Tale of Four

"Good," Elias said with a small grin, seeing the last of the council enter the room. Looking to Mabel, he nodded for her to have a seat, finally turning to Tristan and looking away, leaving him standing by the far wall. "The situation has changed again." Elias said, strangely happy, "And we have been given a lifeline." Reaching into his inner pocket, Elias pulled out a small letter and slid it across the table towards Lord Deacon. "First of all, however, Oscar." Elias looked at him with an arrogant gaze. "Your family has done well to support their rightful king."

Oscar ignored the gaze he was looked at with, pushing his thin-rimmed glasses. "We are loyal to the true king of Veston. My family understand this even without my position on the council." Elias nodded.

"Yet you betrayed your liege, Lord. Do not worry, I, as does my father, understand that this must have been a troubling affair, and for your family’s loyalty, I have a proposal." Elias’s head turned, looking to Vincent at the end of the table. "My uncle is unmarried, and I have heard your sister is yet to be wed. For your loyalty, I offer my uncle." Vincent tensed and looked at Elias, begging with his eyes not to be forced into a marriage he didn’t wish for, yet Elias said nothing, instead sharpening his glare until Vincent meekly looked down.

Oscar closed his eyes and rubbed his chin. For a moment he said nothing, before nodding and placing a hand on his chest and bowing, "My family did not act in hopes of a reward, but your generosity is appreciated. I shall send word to my sister to prepare her for the marriage. As for the dates, I shall wait for your highness to decide." Elias smiled without it reaching his eyes and nodded.

His finger bounced on the table. "Which moves me to my next point. The king has sent word. With Lord Brightstar a traitor to the realm, his keep has been left in the hands of his steward when he fled with Cleeve. This cannot stand. Vincent, you are to take control of Brightstar Fort and begin managing the lands. The King has ordered you to fortify the position." Elias leaned forward and interlocked his fingers, resting his chin on them. "With a marriage at hand, please do not embarrass your future bride, uncle." Vincent’s hands clenched into fists under the table, but with a deep breath, he nodded.

"I understand." His tone was meek, but thankful, realising his role wouldn’t see him thrown into the front lines leading armies. Elias looked at Lord Deacon as he lowered the letter.

"What do you make of the news?" Elias asked. Lord Deacon waited for a moment, pondering what he had just read before nodding.

"Even if he is a bastard, the proposal has merit. Once the rebellion has ended, it would be useful to have the Clovers tied to us in a marriage pact, as they would be more willing to aid in reconstruction efforts. Their sudden declaration for Brandon can also be used to fish more benefits from them alongside it." Lord Deacon clicked his tongue, "But we must understand that it is a double-edged sword and will only work if a child is produced before the war has a clear winner."

"So you agree with me," Elias said and turned to Mabel, snatching the letter from Lord Deacon. Throwing it towards her, he smiled, "Sister, you will marry Gerald Stem. Father has already said you may need to take to the field. You will, and when you do, meet with Gerald Stem. Finalise the marriage, and make sure you get pregnant. The Clovers declare for Brandon because of a bastard baby; we will offer another child."

He said it casually, stunning everyone. Mabel stared at Elias, wondering if he was joking, and looked down at the letter, quickly reading it. Her lips twitched, unsure whether to smile or frown, and after a moment of silence she laughed and shook her head, "I’m not doing it."

Throwing the letter back, Elias lifted an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Tristan watched from the side, watching Mabel stare at Elias in shock that he didn’t seem to care for her personal feelings on the matter. Taking a deep breath, Mabel quickly tried to find an answer that could be used to stop it.

"Elias. The Clovers support Brandon because George will be Brandon’s heir; they made sure that news spread. My child won’t touch the throne. After all, you will be king. Do you think the Clovers will drop support and declare for us becuase of a child loosely related to the throne rather than having the chance to sit their own blood on it?" Elias didn’t react instantly, closing his eyes and tapping the table, understanding her worries. "Perhaps," She carried on, "You could marry one of Lord Clover’s daughters.

"No." Elias shut down the idea. "I did meet with Silvia as a potential marriage candidate, but she had nothing but beauty. Now that I think about her, she was rather dull and hardly worthy." Elias shook his head. "But you make a good point." Elias leaned back, his finger continuing to tap. It carried on for half a minute when his finger paused, and he looked back down. "Marry Gerald, and I shall send word promising that any children you have shall be married to my heir. That way, the Clovers can be content with their ridiculous ambitions."

Tristan could see it took everything for Elias to make that proposal, hating the thought of having to give some ground to the Clovers but knowing it was the only way. Mabel’s hand wrapped around the paper, crushing it. Looking to Elias, she forced herself to smile. "Brother, must I? Maybe Matthew could do so? His engagement to Ellie has been destroyed now that Brandon rebelled, and he will be free to marry Lord Clover’s daughter."

"Mabel." Elias coldly said, "I haven’t been asking you. I heard your concerns, which were valid, and gave a solution. Marry. Him." Elias stood up. "Sure, I can offer Matthew, but we have a clear path to securing this."

"He’s a bastard. Not even Hector’s, but his sisters." Mabel snapped, "Forget that I don’t wish to, are you honestly making me degrade myself and marry a bastard?"

"DO YOU THINK I WANT TO?" Elias roared. Taking a deep breath, he slammed a fist into the table. "Marrying my sister to a bastard child born from a whore sickens me. But I am to inherit the throne, Mabel. I must make choices even if they sicken me. You will marry him, and that will be it." Tristan looked around and saw the reactions of the council. Oscar’s face darkened hearing Elias’s words about Sandra. Even if his family declared for Anton, he could tell the man still had loyalties to the Clovers and hated how his liege lord family was being spoken about.

William suppressed a smirk hearing Elias and said nothing, whilst Lord Bundy remained stone-faced, not reacting, seemingly unfazed by it all. Only Lord Deacon showed subtle annoyance at how brazenly Elias spoke about such a powerful family, even though they were their enemies at the moment. It didn’t take much for such comments to find the wrong ears, and when they did, it would make negotiations much harder.

"Elias, I’m not doing it. It might not even work. What if I marry him and they still push Brandon’s claim?" Elias took a deep breath and scanned the council.

"Everyone out." The council didn’t hesitate to rise and leave. Only Vincent and Trisatn didn’t leave, knowing they had a right to stay due to it being a family matter. It didn’t stop Elias from glaring at them hatefully for being ignored, but he backed off under Mabel’s fierce glare. "Mabel, let me make this clear. Marry the man. Get pregnant and do as you are ordered. Father has let you be free for your whole life. I wish to let you carry on being how you are, but right now, you have a duty not as my sister, but as Princess to the Ivory Throne."

"And what about you?" Mabel spat, "This only works if you have a child, Elias. You are unmarried, and have not made any hint of who you wish to make as your spouse clear. I am not doing this unless you make it obvious you are going to marry someone." Elias ground his teeth.

"I will marry in time." Elias forced the words out. Tristan couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion. It was obvious Elias needed a queen, yet it seemed he had no intention of doing so. Had he not known his opinions on the matter, he would have assumed Elias was gay and repulsed by the idea based on that, but it was different, as if he couldn’t stomach the thought of having someone next to him.

"When?" Mabel said, also seemingly confused by Elias’ actions. "Before you seemed fine with Silvia Clover treating her as a candidate, but now you find her dull and unworthy. I know they are traitors as of now, but she is the daughter of a Great Lord. If she is unworthy, who is?"

Elias’ eyes twitched. "I will marry in time, Mabel. Helen Sunflare, perhaps."

"She is fourteen." Mabel bluntly said, "That’s still two years before she can be legally married, and Lord Sunflare is quite protective of his family. I doubt he will let her marry until she is older than that."

"I said maybe."

"Then who? The only other Great Houses are the Carters and Blackwells with women free to marry. Tell me, would you honestly marry either, or do you think they would marry into our family? They would declare war before they did that." Mabel scoffed, "And if they aren’t worthy, will the other minor houses be more so?"

Elias’ face darkened. "I will get married in time, Mabel. Stop being childish and do as you are ordered. Meet Gerlad and consummate it. Force Lord Clover’s hand."

"N-"

"DO IT!" Elias cut her off, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Do as you’re ordered. You are not free to do as you please your whole life. You are a princess. You have responsibility. Stop being a petulant child." Elias got up and walked around the table. "Am I clear, Mabel? We are at war; I do not have time to indulge your stupid fantasies any longer. I degrade myself by even considering marrying you to a bastard, but I must, becuase it is what the realities of war are asking for."

"Yourself," Mabel said in disbelief, "Not me. I’m not degraded being treated like a breeding mare for war and alliances, but you." Mabel stood up. Elias grabbed her arm but was quickly shaken off. "I’ll go to the battlefield, but I am not marrying and fucking a man becuase you ordered me to, Elias."

"Mabel." Elias angrily said, shaking with fury, "Do as you are ordered, or I will make sure you do it."

"How so?" Mabel smirked, hiding the fear in her eyes. "Chain me and throw me in his bed. Or will you force me on the altar and sword point? You will really order your own sister to do this. Wouldn’t this be too degrading for you?" Mabel chuckled and quickly turned her head to hide her eyes. Marching off before Elias could say anymore, she slammed the door behind her.

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