RP:Weighted Choices
Summary: A lot can happen in the span of a week and a lot -does- happen! The Amber Lunation spends days grilling Sylvie about Franz and her intentions with the wolfpack. Tiber pulls away from Lanara a bit and seems to be caught up in his guilt for pulling her into this mess. Lana bottles up her emotions and worries that Queen Lunalesca is going to die as her health is rapidly declining. A newspaper arrives one day and alerts them to the fact that astral projection is no longer a forbidden form of magic and so the witch dream travels in hopes to find Lunalesca and encourage her back to her body. It works, and the Queen of the Fae wakes up after an eight week coma! She has a heartfelt discussion with Tiber and Lanara and offers them a deal that they feel obliged to accept. Queen Lunalesca is returned to the castle to get the best possible medical team to get her in tiptop shape before the upcoming coronation ceremony.
Part of the Waxing Crescent, Wayward Course Arc
(Post 1 of 3) After the house had been reduced to rubble the morale in the Amber Lunation hit an all time low. The members were all on edge because their Alpha and Luna were at rock bottom, Nick and Corrine grated on everyone’s nerves, Sylvie had been welcomed into their home, and they didn’t trust their Beta’s intentions around the woman. Tensions had never been higher and to make matters worse, Queen Lunalesca’s health had rapidly declined and there was still the possibility that they’d be charged with treason. Tiber and Bjorn spent three days questioning Sylvie and anything that they thought was a lie had been followed up with Lanara and the rose quartz skull. The Pack was startled to see that Sylvie had been truthful about everything but their mistrust still wavered. Could they really trust someone that was engaged to Franz Libedow, the cause of all their pain?! Greyson had chased every lead to Franz’ whereabouts and all of them came up empty which is a good sign. It seems that Franz had truly vanished without a trace and that the Pack could return to their everyday lives, at least until he returns to the lands.
(Post 2 of 3) Lanara spends the next four days, after questioning Sylvie and assuring everyone that Franz is gone, in the peacefulness of Nick and Corrine’s home. In the mornings she reads the newspaper while sipping coffee. The afternoons are devoted to spending time at Lunalesca’s side and working whatever spells she can, in an effort to save her friend. She lost a considerable amount of weight and it seems that each day her spirit fades a little more, despite the fact that most of her burns have healed. Liquid nutrition is no longer providing the sustenance she needs to survive and those magnificent shimmering wings are now a dull shade of blue. Lana’s nights are spent weeping over the Queen’s frame, taking luxurious bubble baths, or going for walks with Ranger in the forest. She mourns the loss of her home, her royal friend, and her husband. Tiberius has taken up drinking again and one night he left without a word, only to come home wearing the scents of others, and a few seemed feminine. And so, Lana climbs into Lunalesca’s bed each night to avoid intimacy and falls asleep with damp lashes and an aching heart. She bottles up her emotions, rarely engages in conversation with anyone, and she hasn’t written to her sister or visited the sanctuary animals since before her dream home was destroyed. Her thoughts are an amalgamation of sadness, anger, confusion, and guilt. If she didn’t upend Tiber’s life by returning from Kelvar… None of this would have happened. She harbors so much ire towards herself for merely existing. It seems that the fight has left the little witch and she’s struggling to get her life back on track. Is she strong enough to save Lunalesca? Her marriage? Herself?
(Post 3 of 3) Lanara wakes up a little after dawn from a nightmare and rather than flee to the closet, she inches off the bed and walks barefoot into the kitchen. She doesn’t feel that she needs comfort because now her nightmares appear during her waking hours, as well. She’s clad in one of Corrine’s skimpy lace nightgowns that barely reaches the middle of her thighs but she doesn’t bother to cover up. Tiber is sleeping and Lunalesca hasn’t woken in weeks, so Lana could care less if she shows too much skin. The flickering of the candle lights up enough of the room that she isn’t at risk of bumping into something, and she reaches into the enchanted box for a peach. The juicy fruit is held in her hand and raised to her lips when she hears a single ‘thump’ at the door and she arches a brow in wonder. Is something amiss? She places the peach on the table and grabs a rolling pin from the cupboard to use as a weapon. Wielding it behind her back, she yanks open the front door and is about to bash someone’s brains in, when she sees that the newspaper boy must’ve begun his route earlier today. Lana grabs the paper, locks the door behind her, and retreats to the table to gather her peach. She enjoys her fruit as she skims the paper and her eyes suddenly widen as one article stands out from the others. She reads it aloud, “The Magical Oversight Committee allows dream travel, whereas in the past it was deemed forbidden magic!?” She crunches into another bite of her peach and feels the first stirring of hope that she’s had in a week and she wonders if she can reach Lunalesca via astral projection. She considered it and spoke about it with Tiber, but now that it’s -legal- it certainly diminishes some of the risk! Lana wants to wake up her husband and tell him about this development but she is hesitant. What if she fails -again-?
(Post 1 of 2) Tiber had not been himself the past four days, as he felt like they had lost everything. Memories were gone. Safety was gone. Tiberius does not talk much those four days, as the man is becoming a loose thread. Depression was at its finest… Lanara was losing weight, and Tiber was also not eating, nor sleeping. His facial hair was overgrowing without really any attempt to shave. Not to mention, alcohol was his hobby again, as he sat with a drink most nights, and unfortunately left Lanara to go to a bar. Ridiculous. The man was having a pity party, and it was putting a strain so much on the two of them that he had to sleep separately. He felt like he lost and could not protect his wife, nor really lead. Greyson had taken a majority of the reins the past four days as Tiber lurked in the darkness of his mental state. Perhaps he should have never cut the ties with Franz. It would have been better, right? Most of his days are spent spiking his coffee, reading the newspaper, and answering questions from Greyson at the Pack House before he is back to… drinking again. Great husband.
(Post 2 of 2) It was a little past dawn, and Tiber was, again, sleeping alone. He hears his wife stirring, but he has no curiosity to know what she is up to, not that she wanted him to know. Self-loathing that he also had to sleep separately from her in the first place–even though he knew he coped in an unhealthy way. This is what the man was like when Lanara was gone to Kelvar. A mess. An unraveling mess. As Lanara is reading the paper about the Magical Oversight Committee, Tiber is finally stirring from his slumber with a pounding headache, but he is up either way. He wears a pair of Nick’s pajama pants and does not worry about a shirt as he wanders out to the kitchen to wake up. Lanara is there, but he is not sure if he should say anything. Was he still in the doghouse? “Morning,” he says gently. That was easy, right? Before he moves for a mug in the kitchen, he grabs a kettle to start preparing coffee.
Lanara can be found with a pensive look on her face as she holds a half eaten peach in her hand and seems to be staring into space. Should she do it? What if something awful happened again? Could things even get much worse? The sun is slowly rising and light slips into the kitchen and brightens the area enough for her to notice that her husband is turning on the kettle to make coffee. He sure likes those liquids, she thinks, and takes an almost angry bite into her peach. If she heard him say hello, she missed it, as she had her mind focused on the Queen and attempting astral projection. The last time… A shade entered her frame and refused to leave her body until after it had gone on a murderous rampage and killed dozens of people, including orphans and animals at the sanctuary. Lana tilts her head to the side and gives Tiber an appraising glance as she wonders if he can be trusted with the task she’s about to give him. Should she just ask Greyson, instead? Feeling she doesn’t have anything more to lose, she clears her throat, “I need you to drop our pets off at the Pack house and hurry back. Do -not- have any alcohol today. You will be on guard duty.” She has made her decision and there’s no going back. There’s a determined look in her big brown eyes and it’s the first time she’s looked at his face with anything other than heartbreak. “I’m going to wake Lunalesca up.” She offers him the newspaper and points to the article. “It’s no longer forbidden magic. Yes, there are major risks, and there’s a chance that -I- may end up compromised…” Would he even care? “Her spirit is fading and it’s only a matter of time before she takes her last breath. I am not going to watch that happen without giving this a try. I will have everything arranged by the time you’re back. -No- one is to come over at any point, unless you or I call upon them. We cannot have -any- distractions.”
Tiber figured that he was still in trouble with the lack of response from her. Should he say something about it? He feels terrible. Mentally and physically. Should he apologize? Clear the air now? Or should he just keep moping and pushing it all away? He does not really have time to process, and he does not seem to register time before the kettle starts bubbling. The steam wafts and it glides across his features, snapping him out of it, and that is when her voice chimes in. She did not say ‘hello’ back, instead she is just barking orders at him. Hands clutch the edge of the counter for a moment–he feels like he needs a pick-me-up to bite the headache, but she does not want him to drink. It was the first time she really told him not to have any. He looks over his shoulder at the girl with the paper. Tired eyes look her way and he pushes himself off of the counter to turn, lean, and look at her from a full-on angle. He crosses his arms. “I can do that.” He is approaching slowly–he knows he has been unreasonable, but the waves come and go. The man is emotional. “Okay.” He agreed. He will not drink. That was an itch he wanted to scratch, as his head was full of… defeat, but he would try. He looks over her before he turns to take the kettle off the burner to finish brewing the coffee. ‘I’m going to wake Lunalesca up’... is she… hopeful? “What do you mean ‘wake her up’?” He squints in confusion. He takes his mug and decides to hand his mug towards his wife instead. A minor peace-offering. He did not -like- to sleep alone. He grabs the newspaper in exchange. He reads over the article and furrows his brows. “Whoa, whoa… You’re not talking about that astral projection…? Lana, you told me that it was dangerous.” She tries to explain about Lunalesca’s health and the witch is determined. She made a choice without him. “I don’t want anything to happen to -you-, Lanara.” Is he saying they should do nothing? The man is just worried, and mostly, he does not understand magic.
Lanara expects Tiber to bicker with her about the drinking comment so she’s left a little shocked that he isn’t angry at taking the liquor away for a day. Okay, maybe this all -will- work! She’s filled with hope until he tells her that he disapproves and she crosses her arms over the flimsy fabric that barely covers her chest. Why does Corrine even bother with a nightgown if it’s so minimal? Lana reminds herself to mark another checkbox on why she despises the woman. “So… We just let Lunalesca die and do nothing? One of my best friends? Our wedding officiant? The woman that saved my life more times than I can count? The person that took in my kin from Kelvar without question? Have the Pack and ourselves charged with treason and put to death?” The tension from the past week is catching up with Lana and there’s a daring look on her face as her eyes flash with anger, “You can go out and get drunk and come home reeking of other women but you don’t want -me- to use some magic to save someone else?” She rises from the table and eyes the offering of coffee, “I can’t drink that… I need to remain asleep for this to work.” Lana sighs, “I failed, Tiberius. I failed at being Luna of the Amber Lunation, I failed at being a friend to Lunalesca, and I somehow failed at being a wife…” Tears prick her eyes and she looks away, “I have -nothing- left to lose, don’t you see? If this doesn’t work, well, Lunalesca won’t be any worse off and I can at least know that I tried everything. If something bad happens to me in the dream realm, that’s on -me- and I don’t blame anyone else. It’s better to act than to sit idly by and just watch your life and everything you love fall apart.” The room is quiet for a long moment before she sniffles and speaks in a strained voice, “Are you going to help me? If not, that’s fine, but I need to prepare.”
(Post 1 of 2) Tiber wants to dare to look at that skimpy nightgown, but he knows he is still on very thin ice–especially how he has been acting lately. He was failing as a husband, and also failing at grasping onto optimism. Her words cut into him, and he can feel the shame, and he looks away. Every day since their house blew, the couple has been completely off-balance–mostly due to him and his actions. He does not want to fight anymore, and… a part of him did not feel like fighting to try to be the victor because there was blow after blow. Lanara Lowell has a point… the Queen was there for them and always supportive. The Queen and Lanara were close. “I just don’t want you to do this and hurt anyone to where you are taken away from me…” It’s a selfish thought, he knows, as he had not been really acknowledging her in the first place. “I already made you lose enough. I don’t want you to have to put your life on the line…” Then, here comes the venom. The whole reason why he was alone, but that was his fault. Amber eyes shift to look at Lanara with that heated look in her eye. She was angry with him, and oddly… it was bringing a gloss over his eyes. He has to look down, as he is too ashamed to look at her in this moment.
(Post 2 of 2) The way she phrases the truth, the man has been awful and his chest feels tight. Was he turning into the sensitive one? He felt rocky and uneven. “You know I would never touch any other woman, Lana.” His voice is low and so are his eyes–there was a small amount of irritation in his response, but he is just too tired. Very, very tired. Tired of the way things are. How he feels. How he is making -her- feel. Tired of the fighting. Tired to, in fact, fight for a change. She talks about how -she- failed, and that was when he looked up sharply. He looks shocked at her words in that silent pause between them. That intense atmosphere. “No… I failed -you- as a husband. I couldn’t protect you. We can hardly keep Lunalesca alive. I jeopardized our house. Our pets. Your -life-, Lanara. I haven’t been living up to my oath to you… I can barely look at you.” Because all he feels is guilt, and a quiet tear drips down his own face. He truly does feel guilty about Franz and how it affected their life. How it put everyone in danger. There was so much guilt that they lost just about everything. “That’s why I just… needed to block it out.” With liquor. “Selfish,” he is finally connecting his own mental dots talking about it. He does not look at her though, only the coffee. She is sniffling, and it makes his stomach twist as he has been in the wrong. “I’m so sorry I made you feel alone.” He then looks at the coffee before reaching out to grab it. “And I wasn’t trying to stop you with coffee… I just can’t think straight. Uh…” She wants to do this. She wants to risk waking the Queen of the Fae up. His hope is all gone, but… hers? Well, he needs to keep her above the surface while he figures out how to breathe again. “I’ll do it…” He nods slowly and then becomes more sure of his decision. -Her- decision. “I’ll do it. I’ll help you.” He then takes a sip of the cup shakily before he sets it down. "I'll go get dressed to get the animals."
(Post 1 of 2) Lanara can feel her heart beating wildly in her chest as she fights the urge to cry. She cannot fall apart and risk losing her focus or her magic will fail. She’s about to turn away and start making preparations when Tiber admits that he doesn’t want to lose her and that he would never touch another woman. The anger boils over, despite the fact that it’s pain that has her speaking, “I don’t like who you become when you’re drunk, Tiber. If someone is -that- wasted and spending all that time with a bottle… They aren’t always in control of their emotions or their body. I know you are faithful when you’re sober.” The accusation hangs in the air and those tears that she has been valiantly fighting to contain begin to spill down her cheeks. “I figured since my arm was so mangled and -I- couldn’t even look at it…” She assumes that since he didn’t desire -her- that he must have been desiring another. Lana’s right arm has healed to the point where it no longer hurts with movement, but it’s still heavily scarred and a meaty shade of pink that horribly contrasts against her mocha skin. She’s felt so unloved and unwanted the past few weeks and it seems they spent more time avoiding each other than leaning on each other. Can they repair all that’s broken? A house could be rebuilt. Their wounds could be magically healed to perfection with the right amount of coin. The Pack can be trained better in battle and they can reinforce their security measures. Their marriage is what hangs in the balance and Lana has never felt so alone and uncertain.
(Post 2 of 2) As Tiber speaks about how he’s failed and the selfishness that led up to his actions, she nods her head, partially in agreement and partially in understanding. She’s crying openly now and she wants to close the distance and step into his embrace but she remains standing in the doorway between the rooms. He’s saying all that she wants him to say but there’s a part of her that wonders if they are just pretty words. Asha whines in distress and is begging her to step closer to Luca, her beloved mate, as they are destined to be together forever and their humans are screwing everything up. Instead of answering that pull, Lana speaks, “Don’t absolve me of my guilt…You are I are the same. We are twin flames, remember?” They feel each other's pain. They’ve felt each other’s pain. Yet, they did nothing to heal each other or themselves. They suffered in silence and pretended everything was okay. “We both did this to each other. Instead of facing it together and relying on our bond, we just internalized everything… I don’t know what that says about our marriage and that breaks my heart.” She quickly adds, “I never blamed you for Franz’ actions. He’s a sick bastard and he’s the one that jeopardized our home, our health, our pets, Lunalesca, and the Pack. If you’re going to say that you failed to protect me, then I can say that it’s -my- fault that Franz marked you as an enemy. If you never met me? None of this would have happened. I knowingly came back into your life. I let you turn me into a wolf. I accepted your proposal. In a sense? I ruined your life.” The bitter truth leaves her lips and she wishes that she could take it all back, but she can’t erase their pain. “Yeah. Um.” Lana hates being vulnerable and the tears continue to flow, “You can enjoy your coffee, I need to rearrange the room, salt the perimeter, sage everywhere, all that stuff.”
(Post 1 of 2) Tiber is reading her like paper. Those words. That accusation with the loss of control with alcohol. That jabs him deeply. So, very deeply. His mouth is tight, but he has to say something, and instead of breaking off to go to the animals. He stays because… no, he is -not- done, actually. He is going back to her every detail of response. He steps closer instead of breaking to change clothes, but he does not close the distance between them, but he is a lot closer than being across the kitchen. “You left for a year before you came back to me, and I touched no one when I was like this in the past. You don’t know anything regarding how I feel, and you have -always- been blinded by the thought of me being with another woman the whole time, that you don’t realize I’ve always wanted -you-. Every day. Every hour. Every moment. You think I don’t desire you?” At this moment, he appears a little exasperated. Not angry, just thrown. He looks at her arm. That pink flesh that was healing from the burn. She almost.. died. “I -caused- that. You almost -died-. I almost lost you -again-. I don’t not think you’re beautiful. I just… It’s a reminder of how it went this far. I almost lost you -again-. My past hurt you, Lanara. I’m too scared for it to happen again. I’ve been just trying to fix it… and everytime I try… I can’t, so… I stopped. I don’t know how to fix it.” Their marriage is rocky, on a thin line, and messy. Perhaps he is trying to push her away on purpose.
(Post 2 of 2) Tiber looks defeated that she is saying that they do not lean on each other. Did she think their marriage was failing? Did she want a divorce? Was this the start of her process? “I can stop drinking. I mean… excessively…” Stress was the factor, really. On an average day without turmoil, the man can control his intake. Stress and brokenness, however? That was a whole new level of Tiberius Lowell. He needs to fix it while she is confused. He scratches his scruff. ‘I ruined your life’ and that is when his face turns… blank. The thought of never having her? That would have been an empty world. “Do not -ever- say that.” His heart beats a little faster because… this conversation makes him feel like he is losing her, and although he was pushing her away, it felt worse than he could ever imagine. Nothing could ever prepare him for losing her… not even alcohol. “If I would have left for -any- reason, my fate would have been the same.” Is he talking about fate now? “I can’t live without you, but somehow I keep trying to for your safety… We’re not communicating anymore. This is tearing our relationship apart which I’m sure that’s what -he- wants as well.”
Lanara has never hooked up with a guy due to drunkenness but she’s had friends that had made some mistakes. Also, males are more likely to be unfaithful than females in a relationship when under the influence, but she keeps her mouth shut on this point. It’s true that he didn’t see anyone else when she left the lands for a year and it brings her comfort. Tiber’s gaze drops to her arm and she self-consciously tucks it behind her back as far as possible, while her eyes remain trained on his face. There isn’t any disgust in his amber eyes, just tiredness, and she fears that he’s growing weary of their fights and of their marriage. Tiber is blaming his past for catching up and the fact that she became a target due to their attachment. “I don’t blame you for your past. Franz is a psychopath! Nick was from my past and he brought us both pain, too! Tiber… We both have baggage.” His next line wipes any inkling of hope from her expression and at ‘I don’t know how to fix it’ she bursts into fresh tears and completely loses her composure. The witch is so caught off guard that she sways to the right and collides with the wall, her palms pressing against it for stability so that she doesn’t fall to the floor. She doesn’t even look at Tiber as her body trembles and her heart wrenching sobs echo off the walls in the small home. “So… We’re over? Not fixable? Getting a divorce?” The pain is unbearable as Asha feels the sting of rejection from her mate and the woman and the wolf struggle to put a clamp on the unfathomable ache in their heart. Lana half listens to Tiber as he promises to cut back on drinking and he swears that he cannot live without her, but she keeps focusing on his earlier statement. “You keep pushing me away… I just wasn’t strong enough this time, for both of us, and I assumed that you would hold us together.” Franz had kicked her so far down that it felt impossible to see any hope for the future. “All I ever wanted was -you- and our love story. I don’t care that my arm looks like Corrine’s ugly face or that we are constantly in danger. Yes, I’m upset about our home and about Lunalesca… But, I honestly believed we could overcome -anything- the world threw at us. I’m -still- fighting and looking for ways to fix things.” She closes her eyes and presses her back and head against the wall as tears drench the flimsy nightgown, “Am I fighting for a lost cause, Tiber? Just tell me and I’ll stop working on things on my end. I don’t know how to fix us, either, and if I’m the only one wanting this to work… Then, just let me go. You keep pushing me away and putting up your walls and I can’t break through.” She struggles to speak beyond that as she cannot speak through her weeping.
Tiber feels like he has been kicked in the gut as Lanara falls into hysterics. The home is empty besides the comatose Queen and nothing but Lanara’s wails of sorrow could be heard. It hurts him and when her body crashes into the wall, he reaches out instantly and he is wrapping himself around her. If she would let him, that is. This was their breaking point. Franz Libedow was getting what he wanted… A mental and physical breakdown. “No, I don’t want that. Lana, Lana,” he tries to console. “We can fix it, but I realize I couldn’t do it alone.” Because everything was also taking a toll on him. Her near-death experience, him being jumped and badly beaten, their house burning down. All of it. He kept promising to fix it for them both, but the truth was? He needed her. “I…” He feels like an idiot that he even thought about pushing her away and giving up. ‘All I ever wanted was -you- and our love story’ and he feels such a swirl that he is burying his head down. If not in her hair, then in his palms. “I don’t care about your arm either. I do, but… I don’t.” She believes they can fight, and he feels like a complete idiot for thinking that they could not. So broken. Both of them. “We needed each other and both of us didn’t realize…” That was the real conclusion. “We -need- each other.” Is she fighting for a lost cause? Well for a moment, he thought that she had wanted to end it before she started throwing those horrible questions at him. Those accusations. Her words are slapping him in the face to snap him out of it. What was he even doing not fighting for her? Giving up for seven days. ‘Then, just let me go’ those words have him feel a cold void at the thought. Letting her go… how had he been like this? He attempts to reach for her face. “No.” He says this sternly and the tiredness fades for a moment. A small burn is still there. That fire is still there–as faint as it seemed through the physical exhaustion and overgrown face. “We are waking her up. -You- are waking her up. We aren’t gonna let him win.” His eyes observe her teary face and it makes his frown. There is a small stir from Luca that Asha may be able to feel. “This isn’t over.” He is not talking about the fight with Franz anymore… He is talking about their love story.
Lanara clings to Tiber’s frame when he pulls her into his arms, as though she was lost at sea and he was pulling her safely to shore. She belongs in his embrace and it’s been so long since they’ve last truly touched that it feels like coming home after a long journey spent far away. “I love you.” Her words are muffled against his shoulder as she coats his flesh in her hot tears, “I’m sorry.” She’s sorry for their fight and for not meeting him halfway during the past week. They needed each other and instead they each tried to deal with things on their own. They both felt that they owed it to themselves, to the Pack, to the Queen, and to each other, to deal with the mess that Franz had made of their lives. “We’re weak apart.” The realization hits Lanara, almost a second after Tiber says that they need each other, and she nods. For a long time she doesn’t say anything, aside from nodding when he reassures her that their love story will continue and that they are going to try and wake Lunalesca and that they will fight for their relationship. Asha responds to Luca instantly, because the thought of being without her mate and of breaking their imprint had nearly shattered her existence. The sun is now fully in the sky and filtering through the windows of the small home and it shines on their joined bodies like a beacon. Lana’s tears slow and she squeezes Tiber tightly as her arms remain around his shoulders, in both a possessive and passionate gesture. She lifts her head to look at his face and she feels a little breathless. The tousled hair. The hair growth that definitely needs a serious shave. The caffeinated look that is slowly entering those sunset eyes. Those lush lips that she hasn’t kissed since his birthday. Lana’s heartbeat quickens and she gives Tiber a small smile. This magnificent man is -hers- and they are going to be okay. This week was just a little detour after some hellish things had happened to their loved ones and themselves. Standing on her toes she leans in to whisper in his ear, “How about we take a bath together? Then… We can get dressed and wake up Lunalesca.” Her breath is hot against his cheek and earlobe before she slowly pulls back and claims his lips in a tender kiss.
Tiber stares down at those pouty lips of hers back to her chocolate eyes. For the first time in weeks, he is truly looking at her, as if she had been lost in fog. He had pushed her so far… All of her. She is wearing all this soft skimpy clothing, and they are both vulnerable. A hand brushes her hair behind her ear before he is staring at her lips again. He ignores her suggestion for a mere moment as he is lost in her breath over his ear. Warm lips brushing against his own. He breathes her in and presses her back against that wall in that lustful way. Why would he want to push her away…? There was other stress relief… He is deep in his desire and he realizes what she is saying. Right, they need to try to wake up Lunalesca. There is lots to do. He pulls back before giving her a look of want. “I can draw us a bath,” he is breathless while he gazes at her. Like a wild, eager man. With no hesitation, he is bringing his hands down underneath her legs before lifting her up to wrap herself around him. “Let’s go. There’s lots to do.” And then, she is whisked away to the bathroom, so he can get lost in what he was missing.
A bit later the couple looks satisfied from exercising their desires and making up after their heated discussion in the kitchen. Lana’s perched on the sink with a pink towel wrapped around her body as she watches Tiber shave and trim the overgrown bits of hair from his handsome face. She’s content now that they had their talk and agreed on what needs to be done during times of duress and she’s relieved that divorce is not in the cards. She loves the lycan too damn much to walk away and if he ever left she’d lose the will to live. Grabbing a brush, she combs her wet hair and works out any snags while going over their plans for the day, “I figure after we get dressed we will make all the preparations. You can bring the pets over to the Pack house and maybe ask Bjorn or Nick to patrol the perimeter of this place? You, of course, will be in the room with our bodies to keep a close watch. There can’t be any distractions, or anything that would have me snap back into my body as I could become paralyzed.” This -is- a risky procedure! “Maybe you can howl if anything goes wrong or when Lunalesca wakes up? That will alert the others that it’s safe to go about their business, and of course, Celeste will want to examine Lunalesca for any head injuries.” The brush is lowered and she rests a reassuring hand on Tiber’s bicep, “Hey… I want you to know that I’m taking every precaution that everything’s going to be okay. I don’t think that anything will go wrong but I guarantee that she’ll wake up. I just am trusting my intuition and that article arriving this morning -has- to be a sign that I’m doing the right thing.” Lana slides from the sink and kisses Tiber on his recently shaved cheek, “I’m going to get dressed and pack up some treats and toys for the fur babies. This could take several hours or a few minutes, so I want to make sure they are content.” She drops her gaze to the towel, “Also. When this is all over we have to go on a shopping spree for new clothes! Corrine’s are either too big on me or too skimpy to wear in public, and your style is far better than Nick’s!” A hand reaches out to playfully smack the Catalian on his rear before she heads into the bedroom to find something tasteful to wear.
Tiber’s headache is gone after getting a little steamy with the witch. He knew they had to work on their relationship still, but the connection was looking optimistic. Communication. Tiber spends his time staring at his reflection in the mirror to clean himself up. He still keeps minor stubble to create an edgy look, but the man, at least, does not have a neck beard anymore and his cheeks are cut and lined up cleaner. Tiberius rarely let himself go, and when he did, it showed. He takes little passing glances at the girl wrapped up in the towel and gives her one of those knowing smiles as he cleans himself up. He then listens to her words and splashes water over his face to get rid of any excess hair and he pats his face with a towel. The Catalian nods along with the pets. “You sure Bjorn isn’t too distracted?” He quirks a brow, but then his face fades as she speaks of… becoming potentially paralyzed. “Lanara…” He cannot bite back, as they already had this discussion. Besides, it was not death, right? He holds his tongue and nods at her directions. His expression looks worrisome with a flat line on his lips. Internally his chest stirs a little uncomfortably. He inhales sharply as she rests a hand on his bicep. He closes his eyes. He is silent for a long time before eyes open again. “Okay,” he sounds breathy. “I trust you.” The man smiles at her positive outlook on the situation, and he smirks. “Oh, well you’re so charming. I’m glad I have good taste in clothes,” mild sarcasm, but he did like to look nice. When she playfully smacks him, he furrows. “I am not the Catalian Stallion,” he grins, though, as he silently enjoys it. And then she is off. He then finishes to get dressed in Nick’s clothes before meeting Lanara. “You have the stuff ready for transfer?” He says business-like and teasingly. He is trying to make the best of this… their last ounce of hope. Salem in the meantime brushes against his leg and he picks the cat up and tosses the large fluffy cat over his shoulder playfully.
Lanara naughtily whispers, “You are -my- Catalian Stallion, always. And you were one heck of a stud a short while ago.” She snickers and spends a bit finding something to wear that doesn’t make her look like an orphan. Lana ends up wearing one of Nick’s colorful island-style shirts, which she cinches at the waist with one of Corrine’s thin leather belts. She steps into a pair of black sandals that add an inch to her height and they are only half of a size larger than she usually wears, so she’s not in much danger of stumbling over her own two feet. Her long hair is left loose and is still damp when Tiber comes into the room and asks if she has everything ready, “I do!” She forgoes any makeup because she doesn’t want to waste time and heads into the kitchen where she has bags marked with each pet's name on them. “Okay. I packed them all with enough food for today and tomorrow, as I’m not sure how long this will take. This bag has Demon and Ranger’s treats, that bag has Salem and Cinder’s snacks, and obviously the sardines are for Aspen.” She pulls a small box onto the counter. “In here I have some toys just in case they get bored.” Lana places all of Aspen’s items into a small backpack and helps the cub into the straps as he insists on carrying it. A collar is snapped around Salem’s neck and she frowns up at Tiber, “Please make sure they get there safely.” She doesn’t have a cat carrier or any extra leashes as they were burned in the fire. “I have one leash and I figure we can loop it around Demon and Ranger? That way you can walk them and they can’t run away. Cinder will find her own way there, so you don’t need to worry.” Cinder pipes up, “I’m staying here with you. If things go wrong, I can come in and get you out of there.” She has a valid point but Lana is adamant that she leaves, “No. You will go and look after the others.” She turns to give Aspen a hug, “You hold onto Daddy’s shirt, okay?” The cub looks up at them with trusting eyes and nods solemnly. “Okay. You get going and grab someone to guard the perimeter of the house?” Lana leans in and places a chaste kiss to Tiber’s lips, “We got this.”
Tiber settles for a simple blue t-shirt, which he was able to find, thankfully. Nick is clearly not a flannel wearer and does not really have anything too fancy in the closet either. Everything seemed… odd. He swore he found a pair of leather white pants in there too. No way. The man is wearing that plain t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Very relaxed, but not really the Catalian’s style at all. Damp hair is brushed, but the waves are beginning to dry and tousle on the top of his head, some strands fall on his face. Tiber walks behind Lanara where there is a kitchen full of bags. “What are they staying for a week's vacation at the pet spa and inn? Babe, you said a few hours.” He watches as the animal empath pulls out various boxes and snacks and toys. He figured she would throw like… a stuffy or two in, a bag of food, and call it good. She is then frowning at Tiber like he is going to lose all the animals on their voyage across Sage. “I can handle it,” his hands rise as if to defend himself. He looks a little judgemental at all the supplies. Why did they need so much? Tybalt would give them a good amount of love and fun, right? Why toys? He is gonna need Sansa for this… which… She needs to come too. Tiber looks at each individual animal. They really did own a zoo… Dear Gods. “Uh, yeah…” He is staring at all the fur-babies and she is pressing her lips to his as he keeps staring at the madness. Once she pulls back, he nods firmly. “We got this.” He then clips the leash to both dogs. Luckily, Salem has a cat carrier he snagged from the sanctuary. He scoops the cat and stuffs him in the carrier. Time to go saddle up Sansa with the crew. He grabs the bags and he is out the door stumbling to load up the horse for take off.. This should be interesting.
Lanara uses her time wisely as she doesn’t want to delay any longer than is necessary. Queen Lunalesca has been in a coma for nearly six weeks and the longer that she remains asleep, the less likely chance that she will ever wake up. Using astral projection is impossible for most and Lana hasn’t practiced in years, but she’s hopeful that she’ll be successful. While Tiberius is informing the Pack about what’s going on and dropping the animals off, Lana’s busy prepping Lunalesca’s body for when she wakes up. The witch carefully bathes the woman in rose water and gently polishes her wings with some moisturizing lotion. Next, she combs her hair and neatly braids it, before she moves on to her makeup. It’s possible that when Lunalesca slipped into a coma that she was too afraid to be in her broken body and she shouldn’t have any aversions to returning to her physical form. The witch then slips a simple cotton sundress over the fairy and makes slits to slip her wings through, mildly delighted that Corrine’s garments are being mistreated. A pair of slippers are slid onto her feet and Lana snags a pair of cheap earrings from the nightstand and clips them onto the fae’s earlobes. She smiles and dabs some perfume on Lunalesca’s neck before she gently lifts her into her arms and places her on the floor in the center of the room. Lana uses her magic to help her move the heavy furniture and before long, the beds are standing up and pressed against the wall, the dressers are lined up in the hallway, and the entire floor of the bedroom is bare. Lana then exits the house and douses the perimeter in a circular pattern with salt to ward off any evil spirits. She speaks a prayer of protection in Sylvan and circles the home three times, before she heads back inside. A bundle of sage is lit and each room is cleansed of negativity as the witch blesses the entire home, and she also smudges Lunalesca’s form and her own. She places the sage in an abalone shell to rest until Tiber returns as he will also need to be saged. The salt is picked up again and Lana draws a circle around the fairy and the place where she will lie beside her, so that they are double protected. “Now. We wait.” She’s nervous but doing her best not to let it show, so she busies herself with making a sleeping drought and waiting for Tiber.
Tiber loads up Sansa with the bags of goods and Salem before he walks beside the horse. She is a little energetic today, and not about wanting to carry anything. Tiber gives the horse a sharp look. “Look, I know you don’t want to do this, but it’s for Lana and our butts. Unless you want some new owners, you’re carrying it.” The horse snarls, but seems pretty okay with hauling supplies and a cat. They are off and Tiber walks as he has a hand on Sansa’s reins to guide her, and a hand on the leash walking the two dogs. He swears that he is almost the King of the Wild at this point. Aspen slides onto his baby belly in laziness half-way through the trip. “Aspen, it’s -short-. Get up.” The lazy cub rolls on the forest floor as if he wants a break. “Aspen… Come. On.” He stops before tugging on the bear. This would be a long day… Eventually, the crew makes it. Cinder also made snarky comments along the way as they wandered through the forest. How much of a loser he was and that Lanara did not deserve him. “Yes, I’m well aware of that, Cinner.” He rolls his eyes and eventually comes to the clearing of the Pack House. Violet is outside reading a book studying and she looks up to find her Alpha shaven and… clean? “Tiberius! You look great!” Violet then looks a little bewildered at the animal kingdom Tiber brought. “Uh, why do you have all these animals? Do you know how many animals we have living here already?” Bland joke about lycans. Tiber looked flat-face. “I know. Only an overnight stay. Promise. Lanara is cooking up a plan. Which… I need to talk to Bjorn. Is he home?” Violet nods and they all head inside. Tybalt is almost screaming with delight as he tries to snuggle each animal. Cinder is screaming about how Tybalt is a filthy dog boy, and Tiber finds the Delta to explain the situation–most ears hear the plan, even Greyson who is still taking care of the Sylvie situation… Time passes and Bjorn seems confused, but he knows that he needs to listen to Luna and Alpha without distraction and guard the boundaries of Nick and Corrine’s home, so off the men go to return back to the Kelvarian and the Queen.
Lanara greets Tiber at the door and quickly runs the bundle of sage along his limbs and torso, “This is to make sure there isn’t any negative energy attached to your form. I’ve already done the house. Negative energy can welcome unwanted spirits and we don’t want that!” She sees the terrified face of Bjorn over his shoulder and she walks over to cleanse him, too. “You will be fine. Basically, you need to make sure that no one tries to knock on the door or get into the home. I don’t think we’ll have any visitors, but if someone is selling something or lost? You need to make sure they do not touch this home.” If she ends up paralyzed because of Bjorn she’s going to go ballistic. The man nods and seems to gather that this is serious business and she wags a finger at him before he exits the house, “Even if you see pretty Penny! You look -away- and focus on this task!” Lana locks the door behind him and turns to look at her husband and she sees how weary he is after the week they’ve had. She hopes he steers clear of liquor for the next few hours. This is important to her and to -them- and she needs him clear headed. “Okay. So. I go in there and fall asleep… Just before I go into a deep sleep, my body and spirit will separate, and I will travel on another plane. All you will see is our bodies lying side by side. You may notice that the temperature will drop a little and that my physical form will only breathe when needed and will lie perfectly still. I imagine that Luca won’t be able to feel Asha. All you have to do is make sure that no one enters the room, and they definitely can’t step inside that salt circle, okay? Try not to make any noise, either.” Lana leads Tiber into the bedroom and points to a chair in the corner where she expects him to sit as she uncorks the sleeping potion and prepares to drink, “I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can…” She looks at him long and hard for a moment before she downs the liquid and steps into the salt circle. She lays on her back, beside the Queen, and closes her eyes and waits for the potion to take effect.
Tiber is squinting his eyes as he walks through the door, as the sage is being waved around his body. He could not tell if he liked the smell or not. She is going off on spirits, which always made his head spin a little, but he was grasping the concept a little more with each event like this. Her witchy side. This was the… mystical side. Perhaps not as eye ogling like the time she resurrected Cinder. Since the woman will be asleep… Tiber looks over at Bjorn, “This is an important mission. So listen.” Once the door is closed behind him leaving Bjorn to fend off potential distractors, he looks at Lanara a little nervously. What if she does end up paralyzed? He can feel the anxiety of waves creeping up again, but he cannot drink. He said he would stop. For her. Clear-head. His head is spinning a little as she is about to take the potion. No noise. No intruders. His breath sort of falters before he moves to lower himself in the chair offered to him. He looks at her steadily. “I trust you… Trust me. No one is getting through that door nor the salt circle.” She is stepping backwards, and he inhales sharply. “I love you too…” He hopes she wakes up okay, and she might see that look in his eye, but he knows. He can trust her. She then closes her eyes. There she goes. The waiting game… begins.
(Post 1 of 3) Lanara :: The two females lie side by side with their chests barely rising and falling as they slumber, though the woman on the right is just about to leave her physical form. Lana’s lips part, a faint gasp is heard, and her eyelids flicker for a split second as she enters the world of soul travel. While in the other plane, she cannot see or hear Tiber or anything that’s happening in the room, but she senses his presence through their unbreakable bond. Asha is with her, but even she is silenced for the duration of this journey. There are so many paths to take and although Lana wants to explore, she knows that she’s here for a purpose. The out of body aura is uncomfortable to most but magic users have an easier go of things, and so the witch relies on her instinct to guide her to where Lunalesca is trapped. She slips in and out of different planes, seeing visions and a few others that she immediately avoids. Attracting the wrong kind of spirit could have them trying to take over one of the empty bodies that lies in the bedroom, and she definitely doesn’t want that to happen again! Time passes far more slowly in the dream realm and so it seems that it’s hardly taken any time at all, but in reality, Lanara Lowell has been gone for nearly six hours. The sun is setting in Sage and the women’s vessels appear to be lifeless.
(Post 2 of 3) Bjorn desperately needs to urinate but he doesn’t want to leave his post because if he screws this up his Alpha will never forgive him. The man dances in place nervously, because he hasn’t peed his pants since the first grade. A light flickers on the opposite side of the home and he holds his knees together as he awkwardly waddles over to see what’s going on. It’s a false alarm. Just a firefly flitting through the early night. Bjorn sighs as he cannot hold it any longer, so he hides behind the bush closest to Nick and Corrine’s house and drops his pants. He sort of bends over in case anyone walks past, so it’s not obvious that he’s peeing. However, what Bjorn doesn’t realize is that he’s mooning Tiber! The bush he selected is dead center with the sole window that peers into the bedroom where the rescue mission is taking place. Should Tiber glance outside, he will get an eyeful of Bjorn’s chiseled buttcheeks!
(Post 3 of 3) Another hour passes and darkness has settled on the lands as night is in full swing. The cottage is pitch black inside as the couple forgot to light some candles beforehand. Thankfully, there is a small lantern on the desk just beside where Tiber is sitting and he’s welcome to set it ablaze. It’s been seven hours… Is all hope gone? The women show no signs of waking up… Wait! Did the corner of Lunalesca’s lip just twitch? There! Her left foot points slightly upwards and her right hand is trembling! The fairy’s eyes open and she sits up so abruptly that she makes herself dizzy, “I’m back! I’m awake!” She is starving and her stomach growls, but her concern is for the lifeless body at her side. “Why didn’t she-” As if on cue, Lanara’s eyes flutter open and she slowly pushes herself into a sitting position, “We did it! You’re awake Luna! I have -so- much to tell you!” The women giddily embrace but their excitement dies down and soon their laughter turns to tears as they realize how close to death they had both been. Lana momentarily leaves Luna’s side to climb onto Tiber’s lap and hug him tightly, “It’s okay. I woke her up and we’re going to be alright.” She rocks him in her arms, both comforting him and accepting his strength as she’s feeling a bit wobbly. “Can you go and get Celeste? You can tell Bjorn he’s off duty.” Lunalesca pipes in, “Can someone bring some food over, too? I’m famished.” Lana smiles and kisses him tenderly, before she returns to Lunalesca’s side and takes her hand, “While Tiber is doing all of that… I will tell you everything.”
(Post 1 of 2) Tiber watches as Lanara falls into slumber and his nails dig into the chair he sits in. His knee wiggles, but pauses just in case it is making any noise. He has to stay silent and keep guard. The anticipation is eating him up, and briefly… he decides to distract himself where he looks out the window to buttcheeks. The man almost yells, but instead he keeps digging those nails wide-eyed at the sight of Bjorn’s butt. Tiber is trying to pantomime at the man through the window, but Bjorn clearly does not see the Alpha. Tiber is biting back a laugh at this point, but also thinks that Bjorn is not taking this mission seriously at all. Why did Lanara want Bjorn again? Tiber mentally thinks he might kick Bjorn’s tush himself after this little event. An hour begins to pass… and Lanara is still asleep. Please… he thinks mentally, as he hopes she is okay. The faint glow of the lantern keeps lit–as he did light it–and he watches the sleeping women… was there hope? Was Lanara finding Lunalesca? He feels sick… But then… he could have sworn he saw a twitch from the Queen of the Fae. Are his eyes playing tricks on him? He sits up on the edge of his seat and Lunalesca is… trembling, and her eyes open. He stands automatically, but he remembers he cannot step over the salt circle. Tiber’s hands are in his hair, and then… Lanara is waking up too. She… did it?! Is she okay? She is pushing herself up! The man is in awe and it felt like a big smack in the face of relief. They were going to be okay? Lanara is pressing against him and he falls back in the chair. He clutches her tightly as he stares in shock at the Queen. He can barely say anything in his amazement and he nods slowly at first. “Yes…” Beat. “Yes!” He nods faster. He kisses Lanara briefly before going over to Lunalesca and embracing her. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” He does not wait another minute as he runs out the door to go run through the forest.
(Post 2 of 2) Once at the Pack house, he makes it clear that the Queen is awake. Tiber has a solid plan to let Violet and Greyson know, to tell Benedict that the Queen was found and safely kept in a cottage home and to send guards to retrieve the Queen in the morning, as she is in good hands with Lanara and Tiberius. Celeste is told to check vitals of the Queen and Corrine is on the hunt for scouting food to bring to their cottage while Nick keeps watch on Sylvie with Tybalt. Tiber comes back with Celeste and Corrine is not too far behind them either. Celeste barges in. “Your majesty,” the blonde looks wide-eyed. Instantly Celeste goes straight to work with her stethoscope. “Give her light food. She’s been comatose for a while, she might struggle with digestion. Fruits and vegetables.” Celeste spends a majority keeping track of vital signs and Tiberius and Lanara do not leave the Queen’s side until she is escorted back to Enchantment in the morning.
One Week Later
(Post 1 of 4) Lanara sits in a rocking chair on the front porch of the Amber Lunation’s home, with Aspen on her lap and Cinder lying at her feet. It’s been a week since Queen Lunalesca had woken up and returned to Enchantment and she wrote that she’s going to pay the Pack a visit. Lana wants to be the first to greet her dear friend and so she waits impatiently for the carriage to pull up. As soon as she hears the horses hooves she rises to her feet and alerts the rest of the Pack that she’s coming, as she walks down the stairs and waits for the carriage to come to a complete stop. Benedict is the first to exit and he greets her with a small bow, before he extends his hand and helps Lunalesca to step down. All of her scars have been completely erased from the finest magical healers in the realm! The fairy is a vision in a shimmering pale blue gown that mirrors the glimmering wings upon her back, and she wears a cheerful smile on her face as she pulls Lanara in for a tight hug, “You look well rested! How do -I- look? The last time you saw me… I couldn’t really use my legs or wings and I was about thirty pounds lighter!” Lana rolls her eyes at the exaggeration and compliments Lunalesca, before welcoming the Queen and the head of the Queensgard into the large home. Everyone is greeted with a hug, but Lunalesca’s lashes begin to flutter and her cheeks turn red when she sees Bjorn up close. She hugs him far longer than anyone else and mouths, ‘Where have you been hiding him?’ over his shoulder to Tiber and Lana. Clearly, Queen Lunalesca is a cougar! The fairy thanks everyone for helping her during those trying few weeks and she gives everyone a piece of jewelry from her royal collection. The men are given ruby cufflinks and the women receive emerald brooches, but it seems that she has something far grander to offer Tiber and Lanara. “Come with me… I promise to return you both after I bestow my gift.” She doesn’t offer any hints as the four of them return to the carriage and are led through the gates of Enchantment.
(Post 2 of 4) Lanara exchanges a ‘look’ with Tiber because she has -no- idea what Lunalesca is up to, or why they had to leave the Pack behind and head into Enchantment. The witch falls silent as she gazes out the window and her lips part as there are no words to describe what she’s feeling. There, just south of the mystical stream, lies an exact replica home to the one that they had lost two weeks prior in Sage Forest. “Ho-How?” Eventually, she finds her words, and at some point she’s helped out of the carriage so that she can closely examine their replacement dream home. Lana takes Tiber’s hand and tears are freely falling as she tugs him up the front steps, and Lunalesca slowly trails behind and offers the Catalian a key so he can sweep his bride over the threshold. “Lana! We have some of the best magic users in the entire realm and you ask me -how- did I have this done?! I visited your home on a few occasions and I committed each room to memory because I knew that this day would come. I wanted you to have everything exactly as it was, because I know it means a great deal to you both.” Once inside, the couple will find that every piece of furniture is identical to what they’ve lost. There’s even a twin stable in the backyard for Sansa and Rude-Off, and the garden has been planted with all their favorite fruits, vegetables, and herbs! Lana squeals and hugs Tiber tightly, “We have our dream home again!” She cannot wait to move in and tears of happiness continue to fall as she turns to thank Lunalesca, “We cannot thank you-” The fairy embraces the witch and sighs, “You do not have to thank me! The Pack home will be the next to be brought to the area! I will have the sanctuary rebuilt, as well, since all the animals are here now and I want you to live in Enchantment…” The Queen looks at Benedict and gives him a slow nod, “You both better sit down.”
(Post 3 of 4) Lanara and Tiber take a seat on the living room sofa, side by side, and she holds tightly to her husband's hand. The entire day has been emotional and she feels as though whatever is going to be said will be life changing. Benedict pulls a quill and inkwell from his pocket and begins recording everything that’s said from this moment on, which has Lana growing extremely worried. Are they in some kind of trouble? Queen Lunalesca sits across from them and smiles, “As you both know, I have never wanted to rule over Enchantment… I took the job because the kingdom needed a leader and the people voted me into the position. I love the people, the land, the magic, just about everything you could name… But, in the past few months, I’ve realized that my heart is no longer in this line of work. My powers are greatly diminishing and although I may not look it, I am very old and probably only have about another two hundred years of life left. I want to enjoy my life and retire.” She pauses, “I will still lead the Magical Oversight Committee, but I have chosen my successor. The new Queen will put the people first, make certain the nature in the area isn’t disturbed, and she will always follow her heart. I’ve known her for a while and I can honestly say that she’s someone I would trust with my life, and with the land I call my home. She’s beautiful, intelligent, witty, elegant, and she knows how to throw the best parties!” Her gaze shifts to Tiber, “And her husband is handsome, strong, protective, faithful, and he will make a wonderful Royal Consort.”
(Post 4 of 4) There’s a long pause as everyone digests this information and Lana assumes that Lunalesca wants her to swear her fealty to the new queen, “Of course I will befriend your successor. Tiber and I haven’t really discussed moving from Sage, but since our home is here now, I think it’s a wonderful idea!” Benedict pauses in writing and shakes his head because Lana isn’t connecting the dots, “Queen Lunalesca wants -you- and Tiber to take her place and rule over Enchantment.” The silence that follows is extremely long and thought provoking and for a while it seems that no one will speak. Eventually, Lana tearfully replies, “But… I don’t -want- to be queen of anything! I’m happy just being me and I think Tiber will want a divorce if we are forced into this… I know it’s such an honor but-” Lunalesca feels a pang in her heart as she cuts in, “I chose you both for this role because I do not trust anyone else to fill my shoes as much as you two have… You led the kingdom in a prayer and search party. You killed the two men that were responsible for harming me. You risked your lives to save mine. Please, let me do this for the two of you!” She sighs, “You don’t have to live in the castle if you don’t want to, but it’s yours! You will have an army at your disposal and the best protection for your Pack, in case that man returns.” She speaks of Franz, as Lana and Tiber filled her in on the specifics. “You don’t have to be glued to the throne. There are rings that I can have fashioned to teleport you back to a certain spot in Enchantment, in case of emergency. And, you will have riches greater than you could possibly imagine!” Yes, being a ruler is hard work, but they can reap some amazing rewards. “Lanara… Your people live in Enchantment, now. You have experience tending to the needs of others and you have the power to do so much good in the land. And Tiber… You need to be by her side, because you are soulmates, and because you know how to be a leader and to be stern.” She finishes speaking and the witch looks at her husband, “I don’t want to do this without you. I don’t want to lose you.” Her biggest fear is losing the man she loves. “I’m fine with whatever decision you decide for us both.”
(Post 1 of 3) Tiber is in a better head-space as a week goes by. In fact, while they wait for Queen Lunaslesca, Tiber is preparing a charcuterie board and non-alcoholic drinks for the occasion, as it is the morning, and he is still trying to keep himself clean until he is in a complete, calming mental headspace. They still had a house to rebuild, afterall. The couple even manages to get new clothes and he is back sporting a loose, white button-up and khaki slacks. Everyone rushes out to meet the Queen, who looks in better health with scars wiped away. Lunalesca is even bashful and full of cheeriness around Bjorn who almost ruined the whole process with his butt. The Pack looks happier and well-rested since the Queen woke up, and there was no news from Franz Libedow either, but Tiber is still scared to let his guard down. Everyone is getting gifts, and he looks content at the exchanges and how happy the Pack members look, but it seems odd that the Alpha or Luna would need -anything- from the Queen, as this was… Tiber’s fault with his shady ties.
(Post 2 of 3) Tiber looks at Lanara in curiosity before following Lunalesca to ride back to Enchantment. Once pulling up to the mystical stream, the man is looking down at his hands idly. Rubbing over that old scar from Skitch. That zig-zag before he hears the witch’s breathing falter. He looks up and out the window and… his eyes grow wide. His heart beats faster and he feels the heat rush to his face and he is at a loss for words as he stares at the large white home south of that enchanted stream. He steps out of the carriage and adjusts his collar before Lanara is grasping his hand. Both of them are in awe, and Tiber has glassiness in his gaze as he stares at the home that… almost was never lost. Sure, they would have to make new memories, but… their dream home was theirs again. They go up the steps and a key dangles and he hesitantly takes it. He looks at Queen Lunalesca in exasperation and… thankfulness before looking over Lanara’s expression. Every memory… returned to them. The man places the key in before turning it to shove the door open. Tiber grins before he does, in fact, sweep Lanara off her feet and inside their new beginning. The man hugs onto his beautiful wife before he turns to the fairy. And she is telling him not to thank them. “No… -thank you-.” He genuinely expresses this before they… need to sit down? He abides and guides Lanara to settle her down with him.
(Post 3 of 3) The Queen is smiling at them still, which makes him think he should not be so worried. She goes on a length to tell them she does not want to be in the position she is in and it has him squinting his gaze. Then, he nods as she talks of a new leader. There is nothing to think about… Sounds like the new Queen will get along with the Kelvarian easily. It is not until the Queen of the Fae looks at Tiberius Lowell and his face drops into a blank gaze. Is she… talking about -him-? ‘Strong, protective, faithful…’ he was still learning how to accept those qualities after the traumas that happened in their life. It is not until Benedict opens his mouth because Lanara is not getting it. That Queen Lunalesca is putting her trust in the Kelvarian. There is a long, thick silence in the home. Lanara is becoming teary eyed, but… she thinks he would want a divorce? This was a huge commitment, and honor for Lanara. The animal empath. So caring. So smart and beautiful. He, however, is not sure if he is cut-out to be a ‘royal’. There is a guilty feeling at such a title. He is long and silent while the two speak to one another. All Lanara’s people. The Kelvarians, but there would be more than just that. Diversity. The woman was so friendly and open, but she had a sharp edge to her to become a leader. To protect the people of Enchantment and to protect the wildlife. Being in the light? People everywhere? Making decisions for the Kingdom, he feels frazzled. ‘I don’t want to lose you.’ he looks at his wife at that moment. Amber eyes stare into a sea of chocolate. Worried. Scared. “There’s been scarier things in our history. In -your- history.” His hand reaches across the table. “Babe,” he looks at her in a very tranquil way. It was a lot, but… there was a reason the Queen was here. “You taught me about fate. And if this is happening in this moment as an opportunity,” he pauses and contemplates, “Why not follow your heart? And I’ll be there every step of the way. Right by your side.” As the fairy said. She needs him. “And I will love you just the same. I’m not leaving you. Not now. Not ever. And I want you to follow your heart.” He shrugged. “These people… need someone who is loyal and kind, but sticks to their heart and soul. They need -you-.”
(Post 1 of 2) Lanara feels as though a weight has been lifted when Lunalesca assures her that she can still have a life that’s not entirely spent ruling a kingdom and maintaining a castle. The sanctuary will be closeby, their dream home has been restored, and even the Pack will be in safer territory. Lana’s kin from Kelvar will live in the same area and the thick forests are perfect for practicing her craft and for hunting in their wolf forms. Life in Enchantment would be… Enchanting. The witch squeezes Tiber’s hand and looks into his amber eyes for a long moment, weighing their options, and listening to the compliments that she feels she doesn’t deserve. She’s not nearly as perfect as he paints her, but everyone’s their own worst critic. “I love you and you’re right… These people need me… But… They don’t -just- need me, they need -you- too, Tiber. I think if we are in this together, that Enchantment will be in good hands, because I always follow my heart and you always follow your head. We’re the perfect team and I wouldn’t go through with this without your consent, because you are everything to me. Oh my gosh! We’re going to be royals!!!” She smiles through her tears and kisses Tiber tenderly on the lips, which earns a blush from Benedict as he continues to play witness to their discussion.
(Post 2 of 2) Queen Lunalesca claps her hands together and beams, “Wonderful! I will plan a coronation ceremony for sometime next week and we will make it official. Lanara, please stop by the castle in the morning. I will have your arm all patched up in no time, so it’s as flawless as before! I’ll send the seamstress over to make you both attire for the coronation, too! And! A jeweler! To design your crowns! Congratulations, you two, and don’t fret! I will remain as one of your advisors, if you wish, until you feel comfortable in your new roles. I’m not going to just throw you to the wolves, erm, you know what I mean. It’s a manner of speaking…” The usually poised queen nearly forgot that they are lycans and that slip of the tongue has her growing nervous. “Benedict and I have a lot to tend to, but we will bid you adieu so that you can make new memories in your home.” She winks and pulls the couple in for a hug before she follows Benedict outside to the carriage. On the table there’s a small dagger and a note that bears the royal seal, which Lana opens and reads aloud, “I matched mostly everything to the likeness of your previous home, but I figured that I would leave one final detail to my favorite couple. In the front yard, you will notice a familiar apple tree. Use this dagger to sign your names and create a new memory on a clean slate, in the place that you will reign. - Love Lunalesca.” The witch is touched by the gesture and she offers the dagger to her husband, “Shall we?” She takes his hand and the couple leaves their mark in the bark of the tree, just as they had before, but this time, they are both filled with certainty that this is their ‘forever’ place and no force in the realm will take it away ever again.