King Hanequin attended to his duties. As he headed for the meeting room, he passed by the family portrait that hung in that corridor. Upon seeing the face of his late wife, his face developed a frown. He had a truly saddened look on his face and he sighed as well. It felt, to him, as if it were only the day before that she had succumb to her illness and was taken from them by the spirits above, hers becoming one of those many that watched over them from the realm above. He truly missed her dearly.

He still had his daughter, but she was of marrying age though. Soon enough, she would wed and have a family of her own, and she would someday rule in his place. The thought of her being alone brought him more heartache, on top of what he felt from the loss of his wife, his queen. But the thought of her having a family of her own lessened that a bit, if only for a time. However, he was not hoping that day would arrive any time soon. Anyway, he proceeded to head down the corridor, wiping a tear from his eye and trying not to think about such saddening things any longer.

He did not know it yet, but this peaceful day would not entirely be peaceful. Something was coming, although he did not know that yet either. What is was would be a complete surprise, and not the good kind. This would be a great tragedy for the kingdom, perhaps greater than loosing their king, depending on who would be asked about it. The king was about to encounter a great event that would truly change their lives, and that of everyone else in the kingdom, forever.

---

Another day where the whispering wind carried the gentle scent of flowers to the castle from fields afar where farmers tended to their livelihoods. Another day when the salty sea yielded plentiful fish for the fisherman that waited on simple boats with tackle and reel atop the lapsing waves that would wash against the serene shores. Another day where the sun shone brightly in the sky above, illuminating the kingdom of Seanate with its majestic radiance. Another day where a daughter awaited her father in the exquisite chamber where important royal meetings with the were held, so that they could come together and work on ways to bring peace and prosperity to the people of this land.

Saoirse stood where she could greet her father when he would enter through the double doors leading into the hall where their advisors and court officials offered their support and various reports regarding the happenings around the kingdom. She had already read and heard all of them before they had even been gathered, and was well aware of the contents that would be discussed. Minor disputes between those that argued over the size of their pastures, business propositions and wealth distribution, resource management and tax affairs... mundane reports which Saoirse found herself both relieved and irked with. Sometimes if felt as though she were already a mother, and was constantly required to look after her hundreds upon hundreds of children that always bickered and sought her attention.

As the princess, she remained calm and collected at all times, exuding an aura of grace and authority that conveyed only her strength and conviction to all of the others present. Never would she seem weak before those that she would one day rule... never again. Her ceremonial blade was belted to her waist, and she wore her beautiful attire with a certain pride - letting herself bask in the reverence she felt from all those that served her and her father. However, she only concerned herself with her father's affection, and hoped he would arrive swiftly so that she could close to him again.

@Chris488@marxxie

King Hanequin made his way through those double doors. He glanced around. His eyes landed on his daughter, who was standing nearby, for a moment. He gave a nod in greeting. He managed a faint smile. Then, he glanced towards the others in the room. It would seem his daughter had gathered the council and such, or so he assumed upon seeing everyone who was there. He saw all the worried looks and everything, and he began to wonder what issues there could be. They were at times of peace. No one should be fighting, or so he thought.

He took a breath. The king managed not to sigh or anything. The man cleared his throat before he spoke.

"What seems to be the issue, the problem if you will?"

He glanced back towards his daughter for a moment before he glanced towards the others once more. Then, he continued.

"May I know why you are all gathered here? Why I have been summoned to this room at this time?"

The male frowned. He had a bad feeling. Bad feelings were certainly no good. Just as he was about to get answers, the animals outside suddenly went silent. That did not escape his notice. The animals never went dead silent like that. Something was wrong, was truly amiss. What could it be? He wondered that much as he made for a window nearby, in that room. He narrowed his eyes as he continued to frown. The king hoped that it was not as bad as what anything he feared. The king could handle minor problems, minor issues, within the borders of his lands, his kingdom.

Everything seemed to have gone silent for Seanate. Until wind would gradually begin hip and howl like a pack of savage wolves running throughout the land. First something not assumed to be more than rain rolling in. What appeared a light sprinkle quickly overshaddowed by heavy rain and sharp needlike hail. Buildings creaked, swayed, and rattled, and many of the weaker collapsing to rubble as the ground shook with violence. Even with the raging storm, wet and ice cold, fire was naturally caught due to this tremor. Much would be lost to nothing but ash with a quickness.

Leading all this destruction was a stampede of steeds and their soldiers. Their hooves in competition with the thunder bellowing. Each flash of light pushed them further as if their flanks were snapped by a whip. The sounds and sights couldn’t be missed and neither they couldn’t be felt. The poor townsfolk wailed in terror like a choir to a symphony of war. All conducted by one wretched man leading the fleet. From within the shade of his hood, his orbs glowed a bright stark white.

Opposing knights would dare try to cut his path, but the dark emperor of Seddow could not be stopped so easily. His men and women were overwhelming in both power and grit. Anyone who dared to come between their lord and his plight would be dead long before ever getting the chance to witness his fearsome glory. Even the foliage within miles of him could not stand but to die. Grass turned black and brittle while flowers wilted as if bowing in submission, turning black, and dying as well.

The horses gracefully weaving through the streets fallen with debris. Meanwhile the thickest and darkest of dust rose from the ruins left behind the emperor’s trail. Smiling up at the castle gates, just a bridge away, the man at the head reared his silver stallion and raised his hand to signal his men to ram. There were already archers readying their arrows and men preparing the catapults from the tops of the barrier, however their stance did not last as with a simple wave of his hand, a large gust blew them back. Many falling from the wall to their deaths while others may have been rendered unconscious from having their bodies clashed against the stone bricking. Soon enough the gate was breached and the large oak log abandoned as the dark emperor’s army stormed below a circling of charged clouds.

While a bloody battle ensued around him, the dark emperor remained untouchable as he dropped down from his mount. When his boots met the ground, he reached up to the sky as if to take something. To which he did. A gentle beam of light came toward his hand and filled his palm with a bouncing ball of white static. The other hand pushed out in front of two grand doors. Although bolted well, the entrance gave in almost too easily. He was ready to confront whatever waited inside and he would find the one responsible.

@Chris488@marxxie
King Hanequin would watch with wide eyes as a storm, sudden and fierce, began to form in the sky. He turned back to the others in the room, including his daughter. He would manage to narrow his eyes and try to put on a brave face for their' sake. He had to. The king could not be viewed as a coward or the like, or so he thought. He cleared his throat and raised his hand to silence anyone in the room who had been about to speak.

"A threat has entered our kingdom at this moment. There is a danger that must be attended to. Those other issues can wait! I can assure you all of that! Now, get the knights ready! Hurry!"

With that, he ran out of the room before anyone could prevent him from doing so. The king would run as fast as his legs would carry him. Upon reaching the main hall, this man would give one command. That command would be nice and loud, so loud anyone in the nearby corridors would probably be able to hear him at that moment.

"I demand my sword! It is needed!"

Once his sword was handed to him, he ran off once again. He was aware that his daughter was most likely to follow after him, but he gave orders to try and prevent her from doing so. His daughter was all he had left of his family. He had to keep her safe. This was a man who was a father, not just a king, and would do anything to keep his daughter out of this. Anyway, King Hanequin was soon heading towards the gates. He was about to open them himself, when they swung open as if pushed by a great voice. A gasp could be heard from him. He stumbled back a bit, startled.

However, his eyes would soon narrow. The king would step forward to see who would dare attack his people so senselessly, and for no reason at all. They did not declare war on anyone for they had no reason to do so. They did not bother anyone and they normally kept to themselves and did not cause trouble. So why would anyone attack them? Why?

"Stop this! Who are you and why do you attack our peaceful lands?! What reason do you have to cause us harm?! We have done nothing to anyone outside our kingdom!"

His emotions were showing on his face. He stood firmly, or tried to, as he stared at the one his eyes landed on, the one who dared to, somehow, throw open the castle gates like that, the large doors that were normally locked after the king returned to it, was within its' walls once more.

---

"Your Majesty." It was all she had said, alongside the other advisors, in the room before calamity struck. Silence before the storm, and with a sudden lucidity, her father was proclaiming they were besieged and everyone was rushing to and fro as they readied themselves for whatever sudden assailant had come to their peaceful land. Saoirse saw her father sprint from the chamber, and she gave chase, towards the heart of their home, the main hall of the castle wherein he called out to his loyal soldiers and servants - his voice echoing throughout the halls and corridors with both power and urgency.

"Father! Father! Please wait!" She cried out, but then he bellowed orders to nearby knights, ordering them to keep her back, to keep her safe, and fleeting anger clouded her mind, as she struggled against the knight that suddenly seized her. Farther her father became, as he bravely led his gathering forces towards the castle's gates. He left her sight, and she desperately tried to break free once more, but to no avail. She remained held behind, unable to see what would happen. She was helpless, and could only pray that the Divine answer her plight for she could not endure losing her father now.

"Please, don't leave me." She bemoaned, with the dreadful realization that she had shown weakness once again.

The dark emperor grinned upon seeing King Hanequin so seemingly startled. He couldn’t help but to feel quite pleased by having been greeted so quickly as Cier was not a very patient man. Pulling back his hood, their eyes became locked onto one another. Gazes of equal hostility. Today there would be no sense in any more formalities. And so, he continued to smile at the other male, though inside his entire spirit remained shattered.

“I am Cier, the Imperial ruler of the Seddowian Empire!” His voice boomed against the high ceiling, embedded was nothing less than purpose and distrust. It was more than made clear he meant much more than business. “I have scoured many lands in search of a killer..” He spoke with just as much spite in his voice as his stare, “To the exception of myself, the entire Croste bloodline has been slaughtered. A contract had been made on our heads.”

“My dear boy, Prince Zaun, merely five years of age and my only child, lays dead. He was to follow as not only my successor to the crown, but all of my power..”

Once he had seen his abilities as a gift to cherish and pass down for generations and generations, was now nothing but a curse. Just a cold reminder of what he loved most, his dear family, had slipped though his hands like sand from a broken hourglass, leaving him to endlessly bleed. Although this brutish man had a whole army behind him, loyal, and relentless, Cier stood isolated, unable to unsee the memory of all the bodies laying limp, and unable to unhear his own cries. Forever this would haunt the emperor. Not only must he find the one who called for the contract, but find someone to relieve him of the burden he could no longer control through his grieving heart.

So despite his smirk and the laugh he let loose, the emperor stood strong, holding back his despair. To explain himself was as if he were reliving the entire tragedy. Cier wanted to strike Hanequin where he stood. And it wouldn’ve been so easy to send the energy dancing in his hand through that blade to kill him instantly, yet he knew better than to act so quickly. No answers could come if he did so. Though even if he were to spare them, there was no going back in his invasions. Five other kingdoms had already fallen in his pursuits of justice. Only once his goals were achieved would he happily surrender, already having accepted the gallows, the guillotine, or worse for his fate. But to avenged those that he had lost so suddenly, he felt it was his right. Even if the peaceful Seanate was unlikely to be blamed.

His mind had not yet stirred the solution to his problem, what he would soon propose once he met Hanequin’s own successor. Not until he locked eyes with the young lady would he given her too what would have been a charming smile if not for the dire circumstances.

“If you cannot prove your innocence, I shall strike you dead with a single bolt!” His lungs thundered, the static within his palm only amping with his rage.

@Chris488@marxxie
King Hanequin started to glare daggers. He was highly upset by these events. It did not help that this other male had dared to say such lies to him. Why would anyone in his kingdom do such a thing? These were times of peace! They kept to themselves and never bothered anyone from outside the kingdom! How dare this brute do all this?! His anger would only continue to grow, if only for a time of course. This was a man who cared about this people and hated for any harm to come to them. He certainly did not wish it, and he did not wish it upon his daughter either. His daughter was truly all he had left, or so he felt. He had to protect her!

"What idea do you have that would make you think that he or she is here?"

He tried to speak calmly. The king had to maintain a calm demeanor and such for the sake of his daughter and his people. He could not risk bloodshed. Also, this man had yet to know the fate of any knights or soldiers that may or may not have fallen while this brute and his soldiers charged in, invading their' lands. His eyes narrowed as he continued to look at the other man. He stayed where he was for the time being as he did so. He froze at what was said next, for a short time before he managed to clear his throat and speak.

"We would never harm an innocent!"

He had tried not to shout. But King Hanequin had ended up sounding a little loud, if only for a moment, as he said that. The smirk he saw made him start to think that those words were mainly lies, something said as an excuse to come into those lands and try to conquer them all, causing true harm, true damage, true pain.

"Leave at once! You shall do no good being here! You have done much harm to many innocents! I shall not stand for this!"

He almost sounded as if he were pleading, but he had continued by actually TRYING to be loud that time. That was when he heard footsteps behind him. The king blinked and glanced behind him. A guard, one of the ones he had ordered to try and keep his daughter safe and to keep her from following after her had followed him, as if checking on him and such. His eyes went wide.

"I gave you an order!"

He would soon hear more footsteps.........

---

She had been unable to persuade the knights ordered to protect her that she must see what was happening, that she must see her father at once, and that surely they would be able to protect her while she was near him. Perhaps close enough to at least watch and ascertain his wellbeing, she had begun begging in vain. Then something shook the castle, a terrible and thunderous clamor that came from the gates where her father had gone to defend. The air became cold and Saoirse felt her heart beat harder in her chest. What had happened!?! She persisted once more, attempting to free herself from the grasp of the knight that held her.

"Please! My father!" She cried out, and her plea was heard for one among those that held her here said that he would investigate, as no word had come back, all of the castle's staff having sequestered themselves away, or went with the king.

When the knight departed, Saoirse still found herself outnumbered and held back, but her endeavor to escape had become less hopeless. With newfound vigor, she thrashed again and resorted to... acts undignified for a princess, but after the guard let out a gasp of surprise and pained grunt, and she stumbled away from him, well there was little time to be concerned about how she acted. She tore at the hem of her long flowing gown, granting her legs a little more freedom as well, but of course her attire would continue to hinder her dash towards the gate while her remaining "retinue" of protectors gave chase.

With a burst of speed, she stepped outside the keep and towards where she saw the devastation inflicted upon the gatehouse, to where she saw her father confronted with a man that exuded a terrifying and evil aura that threatened to overwhelm her upon first glance. She pressed on, running as fast as she could, her rather useless ceremonial sword in one hand, her body shielded with nothing but a now ruined gown and her conviction, as she sought to fight beside the king to defend her family and homeland.

"Father!" She called out, raising her weapon, as though she were uttering a war cry.

“The assassin I slayed gave not a clue as to who had sent him!” Cier retorted, glaring back, and just about ready to lose his patience, but even with all the rage boiling over inside him, he stood relatively calm. “How am I to know who? And neither, how am I to know why? My lands were just as peaceful as yours until this day!” He spat, growing more furious with every word that left him. The king was beyond exhaustion yet he could not allow himself to rest. It was not an option for him to give up. For him to do so would only be allowing those who have perished to go on without avenge. Cier simply could not find it within himself. With every kingdom he destroyed, just a bit closer to closure he almost felt, though he knew too well no amount of bloodshed could ever atone for the loss of everyone in his once beautiful world.

“I refuse to surrender!” The man roared, the ball of violent light only growing and growing. If Hanequin did not comply soon, Cier would not have any hesitation to strike him. And just was he about to when suddenly his eyes caught onto someone particular entering the room.

As he narrowed his eyes at the young woman, both the light from them and his hand seemed to slightly dim. This intuition wasn’t something made very clear to him when he had been a child. It was an instinctive feeling that this was the person that old woman had prophesied many years ago. The princess of Seanate seemed to have a power within her that he could clearly see through the windows to her soul.

“Ah ha.. so this girl is your heir, hm?” He uttered rhetorically whilst an awful idea came creeping into the forefront of his mind. His gaze soon bounced from the daughter to the father, to the daughter, then finally back to Hanequin.

“I may have found a much better solution..” his voice trailed with plenty intrigue, though this such a thing was nothing less than bittersweet, to him it seemed like the only valuable route.

"If you marry me, and allow your daughter to be my heir, I shall spare this land. Refuse, and all shall perish! You shall have until sunset the eve after tomorrow to make your choice. I shall be in the mountain caves, my camp, should you wish to inform me of your decision."

He desperately needed an heir to take his burden. And though he wasn’t too keen on marriage after having just lost the love of his life, the king was certainly handsome. In fact, very attractive. This seeming random thought almost made the brute laugh. More so out of guilt than anything. This wasn’t something he wanted yet it was necessary in his cold eyes. Even Cier couldn’t believe himself.

@Chris488@marxxie
King Hanequin glared.

"Leave my people be! They are innocent! No one here would dare to do such a thing! Obviously one from the darker lands must have sent such a person!"

His voice was quite loud. Others looked on nervously, mainly guards and such of course. He blinked and paused for a time when he heard more footsteps. The king would glance behind him. His eyes would grow wide upon seeing his daughter. The male spun around a bit to face her, if only for a moment.

"You were supposed to stay within the castle walls! It is not safe for you out here!"

He quickly turned back to the other man upon hearing him. The king narrowed his eyes again. This was a protective father in action now, so to speak. This man was not going to let that dark hearted brute anywhere near her. He wasn't going to allow his daughter to come into harms way. There was no way he would allow that.

"Leave my daughter be! She has nothing to do with what has happened! She is more to me than a mere heir! I shall not allow you to take another step closer!"

He prepared to draw his sword. This man was prepared for a fight now. That was when he heard what was said next. Solution? What was this brute talking about? Then, that was when he heard it... the offer. His eyes went wide. The king took a step back, startled, caught off guard even. What?!

"What in the many lands......"

He shook his head.

"What makes you think....."

He tried to calm himself. King Hanequin began to pace around on that spot, if only for a short time. He needed to think. This male was confused and angry and all that at the same time. Many emotions were running through him at that moment. He took a breath and stopped pacing soon enough.

"....Very well. I shall.... think on it."

He needed time to find another solution. The king was already praying for one inside his mind. This male truly wished there was a way to avoid this. His people and his daughter needed him. He needed to keep them all safe. His pride was not important. If another solution was not found.... then he would have no other choice.

---

"Begone foul cur! Away with you then!"

Saoirse brandished her blade, swiftly dashing forward to stand between her father and the menacing man that spout nothing more than madness! Despite the weapon in her hand never being designed foe battle, and the heavy beating of her heart as fear caused her to tremble - she could not let this vile fiend sink his fangs into her father before making a mockery of them all. There was malice in those eyes, and the princess knew that this invading monster disguised as a man promising mercy in exchange for her father... this demon was a liar.

Her gaze did not stray from her foe, but she spoke to her father behind her. "Father, please reconsider." She shook her head, revolted by this empty proposal they had been given. She did not approve at all... the Divine must be testing the people of Seanate. That seemed to be the only answer. She held onto her faith and stared defiantly at the one that had brought so much chaos and strife in her life in such a short time, and waited to see what would come next... prepared to fight should the need arise.

-redacted-

Witnessing the father and the daughter’s conflicting exchange, A tiny smirk graced the dark lord’s lips. Even though his heart felt as though it were consumed by a whirlpool of a raging sea, The sight of this was quite humorous and a chuckle couldn’t be fought. Already he could tell that this young lady cared deeply for this man. It almost warmed his cold dead heart. And so whilst she rushed to stand guard between the two men, Cier couldn’t help but grin ear to ear, thinking that he’d better be a gentlemen to Hanequin. Well, that was only if he did accept his hand in marriage.

Looking into the reflection of the princesses blade with an easy beating his his chest, completely unthreatened Cier was. He could read the room and feel all the emotions that flurried like the wind that shielded the kingdom in ice. As if it were flooding the room like rain and filling his lungs up with hot air to his neck yet even still not at all was it hard for him to breathe. How desperate the king was to not only protect his child but Seanate as a whole was sickly satisfying. He had them right where he wanted them. Though this marriage would likely be a bit of a detour in finding the mastermind, it would not be a hinderance. Perhaps one or the both of them could be of some help to his cause, despite their current and unfortunate opposition.

To say that he was happy with himself and for the other man’s consideration in the taking of his offer, would be an understatement. He needed to be rid of the curse, and fast, but for the time being he wouldn’t rest. Not until he had the head of whoever responsible for killing his kind was nestled neatly in the center of garnished golden plate.

“Very well!” He sounded, satisfied for now yet he wouldn’t leave without one last powerful word. “Until said sunset, my storm will not cease!” In the midsts of this statement as if it were a command, lighting cracked the darkened sky with the most ground quaking of thunder, completely turning the large window panes behind him pure white. And with that he would silently slip away with his soldiers having been victorious.

@marxxie@Chris488
King Hanequin glanced back at his daughter. He sighed. He frowned.

"I...am truly sorry, my daughter."

The man glanced back at that dark ruler. His eyes narrowed as he did so. His glare towards that other man started to return with a vengeance. He took a deep breath.

"As stated... I shall think upon it. However, the decision is not final....cur."

He said that last word rather firmly. The king sighed, again. He gasped and looked up at the sky upon hearing the storm. His eyes saw those clouds and what they had brought with them had gotten worse. More people fled when there was another sudden bolt of lightning. The kings' own heart jumped inside his chest, so to speak, at that moment. He gasped and soon turned, now once more glaring, eyes towards that other male.

"LEAVE THEM ALONE! THEY ARE INNOCENT I SAID!!"

He was quite loud. If he had those kinds of powers himself, the very ground would have probably shaken. That was how loud he had gotten. That was also how angry he was, how furious he was. This was a king who had to stop this man by any means necessary. Of course, he would pray for another solution to present itself, so that he would not have to go through with this so-called agreement with this so called emperor.

However, before he could say more, or do anything else, that other male had already taken his leave. The King let out what sounded like a human version of a snarl before he turned away from that spot. This man glanced at his daughter once more, and his look turned rather saddened.

"We can only hope, only pray, there is another way, and soon."

With that, he went back inside the castle once more. He was silent for a time. He started to keep to himself for a short time as well.

---

The princess was not one to remain idle for any period of time, and immediately began calling out commands: "Tend to the wounded! Gather our forces and provide aid to those in need! We will not let this evil defeat us!" Her words reaching across the castle grounds as she led by example and directed the efforts in recovering from the brief but devastating assault, as well as providing guidance and shelter to the common folk suffering under the dark clouds of this sudden storm.

There was fear in the hearts of Seanate's people, and Saoirse could not deny that there was fear in her own heart, yet she could not stand still and abide the foul invader's decree. Her father would never marry such a monster, and together the king and princess would rebuke the devil's power and protect their homeland. It was merely matter of ascertaining a way to do so, and Saoirse had faith her father would achieve this.

She sought her own means as well, ever-determined to prove herself worthy of ascending the throne. She gave orders to a few of the most capable knights in service to her father, and bid them find the strongest swordsmen, the wisest priests, and the most potent of relics, anything and everything that could help them now. "Ride now! Be swift! You must return before the hour of tomorrow's twilight descends upon us!"

Then the princess began her search across the castle for her forsaken father - for she was intent on saving him.

@Chris488@marxxie

The king sat on his throne. His eyes were upon the floor underneath his feet. This king had gone... rather silent during this time. He was lost within his own thoughts, not paying much attention to anything else, not paying much attention to the world around him at this time. King Hanequin was a.... rather worried king, a depressed king, an angry king, an afraid king, anything that could be used to describe him at this time.... that was the kind of king that he was.

"...................."

Sighs could be heard often. That was the main sound that was heard. The rest was, well, total silence, except for the sound of his breathing, which seemed to be rather quiet for the most part. He was praying at times, inside his mind. King Hanequin was trying to think of any possible other solutions to this... situation. But alas, none could be thought of, and so far, in that short time, there was none to be found. Anyone in this situation would most likely assume it to be a.... rather hopeless situation, or so one would think if they were the king.

The king wished for a true solution. He continued to pray for one. Otherwise, he would truly have no choice.

"A king must do what must be done...."

He finally spoke out loud after some time had passed. However, his voice was barely above a whisper. It also showed what emotions he was feeling during this time. It gave away what he was feeling.

---

"Father!"

The princess cried out as she approached the gilded throne, towards the king still seated. She came closer with a brisk stride accompanied by the rustling of silk from her gown torn, waiting to be mended, and she saw how the burden of his responsibility weighed so heavily upon his shoulders, yet it seemed there was too little she could do to truly alleviate him of this dreadful pressure. She fell to her knees beside him, holding his hands in hers, and she spoke softly to him. "Please, you mustn't do surrender yourself to that fiend."

Saoirse was soaked and battered from the merciless rain and wilds winds which came and clamored and thrashed ceaselessly the kingdom of Seanate - ever a promise of further retribution from the demonic invader, should the people of this land resist his malice. With tired limbs and fierce eyes on the verge of tears, Saoirse held onto her father and pleaded. "Salvation will come... Have faith in the people, have faith in the Divine... and have faith in yourself... We will find a way!"

@marxxie@Chris488
King Hanequin has kept his eyes towards the, now viewed as cold and hard, floor for the longest time as he sat there upon his throne, after speaking his thoughts out loud, and rather quietly, for a moment or so. Footsteps could be heard soon enough, but he did not raise his head. He ignored them at the moment. His thoughts were clearly elsewhere, and for obvious reasons. He did not notice a presence there, at least not right away, let alone notice that it was his own daughter and that she had run up to him. Another sigh could be heard, coming from him of course, obviously.

This male blinked, freezing for a time, but had still yet to raise his head, upon feeling that touch, that hand upon his own and such. With half open eyes, he barely glanced up, barely glanced towards the princess. The princess was on her knees, apparently, and the sight made him feel worse, making him think of himself as a possible failure. A king never fails, they cannot fail, or so he believed. He was taught that a good, true king would do whatever it took to protect their home, their kingdom, would do whatever it took to protect his people and keep them safe.

His prayers had gone without a response. It had started to feel as if a solution would not be found easily, if at all. It truly had begun to feel hopeless. He would barely nod at her first words spoken, if at all, and continue to remain silent for a time.

".............................."

The king would notice the tears in her eyes soon enough. They would make him feel even worse somehow, if that was even possible. The sounds of the storm outside could somehow be heard in the throne room, and it reminded him of what he had been thinking about since entering his throne room and sitting down upon his throne. Upon hearing his daughters' next words, he somehow managed to find his voice, if only to respond that one time.

"Faith......."

There was a pause.

"....Nothing lasts.....not even strength......"

He took a breath.

"One can only hope....... but a king must do what must be done....in the end....."

The king finally glanced at his daughter fully, if only for a time. That depressed, saddened, and so on, look on his face had yet to fade. Another sigh would soon be heard before he said one other thing, and only that at the moment.

"......The people, this kingdom, our home.... must all come first."