Theon

            she nods her head in understanding, her smile wanes some but never falters. “ah, well, i am sure that whatever woman you marry will be a lucky one.” her lips purse in thought as he speaks briefly of her job, she hadn’t seen his face around much, was he from another kingdom ?? “i do not believe they’re the same thing, my lord.” a chuckle slips passed her lips. “but what is it you do ?”

“I am the advisor for the prince of Kradaeca.” He said with a faint smile, he liked his job of course but it also meant that he didn’t exactly had much time to go and meet someone, get married and have children.

Theon Cassain Family Tree

            she nods happily, her smile growing some at the man before her. “thank you, sir. we’re quite elated with the news. –do you have children as well ??”

“No. I am not even married, my job is rather demanding and I haven’t thought much about all that...I do have a niece., that counts right?”

            “i do, i mean, i usually do.” she corrects herself, lowering her book just a smidge to get a better look at the man. “i just thinking drinking wine, or ale or anything with alcohol would be bad for a baby, would it not ??”

“Oh you’re expecting?” He said with a smile “Congratulations and no, I don’t think it may be the best for it no.” Theon had always liked kids and knowing she was expecting one was great.

           it was late, nearly dusk– around the time for supper to be served. she sat at one of the tables alone, a book in hand a glass of tea sat perched on the wooden table before her. there were candles lit on each table that brought just the slightest of lights– enough to see each other’s faces. as one of the servants came ‘round offering her more wine, she shook her head multiple times. “oh, no. i, uh. i can’t drink any. thank you though, perhaps they will like some more ?” anya suggests nodding to the person nearest to them.

“No thank you, I’m fine.” He told the server with a faint smile and looked at the girl close to him. “You don’t like wine?” He asked more for the sake of conversation, he didn’t want to keep brooding, now that Bearoria was free things looked better for Kradaeca.

        “ anger can be good sometimes, ” purnelle says, her eyes going askance. she remembers her younger years, she remembers what her anger did for her. “ anger can motivate you. ” 

“That’s true... but at the same time it can cloud your judgement.” He said sighing and drinking more than the tea “How are you doing?”

“My Lord,” she said with a curt nod of her head. Eleanor knew that Theon could understand her situation. Maybe he had not lost a brother like she had, but his home was snatched away from him too. “I’m very sorry about what happened in Kradeaca. No one deserves to lose their home like that.” Deep down, she doubted if Bearoria would have been invaded had Kradeaca not been attacked. Their army was weak as they moved to Dracborough. She did not want to dwell on the maybes and what ifs, but she couldn’t help imaging scenarios which allowed for her brother to be alive.

“I’m sorry about Bearoria and your brother.” He said softly, even if his first priority was Kradaeca and the people from the kingdom, he could spare some understanding to the princess. He had experienced loss of family members and now the loss of the kingdom he called home, he knew she was having a hard time, but Theon right now hoped that Kradaeca was the one that got help first.

         she gave a small shrug as she placed the cup and the matching saucer onto a table in passing. “ you don’t need to force yourself to drink it, ” she says, moving to stand next to him. offering him a small smile, she puts a soft hand to his arm. “ i suppose you’re not feeling too sprightley. i can leave you to rest, if you’d like ?? “

“Is fine you can stay.” He said taking a small sip of the tea “Maybe is best for me to have someone around, I think if I’m left to my thoughts I will only get angrier.” 

Leaving Norden had not been a choice Henry made. His advisers had all but forced him to go to Dracborough ( and get out of his bed ). If it was up to him, he would have stayed their forever, he would have died happily, if only to see Nathaniel again. But no — not only did his people need him, but the king had sworn vengeance. He would have Octavius’s head. Walking mindlessly ( and ignoring anyone who bowed ), Henry had meant to ignore the man’s words, but for some reason he stopped. Forcing himself not to say I want my husband back, the king took a deep, shaky breath. “To go home.”

Theon looked at the man and bowed his head “I’m sorry your majesty I thought you were someone else.” He said softly. He knew that king Herny and king Nate were good friends and so he could imagine the king in front of him was mouring and wanted to take Bearoria from Ironhaven, but for Theon, it was Kradaeca the one kingdom that he was worrying about right now. “I wish for the same thing.”

Rudraksh nodded somberly. He was glad that Theon was honest but, he was also saddened to know how Theon was feeling. Which, truth be told, wasn’t much different than how the advisor himself was feeling. “Theo, I know how you’re feeling. I truly understand it and that’s why I have come here. We need to formulate a strategy because, anger isn’t going to help us,” he said gravely, letting his hand fall from the younger man’s shoulder after giving it a gentle pat. “I saw Adair on the ship. He’s shut himself down which isn’t going to help him. Right now we need allies. I know Bearoria is in as bad a place as Kradaeca is but, our priority is Kradaeca and we need to act quickly. Have you met with Xac?”

“I know...I know is just hard not to get swept away by anger” He said taking a very deep breath, he was grateful that Rud was around to help him calm down somewhat. “I haven’t seen him but I’m not surprised.. he is feeling everything we are but in a larger scale.” He shook his head “I haven’t seen him at all but I guess he isn’t n the best of moods either...What are you suggesting we do?” 

“you are displaced and homeless,” she offers in a soft, sympathetic voice as she moves to set a glass down on a side table. “i should think i would be curt too, given the circumstances. you don’t need to feel badly.” mairi pours the kradaecan man a glass of cool water, giving him a smile. “is there anything else you need? i’m only here to help.”

he takes the water and smiles weakly “I am fine thank you.” Well he wasn’t but what he needed wasn’t something that the girl in front of him could give him. “I’m sorry I don’t think I know you name.”

Talsgar’s head was reeling with information. He’d learned of the attack on Kradaeca only through word of mouth, and then the rush of people as the attackers came inland. That was all one — but he’d now heard of Ironhaven’s attack on Bearoria, and the bard’s heart sunk to learn of such a thing. Still, he held it in his heart that it was no more than a rumor, and set out to find the truth. He stopped by the first important looking fellow he came across, and was only slightly taken aback by the man’s tone. “Is it true?” Was all Talsgar could start with. “Is it true about Ironhaven and Bearoria?”

Theon looked at the man, he remembered him from a brief talk they had in Norden, they had talked about how they wanted peace, well that wish had ended quickly. “Yes.” He replied coldly. To Theon his main concern was Kradaeca, sure what happened in Bearoria was bad too but he found that he didn’t care too much and to him what really mattered what his prince and their kingdom. Once they had that back maybe he could spare thought into Bearoria.

Rudraksh has just checked up on Nerissa, making sure that she had retired to her chambers for a good rest, before he left in search for Theon. He knew his fellow advisor identified with how Rudraksh himself was feeling at the moment however, he wasn’t visiting the younger man in official capacity. Theon was like a younger brother to him and right now, he was checking up on family. “To make sure you’re holding up alright,” he said quietly, as he walked closer to the younger male, putting a comforting hand upon his shoulder.

He took a deep breath closing his eyes and sighed before looking at Rud. “I won’t lie to you, I am not.” He said simply, he was trying to not break down for the sake of the people of Kradaeca and Adair but when he was alone it was very hard not to be consumed by the anger. “I don’t want to be here, I want to make those that took our home pay and go back there, I haven’t seen Adair but I’m sure he can’t be dealing with everything in a great way either. Those are my priorities right now, is what I actually care about right now, and I don’t see anything being done.”

          purnelle hesitated. she was only halfway into the room before she began to back up. her thin hands tightened around the cup handle at his tone. “ i, uh, made tea, ” she said awkwardly. perhaps it was a mistake. all she wanted to light up the mood. “ i mean, i suppose it’s a little too hot for it. i should’ve just… i don’t know. i wasn’t really thinking. “

“I’m sorry Purnelle, I didn’t mean to snap at you like that.” He said sighing and smiled weakly at the girl “Is great thank you, and drinking hot things while in a hot place does help, you had a good idea.” He sounded tired, because he was, he had barely slept at all.

          the fan in her hands slowed at the man came to speak to her. how rude. supposedly, they both came from kradack. kradaeca. whatever it was called. “ my apologies, m’lord. my intention wasn’t to offend, “ she quipped with a sideways smile. in truth, she was a touched annoyed at his tone but she wasn’t to let it show. “ just a tad warmer than where we’re – well, i’m from. “

“Yeah I suppose.” He said not exactly caring, she was probably from Kradeaca, not a noble since he would know her, still he usually tried to be nice and accommodating to all the natives of the kingdom but, there was just something that had bothered him on her tone, he may also be just getting his bad mood on her too. “Still, indoors are better to deal with the heat, I’m sure they must be some inns around that you can stay.”

the tumultuous happenings of zenan had shaken even lady mairi’s affected charm. she wore no saccharine smile upon her lips as she, once again, volunteered herself to aid in whatever way necessary of her. waiting upon the weary travelers should be below her status but it doesn’t feel relevant to even harbor such thoughts. “apologies,” mai utters primly, hand outstretch towards the man she recognized as kradaecan and of some importance to the royals. “i meant only to offer you a pitcher of water. i know our heat doesn’t treat visitors with kindness.”

“I’m sorry for being rude.” He said sighing and looking at the girl who just wanted to be nice. it was hard not to let himself get lost on his sour mood and take it out on others though he knew he shouldn’t do that. “That would be nice, thank you.”