Mary Hardin's Story

Ris briefly wondered why, on all of Tibera, her life had to be this difficult. First her brother, now her fiancee--and the latter against someone far older than he. As she returned and took her seat, she also took Wulf and Loras’ hands, unwilling to be alone or feel alone in that moment. She was still halfway giddy from Lucas’ words--but that also led to increased worry. Goodness, what even was peace? Certainly not something that she knew. Across the field, her gaze caught upon a familiar figure. Dark hair, spindly figure, a shape to his eyes that she shared. Christoph Estermont, her father. At least he had looked worried during Loras’ joust, she reflected. She had an...interesting relationship with her father. Briefly, she wondered if he would come over to talk to her anytime soon. Of course, though, soon enough, he dedicated his attention to his most recent fancy.

Ris felt endeared towards Mary, if only because she wished to protect the woman she saw as far more innocent than she. Christoph had snapped up and discarded many a woman in his lifetime--and Ris wondered, briefly, why he had not done the same to her. Was it because she knew what she was doing? She was certainly no pretty face, to be swept up and then left in the same breath. Perhaps he knew that if he were to abandon her, she would not take it so lightly. It felt as if he’d already abandoned Loras, though. For a moment, she wished that their father was stronger, that he would be able to come and help Loras to find peace in his unsteady state. But she knew that he was not and could not, and she would happily take her brother’s troubles upon herself. She’d seen how the king of Ostwall looked at him--and even now, he was coming to talk to him. She hid the soft smile that appeared by dipping her head down in greeting to Ulfric, squeezing Loras’ hand and then letting go.

And then, out of the blue, she heard her own name--her full name--thrown into the air by a voice that she knew, and had not heard in years. For a moment, she felt almost thirteen again, never full of laughter but full of love nonetheless. She was on her feet in a moment, gasping Cora’s name and beaming as if the sun had decided to take up residence behind her pale skin. She laughed, wrapping her arms tight around the older woman, the two of them swaying back and forth a little as they tried to keep their balance. “Cora, Cora, I missed you,” She whispered, amazed to see her again. Her smile was still firmly in place, and her eyes were alight. She couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up once more, and she rested her hands on her shoulders. “I missed you more!” She teased. “My goodness, how are you?”

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Loras, meanwhile, had found that he had a sudden inability to look away from the king of Ostwall. He knew he was searching out comfort, he knew he was acting absurd... Hell. He knew that this man likely looked down on any sort of conduct that didn’t have to do with a woman and a man and their overdramatic romance. For a moment, he wanted to roll his eyes at the giggles and the skirts, dainty hands holding calloused ones, smooth on rough and idealized beyond compare. There was no room for variation or true love amid the frantic search for a companion of any sort, and even then, they were often in the habit of leaving such companion or being torn between two companions, neither of whom could reconcile to the other. How many of the same story had been drawn out, over and over again?

He pulled himself from his thoughts as, out of the blue, the object of his previous attention rose and started towards him. Surprise was definite--had Ulfric made it to the flowers the night before, he wondered. He hadn’t... He’d been inside of his own head too much. He would apologize to him, just in case, he resolved. He shifted a little to make room for the king, reaching up to push a lock of his own dark hair out of his eyes, offering up a familiar, crooked smile. He shook his head at his first words. “Not interrupting at all.” He promised, glancing towards his sister and smiling as she leapt from her seat to embrace an old friend. And then his plans were foiled entirely, because Ulfric was apologizing instead. He looked genuinely surprised, a little caught off guard.

“It’s alright.” He promised softly, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder in a friendly gesture, letting his fingers linger for a moment longer than necessary. “Don’t worry about it.” He encouraged with a little smile, soon returning his hands to his own lap, knotting his fingers together in a habit that he shared with his sister. He glanced away, and then looked back to Ulfric, meeting his gaze. “Thank you.” He murmured, unable to keep from smiling at his words. He thought he’d done well? He’d been making a show, more than anything else... But he couldn’t help but feel proud. For a moment, beneath the seats and out of view, he reached out, smoothing his fingers out of the fist. “I’m happy to listen to you.” He teased a little. “Don’t stop.”

Ris watched Cora go with what almost felt like regret settling deep in her soul. It was so rare that they got to see each other. And yet... Life went on. Life, insane as it often was, moved forward at a pace that was both eternal and unrelenting. Perhaps she should be grateful for even their brief exchange, though. Particularly with a child to care for, her own half brother, Ris couldn’t imagine that she had a surplus of time on her hands.

She found Loras’ hand once more, lacing their fingers together, her small and smooth hand meeting his large and calloused one. “Father’s been looking at you.” She murmured. That much was true. She’d seen how he had stood up. Her older brother nodded a little in response. He too had noticed such; it was hard not to, honestly. And as much as he didn’t want to pay attention to him, as deep as it felt that the rift had grown, he knew that he wouldn’t see him again for a long time.

“Come with me, and I’ll speak to him.” Loras murmured, and Ris squeezed his hand softly in reassurance. And then off they went.

It was quite good luck on Christoph's part that Loras and Loria had already started to walk over to their father by the time he pulled away from kissing Mary. He could sense the addition of their presences behind him, and so he turned around, blinking against the sun as he looked up at his son.

He stood now, a grin twitching on his lips as he stood before his son and looked up, attempting to compensate for a half-foot of difference in their heights.

"I wondered when you would seek me out," he said simply, extending his arms and taking his son in a quick embrace. When he pulled back, he kept his hands clasped on Loras's upper arms, holding him as though he were processing the scenario, studying his son closely. "If I could trouble you and your sister for a moment, I would rather we speak in private."

Giving an affectionate tap on the arm, he let his hands fall and turned on his heel to look to Mary. "I do hate you leave you so suddenly, my love. I shall see you later this evening." He took a step forward, kissed her cheek once more, and walked past his older children, gesturing for them to follow him.

"I take it you understand," he said after they'd walked away from the festivities and began to enter the palace. "The walls have ears, but the palace grounds are no place for speaking." For a man of little physical prowess, Christoph moved quickly and deftly, tracing his way back to his own room.

His dogs lifted their heads as he entered and shut the door behind them, bolting it. And then he gave a drawn out sigh and turned to face his son once again. The smile he gave now was one more genuine, if that were possible to gauge on his face. He stepped forward and clasped Loras's face in his hands as he looked into his eyes - blue met blue, but Loras's were a soft, gentle blue and Christoph's eyes were a harsh, icy blue.

And then he let his hands drop, walking to a side table to pour drinks for the three of them. "You rode well," he said simply, back turned to the two of them. "The Wulf is fast." You aren't. His words didn't say it, but they seemed to suggest it.

"Enough on that, though," he continued, changing the topic quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Two years is a long time. You've kept well."

Loras’ first impression of his father was that he was tiny. In his mind, Christoph had become quite the spectre--hulking, huge, intent on filling Loras’ ears with whatever he wanted him to say. And in that moment, he just seemed... Fragile. And not fragile in the way that Ris was fragile, with steel for bones and porcelain skin. He seemed breakable. And Christoph had to look up to see him--amusement sparked in his gaze at that. Christoph spoke, and then reached out for a hug. Loras returned it, both briefly and gently, almost afraid that he would be the cause of this man shattering. But if he knew about his changed feelings on Juliana, perhaps he really would break, Loras thought ruefully. Of course, he doubted that he could tell his father without fear of possibly being drawn and quartered for his trouble.

As the two men pulled away from each other, Loras had the opportunity to study how his father had changed a little more. There was more white in his hair, and those icy blues looked even colder, if at all possible. He inclined his head in agreement where Ris spoke their affirmation, and soon enough, the three were off towards the castle. Loras couldn’t help but smile when he saw Ris’ expression light up at the sight of the dogs, and he chuckled softly as they immediately sought out hugs from her. He knew she saw them often, and was happy they had such a relationship. He wondered if they remembered him.

He was drawn from his thoughts as Christoph stepped forward and touched him more, clasping his hands. For a second, Loras almost felt as if he were the tiny child that he had been, alone in an unfamiliar house with an unfamiliar man who told him to call him father. Ris’ unexpected touch gave him something to center himself with, and then Christoph drew away and spoke once more. Those words, both spoken and unspoken, stung. “Thank you.” He replied, not letting that sound in his voice. He chuckled wanely at his next words. If only he knew. Seabel was a place of beauty, and yet, no one who lived there was truly happy. “I have good men, and much to keep myself busy with.” He replied, lifting up one of the cups and swirling the liquid within. “How is Falor?” He glanced towards his sister, then, who had linked her arm with his. “How soon’s the wedding?” He added with a little smile.

Christoph joined his children with two of the goblets, Loras having taken his already. He listened as he extended a drink to Loria and turned once more to look to his son. He didn't bother to stifle the soft laugh that accompanied Loras's comment, but he looked down at his drink for a moment.

"I've been informed," he remarked, glancing back up at his son, a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. He'd certainly heard the rumors of a relationship between the Queen and her Captain, and so he took Loras's words as a off hand confirmation of that relationship - whether or not that was what his son had intended in his statement.

"Falor is as it has always been," he replied, sipping from his drink as he took a seat near the empty fireplace and gestured to the other chairs near him. Christoph's tone suggested his distaste, for Falor had never been something remarkable to him. The capital that surrounded the palace was something to marvel at, a bustling place of commerce, but the hamlets and villages of the common folk had begun to crumble over the years, a lasting reminder of Cedric Brigham as he had dissolved into madness those last few years of his life. "Though I suppose I'd rather there than here. The heat's far too oppressive."

Christoph pursed his lips lightly, looking towards his daughter now as he addressed Loras. "Not soon enough. I plan to have the two wed soon after our return. The sooner the better...no?" And now he cocked an eyebrow and looked to Loria, waiting for her to respond.

But now he turned to Loras and crossed one leg over the other. "And you, my son?" he asked. "I've seen you speak with King Ulfric these past few days. Interested in his daughter? She's a lovely thing, and a man like you would do well in Ostwall."

Loras certainly did not mean the Queen in his earlier statement, but a familiar pair of pale green eyes surrounded by laughter lines did occupy his mind for a moment. Ulfric had told him that his rooms were always open to him... Perhaps after this, he would go and try to get to know the man a little better. He couldn’t forget how that weathered hand had felt in his own, and he couldn’t forget his words... A man’s kingdom is his, except for when it wasn’t. Perhaps a man’s life was his as well... save for when it wasn’t. And this life did not truly feel like his.

He inclined his head at his words. He missed Falor, to be entirely honest. He particularly missed it right then, with its cool breezes and beautiful forests. It had been home, and now it felt as if home was fractured and invisible. For all of its flaws and ruins, it was a place that had promised sanctuary. Now, there was none. And there was that horrible longing to go home again. He dipped his head down for a moment, gathering himself together once more, just in time to chuckle at his father’s words. “It feels as if we might all bake.” He murmured, amusement coloring his voice.

“Maybe we should take a communal trip to the ocean.” Ris hummed, slipping her arm around her brother, offering him silent support. He was able to relax a little more at her nearness, and he nodded in agreement.

“You’re setting yourself up to be tossed into the water.” Loras teased, and it was her turn to laugh softly.

“Assuming you can catch me.” She provided, rubbing her thumb along the edge of her own glass. Loras hummed in response to that, and then glanced back to his father as Ris inclined her head, soon raising her chin a little. Those blue eyes were sharp, and Loras gave her a comforting little squeeze. They were both well aware that this was a power play, but Ris also knew that it felt as if her heart was being torn in two. But marriage was but a ceremony, and they could work this out. She kept her thoughts close to her heart, though, refraining from mentioning anything that could give her father an edge over her. “Might as well.” She replied. “Though I don’t see the need for a rush--Lucas is already king, and it’s not as if he’ll be backing out of this engagement anytime soon.” Not that she would want him to, honestly.

Loras took a drink from his glass at exactly the wrong time. It was only with great effort that he didn’t choke on it, and he still coughed hard into his fist once he swallowed. Adelaide was pretty enough, perhaps, but she was not even on his mind. “I suppose she is.” He replied after a moment, when he was sure that his voice wouldn’t die on him. Hopefully he could work off of the assumption that he was going after the Queen still. “But I’m afraid my mind is otherwise occupied.” Amusement flickered in his gaze for a moment.

"Yes," he replied simply, smiling as his son joked in regards to the weather. Christoph tugged at the collar of his tunic which hugged his neck, attempting to cool himself. He watched the two of him, brother and sister, banter playfully, the way siblings ought to. Certainly he and his sister had had a similar friendship at one point. He and his brother had never been close, but that was expected of two boys who were in competition with each other for their father's affection and, more importantly, his titles.

Christoph smiled ever so slightly as Ris nodded, acknowledging his suggestion - which, he hoped she noted, was less of a suggestion and more of a promise to indeed have them wed soon after their return. "Your confidence in His Majesty is exemplary," Christoph remarked, finishing off his drink before placing the glass down. "A wife ought to love her husband as so." He took to his feet again, brushing his hands along the front of his outfit to smooth it out.

"But men change their mind, and their affections are fleeting," he continued, pursing his lips for a moment as he looked between his children. "I imagine you two know that well enough." But had his affections really been as fleeting? Somewhere he still retained affection for the mothers of his children. And yet it was never a strong enough bond that he wished to wed them.

But he didn't let himself linger long on the thought, for Loras gave a sharp cough that tore Christoph's attention away from what he had been saying. "Yes, I suppose it is," he remarked, smiling back at his son. "I should let you tend to your duties - you have a Queen and thus a kingdom to protect, no?" Christoph stepped forward and placed a hand against his son's arm again. "You've done well for yourself. I've no doubt you will continue to make me proud." Though he smiled back at the young man, his gaze did not change from its previous iciness - despite the good intentions of his words.

"I shall see you soon, I hope." And with that, he ushered the two of them out of his room and locked the doors once more before making his way towards the group of nobles and royals that had moved inside.