Hope Falls

"Your boss is allowing herself the night, you should do the same." Rohan closed his eyes, cocking his head slightly to invite her to sit beside him. "Perhaps I can send this little Prince to bed in a few minutes and then you and I can dance."

---

"So your husband is already beginning to get used to it. I think the problems seem larger than they are right now, because the baby is so near and you are uncomfortable. You just wish for your feet to stop hurting and for this thing inside you to stop kicking at your innards. You are dealing with a lot, your sisters may mean well but they are not helping you in the end. All will be well, Daphne."

---

"I think when the time comes, she will be the one to step into my place. Yes. She is overcoming the challenges I throw at her."

---

"Rohan and Kiaan with Aoife and Iskra?" Kael laughed at the though, accepting the filled glass of champagne that Magnus offered to himself and Lucian when the King returned. "The men are infuriating but I wouldn't subject them to such torment."

“You suspect the time is near?” Wyatt raised an eyebrow of concern. “Are you unwell?”

---

“They can do as you are, take mistresses and then the women wouldn’t be able to tsk at you so much.” Lucian took the glass with a laugh. “I think you will work things out, Kael. I think the coronation has put a lot on your mind, but now it is over. Your mother won’t hand the country to you in disarray, and you have a new baby to come. Things should ease now.”

---

“You are asking me to dance?” Lily raised her eyebrows with gentle surprise.

---

“I feel so uncertain about everything at the moment, whereas before I did not.” Daphne admitted. “I love my sisters so much. But I do not know how to deal with the fact they aren’t too compatible with my life here.”

""You are Queen now, and they clearly very much want to be wedded. Find them a nice nobleman in the area, who will be desperate to be related to the new monarchs in one way or another. That way you keep them with you, but they have their own lives to focus on. Remember it is you and your husband in charge now, you get to decide, you have the power."

---

"We can't keep you for too much longer, you have other people you have to socialise with." Magnus reminded lightly as Kael glanced towards the door. "I can't tell you how much longer I can stay. Thea is... being here is a big obstacle for her. I'll make sure I am at the meeting though, if you wish to plan future miitary operations."

"Mm, the night before that we will find some red root?"

---

"Unwell? No, not... as such I just - " Aoife raised her eyebrows as the spin came into the choreography of the dance. Tapping her finger against his arm to signal they would come back to the conversation as partners changed - a stony faced Agatha stepping into her place.

---

"It would be an honour."

“I will have to be back in my chair if we use that. I am not strong enough yet to walk whilst stoned.” Lucian laughed properly then. “If you are willing to commit to pushing me.”

---

“Having power feels wrong.” Daphne swallowed. “I am not meant to have power. I am meant to embroider and have tea and lay back and produce heirs and sing nicely as my mother did. I am not meant to have or be asked for my opinion. I am not meant to initiate intimacy with my husband. I am not meant to demand or insist… It all felt wrong when I came here, and those feelings are coming back - and not just because of my sisters, but because here Kael insists my title is more than decorative as my mothers is.”

---

“I suppose it is time for the little Prince to return to his room then…”

---

“Princess Agatha.” Wyatt greeted stiffly, hand going to her waist as was expected, looking over her head rather than at her.

"We will push you, but I can't guarantee that you won't roll into a few walls in the process." Kael laughed, raising an eyebrow as Magnus pushed his shoulder to get him up from his seat.

"Go! Go and enjoy your first day as King." Magnus encouraged.

---

"Lord Hawk. Congratulations on your promotion, I see that you're injury didn't prevent you from stepping into the roll." Agatha answered neutrally, though had a pleasant smile plastered on her face for others to see. Her head tilted upward to stare over his shoulder.

---

"Oh, now?" Rohan answered in surprise, getting to his feet and duck his head in respect. "I shall meet you in the ballroom is several minutes, Lady." Wasting not even a beat as he headed back inside, and down the halls towards Indira's rooms.

---

"He wishes to empower you out of love. If you believe it is too much then speak to him, tell him what you are comfortable to deal with and what you aren't. His mother is a strong women who has always known what to do, it is not a crime to admit that he may need to hold your hand more than he first thought."

“It affected my woman-beating hobby for a few weeks but I ensure I made up for it with extra vigour later on.” Wyatt replied, glancing down at her face only for a brief second.

---

“We shall be out in a moment once we have decided which of your wines we are stealing for our own homes.”

---

“What if he is offended? Or if he thinks I am saying no because I believe I must? I feel he will just tell me I am more capable than I believe.”

---

Lily laughed at his eagerness, brushing off her dress and making her way to the main hall.

"You may take two bottles of your choosing each, but don't tell anyone." Kael laughed, stepping out and pulling the door closed behind himself.

---

"All you can do is have the conversation, but the conversation is an important one to have if you feel overwhelmed."

“You held your tongue well when Kael brought up the fact he is having an affair, I am impressed.” Lucian remarked to Magnus as Kael left the room, pouring himself one last glass of wine.

---

“One for later, string of many we need to have. The coronation came first… a name for the child is next.” Daphne grinned.

"It was..." Magnus shook his head, downing his whole glass and waving the empty one in Lucian's direction for a refill. "It infuriates me, the thought of mistresses when said mistresses are being led to believe it is more. My mind is more with Thea today, i cant be away from her too long."

---

"Mm, something much more exciting. Do you have ideas?"

---

"Tell the mother of your child she can thank me later, I will accept flowers if she insists but I would prefer something like jewelry."

“Florence thanking you would only happen if you dropped dead and she was saying thank you because she didn’t have to dispatch you herself.”

---

“The first will have a name from his lands, his books. Just to ensure that the heir does not seem too foreign. But then after that we may use one from mine.”

---

“Dagmar knew what she was in for, I do not believe there was any deception with those two… Kael and Indira may be something, we do not know what conversations they have had.”

"Dagmar was love bombed by your cousin, given promises that he couldn't have upheld so often that she began to believe it. She is in a slave camp in the East, Lucian. That isn't knowing wh-" He cut himself off, shaking his head to brush the subject away. "Better we not speak of it."

---

"That is very diplomatic." Karina hummed. "Names are difficult, Emmett and I found names difficult, at least. The pressure of it."

---

"I suppose she may have wanted to be the first to injure the brute who beats women for doing nothing more than speaking the truth, what ashame." Agatha snorted, finally looking at his face with a steely gaze. "You deserved to be punished. All you have proven is how corrupt this place is."

“Mm, you do not think manipulating a pregnant woman to believe you were beaten by using bruises from your own hand is corruption?” Wyatt laughed then, shaking his head. “The prettiest flowers are often the most poisonous, both in nature and with you women it seems.”

---

“I do not mind so much, on a name. Kael can have free rein.”

---

“I think you do not give Dagmar the credit she deserves in making her own choices. And I doubt Princess Indira has any sort of fantasies about a life with Kael she cannot have. Women do not have it fair, and I am sorry your friend is experiencing that. Conan misses her too, dearly.” Lucian assured as he finished his drink and shakily rose to his feet, leaning on his cane. “Shall we rejoin the others?”

"I was beaten, both my sister and I. You were a brute, you threatened us and used undue force and then your King allowed you to walk away because he is corrupt and clearly has no regard for his wife's feelings. If it were up to Daphne, if they were equals like he claimed, you would not have a job right now." Agatha smiled sweetly, "Oh, you decrepid gargantuan weed. It it good to see that you are not blind, though I'd rather rip my skin off then be flattered by you."

---

"Yes," Magnus whispered, getting to his feet and offering an arm out towards him. "Do you need help?"

---

"Good tactic." Karina laughed, craning her head as Kael made their way through the crowd towards them. "Speak of your husband and here he arrives. They weren't long this time."

“Kael has lots to do, lots of people mingling to achieve. I am sure he’ll be captured by your husband once again at some point.”

---

“I’ve beaten eggs more harshly than you were handled.” Wyatt rolled his eyes then. “If I wanted to beat you, your face wouldn’t have recovered and nor would your ego. I’d have probably caved in your teeth too for good measure to make sure I didn’t have to listen to you either. And yet here I am suffering as you lie.”

---

“No… no. Just takes a minute to warm up again.” Lucian grinned. “I owe my wife a dance, she has waited many years.”

"Ah," Magnus hummed his quiet approval, squeezing Lucian's shoulder. "It will be a very happy day all around then. How long have you been planning this?"

---

"I am sure that - " Karina let herself trail as Kael sat himself down beside Daphne. "Kael, hello."

"Hello," Kael chuckled, wrapping an arm around Daphne's waist to pull her onto his lap. Pressing his lips to her cheek before directing at Karina, "He is walking now, mm? That's incredible."

"He is, it is."

---

"It's ashame you didn't, I'd still be to die for with a mangled face and if you done a good enough job and blinded me for it I wouldn't have to see your hideous one."

“To die for and yet you’ve not had a single offer of marriage in the entire time you’ve been here. You are the Queens sister, a highly coveted marriage in most cases with one so close to someone so influential. And yet everyone is steering clear of you as if you were infected with the most hideous of diseases.” Wyatt lifted his arm to twirl her as the dance dictated. “I think they see you for exactly what you are… and no grown man wants to marry a silly little girl, never mind have someone like that raising his children. Temperament is hereditary of course.”

---

“Since I started walking again. I knew the coronation would be on its way, and I have watched her long for the dance floor at every ball.”

---

“You should take advantage of that, Karina.” Daphne chuckled as she leaned into Kael.

"He over exerts himself with it as it is. I won't ask anything more from him then what he is giving." Karina whispered, getting to her feet as soon as she spotted Lucian and Magnus in the crowd. "I'm going to - Sorry, excuse me. Magnus needs to know Thea's retired for the evening. Con - congratulations again, your Majesties."

---

"The two of you have had a difficult few years. Karina especially, with Dagmar and the children all leaving in their own ways." Magnus nodded. "Both of you need a spurt of luck."

---

"Your half bred bastard son has even more working against him then doesn't he?" Agatha laughed light-heartedly as she turned her head to the side, airey enough to try and get the attention of other men in the crowd.

---

"Sorry, sorry. He began to wake, just as I left." Rohan frowned as he found Lily in the crowd closer to a quarter of an hour later then to ten minutes. Taking a step in front of her, and lowering himself into a bow as he offered a hand out towards her. "That dance; will you still allow it?"

“My bastard son has as much chance as the Kings bastard, and all the future ones that join him.” Wyatt hummed, following her gaze. “That’s what you believe anyway mm? That the King still has a mistress and his child will be the first of many. I wonder if your Daphne will be able to keep up when the King already has a favourite that is not her child.”

---

“Oh I don’t know, it’s impolite to keep a lady waiting.” Lily grinned, though took his hand anyway.

---

“Eventually I may be able to leave the chair behind completely. I fear the cane will always be necessary, as muscles atrophied so badly there is little chance of recovery, but if I can do away with the chair then I will be happy.”

---

“Thank you for sitting with me Lady Karina, I have appreciated it immensely.”

"
"It is a miracle you are walking with the cane at all, i wouldn't say anything is outside of your reach."

"I am happy to advocate for you in the coming days if needed, just let me know." Karina answered warmly, dipping her head once more before heading out of the private area and working her way through the crowd. One hand resting on the handle of the chair to wheel it towards the men. "Magnus, Thea left to go to your rooms a little while ago."

---

"Unfortunately I am a family man, the children will always come before a dance with a lady. Even one as beautiful as you."

“I flew too far ti the sun last time and lost my wings. I shant go so far again. A dance with my wife and the ability to walk without needing a chair is enough for me.” Lucian nodded with a grin when he saw Karina. “Speaking of my wonderful wife.”

---

“I cannot fault you for prioritising the saplings, even though I did look all alone. How sad.”

"Alone? Mm, no. Independent, classy." Rohan grinned, his free hand resting against the small of her back as he led her towards the dance floor.

---

"Your wonderful wife?" Karina's eyebrow raised further as she looked between the two men. "Magnus how much have you both drank in the short time you have been away? Here, Luc.. sit."

---

"Did anything come of your chat with Karina?" Kael hummed, brushing his lips against the crook of Daphne's neck affectionately. "I expected your sisters sat with you too. Are the mingling?"

---

"Bastards are worth nothing, and half breed bastards are just abomina-"

"Dad!" Sullivan interuppted the conversation with an excited squeak as he wiggled out of Florence's arms on the edge of the dance floor. Offering both of his hands out for his father's for him to take instead of Agatha's, "I want to join in! Can I? May I?"

“Mm, Karina is going to stay to help during the birth, as we are expecting it so soon. And my sisters wished to go find someone to court them, so I sent them on their way.”

---

“You are a little small to be on the dance floor for now son,” Wyatt took his son’s hands and walked away from Agatha without a second glance to take Sullivan back to Florence.

---

“I have had two drinks, and I do not need to sit.” Lucian assured, “I actually require your hand, to lead you to the floor.”

---

“Oh now you are engaging in flattery, Prince Rohan. Do I swoon next?”

"To the..." Karina glanced over her shoulder towards the centre of the room where the couples were dancing. Though her hand reached out to take his instinctively, her fingers curling around hers. "Luc, there is no need. It's been a long day. You don't have to push yourself."

"I will leave you both be, I need to check on my wife." Magnus laughed, turning on his heel to make a quick exit then. Knocking twice in quick succession on the door when he arrived at his and Thea's guest chambers, humming from the other side as he expected the door locked, "Let me in, T? It's just me."

---

"Sorry," Florence grimaced, leaning down and huffing with the effort it took to lift Sullivan up into her arms. "Oh you are so close to being too grown for me to carry."

"Dad won't let me dance." Sullivan frowned. "I want to learn."

---

"She... oh." Kael frowned. "It will be crowded then. The healer, your two sisters, me and Karina. Are you.. that's a large crowd, Daph."

---

"You may swoon if you wish to, I am an expert at spotting a fake one though so you best make it good."

“Not yet son, the adults are being all serious right now, a they use the dancing for talking. But later when they have had a bit more to drink and the seriousness has gone then you and the other children can take to the floor.” Wyatt assured.

---

“I am sure, Kari.” Lucian moved to pass his cane to a guard. “I shall come back for that later.” He remarked before gently leading Karina onto the dance floor.

---

“I have unfortunately never swooned for a man in my life and I shall not start now. Nobody has ever impressed me as such, a shame, isn’t it?”

---

“She may not be in the room during, she may be. She is there to advocate for me Kael, as you and my sisters will likely end up bickering. I do not want to choose between you all, so Karina will be there to help keep the peace… Or are you telling me I cannot have so many people?”

---

“I did not expect you so soon.” Thea opened the door to allow Magnus in, before walking back to the couch in their room where she was previously seated, a half drunk bottle of wine on the table next to her seat, the glass in her hand.

"I would rather your sisters not be there," Kael confessed with a gulp. "It will be - I - I am terrified, despite Fiadh assurance that our sapling will be well. I know you will feel vulnerable, but I will be too. They hate me, they despise me and I don't want the tension there for any of us."

---

"What have you swooned for, other than your mentors expertise?"

---

"Kael had to go back to entertaining his guests and Lucian is pulling Karina onto the dance floor for a dance." Magnus grinned, closing the door and locking it behind himself. Soon leant back against the sofa beside her, "It is not an evening for wild stories with my friends."

---

"I - No, no I think you should at the least bring that." Karina stressed, voice dropped to a whisper only he could hear so she wouldn't embarrass him. "Lucian, you have nothing to prove to these people."

---

"Then you will send me to bed because they will all be drunk." Sullivan whined, grimacing as his head hit his mother's as her neck arched over Wyatt's shoulder to glare at Agatha.