Hope Falls

“Brennan, you’re dismissed from the door for the day. I want the hallways cleared, find somewhere else to be.” Wyatt didn’t even glance over at the guard, waiting until he heard the door close before sitting down opposite Kael, reaching over and gently squeezing his knee before moving to sit back properly. “I am sorry, Kael, that it is me sat here in front of you instead of your father. I told him I would be coming here to talk to you, and he believed me to be bluffing, as if I have not always been a man of my word. But he had his chance, has done for weeks and hasn’t said anything, and I refuse to lie to you.”

---

“It’s all fucking insane! You’re all insane for even thinking about it!” Lily trembled, moving to scratch furiously at the bandages. “I feel as if you have all been drugged with things that make you insane and I am the only one not suffering! To even entertain the mere idea!”

“Your father did not have the healers locked up because of a threat to them. The blood is Lily’s, she tried to take her own life because your father threatened her and she is terrified. He has ordered her and Aoife to be locked up in their rooms until they find a cure for the wasting and if they do not they will be executed.” Wyatt swallowed before carrying on. “He did this because your mother has it, Kael. Queen Isolde has the wasting, and Aoife failed to diagnose it. So she is locked away until she cures it - and when she does not, when your mother passes, he has said he will have Aoife and Lily executed for it too… I am - there are no words for how sorry I am, Kael. But now that I know this information I couldn’t keep it from you, and your father clearly had no intention of telling you. I’m so sorry.”

---

“I need everyone to stop pretending there is a way out! That we can be ferried across the sea in a heroic escape! That this can be cured! Nobody is listening to me! We are going to die! We are going to die! And nobody is listening to me! They are telling me I am wrong! Nobody is listening! I’m going to die!” Lily screamed as she struggled, struggling to take in air as she panicked and began to turn red.

---

“She’s the perfect Queen for them. Noble birth, gentle nature, only ever shared Kael’s bed. Quiet and soft spoken yet with a certain tone to her voice. And now she’s given them an heir, she is perfect to them all, to Kael…”

“He said if I told you then I would ruin you. He seemed to almost enjoy the idea of it all, if I am being honest with you Kael, and have I ever been anything but? A smug look he did not wipe off his face the entire time.” Wyatt shook his head, “I am sorry… the word will not help, I know. But I truly am. This is not a joke. This blood is not a joke. Lily is terrified. She is so haunted by the idea of spending the next however long locked up to only be executed for something she could not control later that she tried to take her own life.”

---

“He loves her, moreso now than ever. I am not silly enough to try and put any ideas in his head about how she actually isn’t the best for him.”

---

“I did not want to be saved, only to spend the next few months of my life waiting for the noose around my neck!”

“I - no, Ishaan. I’m not manipulating him for us. And it will not work even if I wished it to.”

---

“Lily can wait, sit, Kael. You need time to mull this all over. It’s huge news.”

---

“I think you know damn well we are about to die which is why you have no qualms about fucking Hawk! Because the consequences do not matter for a condemned woman! Or else you’d have done it years ago!”

“Kael…” Wyatt frowned sadly, “Take a few minutes, son. Lily is with Aoife now, I had them placed together. Lily is safe. You need to take a moment.”

---

“You should have let me die… you should have joined me…”

---

“If Kael leaves her, if he chooses me a his only lover then I want it to be his choice, because he loves me, not because I’ve talked him into it.” Indira whispered, “I suppose it’s why I haven’t approached him about being officially named his mistress too - I want him to think of it. To think so highly of me he does not want to conceal me. To love me so deeply he does not care who knows…”

“You are right, he probably won’t ever make something so grand… But I will take what I can get. Content in the knowledge I have my son, who will go on and make history,”

---

Wyatt shook his head, standing and pulling Kael up into a tight hug, folding the man into his arms as if he were still a child.

---

Lily just hung her head with a soft sob, in complete despair at the situation.

“Whatever he desires… something so great that the world forgets that silly little girls cornered him at parties and called him a bastard…”

---

“No… not this time. I have you, Kael. Right now you are not my King. I have you, I am here.” Wyatt assured, holding him close.

---

Lily curled herself against Aoife, moving to sob against her shoulder.

“He’s my sweet boy… who shows me rocks he finds, who loves his animals, who cannot sleep unless he is touching me or his father… And there are people out there who wish him to suffer because I was not married when I had him. Not just the Caleeri bitches, there are plenty more where they came from. I know my son will carve a future out for himself so great they will forget they ever doubted him.”

---

“Have I ever lied to you Kael? I do not know why they did not tell you… But I can hazard a guess. Lily and Aoife were imprisoned the day Rhea was born. I imagine your mother did not want it tainted for you. The news of life followed by the news of imminent death. But she then continued to not tell you, and your father was so sure that I would keep the secret going.”

---

“I’m so scared…” Lily cried as she closed her eyes, clinging onto Aoife like a child. “I’m scared.”

“I’m sorry, Kael. Truly. Your mother and I may never have been what you would call friends but I never wished this fate upon her or anyone.”

---

“I am sure his much smaller cousin will do a fine job of doing just the same.” Indira added lightly with a soft grin.

---

“Can I stay with you, in your bed? I have had nightmares of them dragging me from my own in the night, to execute me at dawn with the noose…”

“Kael I have no reason to lie to you. Aoife told me, your father confirmed it. Your mother is dying… I’m so sorry.” Wyatt grimaced, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry.”

---

Lily nodded her head in defeat, closing her eyes with a half exhausted sigh.

“They will allow me to keep staying here with you? I do not have to be alone again?”

---

Wyatt sank down with him, moving his arm away to prevent further damage as he squeezed Kael tightly into him, beginning to rock. “It’s okay, I dismissed the guards for a reason, it’s okay, let it out.”

At the outburst of noise, soon the baby’s screams were added to it as she was woken in the other room. Daphne quickly padding into the sitting area - still half asleep as she carried the child, utterly bewildered at the sight in front of her. “Kael? Kael what is happening?” she all but shouted over the noise.

((Night))

“I’ve got you.” Wyatt assured, gently rubbing his back to encourage breathing.

“Kael?!”

“Daphne, return to your room and close the door for now. I will explain later, now is not the time!”

---

“That’s better than being alone, at least.” Lily whispered, curling into her further.