Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

Atul smiled, pressing a kiss to Vlad's neck. "Maybe later once we've gotten a handle on this? A moonlight dinner in the desert sounds nice." The King frowned. He wanted to be alone with his new husband and wife, and yet, guilt tore at him. His sister, for all her darkness and evil tricks, was his. He had fond memories of her as a child, until something twisted her to blackness.

"You said Tenara was a target? By who, and why?" the King said, standing straight and holding the basket out to Vlad. "Drink while we talk."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad accepted the invitation and sat down against the wall of the corridor. "Apparently, Verin's got another brat running around. He's all grown up and looking to reboot the family business. I don't know how he removed Lelana's power, but apparently he can. Tenara is Knight and Tenele's daughter." He looked Atul in the eye, letting him work out what a child of Verin could do with the mixed power of light and darkness that resided in Tenara.

[Emora Deen]

Lelana stared at the door through heavy-lidded eyes. She imagined it exploding into fragments and willed it to, and instead it remained, solid and securing her into the small space.

She fisted her hair again, tugging, twisting, pulling. Everything prickled. Everything bothered her. Her nerves were raw and open, and may as well have been as broken as her arm. She imagined her brother's horrified face as he learned... Her brother, who had been her sole comfort as a child and a young woman. She'd hid in his room from all the evil that came for her at night, but even that couldn't save her for long. And she'd punished him, all his life, for not being as strong as she'd dreamed him to be. For not being the knight she desperately needed, even though he knew nothing of her torment.

Quiet as a mouse. Never say a word.

Lelana noticed then that she couldn't quite get her breath. It came in hiccuping huffs and her face felt damp. Drops of water rolled down her cheeks and neck. Crying. Was this crying? She did it so rarely... She always forgot what it felt like.

* * *

Atul listened quietly to Vlad's story. "Verin probably has a lot of bastards running around, but this one shouldn't be any stronger than I am. He got lucky in taking Lelana's power, or must have cleverly surprised her. He will not be so lucky next time. What I don't understand is how he knows about Tenara? I mean, do we know for sure that he knows her lineage? If he knows about Knight then we have to assume he's prepared enough to know we will use him. The easiest way to make sure he doesn't have Knight to deal with is to eliminate one of the three components to creating him... Take away one of us, night ceases to exist. We should stick together, all of us."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked up at Atul while the man spoke. "There's no certainty about what he knows, or what he wants. And it will be difficult to keep all four of you in one place," he murmured. He was already presuming the role of protector for all of them.

[Emora Deen]

The door to the medical ward opened and Tenara rushed in crying. She ran right to Vlad and threw her arms around his neck. "Mommy took my doll," she said. "Its gone."

Tenele wasn't far behind, the guards Atul had given her trailing her. She rubbed the bump on her head, looking down at Tenara with a frown. "The doll had a connection to whoever hurt Lelana. He's been talking to her this whole time. When I burned it, something came out. I'm not sure what it was."

Tenara sniffled. "My friend..."

Tenele's frowned deepened. "Perhaps burning it so quickly wasn't the brightest decision. Excuse me, I need to speak with Lelana." Tenele rubbed her head harder and turned for the small room the woman was waiting in.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad took the girl in her arms by reflex while focusing on Tenele's words over the child's sobs. "Tenele... be careful with her. She is in rough shape," he called as she headed for the door.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled at the door. "I'll be very gentle," she replied before stepping in and shutting it behind her.

Lelana moved her hands over her eyes with a wince as Tenele stepped into the room. The Queen of Hajara looked at the woman on the bed with a frown. "You look terrible."

Lelana scowled at her. "Thank you."

Tenele inched closer to the bed, leaning over to have a better look at her. "Someone's healed you," she whispered, keeping her voice low.

Lelana frowned, her brow scrunching. "You... healed me."

"Oh, did I?" Tenele snickered. "Oops, I'm sorry. Her thoughts are all fuzzy. It must have happened recently, the memory isn't fully formed. Can't really tap into it. She's out cold."

Lelana's mouth worked, her head shook.

"She bumped her head unconscious when I was leaving the doll. It created a void and I took advantage of it." Tenele shook her arms and legs. "God, this body is weak. She's got literally nothing left. Anyway. I've got very little time, she'll wake up soon and I'll be ejected. Excuse me while I go fulfil a promise."

Lelana's lips parted, but Tenele placed a cool finger to her own lips. "Shh, mother."

She turned to the door and left Lelana in bed.

Tenele smiled weakly at her husband and Atul. "You were right... She's not in good shape. I was hoping to ask her about the doll... but she was more interested in sleep. We should let her rest for a while. Vlad, do you mind watching Tenara while I check on Sinead? I'm concerned about her. If there is someone stealing people's magic I should warn her. I promise to take my guards, like a good Queen."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was still cradling his mourning daughter when Tenele came back out, rather quickly in comparison to what he'd expected. "No, let's not split up." The vampire's eyes flickered the way they always did when he was overprotective. "Whatever this is, Sinead is more equipped for it than any of us are. As soon as Tenara is calm, we'll go as a group.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's jaw tightened, but she smiled softly. "You worry too much. I'll be fine. Whoever did this isn't in the palace anymore." She turned for the line of guards waiting on her. "She's very important to me Vladimir. I'll be fine."

Atul shook his head. "Stubborn woman. I'll go with her."

"No!" Tenele shouted. "I'm fine. I don't need anyone following me around like I'm an invalid." She took a deep breath and sighed it out. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't shout. It is just... someone has been manipulating my daughter... our family. I'm angry. Just let me have my space."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stood up, Tenara settling easily in the curve of his left arm against his chest. "Neither of you are leaving my sight," he said warily. "If this kid can take Lelana's powers, he can take both of yours."

[Emora Deen]

"A kid?" Tenele laughed. "What power do I have that he would want? I'm a weak, pathetic, half-elf that has pretty much zero life force and can barely stand on her own two legs. I heal people, but..." Tenele's head cocked sideways as if she suddenly remembered something. Her fingers flexed at her sides and she seemed torn.

"Excuse me," she said, opening the door. "Please don't treat me like a child. If I need protection I will call the other guy."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's expression hardened. "For fuck's sake, Tenele, someone is attacking our family. If it's so damn safe, then why are you so worried about Queeny?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele stopped at the door, but didn't look back at Vlad. She didn't answer him. She just closed the door and walked away. She rubbed her head, shaking, before taking off in a brisk jog through the palace.

It was an odd thing to see the new Queen of Hajara running with her armoured guards struggling to keep up.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked at Atul with flaring red eyes. He didn't want to waste energy teleporting the lot of them around the castle to keep up with his wife's temper tantrum. Besides, Lelana couldn't be moved right now.

"She's exhausted. I don't want her alone," he spat.

[Emora Deen]

Atul reached out and brushed his hand over Tenara's hair. "I'll take her and you go after Tenele. She's acting strangely. Maybe she bumped her head too hard. We'll be fine Vlad..."

CRASH

Atul's head jerked towards Lelana's door where the sound of broken glass echoed. He threw the door open and found Lelana on the floor, a broken vase next to her where she'd tried to keep her balance with a small table.

"Lelana? Why are you out of bed?"

"Its him," she said, shaking. "Its him."

* * *

Tenele stopped at what she suspected was the Queen's room. If the memories served her right, this was where the woman was staying. "Can I borrow your dagger, sir?"

"Eh?"

"I'm used to a weapon on me. Now, that I've left my husband I remember my foolishness. Could I borrow yours?" She smiled at him, holding out her hand. "Its not a request."

"Yes, my Queen," he huffed, reaching quickly for the dagger at his belt.

"Thank you," she said and slipped it into the folds of her dress. "Excuse me."

Tenele knocked on the door twice, and entered the ornate room. "Sinead?"