I'm Coming Home

[Malcolm]

Thirsty all of the sudden, it took a lot of willpower for Malcolm to avoid pouring himself a drink, after all the last time he had indulged in red wine and slipped into a stupor, he had been taken from his bed, unable to defend himself or his family. He wouldn't touch another drop, or so he told himself. The glass was lifted into Violet’s hand and as she took a drink, Malcolm looked into, and then felt her eyes on him. He looked away and was pleased to find his son had finally arrived. Malcolm didn't say anything, but he did smile at the man, and watched as he interacted with Elsie.
Apprehensive, he hadn't known what to expect, but was pleased to find that Vaughn was making an effort. Deep down Malcolm had thought the man might resent him and his new family for everything that had taken place up until this point. He had been married to Vanessa for forty years, and though things hadn't ended on the best of terms, Malcolm had always loved and adored Vaughn’s mother.
They had come and gone like a whirlwind, and soon Malcolm was left standing in the kitchen across from Vakhanor, wondering what it was the man had to say, and worse, whether or not he would be able to listen. One look at the fiery haired man and Malcolm was forced to relive the moments in which he had felt so betrayed by his lover. He looked out into the garden and opened his mouth to make up some reason that would enable him to excuse himself, but came up short.
Trapped, Malcolm squeezed the end of the cork back into the wine bottle and set it aside, taking measure of the man before him once more. What was it Elyna found so enticing, he wondered, and had she hurt him so deeply that he could justify his actions in the Burning Mountains? That empty feeling returned and Malcolm found himself fidgeting, pulling at a loose thread on his cuff.
“What it is, Vakhanor?”

[Vakhanor]

Truth was a hard thing to come by, but telling it could be harder. Only trials ago he had thought Malcolm dead and now here he was, alive, well and thriving with Elyna. Overjoyed by his return the light had returned to the skyriders face. That was when he knew there was no place for him in this life other than a shoulder to cry on when everything went to shit. Sadness weighed heavily upon the smiths heart, he had committed himself to making sure she was happy and the gap he had with Malcolm was a space that needed to be resolved.

Antics distracted his train of thought as the women present faffed around the kitchen. Lady Violet Warrick. What a surprise, a fucking noble in a noble household. Followed by mini mal. Well that was just great, a single commoner mingling among the aristocracy. Sickness swelled in the smiths stomach as he shot a cool glare in Ely’s direction. She knew he hated nobility, let alone having to dine with them.

Clearing the room of distraction, Elyna helpfully walked the other guests away from the kitchens and joy left Vakhanor's face. He watched the knight who desperately fought to avoid his attention. An unspoken tension had long lay between them and the smith knew he was not Malcolm’s favourite. When they were gone Vakhanor stood to meet Malcolm head on “I wanted to ask your forgiveness. I did something I shouldn't have,” he paused. In those trills regretted everything he'd built with Elyna and braced himself for the consequences of the truth “I kissed Elyna.”

[Malcolm]

It had sounded like the wine bottle had rejected its cork, sending it across the room, when in reality it was the Mortalborn who had blown his top, balling a first to punch Vakhanor square in the mouth. The attack had come out of nowhere, but before Malcolm could throw a second punch, Benjamin was on top of him, pushing him backwards into the kitchen, wrestling to take hold of his wrists. The warden raised his hands in submission and lowered his gaze, what was he thinking, what had he done?
Benjamin had no idea what had transgressed up until this point, he had never seen Malcolm punch a man before, and could only imagine there had been good reason for it. “There's a drink with your name on it out there,” he told Vakhanor, a man who looked like he had taken a few punches in this time. Hoping to ease the tension, Ben smacked Malcolm’s cheek and roughed up his hair. “You all right?”
“I'm fine,” Malcolm told him, “I'm fine,” he repeated, as if to say he wouldn't be making any further attempts to knock the smith's teeth out.
If Vakhanor made any effort to talk, Benjamin only offered an uneasy smile and said, “you're all right, just give us a bit, we’ll be right out.” He looked out for Elyna then, quite sure she had been watching, and pinned her with a look as if to tell her to stay back, or speak to Vakhanor in the garden. Tensions were high, and Benjamin started to wonder if Vakhanor and Elyna had anything to do with Malcolm’s recent slip up.
“Malcolm,” he reached for his friend, but the Mortalborn was despondent.
“I'm fine, Ben.”
“You just punched a man, one of your guests, forgive me if I don't believe that you're fine. What did he do?”
Malcolm put his hands on the bench and caught his breath, his heart still racing. He was angry, fuming, not at Vakhanor, but himself. What had he done, and why didn't he have the courage to tell Elyna? His head hurt and his palms were sweaty, but this pain was familiar, and lashing out at Vakhanor had only added another stone of guilt to the growing pile he carried everywhere he went.
“We can go and get some air if you want,” Benjamin suggested.
“No, I'm fine.” Malcolm pushed his fingers through his dark wavy hair to slick it back against his head and prepare to join the other guests outside, but he wasn't fine, and he hadn't been for a long time.

[Vaughn]

A lot was happening here and Vaughn was trying to keep up with it all.

The woman in the slinky dress introduced herself as Violet Warrick and he saw the look she flashed his father. Vaughn couldn't help but smile. She turned to speak to him, extending her hand to shake, and on a whim Vaughn took it and bowed forward to kiss the back of her hand, as a gentleman does when meeting a lady. See what she would do with that. But Elyna quickly cut the other woman down. "I wasn’t aware that most ladies were equipped with much honour?" Yowch.

Smiling wider now, wide enough to show a dimple, Vaughn hadn't known the evening would come with entertainment along with dinner.

"I'm feeling well," he told Violet, "You?" Pointedly looking from her to Elyna to Malcolm and back.

Then he was distracted by Elsie throwing herself into his arms. The pup already in his grasp yelped perhaps in joy or alarm, and then Elsie was saying his name, or something close to it. He felt his heart absolutely melt.

"Brother?" he asked her, bouncing her in one arm and trying to keep the now excited wiggling puppy under control. "Can you say 'brother'?"

Elyna shoved a dish into Violet's hands and tried to escort them to the yard, and hungry as a wolf and interested in the dynamic between the two women Vaughn allowed himself to go. Still, he cast a glance back at his father and the blacksmith, trying to figure them out, but he had nothing on that yet.

Getting Elsie ready to eat meant that Vaughn could sneak some food too, so he was perfectly willing to sit himself at the makeshift table with Elsie on his lap. He looked up to hear Elyna speaking to Violet again. He had just enough time to think, My father certainly has his hands full, and then a crack! rang out from the kitchen.

He knew that sound. He had learned it well during his time spent in captivity.

The knight whose name Vaughn didn't yet know rushed by, and Vaughn himself stood again, but juggling the baby and puppy he would be little help, and did he want Elsie to see whatever it was going on in there? Inside him there was a brief moment of war: go to the kitchen or stay here and take care of Elsie. He looked to see what Elyna was doing. If she wanted the baby back he would go investigate. If Elyna was rushing to see for herself he would stay.

Until then, he reluctantly sat again, and because the puppy was wiggling so damn much he let her down and gave her a vegetable to chew on.

If Violet was still there he would turn towards her. The tension in the house had just flown high as the sky, and he was beginning to wonder what the hell had been missing from other noble get-togethers in his youth. None of them had been quite like this. "So, know my father well?" he asked her pleasantly, and allowed himself another grin.

[Vakhanor]

Another chain of guilt snaked its way across Vakhanors wrists, preventing him from retaliation. Hard like iron the bone of Malcolm’s knuckle smacked against his lip, scraping the skin against Vakh’s teeth. If not for his preparation of the assault the smith might have reeled back in shock. This was what he deserved.

Vakhanor could feel a sting in his lip where the impact had cracked skin. Just another wound to add to the many. Benjamin tried to pipe in, telling him that he was alright. Alright was not the word he would use to describe the situation. Wordlessly Vakh nodded his head and headed toward the gardens, quickly pushing past anyone who tried to get in his way. Instead of keeping company, he chose to join the dog in the backyard where Elyna had sent the trouble makers. At least he was where he belonged. Not in some new house with a bunch of nobility and a woman he dare not even look at.

How could he? Anger raged within his heart for his stupidity. It was one stupid bloody kiss, but why did he go through with it? In the distance of his thought he could hear the excited barks of the dog as she ran up and attempted to jump on him. “Get off,” the smith ordered with a tinge of annoyance, pushing the dog away from him. Vara was insufferable with warm puppy love.

Eventually the smith caved and pet the creature behind the ears. “Just you and me puppy. Out in the dogs house,” he muttered with a long drawn out sigh. The smith looked to the skies, the sun was setting on the horizon, painted with a dazzling mixture of pink and orange. Staring at the priceless beauty of the scene Vakhanor knew that his feelings for the skyrider were unlikely to change. He had apologised for the act of touching her, but he could not apologise for his heart. If Elyna needed him for support he would always be there, as a friend.

And nothing more.

[Elyna]

Distracted, the skyrider set out a small wooden bowl beside Vaughn as he struggled to keep his grip on both child a puppy. Elsie was enamoured by the man, but his attempts to teach her the word brother were met with squeals of delighted laughter as she followed each word he suggested with the sound, Vaan. Elyna lifted a lid from the vegetable pot and spooned peas, small carrots and broccoli into the small bowl before blowing on them and frantically waving her hand across the food to cool it. Her attention focused on the house before she flinched as the sound of fist on flesh sounded and Ben lurched through the door. She met his gaze as he looked back at her, and found her cheeks burning.

The strike didn't go any further, and Vakh walked out into the garden and past the table, Vara bounding after him having been set free by Vaughn. It seemed her prescence wasn't wanted inside and she could make a well-educated guess as to what Vakhanor had said to make Malcolm react in that way. The skyrider knew that the truth should have come from her own lips, but it hadnt. In the sheer joy of her lovers return from the dead, she had forgotten her transgressions and then not wanted to sour the mood. For so long they had been broken, herself and the Warden. Struggling to even exist together and they had found peace and a return to all of the reasons they had fallen in love in the first place. Yet... She should have told Malcolm instead of allowing Vakh to do it.

"Would you mind?" Elyna set the bowl down beside Vaughn and presented him with a damp cloth, "this is for the uh... Inevitable." Elsie was already lunging for a piece of carrot, standing up on his lap and bouncing. "I'm sorry about your clothes," the skyrider added absently and turned away from the house, not without a backwards glance at Violet, whose answers she was eager to hear, the young woman approached the Smith and stood beside him. A small dark shadow to his vibrant colouring and tall broad build. The fire pit with the cooking venison crackled behind them.

Elyna was quiet for a moment. "There are rules against inviting someone into your home and then attacking them," she ran a fingertip down the bridge of her nose. "I'm sorry that this happened, you told him about the kiss? Did you also mention that you saved my life and that of our unborn child?" She rested a hand on the side of her bump, "or did you forget to mention it?" Vakhanor had a tendency to seek out punishment and refuse reward. "Did you fail to mention that you had to free me from chains in a burning dungeon of a cellar," she reached out to touch his arm.

"Vakh, will you join us for dinner? My friend Emily will be here soon, she's a skyrider and her parents were bakers," she most definitely, she was not a noble.

It was Belinda who approached the pair of them, "the meat is almost done on the spit," she encouraged them to return, trying to round up the guests.

[Violet]

Vaughn mentioned that he was doing as well as he looked, a fact that was greeted with a warm smile. Despite Violet’s look and her generally playful and mischievous nature that made her seem less than serious, she did actually care for people. She cared for Malcolm as much as one could in the short time they had known each other, and with that she in turn cared for the fate of his son. It wasn’t appropriate to press him much on their recent trauma, so she simply let that be the end of it.

Though Malcolm did not present any noticeable sign that he was aware of her behavior, apparently Elyna had taken notice and decided, in a rather passive aggressive way, to make it known. The sarcastic remark caused the most vague of twitches at the corners of her lips. Whether it was meant to be a sneer or a smirk was uncertain, though anyone who knew Violet knew she was not easily intimidated or offended. While some might have considered such a remark fighting words, Violet simply shrugged at her words. “Some noblewomen have honor, Lady Elyna.” There was the twitch again and her lips became a more apparent smirk. “Though I hear it isn’t present in all houses.” Her gaze lingered as if to suggest that Burhan might be one of those houses.

Vaughn seemed far too amused by the dynamic between Violet and Elyna, something that Violet could certainly appreciate. There was nothing wrong with finding amusement between two hard-headed women crossing paths. But Elyna unceremoniously placed a hot dish in her hands, asking her to take it outside, presumably to help clear the kitchen for whatever conversation was brewing between Malcolm and the redheaded fellow.

Violet set the dish on the thick table and watched Vaughn fondly with Elsie, a pang of longing hitting her straight in the gut. She remembered when her brother was alive. He was younger, though not by quite the difference between Elsie and Vaughn. Still, she could remember times they sat together and she looked after him. Her reverie was snapped by Elyna’s voice. “Oh he’s to-“

Crack. Bone on bone, skin on skin. The sound was unmistakable. Violet’s bright eyes drifted back towards the house to see Ben rushing through the door and the sounds of a scuffle. She wasn’t the only one that noticed. Giving the moment a chance to dissipate, Violet picked back up where she had left off. “He told me you are a brilliant Skyrider, one of the best Rynmere has. He has regaled me with a few of your missions, but I’m certain you know those details better than anyone.”

She was about to address Vaughn when the redhead came near tumbling out of the door and brushed past everyone and everything to the garden. Violet’s eyes narrowed after Elyna. It was of no surprise to her that she was going to comfort this man instead of the one she should be comforting. “If you will excuse me,” was all she offered Vaughn before making her way up the lawn to the kitchen door. She found Malcolm inside looking quite flustered and Ben looking very unconvinced. She let the soft snap of the door echo in the room as she shut it.

“Malcolm, are you alright?” She offered, knowing that to the eye he bore no injuries. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” You were probably well justified in whatever just happened. “But Ben doesn’t look convinced, and neither am I, that you are ok. You’ve never… that was a lot of anger, Malcolm.” As she hadn’t witnessed anything, she was more referencing the sound of the scuffle. Her eyes flicked to the window and then back to Malcolm. “This isn’t my house, but I can certainly get him out of it, if that’s what you want.”

[Lei'lira]

As Lei'lira followed the directions Elyna had given her, she wondered why she was even coming to this dinner party at all. Formal, fancy things were about as far out of her comfort zone as it was possible to get short from out right attacking her. And while Elyna had promised her that it wasn't a fancy occasion...her idea of "fancy," was very different than what most people seemed to think was fancy.

Lei'lira paused in her steps to smooth her sky blue taffeta blouse fitfully. Was what she was wearing even suitable for this dinner party? When she thought of nobles, she thought of horrendously uncomfortable frilly satin dresses with full, bulky skirts that made it impossible to move freely. Or breathe freely. Her grandmother's servants had tried to force her to wear a corset once when she'd had to attend a fancy party. It hadn't gone over well, and Lei'lira had spent the entire horrible night believing that she was going to die from a lack of air.

For her part, Teirue loved the dress she was wearing. The young girl loved the feel of taffeta, and purple was her favorite color. As they walked, she kept twirling around in circles so she could feel the movement of the cloth around her legs. When Lei'lira looked at Eri, she realized that the young teen looked as nervous as she herself felt. It was clear that Eri was dreading this as much as she was. Maybe more, since she was so self conscious of her status as a slave. Eri hadn't wanted to come to the party at all, but she'd agreed to come as an extra person to keep an eye on Teirue. Neither was certain how "kid-friendly" this party was going to be, and Lei'lira was nervous enough as it was without having to worry about Teirue making someone angry with an innocent question, or by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Before she realized it, Lei'lira was standing in front of the house where the party was being held. She straightened her blouse once more, in a fit of nerves, before glancing over at the kids to make sure they looked presentable. Once more, she questioned whether she was about to make horrible fools out of all three of them by showing up way under dressed for such an occasion. But there was nothing to do for it now, especially when they didn't even own anything fancier than what they were wearing now. Lei'lira took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and knocked on the door softly.

[Zedarius]

Breaks of traveling in a cramped carriage was no way to spend the trial, and it did nothing to improve his fiancee's already mercurial temperament. Silently, Zedarius sat in the lavish carriage, yet unaccustomed to the lifestyle the young Andaris heiress lived. A simple man from a simple family, Zedarius was used to riding half-dead horses and mules, not riding in carriages. He was more comfortable in the smithy than at stuffy parties, though he knew the importance of this one was two-fold. Not only would he make an appearance as Odessa's fiance, but he would put in face time with the Lord Malcolm, whom he'd met a few times, but not gotten to know. It was anxiety-inducing, to say the least.

And the fact was not made better by Odessa's irascible brother, who'd demanded to accompany them to the Lord's party. Zed did not have any real issue with Damon, outside of the predicaments that Damon's deviant lifestyle often got him into. Often into the various drugs and alcohols offered by the street peddlers in Andaris, Damon had a knack for getting himself into situations that only his noble birth could get him out of. As a lad, Zedarius would have punched the pampered dandy in the mouth. But arcs of working the forge taught him patience, of years of subservience as a knight taught him prudence... So he refrained from assaulting Damon. He'd hedge a bet, though, that it would bring he and Odessa closer together. She had a spite about her.

Wouldn't that be interesting? He smiled to himself, finding amusement in the thought. He could see it, himself punching the Andaris boy in the mouth and Odessa swooning for him. He loved her, truly, but he knew that she was difficult to impress. Surely, that level of brashness would resonate with the Little Dragon. So he sat there, smiling, as the carriage bumped over the road.

So they rode, with Odessa tucked into his shoulder, her head resting against his shoulder as she wasn't tall enough to rest on it. He had a large hand on her knee, gripping tightly enough to offer her assurance. Though she feared nothing, he knew that she sometimes needed the stability his silence provided. The silence never lasted long, but in Odessa's presence, he cherished it.

The carriage came to a stop not far from the house, and Zed exited the carriage first to help the driver attach the steps to allow the nobles. Naturally, Damon would shove his way out first, ever rude and selfish. But then came Odessa, and Zedarius offered her a strong arm, built by hammer strikes and sword thrusts. He helped her down, lifting her over the small patch of dirt effortlessly. As he set her down, he smoothed his clothing. He'd purchased a clean outfit for the occasion, and it was impeccably clean and stylish. With a smile, he held an arm out for Odessa to hold onto as they made the trek to the house.

"My lady."

[Damon Andaris]

Damon's head swam with each rattle of the cart. The reevi he had smoked just before they had departed, imported from Ne'haer, had relaxed his body and his bones, allowing Damon to lean back against the seat, relaxing into the plush of the carriage. Across from him, his little sister was curled into her fiancee's side, and each time he looked at the couple, Damon could not help but crack a smirk. To see Odessa so silent, so serene... it was amusing. At home, she was a firecracker, especially around him, never letting anyone around her get away with anything, snark dripping from every word. Damon did not know how he felt about Zedarius just yet, this knight that had snared his sister, but he gave the man this: he could certainly get Odessa to shut up. Blessedly.

The high consumed him, the highest peak wearing off just as they approached the party, and Damon smiled. The others would not know he was high, unless his sister spilled the secret (which, knowing her, she might), and it allowed him to relax into his own skin. He felt no need to say anything in the silent cart, but he felt Zed's dark eyes fixated on his face. Damon met the knight's gaze coolly, cocking an eyebrow. "Problem?" he asked, but Zed simply looked away. He smiled, knowing he had a pouch of reevi in his coat, and knowing there'd be ample wine at the party. This was something he could handle. Being a noble wasn't always so bad.

The carriage rattled to a stop, and Zed jumped out quickly, ever eager to help. "Need some help, Des?" Damon asked, extending his hand to help her. Naturally she would see it as a mockery, and Damon shrugged the hurt off. "Suit yourself." Damon jumped from the carriage, shoving his hands into his pocket, chilly in the night air. He rolled his eyes at the pair, hearing the sounds of the party up the path to the house, and Damon called out. "Come on! We're late. I need a drink." Without waiting to see if they would follow, as he knew they would need to arrange themselves into the proper picture of lord and lady, Damon strode on long legs up the path, til he reached the door.
With no finesse, Damon knocked loudly on the door, eager to see just what refreshments his hosts had provided. And of course, eager to do his duties as an Andaris.

Obviously.

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