Ashes and Shadows

The king had spoken in unison with what she guessed to be the deceased monarchs of the Five kingdoms and Elyse had had the urge to shut her ears with her hands like a child, listening to the arguments of the adults without understanding, but with the same discomfort of a pacifist resenting any sort or form of conflict. Her breath slowed and she closed her eyes to the image in front of her, trying to drown out the sounds and the appearances as if they were not already burned deep within her consciousness.

The moment passed and Elyse forced herself to open her eyes, exhaling a shaky breath and leaning against the cold wall behind her. She did not care if anyone would approach her, at this  point she doubted she would have flinched if there was a dagger pressed to her side. But a voice, a living one, spoke somewhere to her left and finding it impolite to ignore, spoke: “I know what we saw is true, but not for a moment do I believe it was truly the dead spirits of our fallen monarchs speaking. The dead cannot rise from their graves and I doubt anyone of them would threaten their former kingdoms and their children on the thrones. But, whatever it was I find their joke highly improper and tasteless.”

Vivian had half excepted to start screaming any second now, but when the blurry visions of Shadows appeared, she saw them for what they were. Not dead monarchs, but something different. They were still undoubtedly dark, but there was something tangible about them, something that told her those things were not dead, but sentient and alive in different way.

They were those things that spoke to her in the lonely nights.

She couldn’t peel her attention from them, finally finding a name for their Voice and she wanted to see them for as long as she could. She suspected that not many had shared her thoughts about it, but now at least she knew what she was dealing with. She hoped Morgan wouldn’t over react and turn fully protective over her again.

But, then they vanished.

Her attention immediately shifted towards something else, blinking rapidly to clear her thoughts and in doing so she noticed her cousin standing nearby. Vivian turned towards Elyse, walking with haste until she’s reached her and muttered out a breathless hello.

When her cousin spoke, Vivian frowned. “We both know this is not a joke, Ely. But, these weren’t the dead, either. They’re something else, these Shadows. I don’t know how to call them. Did you feel them? Before they... you know. Appeared.”

Lounging in a curtained stone alcove, leg dangling off the edge and long-fingered hand curled around a crystalline goblet, Seth's dark eyes perused through the crowd, seeking out familiar faces in the throng. He had never been so far out of Umbra and, privately, it sent him a bit off balance. A figure came towards him and the prince raised a brow, voice a lazy drawl as he gestured toward the people spread out around them.

When Vivian thought about her power, she thought that it could’ve at least warned her about this, a bit before it happened. But, they failed her in Noctifera, so why they wouldn’t fail her here as well? Morgan might’ve thought that Vivi had it all under control, after breaking down during the Masquerade, and keeping to herself and the Mountain ever since.

Why she thought that Marya might be spared of it, was beyond her.

Seeing the Shadows wasn’t exactly what bothered her (after all, she’d been seeing them for years now), but what bothered her was seeing the faces, so different from how they looked in life, and how she suspected they would’ve looked in death, if death held any solace and kindness. These visions were made of Shadows, and she’d seen them for what they were, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t chilled to the bone, and sickened by their words.

Enough was enough.

Deciding it best to just leave altogether, before she could do something embarrassing like scream again, or begin speaking to thinks the other didn’t exactly see, she made her way towards one of the alcoves closest to the exit of the room. But, a familiar voice caught her attention, and she paused midstep, turning to face the lord.

Following his gesture and casting a glance around the room, Vivian found herself shrugging in answer. “At this point, I wonder why I’m even surprised. Maybe we should start sending out invitations to this thing to put the ominous prophecies to good use and entertain us. I don’t doubt their majesties would pay the entity richly to either stay away, or find something more inventive to threaten us with. This is becoming old news.” Lady Lyn replied, noticing the way Shadows danced around him, but paying them no mind at the moment.

After all, how much worse can this night get, anyway?

IT WAS AN INTERESTING TURN of events, something she didn’t see coming for the life of her. Frankly, she lacked the ability to be surprised, or in any way baffled and amazed, but oh, this was a surprise. The surprise of the most delightful of sorts, something she couldn’t have predicted in her wildest of dreams. And, like all surprises, this one came with a warning attached to the pretty, flaming red hair. The Fire Queen’s sister had a magic gift of sorts, the one that was only made more evident when she’d began screaming, along with the rest of the Guardians; but she wasn’t solely a Guardian, the red haired woman.

No, no, she was something else entirely. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve mistaken her for someone from the Shadow kingdom, but she’d known her subjects by heart, and she would’ve recognised them even under the most ingenious of disguises. Lady Lyn captured her attention, and so Tabea decided to make herself acquainted with the red lady. Approaching her after her… trauma, seemed to be just the right thing to do. Capturing her attention, the Queen of Shadows approached her with a gentle, warm smile. “My lady, are you feeling quite well? I’ve witnessed your tragic ordeal and I’d like to offer my help, if it’s needed.” 

It felt like the calm before the storm, but the storm’s already passed and it was horrendous. She could not explain what had happened and she felt like cannot begin to understand. Vivian moved from the centre of the room and, after a long conversation with her sister on the balcony, the red haired lady returned to the silent chaos in the ballroom. 

The people were divided in groups, quietly speaking and nervously looking to one another. A few eyes fixed on her when she entered, some weary and some sympathetic, other in understanding. She walked as gracefully as she could towards the corner of the room, whisking a goblet full of burgundy red wine. Vivian did not want to go to her chambers nor she felt like riding all the way to Flamewood in such darkness, not after what has happened. 

Sighing, the fire haired lady took a generous sip of the wine, content to be on her own but the solitude was quick to end. Dark haired woman approached her and the warning bells in her head (which were silent before the ordeal) began chiming. But her words appear sincere enough and Vivian does not have the strength to think about it. 

“I am well. Thank you. I do not need help but I would be grateful for a company, if your offer exceeds to that.”

frown mars features & eyes narrow in confusion & worry. her sister never behaves like this , even with all the mood changes every woman goes through , Vivian is never like this. head tilts to the side & careful gaze rakes over the younger Lyn  as she joins her in the seat. “ what do I want? “ eyebrows rise is question & Morgan attempts to not feel offence. she wants her sister to be safe & well , she wants her to be happy & content but tonight was anything but those things.

“ I want you to tell me what is going on with you. I want you to talk to me , Vivian. what is it with you? what just happened & how are you feeling? are you hurt , unwell? are you in pain? speak to me. tell me everything. “ it isn’t an order , but worry is written clearly in her steel blue eyes & her hand reached over to caress her sister’s cheek & affectionately smooth down her locks. “ I cannot help you if you don’t let me. & I want to help you. you promised you’d talk to me about it , about them , if it is them. “

Worrying her sister was not something Vivian ever enjoyed doing, but with tonight and the unfortunate incident in the ballroom, she could not run from it nor could she meander around the subject, hoping her sister would get the hint and remove herself quietly and discreetly. When Morgan was concerned there was nothing the young lady Lyn could do, but endure it the best she knew how and without too much fuss, because then her sister would become simply unmanageable. 

Sighing heavily, the redhead turned around with a fixing stare.

This had promised from a start to be a long night, but now it had seemed endless, a perpetual ribbon of dark sky and glimmering stars. 

“I am talking to you, Morgan.” Vivian reasoned with another heavy exhale, but the avalanche of her sister’s question interrupted a snapping retort. Morgan was worried, unwavering in her concern and her heart tightened at the sight of it. “I do not wish to burden you, Mor. I am sorry you had to see... that. Whatever it was, I do not know. The reason eludes me, and the voices are quiet in my mind now, and they provide no answers. I am not in pain, now at least, and the pain I felt... it subdued sooner than it had appeared. It’s a distant memory now, but an unpleasant one. I never wanted to make such a scene and ruin the princess’ birthday. Moyra will never forgive me.” 

frown mars the face , eyes narrow in concern. the Voice speaks & it is terrible once again , the feeling of deja-vu rattles the queen’s bones. eyes slide from the Vyrg family & her husband , to her cousins who stand close to them & finally the blue gaze finds her sister. their eyes meet & then it happens. mortification kicks her awake & she is close to running towards Vivian , but the Voice speaks again & eyes narrow into slits. anger pulses through her again , but it mixes with concern , profound fear as she turns to watch her sister fall to the floor.

Morgan reacts immediately when the Voice quiets down & she rushes over to Vivian , arms gripping shoulders tightly ; gentleness mixes with worry in the grip she has on her sister & when Viv all but swats her arms away , the queen’s frown deepens. “ you are most certainly not fine & I am most certainly not going to leave you be , sitting on the floor like a spoilt brat. “ the words come out with a hiss , fear mask itself as anger but the emotion is evident on her face. “ we shall get air together , sister. I am not letting you out of my sight again until we find answers for this. “ Morgan jolts her upright & turns towards the balcony , then pauses ; “ your only choice is whether you would have me to take you to the garden or the balcony. “

She did not want her sister around right now.

It was enough that she was suffering because of them, of the things which she felt in the corners of the room and her own mind, before pouring out for everyone else to perceive.  Vivian did not feel like dealing with Morgan, reassuring her that all will be well and peachy in the world, when the lady of Flamewood had had different knowledge of it.

It will not be well and peachy.

“Morgan - “ Vivian had begun to protest, but she knew her sister well enough to know that the Queen will not give up, budge or back down from her drive to lighten her up and help her. Or sort her problems in her stead, which Vivian did not like. With a relenting sigh, she allowed her sister to hoist her up and guide her towards the balcony, where they would have a semblance of privacy with minimal curious eyes following their every move. 

“Alright. What do you want, Morgan? I am not in the greatest of moods, not now. I would just like some peace and quiet.” And to be far away from the crowd whose presence she had usually craved. But not now. Now she would have preferred solitude, even from her sister. 

No one could share in on her burden.

head tilts , frown settles between her brows & she listens to her sister with a dedication. she doesn’t like seeing her sister troubled , afraid or burdened & right now Vivian was everything combined. head tilts to the other side & the frown deepens as she asks ; “ can you control the visitations? can you shut them out? “ Morgan’s afraid for her ; sanity , welfare , everything ; & she begins to piece two & two together , see that her sister’s recent behaviour has a tangible explanation at last.

“ is that why you attend every ball without a fault? is that the way you can … silence them? you seem to be calm when you’re with me , or Iselyn or anyone from the royal family. company suits you but I know you. I had to beg you for hours on end to accompany me to a ball before I wed Thery & now… it only takes for the mention of it to get you out. is that why? “ the queen asks , the idea borne in her mind. & with it the idea of how to help her dearest.

Morgan stretches , hand finding Vivian’s & fingers interlacing before a tight squeeze. “ I am here Vivi. I’ll always be here & you need not face this alone. I can put up wards & have a talisman enchanted. we can keep them at bay if that is your wish.

No.

“Yes.” She lied, easily. The falseness of her words threatened to bite her, but she had burdened her sister enough already. And it was not fully a lie, she could control them. Some aspects of it, or they allowed her to think she is controlling them. Maybe she is but maybe she is not, and she is dreading the answer too much to ask the question herself. “I can. You do not have to worry.”

Ah. That.

“Partially, it is. It is complicated, sister.” Vivian sighed and quickly shook her head. “No, not the talismans. It is going to be fine. I just needed you to know, because of what’s happened tonight. We no longer have secrets and now Noctifera is safe.”

She hoped.

She was sad to learn that not even Mordu was exempt from unrest and commotion. The kingdom she always thought different from Noctifera and the others, to not be so different at all. There was reassurance in it, but the thought of it made her unreasonably sad. Or it could have been the nerves. Yes, it must be the nerves.

“That must be it.” Vivian agreed with a solemn nod, frowning in thought before her cousin’s words reached her consciousness.

Ah. Home.

Her home was with Morgan, that was true and clear as the day, but while Noctifera used to feel like home, the Mountain in particular, now she felt an almost painful  yearning for Mordu, for the Saga part in her blood and to see her aunt, whom she had not seen in long years. “I would love that, too. Noctifera is home and so is Morgan, but I - I want to be in Mordu as well. My soul… It calls for it. I cannot explain it.” She sighed.

And she couldn’t.

smile stretches lips & head inclines to a nod. understanding pulses through her & the queen watches her cousin with affection. “ I can relate understand that. you have Mordu in your blood just as well as you have Noctifera. you are both sides of the coin & so is your sister. maybe she tips more to the fire while you tip more to quintessence. you will always be welcome in your mother’s kingdom , but do not abandon your sister , Vivi. you two might have a need of each other yet. I think this storm is far from over. “

head tilts , frown settles between her brows & she listens to her sister with a dedication. she doesn’t like seeing her sister troubled , afraid or burdened & right now Vivian was everything combined. head tilts to the other side & the frown deepens as she asks ; “ can you control the visitations? can you shut them out? “ Morgan’s afraid for her ; sanity , welfare , everything ; & she begins to piece two & two together , see that her sister’s recent behaviour has a tangible explanation at last.

“ is that why you attend every ball without a fault? is that the way you can … silence them? you seem to be calm when you’re with me , or Iselyn or anyone from the royal family. company suits you but I know you. I had to beg you for hours on end to accompany me to a ball before I wed Thery & now… it only takes for the mention of it to get you out. is that why? “ the queen asks , the idea borne in her mind. & with it the idea of how to help her dearest.

Morgan stretches , hand finding Vivian’s & fingers interlacing before a tight squeeze. “ I am here Vivi. I’ll always be here & you need not face this alone. I can put up wards & have a talisman enchanted. we can keep them at bay if that is your wish.

No.

“Yes.” She lied, easily. The falseness of her words threatened to bite her, but she had burdened her sister enough already. And it was not fully a lie, she could control them. Some aspects of it, or they allowed her to think she is controlling them. Maybe she is but maybe she is not, and she is dreading the answer too much to ask the question herself. “I can. You do not have to worry.”

Ah. That.

“Partially, it is. It is complicated, sister.” Vivian sighed and quickly shook her head. “No, not the talismans. It is going to be fine. I just needed you to know, because of what’s happened tonight. We no longer have secrets and now Noctifera is safe.”

She hoped.

She was standing on the palace’s balcony, looking outside, to the darkening sky - the time was almost upon them, just a few more mind-numbing hours, before her power reaches its peak. Ophelia felt most comfortable during the night, but that should come as no surprise - she is a Necromancer, after all, and all creatures of the dark called to their like; darkness to darkness, light to light. She felt the presence before they spoke, the Shadows whispering about the individual, so carelessly striding towards her - unaware of the witch in sheep’s clothing. 

Ophelia turned around, feigning surprise at the other’s presence, and allowed a timid smile to grace to lovely, but dark, features. An unassuming smile, gentle and soft, but inside she was budding with amusement. This will be fun, she thought to herself, as she spoke: “Hello. Have you come to watch the night set on us?”

She would have hated to be responsible for the crumble of Noctifera, if it happened because of her secret.

Vivian had longed to return to Flamewood, but Morgan pressed for her to stay with the Vyrgs and while she could understand why, it did not mean she agreed with it. Keeping her away from her duties or shielded beyond words was not the way to go or make her feel any less... crazy. Vivi now knew she was not insane, but she still struggled with coming to terms of being something of a clairvoyant. Clairaudient? 

She heard the woman when she spoke and expecting the shadows to retreat, Vivian turned to her with a smile. But, the shadows had stayed, pooling around the dark haired woman and Vivi attempted to ignore them as best as she could, immediately returning her gaze to the horizon. “Yes, I... I enjoy watching the night fall.” 

“I would argue there is no fairer sight in the world.”