Hope Falls

“Mm, it’s been asleep for years.”

---

“I won’t leave you.” Ruairi promised, “I won’t leave you Avani.”

---

“The first vision is the worst. She made it through.” Thea took his hand and squeezed it gently. “This is the worst of it…”

---

Two weeks later
Ira sat on one of the comfy chairs in the library, his boots up on the desk as he read, a stack of books by his chair as he flicked through the one he had mindlessly.

"Th- they'll make yo- you. They'll make you because th- they want to bre- break me, break In- Indy. They a- are trying to get ba- back at a d- dead man b- by hurting us."

---

"Horrible." Magnus reiterated quietly, letting go of her hand so he could hold her properly.

---

"A dragon? What does it look like?"

---

Cassius wandered in, an audible sigh of relief as the natural lighting faded into the dim flicker of only candle light. Heading straight towards the bookcase  to the right of the reading lounge, just in sight, to search for a novel. Fingertips brushing against the spines.

“No, no.” Ruairi assured, pulling away briefly to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I won’t leave you Avani, I promise. I will make sure it doesn’t happen. Trust me?”

---

“It’s ugly, but my brother Kael thinks it’s beautiful. It’s all grey and cracked and made of stone.”

---

“The next ones may be thick and fast after her recovery. She’ll be disappointed that we’ll have to clear her diary for a few weeks.”

---

Ira glanced up from his book, looking Cassius up and down before  returning pointedly to his book.

"Does he say it is a dragon? Dragons don't exist, they aren't real. Just stories, it can't be a dragon, no." He laughed dismissively. "We have crazy people where I live, they stay in groups and claim their grandparents had wings when they are fae like us. They have invented a language that they speak. They're dangerous and talk about stone pets."

---

"I don't feel prepared enough for it..."

---

"What choice do you have? What choice does anyone have under her?" She gulped. "You are all terrified of her. You were, when we met, of her and Wyatt. I saw that expression in Brennan's face aswell today, when I asked hin to interupt -'telling me he'd be punished if he did. None of you have an option."

---

"I am surprised to see you up so early, after last night." Cassius mused, eyes flickering up to look over the line of books towards Ira. Grimacing at himself and quickly moving his eyes back to the spines, hoping his voice had been loud enough to be heard.

“I stopped drinking long before the rest of you, getting so drunk I trip over my feet wasn’t on the list. My nose is only just healing, I didn’t want to risk it further by falling.”

---

“So you conclude I am concussion free and can return to riding now?” Aesira asked as she sat up on the bed she’d been laying on in the healing wing to allow Marcus to examine her. “My headaches are no longer as intense, and I miss the fresh air.”

---

“I will not leave you.” Ruairi stated emphatically, shaking his head at her dismissal.

---

“My brother has tried to wake it but we think only its masters can. If he lets me I can show you.”

---

“What can I do, to help you feel a little more prepared?” Thea asked, resting her head on his chest.

Cassius snorted softly, pulling a book from the shelf and moving to sit in a chair beside his. Lifting his feet up to rest his boots on the wooden coffee table in front of them. "You didn't care about your nose when you assaulted me."

---

"I am... eighty nine percent sure but whether that is enough? I hear your father interrogate you about me. If I feel too confident and I am wrong then that will ruin a potential opportunity. To work here would be...." Marcus shook his head.

---

Avani shook her head in disbelief, lowering her face to bury it against his shoulder instead. "The only g- good thing about th- this place is y- you."

---

"Yes. Yes I want to see it. I've seen drawings of what the crazy fae think they looked like, at home. I wonder if it is like that."

---

"I don't believe there is such thing. When you have bad ones my heart lurches, it was always going to be worse when it happened to Zaria."

“You hit me first, Zaretsky.” Ira laughed, “You got what you gave.”

---

“You’ll be extended an opportunity to work here in a few days, Devika is just finding the time to do it personally.” Aesira hummed, moving to lay back down, having sat up too quickly.

---

“I will ask my brother when I next see him, he is hard to spend time with these days, but I will try.”

---

“Your family is here now, and we shall get your sons here some way. I promise it’ll all be okay my love. I’d move the earth to make it so for you.”

---

“At least we get to keep her… I get to be the one seeing her through. Not them. Not those bastards.”

"If your mother wasn't a Seer, and in a Kingdom ruled by a King with a backbone you would have been put to death for that."

---

"Are you serious?" Marcus' eyes widened in surprise, hand moving to rest against her shoulder, the other to position the pillow as she went back down. "I don't think you should ride, not yet. However, I think starting to move around a little more will be good for you."

---

"Hard to spend time with? Why?" Rakesh frowned, pausing near a tree with a larger trunk than the others. Cocking his head at a white mould that grew from the soil and up it's trunk, cautiously touching it.

---

"We can't even- we shouldn't even be doing this." Avani sobbed, peeling herself away from him and riding at her face furiously. "I'll get you killed doing - doing this."

---

"Mm, speaking of it. You had a letter yesterday, from Karina? How is Eden?"

“She was pissed at first that I requested you be brought here to see to me, but as she’s watched you she’s realised you are very good at what you do.” Aesira chuckled, grimacing at the pain it brought her, having been downplaying her symptoms so she could get back on her horse. “Plus I believe she is anticipating being a lot busier now my stepmother is spawning, so I imagine she’d have been looking for another member to join her team anyway, and you fell in her lap.”

---

“If we were in a kingdom with a King with a backbone we wouldn’t be living under the same roof, highborns do not live with their bastards, it’s uncouth. You’d have been a ward of some Lord somewhere.” Ira pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

---

“Kael and Daphne have been at it for hours, they won’t be coming out to catch us any time soon. And the hour is late, nobody will be coming to see him at this hour. The only people that do are your sister and his parents, who already know about us… this is a risk of berating, nothing more.”

---

“He… Since he returned from your country he has not been the same. Your aunt had two babies and one died. And he has a wife now too. So he spends his time with Indira and Daphne and Idris… there is no time for Mor and Eira.”

---

“Eden is doing well, she has adjusted back well…”

"What else was in the letter then? I feel like there was more." Magnus finally moved his gaze off of his daughter to address his wife properly. "What has Karina told you that is bothering you?"

---

"He is a grown up, grown ups don't make sense even if they are meant to be our brothers. My brothers arent quite a grown up yet, but they still... I don't know." Rakesh shook his head. "They have been a pair, then there is me and I look after Aryan. My mother though, she is strange since being here."

---

"At it?" Avani shook her head, an amused smile threatening her lips. "They are creating an heir, before they are even crowned. That may be why Indira is so upset. He asked her if Idris could call Daphne mother."

---

"The fact I would be less entitled to live here than you? You would be pursuing with royalty and I would be cast out." Cassius laughed, shaking his head as he flicked to another chapter of the heavy book in his hand. "Shit. Royal blood is... shit. Must be weird, knowing you can't ever kicked out of here."

---

"You - what? You requested it?" Marcus' eyes widenedc in shock, reaching across her to grab some pain killing herbs, instructing "Chew," before continuing; "I thought it was a kind of protocol, as I treated you after the hit to the head. I never realised."

“Not for an heir actually.” Ruairi rested his head on top of hers, “Healers talk, people talk, ladies talk, all of this you do not know where it has come from - “ he added in short warning before continuing, “Aoife has been creating moon tea for the Princess to prevent a pregnancy. The Princess expressed she would like nothing more than a baby but Kael does not. Perhaps that is why your sister is upset…” he added gently. “It is plain for everyone to see that your sister is deeply in love with the Prince. To convince herself he is only with his wife for the sake of making an heir is one way to soothe, but to hear that they are intimate like animals in heat simply because they are attracted to each other with no intention of an heir, I imagine it would upset her, given how delicate she can be. Kael is only to have the one child if he has his way, and he wishes to share that child with both his wife and the mother…”

---

“Strange? She has always been angry when she has been here. She stomps around, angry. What do you say is strange?”

---

“I couldn’t leave even if I wished to. I looked around for a place or a room in the village and when mother found out she forbade me. An adult man being forbade by his mother and because she holds her title I am beholden to it. Ridiculous.”

---

“Mm, I requested it.” Aesira confirmed, taking the herbs and sniffing them with a scowl before doing as told.

---

“Now is not the time to discuss what was in the letter…”

Avani closed her eyes with a slow exhale, comforted by the feel of his weight against hers. Reaching her hand up, up to interlock her fingers in his hair to encourage him to stay there, her other arm snaking around to hold him near. "My sister is scared it will be only Daphne as Idirs' mother, she is scared she'll be a glorified nanny. Pushsd out."

---

"Angry? No... sad... always looking around for someone who isn't around unless that guard is around. The ginger one?" He wrinkled his nose. "I don't like him."

---

"I imagine I would be forbade too." Cassius threw his head back with laughed, tilting his head to study Ira. Gaze slowly travelling up the length of his body, "You looked good last night - I mean- the suit... I mean-" He grimaced, "It won't be hard, find yourself a wife, then you can set up your own home but until then ask for your own quarters? There are plenty of empty guest rooms."

---

"May I ask why?"

---

"T..."

“Kael loves his wife, he loves his son, and I believe he loves Indira as his son’s mother. Is it so wrong that he wants all that love concentrated on Idris? Kael himself has two mothers. The one that birthed him and the one that raised him. He’s just using his own childhood as a model.”

---

“Cavanaugh? You do not like Cavanaugh?”

---

“I don’t want a wife. The women are all irritating. Simpering and giggling, dropping handkerchiefs and accidentally stumbling into you. All of which happens as their mothers or chaperones stare intently.” Ira snorted, shaking his head, though lifted his eyes just in time to catch as Cassius watched. “I am surprised you noticed what I looked like given you were paying attention to many of those simpering halfwits last night.”

---

“You helped me when it happened. I figured if you started the job you’d want to see it through. Your lot enjoy the finished product mm? What else could I offer you but the amazing feeling of knowing you’d saved my life and witnessed my full journey to recovery. I bet it makes you feel all warm and glowy.” Aesira laughed, closing her eyes.

---

“You will need a drink, likely obliterate yourself with whatever substance you can find when we discuss it. So not right now.”

"You know how to tie correctly, I don't. It is the first party I have gotten ready for where you have not been at my side; I felt unkempt." Cassius almost rambled the excuses. "I was trying to work out if I had missed anything, off of myself. Women wish for an audience for me because of my father and step-mother, nothing more. It is only ever about social climbing."

---

"It does." Marcus raised an eyebrow as he watched her. "Though warm and glowy? What exactly defines the word glowy? The moon glows, certainly bugs under lights... the flowers my grandmother got from a fae solider during the first war that she planted in her gardens."

---

"Now you just worry me. Thea, what do you know? What - Is it Dagmar? What has happened to the Valkyrie? That is the only thing you would hesitate to tell me..."

---

"No." Rakesh snorted. "He is always around, and she always looks to him before saying anything. I think if my father were here, he would ban him from being near her."

---

"Motherhood is unique. You carry them, you birth them. It is indescribable to men, to be solely responsible for a life that is inside you."" Avani brushed tangled her fingertips in his hair. "She does not want to share Idris with her. She is happy for Daphne to not be the evil feature from books, a aunt or mentor, even, but to be called mother? No... it can't happen. Not for Indira, it's too much."

“Your sister knew what having a child with a man who would always go on to marry another would entail. Do you not think it is unfair of her to expect Daphne to have such a relationship with Idris but push all motherly feelings aside? The woman has been in his life since the day he was born. She helped Kael with him when your sister was recovering. Do you not think it unfair to ask her to remove her motherly feelings?” Ruairi reasoned. “Another person loving him as deeply as a son is the best thing to ask for, no? Daphne could be resentful of him, could wish for him to be removed - even though Kael would never - plenty of noble women have it ordered that the bastards are so far removed from the main home they’re sometimes shipped overseas. And yet Daphne has embraced him.”

---

“He is just a Guard doing his job, keeping everyone safe…”

---

Thea swallowed before taking a deep breath, turning to Magnus and squeezing his hands. “Karina was given a vision of Dagmar at Sandover labour camp, the one a few miles out from Dreake. Where the mines are… She is in bad shape, and Karina cannot say anything about it, she is bound, though her intuition is telling her it is a matter of time before the family find out.

---

“I was to marry a Fae. My parents promised me to his parents when I was just a baby, and he was a child. Any year now I’d have been dressed up like a prize pig and sent off to be his wife. I wonder if he’d have given me flowers.” Aesira rambled, amusement in her voice.

---

“Mm, half of those girls would’ve given you their virtue with no expectations of marriage just to say they had the experience with the most eligible and handsome bachelor on the market right now. Dont act coy, Zaretsky. That redhead was one you definitely thought about dropping the gentlemanly act for and carting her off upstairs to your room, you couldn’t take your eyes off her all night.”

"She was.. easy to look at." Cassius answered after a pause, thinking on every word before speaking it. "I have greater things on my mind though, there is too much happening ot prepare for. I was calles into a meeting several days ago about broadening my prospects, your step father led it... I- It isn't so easy."

---

"I heard the fae adore flowers, each one has a meaning to them and that when they - when they are intimate and truly enjoying it that nature spawns around them. Interesting, unusual..."

---

"S- S- Sandover?" Magnus' eyes widened in horror, paling several shades. "And you have kept this from me? How long? How long have you known?! Has she known?!"

---

"He is rude, thinks he can talk to me like i am something from the street. She let's him be rude. It's strange."

---

"Most women who have babies with royals, have bastards, go on to have other children. Were not almost killed during the birth of that child, are not hostages and do not argue that for me because your Queen is not allowing her to release the soul of her child unless another royal is trapped here!" She stepped backwards. "I do not blame Kael, I do not blame Daphne but Indira is trapped enough here. Has little that is purely hers and to take motherhood from her?"

“I found out when I got the letter yesterday, I was - I did not know how to tell you, Magnus. In one vision I told you and you broke your fist hitting the furniture. In another you got so blind drunk you tripped down the steps and cracked your jaw, teeth everywhere…” Thea whispered apologetically. “I was trying to find the time and the words to tell you that wouldn’t have you so drunk or enraged or upset that you hurt yourself.”

---

“It isn’t taking it from her is it? It’s just lessening the burden on her. She is still not fully recovered - we have all seen how easily she tires, how slow she moves, how quickly she needs to put the baby down now that he grows heavier. It’s sharing…”

---

“My mother only corrects my father if she does not agree with what he is saying. Maybe your mama agrees with whatever Cavanaugh says to you.”

---

“Sorry darling wife, we didn’t create an heir this time but we did manage to create a lovely bouquet.” Aesira snorted, “I have never heard that they produce flowers in the bedchamber, it almost sounds absurd. My uncle spends a fair amount of time with the man I was to marry, I think I shall have to ask him if he’s been told anything.”

---

“You are actively seeking a wife then? More fool you.”

"What choice do I have, Ira? You said it yourself that I would be shipped off if it weren't for my father being a coward. My step mother is pregnant, it won't be long until Sira and I mean nothing. I have... I have such a short period of time to mean anything to anyone. Such a short period where all my hard work to be perfect may pay off."

---

"Judging mating rituals of other species is not our place," Marcus whispered, smirk playing at his lips as he added, "Though I believe you were lucky."

---

"Agrees with a commoner? No. Why would she?"

---

"She takes all of those things as being a bad mother! It is humiliating for her Rauiri. To need help for the basics... she isn't well, her ego needs bolstering and whether Kael is trying to help or not, he has made it worse. Your Queen isn't helping, because any support I can give now means that I am the terrible mother. My sister was a sacrificial lamb, and I am being punished for what I have always been punished for - being a woman. I will say it once, and I will say it again, if Kael hadn't kiled Arzen then my boys would be safe."

---

"You kept it from me." He mumbled, scratching ag his forehead. "Time I could have spent forming a plan t- to fix it. How long has Karina known? Conan has to do something, I must..  we must do something."

(( Night night))

“All the choice. Your father isn’t making you marry, and what does it even prove? When you have an heir do you want congratulations that you can bed a woman correctly? What is there to prove?”

---

“I wouldn’t have married him. I would have messed the ceremony up in some way. Kingdom be damned.” Aesira hummed matter of factly.

---

“She didn’t say how long she knew... but she said rescue is futile. They will see us coming each time, and it will be a failure. There is no rescue, Magnus.” Thea admitted sadly.

---

“Someone being without a title doesn’t mean they’re wrong when they speak.”

---

“Your brother knew when he put himself on the front line he may die. And his ego meant he put no provisions in place to take care of you if he did…” Ruairi pointed out, “Kael just wants to help your sister, he loves her…”

"Indira doesn't feel like that right now, and your Queen is not helping things by making it hard for her to be able to go and release her sons soul." Avani shook her head, mumbling sadly, "I will not able to be there for her. I am... that hurts as much as not being able to get the boys."

---

"He shouldn't be speaking at all. He is staff, not even our staff... yours. Nothing is any of his business."

---

"I can't believe that. I - I just can't." Magnus looked away briefly before he returned his gaze to her. "Can you search for a way to help her? I'll find you trigger objects."

---

"Because if the pointed ears? They are strange, aren't they?" Marcus mused. "I don't understand how  the bone can make that shape and still be comfortable."

---

"I am not content to be alone for a lifetime like Aesira is. Regular people will be put off by who my father is, and as soon as there is a legitimate heir then I will be too far down the food chain for social climbers to have any interest."

“No, because I’m not marrying anyone. Fae, Vampire, Angel. Nobody. Especially not someone set out for me. My father can do that with his other children but I am not docile enough to do it.” Aesira shook her head, “The concept of marriage is stupid.”

---

“You are the son of the woman your father wanted to marry and be with, not the son of the woman your father was required to bed. Social climbers will still want to use that, bastard or not. Especially when your mother returns and they are back together. They will see you as the favoured son. The wanted one.”

---

“Of course I will look, but I will never not be honest with you and give you false hope Magnus, it is unlikely.”

---

“Have your mother instruct him not to. She can do that.”

---

“Leave your sons here then. What is the point in forcing them back on a boat to a country you do not want them in for months and then making them sail back again? Leave the boys here. They will be cared for, they will not be in danger of being stolen back by their father, and they will serve as hostages too. You and Indira can sail then, and you can bring back your other sons.”

"She can, but she won't. She encourages him to speak to us, that is what I am saying, it is strange." Rakesh shook his head. "Something about it is all very strange."

---

"Something I can suggest to Isolde maybe. I - I can't do anything until I can speak to Isolde. What is going on with her? Brennan said that scheduled meetings were going ahead either, that is unusual."

---

"You are more skilled than Karina, you will pick up on something that she hasn't managed."

---

"They aren't going to be back together, that's ridiculous." Cassius shook his head, his attention flitting from the book in his hand to Ira's as a draft made the papers rustle. "Will you be going to the next event?"

---

"It is... political, mm." Marcus hummed his agreement, leaning back to get more comfortable. "As political as acquiring a house, or selling your prized pig. People never do things out of selflessness, or genuine affection. Politics, and transactions."

“She had a meltdown… She went to see the Ancestors, which is taxing in itself. Then she and Kael argued and she returned to the corridors screaming. Whatever conversation she had with Kael should’ve waited. Days are required after Ancestor visits to right the mind again. She did too much and cracked. I have no doubt Aodhän will be keeping her in bed for a few days at least now.” Ruairi explained quietly, “She was screeching for Nerissa, Kael’s mother. So who knows how either of the conversations went.”

---

“Talking to guards isn’t strange. Faolan and I talk all the time.”

---

“You think your mother will suffer through all that and then accept coming home to your father leaving her?” Ira raised an eyebrow, shaking his head at the question. “I have fulfilled all my social obligations for the month. Eden can return to taking your sister as mutual chaperones and I can leave it out.”

---

“Things done out of affection are wrong. Look at my brother and I. Our existence has sent my mother to a slave camp. Because having children with people you love is wrong when they are not the right people…”

---

“I will try… but please do not expect a miracle of me. The weight of the disappointment if I cannot will crush us both, my love.”

"And immediately afterwards Kael and Indira had an argument too. Indida said the coronation is being put off now." Avani grimaced, glancing over his shoulder towards the door. "I assume Kael is fine though, if he and is wife are.... occupying themselves. Have you ever spoken to your ancestors?"

---

"At home it isn't done."

---

"Aesira hates parties as much as you do, and the amount of time it is taking her head to get better I don't know if she will be well enough to show her face at the next one." Cassius mused, adding non-chalantly, "You should go. You make them more bearable."

---

"Your life sounds complicated. It sounds like you've been treated unfairly."

---

"Just try." He begged, hand reaching out to grip his wife's, squeezing it tightly.

(( Going to grab a nap ))

“Oh - no. No I don’t intend it to sound like that. Poor little rich girl mm? I am aware I have had if far better than most.” Aesira sat up, shaking her head. “I did not mean for it to sound like I was bemoaning all the privilege that comes with growing up here..”

---

“More bearable by being in the same room as you whilst you woo young ladies?” Ira raised an eyebrow.

---

“I tried, once. None of them came to me. It is not something that can be done as casually as writing a letter. “It’s a ritual, and they can choose if your need is enough to answer.”

---

“Well you are here now, try living as we do even if only for the short time you expect to stay.”

---

“I will, I have said so.” Thea assured