowed his arm to settle around her waist. Ducking to press his lips to hers in return, humming in her native language, "I love you."

“You are naive if you think that Isolde will allow that, Princess. She would see it is as a move of intel, to give you informations about the workings of the castle, the army. She wouldn’t simply allow me to leave here with you.” Ruairi shook his head in defeat, dipping his head in respect before moving past her and leaving the room.

---

“It is not fair on Kael to have him answering her questions and making him relive what he has been through. She needs to learn to be told no and for it to stick.”

---

Daphne grinned brightly at that, brushing her nose against his affectionately. “I love you too, Kael.”

"Ruairi..." Avani mumbled after him, taking half a step to follow. Hand resting against the door to keep it open, watching him go.

---

"Isolde, you are being too harsh. Kael is a grown up, he lives her and he has a bigger support system then you did. Him ensuring his sister understands just adds another support."

---

"I know," Kael whispered. "I am grateful. A loveless marriage would have been my worst nightmare."

---

“Things may have been complicated, since we arrived here, but it will not be so forever. And in the meantime, we will get through it.” Daphne promised, “You do not have to worry about our marriage, the state of it… a lack of love or feeling.”

---

“When I believed you were too harsh with Kael you assured me that what you were doing was the right thing, and despite concerns I trusted you. So why can’t you trust me that I know how to handle our daughter properly?”

"We were in war and I was teaching Kael how to stay safe and mind his business. Mor wants her brother, and as you said yourself, doesn't understand. Speaking to Kael will help her understand, it is logical."

---

Kael nodded, pressing his lips to the top of her head before quietly excusing himself and walling towards the bedroom to rest.

“And forcing him to relive his son’s death over and over till she understands is not fair on him.”

"Once. It will be once, and then she s to leave him be."

“And you truly think it will be once?”

"I believe she misses him, and is scared and doesn't quite understand. If I am wrong, and she continues to act out like she has been then I will allow you to discipline as you wish with no argument. Mael is going to have to talk of that child's death, it will come up. Speaking first to his sister is risk-free."

“We shall see, w- ” Isolde cut off as there was a knock on the door, Cavanaugh entering a moment later. “You are back. Finally. We got your note from the messenger this morning. Hawk is still alive?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, in his rooms, with his mate. Aoife has checked him over and has found - ”

“He is alive, you are back. I have a meeting with Aoife after lunch so I shall gather further details from her. Until Hawk wakes up you are dismissed, permanently.”

“I - Ma’am?”

“Hawk and I have had a longstanding agreement that I do not sack his staff formally, that I leave it up to him to do, as it is him you serve under. So I shall honour that, and he can be the one to give you your discharge papers when he wakes. But until then think of yourself suspended. You cannot control your men. You almost lost Hawk, and despite knowing I expressly forbid her from meddling, and that we had a plan agreed in place, you scrapped that and changed it all at the drop of a hat when you found Florence there instead of having her detained until you got home. She is untrained, and you let an entire mission, the lives of your men and the lives of Hawk rest on her. I’m not convinced enough you have a brain in that skull so I cannot continue to allow you to be in charge.”

"You don't normally have such an emotional led heart in your professional time," Aodhän agreed, cocking his head to the side to study Ruairi. Very obviously trying to make him uncomfortable. "Florence is a nuisance, yes, and frustratingly insistent but it is only when looking at it with a romantic head, not a rational one where any of her reasonings make sense, Cavanaugh. I am, personally, pleased for you if someone has wormed their way into you but that can not effect your views in work."

“When we got there, Florence was laying in wait. She had spotted one of the wolves and had a rapport with him. She believed that she would be able to get him to let her into the home they were keeping hostages - with no fuss or resistance. Distract them so we could take them by surprise. Rather than us waiting till nightfall and descending on the place. At the time I - I agreed that it would be the best way. It would give us an extra element of surprise and - ”

“And in listening to the whims of an untrained woman you lost your soldiers respect. Which is why they disobey you.” Isolde concluded for him. “Do not worry, they will all be docked the months wages for such deliberate rebellion. But they do not face your fate because you should be a strong enough man to keep them under your control. You were once, Cavanaugh. You were trusted with my son, we believed you almost as good as Hawk. So whatever it is that has gotten into your head, that has ruined your critical thinking skills… perhaps fix it before your next job.”

“You sent me. Knowing I was not cleared entirely for duty. Aoife has said that I was suffering from - “

“Being a fool if you are trying to imply it it me who is at fault here.” Isolde stood then, handing off the baby in her arms to Aodhän. “You insisted you go Cavanaugh. You assured me that for Hawk you could pull yourself together enough. That you were second best and third would absolutely not do. I went against my own better judgment because I stupidly trusted yours. But you were the one who assured me it was under control. And the only thing I can think of that would push you into losing your mind is that perhaps it is Florence you have feelings for, if my husbands theory is correct in that it is emotion that is clouding your brain. Because why else would you throw away an agreed plan, other than to please her?! If that is the case then perhaps it would be best you do not stick around for Hawk to wake up, because I cannot imagine you will have a pleasant conversation about that!”

Aodhän accepted Eira in silence, disappearing from the room only momentarily to settle her into a crib before stepping back inside.

"Isolde!" Avani chimed, making her way into the room with a false swagger, barely even a knock to announce her arrival. "You have all received the wrong end of the stick here, I am afraid. This is a misunderstanding, a product of my meddling and nothing more. I over stepped, I understand, and I apologise but love stories are rare and to meet individuals who are mates? I haven't had such an honour before. I encouraged the woman to go, and I know my presence has made the men more enraged. Your solider boy here was the only one unshakeable, which is shameful. It would have been so much more of a show."

Isolde stood and stared at Avani with almost horror at her just barging in. Raising her eyebrows and looking between Avani and Ruairi before simply shaking her head with a scoff, clicking her fingers and gesturing at Avani - watching her guards make way towards the Princess moments later.

“What in the name of the ancestors are you doing?!” Ruairi hissed under his breath at Avani, face almost crimson with embarrassment.

"If any of them touch me and yiu will have Lord Mehan, and the Baldruun King and Queen to answer to." Avani warned with a wrinkled nose, only acknowledging Rauri with a side glance before turning her attention back to Isolde.

"Not the way to speak to a visiting royal, Cavaughn, even a deranged one." Aodhän chuckled. "We know she shares her sisters delirium spells."

“Your sister is a hostage here which I think you have forgotten, Princess Avani. Because she is treated so well. Your brother even dares to send an army to these shores and we will finish what your eldest brother started with her, as is the point of a hostage.” Isolde clicked her fingers again, watching as one of the guards gently but firmly gripped Avani’s shoulder. “I have many questions about this. First and foremost, why are you eavesdropping at my door? Because you assured me you were not here to spy for the true King of your country, Lord Mehan, but simply here for your sister. And yet… spying at the Queens door?” Isolde cocked her head. “And why choose to reveal you had been spying, all to meddle in the affairs of a soldier? Offering such an irrelevant bit of information that does not even help his case. It is irrelevant why Florence was there. It is irrelevant who sent her - which leads to another funny question doesn’t it - why were you intentionally trying to stir up my soldiers at the crux of an important mission wherein my most important Captains life was at stake?” She turned to Aodhän. “To me, this sounds like she has come here as a spy and to cause chaos. She took her opportunity to send Florence knowing her presence would cause mayhem in hopes Hawk would be killed so as to destabilise and weaken our military. And there is only one explanation as to why she is defending Cavanaugh. He was recruited in the East to be their asset. He has been working for them this entire time, and she is trying to save him so the information he has is not lost.”