Sister to Sister [closed]

[Cassandra Demarais]

It had been nearly impossible to catch up with Elyscia during the day. Arriving back in Tresteria had been such a whirlwind of emotion, and when she had a moment to herself, Cassandra had fallen asleep almost immediately. It was strange to awaken later on in a room she almost didn't recognize.

The first thing she realized was that it wasn't swaying. She was no longer on the boat and it was a strange sensation to forget when she hadn't been on land in nearly a month. Her second thought had immediately gone to Orin, wondering if the pillow she rested her head upon was. It was a fleeting hope until her fogged mind remembered she was back in Tresteria, and this was her old room.

And she was alone.

It had been late evening by then, and Cassandra had washed up and avoided everyone else except for Henry. Making sure that he was alright, she wound up going back to her room not long after. Presently, though, she finally had her sister there with her where they both sat on that ridiculously large bed, and Cass ran a brush through Ely's hair.

"I was absolutely terrified," she said, telling her the story about the storm they had hit upon the sea. How Aric had supposedly gone overboard and Stefan (the very large man she had to remind Elyscia) had bravely jumped into the frigid waters to save him. "I just do not do well on the water, no matter how hard I try." And it seemed as though she spent too much on a ship this past year. The trip from Aldsage had been a long journey as well, and she was fairly certain she had gone on and on about it in one of her letters to her sister.

[Elyscia Demarais]

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia sat quietly, her back to her sister as she was brushing through her hair. Oh, how she had missed this deeply. She listened to her tell her story about their journey from Aralore to Tresteria and her eyes were wide, even though her sister couldn't see them. She was frightened for Cassandra. And Aric. He had gone overboard!? That must have been horrifying for him.

She shrugged her shoulders at Cassandra's confession. "That's okay. You've always been afraid of the ocean and being on it. Just like I hate being up on the cliffs and mountains..." She laughed and quickly turned around on the bed so she was facing her older sister. There was a deviant little smirk on her face. "What was Aralore like? What did you do there? Is it much different from here? Tell me everything! Elyscia playfully rolled her eyes, laughing a little. She wanted the gossip and the girly talk. It had been a year since she had this in her life. Sure, there were other ladies around, and she had her friends... But nothing was quite like talking with Cassandra. She needed this probably as much as Cassandra did.

"Were the men cute there? I need to know these things!"

[Cassandra Demarais]

Oh, the days of gossip and girly things. It almost felt so much longer than a year. Had she changed that much? Perhaps in certain ways she had, but she still probably wasn't much different in Elyscia's eyes, because her sister never had to deal with the "bad side" of her. But it was refreshing to be sitting here with her now, smiling and giggling again.

As Ely turned, Cassandra leaned over to place the brush on the nightstand. "Aralore was...different," she began, her smile soft. "It isn't as large or as lavish as Tresteria. But it has its own beauty and charm. The war had really devastated the lands, but...the people work hard to rebuild it. It's...admirable." Perhaps, it was a bit strange for Cass to sound so sad, as though she missed the place...but the truth of the matter was, she did. And it wasn't just for particular people, most of which were currently with her now.

Cassandra had already written to Elyscia months ago about her kidnapping, so she already knew about that. What else had happened? She might disappoint her little sister with having a lack of gossip. The one thing eating away at her, she could not share. It would put her in danger to know.

"I, uh...well, I don't know." She laughed. Shaking her head, she was subconsciously twisting that ring around her finger in thoughtful nervousness. "After I was taken, things just...felt different. I saw Aralore and the people in a new light. I guess, maybe...it changed me? Even Aric became happy." Cassandra shrugged a shoulder, shifting back until she could lean against the headboard. "I've also learned a lot from Alexandria, and she...asked me to be one of her ladies." She hadn't wanted to tell Elyscia this, because it meant telling her that she planned to leave again. For more than one reason. But sitting here, it literally tore her heart in two.

Her sister's curious question had Cassandra's mind falling to a particular man she had left behind. The smile on her lips softy faltered and the amusement on her face dissipated a little. But only a little. "Yes, actually." Her giggle was low and quiet, and now she was rolling her eyes at her own foolishness. Green eyes flickered to her sister's face, hesitant to say anything for a moment. "Do you...remember the letter I wrote you, after I had been taken? The broody, insufferable man I mentioned." Mentioned? She was certain she went on for paragraphs about how easily he grated on her nerves.

[Elyscia Demarais]

It was a bit strange to hear Cassandra sound sad and like she missed Aralore. Was this the same woman from a year ago, who wanted absolutely nothing to do with going? Who wrote her a letter about how insufferable it was to be there and away from home and the man on the ship who saved her from the bandits and how awful he had been. Elyscia raised a brow curiously at her sister and smirked playfully.

Cassandra may have sensed that Ely was thinking these things because she was quick to explain how she felt like being in Aralore changed her. She did seem different and Ely was suddenly curious about this kingdom and what it had been like to seemingly inspire her older sister. And Aric. Aric definitely seemed different than the last time she had seen him. And that was a good thing. "Alexandria? She's the queen, right? What is she like? She looks beautiful..." Cassandra's words suddenly registered with her. She had asked her to be one of her ladies? Well, that would mean she was planning on returning? Elyscia tried to stop the look of disappointment from crossing her features.

But all thoughts were quickly thrown aside when Cass admitted that the men were attractive in Aralore. At the sound of her giggle, Ely laughed and quickly turned herself to face her again, suddenly interested to hear whatever Cassandra was about to say. But she was asking her if she remembered the broody, insufferable man she had written to her about. Ely nodded, an eyebrow raised slightly, wondering what he had to do with her question. Oh no. "Yes, I remember. What about him?" She was suddenly nervous, but so interested at the same time.

[Cassandra Demarais]

She did miss it. She missed it more than she even could understand. It was nothing but a dull ache now...but it was there. It was the same ache that remained with her when she was apart from Elyscia, and that always remained from Sevrin's absence. She supposed it was a feeling that would never go away, because no matter what she did, she would be apart from someone she desperately cared for.

Perhaps her sister was getting an inkling that something was up, but Cassandra hadn't the heart to tell her too much yet. Cassandra was already struggling with the desire to smuggle Ely onto the ship with her back to Aralore...and since she's already done crazy things this past year, would that really be any wilder?

A nod in regards to Alexandria, she held back a sigh. "She's one of the most wonderful people I've met..." And Cass didn't know whether to go on more or not. To do so would further solidify to her sister that she didn't plan to remain in Tresteria. She couldn't, but now she was struggling with that notion. Sev had already been forced to leave them...how could she abandon her sister, too?

But Orin.

The thought of him sliced through her heart like a knife, set her skin on fire and tore her in two. Why did everything have to be so hard? Hadn't she dealt with enough...didn't she deserve something good for a change? Then again, she had murdered her own flesh and blood. Maybe she deserved nothing but misery, and she hadn't even tasted it yet.

Cassandra shifted on the bed again, moving to lean her back against the headboard. She looked to Elyscia with an expression that didn't know what to settle on- whether to smile or break down into tears. Maybe she would do both. "He, um..." How to explain any of it? "Well, we-" Since when did she ever falter in her words? A hand lifted to press fingertips against her lips to hold back a sob that was trying to escape her throat. "He's not-" Cassandra paused again, about to say he wasn't anything like she had originally written, but the truth was...he was. And that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Rolling those green eyes into white, she laughed but it was also sad. "How do I get myself into these things?" She wasn't really asking her sister, but she probably had an opinion. Or just a million more questions.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia was a big girl, and she would understand and support Cassandra's decision regardless of what it was. Of course she would miss her, but it would just mean they would need to visit more often than they have been. She never expected Cassandra to be gone for so long, honestly. Edward had made her go, and she didn't think Cassandra would actually stay for as long as she had. If Edward hadn't of died, would she still be there now?

She smiled at Cassandra's answer about the queen. It was a vague answer, but she guessed that maybe she did not wish to speak about Alexandria right now. There seemed to be something else weighing on her sister's shoulders.

When Cassandra began to try to explain the insufferable man from the ship, but only stumbled on her words, Elyscia's eyes flew wide open. She quickly popped up from her seated position and curled her legs underneath her as she knelt on the bed with anticipation. "CA-SAN-DRA!" She emphasized the syllables of her name, laughing as she shrieked her name in surprise. "You bad girl!!!" She giggled loudly and shoved her sister's shoulder back. "Oh my god...What!?' She was all attention now. Elyscia knew that her sister was not in love with her husband... He could be their grandfather, honestly. She felt for her sister, hating that Edward had ruined her life like that--ruined her chances of being in a marriage that she could have kids and grow up with, not end up a widow at such a young age.

"TELL ME, tell me, tell me!!!" She wanted to hear everything. "What happened!? How? Why? I thought you hated himmm?"

[Cassandra Demarais]

There was so much to say, and not just about Orin. So much had happened, so much had changed in not only her, but with Aric, with the whole world around her. Cassandra didn't fully understand all of it, only that it happened. And most of it was a welcomed change, even if she wouldn't outright say so.

When her sister exclaimed, saying her name, Cass was temporarily drawn from her thoughts and wonderment on whether or not to be worried about this all. Elyscia's giggles and excitement made it difficult to be upset, though, even if questions still lingered at the back of her mind. A smile finally curled her lips as she was shoved a little, and Cassandra drew her knees up so that she could hug her legs.

"Alright, alright..." she said in response to Ely's urgency, a laugh bubbling up from her chest. A slight tilt of her head, she was resting her arms upon her knees now with her cheek against a forearm. She would begin to tell her everything, leaving out some of the details, mind you. There were certain things that even Cassandra wouldn't repeat...and not just the intimate details, but the fact that she had killed Edward.

She told Elyscia about the times Orin had consoled her when he never had to. How he tried to cheer her up after something Edward had said and they shattered glasses in the castle hallway. Cassandra explained the whole situation with the banquet and how terrifying it was, that Alexandria nearly died and Orin almost lost his eye. She laughed while telling her about their cousin's drunken night out with the queen's brother and the chaos that had followed, how it led to...things. There was so much that she had almost forgotten but it all came pouring out the moment she spoke. She mentioned her arrest, how she ran to Orin immediately, how he and the others helped to prove her innocence. Cass told her anything she possibly could.

The light in her eyes dimmed a little and she glanced down to the rub ring in thought. "But he tells me one thing, then changes his mind. Keeps telling me he's some...horrible man, that I don't know him...then his letters are so different. Giving me hope...giving me this desire for a different life..." Green eyes alighted upon her sister again, her expression laced with confusion. "Meanwhile, I feel horrible...for doing this to Henry." Yes, he was much older and couldn't be much of a husband, but Elyscia knew how caring and genuine the duke was regardless.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia hung on to every word of Cassandra's story. She was excited to hear about her budding relationship with Orin, and how he had consoled her. She giggled at the shattering of glasses in the hallway. With a yearning sigh, Ely laid down on the bed as if swooning. Nothing exciting like that ever happened for her, and for a brief moment, she may have felt a little jealous, but also happy for her older sister.

But when Cassandra got into the banquet, she propped herself up onto an elbow and listened to her with eyes widened. She couldn't believe her sister had been involved in that and had gotten out alive. The poor queen and her brother, though. "Does he have a nasty scar on his eye now?" She crinkled her nose as if worried the man now looked like a hideous monster and maybe Cassandra was no longer interested in him.

It did not seem so when Cassandra admitted to the drunken night and how it had led to things. She giggled, covering her mouth. This gossip was exactly what she needed tonight.

Elyscia sighed quietly when her sister got serious and spoke of her concerns. She shrugged her shoulders and thought for a moment. It was understandable why Cassandra felt horrible for being unfaithful to Henry, but she was nearly certain the old man was expecting that of her. The two could barely have an intimate kind of relationship, right from the start. The man would be cold and ruthless if he expected Cassandra to remain faithful. She had given him enough just for taking care of him and being his companion. "You deserve to be happy, Cass." It was all she could think to say.

[Cassandra Demarais]

The more she remained there with Ely, the more everything began to hurt. She wanted, more than anything, to go back to Aralore...and yet, how was she going to feel to be parted from her sister again? It was hard to imagine and she was horribly torn about it. She wouldn't have this right now if she left, she may not have another person she could speak her mind to that would completely understand her in every aspect. Elyscia was her sister, part of her heart and soul. She knew what it was like for a sibling to go away- they both went through it with Sevrin.

"We did not think Alexandria was going to make it..." she said quietly, her voice sounding as though it was going to crack. It had been frightening, and she was remembering how lost Aric had been. It had been as though he was spiraling all over again, remembering Maria. Even Orin, if he hadn't been knocked out from drugs to heal, would have completely lost it. During those agonizing hours, Cassandra had tried to keep busy and found herself in the infirmary more often than not. It was, perhaps, the spark of an idea that she could do something more with her life.

Her sister's comment about Orin's scar made her laugh a little while fingers promptly wiped away a single tear that had dared to fall. "It wasn't that bad," Cassandra told her. "I'm sure it's mostly healed by now. But...it gives him character..." Her words trailed off. Vagabond, she thought. She allowed herself a moment to wonder what it would look like, and she might have liked the vision in her head a bit too much. Their relationship had fully blossomed when he still had half his face covered, so believe it or not, Cassandra hadn't been concerned with looks for once. That was another clue as to why this was all so confusing yet possibly meant something. To her, anyway.

'You deserve to be happy, Cass.' Holding back a sigh, she turned so that she could flop down onto the bed and lay next to Elyscia; green eyes staring up at the ceiling. Everything was so much more intricate in this palace...and it was weird. She never noticed the embellished moldings and design upon the ceiling of these rooms until now. Not until she got used to the simple beauty of Aralore's castle. That was strange, wasn't it?

Cassandra wasn't sure on how to respond to her then. Maybe she did deserve it, but it still felt wrong. And then there was the matter of Orin, if she'd be leaving her life here for nothing...whether he moved on or she couldn't do it like she thought. Finally letting go of these thoughts, she sighed then. "I gave him mother's ring." Head turned to regard her sister as she bit her bottom lip while wondering if that was stupid or not. It had felt right to do it, so she hadn't hesitated. It still felt right.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia watched her sister through widened eyes as she stated that they did not think the Aralorian queen was going to make it. She imagined that would have been devastating for Aric, and was glad that it had not ended up that way. That fright was evident in her sister's tone and it made Elyscia frown.

Her brows furrowed when Cassandra laughed at her question about Orin's scar. Her frown slowly twisted into a grin and she laughed too. She looked at her with a raised brow, "Gives him character?" She giggled slightly and gently nudged her sister. "I did not ever have you for someone who fancied men who were rough around the edges and with scars." She teased her. Perhaps Aralore had really changed her.

As Cassandra dropped to lay down next to her, Elyscia turned her head to glance at her sister, watching her as she seemed to be deep in thought. She gave her a gentle smile when she turned her gaze to look at her and her eyes widened again as Cassandra mentioned their mother's ring and giving it to Orin. "You did!?" Her lips curled upward into a smirk and she looked at her older sister with a look of disbelief. "Are things... that serious between you two, then?" Her gaze moved to the ceiling and she thought to herself. She had never known Cassandra to be that way with any man--offering them meaningful jewelry. It was curious to her and she felt a twinge of sadness for her sister, for various reasons. That her life had basically been put on hold for all the time she had been married to Henry--not allowing her to live her life completely, not more than what seemed like being the old man's caretaker. She felt hopeful that maybe Cassandra had found love, after all, and could eventually grant herself that happiness she deserved. Elyscia understood all too well--only, she had barely met her husband to be and had no idea what would happen with that, or if he would be returning.

"So... Why did you give it to him?" She turned her gaze back to Cassandra and looked at her with curiosity.

[Cassandra Demarais]

Cass was nervous then, wondering what her sister would think. Was she just losing her mind? Was she seeking something that just wasn't there or wouldn't be possible? Although it would break her heart to leave Elyscia again, Cassandra was beginning to believe that actually being able to leave Tresteria was a viable option. She could feel it, she believed in it, and the idea was both exciting and frightening at the same time.

But would it be worth it?

And it wouldn't just be for Orin, she realized. It would be for herself. It would be for the queen she has grown to love and admire, although she loved and adored Eleesa with her own heart. For once in her life, Cass thought she could possibly do some good in Aralore...and when did she ever think that? That thought, of actually having a purpose, never once crossed her mind before and it made her heart flutter in anticipation. For all her young years, she was somewhat content to simply exist. To wear the pretty gowns and just be seen by society as a woman of prominence. But she really wasn't that important, was she? In a way, she only was because of the blood that ran through her veins.

She was done with it. She didn't want it. She wanted other things that could still be within reach. Cassandra wanted her life, she wanted Aralore, she wanted a purpose, and she wanted him.

Ely's exclamation broke her from this sudden swarm of thoughts, and those green eyes went wide. For a second there, she wasn't sure if her sister was about to call her stupid or not. She'd probably deserve it, either way. At seeing Elyscia's smirk and hearing her question, Cassandra's expression sobered a little as she rolled onto her stomach while she thought. Brows furrowed together and she went quiet for a long moment. "I do not know. That...is what I cannot figure out." Because he was an insufferable, conflicting idiot. "He warns me about...being a 'bad person.'" By the way Cassandra rolled her eyes, her sister might be able to discern that she clearly didn't believe him. There was so much more to it that she wouldn't know where to even begin explaining. Cass may have made some questionable choices lately, and in her life, but she was not so naive or weak a woman to become involved with a man that frightened her so. She wasn't stupid.

With Elyscia's following question, Cassie turned her head, leaning upon her folded arms in front of her. She smiled then, but it was almost sad as she could feel her stomach doing somersaults. "...I didn't want him to forget me," she finally whispered, a sudden pang of fear and tears tightening her throat. By God, this was bad, wasn't it? Forcing the overwhelming emotion away, she unfurled one of her arms so that she could rest her hand near her sister, fingers toying with that particular ruby-stoned ring to show her. "He gave me this before I left..." Now, it should be clear it was nothing more than just that- a gift, a memento. She wore it on her pointer finger, and Elyscia could be certain that her sister would have told her if it meant something else. Yet the confusion and soft mourning in her eyes would also make it clear that it was no engagement. Even Cassandra would have told him to fuck off. But Orin wasn't that stupid.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia could tell and sense that her sister was feeling rather conflicted about the whole thing. Cassandra had grown up and lived in Tresteria her whole life, knowing nothing else. With their parents passing and Sevrin gone, she imagined the only thing tying her down to their home was her. And perhaps her husband. Aralore had given Cassandra a taste of what it was like outside of Tresteria, and Ely couldn't help but wonder if it was far better than this place. It had charmed Cassandra, so she was sure of it.

She gave her sister a confused look, "a bad person?" By Cassandra's expression, she imagined that was most likely not the case. Usually, if people worried whether or not they were bad, it meant that perhaps they cared and deep down, were good. "Are you nervous that he might be right? That he's truly warning you to stay away? Or maybe he is just trying to push you away? Make you scared?" Ely shrugged her shoulders and laid down next to her sister, her eyes drifting to the rings on her fingers as she spoke of not wanting Orin to forget her and that he had given her a ring as well. She smiled as she looked at it and nodded. "Yep. It is serious, then! Hmm?" She giggled and nudged her sister.

After a moment, she sighed and laid on her back, staring up at the ceiling. "So... You are hoping to go back, right?" She turned her head to look back at Cassandra, her lips pulling into a tight line as she forced a small smile. "I think you should... What is there here in Tresteria for you? After Henry..." She cut herself off, not wanting to wish the old man ill will or wish his death on him, but it was inevitable, wasn't it?

[Cassandra Demarais]

Aralore had given her a taste of something, and that was what was so strange. It was quite the opposite of the life she had been living, of everything she thought she needed. Here in Tresteria, everything was practically handed to her on a silver platter. Well, all except for some actual freedom. Like many women, she was a pawn on the chessboard while their queen tried to change the game. But would it be possible? Even as strong as Eleesa appeared to be, this was very much a man's world. In Aralore, it was different. She didn't need to worry about the propriety of court and fashion, she could maybe pursue other things, her dreams...

Oh yes, when did that happen?

Blinking, she almost missed her sister's words. 'Or maybe he is just trying to push you away? Make you scared?' "I, uh...really have no idea. He says that, then contradicts himself. The letter he left me on the ship, it...went against everything he said before." Words that she couldn't be unseen, or unheard in his voice. Words she certainly wouldn't be repeating to her pure sister. 'It is serious, then!' Perhaps. Why couldn't she figure it out?

She could tell Elyscia was putting on a smile, for her sake, and it saddened her more. Turning onto her side, it freed one of her arms so that she could rest a hand upon her sister's shoulder. She was telling Cassandra she should go, to get out of this Tresterian trap when she could. It was a rare gift to be able to do so. "I fear that if I don't at least try...I will regret it and possibly miss out on something damn wonderful." She felt the gentle sting of tears in her eyes but they did not fall, even when she choked out her next words. "But what of you, little dove? How am I to leave you again?"

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia frowned as she watched her sister in her conflicted feelings towards the man she was involved with back in Aralore and whether or not she believed that he was a bad man. “Hmm.” She pondered for a moment. He contradicted himself in the letter he wrote to her.

“Well…” Elyscia thought quietly and then sighed. “I think if he is contradicting himself, then either he really is a good man and doesn’t want to show it, or wants to push you away for some reason. You said he was really stand-off-ish and broody when you first met him?” She shrugged, “might just be a front for something?” She forced a smile. “But, I wouldn’t really know- I don’t have much experience in these sort of things? I just like to observe people. And read stories.” Elyscia giggled slightly.

Despite not wanting Cassandra to leave, she really did believe she would be better off going back to Aralore, where she could make a life for herself and have a chance to be happy. Elyscia nodded in agreement with her sister. Yes, if she didn’t at least try, she would regret never knowing.

"But what of you, little dove? How am I to leave you again?"

Elyscia smiled and gave her sister a pointed look. She felt her own throat tighten in sadness. Their whole family had been split apart and she had been on her own since Cassandra was sent to Aralore. Ely gently nudged her sister and forced another smile. “Cass-- I will be just fine. We can continue to write letters… Maybe I could come to visit sometime. And you can bring your new man home to visit too. It won’t be the end of the world. I have my life here… And I would never forgive myself...Or you… If you held yourself back for me.” She gave her sister a stern look and then laughed. “Please don’t worry about me.”