Wait...where were you again?

[Sarah Tintagyl]

It was one of those...awkward feelings, even though there was no one that was around her that could make her feel awkward, but it was going to get around. Sarah had left Prussia earlier that day and had taken her jet from Valkurheim in the morning and would arrive in Brisbane early the next morning. The ride felt like an eternity, she could barely concentrate on her reports and all the other work she had as she was too busy thinking about not only the blue lily that was sitting in front of her and the remembrance of that night in Nova Scotia. She wanted to smile at the memory and she wanted to put the flower back in her hair, but now this was a different life again. For the past few months, Sarah had been living various double lives. She was the high school sweet heart with Evan, the Valkyrie-Goddess with Albert, but what was she with Larsa? The girl of his dreams? Maybe? She really didn't know and it bothered her. Larsa was her husband but they seemed so distant...there was no doubt that it was her fault, Larsa hadn't told her to sleep with Evan, she did that on her own and what was worse...she didn't really regret it. She sighed when her mind came to that realization. She was a horrible wife and she felt her head drop to the desk on the jet. No tears, just her stomach didn't feel like it was in her stomach anymore, she felt like it was in her heart.

Climbing off the jet, the Lillians escorted her to a limousine that took her directly back to the Manor and the tension in her body only continued to rise as they got closer. She had done this before and always dealt with the same emotions, but she hated dealing with it. As the limo passed through the bronze gates, Sarah exited and the servants immediately came out to carry her luggage upstairs to her room as other maids set out to pamper the Lady Protector as she entered the Manor proper.

"Is Larsa here?" She asked stepping into the parlor to a maid handing her a folder of reports that required her attention.

"I'm not sure milady. I can go look if you'd like."

Sarah shook her head and sat down in a chair as she took out a few papers and a pen. "No, that's okay. If you see him tell him I just got back and that I'm in the parlor."

The maid bowed. "Of course milady, I will." She looked at Sarah and the blue flower still in her hair. "Milady, that is a beautiful flower. I've never seen it before."

"Oh. This. Its nothing, just a gift from a leader." Sarah took out the flower and set it down on the table next to her, as the maid left. No need to advertise. She sighed lightly and leaned back, at least she was home now. Though her stomach was still somewhere in her chest...

[Subtleknifewielder]

OOC: Hmm. Bup for ranather. It is between you and him, right?

[Sargun II]

OOC: Why would Ranather need a bump? He doesn't, raise your post count elsewhere.

/this is the part where you note my hostile attitude towards yourself and respond in kind

Edited May 10, 2009 by Sargun

[Subtleknifewielder]

OOC: Why would Ranather need a bump? He doesn't, raise your post count elsewhere.

/this is the part where you note my hostile attitude towards yourself and respond in kind

OOC: I'm not raising my post count. Just thought he might have missed the thread and so tried to remind him of it.

No, I;m not going to respond in kind...

[Sargun II]

OOC: I'm not raising my post count. Just thought he might have missed the thread and so tried to remind him of it.

No, I;m not going to respond in kind...

OOC: Your logic without logic is illogical.

[Spock]

Not only is that my line but this is also off-topic.

Onwards to sensibility!

[Sarah Tintagyl]

OOC: Don't worry...I PMed Ran the link...he'll get this thread...its one the community has been wanting to see for awhile I think.

[Ranather]

It was one of those...awkward feelings, even though there was no one that was around her that could make her feel awkward, but it was going to get around. Sarah had left Prussia earlier that day and had taken her jet from Valkurheim in the morning and would arrive in Brisbane early the next morning. The ride felt like an eternity, she could barely concentrate on her reports and all the other work she had as she was too busy thinking about not only the blue lily that was sitting in front of her and the remembrance of that night in Nova Scotia. She wanted to smile at the memory and she wanted to put the flower back in her hair, but now this was a different life again. For the past few months, Sarah had been living various double lives. She was the high school sweet heart with Evan, the Valkyrie-Goddess with Albert, but what was she with Larsa? The girl of his dreams? Maybe? She really didn't know and it bothered her. Larsa was her husband but they seemed so distant...there was no doubt that it was her fault, Larsa hadn't told her to sleep with Evan, she did that on her own and what was worse...she didn't really regret it. She sighed when her mind came to that realization. She was a horrible wife and she felt her head drop to the desk on the jet. No tears, just her stomach didn't feel like it was in her stomach anymore, she felt like it was in her heart.

Climbing off the jet, the Lillians escorted her to a limousine that took her directly back to the Manor and the tension in her body only continued to rise as they got closer. She had done this before and always dealt with the same emotions, but she hated dealing with it. As the limo passed through the bronze gates, Sarah exited and the servants immediately came out to carry her luggage upstairs to her room as other maids set out to pamper the Lady Protector as she entered the Manor proper.

"Is Larsa here?" She asked stepping into the parlor to a maid handing her a folder of reports that required her attention.

"I'm not sure milady. I can go look if you'd like."

Sarah shook her head and sat down in a chair as she took out a few papers and a pen. "No, that's okay. If you see him tell him I just got back and that I'm in the parlor."

The maid bowed. "Of course milady, I will." She looked at Sarah and the blue flower still in her hair. "Milady, that is a beautiful flower. I've never seen it before."

"Oh. This. Its nothing, just a gift from a leader." Sarah took out the flower and set it down on the table next to her, as the maid left. No need to advertise. She sighed lightly and leaned back, at least she was home now. Though her stomach was still somewhere in her chest...

Upon hearing that she had returned home, Larsa headed for the parlor. He knocked softly as he entered. Dressed in a jet black outfit of undiscernable material, he moved over to Sarah and laid his hands gently upon her shoulders.

"Sarah, I love you. I hear things, but I trust you and I love you." he said before kissing her on the cheeks. "Welcome home." He then sat down beside her and smiled.

"How was your trip, you were gone quite some time?" Larsa tried his hardest to keep a casual conversation, but the rumours..oh the rumours. But what was a relationship if not built on trust. If she had something to say, she would tell him? Right?

[Sargun II]

OOC: Kinky

/can't wait to read when he gets home

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Upon hearing that she had returned home, Larsa headed for the parlor. He knocked softly as he entered. Dressed in a jet black outfit of undiscernable material, he moved over to Sarah and laid his hands gently upon her shoulders.

"Sarah, I love you. I hear things, but I trust you and I love you." he said before kissing her on the cheeks. "Welcome home." He then sat down beside her and smiled.

"How was your trip, you were gone quite some time?" Larsa tried his hardest to keep a casual conversation, but the rumours..oh the rumours. But what was a relationship if not built on trust. If she had something to say, she would tell him? Right?

Sarah looked up from the papers and received his kiss with the warmest affection she could muster. Hearing things, she rolled her eyes. Every tabloid in the world and especially in the Hansa covered her journeys. The wedding in Nordheim was no exception, any where she walked she could see pictures of herself with various foreign leaders and it had gained her quite the dubious reputation. Well, not dubious, flirtatious was a much better word. She stared back down at the flower and shook her head. 'Alpinius Tintagylius', she remembered the nomenclature and chucked to herself.

Looking back at Larsa she smiled, though with a concerned look on her face. "The trip was nice, the wedding more so. The Kaiser and I had much to talk about. Though I do apologize for staying in Prussia as long as I did." It had been a week after all, God had she really spent a week in Prussia? Sarah chuckled again. "Hearing things? What things have your heard Larsa?"

[Ranather]

Sarah looked up from the papers and received his kiss with the warmest affection she could muster. Hearing things, she rolled her eyes. Every tabloid in the world and especially in the Hansa covered her journeys. The wedding in Nordheim was no exception, any where she walked she could see pictures of herself with various foreign leaders and it had gained her quite the dubious reputation. Well, not dubious, flirtatious was a much better word. She stared back down at the flower and shook her head. 'Alpinius Tintagylius', she remembered the nomenclature and chucked to herself.

Looking back at Larsa she smiled, though with a concerned look on her face. "The trip was nice, the wedding more so. The Kaiser and I had much to talk about. Though I do apologize for staying in Prussia as long as I did." It had been a week after all, God had she really spent a week in Prussia? Sarah chuckled again. "Hearing things? What things have your heard Larsa?"

"Well, I heard the Kaiser has taking a real liking to you. Which is okay, you're a beautiful woman, and you have every right to show that off. I know you spent some time in Japan, obviously. But there is a great chunk of time that no one can seem to account for, or at least not to my face." he said, smile fading slightly.

"I'm not one to believe tabloid headlines, and I know you're a good woman, Sarah."

Edited May 13, 2009 by Ranather

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"Well, I heard the Kaiser has taking a real liking to you. Which is okay, you're a beautiful woman, and you have every right to show that off. I know you spent some time in Japan, obviously. But there is a great chunk of time that no one can seem to account for, or at least not to my face." he said, smile fading slightly.

"I'm not one to believe tabloid headlines, and I know you're a good woman, Sarah."

Watching his smile begin to fade utterly tore her heart from her chest and she sighed as she ran he fingers across her eyes and looked back up at him. "No, Larsa, I'm not a good woman. I'm a politician. I might be a great leader, but I'm not a good woman." Looking back down at the papers she tossed them on the floor next to the chair and looked at him. Taking his hands in hers, Sarah gently ran her hand down his face. "Larsa I'm going to be frank with you, we need to talk about this marriage. You need to help me, because I'm losing my faith." She sighed. "Larsa, the Kaiser proposed to me, fully knowing that I am already married."

She looked down at the ground. "My faith is wavering. Larsa even upstairs in my correspondence drawer. The amount of love letters almost shadow the amount of actual necessary political correspondence. Leaders, ministers, Hanseatic or foreign and I'm loosing faith. And Evan..." She sighed again and buried her face in her hands. No tears, just a look of defeat and helplessness.

"No, I'm not a good woman Larsa."

[Ranather]

Watching his smile begin to fade utterly tore her heart from her chest and she sighed as she ran he fingers across her eyes and looked back up at him. "No, Larsa, I'm not a good woman. I'm a politician. I might be a great leader, but I'm not a good woman." Looking back down at the papers she tossed them on the floor next to the chair and looked at him. Taking his hands in hers, Sarah gently ran her hand down his face. "Larsa I'm going to be frank with you, we need to talk about this marriage. You need to help me, because I'm losing my faith." She sighed. "Larsa, the Kaiser proposed to me, fully knowing that I am already married."

She looked down at the ground. "My faith is wavering. Larsa even upstairs in my correspondence drawer. The amount of love letters almost shadow the amount of actual necessary political correspondence. Leaders, ministers, Hanseatic or foreign and I'm loosing faith. And Evan..." She sighed again and buried her face in her hands. No tears, just a look of defeat and helplessness.

"No, I'm not a good woman Larsa."

He looked back at her with a solemn silence. "It's as I had feared, then." he said with an unreadable look. "You're human, Sarah, these things happen. But you're letting the weight of these very important feelings kill you slowly, and I'll return the courtesy of frankness by saying I think that's pathetic. A person can only bend so much before they break, Sarah. I can only help you as much as you allow me to, Sarah."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

He looked back at her with a solemn silence. "It's as I had feared, then." he said with an unreadable look. "You're human, Sarah, these things happen. But you're letting the weight of these very important feelings kill you slowly, and I'll return the courtesy of frankness by saying I think that's pathetic. A person can only bend so much before they break, Sarah. I can only help you as much as you allow me to, Sarah."

She looked up. A flash between sadness, helplessness, and yet a small hint of anger. "Larsa, you are never there for me. Ever." She turned and though how she could say it without really being cynical. "Look, when I go away. I always ask, always. Larsa, would you like to come along? Larsa, do you want to come with me? Prussia, Japan, the Caribbean, everywhere. But you always have the same response. You'd rather stay home, there's things to do in Brisbane and you'd rather not travel. Look, I have to travel, I have to, there's no other way around that. I'm a diplomat and a leader. But you have to at least humor me sometimes, what am I supposed to do. Sit off in a corner at balls and parties because my husband isn't around. Go to cafes alone because I can't stay in a hotel room all night by myself? I'm not saying I'm not to blame here, but you have to at least help out!"

Sarah caught herself and she stood up out of the chair. She was lashing out and anger was the last thing she needed right now. "Evan Hiley was the ex-Director of Artemis Global Security. I met him at a cafe, and over the course of probably two years now, we've seen each other." She walked over to the window of the parlor, glared at one of the maids who had stumbled close by causing the immediate retreat and turned back to Larsa. "We had an affair. Once, but it was still one time too many. I know that I'm in the wrong, but you need to see this from my point too. You know the life of a politician, you were the Steward of Neo-Franzharia, you know it gets lonely."

She pounded her fist against the window. Any harder and it would have cracked. "I know I'm pathetic, but this isn't just a one sided problem either."

[Ranather]

She looked up. A flash between sadness, helplessness, and yet a small hint of anger. "Larsa, you are never there for me. Ever." She turned and though how she could say it without really being cynical. "Look, when I go away. I always ask, always. Larsa, would you like to come along? Larsa, do you want to come with me? Prussia, Japan, the Caribbean, everywhere. But you always have the same response. You'd rather stay home, there's things to do in Brisbane and you'd rather not travel. Look, I have to travel, I have to, there's no other way around that. I'm a diplomat and a leader. But you have to at least humor me sometimes, what am I supposed to do. Sit off in a corner at balls and parties because my husband isn't around. Go to cafes alone because I can't stay in a hotel room all night by myself? I'm not saying I'm not to blame here, but you have to at least help out!"

Sarah caught herself and she stood up out of the chair. She was lashing out and anger was the last thing she needed right now. "Evan Hiley was the ex-Director of Artemis Global Security. I met him at a cafe, and over the course of probably two years now, we've seen each other." She walked over to the window of the parlor, glared at one of the maids who had stumbled close by causing the immediate retreat and turned back to Larsa. "We had an affair. Once, but it was still one time too many. I know that I'm in the wrong, but you need to see this from my point too. You know the life of a politician, you were the Steward of Neo-Franzharia, you know it gets lonely."

She pounded her fist against the window. Any harder and it would have cracked. "I know I'm pathetic, but this isn't just a one sided problem either."

Larsa listened with the continued emotionless face. "That is how you feel, is it? What do you want me to say? What can I possibly say? Yes, Sarah, I'll go everywhere from now on? Please, you'd see through something like that fast enough." he turned away from her, emotionlessly. "Do..do you think this marriage is salvageable?"

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Larsa listened with the continued emotionless face. "That is how you feel, is it? What do you want me to say? What can I possibly say? Yes, Sarah, I'll go everywhere from now on? Please, you'd see through something like that fast enough." he turned away from her, emotionlessly. "Do..do you think this marriage is salvageable?"

She turned back and glared at him. "See through what fast enough? Larsa you're my husband for God sakes! Look I don't have a choice, I have to leave, this isn't just my job, this is my life! You of all people know this, you of all people should know why I can't sleep at night. Why I come down here next to the fire place and curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep because of the memories and the pain." The first tear broke through her eye. "Yes, this is how I feel. I'm not saying I'm not at fault. I slept with another man and there's no greater crime in matrimony than that, but that doesn't mean that I still don't feel a slight bit betrayed. Its not like it would be trouble for you to come along with me. Or at least I didn't think it would be."

She looked back up into his eyes. "What's happened to us? To the two people that were so enchanted by the Finnish wind and sky." She sighed. "What do you think then? I want to hear what you have to say first."

[Ranather]

She turned back and glared at him. "See through what fast enough? Larsa you're my husband for God sakes! Look I don't have a choice, I have to leave, this isn't just my job, this is my life! You of all people know this, you of all people should know why I can't sleep at night. Why I come down here next to the fire place and curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep because of the memories and the pain." The first tear broke through her eye. "Yes, this is how I feel. I'm not saying I'm not at fault. I slept with another man and there's no greater crime in matrimony than that, but that doesn't mean that I still don't feel a slight bit betrayed. Its not like it would be trouble for you to come along with me. Or at least I didn't think it would be."

She looked back up into his eyes. "What's happened to us? To the two people that were so enchanted by the Finnish wind and sky." She sighed. "What do you think then? I want to hear what you have to say first."

Larsa simply closed his eyes. "Pain, you speak of pain, as if you're the only one. What happened? We've changed. I still do love you, but I can see as plain as day how this is going to end." He picked up his jacket from the corner. "We're agitated and emotional, and nothing is going to get done with this atmosphere." he stopped short of the doors.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Larsa simply closed his eyes. "Pain, you speak of pain, as if you're the only one. What happened? We've changed. I still do love you, but I can see as plain as day how this is going to end." He picked up his jacket from the corner. "We're agitated and emotional, and nothing is going to get done with this atmosphere." he stopped short of the doors.

Sarah stopped for a moment, all emotion gone, her hands shaking. "Larsa. Where are you going? Please. Please don't go, not like this." She reached out to take his hand...

[Ranather]

Sarah stopped for a moment, all emotion gone, her hands shaking. "Larsa. Where are you going? Please. Please don't go, not like this." She reached out to take his hand...

Larsa allowed a crack of a faint smile to cross his emotionless face, if only for a second. "I love you. I'll be in Siam." He turned away one last time, making his way out the doors across the lawn, towards the car.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

"No! No! No! No! NO!" She watched as the door shut in front of her and the ignition in the car start. Sarah couldn't move, she was overtaken by so much rage, fury, sadness, grief, anguish and no of it towards him. No all of it to herself. Her breathing increased as she got up from her knees as she had fallen to the floor. Tears, breathing, everything as she began to pace, her life again was collapsing in on itself and there was nothing she could do. She had betrayed him to the fullest and all she could say was that she was selfish? "NO IT CAN'T HAPPEN LIKE THIS!" The maids that were any where nearby ran in the opposite direction, fearful of the anger of the Lady Protector as Sarah held her head in pain from a massive migraine coming on.

"You little !@#$%*!" She said to herself. "You $%&@ed everything up, everything up! What's the matter with you." She picked up the reports from off the ground and flung them at the wall and then walked towards the great mirror hanging up on the back wall and with all her might punched the mirror in the center of the piece, sending shards of glass raining on the ground. It hadn't even occurred to her that her hand had instantly become a bloody mess.

"Milady. Please." One brave servant walked into the room. "Please you must calm down. Please, let me bandage that up for you."

Sarah looked at her, with sad eyes as she wiped the bloody hand on her face. "Its fine, just...just leave me alone. I just want to be left alone."

The maid bowed. "Of course."

"Wait." She stopped the maid before the doors closed. "Bring me a bottle of whiskey though, I need something to take the pain off." After the maid had brought back the bottle, she left Sarah alone in the broken parlor, sitting bloody and sorrowful. Bringing up the bottle she let the alcohol burn her mouth thoroughly before swallowing. "You really know how to $%&@ !@#$ up don't you. You stupid !@#$%^&. You really know how to $%&@ things up. You've always been good at that."

To be honest at this point she just wanted to die, though deep down Sarah felt it would be better if maybe just the world died around her. At least then she could still enjoy the bottle.

[Ranather]

"No! No! No! No! NO!" She watched as the door shut in front of her and the ignition in the car start. Sarah couldn't move, she was overtaken by so much rage, fury, sadness, grief, anguish and no of it towards him. No all of it to herself. Her breathing increased as she got up from her knees as she had fallen to the floor. Tears, breathing, everything as she began to pace, her life again was collapsing in on itself and there was nothing she could do. She had betrayed him to the fullest and all she could say was that she was selfish? "NO IT CAN'T HAPPEN LIKE THIS!" The maids that were any where nearby ran in the opposite direction, fearful of the anger of the Lady Protector as Sarah held her head in pain from a massive migraine coming on.

"You little !@#$%*!" She said to herself. "You $%&@ed everything up, everything up! What's the matter with you." She picked up the reports from off the ground and flung them at the wall and then walked towards the great mirror hanging up on the back wall and with all her might punched the mirror in the center of the piece, sending shards of glass raining on the ground. It hadn't even occurred to her that her hand had instantly become a bloody mess.

"Milady. Please." One brave servant walked into the room. "Please you must calm down. Please, let me bandage that up for you."

Sarah looked at her, with sad eyes as she wiped the bloody hand on her face. "Its fine, just...just leave me alone. I just want to be left alone."

The maid bowed. "Of course."

"Wait." She stopped the maid before the doors closed. "Bring me a bottle of whiskey though, I need something to take the pain off." After the maid had brought back the bottle, she left Sarah alone in the broken parlor, sitting bloody and sorrowful. Bringing up the bottle she let the alcohol burn her mouth thoroughly before swallowing. "You really know how to $%&@ !@#$ up don't you. You stupid !@#$%^&. You really know how to $%&@ things up. You've always been good at that."

To be honest at this point she just wanted to die, though deep down Sarah felt it would be better if maybe just the world died around her. At least then she could still enjoy the bottle.

Even from the warming up of the car, Larsa could hear the shattering of the mirror. He took his feet off of the gas. Sarah was right, he had grown colder, distant. She had needed him and all he ever did was smile and say I love you.

He sat there, gas wasting away as he stared at the manor. Every emotional barrier he had broke down as he lowered his head and slumped onto the steering wheel.

[Sarah Tintagyl]

Even from the warming up of the car, Larsa could hear the shattering of the mirror. He took his feet off of the gas. Sarah was right, he had grown colder, distant. She had needed him and all he ever did was smile and say I love you.

He sat there, gas wasting away as he stared at the manor. Every emotional barrier he had broke down as he lowered his head and slumped onto the steering wheel.

Still hearing the car running, Sarah moved towards the window and looked out at Larsa pausing in the driveway. The life of politics had finally caught up with them and indeed they had not been ready for it. For Sarah, it had been too much for the young Finnish girl to handle. The parties, the balls, the constant attention and compliments had become too much for her and she had succumbed to romantic desires of some of the most handsome world leaders, but in the process abandoning he who she loved first. For Larsa, it had been the same abandonment, he too had not been ready for the sheer amount of pressure that came from the political management of what was steadily becoming the largest nation in the Pacific, perhaps aside to Aotearoa. They were young lovebirds and in a way they were still both in love, but everything had changed, and the marriage in all respects was over. No matter what they did.

Sarah had drank herself into a stupor by the time the maids had come into the finally bandage the clotting blood up. She was a mess and at picking her up, they took her upstairs, bathed her, dressed her in her night gown and laid her down to bed with the bottle of whiskey still at her side. Now she would have to start thinking about how to end this. A divorce would be all over the papers, but the tabloids were already bad, she just didn't care anymore. Sitting up for a moment, she gagged and then ran to the bathroom to vomit, the alcohol ran from her mouth like a geyser and after she was done she leaned her head on the toilet seat and shut her eyes. Getting back to her feet she moved to the bed where as she laid down the tears began to fall and for the second time in a week, cried herself to sleep. The only thing keeping her comfort was a small stuffed animal she had received when she was a child and no matter what the circumstances that teddy bear would always be there.

[Ranather]

The next day was perhaps one of the most difficult in all his life. Handing in his resignation to the Senior Military Command and proposing his successor (OOC: Sarah can actually handle that in reality.) was not too well recieved by his subordinates, who had grown to admire him and begged him to stay on.

He arrived to Brisbane Airport later that afternoon, on the recieving end of many looks. The attendants looked at him quizzically as he headed to board the last flight of the day to the Siam Protectorate.

"Marschall Solidor? Off to Siam?"

"It's just Mr. Solidor, now, and yes."

This garnered quite alot of gasping and head turning from the crowd as well as from the woman. "Well, enjoy your flight."

[Sarah Tintagyl]

The next morning Sarah awoke, still sick and extremely hungover, but there was an extreme amount of work to be done since getting back from her vacation, if she could call it that anymore. After arriving at Diet Hall, her hair a hot mess and her outfit thrown together in a matter of minutes, the ministers and advisors made sure to stay clear of Sarah's war-path to her office. By mid-afternoon the first chamberlains who had summoned up enough courage to enter into the room, went in as soft as they could with apologies abound. But it was those who treated the day as just any normal work day that found the Lady Protector's favor.

"Milady. Marschall Solidor's resignation papers." Said an aide bringing in a manila folder of reports. "You need to select an immediate successor and sign off on the resignation slip. We had believed that General Kolm would take command of the army and that Lady Asgiersson would take command of the General Staff."

Sarah sighed and threw back the black tea on her desk and reached for the folders. "Yeah, let me take care of this." She quickly scribbled down the signature and turned her head. Out in the distance, the plane had taken off from Brisbane International and she watched at it broke into the atmosphere above.

"Is everything all right Milady?"

"No Jess, its not. But that doesn't matter anymore." She turned back to him and smiled. "Weakness isn't allowed in our jobs, especially in a country that is constantly under scrutiny. No, this is a chapter in my life complete and I will see Larsa again. Siam isn't far after all." She looked back out the window. Weakness, no, she couldn't dare show weakness. Even if she felt like she couldn't continue, the Hansa always was and that kept her going. It had always kept her going.

[Margrave]

The next morning Sarah awoke, still sick and extremely hungover, but there was an extreme amount of work to be done since getting back from her vacation, if she could call it that anymore. After arriving at Diet Hall, her hair a hot mess and her outfit thrown together in a matter of minutes, the ministers and advisors made sure to stay clear of Sarah's war-path to her office. By mid-afternoon the first chamberlains who had summoned up enough courage to enter into the room, went in as soft as they could with apologies abound. But it was those who treated the day as just any normal work day that found the Lady Protector's favor.

"Milady. Marschall Solidor's resignation papers." Said an aide bringing in a manila folder of reports. "You need to select an immediate successor and sign off on the resignation slip. We had believed that General Kolm would take command of the army and that Lady Asgiersson would take command of the General Staff."

Sarah sighed and threw back the black tea on her desk and reached for the folders. "Yeah, let me take care of this." She quickly scribbled down the signature and turned her head. Out in the distance, the plane had taken off from Brisbane International and she watched at it broke into the atmosphere above.

"Is everything all right Milady?"

"No Jess, its not. But that doesn't matter anymore." She turned back to him and smiled. "Weakness isn't allowed in our jobs, especially in a country that is constantly under scrutiny. No, this is a chapter in my life complete and I will see Larsa again. Siam isn't far after all." She looked back out the window. Weakness, no, she couldn't dare show weakness. Even if she felt like she couldn't continue, the Hansa always was and that kept her going. It had always kept her going.

It was somewhat later that evening, as the stars burned bright over Brisbane, that De Luit came into the hall, his breath coming in steaming gasps as he exploded through the Servant's Entrance to the Hall. He'd been fifteen miles out, on foot, and in the brush, training his latest batch of Guards, when the word had come: Lord Solidor had left the Hansa. He'd immediately dropped his gear, given his Aide directions to secure sleeping quarters for the men, and ran, his feet pounding first the ground and then the streets as he came closer to civilization, glad for the sake of his burning muscles he'd had enough water last night. As he rushed through the servants corridor, dignity completely forgotten, he found his office (deep in the underbelly of the Hall, in the same quarters and offices as the Hall staff and servant billeting, issuing an immediate debrief from the Lilian Guard on what exactly the state of the Lady was. His concern quickly grew to shock, and then to a cold anger, his eyes like ice cold agates aflame in their sockets.

He quickly changed into his grave, formal military uniform, and walked with purpose to her office where he spoke personally to Jess, trying to decide how best to approach her. After they consulted, he quietly entered the room and bowed, his face as cold and hard as stone in the depths of winter, his heart blazing within him as he tried to find the words. As she gave him a silent stare, he saw her shoulders shake as though from a great and terrible grief, and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "M'lady..."