trigger warning/ content warning: death, injury

"What?!" Biana cried, loud enough for Dex and Fitz to come over to see what was happening.

"What is is?" Fitz asked. Alvar explained the situation.

    Dex paled. "They can't- no, they can't...", he whispered, fidgeting with the helmet he had taken off and was now holding in his hands.

    Fitz, on the other hand, was furious. "What?!" he shouted, throwing his hands in the air. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because we knew you'd react like this," Alden said, in a calm tone that contrasted Fitz's fury. "And it is not a problem. No one will be taking the kingdom anytime soon."

"So we're just going to let them rampage the kingdom and attack the castle instead?" Fitz demanded.

"I have a solution," Alvar said, "But your not going to like it."

    "What is it?" Fitz asked. "Just spit it out."

    "We could give them money." The words hung in the air, holding the weight of the world.

    "Absolutely not," Della finally said. "Have you forgotten we are in a war? The amount it would take to pacify them would leave us defenseless to attacks. And they could easily just take our money and attack again."

    "But we could make them promise to hold off," Alvar argued. "Or pay them over time. That way we could hold off for long enough to keep our defenses strong. Or we could make an alliance- power is free, and is more valuable then money."

    "No." The words came from Genevieve, who'd barely spoken the whole time.

    Alvar sighed. "Dear, I know your history with them, but please, it's the only way to stop them from attacking. Just think, for a moment-"

    "I am thinking. And i think your an idiot to trust those barbarians to not slit your throat long enough to make negotiations!" With that, she stormed off, resuming her pacing with such loud stomps Biana feared the heels of her shoes might snap off. She wanted to go talk to her, but knew from experience it was better to let her cool down first. Genevieve was a bit like the sky: peaceful and lovely mist of the time, but if you got her angry, well, you were asking for a hurricane.

    Everyone watched her for a moment, probably to make sure she wouldn't start throwing the crates at everyone, then Alden cleared his throat. "Alvar, as the military leader, the decision will be up to you," he decided.

    Alvar bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you father."

    Fitz looked ready to punch him, but Dex whispered something to him that seemed to calm him down, and the two walked over to a corner in the room. Alden and Alvar got up as well, probably to discuss the rebels privately, leaving just Biana and Della.

    Della sighed, rubbing her temples. "Men are... not the wisest sometimes."

Biana realized something then. "Mother, do you agree? With how the kingdom is being run?"

Della looked at her daughter, cobalt eyes staring into teal. "Darling, your father and brother... they try, but sometimes that's not all that matters." Biana nodded, although she didn't quite understand what Della was saying. She didn't ask for her to elaborate, though. She knew that, although Della loved her children and life, her marriage was not completely of her free will, and that there were many things she and her husband disagreed about.

They had been there for a few hours, idly chatting and occasionally getting up to walk and stretch, when a knock sounded at the door. knock-knock-pause-knock. Everyone in the room froze, recognizing the sound. It was the special code they had chosen to signal that the attack was over. Even Dex knew it, as the royal guard had been taught it in case they were chosen to deliver it.

    Fitz reacted first, running over to the door to deliver the answering code (knock-knock), then unlatching the locks and opening the door. A guard Biana didn't know was on the other side, already bowing to the crown prince. As soon as his back had straightened, Fitz asked the question they had all been dreading. "How many casualties?" The Neverseen weren't kind, like some other rebel groups. Even if they had intended it to be a warning, they would still hurt whoever got in their way.

    "Only two," the guard replied, letting Biana dbreath in a sigh of relief. That was much better than she had expected, considering the amount of guests in the building. Perhaps it truly was intended to be a warning, a flick of darkness before they showed what would happen if the candle burnt out. "Who?" Fitz asked. None of the tension had left his body. He was obviously preparing for the nuoworst.

    "Caprice Redek, for one. She got pushed off a balcony at one point. She's still getting checked, but she's likely to at least live." Biana sucked in a breath. They hadn't been as lucky as she hoped. Marella's mother was very kind, and she knew Marella and her were very close. She would have to check on her soon.

    "And the other?" Fitz pressed, unrelentless.

    "Gisela Sencen," the guard said, almost hesitantly. It seemed all of Biana's friend's mothers were being hurt today. "Her body was found in the rebel's uniform." Biana couldn't help herself, she gasped a bit. Keefe's mother had never been kind, but she couldn't have been a murder. No, it had to have been some sort of joke.

    "Are you positive?" she heard her mother ask.

    "Yes, I'm sorry to say. Multiple witnesses saw her attacking before she died. Her hood came down as she fell." Well. She supposed she would have to talk to Keefe as well. He had never liked his mother, but she doubted this wouldn't make him feel some way.

    The adults began talking about clean up efforts and patrolling, and a guard led Biana up to her room. It was already night, and she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. She wasn't hungry, though. All the maids had been given the rest of the day and the next day off, so she changed and dressed herself, and prepared for a fitful sleep.

•••

The next morning Biana woke up quite late, as all of the maids had been given the day off. The festivities for the day had been canceled, to give everyone a chance to emotionally recover.

    She dresses in a simple, grey gown, to show that although she hadn't been close to anyone who was lost she still mourned them, had a quick breakfast in her own chambers, and headed out to find Marella. She found her with Linh in the infirmary. The two were sitting in a chair next to Caprise's bedside. Marella was asleep, still wearing the dress she was wearing yesterday. Linh had changed clothing but had dark circles under her eyes, like she hadn't gotten any sleep. She had her arm around the blonde's shoulder, and was stroking her hair softly. She gave Biana a weary smile when she saw her.

    "How is she?" Biana asked, careful to keep quiet, as to not disturb the sleeping mother and daughter.

    "Marella or Caprise?"

    "Both."

    "Caprise... she'll live, but the doctors said that she suffered serious brain damage. She may never be the same."

    "Oh." Biana couldn't think of anything better to say. "And Marella?"

    "I'm... not completely sure. She was really upset, but she also kept whispering things about how they were right and she needed to go. She wouldn't tell me what that was about."

    "When she wakes up, please tell her that I said that I'm really sorry."

    "I will," Linh promised. And so Biana left her in the infirmary, quietly stroking Marella's hair.

    •••

    Biana's next visit was to Keefe. She guessed he was in his room, in the guest quarters. The door, a heavy wooden thing, was cracked slightly open. Biana peeked into it, not wanting to accidentally barge in if he was changing. Keefe was sobbing on his bed, with Tam Song sitting  next to him, his arm around the blonde's shoulder, whispering things Biana couldn't quite make out.

    There were papers thrown around the room, some crumpled, some furiously scribbled out. The closest one to the door had a rough sketch of a swan and an eye.

    Biana quietly closed the door and walked away. This was not something she was meant to be apart of.

She walked back to her room. For the rest of the day, she didn't do much of anything, mostly staring out of the window, occasionally starting to write something down but scribbling it out right after. That night she went to bed early, thinking about many things.

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Hi! Sorry this chapter was so late, i was kind of getting bored with the way i had originally planned this and had to switch it up a little. Also, i've noticed that this has been getting a bunch of views, but almost no votes. Please vote and comment if you enjoy this, it makes me so happy to see people enjoy this !

Question of the chapter: Could you survive being locked in a room with your family for a day (while arguing about politics)?