A Stopped Heart.
Aug. 22nd, 2020 03:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
from_the_westa collection of the bits and piece(s) concluding the arc from the three lilimin and stone posts. Aly gets involved. Lugh does his best.
****
Aly looked at him, did a double-take at his cousin’s gaunt face and the circles around his eyes, and said, “you’re still letting my sister in at night, aren’t ye.”
“Yeah, why, y’jealous?”
“You look like shit. She’ll be your death if you don’t cut her off soon.”
“Pfft, we’re fine, Aly.”
***
Alistar peered past the high arched doorway like a child in his short pants, and of course, his father caught him doing just that. Lugh’s brows went up, then came crashing back down over crinkled eyes as he chuckled and waved him in; Aly went, rubbing one of his ears.
“Why’re ye lurkin’ at the doorways like a frightened mouse, lad?”
“I wish I knew.” He always felt that way when he first saw Ard Ri Lugh back from another tour of the Mainland--like he had to pierce through aura and armor to find his father, to see past what everyone else saw, a legend far beyond any of the rest of them, cloaked and crowned with deeds fiercely heroic and shining, strangely dangerous. “Maybe it’s what I’ve to tell you---” He glanced around the room.
Lugh immediately rose to his feet. “I’m needing a moment with the Ard Rivut now.” and the rest of the room inclined their heads in acknowledgment and his guard did not follow. He and Aly found a quiet, gaily-painted, sundrenched antechamber in which to sit. Aly noted the fresh flowers and wondered briefly if his mother had returned as well, but it was also not a huge leap to imagine his father, the hopeless romantic that he was, insisting that roses continue to be used to decorate a chamber that she frequented when they had their own private conversations.
“C'se ta?” Lugh asked.
“It’s about our guest and cousin, Ard Rivut Adri.”
“...He’s still here?” and then Lugh answered his own question with a muttered, “Of course he is, it’s not like Bjarthor’s ever stopped being an ass.”
“Ta, and also, he’s been distracted.”
Lugh heaved a sigh of obvious relief and the thought behind it was clear. Was that all? “Ah, 'twas bound to happen, nil hea? Which one of ye hellions has the poor lad lost his mind over? Should I send him my condolences?”
Aly took a deep breath and his eyes darted sideways. “Lilimin.”
“...Oh.” Lugh paused. Scratched his head. “Huh. I didn’t see that one coming, s’truth. The last I remember, he was mooning around after the Miàntiáo.* He’s got the ancestry to get away with it, I suppose?”
“That’s the problem. We hoped at first--they were keeping the secret poorly, but he seemed well, and we were happy for them. But he’s not getting away with it, Papa. He’s getting eaten alive, just like any other man, but slower.”
“Did ye warn him?
“‘Course I did, ta, but Adri won’t hear me. He said Jia was just jealous, and he won't hear Auntin Bai, and Auntin Lilith and Madi aren't back from Avalon yet. I warned Lilimin too, and she heard me once, but she can’t resist a welcomin’ un-warded window and he keeps telling her he’s fine, so now she won’t hear me either. Will ye speak to him, Papa?”
“I will, Aly. Let me make up an official summons for him, so we’ll be weaving on the right frame to begin with.”
***
Lugh looked the boy (young man, really) over carefully as he presented himself for their meeting, and noticed quite a few things at once--both how he’d grown, and grown hard in some places, bright in others, and ...worn down otherwise, despite the clear effort he’d gone through to make a formal appearance, jeweled and embroidered tunic, rings, royal torque and all. His steadily lengthening walnut-dark and bright gold hair was combed in neat waves, tucked behind his prominent ears. His deeply hollowed cheeks made his green eyes huge and luminous, like a starving child.
“Greetings, Ard Rivut Adri. It’s pleased I am that you’ve agreed to this meeting despite the short notice.”
“Greetings to you, Ard Ri Lugh.” He bowed very politely. “Truth is, I’m honored to be remembered.”
“Of course, you’re like another son to me, if you’ll forgive m’ boldness, Rivut-se.” Lugh chuckled. “I hope we may drop the formalities a bit, if it please ye.”
“If we could please Ri-se, it’d be a relief.”
“Then come and sit and I’ll pour a glass for the both of us, we’ve an important matter to discuss.”
He came in quickly and took his seat while Lugh poured and tasted and served them both, and Lugh practically see as well as feel the pride and adoration radiating off of him just from being treated like a grown royal in the presence of another. Burned a bit, to be honest. He was a good lad, and a strong one too, to be able to spend all the time he had in the Iron Court. T’was a pity that the Winter Court was such a place that would drive him to it.
“I’m hoping, if it pleases you, to bring up a matter to you as well, Ri-se.”
“Of course. Though now I’m wondering if it’s all the same matter, as it’s turning your ears red as your mother’s sigil?” Lugh teased gently. “Perhaps ye ought to speak your mind first.”
Adri choked on his drink. “Ah, well, come to think on it, it’d be more proper if my mother or father spoke for me but I hoped I might be forgiven if I speak for my own self just this once?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, lad. What’s on yer mind?”
“Your daughter--I--I mean, one of them in particular. R-rivuthaven Mina. Sir--uh, Ri-se?”
Lugh merely nodded encouragingly. “Lilimin, you mean?”
“Ta!” Adri swallowed hard and then noting how his hands shook, put the glass down. “I was hopin’ you’d be willing to consider us for a match.”
Blinded God, he was so hopeful, and it wasn’t fair in the least. Lugh took a swallow of his drink, but still couldn’t quite draw the sadness from his face by the time the boy dared to look up again.
“Ye know the two of you can’t go on like this. She’ll be the end of ye.”
“I’m fine, I swear it, we’ll find a way, I’ll be fine!--Please, Ri-se, I’ll even go back to Alfheim--the land will keep me well. For her, I’ll do it.”
“Tsck! Make no hasty promises, lad. What of your people, your warriors and jarls? She can’t live on you alone, and I won’t have her coming to harm from ones that won’t understand. Of all my children, I doubt they’ll look kindly on my Owlet--her mother is of the South as well. Will they even let lilin sit a throne? And what of your children? Whose traits will they inherit? Have ye an answer for any of these things?”
His head had sunk, and he mumbled, “Nil hea, Ri-se. I didn’t think of any of it," as he twisted one of the many rings on his fingers.
“I’m not judgin’ ye harshly for it, Rivut-se, it’s hard to think beyond a passion, gods know I barely manage it my own self.” Lugh sighed and reached out and laid a kind hand on his shoulder, and gave it a pat. “But even so, there’s a reason why there’s a pride of lionesses in this court and I’ll never be permitted to choose one above another. We’re in a fragile place, surrounded by great and terrible powers, and I'm here by the grace of a good rock toss and the love of foxes.
“Your situation’s far different than mine. For your people’s sake, and for the sake of your throne, I’m thinkin’ it’d be wiser and best to choose a lady of your own court, first.”
Lugh gave the Rivut's shoulder a gentle squeeze and let him go.
“I’m sorry lad, I cannot see an advantage in this match. For any of us. Furthermore, I’m thinkin’ you ought to be spending a lot less time--for now, until you recover your senses and some color to your cheeks, at least. I’ll have Jia ward your window for you. She and Huan are quite cunning in the way of potions and spells as well, if you’re needing something to help ye with sleep or heartache.”
***
Stone tossed and turned. His dreams were all of her. The potion Huan had delivered from his lady mother remained sealed at his bedside table. If dreams were all he could have of Mina, then he'd be keeping them.
Several mostly sleepless nights later, he grew angrier still. He got up, pulled the protective amulet from around his neck and threw it on the floor, left his heavily-warded room and went to find another. Fuck it. There were many rooms in Lugh’s house.
Stone opened a window and looked out to the moonlit night. After a while, he heard a soft hooting. He closed his eyes and whispered a summons.
****
He reached up and gently touched her face. “You’re more beautiful every time I see you, y’know?”
She winced slightly and looked away.
“What, you think I’m lyin’? I’m not, I mean it, when we first met you looked kinda…pale and uh, all eyes, like you was starvin’ all the time, and now you’re like, there’s color in your cheeks an’ your eyes shine, and your hair and--”
She put a finger to his mouth to shush him. “I do not want to hear about how I look. I just want to taste you again.”
***
She fetched the drink as requested and when she returned he was lying flat and still.
“Adri? I got the drink ye asked for.”
He didn’t respond.
“Silly, are you asleep already?” She pounced on him gleefully, bent to plant a kiss on his lips, and froze. “Oh no…”
With an explosion of feathers, she fled the room, and an instant later was at her eldest sibling’s door, calling for help “Ali! Alistar I need you, please!”
“Nil hea, ye think I’m fallin’ for that? Go eat someone else.”
“Nil! Is Adri, he doesn’t breathe!”
***
Aly laid a hand over Adri’s chest and another over his mouth, bent low and tried to breathe life back as Lilimin fluttered anxiously around him. “He might be too far gone for me, Lili, go get Papa now.”
“It’s my own fault--I’ve harmed an important guest. He’ll be mad!”
“Cousin Adri’s a fucking idiot who broke guest rules first. Hurry, go!”
***
“Papa? Papa! Please, open for me, it’s important!”
“I hear a little bird outside my chamber, and it’s sad I am that I cannot let her in.”
“Nil hea, I don’t want to come in, I need you to come out, Papa! it’s Adri-rivut, I’ve hurt him!”
The door was thrown open in an instant and her father scooped the tiny weeping succubus up in a hug.“Oh Owlet, I’m sorry, lass.” Then he let her go again. “Quickly now--take me to him.”
****
Alistar looked up, panting a bit, as his father strode in, fiercely, unconsciously heroic as usual.
“I t-tried, gave it all I had, but I feel like I’ve hardly done anything.”
“Nil hea, Aly, I’m sure it’s helped. It’s not easy to bring back a soul in this state.” Lugh knelt beside the bed, laid a hand over Adri’s chest and bent so he’d have an ear close to Adri’s mouth, frowned and then sat upright again.
“Hrm. Well, if what you’ve done already isn’t turning the trick, seems we’ve nothing to lose by hitting him with a spark, ta?”
Lugh’s eyes flashed bright, and Alistair and Lilimin both backed to the wall. There was a buzz and hair and feathers lifted, their skin tingled. The body on the bed leaped up with a wheeze, and Lugh sat back on his heels, watching.
Adri fell back against the pillows again, clutching his chest and gasping. He stared blearily at them all. “Did I miss somethin’? Where’s Mina?”
Lugh, still in a crouch beside him, reached over and tapped Adri's cheek for his attention. “We can’t force ye to live, lad, but this is a poor way to pay this daiv for takin’ ye in. You've a gift for bein' immovable, but I'd hoped to see it used for better things than to defy my will and callin’ on my own daughter to do the same. 'Specially when I had not only your and her well-being both to mind, but everyone’s to keep? Did ye think this would end well? Did y'have even a single thought for all the horrors that this land would suffer and all the good people on it if you died this way under my roof?”
Adri stared up at him helplessly, then he scowled and searched the room, obviously for Lilimin. She ruffled, shuddered, and cringed behind Alistar a bit more, and whispered: “I didn’t mean to hurt him, I swear I didn’t.”
“I know. Shhh.”
Lugh waited until he had Adri’s attention again before he made his final judgment. It came heavily. Wearily.
“I told ye before and I meant it--there’s no match here. You’re leaving Us with little choice. Ard Rivut Adri, We forbid ye the company of Our daughter Rivuthaven Lilimin. We’ll see you well and have ye escorted either back to the North or to wherever else that best pleases.”
Lugh rose to full standing and moved to leave, his expression dark and his eyes and fingertips still throwing sparks. His voice went gentle again as he asked: “Alistar, if you could stay with him for a moment? It's best he not be alone now. See if you can talk him into a swallow of the potion Bai made for him.” and then even more gently as if soothing a skittish colt: “Lilimin, come along, lass. No no, don’t mist away, Owlet. Come along. Let’s put the kettle on for us and the boys, ta? Se maith.”
*noodles = jia and huan, because they are his precious snake babies..
****
Aly looked at him, did a double-take at his cousin’s gaunt face and the circles around his eyes, and said, “you’re still letting my sister in at night, aren’t ye.”
“Yeah, why, y’jealous?”
“You look like shit. She’ll be your death if you don’t cut her off soon.”
“Pfft, we’re fine, Aly.”
***
Alistar peered past the high arched doorway like a child in his short pants, and of course, his father caught him doing just that. Lugh’s brows went up, then came crashing back down over crinkled eyes as he chuckled and waved him in; Aly went, rubbing one of his ears.
“Why’re ye lurkin’ at the doorways like a frightened mouse, lad?”
“I wish I knew.” He always felt that way when he first saw Ard Ri Lugh back from another tour of the Mainland--like he had to pierce through aura and armor to find his father, to see past what everyone else saw, a legend far beyond any of the rest of them, cloaked and crowned with deeds fiercely heroic and shining, strangely dangerous. “Maybe it’s what I’ve to tell you---” He glanced around the room.
Lugh immediately rose to his feet. “I’m needing a moment with the Ard Rivut now.” and the rest of the room inclined their heads in acknowledgment and his guard did not follow. He and Aly found a quiet, gaily-painted, sundrenched antechamber in which to sit. Aly noted the fresh flowers and wondered briefly if his mother had returned as well, but it was also not a huge leap to imagine his father, the hopeless romantic that he was, insisting that roses continue to be used to decorate a chamber that she frequented when they had their own private conversations.
“C'se ta?” Lugh asked.
“It’s about our guest and cousin, Ard Rivut Adri.”
“...He’s still here?” and then Lugh answered his own question with a muttered, “Of course he is, it’s not like Bjarthor’s ever stopped being an ass.”
“Ta, and also, he’s been distracted.”
Lugh heaved a sigh of obvious relief and the thought behind it was clear. Was that all? “Ah, 'twas bound to happen, nil hea? Which one of ye hellions has the poor lad lost his mind over? Should I send him my condolences?”
Aly took a deep breath and his eyes darted sideways. “Lilimin.”
“...Oh.” Lugh paused. Scratched his head. “Huh. I didn’t see that one coming, s’truth. The last I remember, he was mooning around after the Miàntiáo.* He’s got the ancestry to get away with it, I suppose?”
“That’s the problem. We hoped at first--they were keeping the secret poorly, but he seemed well, and we were happy for them. But he’s not getting away with it, Papa. He’s getting eaten alive, just like any other man, but slower.”
“Did ye warn him?
“‘Course I did, ta, but Adri won’t hear me. He said Jia was just jealous, and he won't hear Auntin Bai, and Auntin Lilith and Madi aren't back from Avalon yet. I warned Lilimin too, and she heard me once, but she can’t resist a welcomin’ un-warded window and he keeps telling her he’s fine, so now she won’t hear me either. Will ye speak to him, Papa?”
“I will, Aly. Let me make up an official summons for him, so we’ll be weaving on the right frame to begin with.”
***
Lugh looked the boy (young man, really) over carefully as he presented himself for their meeting, and noticed quite a few things at once--both how he’d grown, and grown hard in some places, bright in others, and ...worn down otherwise, despite the clear effort he’d gone through to make a formal appearance, jeweled and embroidered tunic, rings, royal torque and all. His steadily lengthening walnut-dark and bright gold hair was combed in neat waves, tucked behind his prominent ears. His deeply hollowed cheeks made his green eyes huge and luminous, like a starving child.
“Greetings, Ard Rivut Adri. It’s pleased I am that you’ve agreed to this meeting despite the short notice.”
“Greetings to you, Ard Ri Lugh.” He bowed very politely. “Truth is, I’m honored to be remembered.”
“Of course, you’re like another son to me, if you’ll forgive m’ boldness, Rivut-se.” Lugh chuckled. “I hope we may drop the formalities a bit, if it please ye.”
“If we could please Ri-se, it’d be a relief.”
“Then come and sit and I’ll pour a glass for the both of us, we’ve an important matter to discuss.”
He came in quickly and took his seat while Lugh poured and tasted and served them both, and Lugh practically see as well as feel the pride and adoration radiating off of him just from being treated like a grown royal in the presence of another. Burned a bit, to be honest. He was a good lad, and a strong one too, to be able to spend all the time he had in the Iron Court. T’was a pity that the Winter Court was such a place that would drive him to it.
“I’m hoping, if it pleases you, to bring up a matter to you as well, Ri-se.”
“Of course. Though now I’m wondering if it’s all the same matter, as it’s turning your ears red as your mother’s sigil?” Lugh teased gently. “Perhaps ye ought to speak your mind first.”
Adri choked on his drink. “Ah, well, come to think on it, it’d be more proper if my mother or father spoke for me but I hoped I might be forgiven if I speak for my own self just this once?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, lad. What’s on yer mind?”
“Your daughter--I--I mean, one of them in particular. R-rivuthaven Mina. Sir--uh, Ri-se?”
Lugh merely nodded encouragingly. “Lilimin, you mean?”
“Ta!” Adri swallowed hard and then noting how his hands shook, put the glass down. “I was hopin’ you’d be willing to consider us for a match.”
Blinded God, he was so hopeful, and it wasn’t fair in the least. Lugh took a swallow of his drink, but still couldn’t quite draw the sadness from his face by the time the boy dared to look up again.
“Ye know the two of you can’t go on like this. She’ll be the end of ye.”
“I’m fine, I swear it, we’ll find a way, I’ll be fine!--Please, Ri-se, I’ll even go back to Alfheim--the land will keep me well. For her, I’ll do it.”
“Tsck! Make no hasty promises, lad. What of your people, your warriors and jarls? She can’t live on you alone, and I won’t have her coming to harm from ones that won’t understand. Of all my children, I doubt they’ll look kindly on my Owlet--her mother is of the South as well. Will they even let lilin sit a throne? And what of your children? Whose traits will they inherit? Have ye an answer for any of these things?”
His head had sunk, and he mumbled, “Nil hea, Ri-se. I didn’t think of any of it," as he twisted one of the many rings on his fingers.
“I’m not judgin’ ye harshly for it, Rivut-se, it’s hard to think beyond a passion, gods know I barely manage it my own self.” Lugh sighed and reached out and laid a kind hand on his shoulder, and gave it a pat. “But even so, there’s a reason why there’s a pride of lionesses in this court and I’ll never be permitted to choose one above another. We’re in a fragile place, surrounded by great and terrible powers, and I'm here by the grace of a good rock toss and the love of foxes.
“Your situation’s far different than mine. For your people’s sake, and for the sake of your throne, I’m thinkin’ it’d be wiser and best to choose a lady of your own court, first.”
Lugh gave the Rivut's shoulder a gentle squeeze and let him go.
“I’m sorry lad, I cannot see an advantage in this match. For any of us. Furthermore, I’m thinkin’ you ought to be spending a lot less time--for now, until you recover your senses and some color to your cheeks, at least. I’ll have Jia ward your window for you. She and Huan are quite cunning in the way of potions and spells as well, if you’re needing something to help ye with sleep or heartache.”
***
Stone tossed and turned. His dreams were all of her. The potion Huan had delivered from his lady mother remained sealed at his bedside table. If dreams were all he could have of Mina, then he'd be keeping them.
Several mostly sleepless nights later, he grew angrier still. He got up, pulled the protective amulet from around his neck and threw it on the floor, left his heavily-warded room and went to find another. Fuck it. There were many rooms in Lugh’s house.
Stone opened a window and looked out to the moonlit night. After a while, he heard a soft hooting. He closed his eyes and whispered a summons.
****
He reached up and gently touched her face. “You’re more beautiful every time I see you, y’know?”
She winced slightly and looked away.
“What, you think I’m lyin’? I’m not, I mean it, when we first met you looked kinda…pale and uh, all eyes, like you was starvin’ all the time, and now you’re like, there’s color in your cheeks an’ your eyes shine, and your hair and--”
She put a finger to his mouth to shush him. “I do not want to hear about how I look. I just want to taste you again.”
***
She fetched the drink as requested and when she returned he was lying flat and still.
“Adri? I got the drink ye asked for.”
He didn’t respond.
“Silly, are you asleep already?” She pounced on him gleefully, bent to plant a kiss on his lips, and froze. “Oh no…”
With an explosion of feathers, she fled the room, and an instant later was at her eldest sibling’s door, calling for help “Ali! Alistar I need you, please!”
“Nil hea, ye think I’m fallin’ for that? Go eat someone else.”
“Nil! Is Adri, he doesn’t breathe!”
***
Aly laid a hand over Adri’s chest and another over his mouth, bent low and tried to breathe life back as Lilimin fluttered anxiously around him. “He might be too far gone for me, Lili, go get Papa now.”
“It’s my own fault--I’ve harmed an important guest. He’ll be mad!”
“Cousin Adri’s a fucking idiot who broke guest rules first. Hurry, go!”
***
“Papa? Papa! Please, open for me, it’s important!”
“I hear a little bird outside my chamber, and it’s sad I am that I cannot let her in.”
“Nil hea, I don’t want to come in, I need you to come out, Papa! it’s Adri-rivut, I’ve hurt him!”
The door was thrown open in an instant and her father scooped the tiny weeping succubus up in a hug.“Oh Owlet, I’m sorry, lass.” Then he let her go again. “Quickly now--take me to him.”
****
Alistar looked up, panting a bit, as his father strode in, fiercely, unconsciously heroic as usual.
“I t-tried, gave it all I had, but I feel like I’ve hardly done anything.”
“Nil hea, Aly, I’m sure it’s helped. It’s not easy to bring back a soul in this state.” Lugh knelt beside the bed, laid a hand over Adri’s chest and bent so he’d have an ear close to Adri’s mouth, frowned and then sat upright again.
“Hrm. Well, if what you’ve done already isn’t turning the trick, seems we’ve nothing to lose by hitting him with a spark, ta?”
Lugh’s eyes flashed bright, and Alistair and Lilimin both backed to the wall. There was a buzz and hair and feathers lifted, their skin tingled. The body on the bed leaped up with a wheeze, and Lugh sat back on his heels, watching.
Adri fell back against the pillows again, clutching his chest and gasping. He stared blearily at them all. “Did I miss somethin’? Where’s Mina?”
Lugh, still in a crouch beside him, reached over and tapped Adri's cheek for his attention. “We can’t force ye to live, lad, but this is a poor way to pay this daiv for takin’ ye in. You've a gift for bein' immovable, but I'd hoped to see it used for better things than to defy my will and callin’ on my own daughter to do the same. 'Specially when I had not only your and her well-being both to mind, but everyone’s to keep? Did ye think this would end well? Did y'have even a single thought for all the horrors that this land would suffer and all the good people on it if you died this way under my roof?”
Adri stared up at him helplessly, then he scowled and searched the room, obviously for Lilimin. She ruffled, shuddered, and cringed behind Alistar a bit more, and whispered: “I didn’t mean to hurt him, I swear I didn’t.”
“I know. Shhh.”
Lugh waited until he had Adri’s attention again before he made his final judgment. It came heavily. Wearily.
“I told ye before and I meant it--there’s no match here. You’re leaving Us with little choice. Ard Rivut Adri, We forbid ye the company of Our daughter Rivuthaven Lilimin. We’ll see you well and have ye escorted either back to the North or to wherever else that best pleases.”
Lugh rose to full standing and moved to leave, his expression dark and his eyes and fingertips still throwing sparks. His voice went gentle again as he asked: “Alistar, if you could stay with him for a moment? It's best he not be alone now. See if you can talk him into a swallow of the potion Bai made for him.” and then even more gently as if soothing a skittish colt: “Lilimin, come along, lass. No no, don’t mist away, Owlet. Come along. Let’s put the kettle on for us and the boys, ta? Se maith.”
*noodles = jia and huan, because they are his precious snake babies..
no subject
Date: 2021-07-25 05:35 pm (UTC)Uh-oh..
...oh ?good? he's getting a grownup involved, but even if I didn't know this wasn't going to end well, I could see it isn't going to end well.
Ri-se = somebody else's king? by contrast to Ri-me?
...oh no. Aaand, no. There it is, ending not-well.
Alistar has a strong case of hero-worship w/r/t his dad, doesn't he.
Why *isn't* Stone getting away with it, anyway? Is there a reason, or is it just 'this is how the dice fell'?
no subject
Date: 2021-07-25 08:13 pm (UTC)tbf, i slipped them all over here, didn't say much of anything about it, and then mostly ignored them after. it just annoyed me that i never wrapped up this progression in particular. >>;
unfortunately, stone was very much already in the business of mistrust and defying adults, so a handful of warnings wouldn't have been taken by him the same way his cousins would've taken them. and the adults here were well past the point of needing to come down hard on any of them, so they treated stone the same way; their biggest mistake is probably not recognizing/taking his damage into account a bit better. but he also wasn't exactly forthcoming and waving a banner with it painted on there either. they knew he was unhappy, and hanging out with lilimin seemed to make him happier, and that's about all they were getting out of him.
Ri-se = somebody else's king? by contrast to Ri-me?
Yup! We also have "Ri-te" as an option (and the pronunciation winds up being "Ree-cheeyay" almost, the "t" is so soft, and some other accents spin it more towards "Ree-deeyay," again is very soft, and i really should work on my conlanging, honestly.) if you have to be really specific about YOUR king, but Ri-se (ree-shay) is what's typically heard.
Alistar has a strong case of hero-worship w/r/t his dad, doesn't he.
so strong, yes. lugh was kinda hoping he'd outgrow it, but so far, no dice. maybe next century.
Why *isn't* Stone getting away with it, anyway? Is there a reason, or is it just 'this is how the dice fell'?
he's coming pretty close to getting away with it as much as possible outside of alfheim, and i'm assuming he held up a LOT longer than anyone else in that situation would've been able to. in alfheim, there's a much greater chance stone could get away with it entirely, but no way is lugh gonna agree to let lilimin flutter off to alfheim, oh no, not his owlet. somebody else's child can go deal with that thankless mess.
and that's not even taking into account if lilith would be okay with it, which, I mean, it's lilith--she has her own logic and mostly it has to do with 'Opportunity for More Prey?? Y/N?' so she might well BE okay with it. but i don't know that she would've entirely understood the level of her child's upset at nearly killing stone, either. her feelings on a favorite snack dying are more like '...damn, I can't believe i've eaten ALL the cake. that was foolish of me. *siiiiigh*'