[ Beleth's anger still pulses in her blood, consumes her thoughts, and she's ready to share more of these thoughts with Thranduil, when someone who is distinctly not Thranduil answers. It's abrupt enough for her to be left in a stunned confusion, staring stupidly at the crystal as she tries to regather her scattered thoughts. ]
Yes, well--Thank you. The issue at hand is, of course, that it's rather distasteful for a division head to go about kicking her subordinate's faces in, but if I could figure out a way to convince him to keep his mouth shut, or perhaps if I challenged--
We were married in the fashion of his people during the Inquisition's diplomatic mission to Nevarra.
( it occurs to her that beleth is more likely than yngvi to know what that actually means.
she decides not to think about it too hard. hopefully beleth won't, either. )
I assume the reasons why we aren't sharing this news outside of family are obvious.
( and maker, but that olive branch is held in shaky hands that might prefer a switch. there you go, thranduil, she concedes that at least you consider beleth family— )
[ It doesn't occur to Beleth immediately, partly due to a large part of her thoughts still being dedicated to the idea of hunting down Elros. Partly, because the first thing she thinks of with wedding is something like her brother's own, beautiful and sacred, and wonders what it might have been like in Arda, surrounded by the elves of that world.
After that, she thinks: They visited Nevarra in Firstfall.
She thinks: It's unlikely that Thranduil and Gwen were not in some manner a couple before the wedding.
She thinks: When she'd asked Thranduil why he wanted to live in the Vauquelin mansion, so long ago, he'd dodged the question neatly. She hadn't even realized he'd done it, until right now.
How long, exactly, she wonders, but does not ask. How long had he decided not to tell her--did he not trust her? Did he not think she was family enough? But Gwen needs an answer that is not a resounding silence. ]
Of course. [ It's breathed out, faint and dazed. ] I understand. No one will hear it from me. [ Except Sorrel, but that's just part of life. And now that she's had more time to digest it, she's had more time to readjust the mask that sits so readily on her face, pleasantly polite and unphased. ]
I hope it's not to late to offer my congratulations, Lady Vauquelin. And thank you for your explanation, I appreciate the candor and trust placed in me. Unless there is anything else we can discuss, would it be alright if I spoke with Thranduil again?
( she presses his crystal back into his hands; rises up on her toes and presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth, not thrilled about this but not unhappy enough to hold onto it when their time together is limited and seeing him off in anger would be—
just like them, if she's honest, but not preferable. and, well.
her father tried to have him fucking killed. they are both bringing complicated family to the table, here. she knows. )
I told you they wouldn't like it, ( she murmurs, touching his arm. ) You tread carefully.
( will he? will he fuck, probably, but she's spent most of their relationship giving him warnings he's ignored, and vice versa, so that's as may be. she's not leaving, because it's her bedroom, but she will allow them the illusion of privacy while she attends to her dressing instead of, as she'd briefly been tempted to do, immediately having a maid informed they did not need to set a place for provost thranduil after all. )
[ he exhales, shakes his head so slightly that it is as if he supposes beleth could see such a thing, even when half the city away. his fingers brush at the curve of her hip before she can get out of his reach, and he retreats to the far corner of the room, as much distance as he can manage between them for beleth's sake.
he has made things more difficult for himself, he knows this, but he must account for the soul at the center of his plans. ]
[ She's not sure how to feel, exactly. It's a lot to process--and she's not sure which part of it is the hardest. It would be best, she thinks, to give it more time before offering any official opinion. ]
Would it be too much trouble to ask you if we could continue discussing this the next time you're in the Gallows? You could come over to my room for lunch.
[ Better to meet him in person, anyway. Both to face him, and to ensure that she doesn't have any surprise participants in the conversation, again. ]
no subject
Yes, well--Thank you. The issue at hand is, of course, that it's rather distasteful for a division head to go about kicking her subordinate's faces in, but if I could figure out a way to convince him to keep his mouth shut, or perhaps if I challenged--
[ Clank clank clank clank, ding. ]
--Husband?
no subject
( it occurs to her that beleth is more likely than yngvi to know what that actually means.
she decides not to think about it too hard. hopefully beleth won't, either. )
I assume the reasons why we aren't sharing this news outside of family are obvious.
( and maker, but that olive branch is held in shaky hands that might prefer a switch. there you go, thranduil, she concedes that at least you consider beleth family— )
no subject
After that, she thinks: They visited Nevarra in Firstfall.
She thinks: It's unlikely that Thranduil and Gwen were not in some manner a couple before the wedding.
She thinks: When she'd asked Thranduil why he wanted to live in the Vauquelin mansion, so long ago, he'd dodged the question neatly. She hadn't even realized he'd done it, until right now.
How long, exactly, she wonders, but does not ask. How long had he decided not to tell her--did he not trust her? Did he not think she was family enough? But Gwen needs an answer that is not a resounding silence. ]
Of course. [ It's breathed out, faint and dazed. ] I understand. No one will hear it from me. [ Except Sorrel, but that's just part of life. And now that she's had more time to digest it, she's had more time to readjust the mask that sits so readily on her face, pleasantly polite and unphased. ]
I hope it's not to late to offer my congratulations, Lady Vauquelin. And thank you for your explanation, I appreciate the candor and trust placed in me. Unless there is anything else we can discuss, would it be alright if I spoke with Thranduil again?
no subject
( she presses his crystal back into his hands; rises up on her toes and presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth, not thrilled about this but not unhappy enough to hold onto it when their time together is limited and seeing him off in anger would be—
just like them, if she's honest, but not preferable. and, well.
her father tried to have him fucking killed. they are both bringing complicated family to the table, here. she knows. )
I told you they wouldn't like it, ( she murmurs, touching his arm. ) You tread carefully.
( will he? will he fuck, probably, but she's spent most of their relationship giving him warnings he's ignored, and vice versa, so that's as may be. she's not leaving, because it's her bedroom, but she will allow them the illusion of privacy while she attends to her dressing instead of, as she'd briefly been tempted to do, immediately having a maid informed they did not need to set a place for provost thranduil after all. )
no subject
he has made things more difficult for himself, he knows this, but he must account for the soul at the center of his plans. ]
Beleth, [ gently. ] I am here.
no subject
Would it be too much trouble to ask you if we could continue discussing this the next time you're in the Gallows? You could come over to my room for lunch.
[ Better to meet him in person, anyway. Both to face him, and to ensure that she doesn't have any surprise participants in the conversation, again. ]
no subject