Verse: Pre-Shattering; HC Used: Ranni betrothed to Godwyn
To say that Ranni had been in a flurry of emotions in the past few days would have been an understatement. She should have known that such a thing was bound to happen eventually - being claimed as Empyrean flesh did not grant her the mercy of living peacefully. Perhaps it had been a mix of hope and naivety that had her thinking that becoming betrothed to another was not a potential. Once, she would have claimed that she would only do such a thing if she so desired. Now, she found herself so, so terribly wrong.
It had been a handful of times that she’d met Godwyn. The man didn’t seem horrid by any means, not in comparison to some that had come seeking her hand.. alas, it was not what she wanted. No amount of smiles and kindness would have her accepting the fate that she had been strung along into.
And so, Ranni had done the only thing that had come to mind to ensure some level of security — lock herself away in her room. Blaidd had been the only one she’d spoken to thus far ever since hiding away. Even her siblings had not been safe from her own isolation. Not a soul had she spoken to other than Blaidd, and frankly, she had every intent to keep it that way. She had to figure something out. Anything to get out of this.
Radahn was worried. He knew she wasn't happy about the betrothal, since it seemed to push her even more into the role of heir apparent to Marika.
Godwyn was a good-natured man, more willing to seek peaceful solutions and compromise than his mother, but still - he was the golden child of the god.
It's been a good while since their father married Marika, and they were elevated to demigod status, but things were still quite tense. They haven't forgiven Radagon for abandoning their mother and breaking her heart. Councils and celebrations always felt like a powder keg.
Radahn still spent a lot of his time in Sellia, perfecting his magic. By now he also taught younger disciples of their master - but he wanted to be the best.
The birth of the twins didn't help much. Malenia's curse was immediately apparent, so her Empyrean status didn't give them much hope. Miquella seemed healthy, but as the years passed, he stopped growing. By now he should have been a young man, but he was still child-sized. He, too, wasn't the ideal candidate for the next god, so long as Ranni was around.
So Marika pushed for the engagement between her most likely heir and her favourite son. Ignoring that Godwyn already had children with various mistresses, and a long-running relationship with his dragon friend. None of that mattered - the queen wanted an Empyrean heir married to the ideal future Elden Lord.
No doubt she'd be pressuring them to start making babies the moment they were married...
Radahn went to see Ranni. He could offer comfort, at the very least. Perhaps even help. If she wished for him to fight the Fingers, or even Marika herself, he wouldn't hesitate.
