Crevan stood on the balcony of his suite, remembering that first embrace. It was the first time he'd said he'd...loved her. He was thankful she did not understand fully, had not really heard what he said. He looked down to see Rhiannon with her latest lover, a female this time.
"The girl's attention wanders more than the water flows." He said softly. "...One day you are going to have to choose, and I hope you choose well..."
He went back inside, closing the doors. He had a guest to help welcome.

The knock on the door was subtle, one Pen expected. She gestured to a chair, the cloaked figure sat and pushed back his hood. Ge'les frowned.

"...Why did you call me here, in secret...in the dead of night."

"To bargain..." She said. "You are a good Viceroy, you've been since Eriden..."

"Get to the point..."

"Let my court stand, we've caused no harm and none of mine were involved in the bombing..."

"I do not see what that has to do with the dispanding of this farce."

Pen leaned forward "I will say this in elder speech so you understand fully." She set the packet on the desk. "I know well who gave Aubron the Fisteck for the first time...who mixed the potion for the King..."

Crevan moved from the shadows, he'd been listening. His hands were steady on the crossbow. He was owed this.

"Crevan." Ge'les hissed. "You bastard..."

"My Court sage has nothing to do with my finding out..." She said. "...and everything to do with your supposed "Richousness". I cannot end you without the destruction of my court, but I can end the Lie you told."

"What lie...I've told no lie."

"Lara Dorn's son..." She said. "When I told Crevan he told me to let the lie stand...I wonder what the court would do, finding their hate based on a lie." She turned to Crevan. "...I will let you settle this...and do clean up after..."

She walked out, she was halfway down the corridor when she heard the scream.

Nuada was waiting for her in her chamber, holding out the strongest drink the estate produced. She took it and drank, she didn't want to be sober for the fall out.

"A bold move...Luring him to his reckoning." Nuada said.

"I didn't just do it because it needed to be done..." She said. "It was for Lara...The papers with proof are being delivered to the young monarch as we speak...copies of course."

"You've become ruthless, I think Lochain would have been proud," Nuada said. "I am, it is a move worthy of my queen."

"I've been taking lessons, Sara as the Goblin queen is scary..." She said. "Not anywhere near Regis when he's pissed but scary..."

"You will have to fight, the Aen Elle will not take kindly to their viceroy showing up with holes..."

"I know." She said. "thus the evidence...you know I would not act without it."

"No, you would not."

"IF my court must fall, it will fall fighting..." She said.

"Then my love, my kingdom will stand with you..." He said. "...Now let's get some sleep, we have a war to plan for the morning."

She finished the drink, smiling at him as he scooped her up.

Neither Ciri or Avallac'h expected to be woken before dawn, given their clothes clean and mended along with Ciri's sword and his staff. Something was coming, something they could not be present for. The Hunt had found them, or in later years scribes would believe.

"...War is coming," was all Pen said. "One I, unfortunately, had to start, and hope to end...quickly."
"The other things you mentioned..."

"Yes, my court was threatened, and I defended...now war comes."

Pen held out Something to Ciri, wrapped in the plaid of her court.

"...A gift, one I hope to see again..."

In the plaid was a brooch, The same tree Pen's brooch had, but this had a swallow in its branches. It essentially said that Ciri was of her house, a truth that she hoped would break the lie as well.
"...You will wear it on your wedding day." Pen whispered to her. "A remembrance of this place and the peace you had..."

Ciri embraced her, "Va fail..."

"Va Fail..."

The portal opened and in a blink, they were gone. Pen closed her eyes, so much needed to be done.

"Ancesstress..." Pen said.

Crevan came from behind a pillar, the temptation to see Ciri one last time proving too much. He had followed Pen to this place. She expected it, with how deeply Sidhe loved.

"She did...wear that brooch on her wedding day." He said and laid the brooch in her hand. "...It passed to my daughter, she was born in Tir na Lir...It came back into my possession when she died." He looked at her. "...Ge'les will not speak against us, but the war will still come."

"I suspected as much, it was a bold move. Even though you told..."

"...I was a fool. I would have used my own child...Lara did right by fleeing. I will have to apologize to the Unicorns...if they ever come back."

"No, I don't think they will..." She said. "...We have wronged them too much." She sighed. "I still have no clue how the archive got the journal...its not in any of the hands I have studied of that time. Including yours...Dandilion's, and Yennife's. I even wormed my way into the archives at Tir Na Lir..."

"I wondered where a set of my clothes had gone..." He said, amusement in his voice.
She looked at the portal, sighed, the war was coming...