French Fantasy 1x1 Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias' eyebrows flicked up in surprise. "She's afraid of me?" He couldn't understand why she would be. "Alright. Well, I will make it official that you are a guard. The head guard will inform you what you will be doing, starting tomorrow. Enjoy the holiday today." He felt bad that Fleur was afraid of him. He hadn't realized it.

Nadia flinched a bit at her tone when Delphine asked what she was doing here. She nodded, gripping the table. "Could we speak in private?" she asked Delphine, nervous now that Delphine was here.

[AnnaCat17]

Gale couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "ya, odd thing about ladies. They tend to get scared of people who try to kill them." he cringed a bit. The king probably wouldn't like that joke. "um... The Duchess Delphine invited us to her private party tonight. She said we could invite whoever we wanted and i just... Well... If you dont have an invite you could come with us. Im sure no one would mind."

Delphine nodded and sat down the basket before going back into the parlor. She sat down on the couch and kept her gaze away from Nadia so ehr expresion wouldn't betray her. "Let me guess. He wants to give a formal warning to Lucien and I to stay away from the castle now that your due date is drawing closer. Is that it?" She asked as she kept her hands folded in her lap.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias winced, taking a step back. "I...I forgot about that. Lucien's sister gave me something to help with my sleep. It hasn't been happening since." Callias smirked a bit. "We'll see. But that you."

Nadia frowned. "Why would he do that?" she demanded. "That would be ridiculous. No, he said not to do anything at least until the baby's born, whatever that means. He was going to come himself, but I wanted to see everyone. Was it a mistake for me to come here, Delphine? I had gotten the impression that you would have been happy to see me, but clearly you are anything but pleased to see me."

[AnnaCat17]

Gale nodded. "Thank you, your highness. I hope to see you there. it would be nice to see the side of you Lucien speaks of." He bowed to him, hoping he hadn't made him too uncomfortable.

Delphine sighed and looked over at her. "It is nice to see you. I am sorry for being rude. I don't fully know what you mean by your message, though. I haven't been doing anything, just keeping track of Lucien." She looked back down at her hands. "Thank you for the message Nadia. I wont keep you from he others."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias gave him a slight smile before leaving, his guards following with him. Lucien spoke about him? He wasn't sure if he liked that.

"Well, he doesn't want you to do anything else with Lucien," she said, trying to explain something she didn't really understand. She nodded, looking away. "I'll get back to them, then," she said, trying not to feel upset by Delphine's behavior.

[AnnaCat17]

Delphine smirked slightly. "I fail to see how it matters." She looked at Nadia as she started to walk away. "You know I almost had him. I could have made him let go of you but you cried out for him and couldn't keep control of yourself. If you are so madly in love why bother asking me to get you out of it? All you did was play with me and then go rushing back to him. What should it matter what Lucien and I do anyways? Neither of you care about us. Just look at right now. You came to see them, not me. The only reason you even spoke to me was to deliver that message, a message that is pointless."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Nadia turned to look at her, frowning. "I don't care what the two of you do!" she snapped. "I only came here in his place to visit all of you. I thought we could be friends, but I don't think you understand the concept of it. Goodbye, Delphine." She left the room, upset and mad, and she went straight to the door instead of going back into the kitchen. She didn't feel like talking to anyone anymore.

[AnnaCat17]

Delphine looked away from her. She didn't want to be friends with her. She had tried that and look at where it got her. SHe sighed and leaned back on the couch, dreading the party now that she was in a foul mood.

-a few hours later-
Gale walked up to Delphine's house that spilled out light and life across the snow as inside people milled about, talking and laughing with one another. He hadn't told Fleur what Callias had said yet, not wanting to ruin her night. They went inside and looked around at the mix of people and he found himself surprised to see there was no separation of rank like there was at the castle. He smiled and left Fleur's side to go in search of Ilaria, wanting to spend the entire evening with her.

Fleur sighed as Gale rushed off, probably in search of Ilaria. She looked nervously at all of the people before slipping off in search of food, hoping to use it as a distraction and excuse to not talk to anyone.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Ilaria was hanging around with other people, but left them talking when she noticed Gale. She beamed happily at him, wrapping her arms around him happily. "You're here!" She kissed his cheek, taking his hand and lacing their fingers together.

Ashr was standing awkwardly in a corner, regretting getting pulled into this by Ilaria.

[AnnaCat17]

Gale grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "I promised you I would. Cant have my darling standing around alone at midnight, now can I?" He chuckled and kissed her deeply for a moment. "I have news to tell you in private."

Fleur smiled as she saw him and weaved her way through the crowd to him. "You look as miserable as I feel to be here." She said as she stood against the wall beside him. "I have some bad news for you, Im afraid."

Delphine glanced up the staircase but no sounds came down from the dark hallway. Lucien hadn't come out all day. He told her he was going to burn the letters today so she hadn't bothered him, knowing he was probably too upset to socialize, but she couldn't help but want to know if he had an answer for her yet. She doubted it, and now that she knew Callias wanted her to not do anything until the baby came in a few months she felt that perhaps it was god Lucien was feeling conflicted. It would keep her out of trouble for now at least.