The secrets we keep

Violette

Change was an intolerable thing in Glenmore. It was looked down upon as one would look upon a light coated buck. It was unwanted. Undesired. Hated.

The herd of glenmore loathed change. Even with the return of the swan queen herself could they not accept it. Blasphemy they called it. A blight on the once great kings of old.

It was a dangerous concept but many could feel it in the soft whispers of the wind that something was coming. Changing as the seasons passed from one to the next. Many even feared it.

Her mind was in turmoil! Her guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders. She had spoken to no other being of what she knew. Keeping it hidden away as it slowly devoured what little of her soul was left. These secrets that she held would mean death if anyone ever found the truth.

She’d come here because of one of said secrets. The king's private glade. It wouldn’t be odd for a doe to come to him during such a time, so she thought it perfect to speak with him as soon as she could. The first to spot her though was not the king but one of his guards and it seemed he wasn’t too keen on allowing visitors.

“None are allowed in the king's private quarters aside from his mates and children!” Came the male’s strong voice. It was his duty to protect the king’s precious family and he would do so without question.

“I merely wish to visit my dear king to discuss the seasons change is all. Will you not allow a lady that much?” She asked confidently with a seductive swish of her tail. She was lying of course but he didn’t need to know that.


Drustan

“Oh Guardsman, do calm down,” Drustan called from beyond the shrubbery. There was a brief pause before the sable stag rounded the corner and halted in the entryway of woven branches. “Cousin Violette, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked with a courtly dip of his head. He cast a side glance to the overprotective guard and gestured for him to keep guarding. His harem definitely did need the protection of overzealous guards, but not from the likes of his own cousin.

“I was off to the stream for a drink, would you care to join me cousin? I haven’t seen you in a while,” he said with a smile. As the daughter of his mother’s sister, the rosy cream doe was not unknown to him, but they had little in common and few reasons to cross paths. Nevertheless, she was about the only real blood family he had left alive, and with Lonán gone, one of the few left in the herd.


Violette

As the king’s voice came from behind the nearby foliage, her ears flicked fro as he spoke to his guard. He seemed well enough despite all that had happened, but she knew looks could be deceiving. One’s most inner secrets lay locked behind a somewhat happy facade.

“Dearest Drustan, I merely wished to come and chat is all.” She told him with a respectful dip of her head and a smile. She didn’t wish to say too much with the guard seeming to be within earshot. “I have missed you terribly Dru, I pray you have been faring well?” She could only hope some good news would come from her beloved cousin, what with the rumors spreading about as they did.

“I would be more than happy to accompany you.” Her tone was soft, as she moved to his side, waiting for him to lead the way. It seemed they would be alone for their little trip and for that she was thankful, the less ears the better.

It was nice to see him, really it was but she knew that if the secrets she kept were ever found out it would mean he would be in danger. They would all be in danger.


Drustan

He led the way at a leisurely pace toward the stream, taking a longer less well traveled route. He wasn’t so keen on crowds these days, and he enjoyed a bit of peace and quiet when he could.

"Oh, I'm as well as to be expected," he said with a wry smile. All things considered, it was quite impressive he wasn’t a jibbering wreck already. Violette looked well, at least. She was his cousin but that didn’t stop him noticing that she had matured since they last met. "How have you been? It's been a while..." He tailed off.

As much as he hoped this was just a friendly meeting between relatives, he had a suspicion she wanted something other than a chat with her monarch cousin. Family or not, royals usually had an agenda when they addressed their king.


Violette

The pale doe followed behind him at a somewhat steady pace. She was glad he was doing as well as he was despite everything that has happened.

He had grown since they’d last spoken. Matured so much in his short time as king, but who wouldn’t really with a kingdom to watch over. She couldn’t fathom it really but that's neither here nor there. “I am glad you’re doing well and… how fares your children?”

She was hesitant to start up the conversation. She didn’t wish to offend him. They may be family but he was still her king, and his word was law. “It truly has been a long time…” She answered not bothering to answer his earlier question about her welfare. How could she when even she didn’t know how she was feeling.

“Drustan, I’d like to ask your feelings on the matter of princess Nuala?” It was widely known that the princess’ escape left a few royals seething. They wanted to see her and her little family punished, but she was glad. Happy even that she had chosen to take her own path in life, and finally take that happiness that was always denied to a princess.


Drustan

He gave a nod and played along with the polite conversation, those the health and safety of his fawns was more complicated than he would admit, “The fawns are fine, the new twins are doing well with BóAnn, and they all seem to grow when I look away for a second.” He smiled fondly. However worried he might be for them, they never ceased to amaze him.

Her question about Nuala however seemed poignant, and he paused in his walk to think carefully. Truthfully he was glad she had escaped her prison and her fate, but most were not so pleased about that. He carefully avoided giving his own thoughts, only facts, “I believe the guards are still conducting regular patrols to find her and the ex-Captain. I’ve no doubt they won’t give up until they are found,” But he doubted they ever would be.

“Why do you ask?” He questioned, continuing their walk.


Violette

As the pale doe walked leisurely beside her cousin, she listened intently as he spoke fondly of his children. They had been doing well in his eyes, but she had seen for herself some of the conflicts they seemed to face by being the king's fawn.

"I may not have as many as you do, but I agree, they do tend to sprout like little weeds." She joked lightly trying to ease some of her nervousness. "I am glad most of them are doing well."

Looking at him from the corner of her eye, she decided delaying what she had to tell him wouldn't amount to anything. "That's actually the reason I'm here, or at least one of them. I've not gotten to see all of them but the two I have met were quite wonderful to be around...despite what I have heard from some of the royals.”

"One of your daughters, Neoma, was being bullied by some of the more outspoken royals. I did what I could to deter them from doing so again but I doubt they will listen...even if it meant having them stripped of their rank.” The last part was said with a snide smile as she thought back to putting those insufferable does in their place. She had made sure her guard watched over the girl when she seemed to be alone, he hadn’t minded really. “I tried my best to console the poor dear. She told me that it hadn’t been the first time it's happened either, and I worry for her.”

It probably wasn’t her place to worry for another doe’s fawn, but she couldn’t have just ignored her. She thought that perhaps hiring a guard to watch over the girl could help, but quickly pushed the idea aside. They would still find a way to get to her in some way, the best they could do was be there for her.

The lithe doe looked away from the king, hiding her face from his view. “She is different, isn’t she?” Her question was barely above a whisper. He would understand what she was asking, wouldn’t he? It wasn’t as if he couldn’t have known.

“I’ve seen what she can do Drustan…” She wasn’t afraid of the girl, not really. it was what they would do to her if they found out.

She hadn’t said much more after that, waiting for his response, until he gave her an answer about the fleeing princess. He didn’t answer her the way she wanted, but it didn’t matter he’d made his decision on the matter long ago.

Maybe she was being a bit too forward in speaking out about her feelings on the matter, but maybe he would finally agree with her on something even if it went against everything they were taught. “I made my choice that day to stand by you under the new oak. Not because of my own selfish reasons but because she found happiness, that love a princess is often times denied because she is to be wed to another. Nuala is a symbol of freedom for all princess’. Our magic isn’t dying, that much was known when she returned and gave us back the Oak. She brought back not only our beloved Oganach, but something to hope for.”

“Truthfully I’m glad she’s escaped. Despite everything that’s happened, I know she will be protected and not looked at as some prize. What you did back then gave her a chance to follow her own path… for her to live her own life that isn't dictated by another…”


Drustan

So she was sympathetic to Nuala’s cause. He smiled to himself. As King he couldn’t admit it himself - and there was always the chance that someone might overhear if he did - but it was good to know that not everyone wished the feathered doe ill.

Her words over Neoma however caught him off guard. His expression turned disgruntled as she mentioned others bullying her. He did know not all his fawns were well treated by others - part of the reason he told them not to stray far - but inevitably they did and the herd took advantage. He nodded thankfully as she spoke of deterring the others and warding them away from Neoma, but what did she mean, different “Well her blindness makes it difficult for her... she can’t play the same as the rest...” Seen what she could do? “She is talented though at finding her way even without her sight... her sense of smell and hearing are uncanny...”

He got the distinct feeling that his cousin was alluding to something else but he was at a loss as to what she could be talking about. He was the first to admit he didn’t know all his fawns as well as he would like - especially the shy ones - but what could she know that her own father didn’t?

“I don’t understand, is there something wrong with Neoma? Does she need to see the princesses?” He asked, halting again as they reached a secluded clearing. The worried stag looked to the pale doe, confusion evident in his expression.


Violette

She could only smile softly at his nod. She would accept it. He may not have agreed with her outright but it would do.

Her thoughts quickly changed from the Princess to his daughter. Did he truly not know or was just putting on for her sake. She could only recall the hind telling her that her mother had known but couldn’t remember if Drustan was involved.

“She is quite adept at getting around despite her blindness. I could see that when she was about gathering flowers.” Despite what had happened to the little hind earlier it seemed their little talk was able to help her feel better but what those royals called her seemed peculiar.  “Thats not what I mean….” She wondered how she could word it so he would understand. “It is not her blindness that I speak of but her... magical talents...”

She didn’t have earth magic. It was one that many had come to fear. Only a guard or the occasional raided doe had seen.

“I have heard some of the royals call her a…. blackheart” Oh Oganach how she didn’t wish to say it aloud, but it seemed her earlier little hints went completely over his head. She didn’t wish to take the chance of someone overhearing them. “I have seen what she can do, Drustan, and I fear if they find the truth she will be in danger….”


Drustan

He shook his head, perplexed. What was she trying to say? Many of his fawns had not yet manifested their magic, some struggling like him to grasp the basics of growing grass and flowers. But that wasn’t a reason to pick on Neoma, especially considering she was a hind and there were no expectations for her to become adept at magic. And calling her a blackheart was unfair, she might be the darkest of his children but that was where the resemblance to Blackwood stopped.

The stag glanced around to check there were no lurking eyes or ears. Whatever it was, Violette seemed hesitant to say. “Cousin, if there’s something wrong with my daughter I need to know. What truth? What danger?”


Violette

The hinds mother hadn’t told him…. D-did she not trust him or was it something else entirely?

She trusted him but it was worrying that he of all fawnlings didn’t know. Especially when it came to one of his children.

“She has come of age where her magic is finally known b-but it's...I mean….” It’s not our magic. “She… her magic is not...she is…” Augh, why was this so hard?!

She wanted to protect the child but what if telling him wasn't such a good idea. Didn’t he deserve to know? she was his child wasn’t she? Always the bearer of bad news it seemed.

“She has black magic Drustan. She controlled a rabbit without so much as  moving…” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She looked away from him, as her ears flicked back to rest against her head. He would understand, right? That she was a fawn… that she was innocent.

“I thought you knew,” Looking back at him as her eyes filled with unshed tears. “She told me that you said not to worry… I just thought I should talk with you about it.”


Drustan

The stag blinked and stared at the doe for a few seconds. Slowly he shook his head, “No, that’s impossible. She’s my daughter, Lady Fae is her mother and neither of us are... have...” He shook his head more vigorously. “No that’s absurd. It must be a trick of some kind, someone is playing a sick joke on a blind black filly because they have nothing else to do with their miserable lives. Who else was there? I’ll see to it that they leave my daughter alone for good.”

Whatever Violette saw or thought she saw, there had to be any other reason for it. Neoma was no blackblood. She had the unfortunate fate of being born to look like one, but with a dark mother like Fae, it wasn’t that surprising she should have dark children. Even Colleen was just as dark as her. And there was no way she could have been fathered by any other stag. Glenor was clearly his son - the golden colt had the eyes to match - and as his twin sister there was no doubt he was Neoma’s father too.


Violette

If she had expected her little chat to go the way she had hoped, she was sorely mistaken.

He could only deny what she told him. The truth always seemed to hurt but lying would only end up dragging out the pain longer. He didn’t want to believe it, she wouldn't either if she were him. It was hard to find out that what you thought you knew was all a lie.

“Drustan, s-she told me this herself and I do not believe she would lie about something so important...” Her voice held a hint of uncertainty, she trusted the words of little hind but he was another matter altogether. “She even said that many think...they consider it to be evil.”

“It is no trick. No one was there but the two of us. No one heard what was said…” She wondered what he would do. If the little filly’s secret would have been better off kept to herself. It was too late now and the pale royal knew there was no taking back what she had said.

“I may not know her as you do, but what reason would she have to speak ill of herself? To bring herself down so much that it brings the poor dear to tears?” Her question was more directed at her questionable thoughts than to him, but it was spoken aloud so she was sure he had heard her as well.

She could only look at him, her expression grim. He wouldn’t harm the child. She was innocent…


Drustan

The fact that the doe was trying to convince him of - that Neoma was not a full blooded Glenmore and thus not his daughter - was all but impossible for him to get his mind around.

He stood silent for a good minute before he finally shook his head. "I'll speak to her mother," he said, looking back down the path they had taken to come here. "I apologize, I must cut our walk short." He added in a distant tone.

This was not like BoAnn when he had known from the start that the fawn she carried was not his. Fae had been a loyal doe and he'd never seen her once look at another stag. Glenor was surely his son, there was no black blood on that boy, yet how could Neo be tainted and not her brother?

Questions surely for Fae. "Excuse me, cousin." He dipped his head and turned about, heading back to his den with a slow and pensive gait, too distracted to dwell on his rude departure and too confused for anger. Would Fae have an answer that would not vex him more?


Violette

“It’s understandable given what has just been said and as I’ve promised the little hind, no other will know of what we’ve spoken of.” She could just imagine the utter turmoil they’d face because of it, especially with the hind claimed as one of Drustan’s. It would add fuel to the already smoldering flame.

“J-just try not to do anything rash, Dru.” She called after him worry evident in her voice.

She gave a deep sigh before turning away to make her way back to her own den, heading back to check on her little family. Hopefully her next visit would be on better terms. One where they could truly spend time together as a family.