RP:Uncertainty

Summary: It’s been three days since Queen Lunalesca and Lanara were the victims of an explosive package, and since Tiberius was the target of a brutal assault under Franz’s order. The Amber Lunation is on edge and tempers are flaring. Lunalesca remains in a coma and Lana and Tiber are still recovering from their serious injuries. Even worse, the Pack could be charged with treason for abducting the unconscious ruler of Enchantment! The Pack comes up with an alibi for Tiber and Lana’s whereabouts the day everything went down and they decide that it’s best if they go in for questioning with the queen’s guard. The witch and the lycan decide to arrange a search party and a prayer service in Enchantment to ease the residents’ worries and to buy them some time so that maybe Queen Lunalesca will wake up and say what really happened.

Part of the Waxing Crescent, Wayward Course Arc

(Post 1 of 2) It’s been three days since the Amber Lunation’s life was turned upside down and things are still chaotic at Corrine and Nick’s tiny cottage nestled in the woods. Queen Lunalesca’s condition hasn’t worsened but there isn’t much improvement, either. Every few hours her bandages are changed and her burns are treated, yet she doesn’t show any sign of waking up from her coma. Lanara had internal bleeding, as suspected, and Celeste had to make cuts in her belly to drain the tainted blood. The pain was excruciating and the witch slipped in and out of consciousness and relied heavily on milk of the poppy. The flesh on her badly burned arm had to be shaved off as infection had set in, but once her other injuries began to slowly heal, the arm responded to treatment. Tiber also received around the clock care from the Pack, as everyone was eager to get their Alpha back to being healthy and strong so that he can give them orders on what to do about Franz and possibly being charged with treason in Enchantment. Greyson stands watch before the cottage, Bjorn is guarding the Lowell Estate, and Nick is stationed at the Pack house, in case anything unexpected happens. Tybalt and Violet have been residing at the Lowell Estate and taking care of the pets, Celeste is the full time nurse for the three injured people, and Corrine has been in charge of cooking and running to get more medical supplies. Tension is high but everyone is doing their job to the best of their ability and they are eager for the meeting that Tiber is holding within the hour.

(Post 2 of 2) Lanara groans and rolls onto her side, unaware of the fact that it’s the middle of the day and she’s still sleeping. The milk of the poppy has a tendency to make one drowsy and since the witch is such a lightweight she’s shocked it didn’t put her in a coma. The pain in her ribs is a dull ache now, but the second she rolls onto her side it sends a stabbing sensation to her midsection and she yelps and bolts upright. Holding onto her side, Lana pants and waits for the blurriness to leave her eyes so that she can see who is in the room and what’s happened. She scans for sight of Tiber, as she had been clinging to her husband for the greater part of three days. She didn’t want him to leave the room and threw a tantrum every time he moved more than a few feet away, even when had to get up to go to the bathroom! What if she died!? What if Franz killed Tiber?! Lanara is living a nightmare now and -again- she fears that she’s going to be on trial in Enchantment for things that were out of her control. The past is repeating itself and her anxiety has tripled since she took the brunt of the damage from the blast in the forest. She had blown up once before, lost all her limbs and died, in an effort to rid the realm of her father. Then, she had been sent back to the land of the living, happy and whole. If she dies again, there are no more chances at being resurrected. She can’t go through this again… Choking back a sob as her worst fears cloud her mind she glances at the fairy asleep on the bed and whispers a prayer to the Goddess, “Please hear my plea and wake her up, Goddess. Let her health be restored, body and mind. So mote it be.” A tear slips down her cheek and Celeste enters the room with a tray in her hands, “Lana, you’re awake! Why don’t you have some tea and biscuits with jam? You must be starving.” She hadn’t eaten in three days and her stomach grumbles, but it’s not food that she wants. “Can I have some more pain medicine?” Celeste shakes her head and drops a spoonful of sugar into a mug, “No. I’m sorry. The maximum is three days and I don’t want you to get addicted to the stuff. I know you are in pain and I can give you something else to take off the edge, but no more milk of the poppy.” The witch frowns and rubs her side, not daring to look at the hideous scarring and fleshless abomination that is her right arm. The healer checks Lunalesca’s vitals and bops Lana on the head on her way out, “The meeting should be soon, and everyone will be here, so eat up! I’ll tell Tiber you’re awake. He’s just grabbing the newspaper.”

Tiber was healing faster than the Kelvarian, that was for sure. The concussion he had was mending, as Celeste gave him the clear to walk, read, and to plan. Otherwise, he was not allowed to do anything strenuous. Not that he wanted to, as he was suffering with broken ribs still. He was slow moving, but moving nevertheless. The injuries on his face were now soft bruises rather than swollen from the days prior. Lanara’s treatment, however? Well, that made him uneasy. The peeling of burnt skin to help her mend. The agony. The drowsiness. The cries. It was hell to watch, but the lycan remained by her side the entire time. Well, except for the paper, because he had to see the news. Any news. Was the news out that the Queen was missing? Surely someone would say something about Lanara, as someone had to deliver this so-called letter. Were there others around Lunalesca when the fairy got the false surprise meeting? Tiber’s mind swirls with anticipation. Worry. Would they all be Enchantment prisoners with the Queen of the Fae on their hands? The blonde moves back into the cottage before running into Celeste who is trying to be the positive one of the bunch. Chipperly she announces that Lanara is awake and moves to prepare the witch breakfast. While he walks, he unfolds the paper to see the front page. ‘Queen Lunalesca of Enchantment: Missing’ the article goes on about the witnesses which one had been the Queen’s wardrobe coordinator who was there when Lunalesca received word from Lanara Lowell. Tiber’s face cringes as the article makes note that if anyone sees Lanara Lowell or her suspected husband, Tiberius, to let authorities know for questioning purposes. The man then moves into the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed deep in reading. “Hi…” he lifts his face away from the paper to look at Lanara who looks… in pain. “How’re you feeling?” Should he tell her about the article? Maybe he should ease into it.

Lanara is grateful that the Pack had brought in another bed, so that she didn’t have to remain on the uncomfortable floor. The room is very small and with two beds resting side by side, there isn’t much space for visitors. Not that she wanted any visitors, aside from her husband. Talyara would ask too many questions, Penelope would demand that she be transferred to some type of trauma unit, Kyori is probably in a coma like the Queen, and her other friends would chew her tapered ears off and keep her from getting any rest. The last thing she wants is to endanger anyone else! The witch perks up a little when Tiber enters the room and she assesses his injuries. She’s relieved to see that the bruising is lighter and he seems more mobile than he had the last time she saw him. When was that? Time is so hard to tell when she’s been asleep for nearly three days, off and on, and she can only imagine how hideous she must appear to him. Unwashed hair, cuts and bruises all over her body, and the skinned arm that looks like a prop from a horror play. “Hey… I’m alive?” Tears well in her eyes again and she turns her head to look at the wall, not wanting Tiber to see the state that she’s in. It could be weeks or even months until her arm is magically healed to the point where not a scar remains. She doubts he will want to look at her, let alone lay a desirable hand upon her flesh. She isn’t vain, but she enjoys looking her best at all times for her mate and she wonders if he’ll ever be able to look at her the same again. He’s seen quite a bit of ugliness the past few days stemming from both the interior and exterior of her body, as well as the mood swings from the pain. Lana shifts so her bandaged arm is covered by the blanket and she clears her throat as she tries to hide the emotion in her voice, “How are you feeling?” Pause. “What does the paper say? Tell me… Before the others get here.”

Tiber knew Lanara well enough to hear her tone. An emotional toll had taken over her, and for good reason. To be burned was one of the worst things that could ever happen to someone. The pain. The nerve endings. The man felt ashamed that Franz went this far and he was not there to stop it. Instead he was busy getting his ass beat in an alleyway. It was hard to look at Lanara because he was faulting himself for what happened, though it was best to hide it. Keep strong until she heals. Would she resent him for his ties he has to Franz? There is a hesitance to scoot closer, but he does anyway, and he moves to reach a hand out and stroke a thumb over her cheek. “Thankful you’re alive.” Was all he could manage on his own feelings. He ignores the physical damage he took–if anything he was trying to sort through the mental, as he had to figure out a plan with the Pack and fast. The man grimaces at her persistence of knowing what the paper said. “We are famous. We made the front page.” He tries to make a dry joke, but it does not feel right. “The Enchantment guards are looking for us. They want to question us, as you were the last one to make ‘contact’.” Beat. “We need an alibi if they find us, and we need Lunalesca to just wake up already. She’s still in a coma, and Celeste is unsure if she’ll wake up with the injuries she took. It’s just a sick waiting game. This is what Franz wanted. To watch us suffer and…” he does not say ‘burn’ because it was literal. Instead he falls silent. “I’m sorry, Lanara. I.. I knew it was going to be ugly, but… I thought I had it under control–” he cuts off and stares down at the paper as he is at a loss for words at the moment, but he knows he has to be stronger than this.

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara doesn’t want Tiber’s pity because she cannot emotionally handle it, hell, she can barely handle where things are at right now. He shifts on the mattress until he’s at her side and once he reaches out and slides his thumb over her tear stained cheek, she melts in his palm. She turns her head slightly so he’s cupping the side of her face and those melting brown eyes lift to lock with amber, “I’m thankful that you are alive, too… I’m sorry that you were attacked.” Those cowards dared to beat up her man in an alleyway, because they -knew- they couldn’t take him on if it was a fair fight. Asha stirs angrily and Lana tries to focus on Tiber’s next words because they are important, as much as they are damning. “Okay. So that’s not great news but it’s not -too- terrible. We aren’t wanted for murder or abduction. Yet.” She turns to fully face Tiber now and her gaze looks over his shoulder and onto the other bed, where the fairy sleeps soundly, “I have an idea that may help her to wake up. I’m not strong enough, yet, though…” There’s a long pause before she elaborates, “The last time I used astral projection a shade entered my body and commited mass murder and all kinds of mayhem.” It’s -very- dangerous. “Maybe if she isn’t awake by the time I’m better… I can try.” The alibi they’d have to work on with the Pack, and if they could find the messenger that forged Lana’s handwriting and passed the letter on to the Queen… Maybe they’d have a chance at beating this in the event that they are charged with treason! “I bet the guy that wrote the letter to the Queen asking her to meet me is hiding out in Darkiln. It’s the tunnel system beneath Enchantment that’s riddled with shadow gnomes. We need to take out as many of Franz’s men as we can, so this doesn’t happen again.”

(Post 2 of 2) The Catalian’s voice seems to break a little as he apologizes and Lanara holds his gaze, unsure of what to say that could soothe his concerns. Their situation is dire and Franz has put both of their lives on the line, as well as the Amber Lunation, and Queen Lunalesca’s. It will take a miracle to undo all the harm that’s taken place but that’s not Lana’s concern at this moment. “Hey… One step at a time, Baby.” She slowly sits up so that she can press a soft kiss upon Tiber’s lips, “I do -not- blame you. You don’t owe me any apology, okay? I sensed that something was wrong and I still went, because I didn’t want Lunalesca to get hurt. My intuition was tingling and I wrote you a note, brought along Bjorn, and stepped into that forest. I chose to jump into the line of fire and push Lunalesca out of the way, and I would make that choice again knowing it would turn out this way.” She speaks softly, yet her words are firm, as she wants to really reach him. “Franz will pay dearly for all of this! I have no doubt that we will take our vengeance. We have each other and we have the Pack, and together we will right the wrongs that have happened. It’s all going to be okay… Lunalesca will wake up. You will continue to heal. I hopefully won’t be ugly too much longer and will get this arm fixed. We will prove our innocence. And we will do the fracking waltz on Franz’s grave!” She smiles through her tears and pain, “I love you, Tiberius. I don’t care that your past is coming back to haunt us. It’s nothing we can’t handle.” The sound of Tybalt’s spaniel pup yipping interrupts their moment and announces that the Pack has arrived for their meeting. “Can you send Greyson in? He can carry me into the next room as -you- need to rest those ribs.”

(1 of 2) Tiber shook his head. “Not a fair fight. Cowards, the lot of them. Four on one is not exactly ‘ideal’... I can’t blame them for their crimes, though… That still would have been me if it wasn’t for you.” When he started dating the Kelvarian, the escorting stopped with Franz’ permission. Then, it was just the hitman crimes for Franz. He used to be the man to jump a person in an alley. Tiberius should have called it. “You think astral projection is the real answer after we might be suspected for murdering the Queen if she does not survive this?” Risks were always something they had to take. “I guess it would be better than nothing…” Maybe. He hopes Lanara would not have to try something so dangerous. “I guess Darkiln would be the last place anyone would really suspect, and it’s close enough to Enchantment to keep tabs on us during the day.” When Lanara sits up to kiss him, he closes his eyes as it was the first time he was able to really feel her stability. She had been so in and out due to the milk of the poppy. Almost delusional.

(2 of 2)The next explanation throws him for a loop, as Lanara would have done this again. For Lunalesca. Eyes trail over to the Queen resting under the covers. He inhales sharply at his wife’s devotion to her friend despite the outcome. She would be burned again. And again. Her words do reach him, and he gives her a softened look. “We will win this…” He tries to feed into her words with his own. He has doubt, but he knows it’s best to be optimistic. A small smile tries to see through, but it feigns and fades. “I love you too… I–” he is cut off by the spaniel before he slowly stands with a soft cringe. Moving still hurt terribly, but it was nothing he could not bear. “I’ll go get everyone grouped together.” Tiber leans to press his lips against her own briefly before he parts. Eventually, Greyson comes into the room where Lanara lies. “Lookin’ good,” the blue-eyed man tries to be positive before moving to scoop the witch up when she was ready to bring her out into the room with everyone else. A nearby couch is open for the Kelvarian to be settled on. Tiberius stands and leans against a nearby wall of the cottage, but in the middle of the Pack who are divided around the room. “So… we are gathered here for several reasons. Lanara and I are on the mends, more me than her, but… Enchantment guards are on the lookout for us for questioning. We need an alibi, and we also need to start tracking down the Franz’ members involved in this scheme because, knowing them, they are working on a way to get the guards to find our location. We can’t risk that, as obviously, Queen Lunaslesca is in our care and we don’t know when she will wake up. Now is a time to brainstorm suggestions…”

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara rolls her eyes when Greyson claims she’s looking ‘good’ because she’s far from it, “I’m a half-baked Kelvarian Elf in dire need of a bath, with hair that hasn’t been combed in days, and I’ve been wearing Corrine’s nightgown for the past three days. Don’t forget my grafted arm, sliced up belly, and all the cuts and bruises. My beauty is long gone…” She drops her gaze and falls silent as the man scoops her up and carries her into the tiny living room. Bjorn must’ve overheard because he chimes in, “Lana… Your arm may be crisped but that arse is still on F-I-R-E!” Unable to help herself, the witch laughs, because it’s hard to be serious with that goofball around! Tybalt hands her a drawing of Rude-Off wearing a tee-shirt that says ‘Get Better Or Else…’ and she pats him affectionately on the head. “It’s perfect. I’ll hang it above my bed.” The others warily watch Tiber and Lana because they are terrified of being charged with treason, yet, out of loyalty they remain. Tiber starts his speech and everyone focuses their attention on him, but once he asks for suggestions, the room goes quiet.

(Post 2 of 2) The spaniel pup climbs onto the sofa and nestles beside Lana’s side so that she can stroke her velvety ears. It’s soothing to both the woman and the dog and although Celeste makes a face at their closeness, even she realizes that being near animals can aid the witch in healing. Corrine throws up her hands when Lana glances at her, “Why don’t we just dump the Queen somewhere far from here? Someone can write a bogus letter about how they wanted ransom but she fell and hit her head, so they were spooked and fled.” The suggestion sends Lana into a rage and as it’s the first time that she’s truly been angry since the attack, it uses up a great bit of energy, “NO! We are not tossing Queen Lunalesca into a ditch somewhere and leaving her to die! I was wanted for mass murder, misuse of magic, and a bunch of other heinous crimes. That woman risked her title, her land, her people, hell, her LIFE, for me! We were strangers back then and she believed in me! There is no way I’m going to forget that and just leave her for dead. I’m also not going to move her from here until she wakes up or goddess-forbid dies. It’s too risky.” Everyone falls silent again as Lana falls back onto the couch and struggles to regain her breathing. Damn Corrine. It’s always something with that wretched woman! She’s probably happy that Lana’s arm looks like it spun around the spit one too many times! “Why don’t we just tell the queens guard that I wrote a letter back to Lunalesca saying that I couldn’t meet her at the last minute. Maybe we can say that Tiber and I decided to go camping in Venturil and we were attacked by some natives. That explains our sudden disappearance, some of our injuries, as well as why Greyson has been looking after our home and pets. We got back home and read about how Lunalesca has gone missing and so Tiber and I willingly will go to Enchantment to answer some questions.” She coughs and painfully presses on her ribs, “I think that we should arrange a search party, too. It will make us look innocent and who knows? Maybe we will find some clues as to who in her castle is really working for Franz!” Violet shakes her head, “I think we should all just lay low until this all boils over. If the Queen wakes up, she can explain what happened.” Nick sighs, “I agree with the search party… It could buy us some time. But, I also think we should go to the authorities and explain that Tiber made a powerful enemy in Franz and he could be a suspect.” Greyson disagrees, “No. We cannot let anyone know that Tiber has ties to Franz, because we don’t know his reach in the kingdom!” Everyone erupts with their thoughts and pretty soon it’s hard to tell who is saying what as all their voices mingle. Lana exchanges a look with Tiber and resumes petting the dog. At least the spaniel is a good listener.

Tiber watches as Lanara blows up at Corrine’s disgusting comment of leaving the Queen for dead in a ditch. Corrine is about to be kicked out of her own home if she does not watch her tongue. He stands up straight and glares at the woman, but Lanara is blowing up and speaking her mind about it all. This worries him too, as the Kelvarian is already weak as it is, and she does not need anymore stress on her body. “Corrine, you’re done talking. We don’t need your opinion,” he finally interrupts after Lanara blows a gasket. To think of something that low to do was not in the cards, and he keeps that intense glare on his features. “Not to mention, Lunalesca officiated Lanara and I’s wedding.” Lanara then continues to give her two cents on the situation. Camping in Venturil after they just had a honeymoon? It sounded too odd. To be attacked so coincidentally, as well. He shifts uneasily and soon everyone is giving their mindset and the room floods with chaos of panic and ideas. Lanara looks to him, and that is his cue to stop the madness. “Everyone, hey! Hey!” He whistles to get the lycans’ attention and everyone turns to look at the Alpha in silence again. Tiber is in no mood to get worked up, as he still has a massive headache from the recovery of his concussion. Celeste told him to take it easy. “I say we mix everyone’s ideas into one. Maybe we say we went to Cenril and got mixed up with some bad people. There are always criminals around there. I can say I did something drunkenly stupid, and Lanara and I got hurt in the process. Maybe a bar fight. With my reputation, they would not put it past me if they know who I am through the grapevine when it comes to the bar in Cenril.” Briefly, he thinks of Leoxander… should he lie and say it was the two lycans that got into a fight? Or would that be a mistake? “We came back, found out the Queen was missing, and have a search party. Meanwhile, we start hunting down Franz’ men on the down low. Pick them off. We don’t have time to wait for Lunalesca to wake up because… she might not…” Tiberius looks grim at this statement, but he knew he had to face the ‘what-ifs’. “We will go willingly to answer questions. We don’t want them to think we are hiding something.” Beat. “Once Lanara is clear to move, we will make our way to Enchantment as soon as we can and face the queen's guard. It’s our only option at this point.”

Lanara doesn’t have the energy to look smug when Tiber tells Corrine that her opinion isn’t needed. It shuts up the woman, thankfully, and everyone looks to their Alpha for guidance. She remains silent as they make the plans around her and keeps idly petting Holly’s ears. She’s gotten pretty big since December and Lana has to coil her uninjured arm around the spaniel's middle so she doesn’t slip off the couch. The hug soothes her soul and she realizes how much she misses her own pets at home. When will she even be strong enough to go back and sleep in her own bed? Greyson walks over when Tiber finishes his speech and softly asks, “Hey... Do you want me to bring you back in there so you can rest? I’m sure you can still hear us. You definitely look like you’re about to pass out.” Lanara smiles faintly at their Beta and slowly nods, because she’s in dire need of a nap. “I agree with everything Tiber says… We can say that he came home minutes before I was due to meet Lunalesca, and he persuaded me to join him for a romantic evening. Except, he got drunk and into a bar fight with some stranger. It escalated and we were both beat up and left for dead, which was why we were missing for a few days. We mended some, headed back home, read the paper, and immediately went in for questioning and became worried about finding the Queen.” She gives Holly a parting kiss upon her snout before Greyson cradles her in his arms and prepares to return her to the bedroom. Lana gives Tiber a ‘look’ that tells him to close the meeting fast and get his own injured butt back in the bedroom, too. They both need their rest as they have an eventful week coming up!

Tiber’s eyes slip over to Lanara who looks like she is about to fall back into slumber again. When would be the next time she wakes up? She had been in and out for the past few days. When will she recover? Would they even be able to make it to Enchantment before they knocked on this cottage door? He lets Greyson take control of getting Lanara back into the bedroom. The look was given, and he knew the plan was set. “For now, everyone be careful. Keep watch and keep your mouth’s shut,” his gaze trails to Corrine. “We will get through this.” With that, he turns and follows suit and moves to the bedroom, eventually curling up to the Kelvarian to get his rest. This was going to be a long week…