The banquet Was going as well as could be expected, it reminded Pen of the hostel camp that had incited the second Human-Sidhe war. The Aen Elle thinking they were owed the right to Rule, the Aen Sidhe not wanting to lose their lands, and the humans hating the Unseen. One spark and the world would burn. The Singers accompanying the Sidhe and human courts looked like they wanted to let it, just so they did not have to listen to the Aen Ell insult them.
By the time Pen stepped out to preform the hostility had risen. Her first notes, rising above the voices an silencing them. She put all the emotion behind the lyrics as she sang. Crevan remembered this power, Ciri had used it at Ker Morhen to fight off the Hunt, but it had been a scream born of grief. This was the same power but under the control of one who knew it to be a weapon to destroy worlds or a beacon to rebuild them.
The song ended in silence, then applause. Pen took her bows and made her excuses to depart the hall. Crevan and her thorns followed. She was stripping off her finery as she went, she had said her piece. Aethen picked each item up carefully, making sure it wouldn't wrinkle too badly. They found her stripped down to inner garments, leaning against a wall, Keening.
Aethen wrapped his cloak and held her, murmuring to her. Crevan stood there, knowing the power had this price. Aethen whispered something and she slumped against him.
"...She should not have done that..." Aethen said, scooping her up. "...but she had her reason no doubt."
At the Sage's confused look Cullen explained.
"Imagine using a shield spell to hold back a Tsunami..." Cullen said. "She strained her voice and her will...she won't be talking for a week or longer."
"She has done this before?"
"A very long time ago, to take down...his Majesty's first wife. You'll have to ask his Majesty or Lord Jareth...they were present when she did."
Crevan decided he would do just that after the banquet ended.
Nuada led the Sage from the room where Pen had been placed after being found. He did not wish to disturb her, nor bring up a painful subject.
"...She saved my life by breaking hers." Nuada said, pouring some Dragon's kiss into a shot glass. "...My former queen was as bad as humans when it came to the hate she harbored...she slaughtered the Remembering ones, first. It took Pen's voice and her blades to end it." He took the shot and winced. "I made a promise she would never have to break her voice for me again..."
"The remembering ones?" Crevan asked. "Like the Aen Serveherne?"
"No, The Murin...they were the ones who remembered that Sidhe and humans were not so different once. The few that remained settled in the Court of thorns. " He poured another shot. "...We've had ten years of peace..."
"Then The Aen Elle came..." Crevan said softly. "...I am sorry."
Nuada poured a second shot.
The sage looked toward the rooms down the hall, it was there...three days from now and a thousand years past he'd found he'd be a father. He downed it, ignoring the burn.
"What did you feel, then?"
"Joy, fear...Self hate that it was the one thing I did not...could not protect her from."
Crevan took in a breath, "I'd like to keep watch..."
"That is usually Aethen's job..."
Crevan had wanted to ask, but the topic seemed sensitive.
"The night elf..."
"Was the first of her court, long before I granted her the freehold." He said. "There were things I struggled with at that choice..."
He looked to where Night elf was talking to Cullen, they were in an animated conversation.
"He cares for her more than I do sometimes." Nuada downed his second shot. "Tomorrow we meet for war..."
Crevan nodded, He had things to prepare too.
Ciri did not feel well, it was not the Strigga bite. She looked to where Avallac'h was propped up reading the book. IF he wasn't injured...she smiled remembering the ruby suite and sunlight shining in his hair while he slept. The smell of food sent her to the bucket as it came in. The healers became concerned about the third meal they had brought.
Ciri sat in stunned silence, the midwife had taken one look at her and smiled. The examination had confirmed that smile. She didn't know how to tell Avallac'h, how was she to tell him. She put her hand on her lower belly, the midwife had said at least a month and a half along. She had written off the ill-feeling as their little romp in the halls of Ker Morhen. She looked over at him, he would pause in his reading to look back.
"What is troubling you...my swallow." His voice held concern "You look unwell, you went with the healers earier...is anything wrong."
"N-no...its good news." She said and came to sit on the bed beside him. "I...just don't know..."
He touched her and his face went from concern to awe, then to a frown.
"We should remain here for a little while..." He said. "It will not be safe to travel..."
She nodded and moved to lay beside him worried at his reactions.