[center][h3][color=B0C4DE][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180415/8766bcbe72dc86096741efaec737debc.png[/img][/color][/h3][/center][center] [h1]And [/h1] [/center][center][color=ff66bb][h2][i]Nadia Parnel[/i][/h2][/color][/center] [center] [sub] Brides of Keregar [@Legion02][/sub][/center] All the reassurance in the world could do little to calm Xaelia. The tears continue to flow freely even as Nadia made every effort to comfort her, which only causes her to sob harder. “[color=B0C4DE]Y-You can’t k-know this is the bottom [/color],” she said, her voice turning into hiccups as she tried to stop her crying. “[color=B0C4DE]T-this is Drakka and I think it goes so much further down[/color]” “[color=ff66bb]Well, maybe…. Maybe it doesn’t?[/color]” Nadia started, still kneeling next to her sister-bride on the floor of their shared room. “[color=ff66bb]I know it’s… umm…[/color]” She searched her mind for something, anything better to say than that, but after a moment she just sighed. “[color=ff66bb]Who am I trying to convince? You’ve got it right, we’re as good as dead. But, we aren’t dead yet so… Why don’t we try to put that off as far as we can hm?[/color]” She smiled weakly as she reached out to pull Xaelia up. “[color=ff66bb]Come on, let’s try to go to sleep. We can talk more in the morning.[/color]” Reluctantly, Xaelia rose, crawling into the bed. Even that felt unfamiliar. The blankets were rough and heavy, better suited for frigid climates than this desert one, although the rainstorm left her longing for warmth. The scent, while clean and left a strangely metical scent behind instead of a soft, grassy flowery one of the soap used at home. With a final, shuddering breath, Xae buried her head in her pillow. She was feigning sleep, her ear ever on alert for the lingering threat of Kieran. She couldn't say for sure when her fake sleep turned into a real one, her exhausted body forcing her unconscious. The room was still as dark as when she fell asleep, darker even, as the fire had long since burned out. The only other thing that market the passage of time was the ever growing emptiness in her stomach, refusing to let her forget that breakfast of yesterday was the last time that they had had a meal. Yet, even that couldn’t pull her from her bed. At the very least, she sat up, looking over at her sister-bride, waiting for her to awaken. Nadia watched sadly as Xaelia pulled herself into bed, wondering how she could help her. Everything was bad, and she was right to be sad and scared and…. Nadia walked over to her own bed and lay down on top of the covers. She was too warm to cover up, and if they would have to react quickly to anything in the night… It was best to stay like this. She watched the fire burn out as she faded along with it, falling into a thankfully dreamless slumber. In the morning when she woke, her first thought was to check on Xaelia and see if she was okay, but as she looked over she noticed that her sister-bride was already awake, watching her. She got up quickly, stuttering as she stood. “[color=ff66bb]G-good morning Xae. Did you… sleep okay?[/color]” “[color=B0C4DE]As well as can be expected I suppose [/color],” her voice came out gravely, but it carried a muted calm. “[color=B0C4DE]Do you think… we are to stay in here?[/color]” That would be the safe bet. To wait like obedient pets to be let out by their masters. The choice leaving a sour taste in Xae’s mouth. “[color=ff66bb]I hope not…[/color]” Nadia said, moving to the door. She turned the handle and tried to open it for a good minute before remembering that she locked it. “Oh, the key… I don’t want to just sit around here, even if it means going out and facing those scary kids.” She continued as she found the key and unlocked the door, standing to the side as it opened for Xaelia to go out first. “Besides, we don’t wanna miss breakfast do we?” She added with a smile. “[color=B0C4DE]I suppose you are right. A moment? [/color]” She asked, pulling a fresh tunic and leggings out of the trunk. Off white and brown. She ran a brush through her hair, but otherwise let it be. The slap from Keregar had darkened to a bruise below her eye. A few experimental prods left her wincing. “[color=B0C4DE]I guess I am ready as I’ll ever be,[/color]” she said, taking a deep breath before stepping out of the room into the bright light of day. There was clanging coming in the direction of the court yard, the only sign of life in the whole house. “[color=ff66bb]Oh, right.[/color]” Nadia said as Xaelia changed. She turned away to give the girl her privacy, also closing the door slightly as she did. She hadn’t even thought to change- all the clothes in the trunk were the same to her, except for her few things, but she didn’t want to wear those now. Dull, plain things that could be worn for anything.. And, was it even expected of her to be proper anymore? To separate bedclothes from dayclothes? As soon as Xaelia said she was ready, Nadia nodded and followed her out into the hallway. The sounds of fighting were back, and Nadia couldn’t help the thought that that’s all Keregar’s family ever seemed to do. She glanced at Xaelia, wondering how they should go about this. ““[color=ff66bb]So I guess maybe we’ve already missed it? Or Drakkan just don’t eat.[/color]” Xaelia shrugged, her mind unable to think of a response to that. Stopping by the door that lead to the outside, the sound of as even louder here. “[color=B0C4DE]I guess all we can do is ask,[/color]” she said softly, taking in a deep breath, her hand reaching out as though to open the door, freezing inches from the handle. As Xaelia froze, Nadia reached out to hold her hand, moving to open the door together. Outside, Keregar stood, watching his sons intently as they exchanged blows. As Nadia stepped out into the morning sun, she pulled Xaelia out with her, keeping a firm grip on her sister-bride’s hand to try and show her that she would stay by her side. “[color=ff66bb]Good morning, m’lord[/color].” She greeted Keregar once they were close enough to the warlord. Not hesitating at all, she glanced over at the boys fighting and asked, “[color=ff66bb]So, did we miss breakfast then?[/color]” The moment they were out in the courtyard, Xae jerked her hand out of Nadia’s, crossing her arms protectively in front of her. Her eyes drifting over the scene in front of her, the brightness of the morning causing her eyes to tighten into a squint. Xaelia’s eyes narrowed as she saw the twins, little more than a glare, only to soften slightly when they fell on Varzar. She still didn’t trust the child, but he really hadn’t been anything but kind since they arrived. Her entire posture changed the moment she saw Kieran, her shoulders tensed, as though she was about to bolt. With great effort, Xaelia drug her eyes away from the Lord’s children to look at the man himself. In an instant, the hate she felt last night filled her again. But the ache coming from her cheek dimmed it slightly. A reminder that Keregar could and would do whatever he wanted to them. She gave a tight lipped nod in his direction, not trusting herself to speak just yet. [hider=TLDR] Xaelia finishes her break down and is now over it. Also she hungers. And likes to speak with her eyes. Nadia is there to comfort and lead while Xae is acting all gun shy and stuff. Nadia likes to speak with her mouth. Also, breakfast??? [/hider] [center] -------[/center] [center] [img] https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180415/1eec6e9701f4270e592208988c670ad7.png [/img] [/center] [center] [sub] Bride of [color=5ec4b3]Kagan[/color][@ghastlyInc] and Sister Bride of Adorabella [@eclecticwitch] [/sub] [/center] [color=5ec4b3]"We will be getting your collars and brands done first thing. Then I'll take you shopping for a little while before a meeting I need to attend. Depending on how long all this takes, we might be able to be on the road back home before dark."[/color] A cough wracked through Bree has the news hit her the same time that she tried to swallow a piece of bread. She took another sip of Adora’s, now cold, bitter tea, “[color=E9967A]B-branding?[/color]” She waited a moment, studying Kagan’s face for any hint of a joke or flicker of uncertainty of his actions. Anything she could use to disway his current mindset. Seeing nothing she scrambled on. “[color=E9967A]You’d really do that?[/color]” The alarm was evident in her voice, but so was a hint of disappointment and disbelief , like a mother finding out their child wasn’t as innocent as they pretended to be. A strategy her own mother used often in her raising. The idea of the collar concerned her significantly less than the brand. It was protection really. Showing that you belong to something stronger than the person attacking you. The brand… that was pain and defigurment. She also rarely ever felt pain, at least, not from flames. Fire gems didn’t get burned, their affinity preventing most causal burns from stoves and carelessness. But she could only imagine the pain it would cause. But that wasn’t the most troubling thing. Leaving now would mean traveling further away from Allie. “[color=E9967A]Are you in such a hurry to leave? The capital seems-[/color]“ she struggled to find the words to filling the blank. “[color=E9967A]Nice [/color]” she finished rather lamely. Her eyes flicking over to Adora who was now tidying up the room. Yet another thing Bree had never had to do. [hider=TLDR] Bree is starting to bargain her way out of the branding. Also, she doesn’t want to leave the capital just yet because Allie [/hider]