"You lying, deceitful, witch." Triya practically jumped out of his chair.

Reina shot a warning look at her husband.

Serena pulled her glove back on. "I'm the deceitful one?" She scoffed. "You might not have known my status in the magi world, but you knew that Verkaina has, and always will be, a magi country."

"I don't understand how that relates." Triya shook his head.

"Do you think we're stupid?" Teran laughed a humorless laugh. "Kalheim has been openly anti-magi for centuries. We know what you planned to use our soldiers for, and we will not stand for it. Why do you think we are here Triya?"

"Our people are scared. They can't step out of Kalhiem without being threatened." Reina stepped in.

"Threatened? By what?" Serena stared at her.

"The magi are bloodthirsty-"

Teran cut her off. "Yes, that's why they've given Eres back completely unharmed."

"His neck and hands are scarred." Triya dramatically motioned towards Eres.

"Yes, Triya. SCARRED. Not burned, scarred. Someone healed him, with magic." Serena laughed once. "Triya, you and your inability to comprehend are going to start a war."

"That's why we need your help, they are going in strength. We will be massacred."

"By your own hand. You start these conflicts, you can finish them. Alone." Teran looked between Reina and Triya.

"So you'd stand by while innocent families are murdered? You just stand and watch as a kingdom falls?" Reina stepped towards Serena.

"To stand with you is to stand against magi kind as a whole. I will not stand against my people, especially in a case like this. You will start a war you cannot win. The fall of Kalhiem will be your doing and the blood of the innocent, on both sides, will be on your hands." If looks could kill, Serena would've killed Reina and Triya.

I raised my hand a little. "Could I add something?"

Triya glared at me. "What-"

"Speak freely." Serena cut him off.

"I think I can speak for all magi here, we don't want war. Contrary to your beliefs, we aren't bloodthirsty monsters. We'd just like to live without being constantly threatened." I took a small step forward. "Our magic is everything to us. Without it, it feels like we can't breathe. You have the power to take it away. I've been in your vertez cells, I wear your chains now. I am terrified, we are all terrified."

Preach. Cassius.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why Veya is going to be Kavensi. Finnick.

Speak for yourself. I'd like to knock some heads. Javus.

Damn she brave. Caspian.

Ambassador core. Irina.

Bow down to the future of magi kind. Chena.

Guys, how about we let her focus. Keep up the good work, Veya. Mari.

Shut the hell up, Javus.

Serena nodded once. "Well said, Spirit." She turned to Triya. "I'll make you a deal."

He turned to look at her. "What?"

"If you still want an alliance, you can-"

"With all due respect, I am not marrying your daughter," Eres interjected.

Serena gave him a small smile. "I understand where you're coming from, which is why I'm giving you this option." She turned back to Triya. "If you still want this alliance, Eres can marry my daughter or this lovely Spirit."

Triya looked at me with distaste. "And if he doesn't marry either of them?"

"Verkaina will be fighting in the war, against you." Serena shrugged.

Reina jumped up. "What are we doing then, we have a wedding to plan."

Serena tilted her head to the side. "Oh, I think you misunderstand me. They need to marry on their own terms. I don't want her forced into a marriage for an alliance, I want her to choose this life."

Triya took a step back. "So you're saying the fate of Kalhiem rests in the hands of this egotistical magi."

"Egotistical?" Teran looked amused.

"Precisely. But I'd watch that attitude, we wouldn't want her to run away because of a problematic future father-in-law." Serena smiled.

Reina crossed her arms. "Fair enough. Is that all?"

"I believe so." Teran looked at his wife.

She gave me a quick wink and then walked towards the door. She opened it with a wave of her hand.

As soon as the door shut, they turned on me.

"Grab her and take her to her room." Triya waved his hand and walked back to his throne.

Two guards grabbed me by my arms.

"No." Eres turned to them. They stopped moving momentarily but didn't let go.

"Do you bow to your King or your Prince?" Triya looked at them.

They started to pull me towards the door. I tried to fight against them but it was no use.

"Father." Eres glared at Triya.

He sighed. "Let her go."

The guards dropped me so suddenly I fell to the floor.

Eres walked over to me and helped me up. "What the Hell is wrong with you?"

"I'd like to talk to my son, alone. She needs to be escorted." Triya rolled his eyes.

"So have her escorted, not dragged. She's not a prisoner."

Triya groaned. "Eres, she's not exactly a welcomed guest either. You marched into the throne room, when she was already in Kalhiem, and demanded that she be let in. And look at the situation we're in. You've somehow managed to make the most dangerous person in Kalhiem, the most valuable."

"You're right." Eres let out a breath. "She's the most valuable person in Kalhiem." He turned to me. "What would you like to do?"

I said the first thing that came to mind. "Get out of this stupid corset."

He held out his arm to me. "Alright, let's go."

I grabbed it.

"Eres." Reina scolded.

"What?" He turned to her. "What is so important that it has to be discussed right this second?"

Her eyes were pleading. I picked up on the silent message that Eres somehow couldn't see. I'm sorry. I missed you, I just wanted to talk. I lied, I love you.

She sighed. "Go get her settled in, I'll come find you later."

"Thank you." His tone was harsh.

He led me out the door into a hallway.

I glanced up at him. "Eres..."

"What?" His tone was softer now, but he was still clearly annoyed.

"She didn't mean a word she said in there, I saw it in her eyes."

"It doesn't matter. She had power to change things, she chose not to."

I stopped. "Eres, she has less power than you think."

He pulled on my arm. "She's still the Queen, she has more power than I do."

I pulled my arm back with enough force to make him turn. "Eres. She's scared. She doesn't have the protection that you do."

He grabbed my shoulders. "Veya, I get that. Trust me, I do. But she has more power than me, and a Hell of a lot more protection than you. I'm glad you care about my mother, but her fear doesn't excuse her actions."

I looked down. "I know a lot of people that would say the same thing about me."

He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. "Vey, you are not my mother. You have a reason, other than self-preservation, to be the way you are. My mother claims to be on our side, the reality is that her claim means nothing if she's not actively sticking up for us. I won't defend her if she's not doing the same for me."

"She's your mother." I stared at him.

"Yes she is, and I love her. But she's not in any real danger. At worst, she get's lectured publically. She will be just fine."

"Are you sure?" For some reason tears started to form in my eyes.

"Veya, I'm not sure why you feel so protective of my mother, but I can assure you she will be just fine. My parents disagree on many things, but they still love each other at the end of the day." He let go of my chin and wiped a tear from my cheek. "Please stop crying, she'll be fine."

I cleared my throat and tried to compose myself. "Alright."

...
I've got nothing to say other than this should've been posted last night and I forgot l o l

<3