Ruan
He hadn't expected them to show, only hoped they would hear and do as they wished; either stay or go. Seeing them come, one by one, was a pleasant surprise, budding a glowing warmth deep in his aching, shattered chest and slowly beginning to twine a fragile thread of hope within him. Maybe even of pride. There were still some loyal to their forest. And the missing faces did not go unnoticed. Better gone than traitorous.
Jinju was the first to show, of course she was. He remained still, though he wished to comfort her, though he wished he had her to comfort him. More than ever before, he needed her at his side as they used to be. The confusion in her dark face broke his heart even more, but he only swallowed the hurt and remained where he was, waiting. Then Circinae was at her side, and somehow that step eased this endless pain even just a little, seeing that Jinju would not be alone for this. That Circinae was here.
The deep blue of her eyes snapped to his at the title he'd given his wife -no, not wife. No longer Queen either. Not alpha, not anything. Dis-entitled by her own actions; as wife, anyway. The rest by choice as she heeded his wish to not see her return home, chose not to hold on to her place here as leader. But he would name her Queen, of course. This last time. The highest title he could give her in respect of the woman he loved deeply. Yes, still loved, even as it killed him.
The muscle in his clenched jaw twitched as he stared back at Circy, breathing deep though every breath felt like knives down his throat, through his lungs, in his heart. She held him grounded without meaning to, without even knowing it perhaps, as he pushed against the emotions threatening to break him and let the beast in his mind -still embedded there even without her magic- focus on her. But both their attention turned to Romek as he entered, and for the moment everything else fell away.
They probably wondered why Ruan had called for him. Maybe he didn't truly know why he asked for Romek, himself. He felt his name on his tongue and he spoke it. He felt a driving need to see him and so he requested to. Led by instinct, driven by intuition. As wild as he always would be. The meaning wasn't clear to him either, not until he saw that dark and familiar face. Not until he met his eyes. And then he knew.
It felt like his ribs wanted to explode outward, open and splay everything inside him, lay his raw suffering bare for the former king's perusal, for his judgement. Did I do the right thing? He needed him, this man that had earned so much of his respect and love. Somehow, Romek was the last piece of everything he once had, there from the very beginning before he and Reagan had ever adopted or had any children of their own. He'd been there from the start of it all. Here for the end of it all. Quietly in the background, but always there. Romek was the last thing holding him together. Maybe it didn't make sense, but it was exactly how it felt.
But there was no judgement in those deeply knowing eyes. What he saw there was acceptance. Respect. Trust. It wasn't something either man would do, but it felt as though Ruan's spirit rushed forth and hugged him, wrapped around and soaked in his strength, and he had to close his eyes over the naked vulnerability suddenly there brightening the blue of them. He gathered himself silently, rebuilt his stability and slowly opened his eyes again.
His heart squeezed in happiness, and maybe a pinprick of envy, as the tiger's family slid in place at his side; his children and his beautiful, loving wife. "Reagan has left," Romek stated, and he gave a short nod in quiet response. She chose a different path in life. One that didn't belong here where loyalty was something more than a word, more than an idea. "How can I be of service?"
The hostility in Heda's voice interrupted him before he could answer, "What have you done", and his head slowly turned to his sunshine child. His girl of sunny dawn and deep twilight, always so loving and caring towards him, so beautiful and wild, and now suddenly sharp and bitter. He stared at her blankly, hiding the hurt at her accusing tone, soaking in the blame. He would rather she hate him than know the truth and think differently of her mother.
Do you see her coming back? he didn't ask, didn't point out if she was not already seeing it for herself. Do you see anything stopping the all-powerful woman from doing what she wished, ever? But he held his silence, held that hard, icy gaze unyielding against her young defiance.
He would never think to force her to stay if she didn't wish it. Like all of them, she was free to leave. Just as Reagan made her choice, any of them could as well. He'd already said this, and would not repeat it. As to her question, what had he done, he would not answer. He was unable to accept someone back in his arms that was so painfully disloyal to him, unfaithful. He had done nothing but assert himself and walk away with a broken heart and shattered soul. Leave her to her desires wherever they took her and wish her peace in her ventures.
As to the question in all of their eyes -what had happened, what had Reagan done- he would not answer. He would not soil her name even if what he said was nothing but truth. She was gone, and that was all they needed to know. She chose not to return, and they could choose to leave to find her if they wished. He would not stop them, and he would encourage their children to seek her out as often as they wanted. She was their mother.
Loyalty. Compassion. Integrity. These are things expected of all of us here in the Taiga. His stare turned to take them all in, all the ones that have shown themselves, all the ones that remained hidden and listening. If it is out of your frame of character, then you don't belong here. And you are free to leave. Glacial, blue eyes slowly made their pass and landed on Heda again. Silently, he added firmly.
He stared at her a few moments longer, making certain the quiet rebuke of her lashing had been understood. Then he turned once again to the former king, tilted his head in deep respect. Already, he felt his strength ebbing and growing, fortified by those that made themselves known, stood by him and their forest -by Tyrna's quiet but steady presence, too- and those that he felt were still here even if they had not shown their faces. He hadn't meant to call them, after all, only hoped to be heard.
I ask that you stay, you and your family. He didn't feel like Romek would leave this home, but it was Reagan who had introduced them after all, and it was Reagan that the tiger may be tied to. Ruan couldn't deny the strength he felt having him here, though, the strange sense that somehow he needed Romek. At least for a while. Help me get on my feet again. Continue to protect it as you have been. His voice dropped low and quiet at his next words, barely loud enough to be heard, met his eyes soberly.
And should anything happen to me.. Take my place.
Take back your kingdom.
Jinju was the first to show, of course she was. He remained still, though he wished to comfort her, though he wished he had her to comfort him. More than ever before, he needed her at his side as they used to be. The confusion in her dark face broke his heart even more, but he only swallowed the hurt and remained where he was, waiting. Then Circinae was at her side, and somehow that step eased this endless pain even just a little, seeing that Jinju would not be alone for this. That Circinae was here.
The deep blue of her eyes snapped to his at the title he'd given his wife -no, not wife. No longer Queen either. Not alpha, not anything. Dis-entitled by her own actions; as wife, anyway. The rest by choice as she heeded his wish to not see her return home, chose not to hold on to her place here as leader. But he would name her Queen, of course. This last time. The highest title he could give her in respect of the woman he loved deeply. Yes, still loved, even as it killed him.
The muscle in his clenched jaw twitched as he stared back at Circy, breathing deep though every breath felt like knives down his throat, through his lungs, in his heart. She held him grounded without meaning to, without even knowing it perhaps, as he pushed against the emotions threatening to break him and let the beast in his mind -still embedded there even without her magic- focus on her. But both their attention turned to Romek as he entered, and for the moment everything else fell away.
They probably wondered why Ruan had called for him. Maybe he didn't truly know why he asked for Romek, himself. He felt his name on his tongue and he spoke it. He felt a driving need to see him and so he requested to. Led by instinct, driven by intuition. As wild as he always would be. The meaning wasn't clear to him either, not until he saw that dark and familiar face. Not until he met his eyes. And then he knew.
It felt like his ribs wanted to explode outward, open and splay everything inside him, lay his raw suffering bare for the former king's perusal, for his judgement. Did I do the right thing? He needed him, this man that had earned so much of his respect and love. Somehow, Romek was the last piece of everything he once had, there from the very beginning before he and Reagan had ever adopted or had any children of their own. He'd been there from the start of it all. Here for the end of it all. Quietly in the background, but always there. Romek was the last thing holding him together. Maybe it didn't make sense, but it was exactly how it felt.
But there was no judgement in those deeply knowing eyes. What he saw there was acceptance. Respect. Trust. It wasn't something either man would do, but it felt as though Ruan's spirit rushed forth and hugged him, wrapped around and soaked in his strength, and he had to close his eyes over the naked vulnerability suddenly there brightening the blue of them. He gathered himself silently, rebuilt his stability and slowly opened his eyes again.
His heart squeezed in happiness, and maybe a pinprick of envy, as the tiger's family slid in place at his side; his children and his beautiful, loving wife. "Reagan has left," Romek stated, and he gave a short nod in quiet response. She chose a different path in life. One that didn't belong here where loyalty was something more than a word, more than an idea. "How can I be of service?"
The hostility in Heda's voice interrupted him before he could answer, "What have you done", and his head slowly turned to his sunshine child. His girl of sunny dawn and deep twilight, always so loving and caring towards him, so beautiful and wild, and now suddenly sharp and bitter. He stared at her blankly, hiding the hurt at her accusing tone, soaking in the blame. He would rather she hate him than know the truth and think differently of her mother.
Do you see her coming back? he didn't ask, didn't point out if she was not already seeing it for herself. Do you see anything stopping the all-powerful woman from doing what she wished, ever? But he held his silence, held that hard, icy gaze unyielding against her young defiance.
He would never think to force her to stay if she didn't wish it. Like all of them, she was free to leave. Just as Reagan made her choice, any of them could as well. He'd already said this, and would not repeat it. As to her question, what had he done, he would not answer. He was unable to accept someone back in his arms that was so painfully disloyal to him, unfaithful. He had done nothing but assert himself and walk away with a broken heart and shattered soul. Leave her to her desires wherever they took her and wish her peace in her ventures.
As to the question in all of their eyes -what had happened, what had Reagan done- he would not answer. He would not soil her name even if what he said was nothing but truth. She was gone, and that was all they needed to know. She chose not to return, and they could choose to leave to find her if they wished. He would not stop them, and he would encourage their children to seek her out as often as they wanted. She was their mother.
Loyalty. Compassion. Integrity. These are things expected of all of us here in the Taiga. His stare turned to take them all in, all the ones that have shown themselves, all the ones that remained hidden and listening. If it is out of your frame of character, then you don't belong here. And you are free to leave. Glacial, blue eyes slowly made their pass and landed on Heda again. Silently, he added firmly.
He stared at her a few moments longer, making certain the quiet rebuke of her lashing had been understood. Then he turned once again to the former king, tilted his head in deep respect. Already, he felt his strength ebbing and growing, fortified by those that made themselves known, stood by him and their forest -by Tyrna's quiet but steady presence, too- and those that he felt were still here even if they had not shown their faces. He hadn't meant to call them, after all, only hoped to be heard.
I ask that you stay, you and your family. He didn't feel like Romek would leave this home, but it was Reagan who had introduced them after all, and it was Reagan that the tiger may be tied to. Ruan couldn't deny the strength he felt having him here, though, the strange sense that somehow he needed Romek. At least for a while. Help me get on my feet again. Continue to protect it as you have been. His voice dropped low and quiet at his next words, barely loud enough to be heard, met his eyes soberly.
And should anything happen to me.. Take my place.
Take back your kingdom.
