Heather
Alora listened to her brother with a full heart. His sentences held such expression and undesirable burden. Each word grazed, if not punctured her heart like a sewing needle to a pincushion. Reason being; her feeling of helplessness. Alora has never been queen, never will be king, and will almost never have to take on responsibilities that are the equivalent of a king's or queen's. If she were to ever obtain title as Queen, it would be for another kingdom, and unlikely for Alynthi. She did not understand or relate to his struggles as King, but understood that hurdles awaited him. One of the many things Alora was fully capable and literate in helping with was emotional distress, and currently, she understood his domineering emotions and knew how to approach the situation. Just as much he felt them, she did as well. 

*"I must marry a woman of strong political connections of suitable station."*
Those very words made Alora feel unease. 
Realistically Astalios's decisions shouldn't be questioned, and technically, his freedom to wed whoever he wanted to was never really taken from him either. But of course, that wasn't how a King like her brother saw and thought of it. He had just mentioned how it felt as if he'd become Alynthi. A decision so crucial like this could result in all his and previous leaders' efforts and works to be disfigured, but it could also result in zilch which would equally be harmful for Astalios. It was a gamble any King so intertwined with their kingdom was not willing to take on.

With courage, Alora spoke her heart and attempted to offer a different perspective. 

"It is not a *Must*, Astalios. It is something you *Want* To do. It's not even something *You* Want, it's what your duty requires. Have the comforting thought that it is unlikely for you to fall in love with someone who will be the doom of Alynthi. Your devotion to Alynthi is something you or anyone cannot take away."

Alora swallowed her brother's expressed desire to find love and the worry of not doing so in time. In return, she let out a sigh and honest thoughts.

"Do remember that political ties are the bow to the braid. They should not be the main and full reason why you choose to marry someone. I'd much rather have the Queen be a woman of any background with great determination fuelled by the desire of Alynthi's betterment than have a Queen coming from a kingdom with immense ties with no stench of will."
.
A moment of silence allowed Alora to regain her thoughts and offer Astalios the comforting gesture of fixing his locks and readjusting his crown. His vision blurring by the glaze that engulfed his eyes was visible to her. With a soft smile and gentle tone, she continued speaking. 
.
"I assure you, Astalios, my dearest brother, that you *Will* Find love. You will fall in love, and you will be in love. All it takes is time, and you are far from not having enough of it. It's just pressing. That's the nature of time, but that does not mean I'll leave you to struggle. Don't you forget that I am your sister of 24 years, and the one thing I know best of is you. . . That being said, let me help. After all, *I* Am the princess. If anything, I'd know more than any king or prince about the women of each kingdom. You'd be left jaw-dropped at the differences in priority at those gatherings I get invited to."

Alora let out a light-hearted chuckle to ease the mood. 

"Any luck with Father when you began your search? Any one in particular that caught those noble eyes?"
Bobby
"My wants factor very little into ruling." *He took a moment to blink a few times, squeezing what might have become tears back into nothingness as he brought up his gauntleted hand to rub at his eyes. The steel split like a curtain being pulled back to reveal the skin underneath as his fingers reached the bridge of his nose, carrying away any teardropt before they became fully formed. One inhale, then the next, and then the next fortified his constitution once more. He had to get a grip on himself.

Wants were such a small thing compared to duties. If he'd continued as he wanted, he might still have been a prince, learning from his father until he was a hundred years of age, with hair beginning to gray as he took the crown after a long and peaceful reign preceded it. In the wake of his father's death, there was only duty - to be anointed king too soon, to rule with competence and steel in his bearing, to be the man he had wished to be before he was ready.

Wants, his heart told him in a whispered voice, would have him back on the battlefield immersed in gore, wreaking havoc against those that dared to oppose a single word from his mouth. Face twisted into a snarl of fury and delight, bladed pieces of shrapnel whirling about him like a hurricane, armies shattered by their own armor. The feel of a bones breaking beneath his hammer, the coppery smell and taste of blood. The war-god, his heart, whispered constantly about his wants. 

His face shifted rapidly from remorse to frustration to terrible resolve, the shadow of each emotion passing over his face as he tried to take a moment to calm himself before speaking. Alora was looking out for his well-being as a person, he reminded himself.*

"What else is there but what my duty requires?" *He asked as she straightened the crown and attempted to smooth out his hair. Normally, he might have waved her off, but there was little time for an interruption of that little consequence when they were speaking so candidly.*

_ _
"Yes, the political ties are the bow - but the braid is the creation of heirs to follow after me, and that is what leads me to believe my time is running short. My concern is... Selfish in nature, I think." *He admitted, voice low and soft, run through with pangs of guilt.* "There are many women with great determination for Alynthi's betterment among the nobility. I had hoped that I might find myself falling - truly falling - for one of them. I know that they will be no doom to Alynthi should I marry them. Doom will only come should I fail to make a decision. *Especially now*."

*His mind once more returned to the events at Sorevelle, the eye of the devourer, the great meet he had called in the castle, the time spent in search of scholars and historians and all manner of esoteric acolytes to find out some way to chase down a lead that seemed to have slipped away from them. The Association was little help in matters of magic...

He was abruptly brought back to the topic of conversation by his sister's offer. It might have been embarrassing, but like wants, embarrassment had no place in his duties. They were out of time for it. He would have to let his sister see what she could do.*

"...It would be a great help to me. I appreciate the offer greatly." *He spoke finally, nodding his head.* "Father and I never had much luck. I had very little time with anyone, and of those, only Bellaluna Agarvaran and I had much serious conversation. That happened to be because I executed her parents for slaving, not for any... Romantic purposes." *It sounded awful as the words left his mouth. He grimaced.*
Heather
Alora retracted her hand from her brother's head after noticing it hadn't provided him with much comfort. The young boy Astalios once was who enjoyed this gesture was no longer the man she spoke to. The day of his departure was the day that young boy was marked absent. 
 
A blank visage is what now plastered his bags and forehead wrinkles. His laugh lines were non-existent, the pump to his tears had rusted, and his lips had chapped enough to eject dust with every cold word. The uncommon occurrence, just like now, were the instances that reminded Alora that he was never this expressive or emotional. Around her there was far more 'life' in him than when he faced strangers or individuals he vaguely knew. The tears that had temporary made an appearance, or the distressed look on his face were moments she cherished despite them not being pleasant memories.

After a quick sigh and brisk turn, the princess scooted herself to the tree's trunk, a bit further from her brother to give him space. She wore her tiara and continued listening to what Astalios had to say without facing him. At her hand was a stick she had picked up from next to her feet. Across the dirt patches near the tree's roots, Alora drew circles. It was right when her brother finished speaking when she shoved the stick through the soil.

"Well from what I've noticed, I think I may have a lead as to why you haven't been very 'lucky'. I think the main reason is because you're too emotionally and physically distant to most beside from family or trusted ones. I understand you're the king, but you can't expect yourself to fall in love with someone if you are not out in the open and decompress every emotion you feel. Here's an insider; it's charming when a person is capable of showing emotion while simultaneously having the control to seize that. You're not the first king of Alynthi, and certainly won't be the last, so just take a breath and remember that emotion is a sign of strength, not weakness."

"Just as much you'd want someone ideal for me to wed, so would someone else's brother or sibling for their sister. It goes both ways, so sell yourself well. There is much more to you than what your people see. Prove that to your interest. These are the two main things I've noticed. The rest will be discovered once you fall in love."

Alora tilted her head to face her brother. Her eyes locked with his as she finished off what she had to say with a little smirk,

"I've currently got a few people in mind, more specifically a princess whom I know, but I will not identify them. I'm not even the slightest cruel, but just this once I will be. I'll help by kickstarting possible interests. I'll leave the rest for you to decrypt. That will be the only way you'll know if you've fallen in love. Just keep your eyes open for the rocks I hurl towards you. If you're looking for me to arrange everything, then you're not looking for love Astalios."

The princess's lips creased from a smirk to an organic smile she could not hold back.
Bobby
*Decompress every emotion he felt. Be out in the open. The words stung like arrowheads, reminding him of what exactly he had left out in his letters to her. His father had known, but he had kept that secret between them to his grave. With him gone, there was only Queen Ashira to share the secret with, and even that was done unwillingly. He had also said that he would begin to enlighten his allies so as not to shock them, to make gestures of trust. There had to be a flash point somewhere.*

"Alora." *His breathing quickened as he took a few deep breaths, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment and reopening them. It was time. It was painful, but it was time. He wondered how she might look at him afterwards - what kind of a brother could he really be to her after it was revealed? There was much that would change, but in the end, he could never have kept it bottled up forever. His lip curled up as he began to bite it, a sign of nerves he had not shown in years.*

"Alora, I..." *He stopped himself for a moment before the words poured out of him. Proper context, proper explanation. Everything was needed.* "During the war, my letters to you did not contain every detail I could have included. I am sure you know this already. I did not wish to bore you with logistics or sadden you with more than a passing mention of losses. I kept many things from you. If I am to let things out, I... I beg of you to listen to me now." 

"One of the details I neglected to mention is quite significant." *He squirmed uncomfortably as he shifted his weight against the back of the tree. He could never sit easy while discussing this sort of thing. The armor sloughed off him in a wave, pooling by his feet as he moved closer to his sister, turning his body to face her, sitting cross-legged as the armor reformed as an empty shell where he had been sitting.* "I was born in Dalery, not the palace. You know that, I suppose. My birth was not only unusual for its location."

_ _
*He prayed for the gods to grant him the strength to say what he needed, squeezed his eyes shut once more, girded himself for what was about to be said. A flashpoint, he thought to himself, much like the way his secret had been forced out by the queen. There was no room for error, no time for any further mistakes. He had to move forward, and his sister **Had** To understand. He could no longer rely on anyone but himself, and if he really wished to move forward, that had to change. No man is an island, his father had said.*

"The god Anthron was also present in some fashion." *He hissed out, wincing as he pressed on.* "A piece of the god of war is within me now and always was. It awakened on campaign. I sound as if I am stark raving mad, but that is the reason I can learn no other school of magic and touch nothing but metal. Were he not interfering, I might have been able to learn anything else but what I know now." 

"He whispers to me, Alora." *His voice was low and haunted, fear evident in every word as he covered his face in his hands, clutching his temples as if that would fix something about the problem.* "Every moment, there is a whisper and an urging. On the battlefield, his voice used to sing to me in chorus with my heart. My heart wishes for many things, and should I uncage it, I am... *So* Afraid. You ask me to be open about my feelings? I cannot share this in court. The king is a lunatic, the king is possessed, the king is unfit for his station. I am *Deathly* Afraid."
Heather
". . The god of- . . War?"

Alora's hands dropped to the ground, her nails collecting a bit of soil beneath them as her fingers curled inwards. The princess froze. She was speachless. This meant a lot of things, for sure a lot of new things. It arose hundreds of questions and concerns. 
Alora didn't know the exact way to react, or what to say. Her own brother, her only brother, was the emodiment of a god. A god of *War*. She felt her stomach twist and her throat burn. 

"You're telling me during the time you served at war . . You enjoyed the massacres? The blood shed had to be pleasant, without a doubt. The dismemberments, the squelching, and all the bloodied cries. It was all pleasant? . . . Is this why you survived the war? Because that *Thing* Was not satisfied? . . How foolish of me. You certainly weren't the one enjoying it. That *Thing* That calls itself a god was, and clearly, those years of bloodshed were not enough. Sickening."

Her gaze lowered and focused on the leaves that surrounded them two. A scoff of disbelief escaped her throat as she lightly shook her head. The light in Alora's eyes faded as her thoughts magnified and unease overwhelmed her. As she slowly lifted her head, her eyes crackled and burned a deep, green fire. The princess was not angry. She was disappointed for not knowing and the assumptions her brother held onto. She was also disgusted by the war god's intentions, which were not surprising.

Alora shakily sighed as her arms extended forwards. Her core tightened as she pulled her brother off the tree and wrapped her extended arms around his clanking and bulky armour. She had let his weight collapse onto her all at once.

"Astalios . . Why were you hiding a thing like this from me? I am your sister, and you are my brother. My view would've never changed. Ever."

She temporarily pulled her brother off her as she held him up by the shoulders. Gently she shook him as she spoke. 

"You are not a lunatic. You are not possessed. And certainly, you are **Not** 'unfit' for your station. You were born to be **The** King Astalios of Alynthi, and that god will not take that from you. Do not let it take from your life. If anything, it'd hate being overcome. Out of spite the god of war may increase your desire of violence, but do not let it get ahead. Continue fighting back. You've done so well keeping it to yourself, and it must have been difficult when you needed to cry for help. Now that you've expanded the circle, you can reach out for my help if it ever becomes uncontrollable. I promise you brother, that you will be able to live your life. It will just be different than how everyone else does. You'll find someone accepting of this embodiment."

"As for the time being, do not disclose this in court. Not because they'd think you're some lunatic, but because it does not define you. Why should we allow something like this to dictate opinions? The way and how this kingdom is ruled should not concern them, only the end results just how it always has."
Bobby
*The fact that she hadn't backed away and run from him was miracle enough. He hadn't known much of what to expect - with his long absence from the court, his sister had grown into someone he barely knew. To confide in her because of the blood they shared had been a gamble of epic proportions. Who knew if she was now the sort of person who spread the news they learned to every corner okf the universe? Had hadn't been able to find out exactly how she dealt with stress. Perhaps in some way this had been a mistake, but there was little for it now but to wait and hope that his trust was not misplaced.*

"Father knew after the first few days." *He replied, bitterness seeping through his voice.* "But now he is gone, and I am king." *Though the day was warm, and the sun was shining, he could feel a chill on his spine and a shadow passing over his face. Whether they were real was no object.* "The fact is... For all I've done, what frightens me the most is whether it was not only Anthron that has urged me on, but my own heart that agreed. I know not whether I *Did* Enjoy it, Alora. It is low of me to say so, and I have spent years attempting to change what I felt, but some part of me never feels at home unless I am on the battlefield. Peace thus far has only been a different kind of hell."

"I can scarcely blame everything on a god." *A sour snarl appeared on his face, disgust and guilt wrapped into a single grimace. It smacked of something very like hatred, though perhaps less outwardly furious, and was only broken when Alora leaned forward to attempt to pull him off the tree. He let himself be pulled into an embrace, wrapping his arms around her as she took a shaky breath in tandem with his own. To hear her say that her view would never have changed...*

"I did not think it would, but... For all the near certainty I had, it was the smallest of chances that terrified me."

_ _
*As she took him by the shoulders, he held her gaze with something like sorrow on his face, contemplating how best to break the news to her. He was king, but... He had no idea how much he was even himself. He waited to hear her out for a moment before gently placing his hands upon her wrists, removing them from his shoulders, and holding both in his. It had to be done gently, but it had to be done.*

"Thank you for all you've said. You may never know how much this means to me." *Every word was solid, the force of brotherly love and the weight of the kingdom behind it.* "To continue fighting is what I have done these past years, and I am glad that I now have you to speak to. But I cannot say in good conscience that I am not a lunatic, nor can I say that I am not possessed."

"I..." *He struggled to find the right words for a moment, brows furrowing as he searched for them.* "How much of my mind is even my own? I have no way of knowing what is my thought and what is the war-god's. I can hear the voice, sometimes, and feel the influence, but who knows whether that is only what I am being allowed to notice? A good tactician disguises his maneuvers, and the god of war is not likely to be a poor one. I worry that I have never known myself from the start."

"To say anything to the court is out of the question." *He agreed.* "As it should be to say anything to people not here present. I... This secret is a part of my life that very few have ever known about, and I wish not to spread it."