forum Royal Affairs (O/O Closed)

Started May 08, 2023 by @LolaBug

tune

(😑)

Kaillas wasn't gone for long. While he might have usually gone down to the kitchens himself to ask the cook, or perhaps even make the soup himself, he felt anxious being separated from his wife. Instead, he found his steward and asked him to fetch some soup from the kitchen. He merely explained the queen was catching cold and the cooks wonderful soup would be just the cure. Then he hurried back into the room to get to his wife.

He climbed in the bed and bundled her in his arms. He made sure the covers were tucked around her and there wasn't risk of her getting cold. The soup wouldn't be too long. With the days getting increasingly colder, the the cook always had soup on hand. A little reheating and a little extra flavoring to help with the cold was all she needed.

He didn't talk until her food had arrived and the maid had promptly shut the door behind her as she had left. He helped Ophelia sit up and watched her eat, making sure that she was alright. His hand stroked her back gently as she ate. "Are you alright?" He finally murmured. "I know this is alot right now."

(It’s going to be fun, I swear. Not for them but for us lol)

Ophelia looks up at Kaillas with a warm, grateful smile, appreciating that he’s back quickly. She's relieved to see him back by her side, and the presence of the soup warms her heart as much as it will her body. She sips the hot broth, feeling its comforting warmth spread through her. "Thank you," she says softly, her voice filled with affection for her doting husband.

As she continues to eat, her thoughts turn to the little life growing inside her. She places a hand on her belly, feeling a mix of wonder and happiness. "I can't believe we're going to be parents," she murmurs, her eyes filled with a mixture of awe and joy. "It's a lot to take in, but I couldn't be happier. We'll face this together, and I know we'll make wonderful parents, Kaillas."

It’s definitely still a shock. They didn’t want this to happen for at least a few years and yet here they are. Initially she had been worried that Kaillas wouldn’t be accepting of this so soon but seeing him now….she has no doubt that he’s going to be the best father to their little girl.

(jasnsdfkjhasd)

Kaillas looked down at her, a patient expression on his face. As much as he wanted to pick her brain and discover her thoughts, he would never force her into talking. She should be able to enjoy her food before having a discussion with him.

He smiled down at her, pressing his cheek to the side of her head. His lips brushed against the top of her ear. "I know you'll make a wonderful parent." Him, not so sure. He had just barely gotten a grasp on caring for his sisters. And even then, they had been old enough that they could already talk and use the restroom. He didn't have to change diapers or be as involved in their learning processes.

This was different. This would be a child that was his. His. He would have to learn how to change a diaper and how to help feed them, and burp them, and teach hem their first word should by daddy. He would be present in its life from its birth until he died. It was terrifying.

(XD They get to be happy for now. Once she hits like 6 months……..not so much)

Ophelia knows that there’s much to discuss. Just that look on his face tells her that he’s got quite a few things he wants to ask her. She’ll answer whatever questions he has if she can. Though, she is grateful that he’s holding off for now. She’s happy to enjoy her soup in peace. The warm broth is helping to soothe her uneasy stomach.

“And you, my dear, will be an incredible father," she replies, her voice filled with genuine belief in him. She knows his fears and uncertainties, but she has no doubt that he would rise to the challenge. She reaches for his hand, fingers intertwining as she squeezes it gently. "We'll learn and grow together, just as we always do," she assures him.

Finishing her meal, she sets the bowl aside and snuggles further into his embrace. She can’t wait to see him with their baby. It may seem scary to him now but she knows that he’ll be fine once he’s got their daughter safely tucked in his arms.

(Sorry it’s a little short. The cat is laying directly on my arm, furious that she doesn’t have 1000% of my attention lol)

(Nah you're fine. My cat likes to walk all over my computer when I don't give him attention)

Kaillas didn't quite believe her when she said he would be an incredible father. he barely knew how to take care of his sisters, and not after quite a long time of stumbling and struggling. He worried about doing the right thing. How could he know if he was doing the right thing for them? What was better, for them to be happy or to be safe?

He didn't say anything, not now. He didn't want to open up that jar of insecurities that he harbored for himself. He'd rather bury it deep inside and shove it aside. He needed to be strong and held together, not only for his family but his country. He couldn't afford to be vulnerable.

He bundled her back in his arms as she finished with her soup. He pulled the covers up to tuck her in and dropped his chin on the top of her head. He placed his hands back over her stomach, trying to wrap his mind around the fact their little baby was in there. He didn't know the first thing about babies. He'd never even held one before. He didn't really hold children either, other than his sisters.

(They can be such little jerks lol)

Time. They still have plenty of time. That thinking is one of the few reasons that she’s so calm right now. A few months can pass by before they need to even think about panicking over logictics. They even have a few weeks before they need to tell this to anyone. Keeping it a secret will help them process this on their own without having to worry about anyone else.

Feeling Kaillas' protective arms around her, she slowly begins to drift off to sleep. As she nestles closer to him, she can't help but sense his inner turmoil, even in her drowsy state. She knows that his worries run deep, but she hopes that, in time, they can overcome these uncertainties together. Raising a baby is going to be challenging, she knows that, but she also trusts that they’ll be able to do it. They won’t be alone. There are people around them who can help.

With her eyes heavy and her voice soft, she murmurs, "Kaillas, I believe in you. You're going to do great." She sighs contentedly, feeling the warmth of his touch and the comfort of his presence, and soon, she succumbs to the embrace of sleep.

(They really are. Kiwi kept me up like all night. Little shit)

He slowly lowered them in the bed until he was laying down on his side and he was spooning Ophelia. He made sure she was comfortable. the pillow wasn't too hard or too soft. He started to throw a leg over her when he decided otherwise. She was pregnant. He needed to be more careful. Not to mention she wasn't feeling the best either.

He compromised on tangling his feet between hers and his hands resting on her stomach. He smiled slightly at her words. At least one of them was confident in him. "Go to sleep, love. You need to rest."

And despite it being midday, he could feel his own body starting to tire and settle into bed. He was holding the woman he loved, how could he not sleep with her? If all else failed, he could have his work brought to him and he could deal with it here while she slept. he didn't want to be far from her. Not right now.

(Such a cute name for a cat though. It's impossible not to forgive the little assholes lol)

Ophelia nestles comfortably against Kaillas, feeling the warmth and comfort of his presence. She appreciates his thoughtfulness as he ensures she's as comfortable as can be. The gentle tangle of their feet and his hands resting on her pregnant belly make her feel cherished and protected. As he smiles, she reaches out to caress his cheek, her eyes filled with love.

It's strange not having him sling his leg over her like he usually would. She isn't sure if he's being cautious because she's pregnant or feeling poorly or both. Either way, it probably is for the best. For now at least.

She knows that she shouldn't be keeping him away from his work but she's comfortable laying in bed with him. Today has her feeling spent and it's barely past noon. She curls into his embrace and sleeps soundly, needing the rest.

(Lett's just say he's not adjusting to daylight savings very well)

Kaillas kissed her cheek softly before settling his head back against the pillows. He watched s her eyes closed and sleep began to take her. Good, she needed to rest. With her illness and overwhelming news, he would have been concerned if she didn't sleep. He would have demanded it from her and even insisted on a sleep aid if she had said she wasn't tired. Her wellbeing was the upmost important thing right now.

While he hadn't felt particularly tired previously, perhaps it was the shock of the news wearing off that had his eyelids starting to grow heavy. He wouldn't typically nap during the day but since he wasn't going anywhere else for the time being, and his sleeping wife was so inviting, he gave into the urges.

Everything else could wait. He wanted to be with his wife and bask in the glow of this exciting news. Later, when they both woke, they could discuss what their next steps would be. But for now, he would sleep with his pregnant wife in his arms, holding them both safe and sound.

(Man, I’m jealous. I would kill for Cannoli to just run around. She’s only a few months old tho so I guess I have to expect her to be insane lol)

Ophelia, in the midst of her sixth month of pregnancy, gently cradles her growing belly, feeling the life within her stir and kick. She's determined not to let her pregnancy hinder her responsibilities as queen, and today, she's reviewing important documents and making decisions for the kingdom.

As she delves into the paperwork, a sudden, chilling commotion erupts throughout the palace. Alarms blare, and shouts of panic fill the air. Ophelia freezes, her heart racing, as the realization dawns that the palace is under attack. Fear courses through her, and she clings to her belly, instinctively trying to shield her unborn child.

Rushing to a nearby window, Ophelia witnesses the chaos outside. The palace guards are scrambling to defend their home, and the once-stately grounds are now a scene of turmoil. Her thoughts immediately turn to Kaillas. She has no idea where he is right now.

(Aww is this the kitten you rescued a couple of months ago? Also, good luck XD)
(Also, this was not what I had in mind for drama. Why you hurt my heart like this????)

Kaillas would typically be at his desk this time, combing through paperwork. Or he would be in a council meeting with his advisors or even taking meetings with those with grievances or concerns. Most recently, some of his farmers worried about their land after a brutal winter. Most had been easy enough to solve but others were more pressing.

But Kaillas was doing known of this right now. No, he was in the nursery, unbeknownst to Ophelia, helping to set up the nursery. It hadn't been touched in ears. It hadn't been touched since Katya had been a child. It need mush attention. The maids had cleaned and dusted while Kaillas helped remove most of the furniture. So much of it was out of date and old. His baby would have nothing but the best. And despite everyone's warnings, he had everything made in pink. For the baby girl he was sure to be having.

It would be easy enough to switch everything to blue if he truly had to. But he was sure it was a girl and this room would reflect that. he planned to surprise Ophelia with a completed nursery after dinner.

In the midst of deciding where to put the crib he had commissioned, alarms were suddenly blaring. His head lifted and his eyes widened. He knew that alarm. The palace was under attack. he didn't have time to think of who or what or why. All he could think of was getting to his wife. His pregnant wife who was on the opposite side of the palace. Weaponless, he sprinted out of the room, doing his best to avoid the scrambling and panicked staff and courtiers, but not quite carrying if he knocked them over either. He needed to get to Ophelia.

(Yes!! She’s the most affectionate little monster ever! She comes when she’s called like a puppy and I even taught her to sit lol)

(It gets sooo much worse than this. This is just the beginning XD)

Chaos reigns within the palace as the enemy forces launch their ruthless attack. Fires rage through the opulent halls, casting eerie flickering shadows on the once-gilded walls. The acrid scent of smoke fills the air, and the palace that was once a symbol of grandeur is now a battleground, echoing with cries of fear and anguish.

Amid the turmoil, the enemy's infiltrators slip through the defenses, their dark intentions sowing destruction at every turn. Blood stains the marble floors, a stark reminder of the fierce struggle between the palace guards and the invaders. The grandeur and elegance of the palace are rapidly being replaced by scenes of horror and chaos.

Desperate cries for help and the clashing of swords create an unsettling symphony, echoing through the once-peaceful halls. The sanctity of the palace is under grave threat, and those who had once felt safe within its walls are now engulfed in a nightmarish reality.

She soon finds herself crouched in a hidden alcove within the palace, her heart pounding with fear and her unborn child a constant worry. The once-peaceful walls that sheltered her are now a battleground, and she's gripped by a paralyzing sense of vulnerability.

She clutches her belly protectively, trying to shield her precious cargo from the chaos that rages outside. Her every breath is a whisper of prayer for safety, not just for herself but for the life within her. She can hear the distant sounds of battle and the screams of her people, and the weight of responsibility as both queen and expectant mother presses heavily upon her.

In this moment of peril, she is forced to confront her own vulnerability. The palace, which had always been her sanctuary, now feels like a place of peril. Every rustle of clothing or distant shout sends a shiver down her spine, and she tries to stay as still as possible, hiding in the shadows and praying for the attack to end.

She is torn between her instincts to protect herself and her unborn child and her longing to do something to help her people. Her determination to survive and ensure her child's safety remains steadfast, even as the world around her is consumed by chaos and danger.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots echoing through the corridor signals the enemy's approach. Her breath catches in her throat, and she grips her belly in a protective gesture, her eyes wide with terror. The shadows that had concealed her are no match for the keen eyes of the invaders.

With a sense of inevitability, the enemy soldiers reach her hiding spot, their cold, calculating gazes locking onto her. Ophelia trembles as they close in, knowing that her sanctuary has been breached, and her hope for safety shattered.

(I wish I could teach my cat tricks. he's too much of a menace)
(-_- i think I'm regretting this)

Kaillas couldn't focus. He wasn't recognizing the faces around him, his eyes very much trained on finding one person, his wife. He attacked only those who attacked him first. The soldier was older and well taught. But he hadn't taken in account the strength that had filled him in desperation to find his wife. The fight ended quickly and with blood. He had disarmed the soldier of his sword and cut through them.

The sword was not to his liking. It was too light and shorter than he preferred but he didn't have time to go to his rooms to grab his sword. Every second mattered. A minute could be the difference in life and death. He would not be delayed. He would not risk his wife's life.

He stopped only to fight the soldiers who engaged with him. The leader in him had taken a backseat in his frenzy. Had he known where his wife was and sure of her safety, he would have been barking out orders left and right and fought to purge his palace of this foreign entity. But his wife was unaccounted for.

His sisters were also a concern for him but less so. they both should have been in the library with their lessons. Aedion would be with them both, as well as the guard assigned to Katya. They would likely be hiding in the catacombs beneath the library with the palace's oldest and rarest texts. The doors were heavy and easily defensible. The librarians and tutors would have heard everyone in there before closing it shut. Kaillas had to believe they were safe and sound in there and not stuck in this chaos. Because his wife was somewhere here.

It was taking too long to get to her office. Too many people were flooded in the halls, blocking the way. Staff scrambling about and trying to hide from the onslaught. Soldiers engaged in combat. Bodies lined the floor and the marble was becoming slick with blood.

Bodies dropped in his wake, more brutally than the last as his frustration and fear continued to grow. It was taking too long. Too long to get to her office. Too long to find his pregnant wife. Anything could have happened to her by now. He didn't think he could survive if he lost her. He couldn't bare it.

(Dude. Get some dehydrated chicken breast and dehydrated beef liver. My cat would do anything for some of that)

(You probably should XD)

Amidst the chaos that engulfs the palace, Ophelia's world crumbles as the relentless enemy forces close in. Their sinister intentions become painfully clear as they surround her, their grip unyielding and merciless. She gasps for breath, feeling her heart race in terror, her vulnerable condition of being six months pregnant intensifying the horror of her situation.

In her desperate struggle, Ophelia's voice cries out in a futile plea for mercy, but it falls on deaf ears. The enemy soldiers, driven by their ruthless mission, show no remorse as they forcefully seize her, tearing her from the safety of her hiding place. Her hands instinctively clutch her belly, a protective gesture in the face of overwhelming force.

Her wounded body is now in the unforgiving grasp of her captors, and the pain of her injuries mingles with the deep fear that courses through her veins. Every movement sends sharp jolts of agony through her. As they drag her away from the once-glorious palace that is now marred by violence, Ophelia's heart aches with the desperate need to protect her unborn child. The world outside, once familiar, now appears as an alien and menacing place, and her determination to safeguard her child's future is the only anchor in this nightmarish ordeal. With each step away from the palace, Ophelia clings to the hope that she can find a way to ensure the safety of her child and herself in the midst of unimaginable adversity.

The palace hallway bears the grim evidence of her struggle. Stains of blood mar the elegant floors, a stark reminder of the pain and resistance she offered to her captors. The crimson smears are juxtaposed with torn fabric, remnants of her royal gown, left behind in the wake of her desperate struggle for escape. The once-pristine fabric lies crumpled and discarded, a silent witness to the violence that unfolded here.

(I should look into that. Kiwi looooves his puree treats.)

Kaillas was tearing through the palace. Body after body dropping in his wake. He didn't register the wounds inflicted on his body. He didn't feel the slice of the blade across his chest or the knife nicking his arm. He didn't feel the fist that caught him in jaw. All he knew was that he had to get to his wife. It was the adrenaline that kept him going. The adrenaline pumping through his veins that kept the pain away. He wouldn't drop until his wife was safe and sound and his palace rid of these people.

As he neared the hall of offices, he began shouting her name, "Ophelia!" Perhaps it wasn't the wisest to be shouting her name, thus signaling exactly who he was, if they couldn't tell already. He needed to hear her voice. He needed to hear her shouting back for him.

Then in the midst of the chaos, he heard her cry. But not a cry for him, a cry of distress. His head perked up, listening for that sound and following it. His wife was almost in his grasp. Those that dared to put their hands on his wife would die a terrible death. He would make sure they regretted ever putting their hands on his wife.

He surged forward, barreling through the crowd. He didn't stop to engage with anyone that tried him. He avoided them quickly and ran too fast for them to chase him. As he came across the scene of his wife being dragged around by enemy soldiers, he saw red. Hands on his wife. Hands hurting her and dragging her and terrifying her.

He was going to kill them all.

(Aww Cannoli does too!)

Ophelia's hands tremble as she claws frantically at those grabbing at her. Rough calloused hands, coated with blood, tightly grip the delicate lace of her gown, now marred and torn by the ruthless hands of the enemy soldiers. Their fingers dig into her skin, leaving angry red marks that throb with pain. She kicks and fights back with every ounce of strength she has, knowing that things will only worsen for her if she's taken away from the palace. Waves of agony shoot up her legs as she's dragged out onto the gravel that lines parts of the front courtyard.

Desperation floods her mind, and her heart races in terror as the soldiers drag her closer to the waiting carriage. Her throat burns with silent screams, and the metallic taste of blood fills her mouth as she bites down on her lip to stifle her cries. She catches fleeting glimpses of her husband, Kaillas, fiercely battling his way through the chaos to reach her, but with each passing moment, the distance between them seems insurmountable.

As the carriage's door creaks open, her breath catches in her throat. The dim interior, lit only by a flickering lantern, feels suffocating, and she can't help but imagine the horrors that might await her once she's inside. Her heart pounds painfully in her chest, and she clings to the last shreds of hope, praying that Kaillas will arrive in time to rescue her from this nightmare.

The dim interior of the carriage engulfs her, the air heavy with the scent of aged leather and a hint of mustiness. The worn velvet seats are faded and threadbare, and the once-gilded edges have tarnished over time. The uneven wooden floor creaks beneath her weight, and she can feel the gritty texture of dust on her fingertips as they clutch the worn armrests. The windows, though mostly intact, have accumulated years of grime and scratches, obstructing her view of the outside world. The flickering candlelight barely illuminates the carriage's interior, casting eerie, dancing shadows. The combination of the carriage's disrepair and her own fear intensifies Ophelia's sense of dread, leaving her with a sinking feeling of uncertainty about her future