Author's Note: Set sometime during 2x01. Slightly AU.
The castle is still under quarantine, and, if you ask Kenna, Bash is not handling it well.
With the gates closed to both incoming and outgoing traffic, and the fear of sickness hampering the peoples' desire for social interaction, the court has become essentially deserted. Yet, it isn't so much the isolation as the lack of activity that seems to be slowly suffocating the Master of Horse and Hunt. While Kenna was trained to thrive indoors as an ornament of the court, Bash experienced a childhood with more freedom, frequently exercising the right to avoid the formalities and politics of court life by retreating to the outdoors. On days like today, when the weather makes even a walk through the gardens impossible, he reminds his wife very much of a caged animal.
As if to prove her point, Bash currently stands still and silent by the window. All his attention is focused on the view outside as though he is trying to stop the rain with the force of his will. Kenna, sitting in a chair nearby, takes time to study him with discreet glances in between the delicate embroidery stitches she is adding to the cloth in her hands.
It is not lost on Kenna how well the title Master of Horse and Hunt suits her husband. Even in the midst of his madness, Henry had managed to bestow upon Bash a title that, while meant to be humiliating, had still reflected how well he knew the young man who had once been his favorite son. It certainly hadn't taken Kenna very long to notice the fulfillment Bash seemed to find when carrying out a mission that allowed him to be outdoors and roaming the countryside. For most of their marriage he had been on a hunt for The Darkness. Now, despite Bash's professed desire to experience domestic life, Kenna is beginning to realize she will need to allow him to roam when the mood strikes. The thought doesn't bother her nearly as much as it did a few weeks ago. Honestly, she would do just about anything for him these days if only she could have the old Bash back. She barely recognizes the tired and discouraged man before her as the same devil-may-care adventurer who first greeted Mary's carriage what seems now to have been a lifetime ago.
Kenna is so deep in thought, that it startles her when Pascal, who is currently sitting at her feet and looking through a picture book, interrupts her musings, breaking through the deafening silence of the room with the now familiar rhyme.
"I lie behind the star-bright sky,
I do not fear this life's goodbye…"
He speaks it softly, almost unconsciously, as he flips the pages of the book before him.
Kenna smiles gently, wondering if the current tranquility of their domestic setting has caused the boy to remember his parents.
Bash's reaction, however, is quite different. The moment he hears the words, he whirls from where he stands, face livid and eyes wild as he takes two steps towards where the boy sits.
"I never want to hear those words uttered again in our household, Pascal!" Bash demands in a dangerous tone. "Do you understand?"
Pascal whimpers in fear, scurrying to his feet and throwing himself into Kenna's arms for safety.
Kenna stares at her husband in shock and horror as she holds the boy tightly against her. She chastises Bash with her eyes for his display of anger towards the child, but the look he returns is unrepentant. After giving Pascal one more reassuring squeeze, Kenna lifts his chin so she can see his eyes. She smiles kindly.
"Pascal, darling, why don't you go find Lady Greer and see if she will play a game with you?"
The boy, still clearly terror stricken, picks up his book and nearly runs out of the room, not even daring to glance in Bash's direction as he rushes past.
The moment the door closes, Kenna jumps to her feet, the forgotten needlework falling to the floor.
"How dare you speak to Pascal that way for reciting a harmless rhyme!" She cries, her voice quivering with anger. "It's no wonder he is so afraid of you!"
Bash's eyes flash. "And, do you know how that harmless rhyme ends?
'Close your eyes for my caress,
For I am the Darkness'.
I am The Darkness, Kenna!"
"Bash, he's a little boy!"
"Who only a few weeks ago was being trained to be the next murderous monster in the woods! I will not have him speak those words in our home!"
As Bash returns to his post at the window, Kenna remains silent, letting the full import of his words sink into her mind. It had never occurred to her that Bash might believe the boy she had so willingly included in their life might be dangerous. She certainly doesn't believe it herself. Perhaps, if this is one of the burdens that has been so heavily weighing on his conscience lately, she can finally help him in some way.
Kenna moves slowly and carefully across the room towards her husband, praying he will continue to confide in her now that his concerns about Pascal are out in the open. Reaching his side, she slides one arm around his waist before placing a soft kiss on his shoulder.
"Bash" she says softly. "Please look at me."
As he turns in her arms, she sees the haunted look of grief and defeat has returned to his face.
"You don't truly believe Pascal is capable of that kind of violence, do you?"
"I don't know," Bash admits quietly. "And that's what scares me. Everything that monster said would happen if he died without a successor has come true. If Pascal realizes there is a connection…"
"Bash," chides Kenna gently, "he's such an affectionate child, and it's been weeks since you killed The Darkness. After saving his life and caring for him in our home, don't you think the time for worry has passed?"
Bash lets out a heavy breath, studying her for just a moment before he speaks.
"Promise me you won't spend any more time alone with Pascal."
"Bash!," protests Kenna.
He takes her face in his hands, leaning in until their foreheads touch. "If anything were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself. Promise me that if you are with Pascal, you will always be sure someone else is nearby."
It's a ridiculous promise, one she already knows in her heart she will never be able to keep. Yet, she has felt so helpless around Bash recently, unable to share his suffering or offer him reassurance. Now that he has finally included her in his fears, finally asked for her help, she realizes it is impossible to deny him.
"I promise." She says sincerely, pulling back to look into his eyes.
Bash breathes a sigh of relief, tension rolling off his shoulders as he gathers her closer to him. "Thank you" he murmurs into her hair.
Brushing aside the twinge of guilt she feels for her dishonesty, Kenna decides instead to focus on the knowledge that her husband seems to finally have found at least a few moments of peace.