Hope Falls

"Yes they have, do not act like you are blind to it. They have treated me with the same disdain that Rohan and Kiaan Razi has. There has been little difference other than the fact the twins have not insulted my son to his face or lied about my closest friend." Kael frowned. "I have released the men. Hawk is now with his mate and son. You acted too quickly, before conversation with me. You acted as if you don't know them, like they are monsters to you."

"We will. Now, I am going to return to my rooms, look in books for signs of what is causing Her Majesties exhaustion. You know what I have asked of you in regards to it?"

---

Aodhän closed his eyes with a content hum.

“I know my sisters. And they may have behaved appallingly but what makes you think that after coming here and degrading me for my lack of rigidity and conformity to how I was raised that they would then go against everything we had been taught and start lying?! It makes no sense Kael! I had men who beat my sisters arrested without asking you because I should not have to ask permission! Insulting your son is horrible - and I would have dealt with that. But it is not a crime. Beating women is!”

---

“Gain information from Razi, use seduction if necessary.” Lily nodded in confirmation.

"I know my staff. Wyatt may as well have raised me." Kael answered frostily. "They did not hurt your sisters to that extent. Your sisters, however, got their own back - humiliated them, tarnished their reputation and has made Wyatt lose days of work. I would say that is a fitting punishment for one word against another."

---

"If anyone can do it, you can."

“And your word is paramount isn’t it Kael? Despite all of your promises of an equal partnership. You have decided my sisters are filthy liars and thus deserve the pain they feel and what I think of the matter doesn’t concern you.”

---

“You may overestimate my talents.” Lily laughed nervously before heading off.

"Yes! Yes, of course! Just as you have decided that Wyatt is a woman beater." He shook his head. "I will not allow you to order him hurt when there is no proof! What has Aoife said on the matter?! Has she seen their injuries?! Has Lily?!"

---

Rohan had drifted off in one of the side rooms of the hall hours after the party had ended - when his nephews had fallen asleep around him. Slumped on the sofa with an arm wrapped loosely around Idris to keep him from tumbling, Rakesh bundled beneath a blanket with head on his lap.

“Aoife is judging them the same way you are, on their words! I understand what they said was reprehensible! But everyone is hearing it and deciding that because they have talked badly about Idris that they are guilty of beating themselves! It’s absurd!”

---

“Those little saplings should be in bed, or at breakfast.” Lily commented quietly as she entered the room, having noticed the door was open as she passed in the hall.

"No one is hungry," Rohan mumbled, not even opening his eyes as he turned his head towards the back of the sofa. His hair falling down to hide his face, shielding from the light that filtered into the room as the door opened wider.

---

"What did she say about the injuries? Did she believe Wyatt caused them?" Kael questioned. "I have not once accused them of doing it to themselves, I am accusing them of lying that it was Wyatt who done it! Lying that I allowed it!"

“She says they did it to themselves. That the damage could not have been done by someone of Wyatt’s size. She was rough with them, and rude. She had already made up her mind that Wyatt had not done a thing. Everyone has made their minds up. Being cruel with words does not make them liars!”

---

“I happen to know little Idris is almost always ravenous at this time on a morning and gets very cranky when he gets over hungry. I think his eggs are waiting for him.”

"Aoife has treated people in my home for my whole life, my mother entire reign. She has treated that have stumbled out of beatings with Wyatt on the training ground. Treated women battered by men. So you are now insulting our guard and our healer." Kael laughed humourlessly. "Aoife is also rough with everyone. Gentle is not a trait she knows."

---

"He is tired, he was up past bed time celebrating Aunt Avani getting married. As are his cousins." Rohan finally opened bleary eyes, groaning when he felt Rakesh push himself to sit. "Oh no, once one wakes they all do. Well done, healer."

“You do realise it is close to noon? They need food.” Lily chuckled, “Come, you will get ill without sustenance and then it’s more time spent with me.”

---

“I believe my sisters. You do not. It appears we are at a stalemate.”

"Your sisters hurt Wyatt, caused him humiliation and terrified his family. He has been punished. Best we move on from it." Kael mumbled. "I am tired, I spoke with the ancestors this morning. Will you be coming to bed with me?"

---

"I will? Careful healer, I will believe that you care."

“No. I do not think I would sleep after such a morning. Enjoy your rest.” Daphne muttered, moving to take a seat and waving him off to the bedroom as she began to chew at her nails.

---

“For the little ones, of course.” Lily grinned.

"You don't have to sleep, let me hold you?" Kael frowned. "I missed you, at the party last night. We've had a disagreement, we don't have to drag it out any more."

---

"Ah, of course." Rohan chuckled, lifting an arm up to allow Rakesh to sit himself up. Freeing up his own hand to wipe across his face with a yawn.

“Wyatt told my sisters you would ruin their chances of marriage and send them home… Are you considering doing so?” Daphne asked nervously, her voice quiet.

---

“Old men such as yourself can look out for yourself mm?” Lily chuckled.

“No.” Idris whined sleepily as he felt his uncle move, shifting his head to find the warmth again.

"No, no of course not. I'll talk to him about using things like that against them. He told me that he told them off, but that is too far." Kael frowned. "They are family. Our home is theirs too, even if they are hostile."

---

"Old? How old do you think I am?" Rohan scoffed, lifting Idris up to hold him more comfortably against his chest. Rubbing the toddlers back as he gently bounced him.

“Old, very old. Isn’t that right young Prince, your uncle is old?” Lily held her hand to Rakesh.

“Tired.” Idris whined as he curled into Rohan, grumpily rubbing at his face.

---

Daphne was quiet for a moment before nodding, satisfied with the answer. “Thank you…” she murmured before getting to her feet to join him.

Rakesh shuffled from the sofa, stumbling a few steps with his drowsiness as he reached up to take Lily's hand; "Super old. Like... older than everything old."

"That is wounding." Rohan scoffed, lifting Idris with him as he got to his feet.

---

Kael offered an arm out to her.

Daphne took his arm quietly, allowing him to lead the way.

---

“Children humble you, wait till you have your own. The little one you carry humbled your sister daily, she’ll be glad she doesn’t have him for one morning.” Lily grinned.

"If I am older than everything, then how old is the healer, 'Kesh?" Rohan asked with an amused grin.

Rakesh shrugged light heartedly, reaching her hand up to grab Lily's. "She's a flower. Flowers are always young."

“Oh I like this one.”

"He has been here long enough to know your an important person to charm, he is a smart boy." Rohan mused. "Though, despite his charm, I am confident you are the elder here opposed to me."

“Despite our cultural difference I am sure where we are both from it is considered rude to ask a lady her age, shame on you Prince Rohan.”

"What made you believe polite is a trait I have?"

“I do not think you’d pollute the minds of your nephews with such rudeness.”

"You'll be unsurprised to hear that this is very tame compared to what they are used to." Rohan mused. "Enlighten me, healer."

---

Kael stepped into the room, moving behind her with fingertips fiddling with the lace of her bodice though not undoing a string. Waiting quietly for permission.