#{oisean

[cornbeefroast]

Go play @parkerlyn’s game the nameless <3

[arcxnumvitae]

A few days later

Storms had lashed the palace for several days now. Dark clouds poured rain as if one were weeping, a rain so heavy it nearly pelted the interwoven branch and earth that made up the walls of the palace. Evening had fallen, the entire palace had fallen into a tense unease. Something was off, but all were too scared to voice it aloud,

It had also been several days since she had last seen her brother.

Tara lingered outside the Council meeting room, hidden deep in a shadow made longer by the evening hour. Candlelight shined weakly from beneath the door, and from inside the room came muffled low, terse voices. In any other situation it would be rather foolish to spy on her father and his advisor, her father often seemed to have a sixth sense capable of discerning whenever someone lurked near, but now the clear state of distraction and his conversation with Seòras had drawn the king's attention elsewhere away from those who may be lurking in shadow.

Pressing herself against the wall outside, Tara willed a few of the branches to part, allowing a small hole to better

"And he is no longer in Seelie?" The adviser murmured quietly.

"No," the king's anguish was clear, and Tara's lips pressed into a thin line as her father continued. "We had a fight, and now he is gone. Word has not yet spread, but... I have sent Mairbh and Nimheil to search for him beyond Seelie, but the world is so large... I--I do not know what I will do if I lose him, Seòras. I cannot-- not another..." Weariness wracked her father's voice in a way she had not heard since their mother's passing. Silence passed, the sound of a steadying breath, and then the advisor's comforting tones.

"We will find him, Your Majesty, rest assured. This is only a bit of youthful rebellion. He will no doubt return once he grows tired of it."

There was no response, and Tara allowed the wall to weave together once more. The princess' face twisted in disgust. She'd hardly expected such a reaction when she first set in motion subtly nudging a guard in the direction of seeing her brother return from one of his "outings." But still--

What kind of heir would run away?

[arcxnumvitae]

"Father." He wasn't sure why the king had summoned him, but considering all of the odd moves his father had made as of late, it should probably be considered the new norm. Camhlaidh's eyes flickered across the other's face, turned idly to the side, but nothing within it gave away the older man's thoughts. That was, until he spoke.

"I have received word that you have been sneaking from the castle, Camhlaidh."

His blood ran cold.

"Is that true?" King Oisean turned fully to face his son, as he stepped from around his desk. Now, Camhlaidh could make out the faintest traces of tiredness in his father's still perpetually young eyes. His own mouth opened to respond, but nothing came out. It was answer enough, and his father sighed.

"I do not need to remind you of how dangerous that is, Camhlaidh! This is unlike you, you usually do not need to be reminded of such simple things!" The king sighed, his arms neatly folded behind his back. "What if someone who had deigns against our family were to find you? What then? You know as well as I do that your mother's killer is still--!"

Something within the prince recoiled at the mention of her, and his mouth opened of its own accord, this time ready to speak. "My mother. Yes, her. Always her. Haunting these halls, haunting me, haunting you. For years you would never look at me for fear of remembering her, and now you wish to use her against me like this?!"

His voice rose, and his father reared back at the unexpected outburst from his usually demure son. Normally, he would have stopped right there, tried to reel himself in. But years of living in halls haunted by the ghost of her and his father's grief, only to now be on the cusp of his newfound freedom taken away? Because Camhlaidh knew that was what would happen. His father would tighten the leashes once more, no longer let him out. No more visits to the lands beyond Seelie out of fear. Fear, fear, fear.

Camhlaidh took a step closer, his eyes blazing. "Years of silence from you, and now you want to be present? That morning after when news of Mother was told to me by a servant, I spent days in my room sobbing. I was but a child! Where were you then?! When the court whispered that my eyes had foretold my own mother's death, where were you?! The years afterwards when you avoided even looking at me, and now, because you have decided to turn some new leaf, you think you can pretend to be concerned for my well-being? She was my mother but you are my father!"

His father stared at him, first stunned, then a mix of guilt and pain on his face. "Camhlaidh--"

But he wasn't done. "You seem to think that your overbearing protectiveness, this locking us away 'for our own good' will do something. It will not bring her back, Father. And I am tired of suffering the effects of your guilt because you were unable to save her!"

The words were like a physical blow, and the king rocked back on his feet. "Camhlaidh!" The roar shook through the room, and the palace itself responded in kind. The very foundation of it rumbled and shook, but it did not stop the prince as he stormed from the room, leaving his father to watch him as he left, the man's face devastated.

[arcxnumvitae]

While it was understood that the king loved his wife and took no other lovers while she was still alive, some gentry still expected the king to marry again, at least for the optics of a secure reign. If nothing else, they at least expected him to take another lover or two. His wife had, remarkably and unbelievably, born him two heirs, yes, but one never knew what might befall the children on their path to the throne. And clearly the royal family had an enemy.

The king never did so. He never remarried in the years following his wife's death, and he never took another lover. He only ever wanted her, and with her gone his shattered heart never fully healed.

[arcxnumvitae]

The invitation envelope is sealed with blue wax, the outline of the Meriet royal seal carefully pressed into the the center. The invitation itself consists of a single letter that reads:

❝The kingdom of Brecaea cordially invites you to join them in celebrating the Festival of the Blue Moon. We humbly look forward to your presence in ushering in a new lunar season that is set to begin on at . We advise that you dress in light, airy clothing and have footwear that will not be damaged by any amount of water. We also advise that you arrive by sunset on the first day of the festivities in order to fully experience the welcoming ceremony.❞

Along the bottom of the letter, the words “Please dip in water and turn over.” is written in neat lettering along the bottom of the invitation card. Once done, the rest of the letter continues as follows:

❝An additional, private gathering will be held at Castle Luvalon throughout the entire event. Overnight accommodations will be provided to all guests with this invitation. We advise you keep it in a safe place, to bring it with you on your travels, and to present it to castle staff upon arrival. Your host, Queen Dakota Tetrarch of Meriburn❞

(For the Seelie)

@sansloii || Party Time!

"Seelie's first invitation to a revel." The king examined the letter closely as the prince stood nearby. He didn't know much about his hosts, nor of the traditions on the mortal plane, but he imagined he should likely grow familiar quickly.

"Will we be attending?" Not that the answer wasn't already obvious.

"We will. I will discuss particulars with Seòras later, as well as who to bring with us. We will likely have to bring along some of the younger gentry," his father frowned, "since the current members of the Council did not seem enthusiastic about traveling beyond Seelie's borders." From the tone his father used, it seemed 'unenthusiastic' would be putting it lightly. The man looked up to meet his son's gaze.

"I expect you to act befitting our land. It would do well to make a good first impression I suppose."

Ah, so no pressure then.

[arcxnumvitae]

Oisean Moireasdan

Guinnein Tàileach