Story: Meanwhile... The Prince and the Perpetrator

Strange how time has a mind of its own. Some days it flies quick, moments passing in the blink of an eye - and other days it slogs through a swamp of inactivity that threatens to drag its victims into its mire.
Today - in fact, this month - has certainly been the latter for the occupants of Aether castle. Tara moves down the hallway, taking a brief moment to rest her eyes from the multitude of scrolls awaiting her back in her room. She’d contacted both Matteo and her father in Ulster for any information they had on the ‘green, vegetable-headed fairy,’ and they had responded with more documentation than she’d ever think she’d get. But the information was vague at best, incomprehensible at worst, and her thoughts swam with legends and stories and glimpses of the creature that supposedly could leap through time.
And apparently drag her husband with it.
The golden serpent sighs through clenched teeth; what she wouldn’t give for a drink right now! She made an abrupt turn towards the kitchens, hoping that Boris would be willing to crack open a good bottle for her - JUST her - and rounds the corner-
: Ooof! (stumbling backward) Sorry, didn’t see you there, Tara.
: That’sss alright, Nicholasss, no harm do-
: Nicolasss?? Wha - you’re here?!
: ‘Course I am, where else would I be?
: Where elssse indeed - why did you leave? You were supposssed to watch your father, be with him in hisss time of need-
: I know, I know, and I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to - you must understand, I was overwhelmed, didn’t know what to do-
: If you had lissstened to the command I gave to Charlesss in the firsst placce, you would’ve known to be there. On time.
: I-I truly am sorry.
: (sighing) It’sss alright, I’m jusst glad that you’ve returned… When did you get back?
: Not long ago. (He shifts suddenly, staring past her down the hall.) I should... go see Father now-
The Umbreon goes to walk past Tara - only to be halted by Tara’s hood which suddenly fans out in front of his face.
: That can wait, ssincce you ssaw it fine to leave Aether desspite the ssituation. I can hardly believe you’d be sso presssed to ssee your father now.
: I hope you realisse your father hasss assked for you ever ssince you ignored the ordersss I gave Charlesss for you. That isss-
: Until he ssuddenly sstopped assking a couple of daysss ago.
: He has had a lot on his mind, surely-
: Do not make light of hisss condition by ussing it to ssell a lie, Nicholasss! Your father caresss greatly for you: not oncce hasss he forgotten to assk of your condition, and he would not have unlessss he wasss asssured of it!
: I have sspent asss much time asss could be sspared with him. Your abssencce hasss forcced me to lie to your father asss to not worry him more - do you have any idea how that makesss me feel, to assk him to trust me, yet to have to lie to hisss facce in one breath?
: You already worry him greatly outsside of hisss current condition - how you could be sso irressponssible isss beyond me.
: I wanted to help him! I went to help find Bál!
: You could have helped him, he needed you here, we ALL did!
: Getting Bál WOULD have helped! You heard him, he was demanding Bál’s presence before he did my own, I was only serving his wishes by going!
: And yet, desspite that, you have returned-
Nicholas opens his mouth to protest-
: That’sss quite enough, Nicholasss - you’re not a ssmall child anymore, own up to your actionsss, no more liesss.
He looks to the ground, and Tara presses the issue.
: Sso why - and tell the truth - why did you ignore my ordersss from Charlesss, and why did you not sshow yoursself to anyone but Alaric? Why not let usss know you have returned ssafely? We were worried ssick, mysself and Charlesss included, if ssomething had happened to you while you were gone - what do you think that would have done to Alaric!?
: Cecil thought my presence would help convince the Jarl to aid in the search, so he allowed me to continue. However, once we reached Gawain and the Aetherian party in Veethrfölnir, Gawain sent me home with a small group of knights.
Tara frowns briefly, as if she wondered if the prince was lying again-
: That’sss another thing: if not for the messsenger ssent by Gawain to tell usss where you’d went, we would have had no idea of your whereaboutsss! However, the messsage sstated that he’d thought it ssafer you’d continue to travel with them for now - what happened to change his mind?
: It’s true Gawain didn’t send me back right away, he thought it too hazardous to send me back at first-
: -so he sent the message as to not worry you. However, I think Cecil’s plans angered him; he said he wouldn’t allow me to be used for any of Bál’s schemes. So, as you said, I did return to Aether a couple of days ago but-
: But?
: I had trouble facing Dad. I wanted to help him, but… That’s the reason I left, I wanted to help him, but seeing him like that, I was scared. And I knew that if you all saw me, you’d lecture me, and point out how stupid I was for the decision I made.
: Rightly sso. You have to hear it.
: I understand that! But, I couldn’t handle it! I had not even planned to show myself to Father either-
: You were to hide from everyone, even your father? For how long were you planning to run away, Nicholasss?
: I don’t know! He woke up while I was sitting with him, and - I couldn’t bring myself to leave… and after that, I just kept coming back.
: Why not tell us, Nicholasss? I’m more dissappointed than anything elsse, that you would not trust usss more to sshare your feelingsss with usss... with me.
: I’m really sorry - I should have stayed in Aether in the first place, Gawain said as much...
: Is it okay if I go see Father now? Alone, if that’s okay?
A frown suddenly appears on Tara’s face, and she withholds from giving the prince permission.
: Actually, I wanted to assk you - Did you find out where Bál wasss, and how long it would take him to get back?
: No, but Cecil stayed behind with Gawain to assist in finding him, so I guess my mistake at least brought forth one good thing. That’ll surely speed up the process of finding Bál.
: (She frowns, but only for a moment-)...Indeed. And sincce I’d already ssent Koji ahead to find, meet, and warn Bál of Gawain’s arrival, Gawain could hardly allow your requesst to go along.
: Yeah, I suppose that’s right...
: … No, it’sss not.
: Um, what are you talking-?
: Koji never left to find Bál-
: I forgot-
: Not only that, but Gawain ssent no messsage as Cceccil had already appointed ssomeone to do jusst that before he followed “you”! And no guardss reported your return-
: But I told them I would-
: Beyond THAT, you are a pretty good actor, I’ll give you that. But knowing Nicholasss, he wouldn’t let himsself be ssent back, nor would he think hisss father would forget about making ssure he’d be ssafe. And, desspite Gawain’sss anger over any posssible sschemesss, that I don’t doubt, he’d not let Nicholasss travel back from unfamiliar territory without hisss own ssupervission!
: And to hide away? Not only isss Nicholasss more ressponssible than that, to hide from an entire town takesss a particular sset of sskillsss and cunning that one would not exxpect to find in one asss Nicholasss-
: Sso who ARE you, and what happened to Nicholasss?!
: ...
: Well, well, this is a surprise.
Nicholas’ form ripples and shifts as he offers a bow to Tara, exuberant in its mockery - and when he straightens, he smiles at her shocked visage toothily.
: I do hope that you will pardon the charade, oh golden queen - it seemed a wise idea at the time.
: Umbra? (She recoils back.) You’re…?
: But, if I may give just one small critique of your work: it was foolish to approach me so heedlessly - you would have done better waiting until I felt safe before revealing your knowledge.
: Too late for that now, I’m afraid. (He smiles lazily and raises his shoulders in a slow shrug.) Do tell me though, for I am ever so curious: what would you have done if the imposter happened to be someone more vehement on getting rid of witnesses?
: I imagine I would have taken a bite out of their head.
: In which case, I imagine you would be dead. Try calling the guards next time. 
Tara watches the fox uneasily, keeping her eyes trained on him for even the slightest of movement from him. Umbra remains unmoving, grinning at her with a lucky hunter’s smile; it’s more than infuriating enough to remind her of her previous discovery.
: What are you doing here?
: (He scoffs and rolls his eyes.) I’m curious: what do you THINK I’m doing here?
: (glowering) I have a few ideass... Who hired you?
: Hired? What an erroneous accusation. (smiling smugly) You’ll find few can afford me, and even then I shan’t take half the jobs asked of me.
: All the more reasson I want to know who assked you here.
: Mmm, persistence, it’ll get you far. I’m not one for just giving away answers for free though, so you’ll have to make do with a hint: Bears hate them, Captain Moron barely tolerates them, the fat dinosaur wants to castrate them, and a terrible fate awaits them; who are they~ (chuckling at some private joke)
: That’ss...
: Take that as you will, though does it really matter? Your charming, thick clout has made enough messes and danced the fool’s jigs more than enough for a number of ‘mons to request someone, ANYONE, to watch over him.
: Enough, wretch! You sshall not sspeak ill of him. I don’t care what you or Bál or anyone thinkss of him, Alaric is a goo-
: If I may speak freely, your golden radiance-
: (annoyed at the interruption) Asss if you haven’t been doing sso.
: (He rolls his eyes.) You can't possibly think that Alaric's actions are good, or even remotely acceptable for any leader to tak-
: (He pauses, lost in his own thoughts.).... Unless....
A wicked smile curls across the fox’s lips.
: Unless you're far more like your father than you let on.
: Wh-what are you sssaying?
: (He clicks his tongue and begins pacing slowly in front of the snake.) I'm insinuating that, perhaps, you share dear Nessy’s love of conquest, even if you lack his bloodlust.
: (He turns very slowly, eyes meeting hers in piercing gaze; his words are like honey, overwhelming sweet, but thick and viscous.) Encouraging such bad behavior in your dear, beloved husband, no smart wife would do that…
: … unless she had something to gain from his... removal. (He continues pacing, taking slow, purposeful steps that echo and vibrate across the hall.)
: (hood flaring) Hold your tongue, you vile vixxxen! You oversstep your rightsss with your reprobate wordsss alo-!
: Ah! (He stops his pacing and faces her, arms spread wide.) But do I overstep the truth, I cannot help but wonder!
: It's brilliant, really, now that I think about it... No one approves of Alaric's actions, and plenty would gladly see him usurped or at least replaced.
: You-
: And who would take over but the queen?
: You sspeak without thought-
: I disagree! (He grins, wide and wild, teeth flashing.) I believe I speak with new enlightenment! But, where was I-
He turns his back on the snake and begins pacing further down the hall, turning back only when he feels he’s gone far enough.
: Ah yes, secession. Well, perhaps Nicholas would be next in line before you, but he's not much better than his father, now is he? Not particularly strong, either. (He grins viciously.) You could suffocate him in seconds if you so wished.
: You… (shaking with anger) you black-hearted whore’sss ssson-
Umbra grins at her tone and words, and turns his back on her again. He continues to pace down the hall, one arm crossed over his chest and supporting the elbow of the other, on which he rests his chin on the flat of his paw. He moves slowly, self-assuredly, mocking laced into each clak of his long nails on the stone floor.
: I believe… I sshould take ssome of your advicce.
: Oh? What advice would that b-?
: GUARDSSS! ASSSSASSSSIN!
: Ah. I see you’re learning… How unfortunate.
With those words, Umbra takes off down the hall, his hair and jewelry flapping as he runs. From his pacing, Umbra had put a great distance between himself and Tara… and the door from which most guards would likely enter.
Tara grits her teeth and hisses to herself as the sounds of running slowly grow distant and then suddenly disappear altogether - she can only assume he’s climbed out of a window, and can only hope that he’ll fall and break his neck on the way down.
Distantly, she can hear guards clamoring through the halls to reach her, but she has neither the patience nor desire to speak to any of them. No, the queen finds herself much more eager to speak to the one who saw that Umbra would roam the halls in the first place...
Tara ignores the fox, for now; she has much bigger problems to deal with. She tries to banish the anger boiling inside her as she slithers along, and by the time she shoves her way into the solarium where the source of her anger is working on some paperwork, she is livid… But her opponent is cunning, so she must play this carefully.
: Gaiusss. We need to talk.
: M-My queen! Whatever is the matter, is something wrong with Alaric?
: No - but I am sstarting to wonder about you.
: Pardon?
: I happened upon Nicholass in the hallss near Alaric’ss chamberss.
: He’s returned?
: No, he’ss not! The Nicholass I found wasss Umbra in dissguise!
Gaius starts at her tone. Tara glares at him for a long moment before she continues to speak.
: He’ss gone, run off ssomewhile fitting for one asss vile asss him, but before he fled, he told me a bit of the one who hired him to impersssonate Nicholass.
: (adjusting his collar) I do not know what he told you, milady, but I assure you, I did no such thing-
: Don’t play me for a fool, Gaiuss!!
: ... (sighing and waving an arm in a lazy shrug) My apologies, your highness, you weren’t supposed to know Umbra was here-
: (raising her head, fire in her eyes) Oh REALLY?
: Yes, ‘really.’ (The bug steps around his desk, antennae flickering.) I had a feeling you would react like this, so I gave Umbra’s specific instructions to only approach Alaric when you weren’t around, or at least to pass by him to assure him of Nicholas’ presence.
: You had no right to make ssuch a deccission. Dealing with hisss kind-
: (mouth agape) ‘His kind?!’ Tara, I know how ‘mons see Dark types, bu-
: A ROGUE, and an assssassssin at that! What were you thinking?! I could placce chargesss againsst you too, Gaiusss! Do you have any idea the sseverity of thesse actionsss? I don’t care how closse you think you are to the king - hisss advissor or not, you had NO RIGHT!
: (slamming his arm down on the table) Is not ensuring the well-being of my king my ‘right’? I cannot stand idly by and watch him self-destruct-
: Then DON’T! Sstand by him, help him - but not by lying, that isss NOT the way!
: That’s rich, coming from someone who can’t even be bothered to tell him where his son ran off to THIS time! You haven’t exactly been telling him the whole truth either, milady-
: At leasst I haven’t put up a puppet to take hisss placce! (Her tail lashes, the memory of Umbra’s words and smile still fresh in her mind.) I want him found and thrown in the dungeon.
: Do you really think he could be found? Have you even considered what damage arresting him would do?! There are so many ‘mons that have connections to him, so many rogues in the city that would be called to riot if he was captured… putting him in a dungeon would only- (He shakes his head.) It is best that he goes.
: Why - sso he can go back to tainting Alaric’sss mind?!
: He is not ‘tainting,’ merely assisting in alleviating milord’s ailing mind.
: It would not help Alaric if the guards captured him, and he was exposed, the king would learn of it-
: He would learn of the TRUTH! And we would get a wanted criminal off the sstreetsss! Assss for you, I can’t jusst ignore all of thisss!
: What good would it do for the king now, exposing Umbra, pressing charges against me - none of that would help him!
: Oh, like you would know how to help Alaric - you haven’t vissited him more than oncce!
: That was no choice of mine, you know that, Tara. Gwen demanded I keep my distance.
: Well, good, great then, blame Gwen! Blame ANYONE other than yourSSELF for being too bussy to help him! He’sss jusst SSO hard to handle in thisss sstate, issn’t he, too much of a hasssle for anyone to care for, including hisss own sson!
: Ssurely NO ONE caresss for him asss much asss YOU.
: What do you think I’m DOING then, hrm? Pouring over records from past medical ailments lent to me by Gwen, trying to find some small cure that can restore milord’s health - and yes, I called Umbra in to help, but it was surely never to be permanent, only to be a small measure of kindness to ease his troubled mind!
 & :
There is a long silence between the two ‘mons. They stare each other down from opposite ends of the room, neither making a sound nor move as they wait for the other to continue their argument. After a moment, Gaius’ glare relents, and he looks away dejectedly. Not soon after, Tara does the same, and the two avoid each other’s eyes as they think on the situation.
 & : …
: We… want the same things.
: Of coursse we do, Gaiusss... I am ssorry, I did not mean to ssnap at you, the sstresss of thisss whole thing isss sstarting to get to me.
: I understand, milady. If it’s any consolation, I believe you are doing a great job watching over Alaric.
: Well, it’sss obviousss I can’t do it alone. Alaric needsss usss, all of usss.
: (scoffing) Well, the prince did not make that an easy task for us, did he?
: No, he did not-
: But we cannot change that now. Alaric hasss sseen Umbra being Nicholass by now, that cannot be helped. It sstopsss today, though.
: And when he inevitably asks for him?
: Then I will tell him the truth. The whole truth. In order to help Alaric, we musst convincce him to facce the fearsss brought on by thesse vissionsss. He hasss made progresss - sslowly but ssurely - and if ssaid the right way, I am ccertain that he can handle it.
: Sso no more russesss - undersstand?
: …
: Very well, milady. I apologize for making such an error.
: You meant well, Gaiusss, that isss clear. (She starts to leave the solarium, and pauses with her tail tip on the door’s edge.) But trusst me when I ssay: sshould you ever make a hassty deccission behind either mine or Alaric’sss back again…
: I will not be sso lenient.
: Ah-ha, y-yes, my queen, as you say…
Tara’s fierce glower simmers into a sly mouse-in-the-jaw grin as she closes the door behind her - and time begins its slow crawl once more. A frown sits heavily on her face: did she make the right decision by putting her trust in Gaius’ word after everything? Despite her aversion to lying to Alaric, she wished, deep inside, Nicholas would return before Alaric asked. She wanted what was best for him too but-
: Do any of usss truly know what isss besst to be done-?
Category:Meanwhiles
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether