Dark news borne on beautiful wings (Private, Alexis)

[Alicia Elsdragon]

TS: Melora, Brightening 2, as the brightening slips into darkening.

The office for the Minister of War. Oh the irony of visiting here. But she knew what she knew and she knew that she *must* do it. There could be no other who did this, no other who told Alexis. It must be her, Alicia Gil'dae. It had to be, for she owed it to Motito.

So, the Imperial Lady Chancellor arrived at the door to the Imperial Minister for War. She stood in the doorway as she had before, oh so many times, when the platinum-haired elf that she loved so had been here and she knocked gently. Memories of different times that she had stood here flooded through her and hit her like physical blows, but Alicia's eyes showed nothing except a calm outward appearance and a determination that would have made Motito smile indeed if he had been sitting there to greet her.

Assuming that Alexis was there, should he look up he would see Alicia. She wore a long white skirt and a white bodice with a white blouse billowing open over it. Her face was as pale as the white clothing she wore and her eyes had circles of dark beneath them.

"Alexis? I'm sorry to arrive unannounced but I wondered if you had a moment?" she spoke, her voice soft but confident and she waited for a response before she set foot in the office. A response from the young man that Motito had been so very very fond of.

[Alexis Sapientia]

This is the second-most wonderful time of the day, thought he whose very word could issue a plethora of arrows, or launch many a ship.

The most wonderful time of the brightening, of course, was when he was ensconced with his love, away from the many bitter batterings of the wagging tongues of the public. Oh, he'd heard many a tale, particularly after the assassination attempt, but now that the months had progressed, so did it seem that matters had, too.

He stood there with his hands clasped behind his back, examining the many trappings of his office. Quite larger than his old office just a few steps away, one he still utilized for his other role, but it suited his purposes well.

His mindless musing was interrupted by a series of short taps. His office staff had gone for the brightening, but the guards remained, as always, just outside the door, for an attack on this particular office would have political repercussions far and wide.

His surprise was evident on his face, a smile, warm and welcoming, recognizing, too, the familiar strains of work on the female elf's face.

"My Lady Chancellor. Salvaluti to you, and welcome."

Offering both hands in greeting, as always, so did he beckon her towards the couch. The strains of a long brightening always required comfortable seating.

"Quite a pleasant surprise, indeed. What brings you here so late in the brightening?"

[Alicia Elsdragon]

Oh how to do this? Alicia looked at the young man in front of her and she took both his hands willingly, dropping a slight curtsey out of habit and smiling wanly at him. Then she went and sat on the couch, clasping her hands in her lap as she did so. Sitting there, back ramrod straight, hands clasped tightly together she held on to her control most calmly.

"Alexis... I really don't know how to say this, and I'm sorry to bring you bad news. I am here as Alicia Gil'dae, Alexis, not as the Lady Chancellor, and I'm here to see you.. well.. there isn't a way to say it that will hurt less"

She motioned for him to sit and when he was comfortable she breathed in deeply, looked Alexis in the eyes and started to talk. Her voice did not waver in the slightest as she spoke, but her mist grey eyes were pools of hopelessness.

"Motito... well, Motito has been ill for a while now, Alexis. He's been growing more unwell but did not want people.. did not want anyone to know" oh the truth of that. He would have been happier if she had not known, if he could have saved her from this. That had led to part of his anger, of course, but he had done his best not to show her that, to sheild her whenever he could.

"And.. well, simply put, Alexis, Motito died in the early candlemarks of yesterday morn. I had to go and tell Calairiel first, but since then I came straight to you. You were someone that Motito liked and and admired, and I knew that I had to tell you. I'm sorry, Alexis"

She sat, not sure what else to say. She had no comfort to give him for she was dead inside.

Her hope had left her.

[Alexis Sapientia]

Concern edged on his face; never had he seen Alicia Gil'dae so...distraught would have been the word he'd used, and while he'd never been all that familiar with the elven people, the fact that she was dressed shimmering all in white and looking more careworn than usual was certainly an indicator of...

I'm sorry to bring you bad news.

He had to blink twice at that.

I am here as Alicia Gil'dae, Alexis, not as the Lady Chancellor, and I'm here to see you.. well.. there isn't a way to say it that will hurt less...

Noting the stiff way in which she comported herself, Alexis couldn't help but reciprocate, gripping his fingers tight on his hips as he faced her, curious cerulean eyes mixing with the rumpled brow.

Motito... well, Motito has been ill for a while now, Alexis. He's been growing more unwell but did not want people.. did not want anyone to know.

"Well, that's pretty much like the old boy," murmured he under his breath, forcing a smile that, regrettably, wouldn't come, no matter how hard he tried.

And.. well, simply put, Alexis, Motito died in the early candlemarks of yesterday morn...

"Oh, my gods."

The rest of what she'd said was blurred out as the reality of what she'd said echoed in his mind. Motito, dead? Insane! Impossible! That old dolt was as spry as a Silrosian longbow, no doubt causing some mischief in his old age, what with that spectacular manner in which he's comported himself in many a campaign, Demios Isle being the more familiar of them...

The blood drained from his face as he continued listening, sensing the words but not really hearing, wondering why the room seemed so small all of a sudden, and why he felt so sick to his stomach. It was a familiar feeling, one which he'd thought he'd never have to revisit, again.

He just had to close his eyes for a moment, and think...

...refreshing his vision only to see Alicia Gil'dae still with him, still seated on his couch, in his office, in this the beginning of the second era of the Regency of His Most Imperial Excellency Milo L'Evienne.

His mouth was as dry as ashes as he gazed at her, not knowing what to think, not knowing how to feel, only very well aware that a poor soul was before him, feeling all petrified, lost, and bewildered, inside.

Summoning what inner reserves he could, he took her hands, feeling the cold on her skin, and just setting moist ceruleans on hers, empathy, evident, and sympathy, prominent.

"I...I am so sorry. I...I didn't know."

There wasn't more that could be said, save for the feel of two souls whose worlds suddenly made no sense, no absolute sense, at all.

[Alicia Elsdragon]

He took a moment, as she knew he would, and whilst he did that she watched him calmly. Alicia saw the shock drain the blood away from his face and she felt that calm detachment that had walked with her for the last few months and had shown itself in force in the last two brightenings.

But then he opened his eyes, he has such vivid eyes Alicia thought to herself as she felt his hands take hers. The tears that threatened him were far from Alicia herself right now, and at his words she smiled gently.

Taking one hand out of his she placed it, softly, on Alexis' cheek "I know you didn't know, Alexis. He didnt want you to - he didn't want anyone to. It was hard for him, you see, and Motito was a proud man. A very proud man. He had every right to be" the last words accompanied by her hand moving back and grasping his once more.

"But he loved Alexis. He loved well and he loved deeply and he loved as truly as any being I have ever met. And he loved you. Hold that if you can in the brightenings to come. If you can not hold anything else, hold that." Her own mist grey eyes were dry as she spoke, her voice soft but not wavering. She had cried a thousand tears and not one of them made a difference.

So she sat there quietly and looked at Alexis calmly "I'm sure that there will be questions you have, Alexis. If I can I'll answer them. I am so so sorry to be the one who brings you this news. If I could have it any other way I... " here she faltered and one tear escaped, slowly trickling down her white cheek as she continued "I would take it myself and have him live, but there was no way it could be healed. There was nothing. Please believe that I tried."

She breathed in then and sighed slightly "There will needs must be a ceremony of some kind. He would hate that, I have no doubt, but he would like that there were people who loved him enough that they would stand and mourn him. I'm going to ask Milo if he'll do something.. something commemorative for 'Tito. I'm not sure what yet. His belongs and so on need to be returned to the House for the most part..."

She stopped talking and shook her head "My apologies Alexis, I am rambling. There are a lot of thoughts in my head and they will not subside no matter what. Was there... did you have any questions?" she asked, looking at him calmly, that one tear now disappeared but its wet trail still evident on her cheek.

[Alexis Sapientia]

It's odd how at peace she could be with all of this. perhaps it had something to do with Elven sensibilities. Perhaps those of the Elfhame just had a more...positive, perhaps, manner of seeing things, of how death was but the beginning...

...for Alexis, however, it seemed like nothing more but the end.

How long had he known him? Eras, without a doubt, back when he was still young and foolish. Since his brightenings at The Reg, back when the old goat was the Headmaster and quite the war hero. He seemed so larger-than-life then, so...

...and now he was just gone.

Reconciling that realization in so short a time just seemed so...pointless.

There was nothing to do but bury his face into his hands, her voice the sole link to reality and reason.

I know you didn't know, Alexis. He didnt want you to - he didn't want anyone to. It was hard for him, you see, and Motito was a proud man. A very proud man. He had every right to be...

Alexis looked up and managed a small smile at that. Yes, Motito was proud, way proud for someone of his stature, and as Alicia said it, he had every right to be. Lord of a Silrosian House, Master of his sphere, former Imperial Marshal and Minister of War...a hero of the Empire, that was most certain.

Motito, gone...it just seemed too horrible to contemplate. Everything now seemed so small...everything now seemed to be of little consequence.

But he loved, Alexis. He loved well and he loved deeply and he loved as truly as any being I have ever met. And he loved you. Hold that if you can in the brightenings to come. If you can not hold anything else, hold that...

He felt her hold his hand, comforted slightly by it, his mind recollecting memories.

This was true...he was an odd little elf, old Gilded Gil'dae, but it was true. He'd been something of a patron, really. He owed the fellow a lot. The insignia he was wearing now had once been his. What was it he'd written...?

...those ships...they were a parting gift, for you.

The thought of it all just made him feel terrible, all the more.

Her words washed over him, echoing in his ears but making little sense, his eyes peering away into the distance...it just all seemed so...unreal, like it were just an elaborate fantasy, borne out of sheer...

There will needs must be a ceremony of some kind. He would hate that, I have no doubt, but he would like that there were people who loved him enough that they would stand and mourn him. I'm going to ask Milo if he'll do something.. something commemorative for 'Tito. I'm not sure what yet. His belongs and so on need to be returned to the House for the most part..."

"He was a soldier."

Odd how he'd just off and said that, in turmoil though his brain might be. It was as clear as brightening, this sudden realization, causing him to stand up and wipe his face with his hands, his eyes crystallizing on the map of the Empire on his office wall.

My apologies Alexis, I am rambling. There are a lot of thoughts in my head and they will not subside no matter what. Was there... did you have any questions?"

Sitting himself back down, he began to hold her hands in his, his eyes suddenly fierce and decisive. Where he got the strength, he knew not...only the certainty that he had it, and that there was something inside him that impelled him onward.

"He was a soldier, and served his Empire well. There is nothing more to be said."

Standing up, so did he offer a hand, a slight smile on his lips.

"We will remember his legacy, celebrate his achievements, and believe in his dream, as he did."

"Are you with me?"

[Alicia Elsdragon]

She watched him go through the process of the realisation sinking in. She had seen it happen, of course, and she knew what he was going through from an academic point of view. She watched him and made sure that he was alright, although of course he wasn't. But then he hit upon a phrase. A single phrase and she nodded "He was a soldier, Alexis, yes, indeed he was. An old soldier who had seen to much but who would do anything to serve his Empire"

The young elf looked up at him as he offered her his hand and in that moment her eyes showed the torture she was going through. There was no feeling of positivity, no knowledge of anything being the natural order of things, although as an Elf she knew that she should feel that. She took Alexis' hand, her own soft white hand shaking dreadfully all of a sudden and she stood, feeling her legs shake too.

"I... I hope that I can Alexis. I should... I'm just...." a single tear trickled down her pale face and then another... "Oh.. I'm sorry... I'm sorry" she said, angrily wiping the tears away. She did not want to cry in front of anyone. No. He wouldn't like that, she thought, he wouldn't. He wouldn't want her to.

"It's just.. the children are so young, Alexis. And I just dont know what it is that I'm going to do without him... how do I live?" she asked, looking at the young human with hopelessness in her eyes "I know that's just so selfish.. but how... how do I live without him?" she ran a shaking hand through her hair and shook her head "Will you work with Milo and organise an announcement and a memorial service, Alexis? I'm sorry to ask you but... but I can't do it. I just can't. Will you do that for me?" she asked, looking close to hysterical at the thought that he might not.

[Alexis Sapientia]

"Yes. Certainly," said he as a calming presence, serving as her support in this moment of unparalleled grief, taking her hands and slowly standing, very much the image of a compassionate human being.

He'd gone through what she was now going through, albeit not of a temporary nature, and while his mind was screaming a thousand questions, he bit his tongue and let the moment pass.

"You live brightening by brightening, candlemark by candlemark, taking each moment at a time, savoring the best with the worst, leaving unpleasantness for another time." Letting his fingers run through her hands, so did he intend to impress upon her that this was real.

"It will be difficult, admittedly, but remember one thing: You have many friends, and far more people who will honor his memory by relieving your pain."

He knew his words were insufficient to assuage her grief, but there it was.

[Alicia Elsdragon]

She smiled at him as he took her hands in his and she nodded. He was right, of course, she knew that. The smile she gave him was wan but hoenst and her nod showed her understanding.

"I know that you're right, Alexis. And I'm trying, I really am. It's just... well I suppose I'm not the best at taking my own advice, as you may recall" she said smiling softly at him as she reminded him of the last time they had talked, in her office just after Liselle had been wounded. She had not been able to tell him then, Motito did not wish it, after all, but she wanted him to know that she had... wanted to tell him.

But now was not the time. She smiled slightly and nodded "I.. I know. And I will. It will help if you do that, it really will. Calairiel will do something for him in the Elfhame, and that will be public also. I.. I will do something for him at home, in Starshadow, but that should be just me. I... thank you Alexis, really. It means a lot more than I have words to tell you." she said and sighed.

"I... I should go now. I'm sorry, Alexis, both for not telling you before and for having to come and tell you now. But I had to.. I had to do it as he wanted. I hope you understand"

That said she stood and looked around the room as though not entirely sure where she was. She breathed in and smiled, making sure that there was nothing else he wanted before she left.