Hope Falls

“Enlighten you on…?”

---

Daphne moved her hair over her shoulder to give him more room.

"I feel like I have barely slept. I don't know what possessed me whilst I was drunk to seek the ancestors out." Kael whispered as he undone her bodice. "'Nerves, I think, of the coronation. It was all positive though. I - Fiadh assured me our baby would be healthy. We don't need to worry about that anymore."

---

"Your age, your age. Tell me yours and I shall tell you mine."

“You sought out Fiadh to speak of our son?” Daphne raised her eyebrows, faintly surprised.

---

“Such brazenness, Prince Rohan. And what if I’m offended?”

""To speak of the future, to.. say goodbye and be reassured there was nothing I could do about her death. That letting Sarika go in Baldruun was the right thing." Kael brushed his nose against the crook of Daphne's neck affectionately. "If I hadn't of, I'd be missing half an ear and a horrible limp, apparently. Would you have still loved me then?"

---

"I am thirty six." Rohan announced non-chalantly. "Certainly not older than everything as my nephew has informed you so confidently."

“Mm, I have ten years on you it seems.”

---

“I’d have made you grow your hair out for sure.” Daphne hummed teasingly as she swayed with him.

"Ah, so we can stop the age jokes now. Wonderful." Rohan chuckled. "You did seem older, it makes sense."

---

"Oh? Here I believed deformities didn't bother you, or else my arm would repulse. I never realised a half ear would be a step too far." Kael gasped in faux horror.

“And yet the youth of our world believes I am ageless, and that you are older than everything. I will still sleep soundly.”

---

“I can pretend a deformed ear does not exist if you hide it, problem solved.”

"I can begrudgingly accept that," Kael scoffed, moving to lay on the bed. Offering his arms out to her, "I love you more though, you could be as deformed as you'd like and I would still show you off."

---

"I am meant to be from the ruthless kingdom." Rohan shook his head, tutting. "You do not belong here."

“Oh but I do, my roots are here, and here I shall stay. Plenty of ships if you wish to go back home and cry there, young Prince.”

---

“Easy to say when I am pristine.” Daphne pointed out as she lay down and into his arms.

"Thr world is a large place, full of plenty of things to see. Staying in one place is not good for the mind, that is what I have been telling my eldest nephew too."

"Rahul is sad, misses dad.." Rakesh whispered

---

"Pristine, mm. Perfect."

“It is normal to miss a parent we have lost, I miss mine all the time.” Lily assured, resting her hand on Rakesh’s shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

---

“Mm, for now.” Daphne hummed, lifting her head to press her lips to his.

"I don't miss him. It makes me bad." Rakesh hummed, resigned to it. "Rahul and Arnav are being normal, I am being bad and Aryan doesn't even remember. But Rahul is going to leave soon, he is going to go back there and we won't see him again."

"He wants to go home, 'Kesh." Rohan frowned. "He'll be a Lord, he has grown up things to do."

---

"For now?" Kael questioned between kisses. "You have plans to disconfigure yourself?"

“I’ve never heard of you misbehaving, what do you mean when you say you are bad, little Prince?”

---

“Who knows what is to happen in the future mm? I do not plan anything, but I do not know what the Gods have planned.” Daphne brushed off his question, moving her hand to his face as she pulled him closer, leaning deeply into his kisses.

"Bad because I don't miss him, bad because I like it here. Bad because I like Roar, I think he is funny. Arnav has told me so, Arnav says that what Rahul thinks too and that dad would be angry at me if he was alive."

"I thonk your just overtired, 'Kesh. We'l get some food in you, then you can get some more sleep." Rohan frowned.

---

"I would love you if you were a twig, silly wife." Kael breathed, curling his fingers in her hair as he matched the kisses.

“Perhaps you should show me just how much you would love me.” Daphne moved her hand up his chest before dragging it down slowly. “I think that is what is in order right now…”

---

“I think your brothers are upset, and are saying things they do not mean. We all do it, it is apart of grieving. You are not bad, little one.”

"I don't want us all to live in different places..." Rakesh mumbled sadly, staring at his hand in Lily's.

"Big things to think about before food." Rohan hummed pleasantly, moving Idris into one arm so he had a hand free to ruffle Rakesh's hair. "One thing at a time."

---

Kael's breath caught in his throat, arching towards her touch. "I- Mm, whatever you want. Mhm."

“You; Kael. I want you.” Daphne made herself clear, throwing a leg over his in a bid to get closer.

---

“Big things indeed…” Lily echoed sadly.

"Look after your cousin." Rohan advised as they slowed to a stop outside the dining hall. Placing Idirs down beside Rakesh, "Go and start eating, I'll be there now."

"O- okay." Rakesh frowned, hesitant as he dropped Lily's hand to reach for Idris' instead.

---

"You do?" He breathed, smirk in his tone as he added, "I don't think you are being clear enough."

“Oh do not - do not make me beg.” Daphne groaned into his mouth, “Kael…”

---

“I have escorted you all for food and am assured you won’t be spending time for malnutrition in my ward. You are welcome.” Lily quipped.

Rohan gently pushed the children into the room so he could turn his full attention onto her, exhaustion marring his expression - hair still dishevelled, knotting and frizzed. "Have you eaten yet?"

---

Kael laughed gently, bringing the covers up over their heads to block out the light as they faded to black.

“Mm, I ate this morning. At a reasonable hour, like the rest of us who did not drink last night.” Lily laughed. “You could do with food and your bed.”

"Sleep? I had one. I was with the children whilst my big sister had the time of her life, and the other dealt with your future Queen's sister who were... not being nice women." Rohan laughed quietly. "The impression I am a party animal is one I find very amusing."

“Mm… the trouble the Caleeri Princesses caused will not be tolerated. Little Idris is dearly beloved here, by all. It hasn’t been unnoticed, and it won’t go unpunished.”

"I would be lying to you if I told you I wasn't envious that you've had so many years with him."

“He is all of two years old. You have plenty more years with him Prince Rohan, plenty.” Lily assured.