French Fantasy 1x1 Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"Lucien?" Callias called him over hoarsely once she had left. When he had come over, Callias started to talk. "I sleepwalk. I've had this problem ever since I was young. But it has gotten worse as I grow older. I find myself becoming violent in my sleep. The medication I threw out today was supposed to help with the sleepwalking, but it only causes me to feel odd. But they want to think that the problem is fixed, so I pretend that I take the medication, and since I lock my chamber door at night, they think the medication is helping. But I sleepwalked last night, and I found myself tied to a tree in the woods when I woke up. I had tried to kill one of the servants in my sleep, and they were contemplating killing me. But then they let me go and ran. I know who those people were. I will not tell anyone, for I don't want any more harm coming to them. It was my fault they got put into this situation. I don't want they to suffer any more because of it. I'm telling you what happened because you deserve to know. I trust you. But the others will only hear the lie I'm going to tell them. I don't want you to speak of this to anyone else."

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien stumbled a bit from shock as he sat down in a chair. He tried to hide his shock but he couldn't. He had tried to kill someone. He pinched the bridge of his nse, feeling a headache coming on. Callias must be furious at Lucien for saying someone should Delphine since she apparently was at risk of just that last night. No wonder Callias was adverse to finding a wife, it wasn't because he didn't like them or preferred men, it was because he would kill them. He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to think of what to do. "No one will believe the lie as soon as they see the cut and Delphine sia gossip so I guarantee the entire court will know about by the time your next party is happening." He lowered his hand and opened his eyes as he looked at Callias. "Why are you telling me this? For all you know I could write to my country tonight about this and have the treaty broken between our countries all on the grounds of you posing a threat to our queen. It is what I am supposed to do after all."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias watched Lucien, looking broken. "I trust you," he whispered, but now he felt pathetic, because he hadn't even thought about Lucien telling his country about this. He should have thought about that risk. "Please don't tell them. Please don't tell anyone," he pleaded him. "I needed to tell someone. I need help, but no one else I know can give it to me. They just want things to work, for things to be perfect. I'm not perfect. I'm far from that." He gripped the edge of the couch tightly, his knuckles turning white as his face grew paler. What if he had just ruined everything by thinking he and Lucien were friends? Father would be so ashamed of him.

[AnnaCat17]

"Im not going to tell anyone." he muttered as his gaze fell to the floor. He tried to piece together why he had been selected to be told this information. he probably figured Lucien didnt pose much of a threat in this country. If Callias wanted, he could have him killed on false charges nd his secret would be safe. "If those two servants you spoke of are running then their lives arent going to be good. If you want to keep word from spreading about this you need to get on their good side and convince them to keep their mouths shut. Im willing to bet situations in the past about this are why someone tried to kill you. They probably think you are doing this on purpose and dont realize you were supposedly asleep."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"I don't know how to get to them to talk. I don't know where they would have went, or how to get on their good side." He clenched his eyes shut. He needed Lucien to help him with this, but he didn't want him to think Callias was incapable to doing it. Well, maybe he was. But he didn't need anyone thinking that.

[AnnaCat17]

"Well th first step is to have the guards go collect them. Once that is done hold a private meeting with them and try t talk to them without anyone else around. We can figure that out later but you need to pull yourself together in the meantime. If you go back to the palace looking and acting like this then everyone will know somethign happened to you." Lucien watched Callias for a few moments, waiting for him to process his words without him pushing him towards the answer.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias nodded slightly, not wanting to hurt his head anymore. "Alright." He took a deep breath, rubbing his temple. He glanced up to look at Lucien, his gaze hesitant. He didn't know if Lucien thought of him as a friend. He hoped he did.

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien had to look away when Callias met his gaze, feeling like eh had been caught doing something he shouldnt. He sat for a moment, suffering in the silence, before moving to take the place Delphine had occupied beside Callias on the couch. He had learned quickly during his short time here that the french were more affectionate than his own people, so pushed himself to do as he had seen others do during intense conversations; he took Callias' hands within his own to pull his focus to him. "Don't let this make you scared of getting close to other people. I can write to my sister back home and have ehr see if there is anything our doctors have found that could help you and while I wait for a response we can find other means to help stop this. I am here solely to serve your family and my country so if you require I will personally help ensure you dont hurt anyone again. We will figure this out and I will help to make sure no one finds out."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Callias was surprised when Lucien took his hand in his own, so surprised that it showed on his face. He watched their hands as Lucien spoke. He couldn't remember holding hands with anyone, only if it was when shaking hands with someone. "You have a sister," he said, since he hadn't known that. "I...I suppose. Really, I only need to make sure my chamber door is locked. But I suppose it would be for the best if we found a way to get rid of my sleeping troubles completely."

[AnnaCat17]

Lucien nodded about his sister but didnt let it distract him from the subject at hand. "You might not always be staying in your own palace. Its important we find a way for you to live with this before you have to travel again or before you get married." He saw his shock at Lucien touching him and quickly withdrew his hands, hoping he hadnt upset him too much. He shifted so there was more space between them and busied himself with stacking the books on the coffee table. "It will work out. Just in the meantime keep your door locked."