Re: Hope Falls

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 15:19

"You have struck a good balance here, how you and the other women raise their boys. Your son is an example of it, I have watched him whilst I have been here. I've tried to see where such high praise comes from, and whilst I've been watching I've seen it in your guards too. They all have it, compassion for their colleagues and the people, respect for their heritage, a slight fear of you. A longing to understand and gets answers. I hope it spreads to your people, because every time I step out of here the hate is abhorrent and loud especially from the men. It is them, who I think should be watched, whilst Kael makes all these links with the countries around mine.

"I love you," Kael whispered. "I am going to speak to my mother this week and see if we can disappear for a couple of weeks. We haven't yet, and I want to get lost in you."

"Aesira would be an excellent Valkyrie too. Dagmar loved the girls, her sisters, part of what crushed her was losing her tie to them." Conan grimaced. "I wish Aesira didn't hate them all so much, it is an entire family she could be forging for herself. An half of who she is that she is shoving to the side."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 16:32

“Perhaps it is something you could encourage her to foster, when she is less angry over her mother.”

“Mm, I was promised a honeymoon by the sea.” Daphne laughed softly, closing her eyes.

“It was not so before your brothers… I am not excusing my people, for how they treat you and Indira. I am aware of it… but this hate towards foreigners was non existent before your brothers invaded here. The damage they did, not just to property and the like but to the hearts of the people and the way they view the world… I hope one day we can repair it.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 16:50

"Ishaan follows the loudest voice in the world, he is... I have always thought he was vulnerable. I am opening up my home to danger, telling you such things. Lord Mehan is capable of sneaky things, using friendships to kill and I - I am not stupid, as soon as my brother and Zoya have had several children then I know he will be involved in some accident. It is not my family you have to fear anymore, Isolde, my family are broken and walking towards their own decimation. Keep your cards close though, around the Mehan's, even when all seems well. Friends close, enemies closer, okay?"

"If you can still handle the sight of the ocean, what if looking at it brings up the same sort of sickness you had whilst on it?" Kael teased with a chuckle. "I worry you are traumatised."

"I don't think that will ever happen," Conan mused. "Lets stop talking about my children. Karina tells you of her visions long before she tells me, has she - or Eden - seen anything I should be aware of?"

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 17:03

“Nothing,” Lucian shook his head, “I would have already told you.”

“If you plan on staying here you could help repair relations. If people see you and your boys in the communities we have making a difference; helping out, they may soften toward you. Indira was too wary to do so when I suggested - which I do not mock her for. But you seem to have more grit than she does, perhaps it’s something you could stomach.” Isolde suggested, “As for the Mehan’s, Lady Zoya was treated impeccably whilst she was here, as was your sister. Lord Mehan has no reason to continue the unrest between our countries.”

“Sailing and swimming are two different things my love, I can handle the latter I assure you.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 17:22

"You want to swim with the selkies. Oh, you are brave." Kael chuckled, moving his head to nip the crook of her neck with a low rumble, "I like this side. Daphne danger seeker, that will be what they call you in the history books."

"I could, though the mating bond makes it... difficult. Rauiri wouldn't cope if I were putting myself in situations where I was insulted, spat on... any of the like. He has impeccable self control, but when I am upset it hurts him and it doesn't seem fair." Avani wrinkled her nose. "Do as you want with Mehan, just don't trust him."

"When things go quiet disasters normally happen."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 17:33

“Or you and your wife making peace, making an heir, has finally put the danger to rest. There is no need for the Lords to grumble, things are settling. Your new baby will be born into a world of peace rather than the war your first was.”

“I do not trust anyone I do not share blood with, Princess. It is a quality I have not learned. It is a downfall, I am aware. It makes me happy it is not one my son has. That he has learned to trust the rulers of other Kingdoms, befriend them. That he holds dear people who may hurt him, but loves them anyway.”

“Not with your son here.” Daphne warned with a breathless laugh, her tone reluctant. “We do not know what he will retain.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 17:46

"'He seems much loved, across your country here and the continent. He seems..." Avani frowned, pausing as she tried to find the words. "You and Prince Aodhän are to be commended. It couldn't have been hard to raise a child during a war, yet alone have him grow into such a good person."

"He is too young, he won't retain this." Brushing lips against her neck once more, he leant back then. Gently untangling small knots from her hair instead.

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 17:53

“Kael was not the product of my raising him. The praise goes to those who are no longer here for the man he is today. To Nerissa, to Ada and Dmitri… his Fiadh.”

“We do not want to traumatise the poor boy.” Daphne chuckled softly,

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 18:03

"It takes a village, but, that does not negate what you have done either. From my observations, you are a tremendous mother, Isolde. Do not convince yourself otherwise, ignore that voice in your head that is blowing up every fear. She is wrong, she knows little."

"I think that part will come when he is older." Kael laughed.

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 18:19

“What do you plan, for his future? What have you and Indira agreed upon?”

“Thank you, for your words.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 18:27

"Thank you for your hospitality, for proving me wrong." Avani whispered. "Now, it is Rauiri's day off so he and I are going to lock ourselves away out of sight for a few hours, not that he is aware yet. I will leave you in peace." She hummed, lowering her head briefly before turning to leave.

"He will remain here, as will she. Learn both languages, both cultures. We need to write it all down, all the details we go back and forth on."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 18:37

“All the fight for her freedom when… when she will not be using it other than to scatter your sons ashes…”

“A reminder as always to be discrete, Princess.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 18:43

"We are good at it, Your Majesty." She hummed contently over her shoulder before stepping from the room, door closing behind her moments later.

Isolde only alone for a moment, however, until one of the side doors creaked open and Aodhän cleared his throat as to not surprise her. "Are you okay, Sol?"

"She won't leave Idris, and - and she has promised me that she won't take him from me permanently. Indira keeps her promises." Kael whispered, eyes flitting towards his son. "She will have the choice though, to go and visit home when she wants to. She will have the choice to leave these walls when she wants and to speak to who she wants and.. She will have choice. Her father used to imprison her when she was growing up, forbade anyone from speaking to her and didn't allow her to leave her rooms. It is why I won't allow it to be her life, it is why I- I make it clear that she can always speak to me. She will never be punished by silence, not here, not if I can stop it."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 18:54

“To leave one prison and be sent to another… her Gods were cruel for assigning her a fate as such I suppose.”

“I am, I am…” Isolde nodded as she glanced over, patting the seat beside her so he could join.

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 19:03

"He treated all of them similarly, from what I understand. It is what turns the sons into his image and it is what the women come to expect of their lovers too. A cycle, constant, horrible cycle. Indira being here is good, as long as she is allowed her freedom."

Aodhän made his way across, wrapping his arm around her waist as he settled beside her. Quiet for several moments before asking a whispered, "Are you sure?"

Avani's knuckles lightly grazed the door to Rauiri's room in the barracks, glancing each way up the corridor cautiously before pushing it open without invite and stepping inside. Puffing her chest out, and sharpening her tone incase he had company, "Cavanaugh?"

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 19:11

“At least you know your son will be nothing like her family. Nothing like his grandfather.”

“I am, she has less bite than she likes to show off.” Isolde nodded, leaning into his embrace.

“Princess.” Ruairi got up from his desk, dropping the quill as he approached her. “What can I do for you?”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 19:19

Avani done a quick scan if the room, smile playing at her lips when she couldn't see anyone. Her hands moving up to take his face in them, greeting properly in her native tongue, "Good morning, Rauiri, I just wished to be near you for awhile. Are you busy?"

"That's good to know," He mused, brushing a strand of her behind her ear with a free hand. "What did she want, after harassing you for so many days?"

"He wouldn't get away with any of it. Idris will be perfect, any children you and I have will be perfect too."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 19:28

“You are sure you want more?” Daphne asked quietly, her tone unsure.

“Leave to bring her children here if she can rescue them from their father. He is abusing them, she wishes to raise them here, in safety.”

“Never too busy for you.” Ruairi grinned, kissing the top of her head. “You are in good spirits, you have seen the Queen?”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 19:41

"I did, but before we get into that I want to know what I have interuppted." Avani glanced around him to the quill on the floor. "You were writing?"

"She wants to settle here?" Aodhän raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Did you agree?"

"Yes, yes I want more." Kael swallowed. "We just need to find a way that means I won't risk losing you, okay? There must be measures we can take that will keep you safe."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 19:48

“I agreed she could settle, but I warned her I would not risk our country for her if anyone came looking. I won’t have war at my door again. She is aware, and accepts the terms.”

“Just a report, inventory was taken last night, I was just finishing up the list for what we will need as winter comes.”

“Nothing is infallible when it comes to childbirth, you know that, my love.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 19:50

"It is suppose to be your day off, and that sounds very work-related to me." She frowned, moving around him to pick the quill up from the floor and return it to the desk. Sitting herself down on his chair.

"Is she settling within the walls or elsewhere?"

"I can't lose you." Kael deadpanned.

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 20:08

“If you are not willing to take any risk at all then we cannot have children Kael. Even if you did not believe that they could come like Bodhi. Even if you believe everything would be perfectly healthy and nothing would hurt me, there is always a chance. All I can do to assure you is that my mother birthed twenty of us and survived it all…”

“I offered her a choice of some homes in the country. Outside the walls is best.”

“Hawk is back now, so my duties will be longer I assure you.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 20:15

"I look forward to being in the same room as this boss of yours," Avani snorted softly, absently reaching her hand out towards him to beckon him closer. "What is the ratio of fear and respect that you hold for him? What has he done to you to make it that way?"

"She will be asking for Cavanaugh to be moved next," Aodhän snorted his amusment. "You've awoken a beast, offering her sanctuary."

"If there were a war on our doorstep tomorrow, and I had to go into the midst of it all then we would be having the same conversation. You'd understand."

Phoenix Wed 17 Jul - 20:28

“Where do we stand then Kael? Because there is no way to have children with no risk at all, and if you are unwilling to allow me to take the risk…”

“Fear? I do not fear Hawk.” Ruairi snorted.

“If I denied her it would upset Indira who would go running to Kael who would make it known I am the worst person to exist if I deny her sanctuary. Easier to save the middle theatrics, no?”

**BestNameEva** Wed 17 Jul - 20:38

"Being slightly fearful of superiors isn't unusual, people use fear to lead. You are working on your day off, when you haven't been told to, in preparation for him to speak to you so he will be nicer to you. So, fear, respect, or do you want something from him?"

"We need to start preparing a response for when she asks for more."

"I don't know. Let's... circle back to this conversation another time." Kael whispered, resting his head on top of hers once more.

Sponsored content