Hope Falls

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here, sunshine.” Daegan apologised softly, moving his hand to her face.

---

“Arzen? Perhaps not for me.”

"I believe Ishaan, when he says how certain Arzen was that they'd killed you." Avani whispered. "Arzen loved us all, he wouldn't have allowed you to suffer like that if he had known. The villain story, I understand all of them having it but I wish you didn't..."

---

Aoife closed her eyes at the touch, leaning her head forward to tuck it beneath his chin. "I'm not. I'm glad you weren't, glad you didn't have to live through it all."

“I thought you’d have died long ago - which doesn’t make it better does it? Me abandoning you to the wasting…” Daegan held her close, shifting the covers around them. “Some friend, mm?”

---

“He allowed me to suffer even at home Avani. He helped father enforce it. More than once if he and I got into an argument he’d have me isolated himself. I understand you love him, and I am braced for the fact that it is a likely name for someone’s son after him in the future, I’m prepared to hear the name daily again. But I just… You will never understand the feeling, and I’m glad of it all.”

"As you won't understand how hard it is to ever truly grieve a man that everyone else hates. Rauiri knows now, he picked up on when Arzen's birthday is based on my mood. When we walk he won't question when we go through a maze of corridors to use a different exit to avoid that spot. It is difficult not being able to truly talk, though."

---

"I'm not angry at you, Daegan. You can let that go, I'm not mad."

“I’m angry at me. I was away too long and you were here the entire time…”

---

“I love a man everyone hates already… even if people are softening. So even though I don’t know exactly I do understand it’s hard.” Indira moved to hold her sister then. “I don’t judge you, for hurting over Arzen. I know you were close.”

Avani swallowed, wrapping her arms around her as she melted into the hug. Closing her eyes.

---

"Nothing would have changed if you had been here. Whatever you were doing in Hvitera, the places before that... you had to be there, didn't you? This place was hurting you too deeply. I'm glad your home, glad to hear that laugh again, even if it's just the echo of the one I remember."

“I haven’t laughed in a while… thank you.” Daegan pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “I’m not going anywhere this time…”

---

“I’m glad you’re here…” Indira whispered, “Thank you for staying.”

"This is my home now too, I shall just have to get used to being pale." Avani laughed quietly. "This place needs us both, anyway, there food has a bit of flavour to it now. It was tasteless before."

---

She lifted her gaze up to study his face, her palm finding his cheek. "It is going to be an interesting couple of weeks,"

“Weeks? Is that how long you think it’ll take before I slink off again? Ye of little faith.”

---

“Breathing some colour back into the place.” Indira laughed softly as she let her go. “Kael will get around to re decorating at some point, hopefully.”

"All he has done with the crown so far is talk, and talk. I know he is going through a hard time, but people will start to get impatient with it all."

---

"Weeks, yes, if I am being optimistic. There are too many new faces around here, children of people you once knew but now those of us of our age are not seen as the fun ones. You're going to struggle with that."

“Do you want him to declare a fun little war to set the tone of his rule?” Indira cocked an eyebrow. “You’re just annoyed he’s working Ruairi long hours.”

---

“And I will be here anyway, you will see.”

"You make me sound mindless," Avani scoffed. "Though, he doesn't have to give him quite as much as he has been, does he? I feel like I barely see the man now."

---

"Time will tell," She whispered in agreement.

“You are sure you don’t want to go play cat and mouse with the Pigeon? I’d hate to ruin your evening.”

---

“Give it another week or so, if Ruairi is still as busy as he is I shall speak to Kael for you.”

"Why must I wait another week?" Avani's nose wrinkled in irritation then. "This baby is making everything difficult, I just want him to be around more to fuss over me."

---

"If I go and play my games, find another bed to sleep in tonight will you get comfortable in mine? I don't want you sleeping on the floor." She whispered. "It is a win, win."

“I’ll probably go for another wander around first if you are to leave.” Daegan moved a hand to ruffle her hair before pulling away. “Go have your fun, sunshine.”

---

“Because Kael has had the knock back of a dying mother, allow him some grace please, Avani? He’s getting to grips with it now and by the next week he’ll be back on track.”

"I expect you in that bed tomorrow morning, we'll have breakfast in here before you get up to any more mischief." Aoife ordered gently. "After that we can go back to normal, but yes, I need one breakfast with you."

---

"I am going back to my rooms," Avani sighed, taking in a breath to brace herself before rising to her feet. "I don't mean to sound like I am criticising him. I must be tired..."

“Let me walk you back.” Indira insisted, taking her sisters hand and resting another on her back to guide her up to her feet.

---

“Order understood.” Daegan nodded.

"Thanks, thank you." She breathed, padding slowly out of her sisters doors and beginning the journey to her own. "This is the last child. I swear it, I forget how awful this bit is."

---

“Not two weeks ago you were telling me you wanted at least one more.” Indira chuckled. “We shall see how the birth goes mm?”

"Two weeks ago I didn't feel this awful," She laughed humourlessly, pausing to take in a sharp breath as the baby kicked once again. "Shit."

---

Aoife nodded, ruffling his hair affectionately as she pushed to her feet and slipped out of the room. Heading down the halls in her search for Wyatt.

“Do you need me to fetch a healer, Avani?”

"No, no." She swallowed. "I need Rauiri, can you - can you get him?"

“Let me get you to your rooms and sat down, I’ll send someone for him.” Indira nodded, patting her sisters back. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

"I hope this isn't a sign of the personality she is fostering," Avani groaned, taking controlled breathes as she began to walk again. "Selene wasn't this bad. There is still so long to go, too."

“Unless you got your dates wrong… you’ve suspected it yourself.”