Fantasy Betrothed (Closed to Aina)

[FursieTheFlixee]

((That's okay!))

"He was here to yell at me as far as I know," Riccardo murmured, looking over at the door. He didn't want to deal with anything. It felt like it was becoming increasingly harder to handle all the threats on everyone's lives lately. Luckily, Leighton didn't seem to have much of a backbone, so he wasn't too worried about him being locked in their prison. It was simply a reminder that they had someone much more dangerous locked away down there. His father had been locked up and chained down for over a week. It was time he faced him and did something about it. He still wasn't sure what it was he wanted to do, though.

His head whipped around to look at Aurora as she started to flail. He hardly had time to say anything, before Sarai spoke and suggested leaving to let him rest. "I'll be up to join everyone in an hour or however long it takes for these pills to work," he told Sarai. He wished she would stay, but he didn't say that. He was still feeling insecure from the previous night's talk with Emmanuel. He had no leads onto what went wrong, but he very much wished to talk to him.

Seavers smiled at Sarai when she told him to rest. "Help would be appreciated, but don't worry about me, my dear." He looked at Aurora in her arms and chuckled. "She is fussy right now, isn't she?"

Riccardo frowned and offered out his hands. "Let me see her. She's probably just upset by all the commotion with the guards." It was good incentive for Sarai to stay if he was holding Aurora as well.

 

[Aina]

Sarai had half a mind to go and talk to Leighton herself. But she was banned from speaking to prisoners on her own. Everyone would be curious if she went and did that. It was the idea that Leighton had come in there to threaten Riccardo that worried her. What if Seavers hadn't had been there? Perhaps he was too much of a coward like Riccardo said.

Aurora was still fidgeting in her arms. She didn't understand why. She had already been fed. She sighed heavily and continued rocking her. To no avail she wouldn't stop moving about in her arms.

She looked at him when he said he'd meet everyone in an hour. She'd go see what Aiden was doing in the meantime. She turned to leave but he mentioned Aurora and she stopped. She was hesitant to give her up so quickly. She felt inadequate since she couldn't calm down her own daughter. But she was being ridiculous.

"She's like this around you," she chuckled and handed her to him gently. She still was in awe at what they created together. She couldn't get enough of her little face. "I was thinking...of having a portrait painted of her. Actually, I want all of us to be painted. A family portrait."

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Riccardo took Aurora, cradling her to his chest and smiling down at her. "Why is my princess upset?" He bounced her slightly, but looked up at Sarai when she spoke. At first, he smiled softly, melting at the idea of being included in a family portrait. It meant so much to him for her to say that, to know she would include him in something so intimate. Reality hit hard, though, as he realized it wasn't something that should be done or encouraged. He sighed, looking down at Aurora, bouncing her lightly to try to take her mind off of her fussiness.

"We couldn't do something like that, Sarai," he said. "Not with me in it, anyways. Unless you wanted to keep it somewhat private, I suppose. Your image is everything. People already know we were married and I'm sure there'll be rumors about Aurora with those eyes she inherited." He sighed heavily. "It probably already looks bad enough that I'm even here. Given our history and then my family's history... I don't doubt there are all kinds of words being said."

He suddenly wished he had just let Sarai walk away, but it was too late, now. Aurora seemed focused on the bouncing motion he was making at least, so he'd gotten her to calm down. He smiled slightly at the slight divet in her brow-line as if she was trying to figure something out. "She just needed some distraction," he said, hoping Sarai wouldn't push the portrait issue. He was saved to some extent when someone else entered the infirmary.

"Sarai, dear." Riccardo briefly glanced up to see Aiden's mother. With a slight frown, he looked back down at Aurora. "I was hoping to find you," Ila said, walking up, surveying the scene in front of her and Aurora in Riccardo's arms. However, she turned and looked at Sarai. "I've hardly been able to see you and my grandchild! Please join me for some tea so we can do some catching up and I can hold that precious baby!"

Riccardo couldn't help but scowl a little. He hadn't quite forgiven Ila for her threat against Sarai and something about the woman got on his nerves. He stopped bouncing Aurora, simply waiting for Sarai to take her back to join Ila, now.

 

[Aina]

Sarai waited to hear his response to his suggestion. She frowned immediately at what he said. She began to protest against what he was saying. She didn't care what others said. She didn't care what they thought either.

"What if we included Astraea, Leon and Rosita. They are our family too," she told him with a slight smile.

She looked at Aurora at her quizzical expression and chuckled. She was going to say that he should be included in the portrait anyways but a voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned and frowned as she saw that it was Ila.

She looked at Riccardo, rolling her eyes but avoiding Ila's gaze so she wouldn't see her. "Aurora is merely a week old Lady Ila," she told her and she turned to look at her again. She honestly didn't care if she sounded rude. She didn't want to see or be near her. Maybe it was mean of her and she should be nice to her for Aiden's sake but part of her didn't want to.

She feigned a smile, "Of course I'll join you for some tea."

She turned to Riccardo, taking Aurora in her arms again. Aurora giggled as she was picked up and Sarai looked at him. "I'll come back later. Please don't over exert yourself Riccardo. Feel better," she told him as she turned to leave with Ila.

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Ila looked somewhat shocked by Sarai's response, eyes widening a little before she blinked and smiled sheepishly. "She may only be a week old, but she hasn't spent nearly enough time with Grandma!" She sighed. "And please don't call me lady, Sarai."

Riccardo gave up Aurora a bit unwillingly, but he didn't have a lot of choice in the matter. He watched, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes. He hated everything about the way Ila talked about Aurora. Maybe it was because he knew she wasn't her grandmother, or maybe just because he couldn't stand the woman, but it bothered him more than necessary. "I will see you later, then," was his only response to Sarai as a dark cloud seemed to materialize over his mood.

Ila smiled at Sarai as she turned to leave with her. "I'm sorry to have interrupted," she said, sincerely. She tried to put her prejudices aside, knowing about their relationship and about Aiden's insecurities. There was no harm in Sarai talking to a friend. She tried to tell herself that. "I know it means a lot to Aiden for us to talk and I really haven't been able to see enough of this cutie pie." Her voice got a little higher pitched as she looked down at Aurora, smiling widely.

She looked back up at Sarai, though, leading the way to a small room not far from the kitchen. There was a large window facing the ocean there and a table set up with several tea pots steaming. Two ornate tea cups sat on golden platters and a fire was cackling warmly in the room. Ila took a seat on one side of the table and motioned for Sarai to do the same. She had this urge to apologize again, thinking about Sarai's bite to her voice earlier, but she'd said her apologies already, months ago after the poisoning. She could only do what she could to try to fix their relationship, now.

"Do you mind if I hold her," Ila asked, looking at Aurora. "I won't keep her too long from you, I promise, and you'll be right here." She laughed lightly, the sound like bells from her sweet voice.

--

Aiden was seated in the throne room by now, listening to a small family share their fears about the werewolves living in the royal house. He withheld the urge to groan and send them away, but he smiled instead. "I assure you, our werewolf friends have no ill will on you," he tried to assure them.

"A werewolf killed my father," the woman said, clutching at the toddler on her hip closer as another child clung to her skirts. "They can't be trusted!"

The husband nodded with a grunt. "Cornelius wouldn't let riff raff in like this. Maybe he should be leading us all! He believes the people have the right to vote! You monarchs just make decisions and I get no say in whether werewolves move in next door!"

Aiden sighed, slumping down in his seat slightly. "Cornelius is likely behind all the disappearances and violent crimes, too. Please, sir, I promise no harm will come to your family."

"I've heard it all before," the man said. "Come on, Samantha!" The family left and Aiden couldn't help but feel like he'd lost something as they walked away.

--

Riccardo huffed, staring up at the ceiling and crossing his arms over his chest.

Seavers, who'd taken up residence in a chair near Riccardo, working on a crossword puzzle, looked up at him. "Is something bothering you," he asked, knowing the answer. He set down his puzzle in preparation.

"My back hurts," Riccardo complained. "Emmanuel was acting strange last night and I think I did something and I don't know what. I can't be Aurora's father, but I am. I hate Aiden's mother. She just seems so slimy to me like she has other intentions all the time. I don't know what to do about my father. I've been in bed for a week and here I am again! Uselessly laying here while I wait for this fucking pain to go away so I can finally get up and be useful!"

Seavers only chuckled. "Is that all?"

Riccardo heaved a sigh. "I think so." He turned his head to look at the doctor. "What clue are you stuck on? You were making that face you make when you're stuck. Maybe I can help."

((I don't know. The majority of this post was useless except for letting you know the boys are pretty much doing nothing.))

 

[Aina]

Sarai was reluctant to leave Riccardo alone. She didn't want to leave him. "I'll be back later," she told him again as she looked at him.

She followed Ila with a frown. She preoccupied herself with Aurora in her arms, trying not to show her dampened mood. She sat down in the chair across from her and she looked down at the tea cups in front of them.

Sarai didn't care for drinking tea but she'd humor Ila anyways. When she asked to hold Aurora she gulped. Sarai nodded and she knew that she was being mean to her for no reason. Ila had already said her apologies. She extended her arms and placed Aurora into hers.

"She likes when you put her close to your chest," she smiled sweetly. Aurora looked at Ila and her lips puckered. Sarai laughed because she knew why Aurora did that facial expression. It was always when she was confused.

"She's welcome to strangers and she hardly cries. Except when she's hungry," she mentioned with another.

((Don't worry. Sorry I just suck lately, it's my fault.))

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

((You're good man. I know you've been busy. Heck, I have too.))

Ila took Aurora gratefully and immediately cradled her close to her chest. "I did raise one of these in my time," she told Sarai with a laugh. "Aiden was the opposite, though. He cried and fussed at every turn. I could never keep him happy. The wind would change direction and send him into a fit. You were blessed with this sugar cube."

She waggled her finger in front of Aurora's face. "What are you looking at, precious?" She looked back up at Sarai again, gently starting to rock her arms absentmindedly. "How are you feeling? I have no doubt Dr. Seavers has taken great care of you, but it sounded so traumatic. Bringing life into this world usually is, but..." She trailed off. "You're not still in pain are you?"

--

Riccardo had helped Seavers with a few clues to his crossword and was staring up at the ceiling again. The pain was subsiding. Not gone completely, and not even as good as it was the night before, but enough that he finally put his legs over the side of his bed and grabbed his cane. He got up on his feet, shifting uncomfortably, but settling for leaning heavily on the cane again.

"Are you sure you want to be up," Seavers asked.

Riccardo turned around to see the little doctor had stood up, concern on his face. "I'm just going to sit somewhere else," he told Seavers. "I've spent too much time in here this week. I don't think it's good for the mind." He chuckled. "Maybe that's why your growth was stunted."

Seavers shook his head. "I'll stunt your growth if you don't watch out." He sighed. "If you must, be sure to rest enough tonight again. Plenty of low impact movements."

Riccardo started hobbling his way out of the infirmary, mind set on his location. "Of course, doctor!"

It seemed like the walk took far too long, but Riccardo made his way down to the door of the prison. He didn't care that he was in his pajamas. He didn't care that his hair was messy. He waved aside the guard to let him pass and walked barefoot down the stairs. The cool air gave him a chill that he ignored. Though the stairs were long, it didn't feel like much time passed before he was at the bottom. "Take me to my father," he commanded the guard patrolling the area.

Demetri was wrapped in chains and tied to the floor in the middle of a large cell that had a walkway all the way around it. The bars were extra secure and a moat of fire blazed along the edge of the cell. Every precaution had been taken. Three guards were standing watch over him as well and Riccardo was glad of it.

"I want to be alone with him," he told the guards. They looked between each other, seeming to try to decide if they should listen to Riccardo or not. Finally, they made up their minds to edge away and give him his space.

Riccardo looked in on his father. Demetri's hair was oily, beard growing on his face, his pale skin seemed gaunt and stretched. "You look like shit," Riccardo said, slowly sitting down on the floor. "Good. You almost took away the use of my legs. Wouldn't be the first thing you took from me, but you failed. For once." Demetri didn't say anything, didn't even look at him and Riccardo huffed, his brow furrowing as he looked down as well. "Did you enjoy it? Destroying me? Hurting an innocent child? Your child?" He gulped. "What was the purpose of that?" He still didn't get any response and silence settled again. It made Riccardo angry and he looked back up at his father. "You said you could almost be proud of what I've done here! You wanted me to be as successful as you! But I've only managed to be successful now! Now that I'm away from you! And if you hadn't crushed me, made me into this half-person mess I am, I'd probably be even better than you are! I'd probably be able to do so much more! But because of you I can't even properly help the people I care about!"

"You blame that on me?" Riccardo was stunned that he had actually spoken and he looked up, blinking in his surprise. Demetri's dark eyes stared back at Riccardo's, empty and cold. "You've been weak since you were born. You were sick and small and should have died if not for that damn doctor. I should have just killed you back then. You're a disappointment, Riccardo. Even to the people you claim you care about. Let me ask you this, do you really care about them? Are you really happy with them?" He smiled knowingly when he heard Riccardo take in a sharp breath of air. "You did turn out a lot like me, Riccardo. Nothing makes you happy."

"I'm nothing like you," Riccardo shouted, angry tears trying to form in his eyes.

"You said you were a half-person," Demetri went on. "What's the other half, Riccardo? Is it missing? Shattered like glass?"

A chill went up Riccardo's spine. "What's wrong with us," he whispered, sitting up straighter.

Demetri shrugged and the gesture felt so out of place on him that Riccardo had to take a moment to double check he was living in reality. "I believe therapists would call it psychopathy."

"I'm not a psychopath," Riccardo muttered, looking down again. He looked into his palms. Maybe his father was right. Maybe he should be locked away, too, before he hurt someone. He thought back to Colette and how good it had felt to hurt her and how much he wanted to see Demetri hurt, too. It was so hard to empathize sometimes. He was getting better at it, but... No. He couldn't even say that. He just knew when he should be empathetic. Did he ever actually feel anything? Not happy, sometimes not fear, always looking at everything so critically. Sarai and Aiden wore their hearts on their sleeves, but he always saw everything like he wasn't a part of it.

"Do you really believe that, son?"

Riccardo looked back up at Demetri, their dark eyes peering back at each other again and he gulped. He didn't have an answer for him.

--

"Captain Astraea," one of the guards that had been on shift to watch Demetri had found her, flagging her down. "I thought it best to inform you that Demetri Tenepri has a visitor. Lord Riccardo sought out a private audience with him. They're both down there now."

 

[Aina]

Sarai laughed lightly at what she said. She imagined that that was how Aiden would act as a baby. "Aurora is very curious," she mentioned. She wanted to have her back in her arms but she didn't want to be rude.

She waved toward Aurora to get her attention. It was when Ila spoke that she looked at her and she frowned. She swallowed hard. She didn't like to think about that night. She still had nightmares about it. "The pain was unbearable and nothing I've felt before. Worse than...when I was stabbed," she said softly. She looked down at the cup in front of her and grabbed it. She sipped at it so that she wouldn't have to say anything else about her labor. She set the cup down in its saucer and looked at Ila again.

"Do you like it here? Everyone is treating you well I hope?"

She cleared her throat and went back to drinking her tea. She felt so awkward and was unsure on how to talk to her.

~~~

Astraea busy making sure that everyone was doing their shifts. Everything seemed to be moving along smoothly. The guards from the daytime were about to switch when a guard approached her. Her eyebrows raised as soon as he spoke and she growled. "What the hell Riccardo?"

She stormed off to go downstairs. She headed toward the prison cautiously however she frowned when she went down there and saw Riccardo standing in front of his dad. "Riccardo...can we talk?" she whispered to him.

((Sorry this took all night. I was distracted again.))

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

((That's okay. It sounds like you have a lot going on lately.))

Ila listened sympathetically to Sarai. "I'm sorry, Sarai. I should have come when I heard you were going into labor. I just didn't want to intrude." She looked down at Aurora. "But you've brought a precious miracle into the world."

She looked up at Sarai's questions and nodded. "Oh yes, of course. It really is so sweet of you to agree to let me stay here." She wanted to add 'despite what I said to you', but ended up biting her tongue. There was no reason to bring it up again and she honestly wanted to forget it. "And it's nice to live with others again. After Aiden moved out, it was just the staff and me. I still miss his father."

She looked down at Aurora and smiled. "I won't keep your baby from you any longer." She gently passed Aurora back over to Sarai and proceeded to pour a cup of tea for herself. She sipped at it, before looking out the window thoughtfully.

"Speaking of, it has been interesting to have werewolves around and get to know them. With the Tenepris putting a bounty for every werewolf killed, I think many of our people started to see them as beasts, but they're really quite nice." She smiled, nervously. She could tell Sarai wasn't that interested in being there with her. "Seraphine says you like to read a lot?"

--

Riccardo looked away again, staring down at his hands. Was he on the same path as his father? Was he so monstrous? He knew he liked hurting Colette, but that was because she was a bad person and he was mad for Sarai, right? Or did he just enjoy causing pain? The thought crossed his mind again that maybe he should have himself locked up. He had a daughter now. What if he hurt her?

"You may not have turned into what I wanted, but the natural instinct is still there," Demetri was saying, watching Riccardo. "It doesn't mean we cannot be controlled, but if you do not stop repressing your true nature, your 'friends' may start to pay the price."

He couldn't help but think at all the times he'd lashed out at Sarai, all the times he'd attacked Aiden in the beginning, and again... the image of Colette and how much he wanted to hear her scream.

"Your grandfather was the same way." Riccardo looked back up at Demetri. "He tried to repress it and ended up killing my mother in a fit of rage." He looked so nonchalant about it and Riccardo felt a chill go up his spine again. His father was deranged. They had never conversed like this before, but Riccardo could really see it. He was afraid of what that meant for him.

Riccardo looked up when he saw Astraea enter the walkway surrounding Demetri's cell. He could tell she seemed displeased, too, and he wished he had asked the guards not to tell anyone that he was down here. He nodded at her, feeling tongue tied for the moment. His eyes glanced back at his father, who was smirking at him.

He walked with Astraea, out of his father's prison and spoke quickly before Astraea could. "Astraea, if you are mad at me, I'm going to warn you now I can't handle that at this time." He gulped and looked down, furrowing his brow, leaning heavily on his cane. He felt sick to his stomach at his father's words. "Please, just let me cope with this as I see fit. There are a lot of things I need to work through and maybe I can finally do that with him chained down."

 

[Aina]

Sarai shook her head. She hadn't expected her to have been there through her labor. Sarai felt a little guilty for not having her there if she were honest. She otherwise relieved that she enjoyed it there. She mentioned being lonely and she nodded. She could only imagine that she felt that way since Aiden left.

She wondered idly where he was. She went back to what Ila was saying. She took Aurora from her, smiling as she looked down at the baby. Aurora's eyes brightened when she looked up at Sarai. She smacked her lips, and closed her eyes.

Sarai looked at Ila. She nodded, "I was worried having demons, werewolves and vampires in one house." Aurora seemed to have lulled to sleep because she was silent. She was distracted, watching her chest go up and down that she didn't quite catch what Ila had said. "Seraphine?" she asked, "Oh...yes. I read to Seraphine often. I read this little princess stories all the time too."

~~

Astraea frowned when he turned to her. Her first reaction was to yell at him but then he said he couldn't handle. She froze and just stared at him as he spoke to her." Riccardo, "she began softly so as not to show emotion." I'm not mad. "

She sighed heavily. Her hands at her hips." I just wish you hadn't come down here by yourself. I'll be up the stairs alright." She turned to leave.

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Ila smiled. "Well, it's wonderful that you are uniting all these different people."

She looked at Aurora as well and smiled at her sleeping form. However, she looked back up when Sarai finally answered her. "She said the two of you liked fairy tales."

At that moment, Aiden walked in and smiled widely at the two of them. "Hey, what's this about?" He looked around before grabbing a chair and joining them at the table. He leaned over to kiss Sarai's cheek and then looked down at Aurora, grinning at her sleeping form.

"I thought I would invite Sarai for some tea and catch up on everything," Ila answered. She smiled sweetly. "Sarai and Aurora have just been so sweet, but I've been giving you all too much space. I just needed to see my sweet granddaughter."

Aiden couldn't smile any wider, but he wanted to. It was nice to see Sarai and his mother sitting together and talking and for his mother to get some time with Aurora. Some part of him still felt strange that Aurora wasn't his and that his mother didn't know, but... Aurora was his whether or not she had his DNA. She was family and he was glad for his mother to be meeting her.

"Are you feeling okay tonight," he turned to ask Sarai.

--

Riccardo could hear the lie in Astraea's soft voice, but he appreciated it, anyways. He didn't say anything, barely even looking at her as she put her hands on her hips. However, he looked up quickly when she said she'd be upstairs. He reached out with his free hand to grab her, but retracted before he did.

"Astraea, wait." He hobbled up beside her and offered out his left elbow so he could continue to walk with his cane with his right hand. "I don't want to be down here anymore." He smiled, but it didn't quite look right. He had a lot on his mind still. "Let me walk you back upstairs."

He frowned slightly as they walked. "Do you... have the werewolves switched shifts yet? Do you know if Emmanuel is still up?"

 

[Aina]

Sarai was going to agree and go off on a tangent about how much she loved fairy tales when Aiden walked in. She smiled when she saw him and looked at his mother at his question.

The way he looked, told Sarai that he was happy his mother and her were talking. Sarai guessed that she should really spend more time with her. It was only fair to Ila. And Aurora who unfortunately would only know her one grandmother. That thought saddened her a bit. Sarai wished that she could have more family around to share the joy of Aurora being born.

She had been staring off into space for a minute, not realizing he asked her a question. She looked at him and nodded quickly. She smiled after a second, glancing down at Aurora then looking up at him again. "I'm great," she told him,"Your mother was mentioning our new allies. She told me that she enjoys being here. So am I. Aurora needs to get to know her only grandmother after all."

~~

Astraea stopped in her tracks. She turned to him concerned. She was going to ask if he was okay but he spoke. She was relieved to hear that he said that. She didn't want him down there anymore than he had to be anyways. She gladly took his arm gently and led him up the stairs.

She nodded at his question. It was when he mentioned Emmanuel that her eyebrow raised. How'd they get so close? She wouldn't understand but she thought it was rather nice. Riccardo needed more people he could trust and look after him. She knew Emmanuel had been visiting him the last week so she nodded her again again.

"I'm pretty sure he will be," she told him and she smiled, "I'm glad that at least someone's got you under their radar." At the top of the stairs she turned to him, "I have a feeling that he's grown fond of you. Almost like you guys are friends."

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Aiden shifted closer to Sarai when she answered. She seemed a little out of it, in his opinion, but he wasn't sure. He put a hand on her knee and smiled softly at her. He glanced at his mom before his gaze returned to focus on her. "She does," he agreed. "I'm sure Mom would be happy to watch her and give Rosita a break, too."

He hoped Sarai would go for the idea. He wanted them to mend their relationship so bad. They were both so important to him and it was sad they weren't closer. He didn't really know why his mother had threatened Sarai. He didn't think she did, either. She had merely told him that mothers do crazy things for their kids. He was just glad she was trying to fix things with Sarai, now.

"I would love to watch Aurora whenever you need," Ila agreed.

"I'm meeting with that new council member tonight, by the way," Aiden changed the subject suddenly. "I was wondering if you'd want to talk to him with me. I kind of wanted to get a feel for him without Riccardo there."

--

Riccardo looked up, surprised when she said that Emmanuel seemed fond of him. He raised his brows and looked up at the ceiling. "Mm... I don't think so." He looked back at her, frowning. "Thank you for checking on me. I probably won't go down there again tonight." He dropped his arms and leaned heavily on his cane. "I probably won't be back down there tonight." He glanced at the door of the prison. "I don't need to hear what else he has to say."

He cleared his throat and turned back around, smiling tiredly. "I'm going to go back to the infirmary. I feel like I need some rest. Thank you again." He nodded at her before heading off.

Except, he didn't go to the infirmary. He had to ask a few servants if they'd seen Emmanuel, but he eventually found him. When he saw Emmanuel, he paused briefly in the doorway before walking up to him. He didn't care who was around when he started talking.

"Emmanuel," he said, seriously. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I did last night and I apologize that I don't." He looked down at the ground. "But the truth is, I really like talking to you." A little bit of a blush was rising to his cheeks, but he'd never be able to explain why. "I-I feel almost normal around you. Which is a big deal for me. I'm not exactly normal. I'm not quite right. I like talking to you, though, and... that's... really important for me. I don't know what I did, but I can't lose someone who makes me feel so normal. Maybe that's selfish. I don't have a lot of friends, though, Emmanuel. I think Sarai is the only one who isn't annoyed with me most of the time. So... I just... whatever you're mad at me about, I just want to say sorry and talk about it."

((Sorry this took so long. I watched a movie with my family.))

 

[Aina]

((Don't worry. It's alright.))

Sarai nodded. Her smile was hesitant as he suggested that Ila watch Aurora. She still was reluctant to let anyone be with Aurora. It was enough that she allowed Rosita to watch her. She didn't want to seem possessive but Aurora was only a week old and she wanted to spend a lot of time with her while she could.

She chewed the inside of her cheek when Ila agreed. She looked at Aurora, her face fell, shoulders slumped forward. When she looked at Aiden she feigned a smile and she nodded again. "Of course," she replied softly. She wasn't sure why he didn't want Riccardo there but it seemed like Aiden was doing a lot for the kingdom all on his own while Riccardo was ill.

"We can do that," she agreed, she got up from her chair and looked at Ila. "Just make sure she gets fed again. And read her something if she gets sleepy." She smiled sheepishly, realizing she was rambling, "Sorry. I never want to leave her."

~~

Astraea was confused by what he said. Why wouldn't Emmanuel not like him? It was obvious to her that the wolf boy was somewhat fond of him in a way. She shook her head. She wanted to disagree. He said he wasn't going back and she was relieved by that. She just simply nodded and let him leave. "Be careful," she called after him.

Emmanuel was in the room he shared with his brother and sister. He was distracting himself with a book. He looked up startled at the sound of Riccardo's voice. He listened to him, it wasn't hard to notice the blush in his cheeks.

"I'm not mad at you," he began with a shake of his head. "I'm the complete opposite. I was worried about you Riccardo. I thought you were upset with me actually, so don't be sorry,"he smirked," Why are you blushing?"

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Ila straightened up when Sarai stood up and she listened intently to Sarai, nodding as she gave her instructions. She smiled softly when Sarai apologized before she stood up herself. She put a hand out, almost hesitant to do so, but placed it on Sarai's shoulder. "I know how you feel, Sarai." She squeezed her shoulder. "Aurora will be in good hands, though."

Aiden stood up as well since the two women had and looked between the two of them. He could almost feel some of Sarai's tension. He knew she didn't want to leave Aurora and he knew she wasn't quite okay with his mother yet. Hopefully, seeing Aurora happy after a night with his mother would help.

Ila took Aurora when the two of them were ready, gently cradling the tired baby to herself and promising Sarai again that she would take good care of her while they were busy. Aiden then led Sarai away with him.

"Sorry, honey," he murmured as they were walking away to meet the knew council member. "I didn't want to meet him alone and I didn't want Riccardo there and... I know you want to be with Aurora, but just talk to this guy with me, and I'll leave you alone?" He smiled. "Promise."

--

Riccardo looked up with surprise when Emmanuel said he wasn't mad at him. A small breath of air escaped him in relief. He was only confused, though when Emmanuel said he was worried about him and thought he was upset. He almost felt like he was going to cry from the relief of it.

He was going to say something when a smirk spread across Emmanuel's face and he asked about his blushing. Riccardo straightened up and furrowed his brow. "I'm not -" He frowned, looking down again as he realized how warm his face felt. He gulped. "I mean... I don't know. I just - You're..." He huffed heavily, trying to stammer out some sort of explanation.

Finally, he looked back up at Emmanuel and smirked slightly himself. "I'm just embarrassed to be friends with such a big, dumb werewolf." He chuckled, dryly. His eyes finally fell on the book that was in Emmanuel's hands and he furrowed his brow. "I didn't know you liked to read. What do you have there and do you mind if I sit down? My back is killing me."

 

[Aina]

Sarai's arms lingered there when Ila took Aurora from her. She didn't attempt to hide the frown on her face. "O-okay," she muttered and had to leave Aurora. She was going to kiss the baby goodbye but Aiden was pulling her away already.

She didn't look at him when he spoke. "Why don't you want Riccardo there?" she asked him, "He's our advisor for a reason."

~~

Emmanuel snorted and shook his head. "Nevermind," he grinned at him and sat up a bit in his chair. His face fell for a second when he called him dumb but Emmanuel burst into laughter. "You never cease to amaze me Riccardo," he held his stomach having to do so from laughing so much. He looked down at the book he hadn't really been paying attention to.

He picked it up to show Riccardo. He stood up however and quickly went to grab him a chair. " Here," he went back to sit down in his own chair. "I don't read much. I borrowed this from Edyn. I have no idea what its about." He stopped to look at him, "Weren't you busy earlier?"

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Aiden looked a little startled when she asked about Riccardo. He didn't stop walking, but did slow down, looking away. "Um..." He sighed, ashamed. "Sarai, it's just that we've kind of let him take everything over and I just want to try to do things by myself." He gulped. "I'm not very good at this and when Riccardo's around -"

He glanced over at her and reached out to take her hand. "I just let you and Riccardo do everything. I just want to try to start doing things without so much help. Riccardo's a lot of help, but... I need to learn."

He smiled sheepishly, coming to a halt outside of the doors to the meeting room. "I wanted you here still. Maybe we can do this together?"

--

Riccardo watched, honestly surprised when Emmanuel fetched him a chair. "Thank you," he said as he sank down into it, setting his cane aside and relaxing as some of the pressure was taken off his back. He returned his attention to Emmanuel, a little disappointed that he didn't read often. He was about to ask for the book to take a look and see if he'd read it before when Emmanuel asked about earlier.

He froze and then immediately shifted to look down at the floor. "I was," he murmured.

Do you really care about them?

Nothing makes you happy.

Your grandfather... tried to repress it... killing my mother in a fit of rage.

Riccardo gulped and looked back up at Emmanuel. Was it a mistake to be there? To try to selfishly hold onto the shattering parts of normalcy that he clung to so desperately? What if he did hurt someone? No. Riccardo wasn't even entertaining the idea of if at this point. It seemed likely that he would snap one day. One day he would snap and hurt someone. It was just a matter of when.

"I spoke with my father finally," he admitted. He looked down again. "He looks like shit. It's what he deserves."

 

[Aina]

Sarai could understand where he was coming from. Her eyes shifted to the side at him when he went on to explain. She sighed heavily and she nodded in agreement. She squeezed his hand.

She stopped when he did. "You're right," she told him. Usually she would be upset that he didn't want Riccardo involved. But they needed to do things themselves. Riccardo couldn't be by there side all the time. They had to take advantage of the time he was ill to learn a thing of two.

"No, you're right Aiden,"she told him softly,"We need to learn to do this ourselves for our own sakes." She smiled a bit, "We're in this together honey."

~~

Emmanuel stared at him, curious to know what he was going to say. He was wondering why he lapsed into silence. It worried him.

When he finally spoke, he grimaced. He had been worried that he would say something along those lines. He wished he didn't go see his father. Of course, it wasn't his place to tell him he couldn't.

"It is what he deserves," he grunted. Emmanuel could tell that something was dwelling on him and he looked at him. "I wish you hadn't went to see him. He's only caused you pain." He sighed heavily, "What'd you want to do tonight? Maybe we should kick back and watch a movie? You really need to do some more relaxing."

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Aiden was glad when Sarai agreed with him. It always felt like he was coming up with ideas she didn't like, doing things he shouldn't and he was so bad at figuring out all of this royalty stuff. She would have been better off running this kingdom with Riccardo at her side and not him. He knew that. He needed to figure this out and prove he was worthy of ruling with her. He had to.

He grinned. "Thanks, darling." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "Together," he said with a nod.

He led the way through the doors to reveal a very small handful of their guards were waiting around the perimeter of the room. A tall and thick man sat at the end of the table, and stared at them as they came in. The man at the end of the table was thickly muscled and tall. The top of his head was bald, dark skin shiny over his scalp. A thick beard covered his chin.

Jabari Balewa stood up and smiled at them. "Young king and queen. Hello. Good night, yes?"

"Er... Yes," Aiden said. He pulled out a chair for Sarai before taking a seat himself. "You wanted to meet with us tonight?"

"Lord Riccardo hired me. I thought I talk to him," Jabari asked.

Aiden glanced at Sarai before looking back at him. "Well, he hired you for us. He's busy tonight so that's why we're meeting with you." It was a white lie, but Aiden thought it was okay.

Jabari nodded. He turned suddenly and pulled out a binder from a woven bag at his side. He opened it and slid across a thick bound of papers towards them. "Reports," he said, nodding at the papers as Aiden glanced at them. "I been watching many things for you. Those are reports on all things." He nodded again. "Cornelius been busy. Rumors say he plans to attack again. He makes deal soon with someone overseas. They meeting down south." He nodded yet again. "You have copies of what people overheard discussed. It's all there. All good."

Aiden nodded again, looking down at it all. "Thank you."

"Other than that, everything still the same." He nodded, head bouncing a little this way and that. "King Demetri here with you. Cadell still missing. Queen, your father still in prison by Demetri's kingdom."

"Wait," Aiden interrupted. "I thought you said her father is missing. How is he missing and in prison?"

Jabari shook his head. "No. Cadell missing. Your father, Roland, is in prison."

--

A shadow of a smile crossed Riccardo's face when Emmanuel agreed with him, but he wasn't entirely sure they were right. Sure Demetri had cuased countless people pain and misery, but was torturing someone really best or was that just the darkness inside him that made him think that? And was Emmanuel just agreeing because he was afraid of him?

He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, almost missing what Emmanuel had asked him completely. "Hm? Relaxing with a movie?" He frowned. It had been a very long time since he'd just let himself relax. A very, very long time. "Um..."

He let out a tiny puff from nerves. "I don't know, Emmanuel." But maybe it would be good for him? But then again, he knew there was probably a lot of work that needed to be done. Who was checking on the servants and making sure Wendy was taking enough time to relax? Or making sure the guards still had plenty of blankets and other comforts? He'd been down for over a week.

But his mind felt all wired up. He didn't think he'd be very effective at doing work if he was honest with himself. "You know... Someone tried to kill me less than an hour after I woke tonight," he said, thoughtfully. "And then my father really didn't help anything." He looked at Emmanuel. "I suppose I could try to relax. I haven't watched a lot of movies, so why don't you pick one?"

 

[Aina]

((Sorry this took so long. My roommate had family over, I was talking to them a bit last night. I started my reply but couldn't continue I was so tired.))


Sarai looked at their guest, gauging his appearance as she walked into the room with Aiden. She smiled slightly at him. She realized that she didn't even know his name. Or at least she didn't remember it if Riccardo had told her.


She titled her head a bit when he reached into his bag. She looked at the binder that he pulled out and was a bit confused at first. She looked at the man when he mentioned Cornelius and her heart jumped. He was going to attack again? Fortunately they knew where he would be. Would it be possible for them to stop him?


She never really got a word in since he kept talking but finally he turned to her. Her interest peaked when he mentioned her father. It was when he mentioned Roland and "father" in the next breath that she became confused. What was he talking about?

"You must be mistaken," she told him with a shake of her head. "As my husband said. My father is still missing. My uncle Roland is the one in jail," she said.

~~

Emmanuel also frowned. He had hoped that he would say yes. However, he knew how stubborn Riccardo could be. "When's the lay time you've actually relaxed?"

His eyes widened when he mentioned him being attacked. He shook his head and chuckled softly. "That's just more reason for you to relax. Danger follows you everywhere," he told him, "Let's watch a romantic comedy."

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

((It's okay! It happens!))

Jabari sighed, seemingly frustrated by Aiden and Sarai's lack of understanding, but it hit him when she said the word 'uncle'. She didn't know. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking down at his hands on the top of the table for a moment.

"Queen, Roland is not uncle." He cleared his throat before reaching for his binder, but pausing. While he wished he had proof for her at that moment, he had not brought it. He looked back up at Aiden and Sarai.

Aiden furrowed his brow as he realized what Jabari was saying. He reached over and gently took Sarai's hand in his. "Sarai, I think... Roland..."

Jabari nodded. "Roland is true father." He looked squarely at Sarai. "Your mother and Roland conceived you. You are daughter of Roland."

Aiden squeezed Sarai's hand, worriedly looking at her. He didn't know how she would take this news and he didn't know what to say. He couldn't imagine how life shattering it would be to find out you'd been lied to your whole life. With a pang, he thought of Aurora and wondered if what they were doing was right. What if Roland's relation with Sarai had been hidden for Sarai's safety as well. A chill went up his spine.

"Sarai?"

--

Riccardo sighed heavily. "Yes... danger does follow me," he muttered. He raised his eyebrows when Emmanuel mentioned a romantic comedy, but he didn't really care what they watched, so he didn't say anything.

"Romantic comedy it is, then," he agreed. He let out a nervous laugh as he realized he never had gotten dressed. Barefoot, in pajamas, and hair still a bit messy, he looked like he was ready for a night of doing nothing. "Well... I'm dressed for the occassion anyways."

He used his cane to help himself back up to his feet and nodded towards the door. "There's a very large theater room not too far from here." He led the way out of Emmanuel's bedroom and down a few hallways until they reached the movie room. He tried not to think about the last time he had been there, getting drunk with Aiden and then very sick from it.

"Do you watch a lot of romantic comedies," he asked as he took a seat on one of the very plush couches in the room. He sank back into it with a sigh of relief.

 

[Aina]

When the man continued to insist that her uncle was in fact her father, Sarai shook her head. He was wrong. That didn't make sense. She shook her head. She started to laugh. "You are joking," she told him.

She hadn't even realized that Aiden took her hand. "No," she spat at the man. Who was this man that Riccardo hired? What was he taking about? "I can have you arrested for saying such things! Why would lie about that? My father is Cadell Belrose, I don't understand why you are lying," she removed her hand from Aiden's grasp and got up from her chair.

She shakily lifted her hand to her head but she wasn't sure what to say next."I ne-need to get out of here," she wasted no time. She left the room without saying anything else. She walked down the hall. It was difficult, her eyes weren't focused on anything and her legs felt shaky. She bumped into the wall, grasping at it as if it would actually help her.

" Your highness?" a guard who was standing outside the room asked her as he approached her. Sarai couldn't focus on his voice, all she heard was the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. She couldn't speak or hear, and she reached out to the guard. "Your majesty?" He caught her before she fell.

~~

Emmanuel was surprised that he agreed on the movie. He ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Riccardo, concerned. He got up from where he sat not saying much as they walked to the theater. He stood close by to Riccardo incase he lost his balance.

He took a seat and looked at him. "Well...Edyn makes me watch them often with her," he shrugged his shoulders, "I love them to be honest."

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Aiden pulled back when she yanked her hand from his. He didn't expect this, if he was honest with himself. "Sarai -" But he cut off, sinking in his seat as she stood up. He frowned as she stated she needed to leave. He looked down, but then back up at Jabari.

"I'm sorry. I have to go." He stood up as well just in time to hear a distressed guard outside the room. He hustled out to see Sarai in the guard's arms. "What happened?!"

The guard looked at Aiden with wide eyes. "She collapsed, your majesty," he explained. "I don't know."

Aiden nodded. "It's okay." He moved forward and carefully took Sarai from him, hoisting her up into both his arms. "I'm going to take her to the infirmary. Can you... uh... Jabari needs to be taken care of?" He frowned, not sure what he even meant and the guard looked confused, too. "Take him somewhere to relax until we can talk to him again, I guess?" The guard nodded and Aiden finally turned and rushed to the infirmary.

"Oh dear," was all Seavers said as Aiden entered and placed Sarai on a bed as quick as he could. He got up from his seat near the window, putting down a crossword puzzle. "What happened?"

"She got some... bad news and... I think she fainted," Aiden told Seavers.

Seavers nodded, frowning down at Sarai, but glad it wasn't too big of an emergency. Sarai wasn't bleeding out or even really injured, and he was glad of it. "I'm going to check her vitals first," he told Aiden. "Stay here in case I need help."

Seavers got Sarai hooked to a machine quickly, taking extra care to get a good reading on her blood pressure. He let out a breath of relief when he got the results. "Her blood pressure and heart rate just accelerated from the stress," he told Aiden. "I'm going to put her on a saline solution, but she'll be okay, Aiden." He felt glad himself.

Aiden took a seat besides Sarai as Seavers got her attached to a simple IV. "Sarai, you silly woman." He reached out and took her hand in his. "Just be okay."

--

Riccardo chuckled halfheartedly. "I'm sure they're quite pleasant, then," he said.

He pulled his legs up on the couch with him, sitting criss-crossed as he leaned against the arm of the couch. Just a couple of seconds seated on the plush cushions, and he already felt tired. It helped that his pain medication had kicked in to full effect.

"It does feel kind of nice to just be relaxing," he admitted. He reached over and grabbed the remote before tossing it to Emmanuel. "I want to watch one of your favorites."

 

[Aina]

((Sorry I'm a bit distracted and I can barely keep my eyes open. Also sorry I didn't write for Emmanuel. I'm going to bed. Goodnight!))

Sarai was in and out of it. After some time she opened her eyes. She stared up at the ceiling in silence. She knew exactly where she was. She might as well have remembered the pattern of the ceiling by now.

It didn't take long for her to also remember what happened. She clenched her eyes, tears welled up in them and she reached up to cover her eyes. She couldn't control the sobs. Part of her didn't want to believe any of it. There was no way that her uncle, the man she always viewed as her uncle was her father. Why would her parents lie to her?

A few minutes and she told herself to stop but she couldn't. She lifted her other arm but saw the needle there and she grabbed it, ripped it from her arm. "Aiden," she cried, "Please...this must be some kind of sick joke." Her cheeks were wet, but now the shock was gone and she angry.

"I want to know where Riccardo hired this man? He's obviously lying, right?!" she went to sit up in the bed but got dizzy and she stopped. "It isn't true," she muttered, "It can't be. I know who my father is."

 

[FursieTheFlixee]

Aiden stayed quietly with Sarai, glancing up when Seavers would come by to double check on her. Though the doctor insisted she was doing well, he was still overly worried. Aiden hadn't really known anyone to faint when stressed like Sarai did. He had to take the doctor's word for it, though, because he didn't know what all the numbers on the screen meant. Her heart sounded steady, though, and he clug to that fact.

He looked up immediately when Sarai woke, though, and he shifted, scooting closer. He paused briefly when she immediately started crying, but moved closer again, gripping at her hand in hopes it would comfort her.

He didn't say anything to her, just waiting for her to be ready, hoping she knew he was there for her. When she ripped the IV from her arm, he flinched, but was immediately distracted from it. He got up and sat on the edge of her bed, reaching out to put his arms around her.

"Sh... Sarai... It's okay. We'll get to the bottom of this."He's probably wrong. There was probably some sort of rumor or something that he just got some bad information on." He squeezed her tighter. "We'll figure it out."

He didn't want to say what he was actually thinking. He didn't think Jabari was wrong. He just had a feeling that the man didn't have bad information but he was not about to tell Sarai to prepare for something that she obviously couldn't cope with at the moment. He couldn't tell her that, not after she had just fainted.

"But hey, what are you doing making me get so worried like that," he asked. "Collapsing and stuff? You are going to give me a heart attack. Are you feeling okay? Hurt anywhere? I'm sure Seavers would like to know, too."