Hope Falls

“You know I had never dared to hope.” Dagmar whispered, “But hearing it is possible…” she squeezed Conans hand tightly. “It means more than anything, to think that we could do it.”

“Make sure you find me the biggest glass they have!”

“Turns out we just had to be patient for it. Who knew?” Dagmar chuckled.

“You know me so well!”

“Just in case, couldn’t be left short on the good stuff!”

“Of course they will.”

“May there never be a world without you in it.” Dagmar added, tipping her glass.

“That goes for you too… May I never be in a world without you in it.” Dagmar whispered, resting her head on Conans shoulder.

Thea moved her hand to Magnus’ cheek as she kissed him back deeply.

“Please do… you know if we are ever apart I’d be making my way back.”

“We have an audience…” Thea whispered moments later, voice thick as she tried to control herself.

“I know you would.” Dagmar assured, glancing up and brushing her nose against his. “We would never be apart for long.”

“They would notice when I stripped you and flattened you on the table, husband.”

“If you carry on with the way you’re going it’ll be everything below the waist so we can just get to it.”

“I can’t imagine either of us would fare well.” Dagmar chuckled as she too took a sip, clearing her throat at their guests with a smirk.

“No, we are just two very incredibly attractive people and it makes it so hard for us to keep our hands off one another.” Thea grinned, looping her arm with Magnus’ as she looked toward their hosts and raised her eyebrows.

“I wonder what that is like?” Dagmar asked Conan with faux intrigue, chuckling.

“How do we cope being so dull?”

“I don’t know, how do you?” Thea teased, chuckling as she finished her glass.

“Where are yours?”

“We let Zaria play Queen every now and then, she loves it.” Thea grinned as she held her glass out to be filled. “We let her play Queen and give orders and throw her own little tea parties for her ladies and it keeps her happy.”

Three months later

---

“Kael is thinking of - “ Daphne stopped her sentence as there was a knock on the door, glancing over as a messenger entered the Queens chambers, interrupting the morning tea Daphne was having with her father and mother in law.

“Sorry to disturb, Your Highnesses, but the guards on the walls have sent word that they spotted a group of carriages travelling toward the Castle so they sent out riders. They just returned and it appeared the occupants are the Princesses sisters, Princesses Iskra, Agatha and Zenovia are how they identified themselves.”    

“That cannot be, the Princesses are not to arrive until the week before the coronation, and we were only told of two, are you entirely sure?” Isolde asked with a raised eyebrow, glancing to Daphne to see if she knew what was happening.

“Entirely, Your Grace. They will be arriving at the gates as we speak I imagine. Three Princesses and their staff and their things.”

“No, you must be mistaken.” Daphne said quietly with concern. “Especially on whom is here. Via is barely ten, my mother would not allow her to leave home to be married so soon. Aggie and Issa yes, but not Via. No…”

---

“Mother?” Rahul called as he opened the door into Avani’s chambers. “Your lady said you wished to speak to me and it is urgent, are you well?” He frowned as he entered the room, Rani padding in almost silently beside him.

---

“Sorry, I hope you do not mind. Your guard said you weren’t expecting the tailor for another half hour at least so you were free - I can come back later if needed.” Indira offered quietly as she peeked her head around the door to Kael’s office, having knocked and opened it a few moments earlier.

---

“I think it is time to admit that I missed you.” Aesira chuckled as she moved to lay down beside Marcus in her bed, having come to find him first after having just arrived home from Magnus’ with her brother a few hours ago. Grinning wildly as she moved her hair from her face where it stuck with sweat before resting her head on his chest. “Definitely time to admit that I missed you…”

“I need to talk to you about something… but before that I need to talk to you about something else.” Aesira admitted, moving her hand to rest on his chest, above his heart. “Would you rather I leave you to rest? Sorry… I know I found you at the end of a night shift, you must be exhausted, especially after…” she laughed nervously.

---

“Cavanaugh’s leave is doing wonders for my sister though so… thank you, for granting it. Her children with her, time with Ruairi… she is not the woman I grew up with, in the best possible way.” Indira smiled fondly as she took a seat.

---

“News? I - everyone is okay?” Rahul frowned as he sat; Rina curling at his feet almost instantly. “Back home, my uncles are well?”

---

“This is unexpected though - entirely so.” Daphne frowned as she pushed herself up from sitting, “I should go, see what has happened, why they are here so early. I am sorry, Your Majesties, that they have shown up so unexpectedly. It is impolite.”