(no subject)

[fortheworldtosee]

Who: Nero, the Pendragon twins, Aspyrtus/Argon Coin, Taryn, and possibly Medea???
What: Nero finally makes it to safety
When: June 2nd; evening
Where: Camelot
Warnings: n/a

To say the past few days haven't been difficult would be the understatement of the century. It had been bad enough, having to deal with one assassin. But several? It was the final blow to Nero's already fragile psyche, and she had to make her move. Now.

In the cover of night, with only the strange spirit of the Golden Fleece she had found in Medea's room and aided by her still loyal allies in Luna's Call, Nero had fled Palatine, and later Rome itself. She had taken the long way to safety; she avoided the waypoints, too paranoid that another assassin or perhaps groups of angry citizens might be waiting for her. She had insisted on avoiding any major villages and towns as well, for that very same reason.

So that is why, should they respond personally to the messenger that had hastily approached them, the Pendragon twins will find a very worn, weary cousin of theirs waiting for them, mostly hidden by a dark cloak and looking pretty much dead on her feet. The allies that had helped her up to this point are close by, but she's not even acknowledging them at the moment.

Comments

[get_off_my_lawn]

Taryn was there, standing next to Nero with her sword across her back and blood on her fur. When the former empress swayed, a large paw moved to her shoulder. Taryn had not let Nero collapse yet and she wasn't going to now. The wolf stayed silent as she would let the Pendragons accept their cousin and sort the mess out on their own.

[fortheworldtosee]

"I am thankful for your help, Taryn," Nero's voice was dull, low, so lacking the fire it so usually held.

"I owe you a great debt. I do not know how I will repay it, but I swear to you, I shall."

[get_off_my_lawn]

Taryn leaves her paw on Nero's shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze.

"I know when the time is right, you will do so. Until then, rest in your family's den and regain your strength. A mountain doesn't bow to the wind, but it can be blown bare. You will thrive again, Nero."

[fortheworldtosee]

Nero chuckles at that. It's not harsh or forced, like almost everything about her had been these past few weeks, but it does sound rather hollow.

"Only time will be able to tell if those words are true or not, my friend."

[get_off_my_lawn]

"Strength comes in many forms. You will find my words to be true," Taryn replied with a bit slight upward curve of her lip. "And if you ever need to draw strength from me, I grant you it. Luna will see to it."

That was, in a roundabout way, an invitation to become a part of Luna's Call should Nero ever wish.

[lovelesswitch]

Nero has little magic power to sense it. Even if she had a sufficient amount, though, that surge of magical energy would have disappeared in an instant. Space rips apart, opening a tear that leads to another dimension filled with eyes that stare back at Nero. From it, a ragged, cloaked woman is thrown out at Nero's feet. Her Viscount has finally been freed.

[fortheworldtosee]

Despite being physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, Nero's paranoia hasn't just gone away. So when the eye-filled gap opens in front of her, the first thing she does is reach for her sword - a sword she doesn't have, but the move is just all instinct - but she freezes, when she notices just who this person is.

"... Medea?"

[lovelesswitch]

"N-Nero..."

Seeing her queen so weakened, Medea tries picking herself up. She's weak after all that time spent in the cell. The woman's body is still fragile despite her power and knowledge. This is the first time Medea ever saw Nero as weak as she looks now. Nero felt acute physical and emotional pain, yet despite it all, she was still standing. And fighting.

She struggles to walk closer to Nero, almost tripping on her own robes just now.

[fortheworldtosee]

Nero is by her side in the blink of an eye, arms wrapped like a vice around the taller woman.

She doesn't cry. She doesn't yell. She doesn't shout her praises to the gods above that her dear Medea is back. The exiled Emperor is just too completely tired to do any of those things, and so she just keeps on clinging to the other woman.

[fleeced]

"Sister!" With no care as to who might be watching, the spirit rushes to Medea's side. "Are you alright? Where were you? I've been travelling along with this Empress lady. She's really bossy, but she can also be nice."

[fater]

God dammit, Nero.

Just, God dammit. Arthur arrived there to find his cousin looking like she had died halfway there.

"Cousin." The greeting didn't quite manage to cover Arthur's growing irritation and the whole situation. He did have a moment to spare to look at Taryn, giving him a silent greeting. It was good that she was there.

[fortheworldtosee]

Nero can only smile a bitter, empty smile. Even in her current emotional state, it's not hard to see that her cousin is incredibly unhappy now.

"I suppose I should apologize, Arthur," Her voice, like her smile, is very dull, and not at all like her. "It seems I was not able to follow your advice after all."

[fater]

"You don't need to apologize, cousin. Things were more complicated that any of us could have thought." It was true, and his anger was not directed at her, but at the whole situation. And at many Romans.

"You are safe, and that is all I care about."

[fleeced]

The childlike spirit hovers in front of the strange man.

"Who...are you?"

Post-Medea Arrival

[get_off_my_lawn]

With Nero's lover being given back, Taryn leaves the two women alone. She's certain Nero has a reason to find her strength again, so she sought out a place to get water. She had a sword to clean and her fur to see to. As much as she was used to blood being on her - a mark of a good battle when more was the enemy's than her own - she... had reasons for not wanting to look so savage as she did post-battle.

...and she was thirsty. Carrying a near-comatose Nero while fighting off pursuers was taxing even to a wolf.

[ex_cashcow493]

Arturia had taken her leave early on in the conversation; her brother was better suited for politics and in all honesty, Arturia was worn down from battle. There were far too many things on her mind to sit there and bring herself to worry for her dear cousin. While it's a relief to have her there with her in Britain, she fears for the consequences that come with it.

Family and blood will always be favorable in her heart. When is it too much though? Such actions will place her kingdom in further danger potentially. Wars could start over this decision, but she couldn't bring herself to care for now. Her mind had to be clear to discuss this with the public, so she took off to a place to just wash her face.

Surely the cool water would clear her thoughts. Taryn's presence isn't ignore as she looks over her shoulder, droplets of water streaming down her face, leaving her pale hair to stick to her lively face.

"Ah." With a wet hand, she raises it to greet her.

[get_off_my_lawn]

"Your Majesty," Taryn greeted. "Forgive me for cleaning my sword in your presence. I can't let the blood of cowards stain it for long."

She takes a moment for a long drink before wetting a cloth. Kneeling down, she took the giant sword off her back and went to work removing the blood on the blade.

[ex_cashcow493]

"It will not bother me." The scent of blood hardly phases her these days as she moves to take a seat, watching the other woman. "Will you be staying for long?"

That sort of question doesn't hold any malice or rude intent, she just wishes to know if she should prepare for another guest.

[get_off_my_lawn]

"Just long enough to rest, bathe and make sure Nero is settled in." However long that took. "I have no reason to believe I can't leave now and know she is safe... but she is my friend. And I'm a wolf."

Thus making her naturally territorial.