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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Apr 4, 2024 19:24:34 GMT
"She was rummaging around the old camp about an hour ago. Followed one of our brothers back this way while he was getting more of our supplies," Crius explained as he walked next to Elena up upon her horse. Reed was on the the other side of her, giving a man quiet orders before sending him off to do something else.
Elena eyes narrowed at the woman sitting on a brown horse dressed in what looked like an elaborate and royal wedding dress surrounded by both Elena and Lilith's men. Though the dress was gorgeous, her hair was a mess a she was missing a shoe. Whatever makeup that had been on her face had been smudged and wiped at. A very pretty woman who didn't look like she belonged in dresses.
"Thank you Crius, send that man to my tent for me would you?" Elena hummed to her ward and leaned over to ruffle his hair. He nodded with a smile before turning on his heel and running off.
If this woman had managed to follow one of her men then she needed to have a serious talk with their skills and usefulness to her. For her safety and the rest of their party.
The strange woman immediately seemed to go on guard at this new arrival. She glared at Elena who simply raised an eyebrow and smiled slyly as she steadied her horse to a stop and patted his neck.
"And who are you supposed to be?" she asked smoothly.
Athena sneered and head her head up high. "Why is that any of your business?" she challenged.
"You're in my forest, Princessa."
There was silence between them as they sized each other up. Each deciding how they wanted this to do. No doubt Athena recognized another criminal. Not just that but the Leader of the Siren gang. Which meant that her rival probably wasn't too far off.
Looking behind her and seeing the men surrounding her horse, Athena sighed heavily and lightened her expression a tad. "I'm looking for a girl. Purple eyes? I think she might be in trouble."
Elena's smile fully dropped and she rolled her eyes. "Oh..."
"What?"
She held up a finger to Athena and turned to her second who was already nodding and beginning to turn back towards camp. "Tonto, ve a buscar a las hermanas. Gracias, mi amor," she called as he started jogging off with one of Lilith's men. Then Elena turned and pointed at Athena, gesturing for her to follow as she turned her steed around and started walking her horse back to the combined camp. "Come along, Princessa."
She didn't say anything the entire way back. Just lead the strange bride to the clearing. Upon reaching the clearing, Elena shouted at the top of her lungs. "Cerdo real! Pequeño ratón! The bride has arrived!"
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Post by pallas on Apr 4, 2024 20:00:14 GMT
Lilith had barely been away from her sister’s side unless it was necessary for her work ever since Minke had returned. It was like part of her was afraid that if she let Minke out of her sight, something might happen again. Like she could lose her all over again.
Having Minke around had been useful; she’d been able to speak with her about her hope that one day they could rebuild Alexandria somehow. Discuss plans. Though now she knew her sister was alive she didn’t feel as much like she needed to do that. If she could, it would be good. But she had gone from thinking she’d lost everything to having a sister back, and that was huge.
But on this occasion she’d been dealing with some work she’d rather be alone for, so she’d let Minke go do whatever she wanted. Explore or hang out in the camp. As long as she didn’t roam too far or do anything stupid.
So she was alone when she came out of her tent, blinking as she let her eyes adjust to the outside. What the hell was Elena shouting about? Something about a bride…? She barely even flickered at the nickname. Elena never really used names anyway, and the woman wasn’t exactly pleased with Lilith currently.
Her view revealed Elena in the middle of the clearing with… with…
Her knees felt like they could have buckled under her at the sight of the young woman before her. She didn’t breathe for a moment, and if she didn’t know better she’d think her heart had forgotten how to beat.
It was her. She was in a wedding dress, for some bizarre reason, and looked generally messy, but it was her without a doubt.
”May?” she breathed in disbelief, already closing the gap between her and her sister. She started off walking, cautious, but she sped up until she was practically running by the time she got to her. It couldn’t be Maylea, it couldn’t, but when Lilith hugged her she felt as real and solid as she or Minke did.
Her other sister was alive. They were both alive. All three of the girls had been alive all this time and they hadn’t found one another.
”You’re alive. May, I-“ she couldn’t find the words, as if there was so much she wanted to say that it choked her. Everything she’d thought could never be was suddenly real. She’d given up hope on her sisters being alive and she was both so glad that she was wrong and also loathed herself for giving up the way she had when they’d been alive the whole time time. ”Forgive me, for giving up hope. For giving up on you both. Este, she’s here too somewhere.”
She released her sister, placing her hands on Athena’s shoulders and leaning back to her a better view of the girl. She looked for all the world like a bride, just as Elena had said, and a royal one, too. Where on earth had she escaped from? What had she been doing.
”What?” was all she could get out as she took in the outfit. She was thoroughly confused, and was really waiting for Athena to shed more light on it of her own volition. Or at least share as much as she was willing to.
And then Lilith needed to know a bit more about what her sister had been up to these last years.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Jul 8, 2024 19:16:04 GMT
Minke "Minke"Minke had taken to attempting to train her abilities since Lilith had freed them. Most of her time was spent by her sister's side. But today, Lilith was working on duties with her gang, and Minke had decided to train once more. She thought of trying to find Crius, but ultimately, she knew the weird looks some of these people gave her, and decided not to chance it. Her eyes edged on that lavender color, and to people now, Telekines were a thing of legend.
She was focusing right now on a coin. Her eyes locked on the ground in front of her, a little squint between her eyebrows, and a concentrated pout on her face. She'd been at this now for an hour. The coin hadn't moved at all. It still wasn't.
Her concentration was broken by a call by Elena. She huffed, annoyed, and stood up, clasping the coin in her hand and yelling out, "What now!?"
She was frustrated that she couldn't get her abilities to work, the lack of practice was leaving her weak in that front. Magic was like a muscle. If you didn't practice it, it would atrophy.
She took off towards Elena's voice, and was surprised to see Briseis embracing some strange tall lady in a bridal gown. She couldn't hear a lick of what Briseis said to the woman, but she knew her, obviously.
Wait. Minke had seen her before! That was the woman that was with Alex! The day she escaped, she'd seen her! She hadn't gotten a great look at her, but the silhouette matched. She stepped closer, curious, and as she did step closer, she noticed more of the figure's features.
The closeness to Lilith helped in her realization.
Her eyes widened, and the coin in her hand lifted suddenly and shot in a random direction like a Saturn missile, before it fell into the dirt. She paid that little mind, her hand coming up the clasp over her mouth in shock.
It couldn't be.
Maylea was alive.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jul 8, 2024 20:43:53 GMT
"Briseis!" Athena was off her horse and running towards her elder sister when she saw her. They crashed together in a hug and held on tightly afraid her sister would evaporate from her grasp like she had all those years ago.
Tears rolled down her face as she laughed in relief and buried her face in her sister's shoulder.
"I came here looking for Estelle. I heard she was alive and-" She blubbered out through tears before locking eyes on the smaller woman staring wide eyed at them.
It was her. It was the youngest of the Lenore sisters standing before them. Grabbing Briseis's hand she pulled her to follow and wrapped both of her sisters in a hug that brought her to her knees.
"Estelle I've been looking everywhere for you," she managed to get out as she held them tightly. "I'm so glad you're alright! Alex and Dante have been worried about you since you left. We've been covering for you but then I somehow got roped into marrying Alex and-" she started to explain breathlessly before stopping and taking a deep breath. Closing her eyes she pressed her forehead to their's and grinned.
"I found my sisters. I finally found my sisters."
Hoof steps approached the trio slowly and a sarcastic voice spoke over the moment. "And a third joins the party. Is there a fourth I should be expecting in the next hour?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. She looked... displeased might be the polite way to put it. Annoyed would be more accurate.
Athena stared up at the woman on the horse and pinched her brows together as she contemplated her next words. "You're the Siren right?" she asked cautiously. When the woman only lifted her chin slightly in response, Athena took that as a yes. "I need help getting someone out of the castle in Oralee-"
Elena held up a hand to stop her from talking then urged her horse to walk past them. "I'm not really one for rescue missions, Novia. Why don't you ask your sister."
Athena watched the Siren leave before lowering her voice and looking between Estelle and Briseis. "Why are you here?"
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Post by pallas on Jul 8, 2024 21:02:43 GMT
The hug Lilith shared with her younger sister filled her with just as much joy as her first hug with Minke had. Now she had both of her sisters back, her heart felt full in a way she’d never thought it could again.
And then Minke appeared, and Athena pulled Lilith with her as all three sisters crashed into a hug, Lilith on her knees just as Athena was. This didn’t feel real. It was beyond anything she’d ever even considered, a thing she’d have never thought there was even the slightest hope of happening.
She listened to her sister’s rapid talk about an Alex and Dante - people whom Minke apparently also knew - with some confusion. Then there was a mention of a marriage, which explained the dress but really inspired more questions than it answered.
Before Lilith could question any of it, Elena came in with her sarcastic comment. She knew this was an annoyance for Elena, but Lilith didn’t care. She’d look after her sisters, do everything she could to make sure that there wasn’t a burden on Elena that she didn’t voluntarily take. After all, Maylea and Minke had never been part of their agreement. But other than that she was too happy to see her sisters to let Elena’s ire spoil it.
After a brief exchange with Athena, Elena left the sisters to their own company. Athena asked the two girls a question, but Lilith had more than a few of her own questions that she also wanted answered now.
”I’ve been operating here since not too long after the fall. Under the name Lilith Killoran.” How she’d come to find herself in her current position was far too long and painful of a story, but she hoped at least her alias might give Athena some answers. If Athena knew Elena it was easily assumed she’d know the name Lilith Killoran. Then she glanced at Minke. ”And Minke only recently found me. I don’t know her full story, that’s for her to tell.” Lilith said this with a glance at their youngest sister, giving her the opportunity to give an account of her tale herself, ”But she has been through many troubles to get here, that I know. Though it seems to me that you may know more of her journey than I do.”
But she cast a pointed look at her sister in her bridal gown. She’d come in here dressed like that and talking of marriages and two people that apparently were mutual acquaintances of both of the sisters. Lilith couldn’t get her head around what was going on.
”But what is all this about a marriage? And these people you both somehow seem to know?” Lilith asked, unable to fathom how her sisters had both only just united but seemed to have friends in common. ”And explain about this matter in Oralee. I am also far from known for rescue missions but if this is important to you, May, you can consider it done already.”
She would do anything for her sisters. She had always cared for them deeply ever since their childhood, but now that they were reunited she would shift mountains for either of them if they asked it of her.
And if what Maylea wanted to ask was really so important, perhaps she could convince Elena to change her mind. If there would be enough in it for Elena, of course. That remained to be seen.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by pallas on Jul 19, 2024 22:13:20 GMT
THE DAY OF THE WEDDING
Alex had been dreading the day of the wedding. Everything was such a mess, no matter what happened. He’d always intended on Athena getting away somehow without any wedding having to take place, but his faith in her didn’t stop him worrying about what might happen if she failed.
If they had to marry, Alex had decided he would make sure that they were both able to live their own private lives. And Alex was a second son which meant there wouldn’t be so many eyes on Athena wondering about heirs. But none of that mattered. What mattered was that he couldn’t give Athena her freedom. She’d be trapped with his father and all Alex could offer her was a shadow of a chance of happiness and a life lived in secret. What a repayment for her attempt to protect him. No, them marrying was not an option and he was willing to do anything he had to if it made sure Athena didn’t have to do that.
And yet her escaping had seemed an equally frightening option, even if it was the one he preferred infinitely because he knew Athena would be safe. He’d said too much to his father and he knew if Athena disappeared he would undoubtedly suspect Alex of being involved in some way. That was dangerous for him and anyone else who might be tainted by this whole mess, like Dante. But he had made it clear to Athena that he wanted to prioritise her safety over his own, and he still felt that way. His father couldn’t hate him more than he did already, anyway.
The time had ticked away in this agonising way, where Alex was waiting to be damned whatever happened, up to the day of the wedding.
At first, everything had gone as expected. Alex had been fussed over the whole morning until he was pretty sure there wasn’t a hair on his head that hadn’t been deliberately arranged, and dressed in the finest clothes he possessed. But as the time wore on towards the ceremony time, Alex had been able to tell things were off. He knew the servants did not respect him and being around them often felt like walking into a room of people who had just been talking about you, but still something seemed stranger than usual about his attendants that day. They talked sometimes urgently, in hushed voices away from Alex’s earshot. Cast worried glances. Sometimes one would step out of the room briefly to speak with someone, as if getting an update on a situation. But none said a word to Alex, just continued getting him ready as if nothing was happening. But Alex wasn’t stupid. He’d seen what it looked like when people didn’t want him to know what they were discussing often enough.
And he knew the servants knew things before anybody else did. Gossip, things spread like wildfire that way. The staff knew things before the nobility of the court knew them, and Alex knew that fact well.
As he stood, adjusting the heavy, expensive material of his wedding clothes, he caught the eye of one of the attendants who busied around him. He gave the man his most commanding look in the hope it might sway him to actually share whatever was going on. ”Is something amiss? If there is some issue I do not wish it kept from me.”
It could be Athena’s escape, but equally it could be anything else. Perhaps his father had discovered that Athena was not who she had claimed to be, or perhaps the danger was not with Athena at all but with Dante. Either way he felt uneasy about whatever it was the staff did not want him knowing.
The attendant refused to meet Alex’s eyes. ”All is well, Your Highness. I assure you.” came the reply, which Alex did not believe for a second. Alex huffed, frustrated that he was a prince and yet apparently was powerless even to get an honest answer about his own wedding day. The irony. The most important day of his life, ostensibly, and yet the one he had the least control over.
He wasn’t blind to the nerves in the room, the way the attendants had taken to working in a jumpy sort of silence. Before they’d at least talked amongst themselves, which had been pleasant even if Alex had felt like he was intruding on a conversation between friends. It was nice to be in the presence of.
But something was off. And Alex could only hope that whatever had gone wrong for the day was something that had gone very right for Athena, and she was halfway to the border by now. He couldn’t even countenance about the idea that she might have been exposed instead.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Aug 28, 2024 1:24:39 GMT
Estelle "Estelle"Minke - no, this was her sisters - Estelle had her hands over her mouth in shock. Her eyes were watery, but then a large smile broke out over her face, and she took off towards her sisters, meeting them halfway and jumping up to wrap her arms around the two taller girls, burying her head between the two."It was you?" She choked out with a shocked laugh, lifting her head back to look at Maylea in astonishment, "You - you were back at the castle, I saw you, but I didn't connect the dots."
She sounded so shocked and yet so happy and surprised. She accidentally spoke over Maylea, and laughed at the fact. Maylea then went on about how happy she was to see her, and the feeling was gladly returned. The young girl had tears rolling down her cheeks from the joy, and she quickly wiped at them. "You got what!?" She questioned, eyebrows raising when Maylea mentioned getting roped into a marriage with Alex. She let go of Maylea when Elena approached, and offered the Siren a haughty look, smirk tacked on. "Depends, how pissed would you be if there was?" The youngest sister questioned. She had spunk, and was trying to cover for her show of emotions earlier. She had gained trust issues due to her experiences, and it was obvious she wanted to put up a front. But Elena was...growing on her. Elena was the reason she found Briseis, and it was this camp that Maylea finally found them at.
Her haughty, snarky attitude fell as Maylea started questioning Elena. Her eyebrows ticked up when Maylea mentioned needing to get someone out of Oralee, concern written over her face then. There were a few scenarios in Este's mind. There were only two she truly cared for. Alex, who Maylea apparently married or was going to marry was found out for his abilities. Or Dante's role in her escape was discovered.
Of course, May could have other connections in Oralee, but those didn't concern Estelle. She tugged on Maylea's hand, eyes concerned, and seemed to ignore her eldest sister in her quest for answers.
"Is Alex in danger? Did someone find out?" She questioned, reading her sister's face before plowing on, "Or...or did the King discover that Dante freed me?"
Her voice edged on pained and guilty at that. She faced Briseis then, averting her gaze and glaring at the ground, before finally meeting her eldest sister's eyes. "I was originally prisoner in Taluhtah," her eyes had a bloodlust to them, an anger and thirst for revenge as she spit out the Kingdom's name, her fists clenching, "But I was able to trick King Drake and escape, only to fall into the clutches of Oralee's King."
That seemed to only annoy her, and she looked between her siblings, "The Rebel Prince, Alexiares, snuck into the dungeons with his pest of an Advisor, Dante. They both...they both helped me, Bri."
Taking a deep breath, she then finished the long-story-short of her tale, "It was Dante who freed me and helped me escape."
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Aug 28, 2024 2:04:28 GMT
Chadwick -- "Chadwick" Chadwick had left his Office after his confrontation with the soon-to-be deceased traitor advisor. His anger was at a boil, and after contemplating what to do about the situation and the quickly spreading word and fear of those that witnessed the end of the confrontation, he settled on a decision. He had ruminated on what to do, with the Telekine free, Dante's betrayal, and his potential involvement with some 'Her'. It could bee the young Telekine, but from the way Dante spoke of her, it was as if he had a fondness for the girl. Saw her as a younger sister or daughter figure, perhaps. It seemed odd Dante would allow her to stick around, would work with her, and put her in danger like that. No. Dante knew something else. He was working with someone else.But the Wedding was to continue. Imagine how this Gossip would turn if he were to cancel it! People would lose their minds over the fact, they would claim the little pest had succeeded. The Gossip he'd heard so far from the lowlifes of the castle was in his favor. They seemed to spin it as a violent tale, as if Dante was a perpetrator. As if he was violent and cruel. He decided after overseeing some of the set-up, and assuring that the brat was in his Dungeon, to go check up on his soon to be Daughter-in-Law. As he knocked on her Dressing Room, it opened, but not to the sight he was hoping to see. The woman who opened it was not the Bride-to-Be, but rather a frantic looking maid. Her eyes bugged as she saw the King, bowing low. But her panic offset him. He pushed past her, opening the door fully, only to see a room of women searching, speaking in hushed, worried tones. It all went quiet as he entered, all eyes on him. There was no gaze from the Lady Frost, and his booming voice came out, his hand tightening around his cane. "Where is the Bride!?"
After having his guards search the castle, and having one assure him of his son's position, Chadwick lost more and more hope of the Lady being found. No one reported seeing her. But he did find out that the last place she was known to be was the Dungeons. Speaking with the Traitor. He took off in that direction, ordering the Guards there to let him in. He glared at the huddled prisoner, approaching the cell. "Where is she!?" He questioned, and he hated that look of recognition the little vermin got. He slammed his cane into the bars, "Where is Athena Frost!?"
All Dante did was laugh, a cruel, mocking, pained laugh. A knowing glint was in the Ex-Advisor's eyes, as if he'd won. As if, despite being in the imprisoned one, he was the one with the power in this situation.
The King turned out of the room, barking at his Guards to handle the pest.
Chadwick stormed to his son's dressing room. All throughout the halls, people were abuzz in a panic. The Wedding was in shambles around them. All the preparations for naught. And people were looking around, as if trying to find the bride. People were speaking in hushed tones of a traitor in the Dungeon. Of Dante being arrested for killing the Bride, that he was behind the disappearance. Others were whispering about the two working together. And as the King passed them all, it fell into a quiet hush, eyes trailing his every move.
It pissed him off.
As he approached his son's room, he glared at the guards outside the door. "I need to speak to Alexiares," he started off, voice calm. The Guard opened the door, but didn't leave. It triggered his fraying temper, and he lashed out then, "Leave! I said I needed to speak with Alexiares, I do not need you overseeing it!"
The Guard, thrown off by the temper, fluttered off down the hall in a hurry, and the King huffed, before slamming the door open.
He quickly approached the boy, donned in his Royal Wedding attire. His voice boomed to the attendants as he raised it, "All of you out! Get! Go do something worthwhile for once!"
The attendants all jumped, and sharing weary glances and curious stares, they fled the ire of the King, leaving the Prince alone with the King. As soon as the last person left, Chadwick stalked towards his son, towering the other, eyes blazing in anger. "Where is the shrew!?" He hissed out, glaring down at the boy.
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Post by pallas on Aug 28, 2024 6:32:28 GMT
Alex had heard his father coming long before he entered Alex’s chambers. He’d heard his footsteps approaching the door, heavy with rage, and then his exchange with the guards outside.
He braced himself somewhat, so that when his father came in and started ordering the attendants out Alex could face him with a look of surprise at the aggressive intrusion without letting any of the nerves register on his face that might suggest he knew what this was about.
It didn’t matter anyway, because Chadwick wasted no time getting to the point. Surprise flashed across the man’s expression. So she had escaped. He felt a rush of relief. That was good, she was safe. He knew she must have felt bad about leaving him behind to deal with his father, but he could manage it. He had dealt with his father his entire life and, after all, he was protected somewhat by his father’s desire to keep his image, and that of the family’s, clean. Alex was a complication but Chadwick was limited in what he could do to him without damaging his reputation or creating awkward questions.
He’d seen his father angry before, but rarely like this. It disquieted him, but he steeled himself and decided to keep his expression smooth and unruffled as possible. It would probably anger his father further, making his rage feel ridiculous, but there was no reaction he could have here that wouldn’t make his father angrier.
”Please, father, credit me with some respect for tradition. I have not seen her all day; it would be bad luck.” Alex answered, as if Alex gave even half a shit about that kind of thing, as if there was any way the wedding could have ever been anything but a cursed affair. He decided for expediency to brush over his father’s insult to his friend for the moment.
The serving staff clearly knew more than Alex did, at least. The prince had been kept utterly in the dark about the fact that his fiancée had absconded. God, he was just glad she’d gotten out safely. The thought loosened a knot that had been tightening on his chest ever since she’d been trapped here. Now all he had to do was do what he could to make sure she wasn’t caught before she actually made it to safety. He had confidence that she would be fine, she was more than capable of handling herself, but the least he could do was not make things harder for her.
“Perhaps she thought better of being married into this wreck of a family. I could not blame her.” Alex said, voice smooth but with a little more heat behind it now. ”But as much as I know you enjoy blaming me for everything, I cannot be your scapegoat today. I have not left this room, as the guards can attest, and I am not privy to the lady’s comings and goings. You just sent out the people who know what is going on around here.”
He had always enjoyed defying his father, and on this occasion he knew his father could have no proof of Alex knowing anything. Indeed, Alex had his genuine surprise at finding out Athena was gone on his side.
The prince frowned, though, as he registered that Dante had not arrived with his father. Alex had thought it odd that he hadn’t seen the advisor all day during the frantic activity of the wedding preparations but had assumed that perhaps he was helping Alex’s father with something or other. But apparently not. And with a twist of dread in his stomach, he realised that he had thought he’d caught Dante’s name in the occasional whisper from the attendants when they were still just in earshot.
”Where is Dante? When he was not buzzing around me all morning I assumed he would be with you.” Alex questioned.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Aug 28, 2024 19:44:42 GMT
Chadwick -- "Chadwick" The King's angry glare only grew as Alex began explaining himself. He gave a warning look and a movement of his hand on his cane, a silent command to 'watch the tone, young man' with a bit of thread mixed in at the clenched hand. Still, he let the boy explain himself. "You do not care for tradition," he hissed out, but that was all he said to the Prince's original words. The Prince continued to speak, and Chadwick only looked more pissed. He was barely concealing himself from attacking the brat, but the Palace was on high alert. A bruise on the Prince would only cause suspicion to arise. He had to contain his anger, after all, he had a proper outlet for it now. One he could expel all of it onto later. As the boy continued to speak, it became obvious he didn't know much of what happened. How could he? Chadwick placed him under constant supervision himself. The attendants had done their job, at least. But that meant Alex didn't know about what had truly transpired, only that the Lady Athena left. Sure, he seemed fine with the fact, but Chadwick knew he didn't want to marry her in the first place. Then, Alex's mouth fell into a genuine frown, and his gaze seemed to flicker around behind the King. He was asking about the little Advisor, and the King tipped his head, scrutinizing. Alex was genuinely confused and concerned. He must not know then. "He is not of your concern, Alexiares. Your Bride should be." He hissed, voice in contempt and hatred for the Advisor. Still, Alex would demand an answer, that much the King knew. So he left it vague, his words biting and with a hint of finality, "He is a problem that will be handled, I can assure you of that."
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Post by pallas on Aug 28, 2024 20:03:17 GMT
Alex could tell as he was speaking that he was pissing off his father, and it was a little exhilarating in a way. Knowing that while the kingdom’s eyes were on him, his father could not harm him. He might pay for it later, but really what more could his father do to him than what he was already doing? He already hated him for everything he was.
When he father said that Athena should be Alex’s concern, the prince bristled. ”If you wish to find her and drag her to the altar, that is your kingly prerogative.” Alex’s mouth curled with distaste at those words. ”But I will have no part in forcing her. I gave you my obedience with this wedding, I am not responsible for hers.” As long as she was safe, that was all Alex cared about. And she was certainly safer away from Alex’s father.
The way Chadwick spoke about Dante, though, that worried Alex. He spoke with such finality, said he was a problem. What had happened? With a terrible lurching realisation, he remembered his conversation with Dante at the gala. What he’d said he would do.
He hadn’t… had he?
Alex had been terrified that it was going to go wrong, but he’d allowed Dante to do it anyway and now it had turned out as badly as he feared. He should never have given him his blessing to do it.
”What do you mean?” Alex asked, though he had a terrible feeling he knew exactly what had happened. ”What did he do?”
What had Chadwick done, more importantly?
His father was hardly known for having proportionate reactions to problems, as Alex well knew. If Dante had truly pushed it too far there was no telling how far his father might go to punish him. And to punish Alex, because he knew his father would not allow anything that made him happy to stand.
_____
CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Aug 28, 2024 20:11:22 GMT
"I am going to address you being THE Lilith Killoran in a moment," Athena muttered to her older sister before turning her attention to Estelle.
She held her little sister's hands in her own and looked at her seriously. "Alex is fine. I didn't see him before I ran but he's dealt with his father longer than we have," she explained quietly.
She didn't regret leaving without a goodbye. She couldn't trust him to keep his mouth shut about knowing where she went. Especially, when it involved her sister and her own life. He'd managed plenty before he'd met either of the Lenore sisters. He'd manage a few days more whereas she wouldn't have.
"Dante - being the idiot stick that he is - is the one who got locked up. He tried to stop the wedding and now the King wants his head," she explained. Her tone was deadly serious. She wasn't sugarcoating anything since this was also Estelle cared about. "I owe him for leading me to you."
She also owed him for saving Estelle's life now that she had confirmed his help in her escape.
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Post by 𝕄𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕪 on Aug 28, 2024 20:19:09 GMT
Chadwick -- "Chadwick" The Prince was defensive of the Lady, saying that he wasn't responsible for her, that she had choices herself. Silly Prince. Did he not understand what being a Man meant? He held a hand up to silence the boy, but Alex kept talking, and he looked even more pissed. If Chadwick didn't know better, he'd confuse the defensiveness as protective love, but Alex didn't love Athena, not that way, anyways. No, his son had to be cursed in more than one way. Alex was showing that worry he should show for a Lady for that pest of an Advisor. Alex's concern actually brought a bit of vindictive glee to the King. His eyes had a knowing glint to them. He had a worryingly calm nature, glancing meaningfully at his son. "Oh Alexiares," he cooed, as if he was being comforting, but the look in his eyes was anything but. It was a show, for anyone who was potentially listening in, "He betrayed us." He gave those words a few moments to settle in, before sighing meaningfully, scanning his son's face carefully. He was looking for signs of his involvement. Not that it mattered if Alex was, if he truly was poisoned by Dante's influence, it would be tampered out soon. "He set loose a dangerous criminal, Alexiares," He said, and his gaze turned toward the windows, narrowing, "And I suspect he was in cohorts with the Lady Frost. She was last seen visiting his dungeon, after all." He glanced at Alex's face, daring the boy to show any emotion to the reveals. To say anything really.
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Post by pallas on Aug 28, 2024 20:32:09 GMT
Yeah, she hadn’t expected to get away with admitting she was Lilith Killoran without Athena having something to say about it.
But she listened to her sisters talk, putting the pieces together as they did. She felt a rush of anger as Minke spoke about what she’d been through in Taluhtah and Oralee, and as Athena recounted her experience. Lilith was determined that she would make sure anyone who had hurt Athena or Minke would pay for it. But anyway, as they both talked and explained matters, things became clearer.
Alex was Prince Alexiares, the younger of the two princes of Oralee, it turned out. She remembered him vaguely, she thought he was a candidate that had once come up in discussions about Athena’s betrothal when they were all younger. And it seemed Athena had actually ended him engaged to him somehow. And then they spoke about Dante.
Dante, the advisor, seemed to be the one in actual trouble. Locked up because he’d tried to stop the wedding. This man Lilith didn’t even know had stuck his neck out for Lilith’s sisters when he had no need to. Looked out for them when nobody else, certainly not Lilith, could.
She didn’t like owing favours, and she owed this stupid advisor a big one.
”I do not normally do things like this.” Lilith warned her sisters. ”I did not get this far by taking on charity cases like this man. But I do not like being in debt to people, and he helped you both and got you back to me. For that, I owe him everything. You both are everything.” Now, Lilith was not a sentimental person. Not usually. But these two girls were the only family she had left. They did mean everything to her. And damn if some scrawny little advisor wasn’t responsible for getting them both back to her alive.
She sighed. ”I’ll do it. It’s reckless, right under the royals’ noses like that, but I’ll do it. I cannot convince Elena, I expect, but you will have me and as many of my men as you need. We’ll make a plan to get him out.”
Anything for her sisters. Anything for the one who had made this reunion happen - well, anything within reason. Saving his life seemed a reasonable exchange for her sisters’ safety.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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Post by pallas on Aug 28, 2024 20:50:58 GMT
At his father’s tone, filled with condescending comfort, at his words, the dread in Alex’s stomach solidified. A cold weight that felt like it would drag him through the floor. He swallowed, dimly noting that his mouth suddenly felt dry.
Dante was locked up. He’d tried to get his father to call off the wedding, tried to protect Alex, and look what had come of it. And the idiot had apparently confessed to a part in Minke’s escape. He barely processed the information that Athena had last visited Dante, though it was noteworthy.
He was more concerned that his father had used the word betrayed. He knew all too well what Chadwick did to traitors.
”You do not… you cannot mean…” Alex suddenly couldn’t speak. He could pretend not to care about this but what good would that do anything now?
Dante was in the dungeons, and if his father had named him a traitor that meant that he was most likely only waiting for one thing. Because his father had taught Alex a long time ago that he didn’t allow problems to remain. And a traitor was a very big problem.
”Treason. You have condemned him for treason.” The last person to receive such a conviction had been Alex’s mother. And there was only one punishment for it.
He felt numb. This could not be happening. Dante did not deserve this - he was only in this position because of Alex. And as much of a pain as the man had been in the past, Alex had lately been able to call him a friend. Or something like that. Whatever Dante meant to him, Alex knew that he could not lose him.
All he knew was that he didn’t care now what he said, what his father knew. With Athena safe, none of it mattered. None of it but Dante, now. Alex didn’t care what else happened. He couldn’t bear living like this anymore anyway now, after everything, that he knew the extent of his father’s cruelty. Something had to give, and he could feel the dam breaking.
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CHARACTER PROFILE IMAGE CREDIT: ElenaA via Picrew
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