and every broken heart will mend

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the trial, a note found its way under everyone's doors, all of them written in the same neat handwriting that had been asking after a ring not that long ago.]

If any of you would prefer not to be left alone after all of that, I propose we meet in the dining hall. Nari has taken up cooking at the moment, and should anyone wish to talk I will be present regardless of whether or not the group at large should choose to join us.

-Ardyn

[True to his word, Ardyn was at a smaller table in the dining hall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him; lost in thought leaning his head on one hand as the other turned a silver coin over between his fingers.]

[King in an empty hall, and savior of nothing. All that effort to prevent bloodshed, and it had come down to a situation designed to force their hand from the beginning.]

Comments

sad princess is good princess

[getgood]

[She's been in her own world a lot of this time, an unhappy place, and Arianna might have been in the same one after how she tried to hold up the vote. After she tries to leave, Lee looks up at her and gently tries to wave her over.]

she doesn't enjoy it though

[daughterofthemark]

[...yeah.

Arianna joins her, not really sure what else to do with herself.]

she's taking her regal responsibilities seriously :(

[getgood]

[Neither of them really know what to do right now. Lee tries to hold her head up, tries to show Arianna that she didn't ask her over to get some comfort.]

Thanks. You tried to do what I couldn't get out.

it turns out responsibilities suck

[daughterofthemark]

I panicked and sought to prolong the trial.

[She isn't proud of it.]

[getgood]

So we could get out of this without anyone else dying.

[daughterofthemark]

Against Dame Mai's wishes.

[getgood]

So we could let her die?

[daughterofthemark]

But in the end she died anyway...

[She definitely sounded a little shaky there.

[getgood]

You tried to run out the clock. I don't care if she didn't want it, there was so much she didn't know about being human- [And she's going to start crying if she thinks of more.]

[daughterofthemark]

I was unable to accept my duties nor stand by my convictions--

[...and now she's the sobbing child again.]

[getgood]

It wasn't your duty! [and she creaks out of her chair to scoop the other girl up, letting her shake against her and drawing in heavy breaths so as not to start herself off.]

[daughterofthemark]

[She opens her mouth to protest that it is her duty, or at least it will be one day, but all that comes out is another sob.

So she gives up and gives in, clinging to Lee tightly..]

[getgood]

[Arianna, sweetheart, you don't always have to be powerful, you just lost your friend, but Lee herself is too exhausted to say this much or stop herself from crying silently.]

Let it out.

[daughterofthemark]

[Well she's certainly not having any trouble doing that...]

[getgood]

We need you. I need you, you've got the strength to stop things. [yeah she's probably getting Arianna's hair wet right now and pulls her face away from the girl to sniffle and try and get herself back together.]

[daughterofthemark]

[She's not at all convinced she has that strength, but... she manages to quiet down some.]

[getgood]

We lost this time. [and god that stings to hear, but if those last two words don't pull them both in...]

[daughterofthemark]

We shall not allow such a thing to happen again.

[She doesn't sound particularly convincing, but she means to.]

[getgood]

Yeah. We've gotta figure out how to win this.

[daughterofthemark]

If we can find a way to ensure trust between everyone, and that no other accidents of this sort happen...

[getgood]

... you're the first person who's said that.