do not go gentle

“that seems to be the norm around here.” arthur offered, a slight smile on his lips. ever since the news of what had happened, he found it harder to keep his similar outlook on life. ( he knew bern was a dangerous place, had expected it really — could survive, thanks to the time spent thus far in spain. but this was new. this was different. this was a senseless murder in the halls for no rhyme or reason, with little chance of the crime ever being solved. as a new father, it left… something in him. dread perhaps, or maybe even worry. it was safe to say arthur was changing already. )

“i think you can be forgiven for such a distracted moment, however, your highness. worry not.”

"Indeed it does, your majesty." Elspeth stood and curtsied to the man. She found herself reconizing others most often around Bern, now that she had settled in and was pointed out who was who. She especially made sure to remember the leaders of each country so she would not mistake their titles and surely embarrass herself. This King, however, seemed quite kind compared to what she expected. "I appreciate that. I do hope the culprit is found soon, it's unsettling knowing that they could very well still be at large. I fear what that might mean for all the progress that has been made." Perhaps she shouldn't speak so openly about her thoughts, however Spain was an ally to Scotland, so perhaps she believed they could discuss some form of diplomacy in a civil manner.

It seemed to be the only way to exert his frustrations with everything to spar with a dummy. It kept him from seeking out Dominykas and doing the same to him as he currently was with this dummy, kept him from snapping at those around him, and allowed him to release and anger that boiled away inside of him. He just let his sword flying, landing hard sharps against the dummy and carving chunks out of it. Without the restriction of a shirt, he put every ounce of strength had had into the blows, tried to pushed out the anger he held from his person to his sword, and he is lost in the process when the familiar voice comes from behind him. He startles slightly before turning to look at her, his sword coming to hang by his side. “Isabella.” He greets, deep breaths being taken as he comes down from the state he had been in. The fire still burns inside of him, but it was slightly lesser now. He doesn’t know quite how to answer her question, hesitation in his mouth as to how much he should say, could say. “I…no. Not particularly, no.”

It was a stupid question, and she knew that before she asked. Unfortunately she couldn't just assume as she had did back in the days of their betrothal. She couldn't offer the same type of comfort either, and truthfully she didn't want to, he seemed so happy, up until now. He had his wife to see him through these times, didn't he? Isabella still felt inclined to lend an ear and perhaps some advice. The feelings that still clung in her heart were muddled, and confusing at times, but more than anything she considered him a dear friend, and despite the time, she felt she probably still knew him rather well. "I'm sorry." She replied, stepping nearer now he wasn't swinging a sword around. "I..." She gave a small laugh. "Honestly I'm not sure how I can help. Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I can help." Maybe. After all the main reason she had come to Bern was to help, she had yet to speak to his mother since her arrival, but she felt that perhaps the information she received was somehow misguiding. Isabella felt completely unsure of exactly what Lukas and his country needed. Perhaps now she would find out, if he should accept her offer.

  a voice was the last thing vasiliy wanted to hear across the archway. in his own contemplation, he found that muttering to himself was the only way to make sense of the happenings around. in a short, impulsive panic, the prince peeked through into the adjoint room. he wouldn’t have thought to find a princess, away from the ever veering public eye.

   “i wasn’t speaking to- anyone,” he replied, his words too quick for delicacy. “i’m sorry if i alarmed you, your highness.” he noticed the few drops of tea that stained her dress’ front. “this whole business has me dazed as much as anyone-”

  in his ramble, he paused momentarily. “oh. have you not heard of the greek knight?”

Elspeth was surprised with who she saw through the archway. She hadn't expected the prince to be the one to probably seek solace where she was. "No, you didn't alarm me, your highness." She stood and gave a curtsy to the other, hoping to make up for her behavior. She was never one to be so easily shooken, but murder could probably do that to even the bravest of souls. "I have, actually. I'm afraid that's what has me so alarmed. I apologize for my behavior." Her cheeks flushed slightly, she almost felt embarrassed.

In the weeks since he had arrived, Sigvard had not seen another soul in the corner of the castle he had taken to thinking of as his. It was not the fanciest space, nor the most comfortable, but it was a place to go when tired or overwhelmed. He had almost left upon seeing the woman seated there - too exhausted, too empty to be jovial and pleasant - but the look on her face had stopped him. At her surprise he winced, not having intended to cause more harm. “Paska,” he mumbled under his breath, dropping into a nearby seat. “I apologize. I did not mean to startle you. I only meant-” He paused, searching for the words. “Are you alright? You seem…troubled.”

"Oh no, I apologize." Elspeth figured she must look a fright, and probably as paranoid as she felt. She felt so silly for being so trusting upon her arrival to Bern. She had wandered off with anyone, made conversation with whoever she saw, what if it had been her, as punishment for her foolishness? She felt so naive. Perhaps now she should make an excuse to leave, but she feared she couldn't stay steady on her own two feat. "Just...everything that has happened. I feel a bit shocked by it. I really didn't imagine anything like that could happen here." Her brows furrowed in concern, as she wondered exactly what the future of these meetings would come to in light of this news.

isabella had had an interesting visit already, indeed. bern was not quite what she expected, but she had yet to really form an opinion on this city, other than all that has happened since she arrived has already been a whirlwind. a sultan has come back from the dead, and someone has mysteriously been murdered. she was certainly glad that she had decided to leave her children back home, as much as she missed them terribly.

she heard a strange noise in a more secluded area outside as she walked around and explored, when she went to investigate she found lukas sparring with a dummy, almost as if he was in a furious frenzy. he did not look himself, and she only slowly stepped closer. “lukas? are you okay?”

she looked up, bright eyes wide with shock. "i apologize i didn't hear you. i was caught up in my own head, i'm afraid."

         luckily, there was an abundance of french so there was no issue when céline wanted to hear her own language. along with this, most members of the upper class could speak french fluently for diplomatic reasons. but dutch? she hardly heard anyone speak it unless it was during one of her lessons with a student. so due to this, she bit her lip for a moment while she quickly refreshed herself on his language. perhaps this would provide him with some sort of comfort or relaxation- for she knew that she would feel terribly homesick if she never heard her own language.

         “ zullen we dan thee nemen? welke soort heb jij de voorkeur? ” she asked, taking a seat once they arrived in the parlor just as a servant came to wait upon them. “ ik vind earl grey heel leuk, maar ik ben erg flexibel op dit gebied. ” céline continued, words a bit hesitant as she had to formulate those sentences as she spoke them.

henrik took a seat across from celine, quite impressed with her ability to speak his native language. she was actually very good, and it perhaps her voice made it sound even more beautiful than he could've imagined. he smiled at her, looked at the servant, then back and gave his reply.

"ik ben onder de indruk. je spreekt de taal zo goed." he began. "Earl Grey is eigenlijk mijn favoriet. ik zal dat hebben als je wilt." it was a breath of fresh air getting to be comfortable in his own language. "I hope I was not speaking too quickly." henrik suddenly realized he slipped right back into his native tongue without the realization it was not hers. "even with my queen i do not get to speak the language often. it seems we default to english here."

Lukas smiled in amusement at her curtsy, shaking his head at such an act. “Please, Isabella, there is no need for that. My being king does not erase the fact that we are friends.”  They’d left on good terms, at least. The breaking of their betrothal had been entirely out of their hands, due to technicalities among their fathers, and while at the time he had so selfishly wanted her to stay, he wished no ill will towards her. It had simply been easier to fall out of contact, lessen the blow of learning to unlove her. He knows now that such as choice was the right one, or else he would never have ended up with Sabinah, never , never would have had his son.

He nods his head at her words, at her reason for arriving here and it makes sense. He’d wanted his own siblings here to help such negotiations, help achieve peace and form alliances, as well as the simple excuse of having them all in one place for once. Their family being together was now a rarity after Leja had become the Queen of Germany, although such a married had been necessary. “I’ve been well. Aside from bandits on the road, the journey here was fine and we gladly missed the awful attacks that took place.” God how thankful he’d been for that. If Sabinah or Toras had been here, had been in danger too, Lukas does not know what he would have done. “I’d heard that you were married and had children of your own now, I was glad to hear it.” That much was genuine. He had always simply wanted happiness for her, nothing else. “Are they here with you as well?”

Isabella's blue eyes widened. "Bandits?" She replied, shocked. She had a fairly uneventful trip, probably because her arrival wasn't exactly widely known, but it was one of the reasons she hesitated to bring along her children, especially her youngest who was so young to have been left behind. Still, she knew for one reason or another, she needed to be in Bern. She tried convinving herself it was mainly on behalf of her country, as she wanted to help with the peaceful relations. It was one of her strong suits, in fact, but the real reason lay beneath this one, he seemed happy, however, and so she went along with it. After all, she couldn't outright say what she had heard. What good would that do? And if he was truly content with his life, she wasn't going to meddle with that. Although she had often that of what could've been, she managed to find some small shred of happiness in her own marriage.

"My husband, actually passed just a couple of years ago." She admitted, eyes flickering away from his, trying to keep her composure. She held some love for the man, after all they had been through so much togther. "My children are home in Dublin at the castle. It was hard to leave them, but I wasn't sure of what environment I'd be coming to...if they'd be very safe." She bit her lip, not meaning to cause offense as if it was a hostile place, but there were so many agendas at stake. "But they are well, regardless. I'm considering bringing my youngest soon. It's so hard to be without him, he's so little." Isabella added. "But how is your family? I am sure they are here with you. Are they well?"

“Well, the ones who don’t will be found out soon enough. Anyone that would wish a wife be widowed, and children raised without a parent, is not someone who should have any power at all.” Full of so much loss. Sometimes, in her own grief, she forgot that everyone lost someone in this war. “I miss the tulips. I haven’t seen a single one since arriving at Bern.” While it might seem such a childish thing, they brought so many good memories.

"I agree, Majesty. I wish it were that simple, however." He admitted, a bit solemnly. It was unfortunate many who wielded great power thought just what she spoke up, but truly there was not much they could do, but support the sultan. He hadn't even thought of the flowers, but understood her longing. "I did not think of that, Majesty. I miss them too. Especially in the spring. We shall be home then in time to see them in full bloom, I am certain."

“We’ve been so frightfully outnumbered here. A single Irishman is worth double than most, but even so… It’s nice that the three of you are all here now.” She smiles, referring to the three Macnamara’s of course. Though she was closest to their brother, Aileen was a woman who adored her country and the people in it The two Princess’ garnered nothing but her respect and kindness.

The honey blonde nods then, full of understanding, empathising with the others somewhat overwhelmed mood. She’d felt the same upon her arrival, and it wasn’t something that had disappeared yet. “I am sure your presence alone with be helpful enough, anythin’ else you can do will surely just be added bonus.” She offers a reassuring grin before her face turns thoughtful. “Not long, the start of December I believe.”

Isabella frowned, having guessed that there were not too many from her homeland in Bern. Still, she was glad to have managed to run into one of them. "I am glad that we are as well. And that we have you here to support as well, Aileen." She gave the woman a nod, having always liked and respected her. Isabella always appreciated loyalty, it was so rare nowadays.

"I am glad to hear that. I was afraid there wasn't much I'd be able to do, but I just felt like I needed to come." She admitted and while that was somewhat true, she was urged to come as well. It wasn't easy, leaving her children, but Isabella knew this was a good opportunity to build up support for Ireland. "Oh wow, has anything of note happened? I hope we have been able to build so more allies."

         “ henrik, ” she repeated lightly with a small not only to set that name within her mind. his question was not a surprise to her. since arriving, she had received an influx of similar questions mostly aimed at her age but also her gender. a woman, especially a woman as young as she, was a surprising individual to take the position of a mentor. mentors were viewed as of obtaining all their wisdom from their decades on earth and past experiences. while she lacked most experiences, céline could not be matched when it came to education derived from pages.

         “ i am a mentor, your grace. i have been tasked with tutoring many in the french court, though i seem to have added additional students from other countries during my residency here in bern. ” céline glanced over at the man, honey brown hair rippling in loose waves which faintly framed her face due to the strands which have loosened from the somewhat hectic day. “ and you are from… the netherlands, correct? i quite like tutoring students on the language. ”

"Interesting." Henrik replied and while he assumed she had to have some sort of career of the sort, it was still fascinating to know precisely what she did. He thought she and his Queen could certainly get along, but the tutors of their country were surely particular, and probably would not approve of her taking any lessons from a french woman. After all, she was a Queen.

The man gave a few nods. "Yes I am, you are good." He gave a small laugh. "I am happy that our language is being learned more widely. It's hard to find someone else who speaks it. We default to English quite a bit, so much I almost forget to speak our own language at home."

Faustina offered him a smile to show the apology was accepted, before giggling as he spoke. “Assuming I find a man interesting enough to marry,” she said pertly, looking up at him with a little shrug. “So far I have not been so successful, I fear.”

Henrik chuckled, wondering what man could handle such a feisty woman. He believed she could make a good wife for someone someday, if they so like that type. “I’m sure you will find someone who at least let’s you live comfortably.” He replied. “After all the perfect match can be hard to find.”