[M] War and Peace ~ Breggo and Hannelorian [IC]

[Hannelorian]

Making love with Liam was just that, making love. The act between them was slow, intimate and bursting with a passion that simply could not be contained. It was like the two of them were made for each other. Their bodies fit together perfectly. Saskia did as Liam had asked, she stopped talking and simply enjoyed the waves of emotion that crashed over them. Her body responded to his, without a single prompt. Every climax was intense, Saskia could feel her entire body shake as Liam brought her a kind of pleasure she had never experienced.

Neither party rushed, instead they spent the hours of the afternoon lost in each other. Nothing else mattered, and Saskia was learning to embrace what love was supposed to feel like. What she had been missing, what had been lost. Every moan from Saskia represented a loss of control as she gave in to her own pleasure, to her own emotion and sentiment. Their skin was covered in a layer of sweat, Saskia maintained a somewhat constant state of breathlessness. Their love making continuing until both of them could no longer muster the energy to continue.

For a long time Saskia remained in silence, her head resting on Liam's chest, Saskia's body shaking ever so slightly as she recovered, her body regaining itself. Gently she kissed along his stomach, trailing up his chest before just allowing herself to come to rest. Her eyes closing as her arms wrapped around him, just holding him closely to her. In Liam, Saskia had all she wanted, all she needed. With him at her side she could be the Empress of Asterious.

"Is it wrong to go to dinner smelling like nothing but faded perfume and sex?" Saskia giggled at her own comment as she tilted her head upward to gaze at Liam properly. For the first time, in a long time, Saskia could feel a budding happiness within her. The trauma and tragedy, the loss was lingering, eating away, but now there was something to fight the darkness that was brewing. "I do need clothes, however. Lest they besmirch Lady Elizabetha's good name." Saskia pushed herself up, inching further up the bed she kissed Liam deeply. "I love you."

A part of her did not wish to get up. "Can I ask you something?" The Empress ran her fingers through her hair, combing it out rather gingerly. "What is Myralis' capacity in regards to Dragon housing?" Saskia thought for a few moments, before continuing. "Valadis is weak... ill positioned as the capital, and the drakes must be kept at a distance." Saskia let her finger tips mindlessly wander along Liam's body, his arms to his chest, over his assorted tattoos as though tracing every line. "If we were to move the capital back... to make our offering to the people of Myralis, would we create more enemies on Caelum Fortis' doorstep?" With a warm kiss to Liam's shoulder, Saskia withdrew herself from the bed and pulled the robe up off the floor, donning it for her journey back to her room. "I'll have to dress... I suspect you might need to eat to recharge. Or perhaps the stamina of the dragon knight is simply greater than that of the Empress."

---

The day following the arrival of the Count of Beaumont heralded a very different arrival. A single carriage pulled in the middle of a grouping of one hundred soldiers or more. Each of them clad in the dark grey uniforms of the Empire's military, with flashes of red accenting their garb. Their faces were dour, nary' an expression in sight. Their movements were perfect, mechanical. Many astride noble horses with a sense of regality or perhaps even royalty in their own heritage. The cavalry had literally arrived, or at least enough of it to guard their leader, the great general. One horse led the troop, and on it's back, a cloaked figured, known widely throughout the Empire as the Black Prince, or the Heir that never was. In the gilded carriage, his younger sister.

Lightning shattered the ground and thunder clashed, a stark difference from the snow the previous day as the Black Prince dismounted his steed and approached the doors of Cliffhaven. He grumbled indistinctly as the doors failed to open, leaving him to raise a fist clad in black leather to rap on the door three times before it was opened. A small army of valets and footmen escaped past him, attending to the carriage and the riders. A graceful figure in a splendid white cloak alighted from the carriage, a gloved hand tenderly taking that of a footman as she stepped onto the melting snow.

Those that remained in the entry hall of Cliffhaven fell into deep bows and curtsies as the Prince and Princess crossed over the threshold. Freed stood alongside Eleanor in greeting the Imperial family. Both felt a knot in their throat. Just behind them, Georgiana and Beatrix stood in solemn silence, observing the rituals as necessary. Freed stepped forward, "Your Imperial High..." He was interrupted before he could complete his sentence. The Black Prince had raised his hand, silencing the man entirely. Slowly his gloved hands raised to retract his hood, revealing a handsome and chiseled face, though not without it's scars from combat. "The mistress of Cliffhaven fails to greet her Prince?" He sighed and shook his head in judgment. Lady Margot was notably absent.

"Brother." A softer feminine voice interjected. A hood coming down to allow a cascade of black hair descend to her shoulders. "Lady Margot has a house filled to the brim with unexpected guests. Surely we can forgive her." Artemis was kind, at least at first impression. She was there to temper her brother, the first son of the late Emperor's brother. The man, who according to some, should be sitting on the throne. A thorn in Alistair's side to say the least. A covetous man, a wicked man.

Nora stepped forward, curtsying once more. "Please, my Lord, forgive us. The Princess is entirely correct. My good mother is in attendance of our many guests." Her head remained bowed, though she could not help but to steel glances at the handsome man. Hanru, the Black Prince stepped forward, his fingers deftly working to remove his gloves, a small smirk forming on his face. "Pretty." He commented as he took in the view before him. "The Count of Cliffhaven must be pleased to have such an eligible sister."

"The Duke." Freed corrected as politely as possible. "The Duke, hmm?" Hanru asked, his voice trailing almost entirely disinterested but somewhat curious. "Her Majesty has raised his Grace to the position of Duke, following his acts of bravery during the attack." Nora clarified, her voice low, head still bowed as a chill slowly crept along her spine. "Her Majesty has been busy has she?" Cocking his head to the side he watched Nora, curious as to her above all else. "Might we see the newly appointed Empress? Or has the Emperor not risen from bed?"

Nora paused at the comment, now understanding that she had waded into a political minefield, even if she had no love for the Empress. "His Imperial Majesty is recovering nicely. The Empress has taken to Myralis on a diplomatic mission." Nora knew the party line, no one was to see the Emperor, even she had been barred at every turn from doing so.

"That's quite alright. His Imperial Majesty needs his rest." Artemis, the Princess chimed in, still the warm smile on her face. "We look forward to the Empress' return. It's been a long journey for us all, perhaps we might see to our accomodations? Get the soldiers settled?" Artemis asked with a gladness of her tone. Hanru seemed unmoved, but willing to grant his sister the freedom to interject.

[Breggo13]

Liam chuckled, his chest rising and falling in a slow,steady rhythm like a predator fully sated and now lazy and passive, digesting his meal. Not that Saskia was something that could ever be enough, at least not to him. As they ended up lying under the sheets, her head on his chest, Liam found his fingers absently playing with her hair and his eyes closing as he simply focused on her closeness. On the one night they would ever have, his mind reminded him.

“If you would like, we can always ask to have dinner served here,” he murmured absently. “Or go in the bathrobes. Willis may raise an eyebrow but he's a harmless, humorous chap - he knows to keep his mouth shut.”

The prospect of rising and putting clothes on once again was not exactly daunting but in a way, it would mean the end to the current reprieve and the magic of being together. It would mean that they were once more donning the roles they were given - the empress and the duke, the royal and the lieutenant general, the untouchable and, in some ways now, the fallen. His lips twitched into a smile as Saskia's lips met his own. The way the young woman seemed to have claimed him, the way in which she did what she pleased was rather endearing.

“You can ask me anything and you know I'll answer honestly,” he responded, humming in contentment as her fingers pulled ideally at his locks. If he wasn't already spent and in need of some time to recover, it would have turned him on. At her question, Liam sighed and opened his eyes, blinking away the comfortable haziness he had been in. Apparently, they did not even need to get dressed to assume their intended roles.

“Myralis, at the height of its power, housed the full Flight of the Dragon Knights, every single one of them and then had caves for the drakes to retire in case their bonded riders died and the beasts fancied the option. The city is built atop an ancient, never ending maze of caves, some of which may still be home to drakes of old, sleeping,” he sighed, moving one hand behind his head to be more comfortable. “The ancient palace - The Spire of Aurelion - was built to host up to 4 flights at once. You will see it tomorrow but that was the original number of flights and it was a sign of prestige to sit in the grand hall of the king of Asterious.”

“That…would not be a decision I would recommend at present,” Liam turned his gaze away, his eyes growing cold once more. “As you surely know, Myralis was the capital of Asterious, the birthplace of the Dragon Knights, of the first bonded pair. The blood of Asterious’ first still runs strong in the Vale line, as an example. For centuries, Asterious’ dragons were maintained purely to protect its borders, to allow the kingdom to recover and grow back into its own after it was nearly destroyed by Cerynith and Orynthis. Eventually, the kings of Asterious desired more land and more wealth - some said it was dragon sickness but regardless of the reasoning, the Flights of Myralis slowly captured Selvanys, then Orynnthis and finally, Cerynith. The old king died of wounds right after the last battle, leaving his hier to clean up the mess.

“In order to eliminate resistance and instead build unity within a country that seemed too big to handle, the young king of Asterious offered to build a new capital equal distances between the four capitals, naming it Valadis - ‘New Hope’ in the ancient tongue. Within its walls, he promised, people would live safe from dragon fire, safe from the pain and fear they have experienced due to his father's mad quest for power. And that is when the capital was moved.”

Liam paused before taking a steadying breathe. That was the official history, the one written by the poets and the historians, preached in schools and universities, passed on generation to generation. However, there was a darker, more brutal reason that Valadis was build from the dragons.

“The history books do not lie, of course, but they fail to talk about the real reason Valadis was built to keep the dragons out. Why Alistair's unexpected ascension brought about such hatred and fear, at least in part,” the man sighed, looking back at the young woman with haunted eyes. “Before the young emperor decided to build a new capital, there was mutiny in Myralis before his ascension. King Alaric de Valoire was a dragon knight, a respected leader of his Flight alongside his golden drake Solis Ignis. To the outside world, he was stubborn, unyielding, cruel but to his closest men, he was someone fighting for a better world. His death was mourned by those in the Flight.

“In comparison, his son Ignatius always scorned the dragons - he believed in a different world, perhaps a kinder world. Regardless, this tension between son and father left the dragon knights at odds. How could they support someone who doesn't understand them, who tries to change what they are? They staged a coup, attacking the Spire of Aurelion that they were sworn to protect. The young king escaped but he remembered the disloyalty and after moving the capital to Valadis, severely reduced the influence of the dragon knights, seemingly overnight. Ignatius changed his name to Illarion de Vallois, completely erasing his father and his origin from the past. The first of the house of Vallois.

“It was not the first time the order tried to dictate their desires but it was the last time they did so openly,” Liam never shied away from the history of the dragon knights. All initiates learned the downfalls of the past to avoid them in the future and each one was encouraged to bring honour to the order as though to repent for sins past. “Valadis keeps the peace that is hard to see - it keeps the hope and ensures no one can oppose the emperor, not even the dragon knights that can level most cities to the ground. Having a dragon knight on the throne -that is the fear of generations. Moving the capital to Myralis - that will break the empire. Under the surface, it is not as stable as it seems.”

He sighed, watching her move and yearning to reach out for her again but allowing her to do as she wished. Instead, Liam's pale blue eyes watched her pick up the bathrobe, his gaze observing every motion as though it was an enchantment.

[Hannelorian]

Saskia listened as Liam spoke of the history of Asterious, of Myralis and Valadis, further clarifying what the new capitol meant and represented. It was a safety net, designed carefully to ensure that the most dangerous among the realm kept their power in check. Saskia drew her being closer and closer to Liam, and finally when he had concluded speaking she carefully cast the sheets aside and set herself atop his lap, straddling him. "You are so incredibly sexy when you talk like that." Saskia flashed her wild and unleashed grin as she pressed her lips to his forehead. "Now I understand." Knowledge was power, and this was all the more reason Saskia needed Liam. He could fill in the gaps, help her see the right path forward. "Then we bargain the old fashioned way."

The Empress was almost purring, vibrating with a kind of excitement, something that transcended lust and encapsulated the idea of happiness, love and unity. "Valadis remains the center of power. Myralis will fall to my charm and diplomacy, step one in reuniting a fractured Empire. Step two... we need to sort out the court." Some would have to go, others could be bought. "There are two... more immediate problems." Saskia leaned into Liam. A soft sigh escaped her, momentarily lost in thought. "If Alistair wakes sooner, rather than later, he will stop progress. He will not hesitate to restrict my ability to effect change... If he doesn't wake, that presents a set of concerns."

Saskia looked into Liam's eyes, they were soft, warm, and entirely focused on her. "Marcus. Forgive me, I know he is one of your brothers." Saskia would not hesitate to speak her mind when with Liam. He was the only person she could completely trust. "He is Alistair's most loyal soldier. At the best of times, he is terrifying, and many of us stood in the way of him and Quinn... Now that she is gone. I fear he will be more akin to a rabid dog, rather than a loyal hound. That is whenever he chooses to return from his self imposed exile." Marcus was a threat, and Saskia knew that, she knew it deeply, painfully. Her fingertips mindlessly wandered against Liam's back, simply enjoying the feeling of connection to him.

"I will not allow the throne destroy the Empire." Saskia was deathly serious, recognizing perhaps for the first time that she was setting herself apart from Alistair's vision of Asterious. Alistair was extreme in all things, and the slash and burn campaign, a complete cleaning of house would produce the opposite result of what he was intending. "But... these are all things that will still be there in the morning." Saskia realized she was perhaps about to ruin their brief day of freedom, and thus should reign herself in.

"I think... I'll have you for my first course. And the rest we can eat in robes on the floor for all I care." The wild grin was back, and she leaned forward to press her lips to his once more, nipping ever so gently at his. "All we have is now." She kissed him again, her lips trailing down along his jawline, to his neck. Determined to make the most of this time, these precious few hours. Saskia learned from her mistakes and simply shut up to kiss him, and allow him once more to consume her, to satisfy her, and in so doing she hoped she brought him the same joy he brought her.

--

Lady Margot felt the atmosphere in the house change with Hanru's arrival. He was like a dark cloud that was roaming her halls, sniffing at things he had no business doing. But she cast it down, pushed it aside to simply allow herself to do her duty. Nora for her part kept sneaking about Cliffhaven, popping in and out through servant's corridors, watching, waiting. Theobald was of particular interest to her. She had never seen an Elf in person, the last of them driven out of Asterious generations ago, leaving them all to make their famed pilgrimage to Lys which had become their home. The Lysians and their tolerances, their freedoms, they were soft the Lysians.

Nora, was not as sneaky as she had believed herself to be. Theo was constantly aware of her presence, his keen ears and sense of smell constantly alerted him to her. However, for the moment he appeared quite content to simply allow her to spy on him. In a way she reminded him of Saskia when she was younger, as she would do the same thing, a kind of constant shadow, always watching from the distance.

Beatrix stood in the hallways that contained the Emperor's room. Hanru stood before the guard. "They won't let you in." Beatrix called out and when she could see him turn to face her, she immediately dropped into a curtsy. "The Empress has forbidden it." Hanru watched with dark eyes, his face was stern. "How long has it been, Beatrix?" His voice was low, he allowed his hands to drop to his sides, and then slide behind his back, his fingers interlaced. "Ten years?" Beatrix resisted the urge to smile.

"Something like that." Beatrix replied, taking several steps forward. "What brings the Black Prince to Cliffhaven?" Beatrix asked in earnest as she approached the man, free of his cloak and clad in his Imperial uniform, a smart black, form fitting. One could not deny the man's beauty, or his intellect. Hanru smirked as she closed the distance between them. "The Empire is attacked, and you expect me not to rush to her defense?" As always, it seemed with him, he was speaking in code. Beatrix knew the game well.

"Or you were wondering if the Emperor at death's door? As the sole heir to the throne?" Beatrix countered, she was perhaps one of the few people in existence who did not fear the man standing before her. A man known for his cruelty, for breaking his men down to nothing so that they may serve him and only him. "Dowager Duchess Eaves, you hurt me." Hanru cocked his head to the side, still smiling ever so slightly. "If I wanted the throne for myself, Alistair is not a difficult man to kill. I don't even think I would be first in line for that honor." Alistair was after all, unpopular. "You didn't bother to come to the wedding." Beatrix said, her arms folding in front of her chest.

"What of it? The only wedding I need attend is my own." Hanru was calm and measured. He didn't live in a world of direct answers. "Oh? Have you finally found someone to tolerate you for the rest of their natural life? However short it might be." Beatrix raised an eyebrow as she simply stared at the man. His response, however, she was unprepared for. "Saskia Castravet. One of the most beautiful women to ever walk the face of Elerion. Destined to marry into our family and bring peace to her people. A beautiful little story isn't it? When Alistair is inevitably killed, either through his own stupidity or felled in war... Saskia will be my prize."

Beatrix gasped and took a step back. "That is your Empress you speak of. How dare y.." Beatrix interrupted by the same raised hand that halted Freed earlier. "How dare I? The young Empress will have my complete support. You needn't worry Beatrix." The way he spoke her name, it was enough to send a slight shiver down her spine. "I am here to support my cousin. The family must be united at times of crisis, do you not agree?" The Dowager Duchess shook her head. "As you will, my Lord."

--

Florent found himself wandering the halls following a brief conversation with Lady Margot. If he could not see the Emperor either, he would find the next best thing, the man who cared for him and his cousin. Much like Saskia, Florent took great pleasure in stopping to stare at assorted paintings and statement pieces that lined the hallways. Perhaps he should have also asked the Lady of the house how to get to the library. But Florent knew he would stumble his way there eventually, it was only a matter of time, and a little snoop through the house wasn't entirely uninteresting to him.

After some time he finally found it, and pressed his way into the room where he found his target. The redheaded healer was seated at the table surrounded by open books, fingertip running along the pages as though looking for something. Florent unconsciously found himself licking his lips ever so briefly before clearing his throat to announce his presence. "You are Emeric, I presume?" Florent stood tall, the shadows of candle light dancing along his face. "Lady Margot failed to mention that you were so handsome." Florent smiled and bowed before the man, even though he was below his station. Florent cared little for such pageantry. "Florent Castravet, Count of Beaumont. Or in friendlier terms, a cousin to Theobald and Saskia. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He stepped slightly forward. "I come bearing the thanks of the Duke of Lys for looking after his daughter and her new husband."

[Breggo13]

Liam frowned when she brought up Alistair and his condition. It was true his own thoughts wondered what would happen should the emperor not wake up and at the same time, he could see the way Saskia would be boxed up once more should he wake up. The empire needed both of them - the military strength and the diplomatic touch to function. He didn't even consider the Southern war. Simply thinking of it made him shiver in cold sweat and yet, once the snow gave way in the south and the mud solidified, he would be back there because that was what Asterious needed. Even as he enjoyed the embrace of the woman on top of him, his loyalty remained rooted to the empire.

“I fear that there will be many unexpected guests once we return to Cliffhaven, all flocking to see what the Emperor's health is like and whether he will live or die,” Liam shook his head. “Some will want you to succeed, others may not. If Alistair does not wake up, the battle for the throne will be in earnest. They will not care who gets caught in between, even if it means forgoing the war we have in the South.”

As she continued to bring up Marcus, his expression darkened. What she said made sense and yet….he couldn't agree. The darkness that Saskia observed within his friend was not who the man was in his core. He was forced into the shadows and forced to become what no one else could. If Liam was deeply honest with himself, he wasn't sure he could be as ruthless as the rogue and remain so human for so long. Yes, Marcus Vale was now unpredictable but was he to be punished for allowing 7 others to live like men? “Marcus had the worst lot of us all - do not blame him. If you fear his influence, let me take him south. I need men and he needs an outlet for his anger but do not doubt his loyalty.

“The empire….is complicated. It does not bind most of the men of my Flight, not like me but they are all honest, loyal fighters who have seen what most can't phantom in their worst nightmares,” Liam's eyes hardened as he looked into Saskia's, giving honesty for honesty. “I fight for them as much as I fight for you or Asterious. They are not merely my men or friends - they are my brothers.”

And then, she was once again asking him to love her, to satisfy her need and he was more that ready to oblige. Regardless of their differing perspective on the flight, on the men and their positions, he loved her and nothing would diminish that. As they pulled apart once more, he finally pulled away, peaking out into the corridor to order for dinner to be set up in the adjacent tiny saloon that had a small breakfast table and a rather magnificent view of the darkened sky filled with a myriad of lights. As he pulled on his bathrobe, Liam smiled at Saskia, offering her his hand.

“We won't always agree on everything, Saskia,” he looked down into her eyes, his thumb brushing against her skin. “But even if we fight, even if you ever think that I am fighting against you, know that I love you. Perhaps you will be the death of me or the end of the Rhyddrech line but you will always have my heart.”

*****

The servant halls of Clffhaven had become some of Westley's favorite passages, much to the chagrin of Freed and the faint amusement of the youngest Rhyddrechs. Quick to figure out how to seek the hidden doors, the blonde was becoming quite adept at avoiding the newly arrived guests that seemed to descend onto the castle in Liam's absence and were as different as could be. Saskia's relatives seemed pleasant enough - he had seen Theobald a few times, the elf gaining a begrudging respect from all the men of the flight for his own military past while the charming cousin seemed kind if a bit of a dandy.

The prince's arrival was a different matter all together - unlike the Lysians, the Asterians were composed and political, both the man and his sister seeming to be full of hidden agendas and half-spoken words. The late king's brother had been the Duke of Savoy, the lands located around the biggest city in what used to be Orynthis. Regardless of the blood ties to Asterious, the influence of the old opponent of Myralis raised their head, meaning that the prince held none of the dragon knights in high regard. Best, Westley decided to stay out of sight and try to figure out what the man was up to.

It was, during one of his round about attempts to traverse the castle, that he ran once more into Nora, the young woman grinning at him with her usual mischievous grin. Over the past few days, the two had bumped into each other enough for it to be a running joke. Westley's bright blue eyes met hers and he grabbed her forearm as she tried to run past.

“I would stay away from Savoy,” the man's voice still held the angry notes that seemed to have become a part of his present state since the death of his sister. In some ways, the young woman reminded him of her and instinctively, he wanted to do better by her. “He's not Julius - he won't be kind about what he wants.”

*****

Emeric was starting to go crazy - at least, that was the diagnosis he gave himself after spending the past week pouring over seemingly every old book. So far this past week, he felt like he had learned at least 3 new ancient and mostly useless languages, developed an allergy to parchements, candles, dust, sunlight and his own voice and, if he was to be completely honest, he wasn't sure he had made any progress to speak of.

“Liam, you need more books on medicine,” he muttered to himself, eyeing the piles of books around him. “Useful books on medicine.”

Locked up in the library in the corner, he had been rather unaware of the new additions to the castle. As a healer - and as much as he hated the role sometimes, he couldn't deny his thirst for solving problems that plagued humanity - he was determined to make some sort of breakthrough. Alistair had, as of today, been succumbed to everything logical and some rather illogical therapies but, much to Emeric's annoyance, the emperor showed no improvement. Well, the redhead shook his head, perhaps after the aroma therapy, the room smelled more like a pleasant flower garden and less like a convalescent home. The entry of someone new made him look up, rubbing his eyes as he took in an angel.

Thankfully, as the man approached, he did reveal himself to be simply human. Attractive with his silver locks and soft lips but nothing ethereal past that. As the stranger paid him a compliment, Emeric felt the tips of his ears turn red from embarrassment. “I'm Emeric, yeah. Pleased to meet someone just as, equally as…I mean, er, pleasure to meet you.”

Shaking his head, he nodded in thanks to the compliments before signaling to the chair across from his. “Both of them really want to test me knowledge in medicine but I doubt I would have learned more otherwise. How was your journey to Cliffhaven? Is this your first time in Asterious?”

[Hannelorian]

The rest of the evening went slowly. Saskia spending the majority of her time seated on Liam's lap, slowly feeding him and herself, bits of fruit and cheese, the juiciest of grapes the world had even known. It seemed like time stood entirely still. Saskia regaling Liam with stories of her childhood, trouble she would often find herself in. A young Saskia did not make life entirely easy for her parents. They talked about literature and poetry, about everything and nothing. An evening filled with smiles and laughter as the two finally shared their lives with one another. Who they were, what they had done or seen. There were stolen kisses and tender embraces as they simply watched the view from the grand windows.

Saskia didn't know if it was even possible to be more in love with this man than she had been, but with every passing moment and thought exchanged she fell deeper into the well that was Liam, deeper into his heart and her into his own. They didn't have to always agree, in fact Saskia counted on the times they wouldn't, that was how Saskia would transcend who she was, and blossom into who she could be, who she needed to be. Saskia would fall asleep in Liam's arms that night, and the two would simply be there for one another as the light of dawn broke through the horizon.

---

Nora turned as Westley grabbed her and spoken his piece. "So now you're going to talk to me?" Nora asked, her voice carrying a sing song like melody. She was sweet, but ever sinister as she had always been. "Just running into one another for days on end... you ruining my safe haven that is the servant's passages." Nora was smiling, an indication that she was not actually upset at him, rather amused by the entire thing. "You think I'm after the Black Prince?" Nora cocked her head to the side, the smile transforming into more of a knowing grin. "He's not who I've been spying on. If you must know, I have no intentions of going near that one. He's... dark." Nora didn't know how to describe Hanru, or more specifically the way he made her feel, it wasn't fear necessarily... but it certainly wasn't comfort. She would leave that to someone else.

Poking Westley playfully in the chest Nora sighed. "So he told you then? About us?" Now that time had passed and her mother, blessedly, had not killed her or ran to Liam, she was far more calm about it than she day she had lost her temper with Julius. "I went after him you know, he put up a fight. Of course, he gave in the end, what man wouldn't?" Nora genuinely enjoyed Westley Falconer, he was a good man, he had a big heart and a sense of humour. He had always been one of her favorites. He just seemed so pure, but it was clear the death of his sister had taken a horrific toll on him. "Would you give in Westley Falconer?" Nora asked as she pushed herself near to him in the narrow passage, practically forcing him back into the wall.

Nora was fiendish indeed, but even now, she remained uncertain. "I appreciate your concern. It's nice to see someone noticing... I seem to get lost in all of the commotion of the house these days. I'm not allowed at court for a reason." Nora spoke honestly, and softly as she took a small step back. "Aoife's married... Rois' husband... his condition is looking more critical by the day, he won't see too many more of them. Liam is running around trying to keep everyone together, and helping the Empress." Nora was overwhelmed, despite her outwardly cheerful disposition. "So, Eleanor does her own thing. Quietly under the radar, except when she gets in trouble." Nora giggled a bit as she crossed her arms. "I'll be careful. Don't worry. I'm not looking for that kind of trouble."

---

"Worry not. I'm not brooding like Theo, or eternally playing strategic chess like Crysos." Florent laughed lightly as she moved closer to Emeric, to take a seat beside him rather than the one suggested which had been across, casting his gaze over the assorted texts. "I do believe you were going to suggest that I was equally handsome." The smile across his face was gentle, reminiscent of Saskia's. He was the one who seemed rather care free, who had no clear game to play or stake in this brewing arms race. "I hardly think it is their wish to test you like us, I'm sure the Imperial couple would prefer for this to have never happened." Florent seemed light on his feet, he moved with a kind of grace and poise, he sat rather comfortably on the chair and returned his gaze to Emeric.

"Learning never ends, and no matter what spurs it on, I have no doubt you will find your answer. They wouldn't trust just anyone with this. You are clearly intelligent. Studious even." Florent pondered the question for a few moments. "The journey was difficult. But there was little time to waste. When I heard Theo was being allowed to return, I thought it would be a good idea to tag along. I'm not sure he appreciated it." Another small bit of laughter escaped his lips as she leaned in slightly closer, as though getting a better look at the young man. "It will probably come as no surprise that the vast majority of the Lysian population has little love for this place. Ignorant as I was in my youth, it never occurred to me to leave the eternal summer of Lys for a harsh Asterian winter." Florent looked around the room for a moment.

"I am pleasantly surprised, however. Realizing I am perhaps too judgmental. Lady Margot has been kind in opening her home to a stranger. Perhaps I would have changed my mind and visited sooner, had someone told me there were men as handsome as you." Florent reached a hand forward, tucking a strand of hair behind Emeric's ear, his fingers brushing against his cheek. "I feel I am interrupting your work, perhaps I should leave you to it?"

---

Artemis looked over her shoulder as there was a gentle knock at the door to her room. "Come." She beckoned, turning her head back to face the vanity mirror in front of her. An elegant silver handled hair brush in her right hand, tresses of raven in the other, as she brushed her hair. Her skin was alabaster, like many of the Asterians. She was the epitome of a Princess, an Asterian Princess. She did not gaze back when the door opened and someone came through it.

"Imperial Highness." Georgiana called out, remembering her assignment. She curtsied as expected. "I've come to see how you are settling and to see if there is anything you required." George felt something of a terror rise in her, she had only heard stories, horrible stories of Hanru, but seldom of his sister, but one might assume she was just as imposing and monolithic.

Artemis finally rose from her seat and turned around to face George, and to George's surprise, Artemis offered nothing but a gentle smile. "Are you not one of Her Imperial Majesties' ladies?" Artemis had a friendly voice, something that was warm and enticing, the kind that made one want to hear more just to hear her speak and hang on to every last word. "A maid can attend to me, you have responsibility, duty. I wouldn't want to be a distraction for you."

George wasn't sure if she was prepared for this. There seemed to be nothing before her but an elegant and beautiful woman. One who carried herself well and had exquisite taste in fashion with the black evening gown that hugged her frame. "It's no trouble really, with the Empress away, the truth is I have little to do beside sit around." Artemis nodded her head in acknowledgment. "Boredom isn't terribly exciting." Artemis had simply watched George, and from her demeanor, she could tell she was nervous in her presence. "Please, have a seat. You seem a little anxious." Artemis motioned toward a chair. "My brother's reputation precedes him. However, I am not my brother, nor are you your brothers." Artemis had finally figured out who George was. "Princess Syrenia." Artemis offered another flash of a smile.

George nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, you are correct."

"Do you remember me then? Or perhaps you were too young, or perhaps you had bigger things on your mind back then." Artemis moved across the room and seated herself in a chair opposite George. "I baby sat for you, I believe is what they call it. All those years ago, you were so young. You've grown into quite the woman." Artemis thought in silence. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. It was a very long time ago now. And to answer the question you have not asked, but surely intend to discover. I'm here to keep my brother in check. My success rate varies, but if anyone can keep him from acting too badly, it would be me."

George wondered if she was that obvious, or perhaps Artemis was just good at reading people. Either way it seemed to be that had been figured out. "I wish I could say I did remember. Most of my memories from that time are gone now. Probably for the best."

"I think you're right." Artemis concluded. "Join me a game of cards? Or perhaps a walk through the winter garden? I've heard Lady Margot's blooms are the best in the Empire."

[Breggo13]

Liam was never one for colorful dreams or nightmares- since he was a child, most of his nights passed in peaceful bliss of oblivion, rarely interrupted by anything he couldn't control. And, as he slowly drifted off to bed with Saskia in his arms, her hair faintly tickling his nose and a soft smile on her lips, he did not anticipate anything but pleasant dreams. After the day that passed as pleasantly as could be with the woman he loved, the only thing that could threaten it would be dreams of what could be.

That was exactly how it started - the picture of Liam, older now with his hair streaked silver, standing on the balcony of his rooms, looking at the idealic family below. Saskia, dressed in a simple day dress of warm reds and blues happily chased after two little children, the older girl squealing as she ran in her small dress and leather boots, the little boy with his blonde hair and expressive brown eyes sucking his thumb and trying to join the fun. As he brought the cup of coffee to his mouth, he saw Saskia look up and smile at him with love.

Something wasn't quite right thought, something that settled deep in the pit of his stomach. There was an emptiness, a loneliness he hadn't felt since he bonded with….Barra. where was his dragon? Frowning, the man turned his gaze to sweep the horizon but there was no sign, no indication that the drake had ever existed in Frostmere. Above, a dark shadow seemed to block out the sun, the tell-tale sound of dragon wings breaking the silence. His son saw it first, the little eyes growing large and the thumb forgotten as he looked up into the sky. Saskia followed his gaze, growing ashen as she tried to reach both children, shield them, protect them. And Liam moved way too slow as a blazing column of dragon fire scorched the earth.

“No!” Liam yelled, sitting up but he wasn't in Frostmere. Darkness surrounded him, blinding and disorienting, confusing him and leaving him helpless. It weighed down on him, slowly squeezing his breath from his lungs so that he struggled to breathe. Heart racing, he glared into the void that surrounded him. “They were innocent - she is innocent!”

“Is she?” The dark chuckle seemed both familiar and distant. There was a cold amusement in the tone of the voice. “She betrayed the bonds of matrimony, she lived in sin and born bastards that weaken the empire. She was meant to die.”

“She was innocent! I….it was me! You punished the wrong ones,” Liam yanked at the invisible chains holding him in place. The voice laughed.

“I did not punish them, Liam Rhydderch, son of Cliffhaven - I was purging foul from my lands as you should be doing. You swore to uphold the secret flame of Asterious, to keep her heart beating and you forgot your oaths for a sliver of happiness. You seduced your emperor's wife, you betrayed your brotherhood and you failed to maintain peace.”

“I did what I had to do,” Liam protested as his mind filled with images of things that passed - Alistair’s death, blood of the empire falling apart, Barra's abandonment, Saskia marrying him in secret, the fighting and the carniage and the pain. His friends dead or fighting a losing battle, his family broken. “I tried to do what everyone wanted from me, what was expected and what the empire needed.”

“It needed you to die, Liam,” Calembribor finally revealed himself, the burning eyes and shadows of flames framing the silhouette of a man with a crown, each spike resembling a tongue of fire. There was no pity in his eyes. “You are the plague of this land - not Alistair, not your brotherhood. You.”

“No, I did what you wanted me to! I did it all for Asterious!” Liam's own anger gave him strength and composure, his gaze growing colder by the second. “I will do anything for Asterious.”

“Anything?” The god laughed, the sound biting like a fire. “Prove it - meet the Guardian of Myralis and see if he will let you walk free.”

“That's suicide or midwife tales - no one ever returned,” Liam’s eyed grew large. “Why now, why me?”

“Burn away your sins if you wish to survive the future. You are a traitor, a murdurer and an adulter. Reforge your soul, Vaerthuriir.”

Liam woke up with his heart beating and covered in cold sweat. The faint grey light of the sunrise was starting to break through the crack in the drapes and somewhere in the distance, he could pick up the excited murmurs of Barra as the silver drake munched on rotten apples. Beside him, Saskia curled up with her hair sprawled around her like a halo, her breathing steady as her chest rose and fell. Taking a deep breathe, the man slowly tried to settle down, his eyes watching the woman's sleeping form as his mind echoed the final words. Traitor, murdurer, adulter…was that who he was in the light of day? Who was he to be once the timelessness of Frostmere gave way to the cruel reality in a few hours? And what remained of the man he was just yesterday morning?

*****

Westley scoffed at her words, letting go of the young woman's arm. It wasn't that he had been avoiding her exactly, it was that he couldn't look at her without feeling anger and betrayal directed at….frankly, he couldn't even decide who. Julius for becoming involved with a sister and dragging her into politics inadvertently just as Marcus had done? At Marcus for stealing his little sister's heart in the first place and costing her her life? At Alistair for never bothering to change the laws so that Quinn could be happy out of the shadows? For his own helplessness to do anything about it?

Quinn was gone - he had felt it in his gut even before he made it to Cliffhaven with Alistair in his arms. Perhaps he hated that in her last moments, he hadn't been there, hadn't asked her forgiveness, hadn't given her blessing. And as he looked at Nora with her determination and attitude, he did not know what to say. He had been honest with Julius - whatever the decisions had been between him and Nora, Westley wasn't about to get between them but he just wished love would take a break. It brought more challenges and pain than it was worth. Perhaps, he lamented, the other reason he prefered servant halls was to avoid the intoxicatingly sweet way Radisson looked at his betrothed and was getting ready to have a family.

“Do what you will then,” he shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. “As for Julius - he didn't have to tell me, you just did. For someone so clever, storming out of his rooms midday with an expression of murder…”

Westley chuckled, his eyes meeting hers. “What exactly were you hoping to accomplish, sweetheart? Your recklessness was rather selfish - you created problems for quite a few people for what? To be noticed?”

He stepped forward, slowly boxing her into the wall so that his hands pressed on either side of her frame. “Well, Lady Eleanor, you have my undivided attention. What the hell were you thinking? And whatever games you are playing now, do you think they are the actions of a young woman or a spoiled child?”

“My sister died because she fell in love and was involved with the royal flight,” Westley's blue eyes shone with emotion. “She was a commoner and even then, she was pulled into a scandal and whipped for one of my brothers. Before you do something stupid, ask yourself what you would do for your brother or for Asterious? What would you be willing to take responsibility for should you need to?”

*****

“Um, yeah, handsome,” Emeric cleared his throat, dropping his gaze back to his books. Somehow, he never had trouble talking with men or women before. He wasn’t the Casanova nor was he silently confident but he had his own charm and he always knew what to say. This was odd to say the least. “I'm glad you decided to make the journey. Cliffhaven is lovely this time of year.”

He cringed at his own words - lovely, Cliffhaven with its snow and ice? Could he have said anything more amusing? As the man brushed back a strand of his hair, Emeric felt his stomach grow warm. “You're welcome to stay though I hardly am an interesting conversationalist recently. I keep hoping these medical journals will shed some light on the emperor's condition as it's not something I have seen before.”

Turning the book he was reading towards Florian, Emeric pointed to a diagram on the page. “See, I believe it isn't a physical ailment anymore but one of the psychosomatic nature - the emotional aspect of a man. Unfortunately, it's poorly researched as most do not believe emotions can actually traumatize or destroy a person. Typically, those are the people who never seen war.”

[Hannelorian]

The dreams of both parties that evening ran in parallel directions, only for Liam's to diverge. Saskia dreamt of an alternate life, one in which she was simply the Duchess of Cliffhaven. Not that there was anything entirely simple about being a Duchess. Even so, a life where she was Liam's wife. Where she attended court for holidays and other special occasions. A life where she only stood out for her beauty and wit, but as a figure of precious little importance, known playfully as his better half. The only one who could make him smile or laugh at her terrible jokes.

Saskia could imagine their children, a boy and a girl as they ran through the freshly fallen snow. Saskia chasing after them. Her hands sinking into the white powder and forming a snowball, ignoring the burning pain of her unprotected skin against the icy cold. Hurling it into the air, only for it to hit an unprepared Liam who seemed to appear out of thin air. Her hands raised to her mouth at first in shock, and then only to let out a roar of laughter. Liam running toward her in retaliation only to grab his wife pull the two of them down into the snow. The laughter of their children growing closer as they ran to join in on the fun.

The Duchess and the Duke would rise up, Saskia carrying their son, Liam carrying their daughter inside the safety of the house, bringing them to the warmth of the burning hearth in the small drawing room that the couple used as their own. Lady Margot already seated there with a mug of tea. But it all ended, Saskia wishing she could remain in the dream state. The jostling beside her, roused her. A low growl escaped her, her eyes opened and it took a few moment to remember where she was. Turning over, Liam was already awake, sitting up. Saskia pulled herself up, her arms wrapping around him.

She could feel the sweat upon his skin, the rapid rising and falling of his chest. Leaning on him, she craned her head up to look at him. "Bad dream?" Her lips pressed to his shoulder, kissing him tenderly. "I'm sorry, Liam." Saskia knew the character of Liam, his moral fiber, and she contemplated for a few moments the notion that she destroyed him by giving in.

--

Nora became the target for Westley's anger. And she simply stood there, allowing him to yell, to hurl his insults and harsh words, his judgments at her. To press her to the wall, boxing her in. When he was done, Nora simply wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a tight but warm embrace. "I am so sorry, Wes." Her hands would move to stroke his back, attempting to comfort him, a man clearly still processing his grief, coming to terms with what had happened.

"I am so sorry about Quinn... I know how hard this is for you, and nothing I can say will make it better, or bring her back to you." Nora was practically whispering, her voice shaking as she spoke into his ear, her head rested on his shoulder. "You're right. I have been spoiled, and selfish." Nora took a step back, as she stared at Westley, a small smile on her face. "Julius will be fine. My mother already knows, and he will not be forced into marriage, or anything of the sort. It was a mistake, yes. A stupid thing to drag him into my... need to feel like I matter. I shouldn't have done it." Nora hated coming to terms with her own feelings, with having to be so brutally honest.

"But Julius is not Marcus, and you must know that." Nora swallowed hard. "Marcus, the Lord of Whispers, Master of Spies, cavorting all sorts of seedy characters from the deepest underbelly of Valadis and beyond. He's a man driven by power and lies. He killed Quinn. Marcus killed Quinn. Do you understand me?" Nora took a step forward toward him again. "I have acted on impulse, I have been so stupid... but I would never drag Julius into eternity. Nor would he bring me into such darkness. I am so sorry that you lost your sister. Everyone talks about how lovely she was and I cannot imagine she was anything but. Don't be mad at me, be mad at him, for what he did."

Nora looked down at her own hand, shaking. "I will do whatever is asked of me for the Empire. Whatever Liam commands me to do, I will do it, and I will do it willingly. I have no particular talent or skill, but if he called for me, I would answer it." Nora raised her hand to rest on Westley's cheek. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you, or made your life harder Wes..." Allowing her hand to drop, Nora turned and continued on her way down the corridor, fighting back tears as she did.

---

Florent followed Emeric's long, thin digits to the page and the diagrams. He nodded along as a sign that he was listening to the man. "It is lovely this time of year, though... I suspect you would be lovely here at any time of year." Florent wasn't always a smooth talker, he lacked many of the skills the others in his family possessed. But he was far more emotional than the rest, in touch with his own feelings.

"I imagine you have seen a great deal in war, the cruelties of man extend far beyond what we can conceive." Florent despised the idea of war, though he knew it raged, particularly at the frozen southern border when it would warm once more. "Trauma is unique to those who experience it. Though, you must forgive me for what I am about to suggest." Florent was cautious, he did not want to discourage Emeric and his work, or demean what he had already done. "But if what you suggest is true, that it is a psychosomatic battle, then would could possibly be done? Is it not then up to the Emperor to conquer his own demons and wake himself?"

Florent bit his lower lip and leaned over the book, without thinking much one arm wrapped around Emeric's shoulders as she scanned the pages before them.