Post by Cassandra Demarais on Mar 26, 2020 20:08:02 GMT -5
[CASSANDRA] It was hours after the incident...the most recent one, that is, and most of the castle was already asleep. The guards were still on alert, however, and it was going to make this dangerous task of hers far more difficult. Cassandra had gone to Eleesa immediately after finding out what had happened to the queen and was forced to give the woman the news. It devastated her, but the Tresterian queen informed her of Edward's very slow descent into, what she could only describe as, madness. He hadn't been his usual self in weeks, but his outburst at the wedding was the worst he had been. That is, until later on. Cassandra's stomach was still twisted into knots as she stood in her room now, some time after midnight; shaking fingers carefully sliding crushed hemlock root and leaves into a wineskin without touching it with her fingers. Strangely, when she decided to read up on herbology, poisonous plants was the first chapter she sought for. And she supposed it was coming in handy now, even if she was completely terrified. Was she really doing this? Was she thinking clearly? Her hands couldn't remain still, and she wasn't sure if she was going mad. But all she could think about was how traumatized Alexandria was, the tears in Aric's eyes, the fear and lost expression on Eleesa's face. Edward was damaging lives around him, and it was only a matter of time before he brought the whole of Tresteria down with him. If she didn't do it, Aric or even Orin, might actually kill him. And they would be sentenced for that.
No, she had to do this. It was the only way. She wasn't even thinking about herself anymore. Sliding a cloak over her shoulders, she drew up the hood and carefully slipped from her room. Taking her time, she hid in crevices and alcoves in the walls when a guard walked by, testing her patience every step of the way until she could make it down to the dungeons below. There was a lone guard keeping patrol at this hour and she couldn't easily rush passed him. No one could know she had been there. But she was prepared for this. When he stood up from the small table to go off and relieve himself, Cass pulled a tiny vial of a sleeping draft from her bodice and rushed forward. The contents were quickly emptied into the small flagon of mead he was in the process of drinking before she hid once more. It was minutes before the concoction kicked in and he was snoring with his face planted upon the table. Her heart was pounding now, completely terrified of what she was attempting to do. Could she go through with this? What would become of her if this didn't work...or if it did work? Drawing in a staggered breath, forcing her tears to stay away, Cassandra rushed passed the guard and further into the dungeons, searching for Edward's cell. "Edward?" she called out quietly.
[EDWARD] He wasn't sure how he had gotten in this cell, but when he woke up he was here, his face stained with blood and aching with pain. He couldn't see out of one of his eyes and his nose was broken. Yet, all he could think about was how close he had gotten to feeling the queen... How badly he wanted to take her from Aric and that he never should have given her to him. Aric was a traitor. Beating him the way he had--killing his guard with, what was that? An Aralorian sword? Had he switched sides so easily....Because of a woman? He was supposed to remain faithful to Tresteria. It was so quiet down here, and dark. He hated it. But once his wife heard of him being tossed down here, he was sure they would free him. The stupid woman couldn't live without him. She'd need him.
When he heard the voice call out for him, he stood up and scrambled towards the bars of his cell. "Cassandra?" He recognized her voice. "You have to help me... I didn't do anything wrong... Aric... he has gone mad over this queen... I simply tried to instill some of Tresterian tradition...and he flipped out on me."
[CASSANDRA] It almost hurt her to see him in this kind of state. For the briefest of moments, she wondered if there was a way to help him instead of...this. Going to the bars of his cell, a hand curled slender fingers around on as she gazed at him with actual sympathy. But then he was speaking, and she realized how much worse the whole situation had been. Edward hadn't just simply been in the room...he had watched them before daring to take advantage of the queen after. Cassandra thought she might be sick, especially since she had to play along. Being defiant wouldn't work this time, she had to cater to him. Despite how disgusted she was with him, a few tears were actually beginning to form in her eyes; one escaping to fall down her cheek. It was true pity in her eyes, because he was a decent man, despite his faults. And he could have been a great leader. Cassandra kept telling herself that this was for his own good. He could be at peace. "Yes, it's me," she said, drawing back the hood of that cloak so that he could see her face. "I know, cousin. I know." It killed her to pretend, but she had to push on. "He's spreading falsehoods about you now. I'm worried for you." The wineskin in her other hand felt so heavy...
[EDWARD] "Falsehoods? Like what?" He growled with anger. "I don't know what his problem is--he's gotten worse since coming here... It's that queen... She's poisoned his head... manipulated him to go against me... I was merely trying to help... Put a Tresterian heir into her...Because we both know Aric just kills his wives and children..." He sighed. "Do you think you could talk to him? Tell him he is being crazy... To let me go. I just want to go home now...Put all of this behind and move on."
[CASSANDRA] She was struggling to keep her emotions under control. But Edward kept talking and talking, digging that grave of his even deeper. He spoke of Maria and Isabelle like they had been nothing, like they had been an inconvenience. Meanwhile, it took so much for Aric to ever allow himself to fall in love again...and Edward wanted to rip that from him, too. Her hand gripped that cold bar a little tighter, but she forced herself to nod. "I will try, Edward. I promise. Eleesa and the boys miss you..." Her voice nearly cracked at the thought of little Edward and Thomas...but she had to do this. What would this man do to them if Eleesa wasn't the one to raise them? Swallowing a hard lump in her throat, she lifted the wineskin to slip it through the bars, purposely looking over her shoulder as if worried she'll be caught. "Here. I managed to get you some wine. I'm sure it's better than the filthy water they've dared to give you. I can try to smuggle in better food, too...but I can't linger very long." Her heart was thundering in her chest and she was forcing to keep the pain and shock from her face with what was mixed into that wine.
[EDWARD] He winced from the pain in his face as he managed to smile from Cass' words. Of course his sons and wife missed him. They wouldn't be able to live long without him. He grinned again but quickly winced from the pain as Cass handed him the wine. "Ugh... Thank you, cousin..." He took the wineskin from her and opened it. "You need to get out of here before he turns on you, too... " He sighed and lifted that wineskin to his lips, but pulled it away, looking at Cass. " Go back to Tresteria. You will be safe there." He took a long swig of that wine, then, chugging it as if he was dying of thirst. When he finished it, he looked to her again. "Some food would be nice."
[CASSANDRA] "You're welcome, Edward..." she whispered softly. Something about that had her chest feeling heavy, and she almost snatched the wine straight from his hand. Instead, both of hers gripped the bars now, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from crying or whimpering in fear. "I will go..." she found herself whispering in false agreement as he finally chugged that wine. Why did he suddenly seem like he cared for her, telling her to go and be safe? Had she made a mistake? Her throat was tightening up again and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had put a lot of the hemlock into that wine, so even a large swig of it would take affect fairly quickly. Perhaps in a few moments, he would feel strange, tired even. Ever so slowly that poison would begin to paralyze various body systems, inevitably the respiratory system. As much as she hated what he has done, Cassandra silently prayed that it was swift. That there would be no pain, no sickness...just a sense of nothing until he stopped breathing. Like his body simply gave up. She reached an arm through the bars, seeking out his hand in her moment of weakness. "I'll...return with food as soon as I can. I promise..."
[EDWARD] He nodded, taking another sip of that wine. It was good and helped with the drunken buzz he was slowly coming down from. He waved her off. "Then go. I'm hungry." He stepped away from the bars and sat down, drinking the remaining wine from that container before throwing it against the bars.
[CASSANDRA] He left her standing there, waiting, only to dismiss the simple attempt at comfort. She was quick to realize that it was her attempt at trying to comfort herself and this horrendous sin she has committed. As he moved away from her, she finally let her tears fall; withdrawing her hand with a staggering intake of breath. "Rest well, cousin..." Cassandra watched him drink the rest of that wine, knowing the poison would begin to take over very soon, and she was too weak to watch. She had to step away. But before she did, she withdrew another tiny bottle that was mostly empty, except for a few traces of another kind of poison, one with a distinct odor. Perhaps, if she was lucky, the guards might think he was so traumatized by what he had done, that Edward killed himself. Dropping it to let it roll wherever it wished into his cell, her eyes lingered on him for but a moment longer, she finally spun on her heels to run from the dungeon...unaware that the guard was beginning to awaken and swore to himself, with blurred vision, that someone was rushing passed him. Only pausing to make sure no one was at the top of the steps, she fled down the halls to find the nearest exit out to the courtyard. The tears were streaming down her cheeks now and she swore she was going to be sick as she burst out into the cold, night air. She collapsed to her knees onto the hard earth, arms wrapping tightly around herself.
[EDWARD] As Cassandra walked away, he started to feel a tightness in his throat. His chest felt heavy and his breathing became labored. He tried to move, but couldn't, it was as if his muscles became weakened and stuck. When he tried to move, he collapsed to the ground, trying to get to those bars to yell out for help. But his voice wouldn't come out. He started choking and suddenly...everything went black. The king of Tresteria was dead.
[ORIN] He had been looking for Cassandra for a good hour now, after ensuring that guards were stations where they needed to be. He spoke with the guards who were supposed to be at Alexandria's door and heard their story. Edward had convinced them they were not needed. And the two men earned a very heated verbal lashing from Orin, and demoted from ever watching the queen again. When he was done, he went to Cassandra's room, but the guards had told him she had not been back yet. So he started looking around for her. With no luck, he decided to make his way out to the courtyard to get some air. This night had been awful. He wanted to fix things and make everything go away--but he wasn't sure where to start. As he stood there contemplating things, he heard a door swing open and saw Cassandra running out and collapsing to the ground. Eyes widened and he ran over to her, dropping down beside her. "Cass? Are you alright?" He searched her over, trying to see if she had been injured or harmed, and when he saw no sign of anything he placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" What a stupid question for such a horrid night.
[CASSANDRA] How different this was since the last time they ran across each other in the courtyard. It seemed so long ago now. But she was startled to hear him just as she had that first time; wild, green eyes turning to him filled with tears. The fear was evident, and she felt her throat closing up, knowing that her cousin was dying that very moment if he wasn't already gone. The sobs were uncontrollable, staggering within her chest and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Cassandra leaned away from his hand, shaking her head quickly, "Don't ask me that..." Her voice was so quiet, cracking as she tried to calm down her tears. What had she done? "For your own sake, do not ask me that." She had to stop and calm down, she had to breathe. If anyone else saw her breakdown, saw her out there and not in her room safely guarded, there might be questions.
[ORIN] He looked to her with a serious expression as she leaned away from him and told him not to ask her if she was alright. And what was bothering her. How could he not? He was beginning to worry with how badly she was sobbing, and he didn't know what to do or think. Despite her pulling away, he grabbed hold of her and pulled her into him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Cass, calm down... Whatever it is... You can tell me." He was shrugging his coat from his shoulders and he quickly draped it over hers, rubbing her arms to try and warm her from the cold. "Talk to me... I'm here.. What happened?" He'd ask her again, not heeding her warnings. He didn't care now if anyone saw them, he was simply trying to console a distraught woman.
[CASSANDRA] She couldn't stop crying, she couldn't calm down no matter how hard she tried. She was completely frightened and devastated, as though this were some nightmare she would wake up from. And when he drew her close, any resolve she had left was abandoned, and she cried into his chest, cried harder than he had ever seen her. "I...had to do it..." That voice of hers was barely audible, cracking beneath the strain of her tears. "I had to...he wasn't right...he wasn't well..." Maybe it was she who was ill. "The king is gone..." Cassandra was afraid to say anymore, afraid he would abandon her there for her madness, because it surely was madness. How could it not be?
[ORIN] He sat on the ground and pulled her into him, cradling her in his arms and tried to console her as she cried into his chest. But when she spoke, admitting she had done something and that the king was gone, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, whispering to her. "What did you do, Cass?" He remembered her saying at the reception she wanted to poison him. Did she seriously do it? Though Orin had come close to killing the man himself...He suddenly wished he had so that the blame would be placed on him and not on Cassandra. "Cass, it's ok.. Please calm down." He kept his lips against the top of her head, whispering to her, not letting go of her. But would it be okay? What would happen with Tresteria without the king? This alliance with Aralore? If she were caught, what would happen to her? The various questions were running through his head. There was a reason the queen did not want him dead... And he was suddenly scared of that reason.
[CASSANDRA] She felt vile, felt so unlike herself. Cassandra never had to take a life before, and she had taken the life of her cousin. It made her feel sick and she was trying to calm her sobbing before it could get worse. Orin was attempting to comfort her, but he shouldn't. He should not be comforting a murderer. "I had to," she echoed, her sobs only easing a little. She was feeling dizzy with how much she was gasping for air. "He was there, Orin, when they went back to the room...he watched them, then he tried to-" Cassandra couldn't explain it, but it had been so obvious on Aric's face, the devastation of it all. "I couldn't let that man raise those boys..." They had been her only sanity while in Tresteria, and she could not bear the thought of either of them turning into their father. "I did it because...I saw the pain in your sister's eyes. Because Eleesa deserves better than a loveless and abusive marriage." Cass drew away just so she could desperately grab his face with a trembling hand. "I did it because I was afraid Aric would kill him...and he would not survive that. Neither would you. I couldn't risk losing either of you."
[ORIN] He held her closely against him and stayed silent as Cassandra gave him all the reasons why Edward needed to die, as if he would argue with her. As she repeated what happened with Alexandria and Aric, his jaw clenched in anger. Aric hadn't mentioned that Edward had watched them, though Orin hadn't really put that together because he didn't want to think or imagine his sister and Aric...But to watch them? The thought made him feel sick to his stomach.
When she grabbed his face, he looked into her eyes and frowned. Aric had started to kill Edward, and he wished he had finished for them all, but Stefan had stopped him. When she finished talking, he was trying to wipe away her tears and he shook his head, "but you could risk yourself and that I might lose you?" His brows furrowed and he studied her before he spoke, gently but stern, "What did you do?" He repeated, and she only gave him her reasons behind this.
[CASSANDRA] She was trying to not answer his question because the less he knew, the safer he might be. But she cracked as he tried to wipe away those never-ending tears, her fingers curling into his shirt as she used him as a foundation to lean on. Trying to get a grasp on her crazed mind. She should have been awed by what he said, but she couldn't shake her nerves. "Hemlock...in some wine," she finally whispered. There was no mess, and it would be odorless. "I had to drug the guard..." But he should be fine. Shutting her eyes, it just made more tears spill down her cheeks, knowing the extent of this, but she swore she thought everything through.
[ORIN] He continued to hold her against him, very willing to be the foundation she needed right now. He didn't say anything. What could he say? As she explained what she did, his mind was racing in a million different places. If they opened up Edward and find out he had been poisoned.... could things trace back to her? He looked at her, then, holding her face in his hands as he continued to brush away her tears with his thumbs. "Cass...." he spoke her name softly, with empathy and understanding. He realized the severity of all of this and how difficult it must have been for her. How difficult it still was. He sighed and pulled her against him again, tightening his arms around her. He leaned his face into her so he could speak in her ear. "Please calm down. Breathe, Cass..." He stroked her hair. "I will go down and check on...things." He'd cover for her, check to make sure there would be nothing to trace back to her. "You did what needed to be done..." he finally said. "He would have lost his head for what he attempted to do. It would have been considered treason..." She had just saved them all of that hassle.
[CASSANDRA] She still had this incredible urge to pull away from him, to stay away from him in order to keep him out of this. Keep him safe. But it was hard to, and watered green eyes were staring at him in confusion and fear. When he mentioned going to check on things, she panicked again, drawing back to look at him once more. "No! No, you can't be seen anywhere near there...not until the guard has found him..." It was too much of a risk. It could cast him in the wrong light since anyone would assume the queen's brother may have wanted his revenge. You did what needed to be done... Cassandra drew in a quick breath. "Did I?" she said, not exactly asking but it was the very thing she was constantly mulling over in her head. As though fearful of being watched, her attention shifted to the dark courtyard all around them. "I left a small bottle...empty of poppy juice to...to maybe...make it look like he took his own life..." Her voice was so quiet that he would have missed it if he wasn't so close. Cass had certainly thought this through but was still wondering if she had missed something. The hemlock would not leave an odor or any trace of its use. The opium was a different matter. It was often used for pain but too much could be deadly.
[ORIN] At her panic after him mentioning going to check, he blinked and was about to tell her that he is a guard, and he has reason to go check on , to make sure he was indeed put in the dungeons as Aric had commanded. But he didn't want to argue with her over it.
He listened as she explained how she staged it and he nodded before asking something. "And where did he get the wineskin from? I'm assuming that is still with him, too? Or did you take it back?" Her plan might work, though Orin wasn't sure if people would believe the king to kill himself, but who knows?
[CASSANDRA] And there it was. The one thing she didn't have an answer to. If her mind had been clear and she hadn't been about to break into hysterical tears at the time, she may grabbed the sleeping guard's keys and retrieved the wineskin. But, she hadn't. Her sobbing had finally stopped, but now she wasn't breathing. "N-no... it's still with him..." Being a king, perhaps he demanded some wine? But would that come up as a concern? No one would admit that they had given it to him... because no one had. No one that any guard had known of. Now, she was trying to scramble back up to her feet. "I have to go back, before the guard wakes up..." Unbeknownst to her, he already was because she hadn't given him enough.
[ORIN] He held her down and shook his head. "No, Cass...you're not going back there." He was holding onto her shoulders and he looked her in the eyes, forcing her to look at him. "I will take care of it." He was serious and he slowly stood, pulling her up with him. "Go back to your room..." He had an idea and it would be less suspicious for him to be found there, than it would for her.
[CASSANDRA] She was trying not to panic again, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. He was possibly the only thing keeping her semi grounded, and not just because he was literally keeping her from fleeing to the dungeons again. "Orin..." She was about to argue with him again while he drew her up to her feet, and she was struggling to breathe again. She knew she couldn't go, that he had the right to be anywhere near the dungeons, but she was still scared. He was telling her to leave, but her feet were currently rooted to the ground. Not that anyone should be outside at this hour, it was still a risk...but she didn't care. Cassandra kissed him briefly, hard and desperate before forcing herself away, still trying to stop her tears. "Please...be careful..." Another heartbeat longer, she eventually turned around to rush back inside.
[ORIN] He was a bit taken aback when she was kissing him, out in the open like this, but he kissed her back, trying to calm her the best he could. He nodded at her warning and watched as she returned inside. When he was alone, he sighed long and hard, rubbing his face in thought. If Edward had just trusted things.. and never had come to Aralore, none of this would have happened. Maybe the Saelis attack, but probably differently. Or...not at all, as they would not have been able to use Tresteria as a cover. Quietly, he moved back inside and made his way down towards the dungeons. As he reached the guard that Cassandra mentioned drugging, he could tell he was still somewhat dazed as he sat there. Orin looked at the man, concerned before he spoke. "Are you alright, Charles?" The man looked up at Orin and nodded, holding his head, "yeah... just feeling really tired... have a headache." He wasn't about to admit to Orin that he had fallen asleep. He nodded. "I'll send someone to take over for you." He then motioned to behind him where Edward's cell was, "has he said anything?" Charles shook his head, "at first he kept yelling that he did nothing wrong and that the queen owed him an heir for everything Tresteria was doing for her... " Charles shook his head in disbelief. " He must have fallen asleep because he's been quiet." Orin's jaw clenched at Charles' mentioning what the king had been arguing and he shook his head, "may I?" He motioned to let him in and Charles nodded and yawned.
He moved passed Charles and walked down the line until he spotted Edward sprawled out on the floor. He glanced around and saw that wineskin right by the bars, as Edward had thrown it at the bars when it was empty, so he crouched down and reached between the bars, quietly sliding it out and stuffing it into his shirt. When he stood, he banged on the bars, "Hey! Wake up!" He'd pretend as if he wanted to confront the man. "You don't deserve to sleep you piece of shit King, wake up!!" He banged on the bars again, trying to make enough noise to wake a man up. He was glancing around for that vial Cassandra said she dropped, to see if it looked as if he drank it and dropped it. Though, he wondered if they would be suspicious of him having that in his cell, unless he always carried something like this on him? Or... maybe they could use that to blame his madness. He spotted the vial and it looked like he had dropped it and it rolled out of his hand. Finally, after trying to wake the man up he called out to Charles. "Something isn't right... he's not waking up." Charles came over and looked around before unlocking the cell door and headed in. Orin spoke quietly, "be careful , he could be pretending and attack to try and make an escape." Charles nodded and carefully approached Edward, nudging him with his foot. No response. Orin moved in and crouched down, rolling the man over and onto his back. His eyes were wide open, the life completely missing from them. Orin looked up at Charles, "he's dead...."
Charles gasped, suddenly panicked because he hadn't noticed. He had fallen asleep. But then he spotted the vial on the floor and crouched down, picking it up and smelling it. He showed it to Orin, which he took and smelled it too, crinkling his nose at the smell, " what is this?" Charles shrugged his shoulders, "I think it is poppy juice? He could have drank it...killed himself?" Orin stood there, brows furrowing. "Why would he kill himself?" Charles shrugged again, "some guys can't handle the thought of being locked up." Orin handed the vial back to Charles. "I'll have a healer come down to check him out... go alert Aric and the queen and have his body removed." He sighed and stepped away instructing Charles to stay until his replacement came, and Orin left, making his way back into the castle. The first fire he saw, he tossed that wineskin in and waited until it was completely burned. He needed to go tell Aric and his sister. But first he made a stop to Cassandra's door and knocked quietly.
[CASSANDRA] The Duchess had to stop her tears, because if anyone saw her wandering the halls of the castle completely hysterical, there would be whispers. Inside her room, she changed into a nightgown and pulled a robe over her shoulders. The dress she had worn was tossed into a careless heap on the floor, along with that gown she had worn earlier. Maybe she would burn them because they both just made her think of things she shouldn't. The fire blazed in the hearth, and she was standing in front of it, staring at the dancing flames, losing track of time. She wasn't sure if Orin would alert her after the fact, but there was no way she was sleeping, even with the number of guards on patrol. Maybe she was just waiting for a few to haul her away after finding out the horrible sin she had committed. Then that knock sounded upon her door, frightening her out of her thoughts. Cassandra was hesitant before bare feet carried her over to open it a few inches.
[ORIN] He had to be careful with what he said because there were guards by her door now. So when she opened the door a crack he glanced at her knowingly. "I told Aric I would check on you to make sure you are alright." Which wasn't a lie. He did tell Aric that earlier. The guards didn't suspect anything because they knew what was going on.
[CASSANDRA] She breathed a small sigh of relief to see that it was Orin, but her heart was suddenly pounding all over again. Did this mean everything was alright? "Right, thank you," she finally managed to say, keeping the wavering out of her voice. "Could I speak with you, Mr. Evans? I have some concerns." She sounded normal, sounded like a Duchess speaking to someone beneath her...but her eyes were still terrified. The guards would not be able to see. She just needed a moment, to hear what had happened.
[ORIN] He looked to her, seeing that terrified look she had and he nodded. "Of course..." he turned to the guards and they nodded, moving away from the door only slightly. "Should I come in or would you like to walk?"
[CASSANDRA] At his question, she faltered. Part of her wanted to stay hidden away in this room (not that anyone wouldn't know where she was), but fresh air was also not a terrible idea. Cassandra shook her head after a moment, deciding to open the door a bit more, "Just come in. I shall not keep you long." This would not be one of those particular visits, not while death lingered over her head, certainly.
[ORIN] He quietly entered her room, shutting the door behind him and walking from it to the far side of the room so there was less of a chance of hearing them. He spoke quietly. "It's fine...You don't need to worry. I helped discover he was dead and found the poison. I'm going to go tell Aric and Alexandria... I have to. Treat this visit as me telling you I found your cousin dead... Because I did." He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked down at her before moving that hand to her cheek. "You are a brave lady." He smirked, but only a little, leaning in and placed a small kiss to her lips. "It will be okay, I promise."
[CASSANDRA] They retreated to the fire where the flames did little to warm her body after tonight's events. Her hands were visibly shaking, especially when he verified Edward's death, even more so when he mentioned that he had to tell her cousin and Alexandria. Cassandra was immediately crying again, wondering how she could feel such guilt but relief both at the same time. It was like it was tearing her apart. Orin was making a promise, speaking some nonsense of her being brave. "How am I brave?" her voice cracked in that whispered tone. "I've...done a terrible thing. I've taken a life..." So, this was what remorse felt like. Her fingers curled into his shirt tightly, feeling as though her legs were about to give out beneath her. It was almost real when she had brought that wine to the king...but now it was truly real. And there was no going back.
[ORIN] Death and killing others had stopped phasing him after a while, unfortunately. It was just the way of life as a militant. He'd been in wars, he'd have to fight to protect. It was just his life. But he remembered feeling that remorse earlier on in his life. And he only imagined it was worse so for her because it was her family. He sighed, not knowing how to answer her question about why he thought she was brave. She had taken a life out of necessity and avoided them all the trouble of trials and trying to figure out how to live with him as an ally. She had chosen the lesser of evils in this situation and she had taken action. But how do you explain that to a distraught woman? He couldn't find the words, so he just held her and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay..." he kept saying, trying to console her.
[CASSANDRA] It was most certainly that. Regardless of what Edward was like, whether it was truly him or some mind sickness taking hold, he was her cousin. He...had been her cousin. At least her sobs would make the guards believe Orin had brought her horrible news. Cass shut her eyes for a moment, absorbing the comfort his warm body provided. "They mustn't know it was me," she spoke, referring to Aric and Alexandria, of course. She was actually a bit fearful of how they might perceive her.
[ORIN] He did not let go of her, and just let her cry on him. When she spoke, he simply nodded. "They won't." He hadn't planned on telling them the truth, just what he had acted out at the dungeons. He sighed quietly. "I do need to go though. I can come back later, if you want? Or you can come to my room... Both of which will be a little suspicious though." It pained him to say that.. He could not even freely comfort her in her time of need. But if she wanted or needed it, he would figure out a way.
[CASSANDRA] She nodded lightly, drawing in a deep breath to calm those sobs. She couldn't help but wonder how Aric would react. Would he feel the same pain as she did? Cass fidgeted with the collar of his shirt, just to keep herself busy before eyes lifted back to his face. "I'll come to you...if I can." He had a lot on his plate now, and she did not blame him for not being around now. He also just couldn't be. Finally, she reluctantly let him go.
[ORIN] He nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry I have to go and can't stay with you to help you through this... That kills me." He sighed and took a step away from her as she let him go. "I will see you later." He forced a smile to her and before he could delay anymore, he was rushing out her door and heading to Aric's room, where he said he was taking Alexandria for the night.
No, she had to do this. It was the only way. She wasn't even thinking about herself anymore. Sliding a cloak over her shoulders, she drew up the hood and carefully slipped from her room. Taking her time, she hid in crevices and alcoves in the walls when a guard walked by, testing her patience every step of the way until she could make it down to the dungeons below. There was a lone guard keeping patrol at this hour and she couldn't easily rush passed him. No one could know she had been there. But she was prepared for this. When he stood up from the small table to go off and relieve himself, Cass pulled a tiny vial of a sleeping draft from her bodice and rushed forward. The contents were quickly emptied into the small flagon of mead he was in the process of drinking before she hid once more. It was minutes before the concoction kicked in and he was snoring with his face planted upon the table. Her heart was pounding now, completely terrified of what she was attempting to do. Could she go through with this? What would become of her if this didn't work...or if it did work? Drawing in a staggered breath, forcing her tears to stay away, Cassandra rushed passed the guard and further into the dungeons, searching for Edward's cell. "Edward?" she called out quietly.
[EDWARD] He wasn't sure how he had gotten in this cell, but when he woke up he was here, his face stained with blood and aching with pain. He couldn't see out of one of his eyes and his nose was broken. Yet, all he could think about was how close he had gotten to feeling the queen... How badly he wanted to take her from Aric and that he never should have given her to him. Aric was a traitor. Beating him the way he had--killing his guard with, what was that? An Aralorian sword? Had he switched sides so easily....Because of a woman? He was supposed to remain faithful to Tresteria. It was so quiet down here, and dark. He hated it. But once his wife heard of him being tossed down here, he was sure they would free him. The stupid woman couldn't live without him. She'd need him.
When he heard the voice call out for him, he stood up and scrambled towards the bars of his cell. "Cassandra?" He recognized her voice. "You have to help me... I didn't do anything wrong... Aric... he has gone mad over this queen... I simply tried to instill some of Tresterian tradition...and he flipped out on me."
[CASSANDRA] It almost hurt her to see him in this kind of state. For the briefest of moments, she wondered if there was a way to help him instead of...this. Going to the bars of his cell, a hand curled slender fingers around on as she gazed at him with actual sympathy. But then he was speaking, and she realized how much worse the whole situation had been. Edward hadn't just simply been in the room...he had watched them before daring to take advantage of the queen after. Cassandra thought she might be sick, especially since she had to play along. Being defiant wouldn't work this time, she had to cater to him. Despite how disgusted she was with him, a few tears were actually beginning to form in her eyes; one escaping to fall down her cheek. It was true pity in her eyes, because he was a decent man, despite his faults. And he could have been a great leader. Cassandra kept telling herself that this was for his own good. He could be at peace. "Yes, it's me," she said, drawing back the hood of that cloak so that he could see her face. "I know, cousin. I know." It killed her to pretend, but she had to push on. "He's spreading falsehoods about you now. I'm worried for you." The wineskin in her other hand felt so heavy...
[EDWARD] "Falsehoods? Like what?" He growled with anger. "I don't know what his problem is--he's gotten worse since coming here... It's that queen... She's poisoned his head... manipulated him to go against me... I was merely trying to help... Put a Tresterian heir into her...Because we both know Aric just kills his wives and children..." He sighed. "Do you think you could talk to him? Tell him he is being crazy... To let me go. I just want to go home now...Put all of this behind and move on."
[CASSANDRA] She was struggling to keep her emotions under control. But Edward kept talking and talking, digging that grave of his even deeper. He spoke of Maria and Isabelle like they had been nothing, like they had been an inconvenience. Meanwhile, it took so much for Aric to ever allow himself to fall in love again...and Edward wanted to rip that from him, too. Her hand gripped that cold bar a little tighter, but she forced herself to nod. "I will try, Edward. I promise. Eleesa and the boys miss you..." Her voice nearly cracked at the thought of little Edward and Thomas...but she had to do this. What would this man do to them if Eleesa wasn't the one to raise them? Swallowing a hard lump in her throat, she lifted the wineskin to slip it through the bars, purposely looking over her shoulder as if worried she'll be caught. "Here. I managed to get you some wine. I'm sure it's better than the filthy water they've dared to give you. I can try to smuggle in better food, too...but I can't linger very long." Her heart was thundering in her chest and she was forcing to keep the pain and shock from her face with what was mixed into that wine.
[EDWARD] He winced from the pain in his face as he managed to smile from Cass' words. Of course his sons and wife missed him. They wouldn't be able to live long without him. He grinned again but quickly winced from the pain as Cass handed him the wine. "Ugh... Thank you, cousin..." He took the wineskin from her and opened it. "You need to get out of here before he turns on you, too... " He sighed and lifted that wineskin to his lips, but pulled it away, looking at Cass. " Go back to Tresteria. You will be safe there." He took a long swig of that wine, then, chugging it as if he was dying of thirst. When he finished it, he looked to her again. "Some food would be nice."
[CASSANDRA] "You're welcome, Edward..." she whispered softly. Something about that had her chest feeling heavy, and she almost snatched the wine straight from his hand. Instead, both of hers gripped the bars now, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from crying or whimpering in fear. "I will go..." she found herself whispering in false agreement as he finally chugged that wine. Why did he suddenly seem like he cared for her, telling her to go and be safe? Had she made a mistake? Her throat was tightening up again and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had put a lot of the hemlock into that wine, so even a large swig of it would take affect fairly quickly. Perhaps in a few moments, he would feel strange, tired even. Ever so slowly that poison would begin to paralyze various body systems, inevitably the respiratory system. As much as she hated what he has done, Cassandra silently prayed that it was swift. That there would be no pain, no sickness...just a sense of nothing until he stopped breathing. Like his body simply gave up. She reached an arm through the bars, seeking out his hand in her moment of weakness. "I'll...return with food as soon as I can. I promise..."
[EDWARD] He nodded, taking another sip of that wine. It was good and helped with the drunken buzz he was slowly coming down from. He waved her off. "Then go. I'm hungry." He stepped away from the bars and sat down, drinking the remaining wine from that container before throwing it against the bars.
[CASSANDRA] He left her standing there, waiting, only to dismiss the simple attempt at comfort. She was quick to realize that it was her attempt at trying to comfort herself and this horrendous sin she has committed. As he moved away from her, she finally let her tears fall; withdrawing her hand with a staggering intake of breath. "Rest well, cousin..." Cassandra watched him drink the rest of that wine, knowing the poison would begin to take over very soon, and she was too weak to watch. She had to step away. But before she did, she withdrew another tiny bottle that was mostly empty, except for a few traces of another kind of poison, one with a distinct odor. Perhaps, if she was lucky, the guards might think he was so traumatized by what he had done, that Edward killed himself. Dropping it to let it roll wherever it wished into his cell, her eyes lingered on him for but a moment longer, she finally spun on her heels to run from the dungeon...unaware that the guard was beginning to awaken and swore to himself, with blurred vision, that someone was rushing passed him. Only pausing to make sure no one was at the top of the steps, she fled down the halls to find the nearest exit out to the courtyard. The tears were streaming down her cheeks now and she swore she was going to be sick as she burst out into the cold, night air. She collapsed to her knees onto the hard earth, arms wrapping tightly around herself.
[EDWARD] As Cassandra walked away, he started to feel a tightness in his throat. His chest felt heavy and his breathing became labored. He tried to move, but couldn't, it was as if his muscles became weakened and stuck. When he tried to move, he collapsed to the ground, trying to get to those bars to yell out for help. But his voice wouldn't come out. He started choking and suddenly...everything went black. The king of Tresteria was dead.
[ORIN] He had been looking for Cassandra for a good hour now, after ensuring that guards were stations where they needed to be. He spoke with the guards who were supposed to be at Alexandria's door and heard their story. Edward had convinced them they were not needed. And the two men earned a very heated verbal lashing from Orin, and demoted from ever watching the queen again. When he was done, he went to Cassandra's room, but the guards had told him she had not been back yet. So he started looking around for her. With no luck, he decided to make his way out to the courtyard to get some air. This night had been awful. He wanted to fix things and make everything go away--but he wasn't sure where to start. As he stood there contemplating things, he heard a door swing open and saw Cassandra running out and collapsing to the ground. Eyes widened and he ran over to her, dropping down beside her. "Cass? Are you alright?" He searched her over, trying to see if she had been injured or harmed, and when he saw no sign of anything he placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" What a stupid question for such a horrid night.
[CASSANDRA] How different this was since the last time they ran across each other in the courtyard. It seemed so long ago now. But she was startled to hear him just as she had that first time; wild, green eyes turning to him filled with tears. The fear was evident, and she felt her throat closing up, knowing that her cousin was dying that very moment if he wasn't already gone. The sobs were uncontrollable, staggering within her chest and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Cassandra leaned away from his hand, shaking her head quickly, "Don't ask me that..." Her voice was so quiet, cracking as she tried to calm down her tears. What had she done? "For your own sake, do not ask me that." She had to stop and calm down, she had to breathe. If anyone else saw her breakdown, saw her out there and not in her room safely guarded, there might be questions.
[ORIN] He looked to her with a serious expression as she leaned away from him and told him not to ask her if she was alright. And what was bothering her. How could he not? He was beginning to worry with how badly she was sobbing, and he didn't know what to do or think. Despite her pulling away, he grabbed hold of her and pulled her into him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Cass, calm down... Whatever it is... You can tell me." He was shrugging his coat from his shoulders and he quickly draped it over hers, rubbing her arms to try and warm her from the cold. "Talk to me... I'm here.. What happened?" He'd ask her again, not heeding her warnings. He didn't care now if anyone saw them, he was simply trying to console a distraught woman.
[CASSANDRA] She couldn't stop crying, she couldn't calm down no matter how hard she tried. She was completely frightened and devastated, as though this were some nightmare she would wake up from. And when he drew her close, any resolve she had left was abandoned, and she cried into his chest, cried harder than he had ever seen her. "I...had to do it..." That voice of hers was barely audible, cracking beneath the strain of her tears. "I had to...he wasn't right...he wasn't well..." Maybe it was she who was ill. "The king is gone..." Cassandra was afraid to say anymore, afraid he would abandon her there for her madness, because it surely was madness. How could it not be?
[ORIN] He sat on the ground and pulled her into him, cradling her in his arms and tried to console her as she cried into his chest. But when she spoke, admitting she had done something and that the king was gone, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, whispering to her. "What did you do, Cass?" He remembered her saying at the reception she wanted to poison him. Did she seriously do it? Though Orin had come close to killing the man himself...He suddenly wished he had so that the blame would be placed on him and not on Cassandra. "Cass, it's ok.. Please calm down." He kept his lips against the top of her head, whispering to her, not letting go of her. But would it be okay? What would happen with Tresteria without the king? This alliance with Aralore? If she were caught, what would happen to her? The various questions were running through his head. There was a reason the queen did not want him dead... And he was suddenly scared of that reason.
[CASSANDRA] She felt vile, felt so unlike herself. Cassandra never had to take a life before, and she had taken the life of her cousin. It made her feel sick and she was trying to calm her sobbing before it could get worse. Orin was attempting to comfort her, but he shouldn't. He should not be comforting a murderer. "I had to," she echoed, her sobs only easing a little. She was feeling dizzy with how much she was gasping for air. "He was there, Orin, when they went back to the room...he watched them, then he tried to-" Cassandra couldn't explain it, but it had been so obvious on Aric's face, the devastation of it all. "I couldn't let that man raise those boys..." They had been her only sanity while in Tresteria, and she could not bear the thought of either of them turning into their father. "I did it because...I saw the pain in your sister's eyes. Because Eleesa deserves better than a loveless and abusive marriage." Cass drew away just so she could desperately grab his face with a trembling hand. "I did it because I was afraid Aric would kill him...and he would not survive that. Neither would you. I couldn't risk losing either of you."
[ORIN] He held her closely against him and stayed silent as Cassandra gave him all the reasons why Edward needed to die, as if he would argue with her. As she repeated what happened with Alexandria and Aric, his jaw clenched in anger. Aric hadn't mentioned that Edward had watched them, though Orin hadn't really put that together because he didn't want to think or imagine his sister and Aric...But to watch them? The thought made him feel sick to his stomach.
When she grabbed his face, he looked into her eyes and frowned. Aric had started to kill Edward, and he wished he had finished for them all, but Stefan had stopped him. When she finished talking, he was trying to wipe away her tears and he shook his head, "but you could risk yourself and that I might lose you?" His brows furrowed and he studied her before he spoke, gently but stern, "What did you do?" He repeated, and she only gave him her reasons behind this.
[CASSANDRA] She was trying to not answer his question because the less he knew, the safer he might be. But she cracked as he tried to wipe away those never-ending tears, her fingers curling into his shirt as she used him as a foundation to lean on. Trying to get a grasp on her crazed mind. She should have been awed by what he said, but she couldn't shake her nerves. "Hemlock...in some wine," she finally whispered. There was no mess, and it would be odorless. "I had to drug the guard..." But he should be fine. Shutting her eyes, it just made more tears spill down her cheeks, knowing the extent of this, but she swore she thought everything through.
[ORIN] He continued to hold her against him, very willing to be the foundation she needed right now. He didn't say anything. What could he say? As she explained what she did, his mind was racing in a million different places. If they opened up Edward and find out he had been poisoned.... could things trace back to her? He looked at her, then, holding her face in his hands as he continued to brush away her tears with his thumbs. "Cass...." he spoke her name softly, with empathy and understanding. He realized the severity of all of this and how difficult it must have been for her. How difficult it still was. He sighed and pulled her against him again, tightening his arms around her. He leaned his face into her so he could speak in her ear. "Please calm down. Breathe, Cass..." He stroked her hair. "I will go down and check on...things." He'd cover for her, check to make sure there would be nothing to trace back to her. "You did what needed to be done..." he finally said. "He would have lost his head for what he attempted to do. It would have been considered treason..." She had just saved them all of that hassle.
[CASSANDRA] She still had this incredible urge to pull away from him, to stay away from him in order to keep him out of this. Keep him safe. But it was hard to, and watered green eyes were staring at him in confusion and fear. When he mentioned going to check on things, she panicked again, drawing back to look at him once more. "No! No, you can't be seen anywhere near there...not until the guard has found him..." It was too much of a risk. It could cast him in the wrong light since anyone would assume the queen's brother may have wanted his revenge. You did what needed to be done... Cassandra drew in a quick breath. "Did I?" she said, not exactly asking but it was the very thing she was constantly mulling over in her head. As though fearful of being watched, her attention shifted to the dark courtyard all around them. "I left a small bottle...empty of poppy juice to...to maybe...make it look like he took his own life..." Her voice was so quiet that he would have missed it if he wasn't so close. Cass had certainly thought this through but was still wondering if she had missed something. The hemlock would not leave an odor or any trace of its use. The opium was a different matter. It was often used for pain but too much could be deadly.
[ORIN] At her panic after him mentioning going to check, he blinked and was about to tell her that he is a guard, and he has reason to go check on , to make sure he was indeed put in the dungeons as Aric had commanded. But he didn't want to argue with her over it.
He listened as she explained how she staged it and he nodded before asking something. "And where did he get the wineskin from? I'm assuming that is still with him, too? Or did you take it back?" Her plan might work, though Orin wasn't sure if people would believe the king to kill himself, but who knows?
[CASSANDRA] And there it was. The one thing she didn't have an answer to. If her mind had been clear and she hadn't been about to break into hysterical tears at the time, she may grabbed the sleeping guard's keys and retrieved the wineskin. But, she hadn't. Her sobbing had finally stopped, but now she wasn't breathing. "N-no... it's still with him..." Being a king, perhaps he demanded some wine? But would that come up as a concern? No one would admit that they had given it to him... because no one had. No one that any guard had known of. Now, she was trying to scramble back up to her feet. "I have to go back, before the guard wakes up..." Unbeknownst to her, he already was because she hadn't given him enough.
[ORIN] He held her down and shook his head. "No, Cass...you're not going back there." He was holding onto her shoulders and he looked her in the eyes, forcing her to look at him. "I will take care of it." He was serious and he slowly stood, pulling her up with him. "Go back to your room..." He had an idea and it would be less suspicious for him to be found there, than it would for her.
[CASSANDRA] She was trying not to panic again, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. He was possibly the only thing keeping her semi grounded, and not just because he was literally keeping her from fleeing to the dungeons again. "Orin..." She was about to argue with him again while he drew her up to her feet, and she was struggling to breathe again. She knew she couldn't go, that he had the right to be anywhere near the dungeons, but she was still scared. He was telling her to leave, but her feet were currently rooted to the ground. Not that anyone should be outside at this hour, it was still a risk...but she didn't care. Cassandra kissed him briefly, hard and desperate before forcing herself away, still trying to stop her tears. "Please...be careful..." Another heartbeat longer, she eventually turned around to rush back inside.
[ORIN] He was a bit taken aback when she was kissing him, out in the open like this, but he kissed her back, trying to calm her the best he could. He nodded at her warning and watched as she returned inside. When he was alone, he sighed long and hard, rubbing his face in thought. If Edward had just trusted things.. and never had come to Aralore, none of this would have happened. Maybe the Saelis attack, but probably differently. Or...not at all, as they would not have been able to use Tresteria as a cover. Quietly, he moved back inside and made his way down towards the dungeons. As he reached the guard that Cassandra mentioned drugging, he could tell he was still somewhat dazed as he sat there. Orin looked at the man, concerned before he spoke. "Are you alright, Charles?" The man looked up at Orin and nodded, holding his head, "yeah... just feeling really tired... have a headache." He wasn't about to admit to Orin that he had fallen asleep. He nodded. "I'll send someone to take over for you." He then motioned to behind him where Edward's cell was, "has he said anything?" Charles shook his head, "at first he kept yelling that he did nothing wrong and that the queen owed him an heir for everything Tresteria was doing for her... " Charles shook his head in disbelief. " He must have fallen asleep because he's been quiet." Orin's jaw clenched at Charles' mentioning what the king had been arguing and he shook his head, "may I?" He motioned to let him in and Charles nodded and yawned.
He moved passed Charles and walked down the line until he spotted Edward sprawled out on the floor. He glanced around and saw that wineskin right by the bars, as Edward had thrown it at the bars when it was empty, so he crouched down and reached between the bars, quietly sliding it out and stuffing it into his shirt. When he stood, he banged on the bars, "Hey! Wake up!" He'd pretend as if he wanted to confront the man. "You don't deserve to sleep you piece of shit King, wake up!!" He banged on the bars again, trying to make enough noise to wake a man up. He was glancing around for that vial Cassandra said she dropped, to see if it looked as if he drank it and dropped it. Though, he wondered if they would be suspicious of him having that in his cell, unless he always carried something like this on him? Or... maybe they could use that to blame his madness. He spotted the vial and it looked like he had dropped it and it rolled out of his hand. Finally, after trying to wake the man up he called out to Charles. "Something isn't right... he's not waking up." Charles came over and looked around before unlocking the cell door and headed in. Orin spoke quietly, "be careful , he could be pretending and attack to try and make an escape." Charles nodded and carefully approached Edward, nudging him with his foot. No response. Orin moved in and crouched down, rolling the man over and onto his back. His eyes were wide open, the life completely missing from them. Orin looked up at Charles, "he's dead...."
Charles gasped, suddenly panicked because he hadn't noticed. He had fallen asleep. But then he spotted the vial on the floor and crouched down, picking it up and smelling it. He showed it to Orin, which he took and smelled it too, crinkling his nose at the smell, " what is this?" Charles shrugged his shoulders, "I think it is poppy juice? He could have drank it...killed himself?" Orin stood there, brows furrowing. "Why would he kill himself?" Charles shrugged again, "some guys can't handle the thought of being locked up." Orin handed the vial back to Charles. "I'll have a healer come down to check him out... go alert Aric and the queen and have his body removed." He sighed and stepped away instructing Charles to stay until his replacement came, and Orin left, making his way back into the castle. The first fire he saw, he tossed that wineskin in and waited until it was completely burned. He needed to go tell Aric and his sister. But first he made a stop to Cassandra's door and knocked quietly.
[CASSANDRA] The Duchess had to stop her tears, because if anyone saw her wandering the halls of the castle completely hysterical, there would be whispers. Inside her room, she changed into a nightgown and pulled a robe over her shoulders. The dress she had worn was tossed into a careless heap on the floor, along with that gown she had worn earlier. Maybe she would burn them because they both just made her think of things she shouldn't. The fire blazed in the hearth, and she was standing in front of it, staring at the dancing flames, losing track of time. She wasn't sure if Orin would alert her after the fact, but there was no way she was sleeping, even with the number of guards on patrol. Maybe she was just waiting for a few to haul her away after finding out the horrible sin she had committed. Then that knock sounded upon her door, frightening her out of her thoughts. Cassandra was hesitant before bare feet carried her over to open it a few inches.
[ORIN] He had to be careful with what he said because there were guards by her door now. So when she opened the door a crack he glanced at her knowingly. "I told Aric I would check on you to make sure you are alright." Which wasn't a lie. He did tell Aric that earlier. The guards didn't suspect anything because they knew what was going on.
[CASSANDRA] She breathed a small sigh of relief to see that it was Orin, but her heart was suddenly pounding all over again. Did this mean everything was alright? "Right, thank you," she finally managed to say, keeping the wavering out of her voice. "Could I speak with you, Mr. Evans? I have some concerns." She sounded normal, sounded like a Duchess speaking to someone beneath her...but her eyes were still terrified. The guards would not be able to see. She just needed a moment, to hear what had happened.
[ORIN] He looked to her, seeing that terrified look she had and he nodded. "Of course..." he turned to the guards and they nodded, moving away from the door only slightly. "Should I come in or would you like to walk?"
[CASSANDRA] At his question, she faltered. Part of her wanted to stay hidden away in this room (not that anyone wouldn't know where she was), but fresh air was also not a terrible idea. Cassandra shook her head after a moment, deciding to open the door a bit more, "Just come in. I shall not keep you long." This would not be one of those particular visits, not while death lingered over her head, certainly.
[ORIN] He quietly entered her room, shutting the door behind him and walking from it to the far side of the room so there was less of a chance of hearing them. He spoke quietly. "It's fine...You don't need to worry. I helped discover he was dead and found the poison. I'm going to go tell Aric and Alexandria... I have to. Treat this visit as me telling you I found your cousin dead... Because I did." He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked down at her before moving that hand to her cheek. "You are a brave lady." He smirked, but only a little, leaning in and placed a small kiss to her lips. "It will be okay, I promise."
[CASSANDRA] They retreated to the fire where the flames did little to warm her body after tonight's events. Her hands were visibly shaking, especially when he verified Edward's death, even more so when he mentioned that he had to tell her cousin and Alexandria. Cassandra was immediately crying again, wondering how she could feel such guilt but relief both at the same time. It was like it was tearing her apart. Orin was making a promise, speaking some nonsense of her being brave. "How am I brave?" her voice cracked in that whispered tone. "I've...done a terrible thing. I've taken a life..." So, this was what remorse felt like. Her fingers curled into his shirt tightly, feeling as though her legs were about to give out beneath her. It was almost real when she had brought that wine to the king...but now it was truly real. And there was no going back.
[ORIN] Death and killing others had stopped phasing him after a while, unfortunately. It was just the way of life as a militant. He'd been in wars, he'd have to fight to protect. It was just his life. But he remembered feeling that remorse earlier on in his life. And he only imagined it was worse so for her because it was her family. He sighed, not knowing how to answer her question about why he thought she was brave. She had taken a life out of necessity and avoided them all the trouble of trials and trying to figure out how to live with him as an ally. She had chosen the lesser of evils in this situation and she had taken action. But how do you explain that to a distraught woman? He couldn't find the words, so he just held her and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay..." he kept saying, trying to console her.
[CASSANDRA] It was most certainly that. Regardless of what Edward was like, whether it was truly him or some mind sickness taking hold, he was her cousin. He...had been her cousin. At least her sobs would make the guards believe Orin had brought her horrible news. Cass shut her eyes for a moment, absorbing the comfort his warm body provided. "They mustn't know it was me," she spoke, referring to Aric and Alexandria, of course. She was actually a bit fearful of how they might perceive her.
[ORIN] He did not let go of her, and just let her cry on him. When she spoke, he simply nodded. "They won't." He hadn't planned on telling them the truth, just what he had acted out at the dungeons. He sighed quietly. "I do need to go though. I can come back later, if you want? Or you can come to my room... Both of which will be a little suspicious though." It pained him to say that.. He could not even freely comfort her in her time of need. But if she wanted or needed it, he would figure out a way.
[CASSANDRA] She nodded lightly, drawing in a deep breath to calm those sobs. She couldn't help but wonder how Aric would react. Would he feel the same pain as she did? Cass fidgeted with the collar of his shirt, just to keep herself busy before eyes lifted back to his face. "I'll come to you...if I can." He had a lot on his plate now, and she did not blame him for not being around now. He also just couldn't be. Finally, she reluctantly let him go.
[ORIN] He nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry I have to go and can't stay with you to help you through this... That kills me." He sighed and took a step away from her as she let him go. "I will see you later." He forced a smile to her and before he could delay anymore, he was rushing out her door and heading to Aric's room, where he said he was taking Alexandria for the night.
