Re: Hope Falls

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 22:26

"So what - what steps do we need to take to move forward? So far I think that you are - your morals intrigue me, your way of seeing things."

"No, no I was not trying to make you feel guilty I - " He laughed shortly, voice tight. "I'm sorry. I will get you all you need and meet you later. Th- thank you again. Th- thanks." Pushing to his feet and leaving the room before amy proper goodbyes could be had. His pace through the halls rush, and lack of knock prominent as he simply let himself into Indira's quarters and sat with his back against the door. Chest heaving with his intake of breath.

"Dick." Rohan scoffed. "What my sister sees in him I will never understand."

"He won't let you become a forgotten name. None of us will."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 22:34

“I don’t speak of my own parents any longer. Cannot remember the last time I spoke of my mother. Kael will end up like me too…”

Lily remained wordless, shaking her head and sitting down on the couch, pulling the cushion to her chest and swallowing thickly.

“What is it you want, Princess? Has anyone asked you that? You did not want me as a husband, you’ve admitted as much as yourself. But you wanted a husband, and now you have one. So what is it you wanted when you got your hands on a man? What comes after in your head?” Kiaan asked curiously. “How should this be going for you right now? Two days into the marriage, what happens now?”

“One day I shall train you to knock.” Indira mused as she left her bedroom, soft sadness on her face as she noticed where Kael had placed himself. “Come now, off the floor. I have comfier seating, and breakfast has just been brought up. I didn’t fancy going down alone.” She encouraged, reaching her hand out to him.

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 22:44

"If I eat, I - I believe I ma- au th- throw it up." Kael laughed hoarsely, breathless. Though reached his hand out for Indira's and pulled her down into his lap, burying his face in her neck and closed his eyes as he fought to steady himself.

"You are asking what I want, or - or what is expected of me to make my family proud?" Agatha clarified quietly, swallowing thickly.

Rohan settled down beside her, crossing his legs beneath him and beginning to praise gently, "You handled that so well, you were brave, you were strong. You didn't let him twist you."

"Not whilst I am alive. He won't forget, no one will."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 22:53

“What do you want? Forget your family. Forget mine.”

“Part of me will still not trust him even when our blood has been spilled in front of our ancestors… I hate what Aodhän has done. I was in the room when that boy was born. I have been a healer here his entire life. And I cannot trust him now because of the crown on his head, even after all of his tears I have dried, all the moments of his life I have been there for… Aoife was right about the family. And I hate it. I hate that Aodhän has opened my eyes to it.” Lily’s voice cracked as she buried her face into the cushion. “I hate it…”

Isolde nodded tiredly, turning over to press her forehead to his chest.

“I fear we are doing this a lot lately, my love. Things aren’t easy for you are they?” Indira soothed - her hand reaching up to smooth the top of his hair.

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 23:01

Agatha swallowed, jarred by the clarification as she lowered her gaze and watched her own lap. "I would like to be free to makes blankets or - or toys for young ones who wouldn't normally get it. I would like to make an impact, somehow. I would like to be seen. I would like to make someone proud, to make myself proud. When I am one of many, being someone's one.. anyone's... one. I think I would like that."

Rohan reached across to encompass her, pulling her into lap with a tight embrace. "You are allowed to feel what you are, his father sentenced you to death. Fear, distrust, they are normal. Over time that may heal, if you continue to be brave but you are not obligated. You don't have to turn into Aoife, distrusting of all with a title, this can just be a blip if it is all you allow it to be."

"I'm sorry. I- I'm s-sorry."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 23:06

“This is my home and I do not think I will ever feel safe here again. He has taken that from me.” Lily cracked, sobs muffled by the fabric.

“No sorries.” Indira assured, “No sorries. Never to me. You are okay to fall apart here. I have you.”

“You are free to do all that, if that’s what you wish.” Kiaan nodded after a few moments.

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 23:15

"Hone is where you male it, the community you feel accepted by." Rohan whispered, kissing the top of her head as he rocked with her. "It will take time, but you will find a new home. Everything heals, petal. Everything gets better."

"We t-t- told them l- ast night." He cried, gasping between words. "A- and, and everyone else finds o- out at the e- end of the week. Ra- Ruairi sa- said the same thi- ING that D-Daphne did so no- now I have to hear how sh- shit I am la- ater to p- prove him w- wrong. Li- Lily h-h-hates all of u- us, because of A-Aodhän. She doesn't be- believe me when I say I'm not hi- him, so now I need to ca- call upon the ancestors a-and give a fucking blood oath in front of them and I- I'm so tired. I- I am so tired, I just want it to stop."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 23:17

“Oh Kael…” Daphne moved her hand to rest on the side of his head, brushing her thumb gently. “I wish I could make this all go away, you have too much to deal with…”

“Nothing is the same as it was just a short time ago and I don’t know what to do!”

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 23:22

"I don't know how," Agatha confessed with an anxious laugh. "I- I don't know how."

"They already t- took one mother off of me, why can't I just keep this one?" He almost screeched, digging his fingers into the fabric of Indira's clothes. "I - I can't do it. I can't do it, I'm not good eno- enough. I keep f- failing. The facade is dropping, D- Daphne said it was a facade too. F- Fiadh lied, sh- she must have lied."

"Right now? Nothing, my dear wife. You feel, you process. You let me hold you until it all numbs."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 23:27

“Do you wish to remain here with your sisters when I return home? You’ll have none of the pressure of finding a husband, you’ll have all the freedom of a married woman. It’s your choice to make. Entirely yours.”

“Wife… I’m a wife now too… everything is different. Everything is so different…”

“Fiadh has never lied to you before. You - you have to trust her mm? After everything why would she lie now? You have to decide if you keep trusting her or if you lose hope.”

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 23:37

"I would not shame you like that," Agatha assured quietly, fingers twitching in hesitation before she took the plunge and reached across to take his hands. "You do not seem terrible, our conversation so far is pleasant. I am scared, your right of - of many things. Change is something that has always shaken me. You can desire something, but still be scared of it... but, if you are happy to be patient with me, then.. I don't think I will be a terrible wife."

"I'm sorry this feels so overwhelming."

"I j- just want everything t- to stop. I - I try to exp- explain to people an- and they tw- twist it like I am trying to guilt th- them. They d- don't understand that I am just trying to ex- explain." He gasped for breath. "I- I am trying to be better. I- I am Indira, I - I am trying."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 23:41

“I know, I know. I think you’re exhausted right now aren’t you? You’ve had an awful night, and I don’t think you’ve had anything to eat in a while either. You need to look after yourself my love or all of this will feel so much worse.”

“I - yes. Overwhelming. It is.” Lily nodded, pulling up to look at him. “I am sorry - I’m a mess and I am crying and we are married…”

“I don’t think you will be terrible either…”

**BestNameEva** Wed 13 Nov - 23:49

"I hope in the very least we can be friends, eventually. I have never had one who has not been a sister." She smiled coyly, though her words were the opposite as she continued, "And I imagine you have never had a friend who looks so good on your arm as I can, when I try. Even without the skin on show."

Rohan shook his head. Smoothing her hair off of her face with one hand, as the others wiped away the tears that rested on her cheeks, "You were brave. I feel blessed to know you. I'm in your corner."

"She is dy- dying, how can it be wo- worse?" He questioned, grief-stricken. "My mother is dying..."

Phoenix Wed 13 Nov - 23:53

“You know how heavy your body feels? And your eyes - the way they ache? Your stomach feeling sore, and your head all light? Thats making all this feel a lot worse mm? Things are bad right now, but you’ll find if a little easier to face in your body is feeling up to it, my love.”

“I do not feel brave and I - I all but agreed to stay here for an indefinite amount of time without even asking you. I’m sorry.”

“You will faint before your first week in the sands is over if you refuse to dress correctly, I hope you have a plan for that.” Kiaan laughed, shaking his head. “You won’t be the first.”

**BestNameEva** Thu 14 Nov - 0:05

"There is no time. Lily, sh- she agreed to t- try. I ju- just need to get her blood s- samples. M- mine, y- yours. M- mothers had I- Idris'. She needs to study the disease. I can't waste time resting."

Rohan smiled sadly, shaking her head. Lying with considerable confidence, "I know Kiaan will understand, sure he won't mind the extra wait."

"As long as it shall be you catching me rather than one of your men then I shall cope." Agatha answered pleasantly. "It will look good, to the masses."

Phoenix Thu 14 Nov - 0:11

“And if I am not around and you end up injured? The villa has marble floors, not pleasant to pass out on.”

“I should have asked - I understand if you wish to go home for some time with the rest of your family. I wouldn’t be mad at you for it. You have missed home…”

“If you will not take care of yourself then I am going to do it for you Kael. No arguments. It is not wasted time if it is ensuring that you are well.”

**BestNameEva** Thu 14 Nov - 0:15

"You will have to nurse me." She answered, mischief lighting up her eyes.

"You are part of my family now, I don't intend to leave you in a place you don't feel safe."

"Help me get the blood samples delivered to Lily, then I will rest until my meeting with Cavanaugh, I promise."

(( Night night))

Phoenix Thu 14 Nov - 9:09

“But you want to go home - I don’t want to take that from you.”

“You’re not having blood drawn when you haven’t eaten or slept. Especially not when you’re planning on spilling more later. She won’t need it all at the same time. I will assure she gets samples soon - but not before I assure you are fed and rested.” Indira replied firmly, “You’re having food and sleep before a drop of yours is spilled.”

“You’re out of luck, my brother is the one interested in Healing unfortunately, you’ll not fare well if you rely on me for ailments.”

**BestNameEva** Thu 14 Nov - 12:01

"I am sure you know how to fuss over a woman. If you can care for the poor and uneducated then tending to heatstroke will be as easy as breathing."

"And I will go home, we will... it will just not be as soon as we expected. You aren't getting out of learning my culture, I assure you."

"Indira, no. It's time critical, please."

Phoenix Thu 14 Nov - 14:26

“Kael she cannot look over four samples in one sitting. She will not need them all at once. I’m going to get you to bed and fed, and then I will collect Idris and take our blood whilst advising your mother she needs to do the same. Then tonight when you cut your hand for the oath you can collect some then for her. This is what I mean by not looking after yourself - you aren’t seeing things clearly, and you are panicking.” Indira said firmly, though softened toward the end. “You look after everyone as King and since your wife isn’t feeling like she wants to do it right now then I shall be the one to look after you.”

“I’m of the belief that if the woman has been warned maybe suffering the consequences will do her some good.” Kiaan laughed then, shaking his head.

“I don’t want to get out of it… I’m sorry, for not thinking.”

**BestNameEva** Thu 14 Nov - 20:32

"You have been through far too much the past few weeks. Once this blood oath is completed tonight then you will know that you are safe, mm? You will be able to breath again, even if it is only a bit."

"Mm, no, I don't believe you. You have been too kind already for me to believe that, I think your bark may be worse than your bite."

Kael let out a sigh of defeat, and nodded tiredly. Leaning his head forward to press his forehead to her shoulder, closing his eyes. "I love you."

Phoenix Thu 14 Nov - 20:57

“I haven’t been kind, I have merely treated you without the base hatred you’ve grown used to.”

“I love you too.” Indira held him close, “I wish I could take away all of this, I’m so sorry I cannot.”

“I will be able to see a future…”

**BestNameEva** Thu 14 Nov - 21:06

"I dread to think what kindness is, if this isn't it. I don't know if I would know what to do with it." She laughed sadly. "I am grateful, even if you are only being... civil."

"I am excited to hear what you see," Rohan grinned, bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles gently.

"No one can. This is just.. the way it is."

Phoenix Thu 14 Nov - 21:12

“Perhaps being kind to others will encourage them to be kind toward you… you do not have to live the way you’ve been living.”

“Us… I see us.”

“I will do all I can… anything at all.”

**BestNameEva** Thu 14 Nov - 21:21

"You must understand that this is survival. My sisters and I did not wake up and choose this.. it was forced upon us. In the literal sense, as well as the metaphorical."

"Tell me more," Rohan encouraged, looking up from here his head was ducked to keep near her hand. "Give me all the little details. I want to hear the dream."

"Don't make me eat, before sleep? I need to sleep. I had Eira's foot in my stomach and Mor's hand on my cheek and father snored." Kael laughed humourlessly. "The night before that I didn't sleep at all."

Sponsored content