Post by Aric Demarais on Mar 26, 2020 21:09:20 GMT -5
[ALEXANDRIA] The morning had been stressful, but she had been expecting that. But she could not stop thinking about Aric, and worrying for him since he had admitted he was on the verge of breaking down. And now, she would need to deliver more news to him, about Cassandra, not sure if she really should or not. She hadn't the faintest idea where Aric could be by now... He had mentioned speaking with Eleesa and visiting the healer, but that was quite some time ago. She had made her way down the halls, and was nearing her own room. There were things she needed in there...But she found herself standing outside the door, as far away as possible, and she could not manage to go in. She doubted Aric had had the chance to request servants begin to bring things over to his chambers yet, and she herself, hadn't either. Her eyes were welling up with tears as just being outside of the room was making her remember things. The way he breathed on her neck... His hand and how he touched her... Her hands began to tremble, and she needed to walk away, but she felt frozen there. And no one was around…
[ARIC] After the healer, he went immediately to Edward's chambers. It was ridiculous how Renaud had guards stationed outside of it, after some heated arguing, they finally relented. Renaud may have given the order, but Aric was still their prince. He searched the room high and low but found no Tresterian wine or opium, which made him concerned. Still, that didn't mean Stefan wouldn't have any luck. It was likely Renaud had already had Edward's room searched, so there was no telling what to expect. A half hour later, he was wandering aimlessly. He didn't know what to do right now, not until he heard back from Stefan, nor had he heard from Alexandria so he had no idea how Cassandra was doing. Maybe he would just go down to the dungeons and demand he see her? As he walked, trying to mull over all of these thoughts at once, he suddenly came to a halt. Glancing up, he'd find his wife standing frozen in front of her room. "Alexandria?" he called out quietly. "What are you doing?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She heard her husband's voice in the distance, and she slowly turned her gaze away from her bedroom door and over to where he was. She had tears rolling down her cheeks and her hands were trembling. "I...." She tried to get words out, but her voice was cracking. "I needed to get something..." She explained, her eyes looking at him like she needed him to come drag her away and out of her dark thoughts. "I can't..." She hesitated, her voice shaken. "I can't seem to go in..."
[ARIC] His brow furrowed and he was quickly stepping over to her; taking her gently by the shoulders and urging her away from the door. "What is it you need? I can get it." Why would she think she could easily go in there right now?
[ALEXANDRIA] She had felt fine through the morning, feeling as if she had gotten some of her strength back, so she somehow felt she would be alright to quickly go to her room and leave before the thoughts could get to her. She hadn't expected them to hit her just from walking down this hallway and seeing her door. She grabbed hold of Aric's arms and moved away from her door with his urging. She looked up at him as he asked her what she needed, and suddenly she could not remember what it was she came here for in the first place. Sapphire eyes, blurred by her tears, searched Aric's face as if looking at him would make her remember, but she must have looked like she had gone completely crazy, as she stood there silently, trying to remember what it was she needed. Then, she remembered, and she realized it was the silliest thing and she did not wish to tell Aric, as he might think she had gone crazy. She shook her head. "Nothing... I don't need it anymore." She stepped away from Aric and continued down the hall, away from her room, suddenly feeling so embarrassed and stupid.
[ARIC] He wouldn't say it, even if he knew her thoughts, but it was almost worse that she claimed to not need whatever it was now because this was causing another complete setback. And an unnecessary one. One that could have been avoided. Sighing softly, he was quick to follow her as she suddenly walked off now. He drew her against his side, continuing to walk further down the hall with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Aric didn't know where they were going, just as long as it was away from that room. The first servant they saw, he'd have to remember to request that all of her belongings be brought to his room. Alexandria could refurnish that room, do whatever she wanted with it, he didn't care. But he wasn't letting her back into her old chambers. It wasn't worth the risk. It wasn't worth this. "It's gone," he told her quietly. "We're nowhere near it now, alright?" Perhaps they should just board it up altogether…
[ALEXANDRIA] There were several other things that she wouldn't want to leave that room. The bed linens.. Her bed, anything relating to her bed. As they got further from the room, she took a deep breath to try and calm herself down, Aric's words assuring her that they were away from the room. She nodded, taking in a staggered breath. "I'm sorry..." She shook her head. "You need me to be strong for you... And I am struggling, too, Aric..." She lowered her gaze to the floor, wishing she could be stronger for him. But she was going through all of this too, and she was trying not to break down, herself. When they made it to Aric's room, she quickly opened the door and went inside, pulling Aric in with her. She let herself sink into one of the chairs, rubbing her face with her hands.
[ARIC] He slowed them to a stop, just for a moment, so that he could turn her to face him, holding his hand against her cheek in reassurance that everything was alright. "I know, love. I know. We're all struggling." Literally everyone in their entire family was suffering in some way or another. Drawing in a staggering breath, they continued to walk until she was ushering them into his room. He'd shut the door behind them as she sank into one of the chairs. "Hey..." he soothed, trying to push all his other worries aside, even if for this moment, to kneel in front of her like he always did; he tried to urge one of her hands away from her face. "This will pass. All of this will, I promise." Could he really promise that? No, but he was going to anyway, because they all needed that hope right now.
[ALEXANDRIA] They were all struggling, and she hated that. If there was a way to rid of all of this, she would do it in a heartbeat. Sapphire eyes found Aric as he knelt in front of her and pulled her hand away from her face. She stared at him , admiring him if only for a moment. Despite everything, he was still here, trying to console her, promising her that everything would be okay, even though neither of them knew if it really would. But, Alexandria nodded to him. "I know... It has to get better..." She took his good hand into hers and squeezed it gently before bringing it to his lips and pressing her lips against his knuckles. A small laugh, though saddened, escaped her and she shook her head. "How did such a wonderful day turn into something so awful?"
[ARIC] Staring at her lovely face, even as sad as she was, was far better than letting the memories of his dead brother haunt him. He was afraid he was going to completely lose it, but he was managing so far. Barely, but he was managing. Perhaps it was that bit of hope that Godfrey offered about the slow poisoning. Of course, that would open up the entirely new question of who would have been doing it, but at least it would free Cassandra. He forced a crooked grin onto his face, shaking his head lightly. "I wouldn't call it a curse, but...certainly a horrible case of bad luck?" He was trying to lighten the mood even though his heart was still aching. "We'll have wonderful days...better days. We just...need to believe it." Although he was the one saying this, attempting to sound as positive as he possibly could, he knew that he too had to believe it would happen. He was still struggling with that notion himself.
[ALEXANDRIA] A faint smile managed to find her lips at Aric's words, and she nodded. "I know..." She placed her hands on his face and pulled him closer to her, leaning down to press her lips against his in a soft, loving kiss. "We should plan a getaway together... A honeymoon? After all of this has passed..." She smiled, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. "Spend an entire day in the bedroom together..." Despite the trauma she nearly endured... The setback she most likely would have with Aric again... Unable to have sex for a while, out of that fear of the memory, she tried to push it aside, insinuating to Aric that she would be okay. "Gives us something to look forward to?" She looked into his eyes before leaning into him again to kiss him.
[ARIC] There had to be some light in this darkness. There just had to be. He wouldn't be able to handle much more of this. Something had to give...whether for the better or he just completely snapped. Whichever came first. And he was terrified of the latter. There was a tired chuckle from his chest at her words. He knew she was trying to prove she would be alright, but he already understood what was going to happen. Everything they had overcome, they would have to take several steps back. Regardless, he leaned up to meet her halfway for that kiss, keeping it gentle and brief. "Whatever my lady desires," he told her.
[ALEXANDRIA] Yes, they needed some light. Something. She wasn't sure how much she would be able to endure, either. Last night she had had her breakdown, but she knew it could get worse than that, and that frightened her. Aric had seen her at her worst, and had gotten so frustrated and angry with her, if she got any worse, would it sever their relationship completely? She smiled softly at Aric's comment. "Not just what I desire. Your desires matter, too." She kissed his hand again before releasing him. "As much as I wish we could ignore everything at hand... and just be husband and wife, right now... I know we cannot be allowed such luxuries right now..." A long sigh escaped her lips and she shook her head. "We need to talk..."
[ARIC] It didn't help anything that there were so many problems to deal with. In truth, it was probably why he had completely lost it last night. He allowed things to plague him and get out of hand...but that was something to discuss later when the bigger issues were handled. If they ever were. Right now, she was still by his side despite that argument, and that was a good start. It was what he needed desperately right now. 'We need to talk...' That gave him pause because she just made it clear that they were not going to talk about last night. This was something else. Aric was hesitant to ask, "What is it?" What else could have possibly happened?
[ALEXANDRIA] A deep breath was released from her lips and she closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead with her hand. "Sit down..." She motioned to the chair across from her. "I am struggling... Part of me does not want to tell you because you are already going through so much... And I don't want you to become further upset... But it's something I feel you need to know... And I just don't know how to tell you..." She was being completely honest with him. If he somehow told her he did not wish to hear it (though she doubted he would ever say that), then she would refrain and try to figure this out on her own... Perhaps Orin could help, as he seemed to already be involved somehow, and she could honestly kill him right now for it. She sighed into her hands and rubbed her face, hoping this would all just go away soon. Her eyes fell back to Aric and she studied his features, hoping he would be able to handle this if he did want to hear what she had to tell him.
[ARIC] When she told him to sit, he grew even more nervous. He stared at her for a moment longer before slowly rising up just to take that seat. Aric really didn't know what to expect, but the fact that she was taking her time to tell him (with good reason), it was making the suspense all the more worse. "Just tell me..." he quietly pleaded, trying to not let his mind wander to random ideas and thoughts before she could.
[ALEXANDRIA] She watched as he sat and she frowned as he instructed her to just tell him. With a slow nod, she inhaled deeply before releasing it slowly. "Cassandra... She is fine...Mostly..." Her gaze dropped and she felt her heart racing in her chest, afraid to tell Aric what she had found out, and she was struggling to find her words to even allow them out of her lips. Should she slowly hint at it, or just rip the bandage off quickly to get it over with? She had no idea. Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on her knees and buried her face into her hands. Why did Aric ask her to go check on her? Why did Cassandra so openly tell her these things? Her voice now muffled from her hands covering her face, she quietly spoke. "She did it, Aric...."
[ARIC] So, this was about Cassandra. He could tell that Alexandria was trying to ease into it, even a little bit, but clearly his cousin was not fully alright. Something was wrong, something terrible because he could now feel it at the pit of his stomach as his wife struggled to explain. Then she said it, and dark eyes continued to stare at her as though he hadn't heard her. Or that, maybe deep down, he thought this was supposed to be some sick, twisted joke. 'She did it...' The words continued to echo over and over in his head, and he hadn't even realized how fast his heart was pounding as it throbbed in his ears. 'She did it...' She killed him. Cassandra killed Edward. He pushed the chair back; the legs of it scraping against the floor loudly and breaking the silence that had fallen. When he stood up abruptly, it had been shoved back, falling and clanking to the stone behind him. "No..." he murmured, the shaking of his head getting faster with each passing second as he was trying to deny it. "No, she didn't. She couldn't have." But there was no belief in his voice. Alexandria would not lie to him about this. His hands were shaking again as his vision was blurring from tears. "...she couldn't have..." Those words were barely audible, his voice cracking, and he struggled to stay upright because he didn't know whether to completely break down in agony or anger.
[ALEXANDRIA] After those words spilled from her lips, there was that long and lingering silence. Alexandria slowly lifted her face from her hands and looked over at Aric. He was struggling, and she was regretting telling him. The sound of the scraping chair startled her, but when he stood up, causing the chair to fall back, she closed her eyes, tears beginning to well up in her own eyes. He was denying it, clearly. Not wanting to believe her. She didn't want to believe it either. When she reopened her eyes, she could see Aric about to crack, the tears forming in his eyes now, and she shook her head, standing quickly and rushing over to him. She embraced him, pulling him against her. "I'm so sorry, Aric..." Now she was fully regretting her decision to tell him. But how could she not? He needed to know. She would tell him more of what she found out, but she needed to try and calm him down first.
[ARIC] He was spiraling, he was struggling to stay upright. He needed to lash out but didn't know how so he was standing there helpless. This was in no way the queen's fault, and it was certainly something he had to know...but it was a lot to handle. The cousin he loved so fiercely...had killed his own brother. A brother he had once loved, in the very least, but struggled to mourn properly. Did that make him fucked up? Was his entire family, his bloodline fucked up? He couldn't return Alexandria's embrace because he was still stunned and afraid...and would eventually begin to draw back. Because he was stumbling, losing his footing until he fell against the wall; sliding down it as those tears finally fell from his eyes. Tears that he couldn't even shed for Edward. His hands filtered through his hair, pulling at the strands and he didn't even care how painful his injury was by doing this. "How...could she do this? Why?" Despite the overwhelming emotions, his voice was still quiet, cracking beneath the pressure of this all.
[ALEXANDRIA] It nearly killed her when Aric couldn't embrace her and was drawing away from her. But she knew he was reaching his breaking point and there was nothing she could do to stop it. As he fell against the wall and slid down, she rushed over to him, dropping to her knees in front of him. He was crying, and she couldn't help the tears that fell from her own eyes as she placed a hand on his knee. She did not answer him right away, she didn't know where to begin or how she could possibly alleviate any of this for him. Finally, after allowing him a moment to break down and cry (because he probably needed that release), she sighed softly. "Aric... She was trying to help..." Though she had gone about it all wrong, she genuinely knew Cassandra was just trying to help. Alexandria moved closer to him and sat down next to Aric, pulling him towards her and resting his head against her chest, letting him cry on her if he needed. She gently combed her fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. "She saw the rage in your eyes...and how you were on the verge of killing him yourself... She did not want you to be faulted for killing him. Or Orin..." She hugged him tighter against her and kissed the top of his head, whispering quietly into his ear. "Aric, it will be alright." She tried to calm him. "I'm here... I'm not going anywhere." She rocked him in her arms, continuing to brush her fingers through his hair. "Eleesa had told her that he was spiraling out of control... Not himself....and last night had been his worst... It scared Cassandra and she didn't want Edward to destroy or hurt your nephews... Tresteria... Aralore... She just thought by killing him, it would end all of this... Said she felt her life was more dispensable than anyone else's..." Alexandria was crying, but still tried desperately to console her husband in her arms.
[ARIC] He was shaking, trying so hard to understand it all, even as Alexandria explained. It made sense...but it didn't. Maybe because he didn't want to believe it. He knew Cassandra had her vicious side...but this? Had it been so easy for her to do? Like it was nothing? Aric fell against Alexandria as she embraced him once again, doing her very best to bring him down from that ledge. It would be impossible, no matter how hard she tried, simply because of how devastating this all was. Still, shaking arms were slowly wrapping around her, trying to keep himself from floating away. He kept wanting to ask how his cousin could do this, yet, somehow he knew. Even before his wife explained, Aric somehow knew why deep down. She did what he could not. What he may have inevitably done. What he kept telling himself he could never do. "Dispensable?" came his desperate reply, sounding as though he thought Cassandra insane for that very idea. His throat was sore, his head was already throbbing, and he tried to breathe as Alexandria cradled him, letting him cry. Letting him finally mourn whatever it was that he had to. Yet, after a long moment, he drew back enough to look at her face. "And you believe her?" Was he wondering if Cassie was a liar, that she didn't feel an ounce of remorse? But perhaps the queen might realize, by the sound of his voice, that he was asking her whether he was insane for believing her. For hoping Cassandra's reasonings and remorse to be true.
[ALEXANDRIA] She knew how difficult this all was for Aric. He had remained so strong and steady through all of it, and this was his breaking point. Aric had endured watching is brother try and take his wife from him, try to rape her while he was being held back from saving her. His brother dying and now is cousin admitting her wrongdoing. It was a lot for a person to handle in just a day. She nodded her head at Aric, though he would not be able to see it. "Yes... Dispensable... Like none of us care for her and she does not matter more than any of us..." She had scorned Cassandra for saying such a thing, because that was not true. If she was dispensable, she would not have sent crews of her men to go looking for her when she had been kidnapped. She would not have promised the woman that she would fight to keep her in Aralore so she would not have to return to Tresteria. As Aric lifted his gaze to look at her, she placed her hands on his cheeks and tried wiping away his tears with her thumbs. She pressed her lips to his forehead, and she slowly nodded. "She was devastated and scared, Aric... I saw it in her eyes... In her tone... She was telling the truth..."
[ARIC] This was the dumbest way possible for Cassandra to try and prove that she was brave, to prove anything. Becoming the martyr was not honorable when this would all hurt those that did care about her. Still, in a wrong and strange way...he understood her. Maybe it was a Demarais thing. It was a messed up thing. Drawing back further, just enough to rest his head back against the wall, he still clung to her like she was his very lifeline. Alexandria believed Cassandra, so maybe he wasn't losing his mind for wanting to fix this. For wanting to allow his cousin to get away with it. "Am I wrong or fucked up for wanting to help her? For, maybe...believing Edward's death was justified...?" All these horrible questions. He didn't mean to dump them on her, but right now, her opinion was the only one that mattered. The only one he would listen to. And after speaking to the healer, it was becoming increasingly harder to hate Cassie. Not that it made any of it right. Damn these fluctuating emotions.
[ALEXANDRIA] A sigh of relief came from her lips when Aric asked if he was wrong or fucked up for wanting to help Cassandra. For saying that he felt Edward's death was justified. She was already thinking that, but did not wish to admit it to Aric, for fear that he would be angry with her. So, she shook her head. "Not at all, Aric... He would have raped me.... Had you held down so you could watch him do that to me...? It would be fucked up if you didn't feel these things...." Her brows furrowed, her expression wavering as she stared at Aric, questioning him, wondering if he honestly thought he was wrong for being angry at himself for feeling this way.
[ARIC] Edward had still been his brother, that was why this was so hard. But his anger and relief over his death stemmed far deeper than what he had nearly done to Alexandria. The man had done far more in the last few years, and it was how he understood Cassandra's reasoning...even if he wished she hadn't done it. He shut his eyes, taking in deep breaths as he tried to further calm down. It was slow-going, but he was beginning to manage. "The healer is still...looking into it, but...he found traces of opium and alcohol in Edward's blood. To check for prolonged exposure to it, he has to check his liver..." He suddenly began to talk about where he had been not too long ago, and before she could question about it, he managed to continue. "Stefan told me Edward had been screaming, rambling things...something about Tresterian wine making him sick when Aralorian wine did not..." Those dark eyes opened to regard her, a new worry painting over his face. "Long exposure to opium can cause hallucinations, maybe even make one mad..." He was beginning to hint to a question he didn't want to ask: if the doctor can prove Edward had been slowly poisoned over a period of time...was it Cassandra that did it?
[ALEXANDRIA] Her lips parted to say something, but Aric continued to speak. She remembered Cassandra suggesting that they try to make it appear that Edward had been taking Opium. Though she didn't think that would be necessary if the healer had already found traces of it in his blood. Had Cassandra used Opium to kill Edward? But then she remembered something. "Cassandra told me that the healer would not be able to pinpoint the poison she used...But he was able to detect Opium?" She raised a brow, searching Aric's features for something. Her head was pounding and she couldn't think straight... This was all confusing and she did not understand poisons and any of this. She pressed her forehead against Aric's and whispered. "We need to talk to Orin...I can't help but think he knows something...Had a part in something...I don't know...Just something she said to me...I think my brother got involved..." Her voice cracked, and her fingers began to tremble. If that were the case, Orin's life was in danger if he would be found out, and that worried her to no end.
[ARIC] He was just as lost as she was now, but at least they were on the same page. At least he wouldn't feel alone in thinking he was being wrong about any of this. It wasn't right what Cassandra had done- it would never be alright, but there were things happening here that none of them knew yet. He couldn't help but feel like his brother's death had been inevitable. And if they could figure out how to save his cousin, no one will be blamed. "Orin?" Her brother's name was growled from his throat, surprise hitting him once again. "Why? What-" His hand ran down his face for what must have been the millionth time today, trying to dry his tears. "Why the fuck would he be involved in any of this?" How far did this rabbit hole go?! Alexandria's thoughts were running parallel with his own- if Orin was involved in some way, there was a possibility he was in danger. Especially if Renaud found out. He was already suspecting Cassie.
[ALEXANDRIA] She had no idea how Orin was involved. So when Aric was questioning her about why, she was at loss for words. "I don't know, Aric... You saw them... Cassandra ran to him? And he was acting strangely after that... I said his name, questioning her, and she said 'he's already done enough.' And her tone suggested that he was involved somehow.. We need to talk to him... Figure out what he knows... What he's done... I couldn't ask Cassandra everything, out of fear someone would hear us... Maybe he knows something more....?" She was crying though, because the thought of her brother possibly being caught and killed, it frightened her. She could not lose him.
[ARIC] Well, there was no slowing down now. Things just kept escalating and they had to keep up with it lest they fall behind. And Aric refused to fall behind. He knew why she was crying more now, and he kissed her tear streaked cheek before pulling himself away. Just briefly to march to his door and fling it open. "Get me Orin Evans now!" he growled to the nearest guard down the hall. He sounded angry, he sounded pissed, and he was...but it wasn't in the way she might think. Aric dropped to the floor beside her again, drawing her against him. He was angry because he was terrified. This all ran deeper than it should. They already found out what Cassandra had done, now there was a chance Orin could be at risk. And he was tired of his family being in trouble, being afraid. He was tired of losing them.
[ALEXANDRIA] Her eyes desperately searched Aric's as he kissed her face, hoping he had answers for her, but knowing there really wasn't an answer. For any of this. A sigh escaped her lips as Aric moved away from her and to the door, but at the tone of his voice as he asked for Orin, she flinched, her tears still streamed down her face.
She clung to him when he was back on the floor with her. "Please, Aric..." she was worrying he would retaliate against Orin if he did in fact help Cassandra. With the tone he had growled out, it was enough to scare her further. But would he be holding her like this if he truly was angry at her brother? She buried her face into his shoulder and quietly cried against him. "Could this possibly get any worse?"
[ARIC] He didn't know what he was going to do, honestly. He was upset, he was furious, and he needed to know what was going on. And clearly, Orin knew something and had been hiding it this entire time. They needed to be brought into the loop, not leave any stone unturned. His hand just ran up and down her arm to calm her and possibly calm himself as well. "If he knows something...he needs to tell us. I can't let Renaud take more family away from me." And that included Orin, despite how angry he seemed.
[ALEXANDRIA] She looked to Aric and nodded, frightened by all of this...Feeling so lost. At Aric's comment about Renaud and not wanting him to take more family from him, she looked at him in awe briefly. He was considering Orin family? She clung to Aric desperately, holding him close to her. Despite all of this horribleness, they still had each other and that would get them through all of this. She felt relieved that they were on the same page with all of this.
[ORIN] It did not take them too long to find him. He had locked himself away in his room, pacing and trying to think of something to get Cassandra out of this. Maybe he would confess that he did it. She was young and still had a lot of life to live...she could not live it in the dungeons...or without a head. He could kill Charles right now, and it was taking everything for him not to go find him and do so.
There was a knock at his door that broke him from his train of thoughts. When he opened it, the guard breathlessly told him he was needed at Aric's chambers. Now what? But that panic set in. Did he know something? Did something else happen? He nodded and rushed past the guard, hurrying to Aric's room. And when he arrived, he knocked quickly.
[ARIC] This was a lot to handle, but to be truthful, both he and Alexandria were handling it fairly well. As well as people could possibly handle this kind of thing. They were upset, they were crumbling...but they were standing, so to speak. They were still pushing forward trying to figure this out. Aric just prayed Orin hadn't done something stupid to jeopardize his cousin's already stupid crime. His head was still spinning at the notion she had killed his brother. And he was still trying to be angrier with her about it but that anger was falling short. When he heard that knock, he was quick to climb to his feet and drag Alexandria with him, but he did not let go of her...for both their sakes. "Come in..." he said a little too calmly. Aric wasn't sure what he was going to do once he saw his brother-in-law's face.
[ORIN] He took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping inside, letting the door shut behind him. Green-blue eyes looked around the room briefly, unsure of what to expect, until they landed on his sister and Aric. Alexandria's appearance nearly took him aback. Her hair was slightly dish and her eyes were puffy as though she'd been crying all night and day, though he wasn't surprised if she had. Aric, too, looked like he had been through hell and back. Orin was sure he did not look much better. He hadn't slept. He cleared his throat, "is everything...alright? You were asking for me?"
[ARIC] Alexandria would feel how quickly he tensed up when Orin stepped into the room. He would wait for that door to be shut behind him before he was moving. Aric wasn't fully thinking things through as he charged forward, gripping the man by the collar of his shirt to force him back into the door. But he did nothing else to threaten him or even hurt him. There was anger in his eyes, but there was also a vulnerability, a fear that Orin may have never seen in the prince before. "What did you do?" he asked, his tone far calmer than his actions were. He was afraid his voice would crack. "You knew she did it...and you said nothing?!" There were so many other things he wanted to ask, but he had to slow down.
[ALEXANDRIA] She did feel Aric as he tensed up, and before she could steady him, he was rushing forward and grabbing hold of Orin. She took a couple steps towards them, "Aric... stop.." She pleaded with him. But her tone was not harsh, but rather concerned and defeated. "Orin..." She wrapped her arms around herself, and sighed, not sure what to say or do.
[ORIN] He was suddenly being forced against the door, the prince's eyes looking at him with anger and that vulnerability. Orin stayed calm, showing no emotion to Aric as he questioned him. But the questions hinted to him that Alexandria and Aric knew about what Cassandra had done. And somehow they knew he was involved. He sighed heavily and shoved Aric back and away from him. "Lay off." He growled. He wasn't in the mood for this. "Why would I say something and risk putting her in more danger or trouble?!" He barked back at Aric. Clearly, Orin was just as upset and angry.
[ARIC] He allowed Orin to shove him away, but he barely moved any further than that. He wanted to yell at him, wanted to berate him for being foolish and getting involved, just as much as he wanted to scream at Cassandra. But he couldn't find it in him. For some reason, Orin took it upon himself to try and protect her, and that very idea astounded him. "You could have come to us after," he warned. "She told your sister what she did. Sounds like she's ready to just...take whatever punishment Renaud throws at her, and now I come to find out that...you had some part to play in this?!" He was talking quickly, his voice was angry, but it was strange. It was almost as if he was simply angry at the world and not so much Orin who stood in front of him. "Why? What did you do?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She didn't need to question Orin, because Aric was already doing it, explaining how they had come to find out about Cassandra, and now they wanted to know how he was involved. She stood quietly, watching the two men she loved more than anything. Desperate for all of this to go away.
[ORIN] His gaze fell down to the floor and he shook his head, sighing. His voice was quiet as he spoke. "I didn't know.... how you would take it...If you would throw Cassandra in the dungeons yourself...Or me. And I did not want to risk getting both of you involved..." He glanced back up at his sister and then to Aric. "I did not intentionally get involved... I found her just after she had done it. She was a mess...and what was I supposed to do? Leave her alone?" He sighed and shook his head. "So I got it out of her what she had done...She drugged Charles to sneak in... Hemlock in a wineskin that she gave him...And she planted an empty bottle of Opium poppy something to make it look like he killed himself..." He explained, but he wasn't done. "She didn't take the wineskin back...So I went back for her. Acted as if I was the one who found him.... took the wineskin and checked to see if all traces were erased...I didn't know Charles might have seen her..." He frowned and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry....I was just trying to help her..."
[ARIC] A hand ran down his face, and he turned to begin to pace slowly as Orin started to explain. It was basically impossible to remain angry at him, because if he hadn't gone back, there may have been more evidence against Cassandra. So now, everything rested on what the healer could find, if there was truly any evidence of prolonged exposure to opium. He hadn't mentioned anything about hemlock, so his cousin had done something right. One tiny thing right. He finally stopped moving, turning to face Orin once again. He probably thought Aric was going to scream at him, but his desperation won out over everything. "Thank you," he finally said. He took the next minute to fill Orin in on what the healer had told him and what Stefan had been sent to do, and now what they were waiting to hear on. He sighed heavily afterwards, still trying to wrap his head around it all. "So, although Cassandra dealt the final blow," Aric was adding after the whole explanation. "There might be another player we don't know about who was slowly trying to poison my brother. And if we're not careful...she'll take the fall for it." Because, you know, how could this possibly get any worse?
[ORIN] He was a bit surprised as Aric thanked him. Now they were all in on this and it seemed to go deeper and further than just what Cassandra had done. "Right..." he said after Aric spoke, scratching the back of his head in thought. "Something about that Renaud guy.... strikes me as suspicious. But what do I know? He seemed so hellbent in pointing a finger...in pressuring Charles into thinking something that he wasn't even certain he saw or not? He never told me of these suspicions last night when I questioned him.. "
[ALEXANDRIA] Orin had helped bury evidence, which was nearly as guilty as committing the crime. And now she and Aric were involved, which could result in the loss of their heads and her kingdom would be powerless to stop it. She covered her face and sighed heavily, choking back her tears before glancing back up. "So what do we do now? Send our guards searching for clues? We aren't in Tresteria... we don't know for sure who or why or when or if anything wrong happened before coming to Aralore... we just wait for the healer's findings? What if it's nothing and we can't get Cassandra out of the blame?"
[ARIC] This was spiraling deeper and deeper and he was struggling to keep his mind straight. Perhaps, in a way, it was good that they had an extra head in on this...but it was also bad. Tampering with evidence could cost Orin a lot, but he couldn't be anything but grateful to him. "Renaud has a chance for the regency...so I am not surprised that he's looking for anything to make him look better. But...I also don't trust him." As Alexandria fought to speak, he was drawing her to his side again, embracing her and trying to calm her nerves just as much as his own. "We have no choice but to wait. If Stefan has any luck and the healer can prove it was more than just what Cassandra had done..." He sighed. It would be easier to get her out, but if not? Aric's dark eyes looked between the two, a nervousness on his face. "If not...I can't promise I won't try to still get her out..." Was this the week of doing stupid things? Seemed like it.
[ORIN] He wished he could go back in time and just prevent all of this from happening like this. Or, that he hadn't let Stefan stop him from killing him, so it would be him instead of Cassandra, and he may have gotten off as protecting the queen. Which gave him an idea. "If anything, couldn't we say she did it to defend the queen? He attacked her... And maybe she wished to give him a more humane way of death to avoid him having to lose his head... Because that's where things were spiraling to at this point... No?" He leaned against the wall, folding his arms over his chest. Eyes watched as Aric tried consoling his sister. "How are the two of you holding up?" A stupid question, of course.. But he'd ask it anyway. "Is there anything I else I could do?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She reached for Aric's hand as he tried to console her, lacing her fingers into his. Honestly, she wasn't sure how much more she could withstand before she'd lose her mind. Aric had been her support--both emotionally and physically, and she appreciated that more than she would be able to ever express to him.
At Orin's suggestion, she shrugged her shoulders and looked to Aric, questioningly. It made sense, but she wasn't entirely sure how Tresteria worked and how they would respond. They needed to proceed with caution to avoid a war with them. Even if they had enough to go by to sentence the king and take his head, it may have taken a lot more work to get this cleared or approved and to avoid a war. She sighed, "I'm not sure, Orin..." She answered, hoping maybe Aric would have more of an idea.
Though, when he was asking how they were doing, she looked up to Aric again, knowing that they still had a lot to talk about themselves, but hadn't had the chance. Alexandria did not know he had spoken with Orin last night about their argument. "As well as we can, for now..." She answered him. Was there anything else she needed him to do? She nodded slightly. "Can you find some servants to move my things from my room to here?"
[ARIC] He knew Orin meant well, but it wasn't as easy as that. You can't just kill a king and expect to be pardoned, regardless of what he did or nearly did. Politics were messed up that way...which is why Cassandra did what she had. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. It still didn't mean that it was okay. It never would be, no matter how many different ways he looked at it. "It wouldn't be enough," he said simply. Aric sighed as he walked over to the window to peer out, noticing the cliffs and the water beyond. It wasn't terribly far now, was it? As the two briefly conversed, he finally spoke up. "Are there any doors to the dungeons from the outside, or is there only the one?" No, maybe he shouldn't be thinking about this...but he most certainly was. Because if the healer did not give them good news- or any damn news soon- he was going to get his cousin out of there. Even if he had to do it himself.
[ORIN] He nodded in understanding as Aric explained it wouldn't be enough. Of course things couldn't just be easy. Nothing ever was. A long sigh escaped him, and at Aric's question, he shook his head. "No...just the one entrance.. To avoid others from coming in or escaping..." He raised a brow as if understanding what Aric was trying to get at.
He glanced back to Alexandria when she asked about having her things brought into Aric's room. He understood why, but it made him angry (not at her) that she felt she could no longer go to her own room. He nodded to her. "I will see what I can do..."
[ALEXANDRIA] She shook her head as Aric questioned about the dungeons having more than one entrance. "No, Aric... Don't even think about that..." she begged. "It would be too risky...And I cannot have you risking yourself.. Neither of you." She looked to Orin, then. "We will figure something out.."
[ARIC] Fingers curled around the window sill. He was becoming anxious, unable to simply stand there, to stand still and wait. Where was that damn healer with news?! Now that he knew how deep his cousin was in this mess, he wasn't going to be able to concentrate on anything else. Could they at least get her out of the dungeons? Renaud was trying to break her down, Aric knew, and she didn't do well in dark, cold places. He ran a hand through his hair, drawing his eyes from the scenery outside the window. "Maybe I should speak with the healer again, find Stefan...maybe I can convince that son-of-a-bitch to just keep her locked in her chambers..." Anything besides just standing there.
[ORIN] He felt the same way as Aric. He couldn't just stand here doing nothing. And if he couldn't help with getting Cassandra out of the dungeons, he would move all of Alexandria's things himself just to keep busy. "I can go find Stefan," Orin suggested. "You go see if you can convince whatever his name is, if we can have Cassandra removed from the dungeons..?" He glanced to his sister, knowing she probably wouldn't want to sit around doing nothing. "Maybe you can go talk with the healer?"
[ALEXANDRIA] Part of her did not want to leave this room. If she didn't leave this room, she wouldn't have to see or hear anymore. But that wasn't completely the truth. Even still, she was sure she would be bothered from this very room. If not by anyone, then at least by her own mind. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, finally nodding. "I can do that, yes..." She answered Orin before turning her gaze to Aric. "Will you be alright?" She was nervous about him being near that man.
[ARIC] Orin devised a plan quickly, something that would keep them all busy and try to keep things moving. So many things were in motion, and not just with his brother's death, that it was proving extra difficult to keep everything in check. Aric nodded. "Right...yes, I can do that..." Dark eyes blinked, still struggling to keep himself together. Then he was regarded his wife when she questioned him. A pause, he probably should have lied to appease her, but he shook his head lightly. "I just...need to see this over and done with." Aric made his way back to her, gently resting his hands upon her arms. "Will you? I can go see the healer if you need. You can stay here..." Just because he had to keep busy didn't mean she had to as well. He would understand.
[ALEXANDRIA] She hesitated for a moment as Aric questioned if she would be alright. She, too, should have lied, and said she would be fine. But the panic and dread was hard to hide on her face. Edward's body was in there, and like her inability to go to her room, she had a sickening feeling in her stomach, and she wasn't sure if she could step foot in that room. She choked back tears and when she spoke, her voice cracked. "Could you have the healer sent up to me?"
[ORIN] He watched as his sister seemed to struggle with the idea of going to see the healer, and he knew what was going on in her mind. He frowned slightly and sighed to himself. She was usually stronger than this, so he was having a hard time understanding why this was affecting her so badly. He nodded before speaking. "I will meet with you later once I find out what I can." He turned and stepped out of the room, unable to handle seeing his sister this way.
[ARIC] Perhaps he should just handle this himself, but she appeared to want to at least try, and it would help save some time. "Thank you," he told Orin again as he left before he drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I'm going to make sure men are stationed outside this door. We'll get all of your things brought in here." He was trying to console her as his own heart was pounding. "But I need to see this through. I can't stand here and wait...I can't leave her down there." If Cassandra could at least be in her own chambers or wherever that bastard Renaud deemed suitable, it may calm him a small amount.
[ALEXANDRIA] She watched Orin as he left before turning her gaze to her husband. He was trying to console her, but it did little to help. Her things did not matter to her. There were more important things she cared about right now, and seemingly, they were all coming crashing down. She nodded simply. "I understand, Aric... I want to help however I can... I just..." She hesitated and shook her head. "I do not think I can see him..." Edward, that is. "I'm so sorry.... I don't know how much more I can handle here..." Tears snuck their way out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
[ARIC] "Then just stay here. Wait for me here, or if Orin comes back first." He had seen Edward on that table...and it wasn't something he was ever going to forget. Currently, everything else was helping with that, but it was only a matter of time before the image would creep back in. "I'll have the healer bring word once he is done." There was no point in bothering him now if he was in the middle of figuring things out, even if he wanted to pester him for more information. Patience was not a virtue right now. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Alright?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She sighed quietly and nodded, feeling defeated in her weakness. "I'm sorry, Aric." She repeated, feeling guilty for not being able to do more. She was feeling so powerless. In her own country. How could this be? She looked up at Aric and quickly embraced him, pulling him tightly against her. She buried her face against his chest and sighed deeply. "I love you, Aric... Please come back to me, safely..."
[ARIC] He was becoming antsy, needing to keep moving before he completely broke down again. If she couldn't help, she couldn't. He clearly wasn't holding it against her, but he wouldn't be able to remain there with her when he might be able to do something. Aric just hoped the healer had news soon and Stefan managed to find something to help with what he hoped would prove Cassandra "innocent". He kissed the top of her head. "Love you, too," he said, before he was chuckling, not mean to make her plea seem funny. But he was in that strange, frantic kind of mood and needed it. "Isn't this what princes do- save damsels in distress?" He even managed a smirk before, on his way towards the door, he kissed her real quick and left. The last thing he wanted to do was speak another word to Renaud, but he had no choice right now.
[ALEXANDRIA] But he was leaving his damsel in distress. Though Alexandria would not say so, she thought that after Aric left her. Of course she didn't blame him, because things needed to be done. They needed to get over this hurdle before moving onto the next one. She just wasn't sure how she would handle the silence now and being left alone. There are guards outside the door, you are safe. She kept reminding herself. But they wouldn't save her from the intrusions in her own mind. Alexandria, too, needed to keep busy. So she searched through Aric's desk for some parchment and a quill and ink and scribbled a small notice...request to see Eoin. When she finished, she asked one of the guards if he could have a messenger send her notice to Nemeris' manor. She was thankful, then, because several servants were beginning to bring her things in, and she could spend her time rearranging and changing poor Aric's room around.
[ARIC] After the healer, he went immediately to Edward's chambers. It was ridiculous how Renaud had guards stationed outside of it, after some heated arguing, they finally relented. Renaud may have given the order, but Aric was still their prince. He searched the room high and low but found no Tresterian wine or opium, which made him concerned. Still, that didn't mean Stefan wouldn't have any luck. It was likely Renaud had already had Edward's room searched, so there was no telling what to expect. A half hour later, he was wandering aimlessly. He didn't know what to do right now, not until he heard back from Stefan, nor had he heard from Alexandria so he had no idea how Cassandra was doing. Maybe he would just go down to the dungeons and demand he see her? As he walked, trying to mull over all of these thoughts at once, he suddenly came to a halt. Glancing up, he'd find his wife standing frozen in front of her room. "Alexandria?" he called out quietly. "What are you doing?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She heard her husband's voice in the distance, and she slowly turned her gaze away from her bedroom door and over to where he was. She had tears rolling down her cheeks and her hands were trembling. "I...." She tried to get words out, but her voice was cracking. "I needed to get something..." She explained, her eyes looking at him like she needed him to come drag her away and out of her dark thoughts. "I can't..." She hesitated, her voice shaken. "I can't seem to go in..."
[ARIC] His brow furrowed and he was quickly stepping over to her; taking her gently by the shoulders and urging her away from the door. "What is it you need? I can get it." Why would she think she could easily go in there right now?
[ALEXANDRIA] She had felt fine through the morning, feeling as if she had gotten some of her strength back, so she somehow felt she would be alright to quickly go to her room and leave before the thoughts could get to her. She hadn't expected them to hit her just from walking down this hallway and seeing her door. She grabbed hold of Aric's arms and moved away from her door with his urging. She looked up at him as he asked her what she needed, and suddenly she could not remember what it was she came here for in the first place. Sapphire eyes, blurred by her tears, searched Aric's face as if looking at him would make her remember, but she must have looked like she had gone completely crazy, as she stood there silently, trying to remember what it was she needed. Then, she remembered, and she realized it was the silliest thing and she did not wish to tell Aric, as he might think she had gone crazy. She shook her head. "Nothing... I don't need it anymore." She stepped away from Aric and continued down the hall, away from her room, suddenly feeling so embarrassed and stupid.
[ARIC] He wouldn't say it, even if he knew her thoughts, but it was almost worse that she claimed to not need whatever it was now because this was causing another complete setback. And an unnecessary one. One that could have been avoided. Sighing softly, he was quick to follow her as she suddenly walked off now. He drew her against his side, continuing to walk further down the hall with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Aric didn't know where they were going, just as long as it was away from that room. The first servant they saw, he'd have to remember to request that all of her belongings be brought to his room. Alexandria could refurnish that room, do whatever she wanted with it, he didn't care. But he wasn't letting her back into her old chambers. It wasn't worth the risk. It wasn't worth this. "It's gone," he told her quietly. "We're nowhere near it now, alright?" Perhaps they should just board it up altogether…
[ALEXANDRIA] There were several other things that she wouldn't want to leave that room. The bed linens.. Her bed, anything relating to her bed. As they got further from the room, she took a deep breath to try and calm herself down, Aric's words assuring her that they were away from the room. She nodded, taking in a staggered breath. "I'm sorry..." She shook her head. "You need me to be strong for you... And I am struggling, too, Aric..." She lowered her gaze to the floor, wishing she could be stronger for him. But she was going through all of this too, and she was trying not to break down, herself. When they made it to Aric's room, she quickly opened the door and went inside, pulling Aric in with her. She let herself sink into one of the chairs, rubbing her face with her hands.
[ARIC] He slowed them to a stop, just for a moment, so that he could turn her to face him, holding his hand against her cheek in reassurance that everything was alright. "I know, love. I know. We're all struggling." Literally everyone in their entire family was suffering in some way or another. Drawing in a staggering breath, they continued to walk until she was ushering them into his room. He'd shut the door behind them as she sank into one of the chairs. "Hey..." he soothed, trying to push all his other worries aside, even if for this moment, to kneel in front of her like he always did; he tried to urge one of her hands away from her face. "This will pass. All of this will, I promise." Could he really promise that? No, but he was going to anyway, because they all needed that hope right now.
[ALEXANDRIA] They were all struggling, and she hated that. If there was a way to rid of all of this, she would do it in a heartbeat. Sapphire eyes found Aric as he knelt in front of her and pulled her hand away from her face. She stared at him , admiring him if only for a moment. Despite everything, he was still here, trying to console her, promising her that everything would be okay, even though neither of them knew if it really would. But, Alexandria nodded to him. "I know... It has to get better..." She took his good hand into hers and squeezed it gently before bringing it to his lips and pressing her lips against his knuckles. A small laugh, though saddened, escaped her and she shook her head. "How did such a wonderful day turn into something so awful?"
[ARIC] Staring at her lovely face, even as sad as she was, was far better than letting the memories of his dead brother haunt him. He was afraid he was going to completely lose it, but he was managing so far. Barely, but he was managing. Perhaps it was that bit of hope that Godfrey offered about the slow poisoning. Of course, that would open up the entirely new question of who would have been doing it, but at least it would free Cassandra. He forced a crooked grin onto his face, shaking his head lightly. "I wouldn't call it a curse, but...certainly a horrible case of bad luck?" He was trying to lighten the mood even though his heart was still aching. "We'll have wonderful days...better days. We just...need to believe it." Although he was the one saying this, attempting to sound as positive as he possibly could, he knew that he too had to believe it would happen. He was still struggling with that notion himself.
[ALEXANDRIA] A faint smile managed to find her lips at Aric's words, and she nodded. "I know..." She placed her hands on his face and pulled him closer to her, leaning down to press her lips against his in a soft, loving kiss. "We should plan a getaway together... A honeymoon? After all of this has passed..." She smiled, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. "Spend an entire day in the bedroom together..." Despite the trauma she nearly endured... The setback she most likely would have with Aric again... Unable to have sex for a while, out of that fear of the memory, she tried to push it aside, insinuating to Aric that she would be okay. "Gives us something to look forward to?" She looked into his eyes before leaning into him again to kiss him.
[ARIC] There had to be some light in this darkness. There just had to be. He wouldn't be able to handle much more of this. Something had to give...whether for the better or he just completely snapped. Whichever came first. And he was terrified of the latter. There was a tired chuckle from his chest at her words. He knew she was trying to prove she would be alright, but he already understood what was going to happen. Everything they had overcome, they would have to take several steps back. Regardless, he leaned up to meet her halfway for that kiss, keeping it gentle and brief. "Whatever my lady desires," he told her.
[ALEXANDRIA] Yes, they needed some light. Something. She wasn't sure how much she would be able to endure, either. Last night she had had her breakdown, but she knew it could get worse than that, and that frightened her. Aric had seen her at her worst, and had gotten so frustrated and angry with her, if she got any worse, would it sever their relationship completely? She smiled softly at Aric's comment. "Not just what I desire. Your desires matter, too." She kissed his hand again before releasing him. "As much as I wish we could ignore everything at hand... and just be husband and wife, right now... I know we cannot be allowed such luxuries right now..." A long sigh escaped her lips and she shook her head. "We need to talk..."
[ARIC] It didn't help anything that there were so many problems to deal with. In truth, it was probably why he had completely lost it last night. He allowed things to plague him and get out of hand...but that was something to discuss later when the bigger issues were handled. If they ever were. Right now, she was still by his side despite that argument, and that was a good start. It was what he needed desperately right now. 'We need to talk...' That gave him pause because she just made it clear that they were not going to talk about last night. This was something else. Aric was hesitant to ask, "What is it?" What else could have possibly happened?
[ALEXANDRIA] A deep breath was released from her lips and she closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead with her hand. "Sit down..." She motioned to the chair across from her. "I am struggling... Part of me does not want to tell you because you are already going through so much... And I don't want you to become further upset... But it's something I feel you need to know... And I just don't know how to tell you..." She was being completely honest with him. If he somehow told her he did not wish to hear it (though she doubted he would ever say that), then she would refrain and try to figure this out on her own... Perhaps Orin could help, as he seemed to already be involved somehow, and she could honestly kill him right now for it. She sighed into her hands and rubbed her face, hoping this would all just go away soon. Her eyes fell back to Aric and she studied his features, hoping he would be able to handle this if he did want to hear what she had to tell him.
[ARIC] When she told him to sit, he grew even more nervous. He stared at her for a moment longer before slowly rising up just to take that seat. Aric really didn't know what to expect, but the fact that she was taking her time to tell him (with good reason), it was making the suspense all the more worse. "Just tell me..." he quietly pleaded, trying to not let his mind wander to random ideas and thoughts before she could.
[ALEXANDRIA] She watched as he sat and she frowned as he instructed her to just tell him. With a slow nod, she inhaled deeply before releasing it slowly. "Cassandra... She is fine...Mostly..." Her gaze dropped and she felt her heart racing in her chest, afraid to tell Aric what she had found out, and she was struggling to find her words to even allow them out of her lips. Should she slowly hint at it, or just rip the bandage off quickly to get it over with? She had no idea. Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on her knees and buried her face into her hands. Why did Aric ask her to go check on her? Why did Cassandra so openly tell her these things? Her voice now muffled from her hands covering her face, she quietly spoke. "She did it, Aric...."
[ARIC] So, this was about Cassandra. He could tell that Alexandria was trying to ease into it, even a little bit, but clearly his cousin was not fully alright. Something was wrong, something terrible because he could now feel it at the pit of his stomach as his wife struggled to explain. Then she said it, and dark eyes continued to stare at her as though he hadn't heard her. Or that, maybe deep down, he thought this was supposed to be some sick, twisted joke. 'She did it...' The words continued to echo over and over in his head, and he hadn't even realized how fast his heart was pounding as it throbbed in his ears. 'She did it...' She killed him. Cassandra killed Edward. He pushed the chair back; the legs of it scraping against the floor loudly and breaking the silence that had fallen. When he stood up abruptly, it had been shoved back, falling and clanking to the stone behind him. "No..." he murmured, the shaking of his head getting faster with each passing second as he was trying to deny it. "No, she didn't. She couldn't have." But there was no belief in his voice. Alexandria would not lie to him about this. His hands were shaking again as his vision was blurring from tears. "...she couldn't have..." Those words were barely audible, his voice cracking, and he struggled to stay upright because he didn't know whether to completely break down in agony or anger.
[ALEXANDRIA] After those words spilled from her lips, there was that long and lingering silence. Alexandria slowly lifted her face from her hands and looked over at Aric. He was struggling, and she was regretting telling him. The sound of the scraping chair startled her, but when he stood up, causing the chair to fall back, she closed her eyes, tears beginning to well up in her own eyes. He was denying it, clearly. Not wanting to believe her. She didn't want to believe it either. When she reopened her eyes, she could see Aric about to crack, the tears forming in his eyes now, and she shook her head, standing quickly and rushing over to him. She embraced him, pulling him against her. "I'm so sorry, Aric..." Now she was fully regretting her decision to tell him. But how could she not? He needed to know. She would tell him more of what she found out, but she needed to try and calm him down first.
[ARIC] He was spiraling, he was struggling to stay upright. He needed to lash out but didn't know how so he was standing there helpless. This was in no way the queen's fault, and it was certainly something he had to know...but it was a lot to handle. The cousin he loved so fiercely...had killed his own brother. A brother he had once loved, in the very least, but struggled to mourn properly. Did that make him fucked up? Was his entire family, his bloodline fucked up? He couldn't return Alexandria's embrace because he was still stunned and afraid...and would eventually begin to draw back. Because he was stumbling, losing his footing until he fell against the wall; sliding down it as those tears finally fell from his eyes. Tears that he couldn't even shed for Edward. His hands filtered through his hair, pulling at the strands and he didn't even care how painful his injury was by doing this. "How...could she do this? Why?" Despite the overwhelming emotions, his voice was still quiet, cracking beneath the pressure of this all.
[ALEXANDRIA] It nearly killed her when Aric couldn't embrace her and was drawing away from her. But she knew he was reaching his breaking point and there was nothing she could do to stop it. As he fell against the wall and slid down, she rushed over to him, dropping to her knees in front of him. He was crying, and she couldn't help the tears that fell from her own eyes as she placed a hand on his knee. She did not answer him right away, she didn't know where to begin or how she could possibly alleviate any of this for him. Finally, after allowing him a moment to break down and cry (because he probably needed that release), she sighed softly. "Aric... She was trying to help..." Though she had gone about it all wrong, she genuinely knew Cassandra was just trying to help. Alexandria moved closer to him and sat down next to Aric, pulling him towards her and resting his head against her chest, letting him cry on her if he needed. She gently combed her fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. "She saw the rage in your eyes...and how you were on the verge of killing him yourself... She did not want you to be faulted for killing him. Or Orin..." She hugged him tighter against her and kissed the top of his head, whispering quietly into his ear. "Aric, it will be alright." She tried to calm him. "I'm here... I'm not going anywhere." She rocked him in her arms, continuing to brush her fingers through his hair. "Eleesa had told her that he was spiraling out of control... Not himself....and last night had been his worst... It scared Cassandra and she didn't want Edward to destroy or hurt your nephews... Tresteria... Aralore... She just thought by killing him, it would end all of this... Said she felt her life was more dispensable than anyone else's..." Alexandria was crying, but still tried desperately to console her husband in her arms.
[ARIC] He was shaking, trying so hard to understand it all, even as Alexandria explained. It made sense...but it didn't. Maybe because he didn't want to believe it. He knew Cassandra had her vicious side...but this? Had it been so easy for her to do? Like it was nothing? Aric fell against Alexandria as she embraced him once again, doing her very best to bring him down from that ledge. It would be impossible, no matter how hard she tried, simply because of how devastating this all was. Still, shaking arms were slowly wrapping around her, trying to keep himself from floating away. He kept wanting to ask how his cousin could do this, yet, somehow he knew. Even before his wife explained, Aric somehow knew why deep down. She did what he could not. What he may have inevitably done. What he kept telling himself he could never do. "Dispensable?" came his desperate reply, sounding as though he thought Cassandra insane for that very idea. His throat was sore, his head was already throbbing, and he tried to breathe as Alexandria cradled him, letting him cry. Letting him finally mourn whatever it was that he had to. Yet, after a long moment, he drew back enough to look at her face. "And you believe her?" Was he wondering if Cassie was a liar, that she didn't feel an ounce of remorse? But perhaps the queen might realize, by the sound of his voice, that he was asking her whether he was insane for believing her. For hoping Cassandra's reasonings and remorse to be true.
[ALEXANDRIA] She knew how difficult this all was for Aric. He had remained so strong and steady through all of it, and this was his breaking point. Aric had endured watching is brother try and take his wife from him, try to rape her while he was being held back from saving her. His brother dying and now is cousin admitting her wrongdoing. It was a lot for a person to handle in just a day. She nodded her head at Aric, though he would not be able to see it. "Yes... Dispensable... Like none of us care for her and she does not matter more than any of us..." She had scorned Cassandra for saying such a thing, because that was not true. If she was dispensable, she would not have sent crews of her men to go looking for her when she had been kidnapped. She would not have promised the woman that she would fight to keep her in Aralore so she would not have to return to Tresteria. As Aric lifted his gaze to look at her, she placed her hands on his cheeks and tried wiping away his tears with her thumbs. She pressed her lips to his forehead, and she slowly nodded. "She was devastated and scared, Aric... I saw it in her eyes... In her tone... She was telling the truth..."
[ARIC] This was the dumbest way possible for Cassandra to try and prove that she was brave, to prove anything. Becoming the martyr was not honorable when this would all hurt those that did care about her. Still, in a wrong and strange way...he understood her. Maybe it was a Demarais thing. It was a messed up thing. Drawing back further, just enough to rest his head back against the wall, he still clung to her like she was his very lifeline. Alexandria believed Cassandra, so maybe he wasn't losing his mind for wanting to fix this. For wanting to allow his cousin to get away with it. "Am I wrong or fucked up for wanting to help her? For, maybe...believing Edward's death was justified...?" All these horrible questions. He didn't mean to dump them on her, but right now, her opinion was the only one that mattered. The only one he would listen to. And after speaking to the healer, it was becoming increasingly harder to hate Cassie. Not that it made any of it right. Damn these fluctuating emotions.
[ALEXANDRIA] A sigh of relief came from her lips when Aric asked if he was wrong or fucked up for wanting to help Cassandra. For saying that he felt Edward's death was justified. She was already thinking that, but did not wish to admit it to Aric, for fear that he would be angry with her. So, she shook her head. "Not at all, Aric... He would have raped me.... Had you held down so you could watch him do that to me...? It would be fucked up if you didn't feel these things...." Her brows furrowed, her expression wavering as she stared at Aric, questioning him, wondering if he honestly thought he was wrong for being angry at himself for feeling this way.
[ARIC] Edward had still been his brother, that was why this was so hard. But his anger and relief over his death stemmed far deeper than what he had nearly done to Alexandria. The man had done far more in the last few years, and it was how he understood Cassandra's reasoning...even if he wished she hadn't done it. He shut his eyes, taking in deep breaths as he tried to further calm down. It was slow-going, but he was beginning to manage. "The healer is still...looking into it, but...he found traces of opium and alcohol in Edward's blood. To check for prolonged exposure to it, he has to check his liver..." He suddenly began to talk about where he had been not too long ago, and before she could question about it, he managed to continue. "Stefan told me Edward had been screaming, rambling things...something about Tresterian wine making him sick when Aralorian wine did not..." Those dark eyes opened to regard her, a new worry painting over his face. "Long exposure to opium can cause hallucinations, maybe even make one mad..." He was beginning to hint to a question he didn't want to ask: if the doctor can prove Edward had been slowly poisoned over a period of time...was it Cassandra that did it?
[ALEXANDRIA] Her lips parted to say something, but Aric continued to speak. She remembered Cassandra suggesting that they try to make it appear that Edward had been taking Opium. Though she didn't think that would be necessary if the healer had already found traces of it in his blood. Had Cassandra used Opium to kill Edward? But then she remembered something. "Cassandra told me that the healer would not be able to pinpoint the poison she used...But he was able to detect Opium?" She raised a brow, searching Aric's features for something. Her head was pounding and she couldn't think straight... This was all confusing and she did not understand poisons and any of this. She pressed her forehead against Aric's and whispered. "We need to talk to Orin...I can't help but think he knows something...Had a part in something...I don't know...Just something she said to me...I think my brother got involved..." Her voice cracked, and her fingers began to tremble. If that were the case, Orin's life was in danger if he would be found out, and that worried her to no end.
[ARIC] He was just as lost as she was now, but at least they were on the same page. At least he wouldn't feel alone in thinking he was being wrong about any of this. It wasn't right what Cassandra had done- it would never be alright, but there were things happening here that none of them knew yet. He couldn't help but feel like his brother's death had been inevitable. And if they could figure out how to save his cousin, no one will be blamed. "Orin?" Her brother's name was growled from his throat, surprise hitting him once again. "Why? What-" His hand ran down his face for what must have been the millionth time today, trying to dry his tears. "Why the fuck would he be involved in any of this?" How far did this rabbit hole go?! Alexandria's thoughts were running parallel with his own- if Orin was involved in some way, there was a possibility he was in danger. Especially if Renaud found out. He was already suspecting Cassie.
[ALEXANDRIA] She had no idea how Orin was involved. So when Aric was questioning her about why, she was at loss for words. "I don't know, Aric... You saw them... Cassandra ran to him? And he was acting strangely after that... I said his name, questioning her, and she said 'he's already done enough.' And her tone suggested that he was involved somehow.. We need to talk to him... Figure out what he knows... What he's done... I couldn't ask Cassandra everything, out of fear someone would hear us... Maybe he knows something more....?" She was crying though, because the thought of her brother possibly being caught and killed, it frightened her. She could not lose him.
[ARIC] Well, there was no slowing down now. Things just kept escalating and they had to keep up with it lest they fall behind. And Aric refused to fall behind. He knew why she was crying more now, and he kissed her tear streaked cheek before pulling himself away. Just briefly to march to his door and fling it open. "Get me Orin Evans now!" he growled to the nearest guard down the hall. He sounded angry, he sounded pissed, and he was...but it wasn't in the way she might think. Aric dropped to the floor beside her again, drawing her against him. He was angry because he was terrified. This all ran deeper than it should. They already found out what Cassandra had done, now there was a chance Orin could be at risk. And he was tired of his family being in trouble, being afraid. He was tired of losing them.
[ALEXANDRIA] Her eyes desperately searched Aric's as he kissed her face, hoping he had answers for her, but knowing there really wasn't an answer. For any of this. A sigh escaped her lips as Aric moved away from her and to the door, but at the tone of his voice as he asked for Orin, she flinched, her tears still streamed down her face.
She clung to him when he was back on the floor with her. "Please, Aric..." she was worrying he would retaliate against Orin if he did in fact help Cassandra. With the tone he had growled out, it was enough to scare her further. But would he be holding her like this if he truly was angry at her brother? She buried her face into his shoulder and quietly cried against him. "Could this possibly get any worse?"
[ARIC] He didn't know what he was going to do, honestly. He was upset, he was furious, and he needed to know what was going on. And clearly, Orin knew something and had been hiding it this entire time. They needed to be brought into the loop, not leave any stone unturned. His hand just ran up and down her arm to calm her and possibly calm himself as well. "If he knows something...he needs to tell us. I can't let Renaud take more family away from me." And that included Orin, despite how angry he seemed.
[ALEXANDRIA] She looked to Aric and nodded, frightened by all of this...Feeling so lost. At Aric's comment about Renaud and not wanting him to take more family from him, she looked at him in awe briefly. He was considering Orin family? She clung to Aric desperately, holding him close to her. Despite all of this horribleness, they still had each other and that would get them through all of this. She felt relieved that they were on the same page with all of this.
[ORIN] It did not take them too long to find him. He had locked himself away in his room, pacing and trying to think of something to get Cassandra out of this. Maybe he would confess that he did it. She was young and still had a lot of life to live...she could not live it in the dungeons...or without a head. He could kill Charles right now, and it was taking everything for him not to go find him and do so.
There was a knock at his door that broke him from his train of thoughts. When he opened it, the guard breathlessly told him he was needed at Aric's chambers. Now what? But that panic set in. Did he know something? Did something else happen? He nodded and rushed past the guard, hurrying to Aric's room. And when he arrived, he knocked quickly.
[ARIC] This was a lot to handle, but to be truthful, both he and Alexandria were handling it fairly well. As well as people could possibly handle this kind of thing. They were upset, they were crumbling...but they were standing, so to speak. They were still pushing forward trying to figure this out. Aric just prayed Orin hadn't done something stupid to jeopardize his cousin's already stupid crime. His head was still spinning at the notion she had killed his brother. And he was still trying to be angrier with her about it but that anger was falling short. When he heard that knock, he was quick to climb to his feet and drag Alexandria with him, but he did not let go of her...for both their sakes. "Come in..." he said a little too calmly. Aric wasn't sure what he was going to do once he saw his brother-in-law's face.
[ORIN] He took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping inside, letting the door shut behind him. Green-blue eyes looked around the room briefly, unsure of what to expect, until they landed on his sister and Aric. Alexandria's appearance nearly took him aback. Her hair was slightly dish and her eyes were puffy as though she'd been crying all night and day, though he wasn't surprised if she had. Aric, too, looked like he had been through hell and back. Orin was sure he did not look much better. He hadn't slept. He cleared his throat, "is everything...alright? You were asking for me?"
[ARIC] Alexandria would feel how quickly he tensed up when Orin stepped into the room. He would wait for that door to be shut behind him before he was moving. Aric wasn't fully thinking things through as he charged forward, gripping the man by the collar of his shirt to force him back into the door. But he did nothing else to threaten him or even hurt him. There was anger in his eyes, but there was also a vulnerability, a fear that Orin may have never seen in the prince before. "What did you do?" he asked, his tone far calmer than his actions were. He was afraid his voice would crack. "You knew she did it...and you said nothing?!" There were so many other things he wanted to ask, but he had to slow down.
[ALEXANDRIA] She did feel Aric as he tensed up, and before she could steady him, he was rushing forward and grabbing hold of Orin. She took a couple steps towards them, "Aric... stop.." She pleaded with him. But her tone was not harsh, but rather concerned and defeated. "Orin..." She wrapped her arms around herself, and sighed, not sure what to say or do.
[ORIN] He was suddenly being forced against the door, the prince's eyes looking at him with anger and that vulnerability. Orin stayed calm, showing no emotion to Aric as he questioned him. But the questions hinted to him that Alexandria and Aric knew about what Cassandra had done. And somehow they knew he was involved. He sighed heavily and shoved Aric back and away from him. "Lay off." He growled. He wasn't in the mood for this. "Why would I say something and risk putting her in more danger or trouble?!" He barked back at Aric. Clearly, Orin was just as upset and angry.
[ARIC] He allowed Orin to shove him away, but he barely moved any further than that. He wanted to yell at him, wanted to berate him for being foolish and getting involved, just as much as he wanted to scream at Cassandra. But he couldn't find it in him. For some reason, Orin took it upon himself to try and protect her, and that very idea astounded him. "You could have come to us after," he warned. "She told your sister what she did. Sounds like she's ready to just...take whatever punishment Renaud throws at her, and now I come to find out that...you had some part to play in this?!" He was talking quickly, his voice was angry, but it was strange. It was almost as if he was simply angry at the world and not so much Orin who stood in front of him. "Why? What did you do?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She didn't need to question Orin, because Aric was already doing it, explaining how they had come to find out about Cassandra, and now they wanted to know how he was involved. She stood quietly, watching the two men she loved more than anything. Desperate for all of this to go away.
[ORIN] His gaze fell down to the floor and he shook his head, sighing. His voice was quiet as he spoke. "I didn't know.... how you would take it...If you would throw Cassandra in the dungeons yourself...Or me. And I did not want to risk getting both of you involved..." He glanced back up at his sister and then to Aric. "I did not intentionally get involved... I found her just after she had done it. She was a mess...and what was I supposed to do? Leave her alone?" He sighed and shook his head. "So I got it out of her what she had done...She drugged Charles to sneak in... Hemlock in a wineskin that she gave him...And she planted an empty bottle of Opium poppy something to make it look like he killed himself..." He explained, but he wasn't done. "She didn't take the wineskin back...So I went back for her. Acted as if I was the one who found him.... took the wineskin and checked to see if all traces were erased...I didn't know Charles might have seen her..." He frowned and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry....I was just trying to help her..."
[ARIC] A hand ran down his face, and he turned to begin to pace slowly as Orin started to explain. It was basically impossible to remain angry at him, because if he hadn't gone back, there may have been more evidence against Cassandra. So now, everything rested on what the healer could find, if there was truly any evidence of prolonged exposure to opium. He hadn't mentioned anything about hemlock, so his cousin had done something right. One tiny thing right. He finally stopped moving, turning to face Orin once again. He probably thought Aric was going to scream at him, but his desperation won out over everything. "Thank you," he finally said. He took the next minute to fill Orin in on what the healer had told him and what Stefan had been sent to do, and now what they were waiting to hear on. He sighed heavily afterwards, still trying to wrap his head around it all. "So, although Cassandra dealt the final blow," Aric was adding after the whole explanation. "There might be another player we don't know about who was slowly trying to poison my brother. And if we're not careful...she'll take the fall for it." Because, you know, how could this possibly get any worse?
[ORIN] He was a bit surprised as Aric thanked him. Now they were all in on this and it seemed to go deeper and further than just what Cassandra had done. "Right..." he said after Aric spoke, scratching the back of his head in thought. "Something about that Renaud guy.... strikes me as suspicious. But what do I know? He seemed so hellbent in pointing a finger...in pressuring Charles into thinking something that he wasn't even certain he saw or not? He never told me of these suspicions last night when I questioned him.. "
[ALEXANDRIA] Orin had helped bury evidence, which was nearly as guilty as committing the crime. And now she and Aric were involved, which could result in the loss of their heads and her kingdom would be powerless to stop it. She covered her face and sighed heavily, choking back her tears before glancing back up. "So what do we do now? Send our guards searching for clues? We aren't in Tresteria... we don't know for sure who or why or when or if anything wrong happened before coming to Aralore... we just wait for the healer's findings? What if it's nothing and we can't get Cassandra out of the blame?"
[ARIC] This was spiraling deeper and deeper and he was struggling to keep his mind straight. Perhaps, in a way, it was good that they had an extra head in on this...but it was also bad. Tampering with evidence could cost Orin a lot, but he couldn't be anything but grateful to him. "Renaud has a chance for the regency...so I am not surprised that he's looking for anything to make him look better. But...I also don't trust him." As Alexandria fought to speak, he was drawing her to his side again, embracing her and trying to calm her nerves just as much as his own. "We have no choice but to wait. If Stefan has any luck and the healer can prove it was more than just what Cassandra had done..." He sighed. It would be easier to get her out, but if not? Aric's dark eyes looked between the two, a nervousness on his face. "If not...I can't promise I won't try to still get her out..." Was this the week of doing stupid things? Seemed like it.
[ORIN] He wished he could go back in time and just prevent all of this from happening like this. Or, that he hadn't let Stefan stop him from killing him, so it would be him instead of Cassandra, and he may have gotten off as protecting the queen. Which gave him an idea. "If anything, couldn't we say she did it to defend the queen? He attacked her... And maybe she wished to give him a more humane way of death to avoid him having to lose his head... Because that's where things were spiraling to at this point... No?" He leaned against the wall, folding his arms over his chest. Eyes watched as Aric tried consoling his sister. "How are the two of you holding up?" A stupid question, of course.. But he'd ask it anyway. "Is there anything I else I could do?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She reached for Aric's hand as he tried to console her, lacing her fingers into his. Honestly, she wasn't sure how much more she could withstand before she'd lose her mind. Aric had been her support--both emotionally and physically, and she appreciated that more than she would be able to ever express to him.
At Orin's suggestion, she shrugged her shoulders and looked to Aric, questioningly. It made sense, but she wasn't entirely sure how Tresteria worked and how they would respond. They needed to proceed with caution to avoid a war with them. Even if they had enough to go by to sentence the king and take his head, it may have taken a lot more work to get this cleared or approved and to avoid a war. She sighed, "I'm not sure, Orin..." She answered, hoping maybe Aric would have more of an idea.
Though, when he was asking how they were doing, she looked up to Aric again, knowing that they still had a lot to talk about themselves, but hadn't had the chance. Alexandria did not know he had spoken with Orin last night about their argument. "As well as we can, for now..." She answered him. Was there anything else she needed him to do? She nodded slightly. "Can you find some servants to move my things from my room to here?"
[ARIC] He knew Orin meant well, but it wasn't as easy as that. You can't just kill a king and expect to be pardoned, regardless of what he did or nearly did. Politics were messed up that way...which is why Cassandra did what she had. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. It still didn't mean that it was okay. It never would be, no matter how many different ways he looked at it. "It wouldn't be enough," he said simply. Aric sighed as he walked over to the window to peer out, noticing the cliffs and the water beyond. It wasn't terribly far now, was it? As the two briefly conversed, he finally spoke up. "Are there any doors to the dungeons from the outside, or is there only the one?" No, maybe he shouldn't be thinking about this...but he most certainly was. Because if the healer did not give them good news- or any damn news soon- he was going to get his cousin out of there. Even if he had to do it himself.
[ORIN] He nodded in understanding as Aric explained it wouldn't be enough. Of course things couldn't just be easy. Nothing ever was. A long sigh escaped him, and at Aric's question, he shook his head. "No...just the one entrance.. To avoid others from coming in or escaping..." He raised a brow as if understanding what Aric was trying to get at.
He glanced back to Alexandria when she asked about having her things brought into Aric's room. He understood why, but it made him angry (not at her) that she felt she could no longer go to her own room. He nodded to her. "I will see what I can do..."
[ALEXANDRIA] She shook her head as Aric questioned about the dungeons having more than one entrance. "No, Aric... Don't even think about that..." she begged. "It would be too risky...And I cannot have you risking yourself.. Neither of you." She looked to Orin, then. "We will figure something out.."
[ARIC] Fingers curled around the window sill. He was becoming anxious, unable to simply stand there, to stand still and wait. Where was that damn healer with news?! Now that he knew how deep his cousin was in this mess, he wasn't going to be able to concentrate on anything else. Could they at least get her out of the dungeons? Renaud was trying to break her down, Aric knew, and she didn't do well in dark, cold places. He ran a hand through his hair, drawing his eyes from the scenery outside the window. "Maybe I should speak with the healer again, find Stefan...maybe I can convince that son-of-a-bitch to just keep her locked in her chambers..." Anything besides just standing there.
[ORIN] He felt the same way as Aric. He couldn't just stand here doing nothing. And if he couldn't help with getting Cassandra out of the dungeons, he would move all of Alexandria's things himself just to keep busy. "I can go find Stefan," Orin suggested. "You go see if you can convince whatever his name is, if we can have Cassandra removed from the dungeons..?" He glanced to his sister, knowing she probably wouldn't want to sit around doing nothing. "Maybe you can go talk with the healer?"
[ALEXANDRIA] Part of her did not want to leave this room. If she didn't leave this room, she wouldn't have to see or hear anymore. But that wasn't completely the truth. Even still, she was sure she would be bothered from this very room. If not by anyone, then at least by her own mind. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, finally nodding. "I can do that, yes..." She answered Orin before turning her gaze to Aric. "Will you be alright?" She was nervous about him being near that man.
[ARIC] Orin devised a plan quickly, something that would keep them all busy and try to keep things moving. So many things were in motion, and not just with his brother's death, that it was proving extra difficult to keep everything in check. Aric nodded. "Right...yes, I can do that..." Dark eyes blinked, still struggling to keep himself together. Then he was regarded his wife when she questioned him. A pause, he probably should have lied to appease her, but he shook his head lightly. "I just...need to see this over and done with." Aric made his way back to her, gently resting his hands upon her arms. "Will you? I can go see the healer if you need. You can stay here..." Just because he had to keep busy didn't mean she had to as well. He would understand.
[ALEXANDRIA] She hesitated for a moment as Aric questioned if she would be alright. She, too, should have lied, and said she would be fine. But the panic and dread was hard to hide on her face. Edward's body was in there, and like her inability to go to her room, she had a sickening feeling in her stomach, and she wasn't sure if she could step foot in that room. She choked back tears and when she spoke, her voice cracked. "Could you have the healer sent up to me?"
[ORIN] He watched as his sister seemed to struggle with the idea of going to see the healer, and he knew what was going on in her mind. He frowned slightly and sighed to himself. She was usually stronger than this, so he was having a hard time understanding why this was affecting her so badly. He nodded before speaking. "I will meet with you later once I find out what I can." He turned and stepped out of the room, unable to handle seeing his sister this way.
[ARIC] Perhaps he should just handle this himself, but she appeared to want to at least try, and it would help save some time. "Thank you," he told Orin again as he left before he drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I'm going to make sure men are stationed outside this door. We'll get all of your things brought in here." He was trying to console her as his own heart was pounding. "But I need to see this through. I can't stand here and wait...I can't leave her down there." If Cassandra could at least be in her own chambers or wherever that bastard Renaud deemed suitable, it may calm him a small amount.
[ALEXANDRIA] She watched Orin as he left before turning her gaze to her husband. He was trying to console her, but it did little to help. Her things did not matter to her. There were more important things she cared about right now, and seemingly, they were all coming crashing down. She nodded simply. "I understand, Aric... I want to help however I can... I just..." She hesitated and shook her head. "I do not think I can see him..." Edward, that is. "I'm so sorry.... I don't know how much more I can handle here..." Tears snuck their way out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
[ARIC] "Then just stay here. Wait for me here, or if Orin comes back first." He had seen Edward on that table...and it wasn't something he was ever going to forget. Currently, everything else was helping with that, but it was only a matter of time before the image would creep back in. "I'll have the healer bring word once he is done." There was no point in bothering him now if he was in the middle of figuring things out, even if he wanted to pester him for more information. Patience was not a virtue right now. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Alright?"
[ALEXANDRIA] She sighed quietly and nodded, feeling defeated in her weakness. "I'm sorry, Aric." She repeated, feeling guilty for not being able to do more. She was feeling so powerless. In her own country. How could this be? She looked up at Aric and quickly embraced him, pulling him tightly against her. She buried her face against his chest and sighed deeply. "I love you, Aric... Please come back to me, safely..."
[ARIC] He was becoming antsy, needing to keep moving before he completely broke down again. If she couldn't help, she couldn't. He clearly wasn't holding it against her, but he wouldn't be able to remain there with her when he might be able to do something. Aric just hoped the healer had news soon and Stefan managed to find something to help with what he hoped would prove Cassandra "innocent". He kissed the top of her head. "Love you, too," he said, before he was chuckling, not mean to make her plea seem funny. But he was in that strange, frantic kind of mood and needed it. "Isn't this what princes do- save damsels in distress?" He even managed a smirk before, on his way towards the door, he kissed her real quick and left. The last thing he wanted to do was speak another word to Renaud, but he had no choice right now.
[ALEXANDRIA] But he was leaving his damsel in distress. Though Alexandria would not say so, she thought that after Aric left her. Of course she didn't blame him, because things needed to be done. They needed to get over this hurdle before moving onto the next one. She just wasn't sure how she would handle the silence now and being left alone. There are guards outside the door, you are safe. She kept reminding herself. But they wouldn't save her from the intrusions in her own mind. Alexandria, too, needed to keep busy. So she searched through Aric's desk for some parchment and a quill and ink and scribbled a small notice...request to see Eoin. When she finished, she asked one of the guards if he could have a messenger send her notice to Nemeris' manor. She was thankful, then, because several servants were beginning to bring her things in, and she could spend her time rearranging and changing poor Aric's room around.
