[PK] The Serpent's Silence

[hippo 626]

Spoiler

 

THE SERPENT’S SILENCE

Henrik Vanir, c. 1749

 

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          Henrik Vanir stood atop his balcony, mustering the little strength that remained in his frail body to gaze upon Vasiland. The familiar salty breeze whipped against his pale skin, dancing through his rough grayed hair as the faint sound of waves crashing against the coast emanated through the air. “Home” He thought, finally having built the home he had often dreamt of for his family.

 

          The Margrave’s attention snapped to familiar figures standing upon the coastline to see his greatest gifts, his children: Brandon, Vasili, and Sofiya. With them sat his first grandchild wading in the shallow waters as his giggles of joy echoed from by the sea. His shoulders began to relax from their once ridged position, a weak smile forming on his visage as the agony he had been enduring over the past several years had seemed to subsided. His vision began to blur as the single giggle multiplied to the giddy laughter of three children dancing across the coarse sand. 

 

          The children that he saw were his own just as they were in their childhood. A soft voice was heard coming from the eldest son, “Papej, papej! Look at me!” The young heir stood at the beach holding a simple wooden sword, sparring with his younger brother as their sister sat playing in the sand. The touch of a hand against his shoulder jolted Henrik from the aberration. The hand belonged to his brother, Fiske, who beckoned him back inside the confines of his castle.

 

           The lord trudged back to the solitude of his bed, reclining back into the warm and inviting blankets. Fiske would station himself near the door, observing his fragile brother with a grimace before he began, “You ought to be in bed, why waste your strength going to the balcony?” A long silence ensued, before Henrik replied with strain in his voice, “Those were my children.” “Well, you have time to see all of them soon,” Fiske responded, not seeming convinced himself. Another cough, and another moment of silence from Henrik before he finally acknowledged Fiske, “No… I don’t.” 

 

          Lord Vanir would slowly turn his head to Fiske. The usually-stoic man’s gaze was welled with tears as he spoke “Leave me on my own now, if you were ever my brother, if you ever remotely had some feeling for me,” he would say in a raspy, quiet voice. His younger brother would frown, looking at Henrik with some anguish before shaking his head and moving to depart. “Goodbye, Henrik.” He would say, and leave, closing the door behind him.

 

          Henrik would lay on his sickbed, restless from cold sweats and the incessant coughing. His empty visage remained fixated on the foot of the bed, and the only thing in earshot was the tide crashing against the shores of Vasiland. He drew a single jagged breath, his muted emerald eyes shutting as the serpent slipped into his endless slumber.

 

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“The boat sails by, the shore remains.”

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

MARGRAVE HENRIK VANIR

1718 - 1766

271 - 319

The Sea Bows to None.

((ty to @Juli for writing a lot of this

 

[Fwied 301]

Vasili stands around near the docks walking, kicking the rocks that he sees as he walks. He was about to kick a rock when he noticed the smoothness of it. Vasili bent down and pick it up ”this stone will go further than three skips,” Vasili said as he remembered one of the last things he did with his Papej. Vasili winds his hand up to throw the rock, the stone flied from his hand as he sent it at the water. The rock as if it heard Vasili went to skip twice as many times as last. Vasili smiled and continued to skip stones as he walks by the shore.

[AnonymousAlexa 3890]

Angelika was seated in her room, working on her report for the Ministry of the Interior, when she heard a knock on the door. She stood, making her way downstairs to open the door, revealing her younger sister, Sofiya, standing on her doorstep.

 

“May I come in?”

 

“Eja. Da, of course.”

 

“Could we… sit?”

 

Concern washed over Angelika’s face as she caught notice of her sister’s awkward behavior. She made her way over to the kitchen table to which Sofiya followed, sitting across from her sister.

 

“How.. Erm how do you fair?”

 

Angelika ignored her question and decided to speak up about Sofiya’s obvious discomfort. She jumped to the worst of conclusions, recalling her father’s illness.

 

“Sofie? Is-is everything alright? Papej is…he is getting better, da?”

 

Sofiya went silent for some time and Angelika spoke again, her breathing quickening.

 

“Sofie? Is-is he alright?”

 

Finally, Sofiya spoke.

 

“Papej passed… he passed away in his sleep.”

 

Angelika let out a wail as she sobbed into her hands. After some time, Angelika rose, making her way over to her sister’s side. She embraced Sofiya tightly as she continued to cry.

 

“Sofie…Sofie I never truly got to say goodbye….”

 

“Neither did I. I.. I am sure he can hear us now.”

 

With a nod, Angelika looked upwards towards the ceiling.

 

“Papej…papej, I'm sorry…I love you. Dravi….”

 

Sofiya stood, bidding her farewell to Angelika

 

“Dravi, Sofie. I love you. And tell Brandon and Vasili I love them too.”

 

Angelika watched her sister leave before standing, lowering herself onto her knees.

 

“Do Thou, O Lord, have mercy on our dearly departed, for the sake of us sinners all who greatly hope and trust in Thee. For Thy mercy can turn bittering weeping to joyous fanfare, for Thou alone judgeth the living and the dead. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And may perpetual light shine upon them.” 

 

She repeated these two prayers four times in a row before signing the Lorraine Cross sixteen times in a row. She then stood and made her way upstairs to her bedroom to continue mourning for her late papej.

[Juli 1341]

Sofiya stood on the docks of Vasiland, her heavy stare filled with grief and sorrow watched her papej’s boat lit ablaze drift further from the shore. “Farewell, Papej”

 

[Legoboy7984 3155]

Stefan Vyronov sighs upon the news.

“He brought an almost dead family back to its glorious image and that I shall forever respect. May you rest in peace, the Sea bows to None.”

[John Ivory 4547]

The Duke of Helena salutes the passing of a man he knew so little, yet one he had come to expect a great many things from. After token prayer, he dispatches with a summons to the Margrave of Vasiland’s heir apparent Brandon, hailing him to Novellen Palace.

[Imperium 3495]

Brandon sits alone on the dock following the funeral. His gaze would remain fixed on the water, where they’d just laid his father to rest.The usually stoic Vanir now had tears spilling down his cheeks. He refused the company of his wife, preferring to be left alone. His mind wondering on his youth with many hours spent at the docks fishing and sailing with his father. Now it was all in the past, he looked up toward the sun thinking about the future, “I will not let you down father. . .” now the burden of leadership fell onto the young lord.

[GhostSHTR 1205]

“Rest in peace Uncle” said Stefan Ludovyk 

[InfamousGerman 1553]

Fiske welcomes Henrik into the Seven Skies to join his family.

[___siren___ 591]

As Juliya entered the main hall of Valwyck,she noticed her Cousin Sofiya Baruch (neé Vanir) with a frown on her face.

Worries would Flood her minds.  “Did something happen to Emerich? Or Petyr?” she’d speak her thought out loud.

 

“Niet.” her Cousin would answer, tear gathering in her eyes, like they did so many times since her brother Brandon Vanir told her.  “Papej…” 

 

Juliyas face grew pale as she realized what her Cousin just said to her. In the past months her Uncle Henrik had become terribly sick. Waves of terrible caughs had made it harder for him to breathe properly. His Family knew oh too well. Unfortunately all they could do was to wait and pray to Godan, that he would let Henrik defeat this illness, so he could see his grandchildren and grandnephews or nieces grow up. And so did Juliya. Even though their relationship never grew over being Uncle and Niece, she had a place for him in her heart. Her parents were barely around Reza and Henrik, even if he has never been as caring to her, as he has been to his own Children, he still had an eye on her. 

 

As she comforted Sofiya, she’d start to feel nauseous, an almost constant companion for the last week. Her Nausea grew and as she left the hall to catch some fresh air, a few tears would starting running down her cheek

. 

“Farewell, Uncle Henrik. May Godan guide your soul to the seven skies.” And with that she would quickly run towards the Gant Appartments.

 

 

 

 

[Pureimp10 5691]

Britannus Vanir joins Fiske in welcoming Henrik to the seven skies!

[seannie 7443]

apologies for poor common

 

when where you when henrik vanir dies?

 

i was home playing haeseni chess when ghost fiske vanir tell me 

 

henrik is kill

 

no

[KIIWIKILLA 342]

As Fiske exited the room, his tears began to roll effortlessly down his ageing cheeks. “Stubborn old bastard.” he muttered to himself, before he descended the steps to inform his family of what had happened. A great void had been left in the old man’s life after the death of his dear brother.