Evony Fluerette Marquis, The Morrigan, Head of the Dark Fae walked into the Dal Riata. Trick had asked her to meet him at the Dal instead of the Ash Compound or her offices. Evony was not sure why, but went anyway.

When she entered the Dal she saw a table set for two people. She saw only Trick, Kenzi and Tamsin standing there. Trick's approach broke her thought process. County Regent Tamsin approached with him but then peeled off to the side.

"Hello, Evony. Thank you for coming." Trick said. Evony surveyed the area.

"So what is this all about? It looks like a bunch of paid hooligans are surrounding the place. Reminded me of…" Evony began as Trick stepped off to the side. Evony saw a familiar woman approach. Evony's eyes went wide in shock, then relaxed, and then went even as she gazed at The Regnant. The Regnant stopped five feet away from Evony holding her gaze.

Evony curtsied and held her curtsey until it was acknowledged by The Regnant with a slight bow of her head. Evony then rose to her feet and stared evenly at the Regnant.

"Give us the room, will you?" The Regnant asked. Trick and Tamsin vacated quickly. When they all left Ari broke the silence.

"I did what you asked. I stayed away." The Regnant said. Evony said nothing.

"Evony, you and I need to talk." The Regnant said. Evony still said nothing.

"Evony, I am here at the behest of Fitzpatrick and…" The Regnant started when Evony took several rapid steps towards The Regnant and then right-crossed her, shaking her hand afterwards. The right-cross turned The Regnant's head a bit, and she reached up to check her mouth, saw no blood was drawn.

"Do you feel better now?" Ari asked.

"How dare you!" Evony exploded.

"Evony." Ari said gently.

"How dare you!" Evony angrily shot back.

"Evony." Ari repeated gently.

"I asked you!" Evony yelled back.

"Evony." Ari repeated again gently.

"It was the one request I had!" Evony yelled. Ari took in a deep breath.

"The one! The only one!" Evony yelled.

"I would have continued to honor your request had it not been for…" Ari looked for the phrase and found it "changing circumstances."

"Changing circumstances?! What changing circumstances?!" Evony demanded.

"The Princess Royal." Ari replied with a slight elevation in her voice.

"What is that, anyway? How the hell is she the Princess Royal! How could Destiny ever pick her! I bore witness to your anointing! I was there next to you in battle! How is she supposed to be you! Ever?!" Evony spat out.

"Cannot tell you why, only that it is." Ari replied.

"She is simply unworthy to rule!" Evony declared.

"She may not be sovereign material now, but she will be, with proper training and mentorship. But as you, yourself bore witness, Isabeau is me. She will be the next Regnant." Ari replied.

Evony took a step back, and fell into the nearest chair that happened to be one at the table that was set up for them. Ari went to her and went on one knee before her. Evony took a long moment to allow what Ari said to settle in, but she knew it was true. She herself bore witness, and The Regnant's very own presence confirmed what Evony always feared most: that the talk of Bo's destiny was not all hot air. It was real.

"Evony. Putting Isabeau aside, it is time you and I settle things. You can no longer block me out. Things are changing, and in order to meet those challenges the issues between you and I need to be settled." Ari said.

"Anger. Denial. That is all that is keeping me together." Evony said as she started to feel herself give way.

"Do you not think I do not mourn for our loss? I do. You have to stop hating me for it." Ari said. Evony tenderly touched Ari's face.

"Ari, I don't hate you. I have never hated you." She took a deep breath. "I still love you. Deeply. Desperately. I ran from us because I was in pain. Still in pain." Tears started to well up in Evony's eyes. "I am angry because our future was taken from us! I want to scream out, mourning for what was! What could have been! I want to tear this world asunder!" Evony stood up abruptly, turning away from Ari as tears started to stream down her cheeks. Ari stood up and grasped Evony by the shoulders, held her close, then wrapped her arms around Evony.

"There is not a time that I do not mourn for the loss of our child. But neither of us understood the disease that took her." Ari said. Evony took in Ari's embrace, her head resting against Ari's allowing herself to be presently lost in the remembrance of its warmth, its love.

"If I had not pushed you so far away..." Evony trailed off. Ari continued to hold her.

"I wish there was some way I could rip time away so there is only just us." Evony lamented. Ari continued to hold her.

"There is part of me that wants to die." Evony said.

"Not die. You need to let go and start to live again. Truly live." Ari said in her ear.

Evony turned to face Ari. Ari kept her arms around Evony as Evony took Ari's face in with both hands, planted a light, but long kiss on Ari's lips, rested her hands on Ari's chest.

"How can you ask me to live again?" Evony said as she took in a breath, "And without you?" Ari smiled.

"By focusing on something that gives new meaning and purpose." Ari replied.

"New meaning and purpose?" Evony asked.

"Yes. That is one of the reasons why I am here, Evony. The Realm needs you, but more importantly, I need you." Ari asked. Evony looked at Ari inquisitively.

"What is it that you need?" Evony asked. Ari looked at her intently.

"You, Evony. I need you."

XXXXXXXXXX

While The Regnant and The Morrigan met upstairs meeting Trick, Tamsin, Antony, Dakari, Jock, Julian, and Kenzi conferred over the details for dinner at the Clubhouse and promptly sent Tamsin and a contingent of Seneschal back to the Clubhouse to prepare. Ryan and Liam conferred with Trick briefly on the happy hour details and then they departed.

That left The Regnant' four sons, Kenzi, Beatrice and Trick sitting around waiting for The Regnant's meeting with The Morrigan to end.

"Beatrice, can you rally the troops and let them know of the change in dinner plans?" Kenzi asked.

"Already on it. Oh, and don't forget to sign the quarterlies so I can get them sent off. Liam will kill me if we do not get them in on time." Beatrice replied.

"Where are they?" Kenzi asked.

"Over on your desk, right on top." Beatrice replied as she pointed over to her desk.

"Your Serene Highnesses, are any of you hungry? I am talking about real food here, not Succubi food." Kenzi asked The Regnant's four sons as she reviewed her paperwork. They all chuckled.

"We are fine." Antony answered as he stared at her. Kenzi saw he was looking hard and tried not give any obvious notice. She had to admit she thought he was handsome.

"So, what does the rest of your agenda look like for the rest of the day?" Kenzi continued to work on her paperwork.

"We have a couple more items, but all of that is contingent on the meeting happening now upstairs." Dakari answered.

"So deets on that whole business upstairs between The Regnant and The Morrigan. What is that all about?" Kenzi asked as she continued to look at her work.

"Evony also comes from the Presidium." Trick dropped.

"What?" Kenzi said as she and Beatrice came to a dead stop in their work.

"The history between Evony and The Regnant goes way back. Before the War of the Five Ranas. Prior to meeting The Queen Consort Ari and Evony were a couple." Trick said.

"You. Are. Kidding?" Kenzi replied.

"No, I am not." Trick said. "In fact, Evony also fought in the War of the Five Ranas."

"What?" Kenzi said incredulous. Trick could not help but to chuckle at Kenzi's response.

"When it was over she followed me to this plane of existence." Trick replied. "No one knows why they broke up. The Regnant met The Queen Consort, and then the War of the Five Ranas happened. But when the battle was over Evony came to this plane with me, and the rest is history." Trick replied.

"Like sands in the hourglass, these are the Faes of our lives." Kenzi quipped. That made everyone chuckle.

Just then Bas Gunther came down the stairs. "Your Serene Highnesses, Your Excellencies, ladies, The Regnant would like you to join her upstairs."

When they went back upstairs Kenzi could tell that Evony had been crying, and was trying to straighten up her make-up. She also noticed they didn't eat as the table set up for them went undisturbed.

The Regnant turned to her four sons.

"You remember Antony and Dakari." The Regnant said.

"Of course. You two are still as handsome as ever." Evony replied. Antony led the charge and came up to her and greeted her with a hug and kiss on the side of her cheek.

"Your Excellency, it has been too long. You still look amazing. Mother sends her love regards, and hope we find you well." Antony said as he made way for Dakari to offer his greetings.

"Evony, this is my son Jock. Helen was pregnant with him when you left the Presidium." The Regnant introduced. Jock came up and greeted her with a hug and the requisite kiss on the cheek.

"Lovely to meet you finally. Our parents have spoken of you fondly." Jock said.

"Thank you." Evony replied

"This is Julian, my ninth born." The Regnant said. Julian came up and greeted her with a hug and the requisite kiss on the cheek.

"I echo my brother's comments. It is lovely to finally meet you." Julian said.

"Thank you." Evony replied. "You two are just as handsome. How are Underfoot and Junior?" Evony asked. They all smiled.

"You still remember their nicknames. Elena and Ariella are doing well." The Regnant replied.

"How could I forget?" Evony replied.

"Fitzpatrick, we have a lot to discuss. When will your Elders be here again?" The Regnant asked.

"The Elders will convene at the Compound tomorrow morning." Trick replied.

"Good. Evony and I have spoken and we are in agreement." The Regnant said.

"I informed Her Majesty that one more contingent needs to be part of this discussion in preparation for tomorrow." Evony said.

"And whom may that be?" Trick asked.

"Atticus." Evony replied.

"Is there a way to meet this Atticus yet this afternoon?" The Regnant asked.

"Kenzi and I can arrange it." Trick replied.