Glued to pieces [Allison]

A highpitch scream echoed in the room. An offsetting noise, sounding like it was made once too much. The terror clearly hearable within, running along with the fear. A scream that had nothing left of the soft, warm tone the voice normally used to have, as it sounded almost raw. It was almost a primal expression, unable to display any words at that stage. Anyone who heard it, must’ve felt it deep within themselves. In their bones even, crawling through their spines. But not through the ones of Faylice. Because that scream was hers.
And then there was all that blood. It was everywhere. The ice blue eyes of the lady darted around, seeing blood just everywhere. Not a single spot was left, feeling it slink over her skin. And they were there, in each sight she had. In each glare she observed. He was there too, maybe that was the worst of it all. Or was it the fact her father stood there. Made even more blood come to display, as he drained his own. There it was again, that terrifying offsetting scream again, as she couldn’t comprehend what was happening. As she didn’t want to understand what was actually happening.

Faylice her eyes shot open, while her upperbody came up with it. Heavily panting  the lady looked through the small room. Feeling the panic for a few moments of not knowing where she was, before realising she was in a small room in the hold of a ship. Her gaze following the wooden boards, focussing on the details of them while her breath still wasn’t providing much oxygen. Fay closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, almost immediately opening them again. Closing them for too long brought the same nightmares back, like the one she just had. When would she start to remember that? All a nightmare, Fay. She thought by herself, slowly pushing her breath out over her lips. You survived, it’s in the past now. Though her thoughts did a poor job at calming herself down, it was at least something. Slowly the lady pulled her hands in front of her, looking down on them even slower. Not really wanting to look at them, in the fear they would be covered in blood just like that one night, she did it anyway. Her vision cleared up as she focused herself on the two shaking hands. Both of them were spotless, clean. Only revealing the pale skin the lady had, nothing more. See, they’re clean. It really was just a nightmare. Another sigh left the lips of Fay, regaining the control over her breath fully now. Turning her hands around she looked at the palms at her hands, that were still trembling. Not a spot on that side as well, perfectly clean. Almost relieved the dark haired lady looked up, following the details of the boards. Checking the door for the first time to see if anyone had noticed, but no one did. Just like she wanted that to.

After a few minutes regaining full control of the whole situations, the lady pushed her legs out of the improvised bed. Swinging them over the edge Fay took her time on adapting on the movements of the boat. She really hated boats, had been ever since she made the previous trip to Rhoynar and had been sick as hell after it. Now that the sea wasn’t that turbulent it already was better, but if she could avoid it, she would do just that. It was pretty ironic that Fay had chosen to go to Rhoynar, but she figured that would lay in her best chances. With caution she made her way towards the deck, letting the ever burning sun wake her up even more with a, she had to say, pleasant breeze. Already seeing the skyline of Brightwater Keep Fay smiled softly, soon she would set foot on shore again. A thought that was very welcome next to all the worry she experienced.

And when she finally set foot on mainland, the dark haired lady didn’t continue her journey towards the grand duke and duchess just yet. Letting herself pause for a few minutes just staring over the ocean, discovering the beauty it had. The minutes blended into hours, as the sight of the boats traveling by, or sailing away was just a bit too peaceful to leave. And if there was something that wasn’t that peaceful, it was her mind that never stopped its storm ever since. Though she felt somewhat of a relief, since she hadn’t seen her father, or the others in a very long time now. Not that it made her any less careful, the lady had learned her lesson. It was when the sun started to turn more orange, laying its warm rays of light over the city, Faylice decided it would be time to tear herself away from the peace. To get herself going again, to get herself into a better position she was now. If she had to be honest, she had no idea what this visit would bring to her, maybe they would lock her up. But the thought of the fact it couldn’t be worse than being in one room with the cult -and her father-, was oddly comforting. And so she made her way towards the castle, until the guards came to stop her. ’I want to request an audience with the Grand Duchess.’ Fay told the guards, taking the whole screening for granted. ’You can tell her Faylice Medici is at the gate, in peace and negotiation.’ She told them, her warm, soft voice just like it always had been. An almost relaxed smile around her lips while she awaited the answer.

After that one night, so much had changed. Even though they all made sure it ran just like it did before, she knew better and with that she got restricted from nearly everything. Being close to locked up in her room from time to time, facing the terror if she did not listen to them. And she did face them, because listening and Fay did not work that well. Especially not in that situation, and with the fact that she had escaped earlier already, she was good at that. Luckily for her, Fay did learn her lesson, the hard way that was, but she learned. Waiting for once, before her time would be there, planning her way through her escape a little more careful before she actually could. And when she was away, it had all been a sprint to safety. Or, relatively safety, her past experiences had learned her that she would never be truly safe. But for Fay, every inch of distance more between her and that castle in D’auvignon was a win.

Ever since, Faylice looked over her shoulder. Keeping her pace up as she went south, and eventually deciding that her stepping on a boat would be the best option. The best chance of her getting out Navarre as a whole, and so she found some that were loyal to her and stepped in a boat. Taking the sickness from the sea for granted. Considering everything, it all wasn’t too bad. Where she expected for a search for her, for people to come after her. For them, he to come after her, it had been quiet. It didn’t make her caution any less though, knowing that she would always have a price on her. And with that, he could show up any minute. It didn’t happen, and for that, Faylice was glad for every minute he didn’t.

The little gesture of the guard made her pull her attention back towards the man, instead of being lost in her thoughts. Something that happened more often than not. Fay had always tended to do it, but now she was traveling -alone- it almost took over. ’M’lady.’ The guard said, giving a little bow where Fay nodded her head towards. Giving her a sign to follow her she did, feeling glad she was accepted in at least Rhoynar. Though she knew it was a advantageous time for her to ask for help. During her travel she heard about what had all happened here, quite recent. Knowing what new leaders faced, she knew that she would be accepted more easily. If they didn’t hate the Medici’s, that always was a small issue. Though she got leaded into the castle, she wasn’t relieved just yet. She could be locked up for political reasons in just that. Arriving in what seemed like the very fancy chair room, Fay quickly pushed the thought away. A polite, neat smile curled around her lips as she stepped in, letting the guard announce her beforehand. ’Allison Lenier, am I correct?’ She spoke, showing a little bow herself to show the respect that was normal for a Grand Duchess, before looking up again. Searching there for a moment for the intentions the woman in front of her had, you could never be too sure.

The way towards the very fancy chair room was one big opportunity for Faylice to get lost in her thoughts. And so she did, because what would she do otherwise? Just as the ice blue eyes stared at how different this castle was build up, how different it was decorated, her thoughts brought her back to D’auvignon already. How she felt in those days, and the days after. But with that came the urge to push all those thoughts away, so her mind went on rambling -because that was the thing it always did- about how she felt now. And how it was different then she expected it to be. If she was honest, it wasn’t all that bad. Fay had learned that if, and only if, she kept herself clean, spotless, it al was fine. And if she showed her sweetest smile, no one would notice because they wouldn’t look further than the pretty face she wore. Though, if she did got dirt on her hands, it was a whole different story. So Faylice did everything to prevent that, simple story right?

Then there were only the nightmares left, there she couldn’t hide away behind her neat little smile, behind her little act she presented to everybody. So she slept less, made sure she would be as safe as possible when she would wake up, and took her panic attacks for granted. How hard they were, how much she didn’t like them. When the dark haired lady arrived at the door she let her eyes focus on the surroundings again. Acknowledging that she had been away for the whole way towards the room, and made a pretty boring guest for the guard, that was leading her in utter silence.

As soon as she stepped into room, her eyes got pulled towards the woman sitting on the very fancy chair. Smiling just as light as she herself did, it was a warmer welcome than Fay could hope for. All things considered. The ice blue eyes looked around in the room, being almost surprised to see that there were no guards with chaines around. Maybe luck was at her side for just this evening, which would be a very pleasant experience. Faylice had learned that the hard way ass well, that she couldn’t rely on anything as unreliable as luck. The smile widened itself as she heard that she had been right about the name of the woman in front of her. ’Good.’ She simply reacted, letting that smile slip back into her comfortable, small one. ’Well, to be completely honest,’ Her words sounded calculated, her gaze now focussed on Allison. ’I hadn’t foreseen this either.’ Fay let out a soft sigh, barely visible while she looked down onto her hands for a moment. Hands that were just as clean as the last time she checked them. ’No, how much I’d want to disagree.’ Her smile faded. ’I’m in quite a tricky situation actually.’

The longer Faylice stood in the room, the more she realised this could be the very first time she got welcomed like a royal should be. Not hostile, but just on very neutral bases. It had been another hard lesson for her to learn, and this one had made Fay wonder about the fact why she had to learn all her lessons the hard way. Why she couldn’t just sit and listen like so many others did. This lesson had been a though one to get through. There were people that hated her uncle, that hated her father. If Fay had to be honest, she could share that thought, understood why they did it. The Medici’s had such a name, a horrible bad name that the people didn’t believe there also was something good in the line. But she wasn’t the only one, her niece had the same, strong and brave hearth like she had. A good heart above all, that was tested now many times over and over, as the dark haired lady refused to set herself above others. Maybe that was a lesson she still had to learn, and thinking about how hard that must be, she rather not think about that one.

The fact that Fay wasn’t no longer a real royal maybe did some good for her too in this situation. Even though people never tended to stop their hatred even though the power was gone, maybe Allison did. Maybe she didn’t even know about everything. An issue she had to deal with very careful if she wanted to leave this place firstly, and with her head preferably. Although it all seemed fine, Faylice did not trust this whole conversation just yet. The ice blue eyes travelled to the glass, which seemed to have wine in it and rested there a few moments. ’Yes, you can say that.’ A tricky situation was probably the understatement of the year, and if she had to be honest, she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t this bad.

As the woman in front of her took a sip, Fay walked a few steps closer towards Allison. Only to close the distance so that the both of them didn’t have to speak that loudly. She hated that, yelling towards one another because there was too much space in between. Slowly nodding on the words to confirm that she knew what happened here, the lady flashed a smile again. ’I do not know the details, but who ever does?’ Her calculated way of speaking didn’t leave her just yet, as this wouldn’t be sensitive to the both of them. But as Allison asked her question, a light frown pulled over Fay her face. Letting the silence take over just so that she was able to think about her answer. Why was she really here and what would be relatively safe to tell the Grand Duchess. ’How much do you know about the current situation in Navarre?’ She first asked instead.  

There was so much that had happened, Faylice could call herself lucky that she still was getting informed about everything. About what happened back at D’auvignon and what happened all around the country. It was a lot, almost too much to really comprehend, especially since the countries had been so in peace with each other. But not only Navarre had its troubles, its fights, not only within the council but also outside of that. Rhoynar had have quite the shift as well, and she heard that there were other countries that had trouble as well. Faylice had to rely on what others told her, something she did not like and maybe that was one of the reasons she went for Rhoynar firstly. To see if everything was true, like the rumours had claimed the changes first. But that only were the big events, this lady in front of her, held the specific details. Not that she really was happy to share, something she understood more than anyone else. ’That is true, even though they sometimes make the difference.’ Faylice added to the statement, not questioning further. Knowing that this could work in her favour the other way around as well. Especially taking the fact she had an awful lot of details she didn’t want to share as well.

Rather than explaining what was going on, Fay was curious to check in on how much was really public about Navarre and its situation. Asking such a question beforehand was important, to what Fay could really tell, and what would be better to keep for herself. With that, she could figure out how the relationship between Rhoynar and Navarre really was. Faylice truly didn’t know the extent Thriumph had, where his network ended and where he still could pull strings. Another lesson, another hard learn. So the comment from Allison about knowing only rumours did made the smallest bit of relieve flash through. ’It was all I knew about the situation here.’ Fay admitted, though she knew she had some reliable sources she could at least trust a small bit.

The brunette could still be lying, an option Fay took in mind, but got pushed to the background fairly soon. Her lips curled into a soft but honest smile as she heard what Allison had to say. ’That makes two of us.’ The lady responded, rumours were something so dangerous. Something that you couldn’t avoid and it always had two directions it could go to. If you didn’t listen to them enough, they would catch you up. On the other hand, if you trusted them too much, they would stab you in the back. Such a basic principal, and still it was a huge problem for so many. The final words made the dark haired lady look up again, keeping that same smile around her lips. ’The Medici’s lost the throne.’ Her expression turned serious after the words she so simply said. Calm and neutral, as involving emotions wouldn’t do any good.

The statement Faylice made, her words that stated directly that she wasn’t in any position anymore. Formed quite a risk. She could’ve stated that she was on the throne right now even, not that stating that would make any sense. But stating that her father was still on the throne could be a valid one. Even if the truth came out, she could’ve been misinformed in her way towards Rhoynar. She hadn’t told anything but the bare truth. How ugly that was, at least for her at this moment. Fay was a honest person, she valued the truth more than anything else and cared for her own. Besides, it wouldn’t make a difference now, it would even work against her if she stated anything different. And this wasn’t the whole ugly truth just yet, that laid in the story behind all of this. Something Faylice rather avoided to tell, or at least, didn’t look forward to telling.

As the lady got op, Fay tilted her chin up with it. Patiently waiting for what she was planning now. How she reacted on that bold statement that didn’t hide. Coming with an option Faylice hadn’t expected. One that was more on the friendly side than anything else. Maybe to unravel the whole story, that was a good option. All things considered, it was much better than being locked up behind bars. That had ran as an option in her mind as well. So Faylice nodded softly on the words, agreeing on what Allison was proposing. ’You are right, I didn’t.’ Not really using much more words on the idea she followed the woman. Pushing herself after the woman, having no other choice than to trust Allison in leading her to somewhere she could sit. But again, this was way less worse than everything that had come along in her worried mind.

Walking though the hallways again had the same danger like it did when Fay walked with the guard. I would be just the tiniest trigger of her memory that could send her back into her thoughts. It was like her mind was just designed that way, very vulnerable for distractions that led her into overthinking too much, again and again. Following Allison and trusting she knew the way made her wonder if other people felt the same way back in the castle in D’auvignon. She knew that place like the back of her hand, and even knew all the secret passages. But admittedly, if Fay had to find her way out, out of this castle, she would have no idea where to go.

Calmly Faylice listened, while entering in what seemed like a dining room. It had been quite a while since she was somewhere this fancy. The travel had taken a long time and in between she tried to stay off the map for as much as she could. Using her stops in between efficiently and taking food with her, all so that she didn’t have to stop that often. Slowly the lady raised an eyebrow, hearing how Alllison ordered two bottles of wine. Softly sniffing on that comment, she didn’t have the energy to go against it. She could probably use it very well, even though she hadn’t touched any alcohol during her whole journey. In the back of her head, there already was a little voice telling the dark haired lady that this wasn’t a very good idea. That this could turn into a disaster since she knew her tolerance wasn’t that great. ’I think we do.’ Fay responded anyways, because that was the other side of the story. Pulling up an almost joyful smile around her lips.

On the signal that she could take place, she gladly did. And when she sat down, the expected question came. A dreaded one, at least for Fay it was. Looking down on the table, her fingers traced the edge of the wood. Her mind figuring out what was valuable to tell and how she was doing it. Checking her fingertips after, and assuring they were still clean, Fay let out a soft sigh before looking up. ’The council planned against the king, they wanted to overpower him with an arrangement and well, that didn’t went as smoothly as they planned.’ Intentionally the lady used words like “the king” instead of “her father”, since she practically .. and technically lost him. It wasn’t the subject she talked about easily, but it had to be done, and so she bit through.

Sitting down on the chair, that was a more comfortable one than all the others she sat on during her travel. She rearranged herself, straightening her back against the backrest. Feeling how much difference the good chair made. Faylice knew that the questioning of why she was here wasn’t over yet, and she knew that, no matter how comfortable the chair was, it wouldn’t be any less easier now. Still, it was the only chance the dark haired lady had, to get herself somewhere in a better position than she was in now. She had nothing, stripped away from her place of power, she always had fought against. And now all Fay had left was the sheer hatred the people had for the Medici’s, and so for her. Maybe that glass of wine would help just a little, though it might not be the best idea.

Her explanation wasn’t enough. She could’ve known that as well, her description was good enough for anyone other than the ones that were a possible help. Faylice didn’t blame Allison for asking further, but she took her time in answering this one. What did happen? It was more a case of what really didn’t happen. Her world had been upside down in the weeks before and after the whole thing happened. Judging by the fact she really only heard the rumours, her question only confirmed that more, there needed to be a whole lot of information to be spilled. Something Fay hadn’t done ever since, knowing that it would tear open wounds that she really wanted to leave alone. ’The king was always very strict with loyalty.’ Fay began, her voice softer than before while her eyes found the wooden table again. Explaning one of the many details that gave the right context. ’So when the council acted out, he, he only left one alive.’ She spoke again, her voice turning a little colder now. Fay knew why, and although she hadn’t been there, her previous experience didn’t make that a liability to know she spoke the truth.