castlenim | I saw rise in the heat settle soft and as pure as snow

I saw rise in the heat settle soft and as pure as snow

[This, honestly, took a lot of work. More work than some of the battleplans, but admittedly the machinations of the Victorian nobles are predictable. The only thing Talulah knows about the northern territories is what she's gleaned from her father's journals.

Edward Artorius apparently had a decent enough relationship with the ruler when he'd been alive, and since the wendigo race of Sarkaz live for a very, very long time, perhaps any goodwill towards her parent might be extended to her.

She has also gleaned the northerners are not unreasonable; they've crossed paths during various skirmishes at the border, and they ignore all rebel forces once their own task is complete. Talulah has made it very clear no one from her side is to engage with any other party that isn't either obviously Victorian, or strikes first, and it seems the courtesy is returned.

That said, isolationist policy is hard to overcome, and what she's asking isn't a mere favor. To be embroiled in civil war in another country is an idea most people would scoff at, but...the north has undoubtedly seen the writing on the wall for what will transpire after the dust settles. Victoria's appetite is ever unsatiable.

The Gaulish castle she walks through is a testament to that. It's nothing but ruins now, good for little else besides neutral territory. She's brought two members of the rebels with her, two with a calm rationality suited to negotiations. She'd be fine going in alone, but, well...if Talulah saw another group's leader sitting all alone during a meeting that was meant to be a peaceful talk, she'd think there was an ambush waiting.

Still, no matter how rational one is, curiosity tends to win out, and she can hear her escort party gossiping even behind their masks. They're wondering if the northern princess is as beautiful and strong as the rumors say. If she's half as strong as that Cautus she'd seen once during a border skirmish, then her alliance would be more than a boon.

By her estimation, the meeting time is near, so she supposes she'll find out soon enough.]

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[For some unfathomable, bizzare reason, Talulah feels herself almost bristling at that. Eblana is a madwoman, so perhaps some instinct in Talulah is pinged and senses there's something more behind the overt threats.

Or the stress is finally getting to her.]

I...see.

[She doesn't, really, and she probably never will understand what goes on in Eblana's mind.]

If you don't think those threats are credible, then I trust your judgment, and we'll deal with it later. That's all I wanted to know. I forgot to mention, but the plan is to move out in an hour.

Like you said, if she was serious about this, she'd go after the obvious target.

[ and really, if Yelena's can take the brunt of Eblana's attentions away from Talulah at a critical time like this, that's a tradeoff she'll gladly make. she doesn't doubt Talulah's ability to handle herself, but Yelena also has more freedom in how she can communicate without the political hangups of the draco bloodline hanging over here. ]

Do we need to leave earlier? Or are we waiting until both sides are in position to start?

[Talulah has a nagging feeling that Eblana's serious about something, she's just not sure what. But that's not really the most important matter at the moment.]

All teams are moving at once. You'll see the signal once everyone's in position and we're prepared to attack.

[This is, instead, and Talulah can keep most of the various thoughts she shouldn't be having at bay if she discusses war plans.]

We want this to be as simultaneous as possible. But if something happens, like you get delayed while you're underground, use your best judgment when you do reach your position. The other fronts will probably have started the offensive.

[ Yelena tries not to be too openly relieved that they're moving away from the topic of Eblana Dublinn. the coming battle is something she knows how to navigate, familiar terms and expectations being something of a comfort next to the unknown element of her complicated feelings toward Talulah. ]

We can handle ourselves if something goes wrong. If we get held up, Feist should be able to find a way out for us.

[ meaning Talulah only needs to worry about managing her own unit. Yelena doesn't need her getting distracted by what the Yetis will be getting up to. ]

I know. We have the same goal, and I trust you. If things go sideways, do whatever you think is best.

[Talulah isn't going to lie to herself to the extent that she'll pretend she won't be wondering if Yelena and her squad are fine at any point during the next battle. But she does have faith in Yelena to carry the plan through, and take care of herself...hopefully.

A part of her wants to mention something about being conscious of her arts usage, but as much as Talulah doesn't really like seeing Yelena come back frozen like she does, it would be insulting to imply she holds back in any capacity. Talulah's already put her foot in her mouth once pretty badly; she's not about to do it again so soon.]

We'll meet at the palace.

[ Yelena herself has a mounting pile of questions she wants to ask, things she wishes she was feeling brave enough to say. she's about to march into a war zone without hesitation, but confronting Talulah over what she'd meant when asked her which order she needed is too daunting of a task to consider. the two of them are in a dangerous position, on the cusp of something Yelena doesn't know the shape of.

whether that's Talulah's impending ascendancy or her own feckless wishes, she can't say. both option seems equally impossible to reckon with at the moment. ]

Yeah. See you there. [ she says with an air of finality before moving to return to her squad. ]

[Any regret Talulah has at not saying anything more as Yelena departed has to be shoved in a metaphorical box and buried to deal with at a later time. Or not at all, if Talulah has her way, but no matter what, it has to wait.

She's not sure what she expected from the end of all this. Something more like the movies. Something more like her nightmares. Something more like the feeling of when she struck her sword through Kashchey's chest, the resistance and visceral nature of it.

In truth, she's almost surprised the moment they break through the last line of the Dukes' defenses, her arts leading the way like a living thing, a real dragon laying waste to a countryside town like in tales for children. There is no fanfare when they gain a foothold in the central parts of Londinium. The weathered palace does not transform or welcome her the moment she crosses the threshold.

Her compatriots are of a much different mood, especially once the survivors of the Dukes' armies are rounded up, their airships grounded, and a breathless messenger arrives. She speaks of things like surrender and negotiations instead of another barrage coming from whatever remains of the Dukes. From there, it starts as a murmur before the relief and elation start to take root in the rebel armies.

They become like a wave, urging Talulah further into the palace in their excitement, asking about the throne that's supposed to be here, chattering about everything they could do now that it all was over and how would surely be different. It's...surreal, to be living in the world she imagined. One without Kashchey's machinations, and the Dukes' plans for that weapon. A pipe dream come true.

At that thought, she suddenly looks around her, her instincts and heart wanting the one person who is most like an anchor when she feels so unmoored.]

Where are the other forces? Does anyone know?

[Huh? One of the rebels--one of hers, not the ones who had originally followed the Aslan heir, tilts her head to the side in puzzlement, Liberi feathers shifting along with the movement. Last the comms said they were doing as well as us. So no news is good news, yeah?

[ the underground route delivers Yelena and her squad to their appointed station without incident. once they emerge and the mission begins, Yelena doesn't have the luxury of indulging any unnecessary thoughts.

the rhythm of battle is easy to fall into, nothing more natural to Yelena than sending out wave after wave of her arts to decimate the Victorian soldiers trying to hold the line. it's almost a blessing to let that single-minded focus consume her, lowering the temperature of space around her until she stands alone on a field of ice, untouchable by ally and enemy both.

Eblana Dublinn isn't wrong about her capacity for violence. Yelena's talents lie solely in destruction. if she can put that to use for someone capable of doing more, she won't begrudge her fate.

she doesn't know how long she's been casting when the Victorians stop sending reinforcements. the barricades fall and they move into the heart of the city, trampling over the last inches of ground the Dukes were still clinging to. their communications were wrecked early, enemy arts hitting that vital equipment before the tide changed. they manage to get confirmation that similar breakthroughs are occurring at the other choke points— but some came with heavy losses, including on the front lead by her father, the shield guards, and her left behind Yetis.

given their positioning, it's not practical for FrostNova to abandon her troops and run across the city. they have to stick to the plan, press on, and hope the others will meet them when they can. Yelena leads them forward, ignoring the sick sense of foreboding that forms in the pit of her stomach and grows heavier with every step. surely, Ursus' elites could take care of themselves, and if a commander from another faction was injured, that would be the first piece of information they'd try to spread. it should be. even if securing Alexandrina guaranteed them a win, one way or another, she would know if something dire had happened.

the placating words ring hollow to her own ears. her doubt continues to grow, and by the time her group reaches a side-entrance of the palace, a feeling akin to panic has started to simmer beneath her cold facade.

it's bad enough that she doesn't think to test the connection, her strength too sapped by arts exhaustion to think logically. the imposing halls of the Aslan dynasty's seat of power seem suffocating as she and a few other soldiers navigate through them, and it catches her almost entirely off guard when she turns a corner and suddenly, the person she wants to see the most is standing there.

her feet move on their own, energy welling up from a place she didn't know existed as she sprints across the polished floors, practically catapulting herself toward Victoria's new heir-apparent. ]

Talulah!

[Talulah's head turns the moment she hears her name, a part of her wondering if she'd imagined the voice to be the one she wanted to hear, but no, it's not an illusion. That is Yelena, and it takes no thought at all for her to step forward and intercept the other's trajectory with an embrace.

It's not something she should do with her new standing, probably, but in the limbo between victory and actually rebuilding a nation, she will allow herself this. To hold the one person who had been with her from the beginning, who she trusts so much and so implicitly. Who she cares about to a depth that she can't bear to voice under the circumstances.]

Yelena!

[And only now does a bit of that giddy relief finally make its way through her.]

You were right, we met here.

[ she hadn't taken off with the intention to literally throw herself at Talulah, at least not consciously. Yelena's surprised when Talulah sweeps her up so readily, like she'd been waiting there to do just that, and she can't stop herself from slinging her arms around her to return the gesture. it's a relief she can hardly describe to feel Talulah warm and whole against her, a weight lifting from her shoulders that allows to her remember what they're all about to gain here. ]

Why are you saying it like that? You doubted me?

[ everyone else in their line of sight is absolutely staring at them. right now, Yelena really doesn't care. ]

No, no. It's praise for your accurate prediction.

[Talulah will care about those stares and things like propriety later. She thinks she's earned the right to express her emotions openly for a moment after victory. Which means she doesn't want to let Yelena go quite yet.]

Still, I'm glad you made it through all right. The comms went out at the worst time, didn't they?

You should know by now that flattery doesn't work on me.

[ Yelena's arms don't loosen around Talulah either. the last time she felt any sense of relief was back in that side room when Talulah took her hand, and it seems like a lifetime's passed since then. she won't apologize for going by what she wants to do rather than what she should in this moment— after winning a war, she thinks she deserves that much. ]

Our comms got taken out early, but it sounds like we got off easy compared to the other squads. Have you been here long?

It's not flattery.

[At the mention of the other squads, Talulah does finally pull back just enough so that a conversation is easier. Which maybe makes their position a bit more compromising, but she cares even less about it now that there's something important to focus on.]

Not all that long. The comms have been spotty all around, though. Do you know any more about how the other squads are doing? We heard it was rough going, but not a loss.

[ Yelena's immediately aware of how questionable that change in position looks. with Talulah moving away, but not far enough to completely let her go, Yelena's forced to lift her head up to meet Talulah eye-to-eye. not that she has to crane her neck up or anything— their height difference isn't that big. the heeled boots Talulah prefers exaggerate it. ]

I think I heard as much as you. The Ursus reinforcements had significant causalities, but I don't know the scope.

[ repeating it sparks a twinge of guilt in Yelena's chest. people she knows and cares about could be in danger, or worse, and here she is fawning over a healthy allied commander. she's confirmed Talulah's all right, so she should be moving out of her personal space ... any time now ... ]

That's...not ideal.

[Talulah frowns, thinking. The fact that a messenger came to them means the fighting has died down enough that sending scouts out to reconvene with allies isn't a suicide mission. And the sooner she knows the status of the other squads, the better.

Finally, and with reluctance, Talulah finally does back away from Yelena to an acceptable distance, and it's only because she can't really address the gathered rebels, and more specifically the messenger, otherwise.]

Are you still able to move through the city?

[When she gets a nod, she gives instructions to find the others, specifically the Ursus reinforcements. A few more volunteer to do the same, and once Talulah has another group working on getting the comms up and stable, she turns back to Yelena.]

We'll hopefully get word from them soon.

[ watching Talulah step back and take command to address the more pressing situation only makes Yelena's embarrassment intensify. she doesn't let it show on her face, but gives Talulah a stiff nod in response, carefully shifting away and crossing her arms in an attempt to recover some of her pride. ]

Right. It shouldn't be too long.

[ Usrus' army is like no other on Terra. their efficiency is unmatched, and Yelena's sure they'll regroup faster than most military forces could imagine. ]

Have you looked around yet? I picked this place because it's near the center of the city and easy to find, but I've heard it hasn't really been used for anything in years.

No. There's supposed to be some kind of throne somewhere.

[But they hadn't gotten too far into looking for it. Reminded of that task, the remaining rebels return to heading down the hallways and looking through doorways to find it. Talulah begins to trail behind them at a slower pace.

She could wait nearer to the entrance for the scouts to return, but no matter if they or the group seeking the throne find their goal first, she'll get told about it. She might as well take a look around.]

This used to be the seat of the Draco's power. I'm guessing for political reasons, we'll be cleaning this place up and making it the central place for state affairs again.

I think I've read about that.

[ she didn't pay especially close attention in her foreign history lessons, but she remembers the broad strokes.

with Talulah's rebels returning to their task, Yelena briefly motions to the ones who arrived with her to follow the others. ]

You can help us look around, or go help with the comms, or take a breather if you need it.

[ for her part, she falls naturally into step with Talulah. she didn't specifically ask for Yelena's company, but electronics aren't her strong suit, and something about the place still unsettles her. Yelena's instincts tell her it isn't a good idea to leave Talulah alone here. ]

It was once very grand. Or so I've been told.

[Maybe the stories about the rubies and gold had been fanciful stereotypes about Draco, in the end. Talulah doesn't really see the need for all that, since the bones of the palace are imposing and stately enough, in her view.

She also would never say no to Yelena's company, but she does notice the other looking a little tense as they continue their way down the halls.]

Is something the matter?

Huh? I'm fine.

[ Yelena's immediately on the defensive, her mind returning to the scene they'd made a few minutes ago. she had been excited to see her friend, that's all there was to it.

that spark of panics fades quickly when she manages to look Talulah in the eye and remember that she'd never needle her about something like that. an awkward feeling hands over her, making her tongue heavy and reticent when she responds to Talulah's real question. ]

This place just gives me the creeps. It's probably nothing.

Well, it is pretty old. Maybe there are ghosts?

[Talulah's tone is obviously teasing, and Yelena is right that she wouldn't harp on their earlier embrace, even if that had been at the forefront of her mind. Or...it is, but she's mostly thinking about how it's unfortunate it had to end so soon. Which is ridiculous, because this isn't the time to be clinging to Yelena.]

It might be lingering arts from devices or traps as well. The air does feel a little charged to me, too.

Of course. That's really what we should be worried about here.

[ Yelena snorts, rolling her eyes at Talulah's little joke. she can't blame her for trying to lighten the mood, so she'll play along for now.

their footsteps echo for what seems like an eternity as they move over marble floors, the high ceilings and low lighting making it feel more like a cavern than a home for kings. the whole place strikes Yelena as terribly lonely, and she can't help but wonder what it will take from Talulah to bring a kinder atmosphere to the palace. ]

Would they bother to put traps here? From what I remember this place has been out of use since the coup. I'm surprised they bothered to maintain it at all.

Remnants from when it was still used, or people breaking in, I'd imagine.

[It would take a lot of effort to get it back up to functional, much less as splendid as it must have been at the peak of the Draco's power in Victoria. Although now that she's thinking about it, it doesn't have to be like that at all, does it? She can shape things how she wants them, but then it begs the question of what that looks like.

There's a murmur of excitement from the rest of the rebels as, in the near distance, a rather imposing doorway comes into view at the end of the corridor. If that didn't lead to the throne room, Talulah didn't know what would.]

That sounds like a hassle for anyone who had to work here.

[ Ursus' government buildings get along just fine with guards and security measures. then again, the aftermath of the war with Gaul had starkly different effects on the Aslans compared to her father. Buldrokkas'tee's mourning had brought forth a sympathetic fervor from his people, while the Victorian's great windfall only served to whet the appetites of its nobility for more of the same.

the looming outline of the entrance to the Victorian throne renews the unease Yelena's failed to shake off. it's not so different from the doors to the throne room of the St. Grypherburg palace, she tries to reason with herself. there's nothing threatening about a big room with an empty chair. ]

Are we going in?

[Reigning in the nobles' voracious appetite for expansion is one of the things Talulah is well aware she has to do once the dust has settled. It's part of why things had gotten this bad to begin with.

She looks up at the imposing entryway, contemplative. The rebels had been quite excited about this, and a part of her understands why. It's symbolic of their victory and her legitimacy. This is, by all accounts, her birthright. Even if it is just a big room with a chair inside.]

It would be a shame not to, right?

[The others are already opening the doors, leaving an opening for Talulah to slowly make her way inside. For a moment, it is nothing more than a huge, cavernous room, in the same state as the rest of the palace, but a few steps inside and she realizes that the throne...isn't empty?

A chill runs through her, and instinctively, her hand reaches for the hilt of her sword.]

Is that a body?

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