𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter fifty-one; News From Scotland
" Show me the worst parts and let me carry them with you. "

ELSPETH HADN'T BEEN rushing to announce her and Demetre's change in relationship. And he didn't seem to care for any announcements, either.

As tragic as it was, both seemed content with the solitude the plague brought them.

For the next two weeks, they stayed locked up in their wing of the castle with very little space between them.

And Demetre had learned Elspeth's lack of experience rather quickly.

"Oh!"

The man glanced up from his book, quite puzzled at Elspeth's exclamation as she entered his chambers.

"I'm so sorry," She said, her voice squeaky as she turned away from the man, "I should've knocked."

"It's alright, Petal," Demetre said, a deep chuckle rumbling from his chest as he stood, "This is the second time you've walked in on me indecently, I'm beginning to think it's on purpose."

Elspeth closed her eyes, covering her warm face with her hands.

Demetre raised a brow, grabbing a shirt and loosely tossing it over his head.

"I hardly thought I was a piece of art but I didn't think I looked so terrible," He teased, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Elspeth peeked through her fingers, letting her hands fall away when she saw his chest covered.

"It's not that," She said quickly, "I just. . . It's improper."

"So is coming to my chambers at all," He said with a crooked smile, "And kissing before we are--"

"Okay, I just mean it to say it's. . . further than improper."

Demetre's face melted into realization.

"Oh, you have not--"

"No, Demetre, I have not."

And then he laughed.

"Stop!" Elspeth said, slapping his arm, "That's horribly rude!"

"Did you not grow up alongside three brothers?" He questioned, still laughing.

"That is entirely different!"

Demetre's laughter died down to nothing but a warm smile. Elspeth was still bright red, but the added anger made her look like a sprite to Demetre. He dipped his head down, pressing a kiss to her jawline.

"I'll be sure to wear ten layers of clothing each time we meet, Pet."

"You're teasing me."

He sighed, pulling away.

"Only because you are endearing when you're angry," He said, brushing down her hair, "I have no intention of crossing any line you set. We will go at whatever pace you wish for. I wasn't thinking of it, and for that, I apologize."

Elspeth twisted her lips, allowing Demetre to press a kiss to her forehead. She watched as he reclaimed his seat on his bed, leaning against the headboard.

"You've been with women before, then? I mean, there were rumors, but. . . I wasn't sure what was true."

Demetre frowned.

"Petal--"

"Please, just be honest with me?"

". . . I have. Never in the way I have been with you."

"You have not had me--"

"And yet still, nothing can hold a candle to you."

Elspeth breathed out, taking a seat beside him on the edge of the mattress.

"I suppose it shouldn't bother me," She said, more so to herself than to him, "It's not strange for a man to be with women before he is wed. We all heard the rumors when we arrived; about Francis, and Sebastian, and Lord Julien was married before he and Lola--"

"You can be upset," He said softly.

Elspeth turned to face him.

"Or angry," He continued, "Jealous, even. . . Whatever you feel, it is alright."

"You make it very hard to be angry," She whispered.

"That's not true."

"You're right."

Demetre smiled as she did as if her happiness was a fever he would always catch.

"What happens when the plague has cleared and we have to return to normalcy?"

"So many questions tonight."

"Answer them?"

Demetre nodded, folding his hands together.

"If you wish for it, then I'll court you. We can write to your family for their blessing."

Elspeth lifted her hand to grab Demetre's gently.

"We'll be swarmed with questions, you know," She said quietly, "Kenna will ask the date for our wedding."

"Tell her whatever you wish," He said easily, "So long as it is not too far away."

Elspeth smiled, looking at her lap.

And then she was reminded of what she had thought those weeks ago in the Blood Wood. What she had wondered while he was away.

"Demetre?" She said, "I want to know more about you."

The man raised a brow as she looked back at him.

"I loathe the summer and sailing on ships," He said, "The color orange does not suit me, and I quite like apple pie, when baked correctly."

Elspeth smiled weakly, squeezing his hand.

"Important information," She said, "But. . . I want to know more."

Demetre's smile faltered, his expression growing darker as he looked away from her.

"You only say that because you don't know the weight of the answer," Demetre said quietly, "Trust me, Pet."

Elspeth twisted her lips to the side.

"I don't think anything could change us."

"Are you so sure?"

The woman frowned, shuffling closer to him. She lifted a hand, gently raising his chin so she could see his face in full.

He looked vulnerable. A strange word for a man as powerful as Demetre Langlois, but it rang true.

"Show me the worst parts," Elspeth said softly, "And let me carry them with you."

Demetre's brow creased as if he were weighing over the offer in his head.

"If you want to know the Monster of House Langlois," Demetre said, "I have to take you to where it formed. . . Once the plague has died out, I will take you. I swear."

Elspeth nodded gently, shuffling so she was beside Demetre entirely. He lifted an arm, allowing the woman to sink into his side, before opening his book once again.

And there they sat, reading together, in a peaceful silence for the rest of the night.

↬

Elspeth had been corresponding with her family during her time in isolation. She gave the messengers tasked with carrying out her letters extra coin and food, only after they assured her ten times that they were willing to complete their jobs.

She was glad for them. Not knowing her family's fate would have driven her mad.

Douglas was safe, locked in his house like a madman, but safe. He'd written that he nearly killed the messenger and kindly requested she wait for further correspondence until the plague had died out.

He was still himself, which gave her peace.

Her parents and Hans were safe on the Liens Estate; the plague had taken Scotland as well, and she cursed when she read her mother's handwriting explaining Hans had been delivering food to households in their Duchy. But, she was reassured that he was taking every precaution save for his duties.

Her parents remained in their estate, isolated separately,

Her middle brother, Fraser, was of less concern. He'd turned into a hermit the moment he married his sweetheart, and they'd only grown more reclusive on their small plot of land after the birth of their first daughter. He wrote that they were safe and begged Elspeth to remain away from the people at court until it was safe.

In short, each member of the Liens family was healthy and accounted for. And the Plague had already begun dying down; most members of court had departed from their isolation, but Demetre wanted to hold out just a little while longer to be sure.

This was why Elspeth had no reason to fear when a letter with her father's seal arrived one evening. She figured it was just another update on their Duchy, or an inquiry about her wellbeing, so she tore it open in the hall without much thought.

Her fingers clutched the paper as she read over his familiar handwriting.

This was not a lighthearted message from her father to his daughter.

"Elle?"

Demetre Langlois had been expecting Elspeth for ten minutes now, so he elected to go in search of her.

And she stood in the center of an otherwise empty corridor, wrinkling a heavy piece of parchment with how tightly she was holding onto it.

Her head snapped up at his voice, hurrying to him without a moment of hesitation. He saw tears bubbling in her eyes like sparkling shimmers on a gown before she crashed into him-- Demetre found comfort in her embrace. How tightly she held onto him-- he'd always cherish that.

"What's wrong, Petal?"

Somehow, this pulled a sob from her vocal cords, only making the man's heart sink. He cradled her head to his shoulder, attempting to reciprocate the comfort she gave so bountifully.

"It's my brother," She finally found her voice through the cries, "Hans--"

Elspeth could not finish the sentence, but Demetre didn't need her to. He seemed to understand what had happened and what she needed-- as badly as the man yearned to be what she needed, he did not believe he was.

He could not be enough.

"Demetre?"

"Is your wife nearby?" Demetre asked Sebastian tightly, his hands linked behind his back.

The thought of leaving his wing of the castle had been daunting enough, but Demetre had decided alone this was worth the risk.

Kenna's face appeared in the doorway beside Sebastian's, brows furrowed in worry.

"Is everything alright?"

"Elspeth could use your company," Demetre said, breaking the stare-off between himself and Sebastian for this alone. "She's in mourning."

"Of who?" Kenna asked worriedly, already exiting the room.

Sebastian followed the two without a word, the trio seeming to tune out any worries of friends as they barged through the castle.

"Hans."

Kenna knocked gently on the door, dismissing the man who attempted to announce her.

"Ellie?" The woman called, "It's Kenna, can I come in?"

The faint 'yes' was all Kenna needed to quickly enter the room, wanting to cry herself when she saw Elspeth.

She looked so small. Elspeth was a thin woman, yes, she kept up appearances in the way her family liked, but she was never fragile. Taking up less space than a woman so bright should.

"Oh, Ellie."

Elspeth's emotions overtook her again as Kenna sat on the side of the bed, before climbing in fully-- not caring that her husband and Demetre Langlois watched the interaction-- her only worries were of her best friend.

Her truest friend. The only one who'd never wavered.

"He's gone, Kenna," Elspeth spoke so sadly, Kenna's heart broke. "The plague--"

"Shh, it's alright," Kenna whispered gently, "God had mercy on such a brave man, Elle."

Sebastian took a cautious step forward, and he saw Demetre almost stop him. But he didn't so Sebastian kept going, and before he knew it he was at her bedside.

It was so strange, it almost tore the man in two. A bed shared by his wife and the woman he loved, two different girls who were two entirely different things.

"Elspeth?" Sebastian said gently, kneeling beside the bed when she peered over at him reluctantly. "Do you remember the first night we talked? When you told me about your siblings and Scotland?"

"Yes," Elspeth said quietly, her voice hoarse as she did.

"And do you remember what you told me Hans said to you?" He questioned lightly, resting a hand on the bed linen in place of her, "When he had that sickness all those years ago?"

Elspeth began to cry more, and for a moment Sebastian thought as though he'd ruined things completely.

But, the woman took a shaky breath and allowed her hand to clutch the blanket as close to Sebastian's hand as was appropriate.

"That he'd never truly leave me," She croaked, vocal cords raw as she spoke, "Even if. . . even if the worst happened. He'd always watch over me. . . because that's what brothers do."

"And he is watching over you this very moment," Sebastian spoke gently, squeezing her hand, "He will never truly leave you, not so long as you hold him in your heart."

The three lingered with Elspeth as day trailed to night and her tears turned to nothing but stains on her rosy cheeks.

And when a servant came to prepare Elspeth for bed, Kenna and Sebastian left, albeit reluctantly.

And as Demetre began to depart, only after ensuring her bed was nice enough to sleep in, Elspeth's voice reached out.

"Can we spend a while painting?"

He turned in surprise, his eyes softening at her expression— the smallest shimmer of hope in a sea of inky black grief.

"Of course."

And it was then Demetre realized, as Elspeth Liens's clung to the crook of his arm as they walked down the dark corridors of the castle, that perhaps, but only perhaps, Elspeth Liens needed him just a little bit, too.

Though, to the woman herself, Demetre was perhaps the beginning and end of everything. Right beside her, always.

She wasn't so sure she needed anything other than him.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
The Hans thing has been planned
for a while and if I'm honest I didn't
intend for it to be DIRECTLY after demetre
and ellie admit feelings but...
the plague only takes up ONE epsiode???
idk sorry guys it makes me sad too :(
Ellie's favorite brother <3
But I honestly feel like it was
more realistic for someone to
die from the plague, sorry
if that sounds horrible LOL
but literally the only person
who caught the plague in
the show was Pascal! idk
don't hate me