over the moaning bones
of those who quit and chose to remain
Upon hearing word that King Somnus’ son was critically ill, Atreus had wasted no time in gathering what supplies and tools were necessary, packing them away in a bag that would be carried by Israfel. He had only shared a few short, parting words with Fiona before joining back up with the Warden and heading north for Delumine.
His haste wasn’t because he cared for the fate of the child, however. No, he was fueled by the name which Asterion had spoken, the name of his dear brother whom he hadn’t laid eyes on since the day he was dragged from the throne room of the Vhallen Palace and down to the dank, musty prison cells below.
On warm winds they flew, and where Atreus would normally take the opportunity to pick the brains of his traveling companions, the poison master was oddly quiet as they left the musty, humid swamplands in exchange for impressive, verdant forests that outlined gently rolling meadows. The citadel itself was easy to locate, its pointed spires looming high above the rest of the land, serving as a beacon to those who called this place home. Atreus might have been impressed by the ivy-covered structure were it not for the possibility that it was his brother which lived within it, serving as 'King'.
Tipping his wings back to increase the drag against them, the roan began to descend as they encroached on the capitol, searching vigilantly for any sign of that nettlesome coat of gold he remembered far more clearly than he cared to admit. But as his hooves found purchase on solid ground once more, no longer could he allow his annoyance to be displayed so blatantly. Instead, the pinched look of his features softened and he bore a pleasant smile where a scowl had once called home.
Tucking his wings against his silvered sides, Atreus began to approach the citadel with Israfel and Theodosia in tow. “We hail from Terrastella,” he explained clearly to whomsoever he saw first, “We received news that the King’s son is ill and we’ve come to lend our aid however we may.”
Israfel was grateful for the poison master’s silence along the journey, for she wasn’t particularly in the mood to talk. This was a business trip with rather somber reasons, but the Sun Daughter couldn’t help but feel compelled to seek out other business while in Delumine. She had been to the Dawn Court only once before, seasons ago, during their Music and Arts Festival. It had been beautiful then, abundant with plant life and resources, but seeing it now… Well, it was a vast contrast to how she remembered it.
From overhead, the sight was a sad one. Where once proud forests stood talk with thick fingers of foliage reaching towards the skies, there was little but charred remains in the wake of what had once been a fierce wildfire. Smoke still clung to the breeze from ash kicked up by strong winds, staining the back of her throat and conjuring up memories that were better left forgotten. Luckily it appeared that the flames had not damaged too close to the capitol, as the citadel itself seemed whole and well.
Small blessings and all that. She knew well the destructive force of her very own element.
Altering their path to land, Israfel’s gilded wings spread out wide, feathers fanning to slow their descent. Solaris glided just above her bonded’s head, lavender eyes peering around Delumine in a knowing sort of way. Gradually they landed, cloven hooves scraping against the stone as they came to a halt, and soon enough they were all safely upon the earth, wings tucked close to their sides, and venturing closer into the heart of the capitol.
Passing by what must have been a guard or a page, Israfel allowed Atreus to do the talking. Her job here wasn’t to converse. She had been ordered to see Atreus and the gifted supplies safely to Delumine, and now, her job was done… But she knew better than to just go fuck off, of course. Even as the page-guard-whoever it was nodded and rushed off in a flurry of movement, surely to pass the message on to the Regime, Israfel’s knowing vermilion eyes scanned those she could spot mingling in the courtyard, searching for one familiar body of blue roan and golden eyes. He wasn’t around, at least not yet. Perhaps he would arrive with the Sovereign of Dawn Court.
Letting out a breath with the roll of a shoulder, the Sun Daughter remained standing even as Solaris carefully took roost upon her croup. The bag around her shoulders felt like a precious treasure; full of medical supplies and even seeds for regrowth, it was far more precious than one could know. It would only be to the Sovereign, or someone of trust to the Dawn King, that she would relinquish the gifts to… Not to mention that Atreus’ own supplies were mingled within.
“… You think you can help the kid?” She inquired softly to the red roan, rose-kissed lips remaining in that stubborn, contemplative frown.
It was, by all rights, a peaceful, beautiful day. Perhaps that was why the Gods, cruel as they could sometimes be, saw it fit to mess it all up.
The fires had finally been contained and doused. Peace and normality were settling over Delumine once more. No longer did they have to fret of losing their home or their lives, but still worry and fear would not leave Somnus’ golden breast. Anxiety pinched every nerve in his body, stealing his breath on the best of days, waiting and watching as his frail son grew ever weaker, ever sicker, slowly but surely succumbing to the illness that he had been born with. Would they lose him? Would today be the day that they went to rouse Regis from his slumber, only for him to never wake? Those were the constant thoughts that plagued Somnus’ head and heart, but he did his best to appear strong around his family and his people. They were worried. They were suffering. They were rebuilding. Now was not the time to falter.
Pressing a kiss to his son’s resting brow, Somnus lipped at the strands of Regis’ growing forelock with a gentle fondness. Slowly, quietly, he lifted his head and rolled his shoulders back, turning to instead press his muzzle into the soft skin of Eulalie’s neck. “Come, darling.” Roosting upon a wooden perch, Alba popped her beak once at the pair. The barn owl had returned from Terrastella days prior and had hardly left Regis’ side since then, which Somnus found himself grateful for. Having someone always looking after the boy helped soothe the concern, but not entirely.
Leaving their personal quarters, side by side, Somnus willed the door shut quietly behind them, but not before Tabbris could follow. Even if Regis happened to wake, seeing Alba there would stave off any worry he might feel. Sickly though he was, the boy was determined, headstrong, and so incredibly persistent. He would be fine for a while. Turning their way down the hall, the last thing that Somnus expected was to be accosted by a harried looking page. The young horse rushed up to them, giving them both a nod before speaking quickly, clearly winded from his mad rush through the capitol grounds.
”The party from Terrastella have come. They’re awaiting you both in the courtyard.”
Blessed Oriens.
Relief settled over Somnus like a tender mantle, so strong that his shoulders trembled and his posture slackened. His eyes, pools of verdant filled to the brim with elation and liberation, turned to focus on Eulalie’s soft earthen browns. A smile lit up dark lips as the dunalino let out a very audible breath, feeling as though that cumbersome, troubled weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders. “Let’s not keep them waiting, Eulalie.” So elated and uncaring of the company of the page, Somnus leaned forward to press the most intimate of kisses to his beloved’s cheek, turning so that the mottled feathers of his wing brushed against her side.
Finally. Oh, finally. He prayed that these anticipated strangers from Terrastella would be able to help Regis, for neither he nor Eulalie had any clue what else to do. Heading down the hallways, Somnus kept pace with his ivory and blonde-tressed love. Together they stepped outside of the citadel, the sun bearing down warm and welcome upon their backs. Verdant eyes, glittering with joy and eagerness, flicked across the courtyard. He spotted the waiting group immediately, a dashing smile pulling at his lips, and unthinking, he approached. Unaware. Unknowing.
His eyes roamed the group as he and Eulalie crossed the distance, and then… Then. It was the expression that Somnus first saw once they were close enough to make out the finer details of their long-awaited guests. Not the body, the familiar color of rusted, roaning silver or dark crimson feathers akin to a bird of prey. It wasn’t the size of him, the shape, or even the stature, no, but the expression… That face. Twisted, gnarled, cruel, those eyes… Oh, Somnus knew those eyes; the black sclera, the inching, twisting, inky blackness that stretched from the stallion’s right eye and downwards, downwards. He did not see the others. Could not see the others, for it was only him.
All at once, Somnus drew up short. The elation slipped from his face like melting ice, his pulse beginning to race, the cloying scent of smoke and ash filling his lungs as he remembered, oh did he remember. Screams. The dying. The citadel of Vhallen going up in flames and his king, oh, his beloved king, slain upon marble stone steps.
Atreus. His brother. There was no proof, but Somnus was no fool. One traitor was all it had taken to take his king from him. A single man.
Once, perhaps, happiness might fill his breast at seeing his older brother standing there before him, alive. Now? Oh, now, only anger remained. Anger, deep and cruel, a rage unlike anything Somnus had ever felt before slowly crawled up from his very core, ugly and black like the identical, putrid corruption that infiltrated Atreus’ very being. It was only the knowledge that his people were standing around, that Eulalie was at his side, which stopped Somnus from immediately launching in to the offensive.
Collect yourself, Somnus. Your tongue is your weapon. Use it.
“Atreus.” Never before had Somnus’ voice sounded so cold, so void of warmth and full of hatred. While he would not be so outwardly hostile, he would not save such a tone from his tongue. Let his brother know his hatred; Somnus did not care. He moved, shifting closer to Eulalie as though to protect her from whatever trick this might be, as a strange, boiling sensation seemed to begin within his very own blood. “… What a surprise to see that you’re alive.” And in Novus, no less.
Up amongst the cloud cover that blanketed the lands, held aloft by the warm winds of summer, the Halcyon cadet never once took her pale eyes away from the two figures who preceded her. No longer drenched by the torrential downpours, her hair was tied up along her neck and held in place by pale roses, bright streaks of red paint gleaming proudly along her wings -- she was a representative of Terrastella, and the Halcyon Unit in particular, and she had done her best to insure that she wouldn’t be found lacking.
That didn’t loosen the ball of nerves in her stomach, however. Upon her own back was yet another leather package filled with precious seeds, dried herbs, and other supplies for the fire-ravaged nation, fastened around her chest and barrel to keep it secure, and yet with every movement of her wings she couldn’t help but envision how the pack would go flying off into the forest below.
Her wings fold and spill air, the pale pegasus lazily spiraling after @Israfel and @Atreus as they descend into the forest proper and alight upon the gleaming citadel that is Delumine’s capital. She lands straight-legged, wings folding against her sides almost immediately and eyes scanning the assembled crowd, but she does not speak, only stands slightly back from the Warden and the Champion and awaits the king.
He doesn’t leave them waiting long -- and when he speaks, she feels the very air around her chill several degrees, eyes sweeping between @Somnus and Atreus. The two know each other, she can see that much, and from the looks of it, the history is not a pleasant one. The Halcyon soldier takes a step forward, as subtle as she can be, and leans slightly towards Israfel with a hushed voice.
"Against the odds, against the grain we lean, like gardens toward light.
We reach with all of our might for such a noble aim as love."
The world was a quiet thing that day, as gentle and soft as the face of her sleeping son. It was a healing thing, working slowly but persistently every day to get better in any way that it could. Through the caring, helpful actions of others and the drawing together of their hearts to remain strong. It would take time, all things took time, but in time they would start to notice the little rays of sunshine poking through the clouds. They would breathe easier and stop looking to the horizon waiting for flames and smoke to swallow them. In time, nurtured and coaxed, their smiles, their laughter, the lights in their eyes would all return.
What Eulalie worried for now, however, was Regis. While the world, while the court healed, he ailed. The smoke had not done him any favors, no matter how hard they had tried to keep him out of it, all the tireless hours entertaining him from within the castle walls to keep him from missing the outside world. For all they had done, still he suffered, grew worse with each passing day. Her heart ached, cried, for every coughing fit he had or every time she touched him and his skin was fever warm. She was with him as constantly as she could be, refusing to ever leave his side if she could help it. What if she turned her back and he needed her?
Eulalie watched as Somnus pressed a kiss to their son’s forehead, and his gentleness, his affection, filled her with warmth. Regis was asleep for now, and at least in sleep he appeared to get some peace. She turned her head and touched her muzzle against Somnus’ cheek as he pressed his against her neck, taking some comfort in the feeling of his skin. Then she leaned down toward Regis and did the same, carefully brushing her nose across his cheek. “Sleep well, my love,” she whispered, before stepping back and joining Somnus as they left their rooms. Alba stayed, an ever present vigil over Regis, though Tabbris followed along behind them.
In the hallway they were confronted by a page who told them that, at long last, the help they had sent away for from Terrastella had arrived. Eulalie’s heart beat a little quicker as she hoped, dearly hoped, that their Champion would be able to help, for if Novus’ prized healers, famed for their hospital in the trees, could do nothing for their son, what hope did they have? The golden haired woman refused to think such things, however. There would always be hope, the sun would always rise on a new day. There was always a chance.
They headed for the courtyard immediately and it was not difficult to spot them, a triad of pegasi—one carrying what appeared to be supplies—standing together. Already there was a smile on her face, for only seeing them gave her the bit of strength that she needed. They were her ray of sunshine poking through dark clouds. Eulalie thought she recognized one of them, the woman of alabaster and gold, from the festival that had been held in Delumine’s Viride Forest once upon a time. The warrior believed she had seen her in passing, speaking with a certain golden eyed man she knew well. The other two, however, were unfamiliar to her.
She was prepared to introduce herself when Somnus pulled up short and Eulalie stopped, her brow drawn together in confusion. “Somnus? What’s wrong?” Her earth brown eyes looked into his, and what she saw there tightened her chest. There was no welcome, no joy, in his expression. “Dear…?” She felt equal parts concern and confusion. She had no idea what was eliciting this reaction from him, and her gaze flickered back over the party traveling from Terrastella, not knowing what to do. Feeding off her apprehension, Tabbris slowly shifted from a calm companion to an alert guardian. The crest on his head began to rise, his feathered chest puffing up slightly as he slowly clicked his beak a few times, drawing closer to the group. If he were not already a large beast, this would only serve to make him appear bigger.
Then Somnus spoke, and the sound of it sent a chill down her spine. She had never heard him speak in such a way, and when he stepped closer to her as though to protect her from something… or someone she really knew that all was not right. “I don’t understand. Somnus, who is he?” Clearly Somnus knew the red hued man who hailed from the Dusk Court to offer his services, but why was his reaction so volatile? She looked to the stranger, trying to work out what was happening. “I’m sorry, you’ve come such a long way to help us, I’m not sure…” and truly she was not sure. She could have no idea the history between them.
over the moaning bones
of those who quit and chose to remain
Capturing the attention of a page, Atreus watched as they scurried out of sight into the citadel to locate the man which they sought. His posture was lax as they waited, one hind leg cocked with the dark tip of his hoof pressing into the soil. There were eyes upon them, but Atreus paid them no mind, his eyes glued on the door where the page had disappeared in to. He caught Israfel’s faintly spoken question and he narrowly scoffed in his response. “I do not think,” he chided, “I know.”
In time, they come. One is a fair lady with fine hair of honey, alabaster skin a stark contrast against the earthly smudges which mar her side and neck, but his attention strays quickly from her to instead fall on the gilded form of the one he had hoped to see: his brother, now a King of sorts, Somnus. It took everything Atreus had not to scowl, fighting gravity to twist it into a sharp smile that looked nothing short of pure happiness. But, oh, how he wished to bury the cold steel of a knife into Somnus’ golden heart, twisting and twisting, watching him writhe until his body stopped pretending to care.
Watching with immeasurable pleasure as the light in his brother’s eyes was promptly extinguished, Atreus dared to step closer, that faux smile clinging desperately to him all the while. He sighed heavily as though relieved to see his brother at long last, immune to the coldness of his voice, watching and taking note of the way Somnus shifted closer to the female in his company. How intriguing that was; the mother to his sick child, perhaps?
“Oh, brother,” the roan’s silvered words came carried on his exhale, “You don’t know how good it is to see you again after all these years! I was so very terrified I might have lost you amongst the others. How long has it been?” But before Somnus could provide an answer, Atreus continued, uncaring if he cut off any attempt to speak. “Long enough to raise a family and find a seat on a throne, hm? I’m so proud.”
His following question was directed at the pair, but this time his eyes fell and remained upon Eulalie, though he knew not her name. That sickly sweet smile finally faltered, taking the shape of a worrisome frown. “His Majesty told me of your son and his state. Where is the boy?” Another step closer, and his words were unwittingly a double-edged sword. “I would loathe for him to suffer a moment longer.”
so welcome to the fire, I’m the one with the lighter
Israfel had half the mind to kick the Champion of Healing for his tone. Conceited, much? It wasn’t like she was surprised, though. Throughout their brief interactions born by pure necessity, Israfel had come to the very certain conclusion that Atreus was a man fueled by vanity, greed, and opportunistic tendencies, his arrogance bordering on unhealthy.
Vermilion eyes rolled and rose-kissed lips twitched downward in a scowl, her gaze twisting to focus momentarily on Theodosia. This was beginning to feel a lot like babysitting… The Sun Daughter held her tongue, however, instead focusing on the newcomers as they were joined in the courtyard by members of the Dawn Court proper. It was easy enough to recognize Somnus; she had seen the gilded Dawn King once before during Delumine’s flower festival to recognize him, but she did not recognize the ivory, sunflower-haired maiden at his side.
What followed was something that she doubted anyone was expecting. Somnus’ reaction to seeing Atreus was anything but positive, and unwillingly, the Warden bristled in uncertainty, poised to react and defend if the need arose. Perhaps not defend Atreus, necessarily, nor was she keen on causing a scene within a Court that wasn’t even her own, but Israfel wasn’t about to let anything happen to the traveling party from Terrastella if it was in her power.
Catching movement from Theodosia, Israfel grit her teeth, watching the situation unfold around them. “I’m uncertain,” she admitted, turning her head to whisper back to the dutiful cadet beneath her breath, “If it’s his doing, then I’d rather not get involved.” At least not more than they already were.
Surely nothing would be going well after Atreus’ remark in the matter, of course. The sarcasm that dripped from the Champion of Healing with every spoken word was potent, dripping like oil onto a flame, and the ivory and gold Warden shifted uncomfortably. To act or stand down… Well. This was interesting. Family drama, because who the fuck knew that Atreus and Somnus were brothers, could be interesting to watch… But Israfel honestly didn’t want to get involved.
Let Atreus dig his own grave. She would only make sure she and Theodosia managed to get the silvered roan back to Terrastella in one piece.
Oh, but Somnus knew that his drastically altered demeanor was cause of alarm for Eulalie. In the back of his mind he felt terrible for concerning her so, but she did not know the slaughter that this wretched, cursed man was capable of. He had seen it with his own eyes. He knew the destruction and agony that Atreus could inflict upon a kingdom, how the ichor within his very being could corrupt all of the goodness around him. Atreus was a walking blight, a damnation personified and shoved into a vile body, and were they not in a very public space with his beloved Eulalie at his side, Somnus knew that he would see to it personally that Atreus did not leave Delumine alive.
Luck you.
Verdant eyes burned with a freezing glare so full of hatred and malice as Atreus dared take a step closer. He bristled, wings beginning to unfurl and rise, his chin slowly tucking downwards towards his chest as though ready to charge and pierce this man’s hollow chest where his heart should have been with his obsidian horn. Instead of acting as he wanted, however, Somnus held his ground. Angered and offended as he was, he was no fool.
Asterion would not knowingly send a murderer in response to his plea for assistance with Regis and so Somnus did not fault him. More than likely Atreus, somehow, was one of the best healers of Terrastella, or else he would not have been sent at all. Of course, it could very well all be a trap for this walking aberration to harm his beloved Eulalie and precious Regis… Somnus cast a quick glance to the two pallid mares in Atreus company, and judged them for what they were; the escort, probably. He did not know, but his offense was not with them.
Focus. He is in your dominion, but do not act a fool. You are better than your anger. Use him to your advantage.
Sucking in a deep, measured breath, the Dawn King did his best to collect his wrath and abhorrence. It was time to use his position and talents in diplomacy to his advantage. Still, before much else could be spouted from his brother’s reservoir of lies, the dunalino lifted his jaw and directed his gaze momentarily to Eulalie. “Do not trust him,” he whispered inaudibly, dark lips moving as he went on in hushed whispers, “I will tell you more when we are alone, but please, darling… Do not trust him.”
Ever so slowly did Somnus allow his wings to fold back against his sides, but his stature did not lose its rigid posture. Muscles bunched and tendons coiled, he was prepared for any wrong move that Atreus might take. The Dawn King’s emerald eyes stared hard into Atreus’ own marred gaze, disliking every word that dripped like poison from his elder brother’s lips. Oh, indeed. He knew a threat when he heard one, and the words that the silvered roan bemoaned were just that. Sleep would be nonexistent over the course of the next few days…
Lifting his head, jaw set and regal, the Dawn King cleared his throat and, at last, truly addressed Delumine’s visitors. For now, he would ignore Atreus’ words until he deemed ready. “Welcome to Delumine. Should you require respite from your travels, know that we will readily provide what we can.” As he spoke, his eyes did not even glance at Atreus, instead regarding the two pallid escorts as though his brother wasn’t even there. Only then, welcome said and done, did his icy gaze return to the silvered roan.
“Your lies are most unbecoming, brother, for I know that you are no more elated to see me as I am to see you. Still, you are here and you are a guest, so do at least try to behave while you are in my Court. I would loathe for word of a poor performance and pitiable manners to return to King Asterion.” Rolling a shoulder, Somnus went on quickly with a clipped, polished proficiency, uncaring of the effect his scathing words might hold. He wondered, briefly, how difficult it might be to have Atreus stripped of whatever position he had somehow weaseled himself into within Terrastella’s ranks. The threat was tempting.
”This is Eulalie, my beloved life-mate. Eulalie, this is my older half-brother, Atreus.” Half-brother. Ultimately, that was the beginning of the derision between the two of them, despite the sheer captivation that Somnus had once held towards Atreus during his boyhood. “Regis is currently resting. Perhaps when he awakens you can look him over.” But only with a full-blown guard in the same room. There was no way that Somnus would allow the man to be close to Regis without being in the same room. Luckily Alba was there now, and he wondered if Tabbris could also be coerced into staying with the young Dawn Prince at all times, at least until Atreus and his retinue departed from Delumine.
"Against the odds, against the grain we lean, like gardens toward light.
We reach with all of our might for such a noble aim as love."
The man of silver and red stepped closer and signed, and Eulalie’s dark eyes watched him with wariness. She did not know if the shiver up her spine was genuine or if perhaps her body was only responding to the way Somnus bristled at her side. His wings unfurled, his own body moving into an offensive position.
“Oh, brother,” and if those words did not make her breathe in a little sharply. That Somnus had a brother, whether he’d been believed of being dead or not, was news to her. Eulalie glanced at Somnus again, peeling her eyes away from Atreus’ unsettling pairing of black and gold. Everything about his words seemed so genuine and yet something was so clearly off here. The tension was so palpable that even still Tabbris stood stiffly aware off the side.
At last Somnus turned to her, speaking beneath his breath, she assumed so that the others would not hear. His warning settled within her like a stone, heavy and uncomfortable. Oh, he was fortunate however that he promised to tell her more because the ivory woman would have demanded it otherwise. She had been chained and imprisoned and still had never before felt so in the dark. Regardless, Eulalie continued to stand tall. Do not trust, perhaps, but do not show fear either.
But oh, when Atreus’ gaze landed on her did her skin crawl. The way he fixated, his smile falling to a frown. Eulalie, make no mistake, had been subjected to much staring in her life. The disapproving kind, the lewd kind, in ways that made her feel like prey or like the only girl in the world. But the way this man looked at her had her on edge. She stood her ground and did not flinch beneath his eyes, held them, even, with her own.
There was little that she could offer to the conversation happening. Much like the two escorts from Terrastella, there was no place for her in it other than as an observer. Every word that left Somnus’ lips only proved to concern her more and she could not image the rivers of bad blood that flowed between the two. If startled her just how cold he was, how short spoken each of his sentences were.
“I hope you find Delumine to your liking during your stay,” she said at last, refusing to be inhospitable to their guests as she looked over them all. Though she could not predict the outcome of this day, she could only continue to hope that, despite Somnus’ misgivings and the obvious rift between the two men, Atreus was truly capable and willing to help Regis. She would do whatever it took to secure such good will for her loved ones.
Family drama is something she is well-accustomed to -- her various siblings had seemingly always been in a stage of conflict, constantly undermining each other in their quest to gain her sire’s approval and the power that came with it, betraying each other without a second thought if it would get them gold or glory. There had been no love lost between them, and none even considered for the half-mortal who had been a source of derision from the rest of the celestial siblings.
She had survived the crab pot that had been her siblings when she had taken wing and found her home here in Novus. Some things were better left in the past, even if interfering goddesses with less sense than an ant seemed to think otherwise. Atreus reminds her of her siblings -- he oozes the arrogance of young gods playing with paltry power, and she shifts closer to the pair unconsciously, muscles tense and poised to spring between the two brothers if she should have to.
“This is going to end badly,” She whispers back to the other pegasus mare, her eyes firmly fixed on the golden king and the dark healer. “.... are we supposed to intervene if things start going south?” She was sure that between the two of them, they could handle things getting messy, but… well, what kind of effect would that have on relationships between the two courts?
Her attention shifts to Eulalie as the golden-haired woman speaks, and a small smile crosses her lips despite her worries. “Thank you, your majesty. Your home truly is beautiful.” She has a duty to uphold here, after all -- both as the representative of the Halcyon Unit, and in preparing to take on the role that Asterion had offered to her.