Hope Falls

"You are pregnant and the first thing your sisters done after not seeing you for years is insult you, I believe you were probably as understanding as you could have been. Whereas they didn't seem to meet you half way at all."

---

"I don't know how we done it, raised him to be as he is with everything we dealt with."

“I had built the moment I met them again up in my head… and it went nothing like my expectations, nothing at all. I expected overwhelming joy and it just felt like a barrage of disappointment directed at me…”

---

“We did it with a lot of help from others… It saddens me deeply for Kael that not all of them are with us. But it is comforting to know that with the loss of old friends he made new ones. I never sought out allies, I am proud of him for doing so. He has done all we have asked. Crowning him will be a joy not because of what it brings me, but knowing our people are safe in his hands.”

"You are a person, like everyone else. You missed them. Picturing how you wanted it to go, being disappointed that it isn't, is nothing to be ashamed of." He put the book to the side, wrapping arms around her waist gently to bring her in.

---

"Spectacular boy." Aodhän mused

“Tired and weary after travel, and worried about the longevity of any freedom I promised as you said… I shall speak to them again soon, and hope the next conversation goes better.” Daphne concluded as she curled into his side, throwing a leg over his to become more comfortable.

---

“He truly is.” Isolde agreed, eyes slipping closed. “He will be a good King…”

"With a Queen like you teaching him how to rule then he couldn't be anything other than good." Aodhän praised gently, pressing his lips to the top of her head.

---

"It will. They will be rested, you will be ready. It'll be just as you wanted it to be." He assured, playing with her hair.

“I hope so…” Daphne closed her eyes at his touch.

---

“I could not have been the Queen I am without you by my side… I have been lucky.” Isolde protested as she drifted off.

"If I am wrong, if they are still being bitches tomorrow then we will put them in a room with Avani and see which ones survive." Kael joked. "Perhaps they'll all walk out of there best friends."

“Growing up with so many sisters gives you a certain strength. I don’t doubt Avani would be torn apart.” Daphne mused quietly. Taking Kael’s hand from her hair and moving it gently to rest against her bump. “Do you feel that? How strong he is? She whispered proudly at the movement.

Kael took in a breath, eyes widening in amazement. "I- Oh, wow."

“That’s our son, our boy.” Daphne laughed softly, resting both hands over his. “He is strong and healthy, I have no doubts about it. All will be well where he is concerned, I just know it…”

"You are so set on the child being a boy, so sure." Kael mused. "As long as the baby is healthy, that is all that matters to me. Health."

“Anything other than a son is a failure, and with everything else my sisters have picked up on… it is more paramount than ever I deliver correctly. I have dreams of him, I know for sure.” Daphne replied confidently, brushing her thumb over the back of his hand and closing his eyes. “I have even looked at the books for your family lineage for names. Cahir is one I am fond of, Coraidh another. Rhys is on the list as well. I don’t want him having a foreign mother putting him at a disadvantage when being accepted, so a name from your side is essential.”

"Mm, the first son a name from my family, the first girl a name from yours." Kael nodded to himself. "I think that is a wonderful idea. Cahir is nice."

“Most of the names from my own have been used on my sisters.” Daphne chuckled then, “Even my mother’s own name was used for my sister.”

"There will be something we can do with it, a variation of some sort." Kael hummed confidently, brushing his lips to the top of her head.

“If the time comes I am sure we will find something suitable.” Daphne agreed quietly as his touch soothed her to sleep.

"There are already whispers," Avani whispered in hush tone to her sister as she made her way through the halls, towards the grand hall immediately after the wedding. Her dress being traditional to Baldruun culture, however a deep green rather than the Razi red to show homage to the local people. Shawl still draped over her face, and trailing against the castle stones as she walked, masking a prominent gold jewellery. "Though I wonder if they are speaking more on how I look or my marriage."

---

"No one expects you to stay long," Rohan assured his eldest nephew gently, squeezing Rahul's shoulder as he watched Rakesh chase Aryan around the hall, almost stumbling into off-duty guards, and the odd councilmen who had been close enough to be in attendance. Arnav stood near where a buffet of various food had been laid out, staring at each item with caution.

"A wedding between a Baldruunian Princess and a guard." Agatha shook his head, nursing a glass of sparkling wine that had been placed into her hands upon arrival though not having any interest in sipping it. "This place drives all to madness, it seems."

“You are being escorted through the castle by the future King after your wedding to his future Captain of the Guard, looking like our Goddess herself, where the Queen will then preside over your wedding party as her honoured guest. Of course they are whispering, it is envy, sister.” Indira assured as she patted her sisters arm with her hand, her other arm looped through Avani’s. Her own ensemble similar to her sisters, though far less decedent and in the red the bride had sought to avoid. Head lifting with a soft laugh as she watched Idris almost run to keep into step with his father even as he held his hand. “I am just glad the wedding dress I brought from home finally got some use. It looks far better on you than it would have ever looked on me, it was just waiting for the right person, the right marriage to come along. The fact we had everything to bring a wedding together in such short time is another good omen for your marriage.”

---

“I have just had an acolyte deliver news from the blood we drew this morning, Your Grace, you are not with child. I apologise.” Lily approached the Queen on her throne in the hall tentatively, bowing as she spoke. “Nothing else was detected, Aoife is sure of it.”

“No… no need for apologies. I cannot lie and say that is not a relief.” Isolde nodded as she took Aodhän’s hand. “Thank you for the haste, you and the other healers are free to enjoy the event.” She added to dismiss the woman, waiting until Lily was off the dais before turning to her husband. “See, all is well.”

“This whole thing is a farce.” Rahul muttered bitterly, despite his bad temper he had kept himself silent during the ceremony. “She is of Royal blood. Marrying a fucking peasant. It’s disgraceful, Uncle.”

“At least there is a marriage and they are not living in impropriety. It may be a grotesque mismatch but it is better than swanning around the place out of wedlock.” Iskra countered as she looked around. “One less Princess on the market I suppose. One less barrier for us to finding a match.”

"The dress was perfect, the jewellery are ones mother gave to me on one of her few visits to the Sharma estate before she passed. Everything just.. felt like it had been waiting this entire time." Avani breathed. "Do you think he will still be trembling when we arrive at the party? I swear his friends were laughing at him."

"Do you need us to slow down, Idris?" Kael laughed quietly at his son, slowing his steps before the boy could respond.

“I keep up! I keep up!” Idris insisted, though looked instantly relieved as the pace dropped.

“He had the appropriate reaction to marrying you. I’d have accepted nothing less.” Indira chuckled, nodding at her sisters words. “Everything was perfect, sister. It was meant to be, do not ever doubt that.”

Kael leant down to sweep the boy into his arms, ducking his head to kiss the top of the boys head. "Ready to be a party animal?"

"He is soft," Avani snorted softly, "I believe who he is during a battle and who he is must be different people. I haven't ever met a man so gentle."

---

"She wasn't in the ways of competition before, I hear she has been widowed barely months." Agatha shook her head. "To be wedded not once, but twice is... it isn't fair."

"It is. Though they are apparantly mates." Rohan breathed, "Things like it are sacred, can't be argued against. I have torn feelings on it all."

“Wedded twice with four sons and no daughters… She is smiled upon by the Gods, clearly. I imagine her first husband was ecstatic when they kept coming, and the new one even more so knowing that what he is buying isn’t a defective product…” Iskra added as she glanced around, “Hopefully more eligible suitors arrive for the coronation, the pickings are… paltry it seems right now.”

“Bullshit and you know it as well as I do. She came here, offered herself out like a whore then stole my birthright and time to grieve for my father to rush back here. As soon as my birth day arrives I shall be back on a boat home and I will not be returning to this shithole of a country.”

---

“I animal!” Idris grinned as he reached out a hand and grasped the air with an imitation of a roar.

“I think that is the case for most men. I watched Kael go out to battle and come back the victor when he has the softest heart of anyone I know… Hopefully we never meet the part of them that goes to war, mm?” Indira leaned into her sister gently. “He is a good man, I am glad you finally get your happiness, sister.”

"You are," He laughed, nuzzling his nose against his hair affectionately. "Now, we are going to go in first and when I say your Aunt Avani's name I need you to clap your hands as loud as you can. Yes?"

"Mm," Avani cocked her head as she watched Kael and Idris. "Strange to believe he is the same man who took our brothers head, who twisted a knife into a wolfs rib to make him die slower. Rauiri has never spoken to me of the kind of things he has done in battle, it is something we've never approached."

---

"Maybe this family doesn't know anyone other than low level workers and old men past their prime." Agatha tried not to laugh as she scoffed. "Our sister may not be as lucky as we thought to be wedded into this Kingdom."

"She hasn't treated you right, certainly. I can see the insult, and I am not pleased either. She is happy though, and that I regret to say, is something she was very rarely when you and your brothers weren't around her."

"All is well, mm." Aodhän hummed his disbelief. "How you were yesterday wasn't normal, Isolde. You weren't yourself, just.. take it easy for the next few days. Please?"

“Like this?” Idris asked before opening his arms wide and smacking his hands together as hard as he could.

“I do not think they are proud of what they do… it is necessity. But as Kael opened up to me, I am sure one day Ruairi will talk to you about it. You have your whole lives for such conversations mm? You are married now, nobody is to take that away from you.” Indira chuckled. “Bound before his ancestors.”

---

“I will, but I still think you worry too much.” Isolde moved her hand from his to rest against his face, brushing her thumb across his cheekbone, the skin of her fingertips dry in contrast to the usual softness. “All is well. And thankfully there is not to be another sapling.” She added lightly. “I do not think our minds would fare with another so soon, not when we are priming ourselves for relaxation.”

“Mm, I considered her lucky when the marriage happened. A tall, handsome Prince, heir to the throne. But being here and seeing how strange they all are, how loose their morals… no. Perhaps she is not lucky.”

“Remind me again how we were not wanted, Uncle. How she was forced to bare us and cannot stand the sight.” Rahul rolled his eyes. “I am here, as is required for appearances. You cannot ask me for more.”

"Perfect, just like that." Kael nodded.

"I hope so," Avani whispered as they got to the doors. "The day he opens up to me, is the day I know he feels secure."

---

"I don't believe my mother wanted any of us either, she loved us despite it. Women have much different lives then we do, Rahul. You will understand it one day."

"We must make sure we really look after her whilst she is here. Eventually she may let the facade go, let us in on how she really feels about it all."

Aodhän stayed quiet, lifting his hand up to rest it against hers. Brushing his thumb against her knuckles affectionately, only dropping it when the doors of the hall opened and Kael stepped in.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! I would like to present to you, Princesa Avani Razi- Cavanaugh, and of course her sister, PrIncess Indira Razi."