The Death of a Lion

[Shmeepicus 4217]

Spoiler

 

 

listen to the song while reading or you're cringe btw cause its good

 

 

   It was a cold night, colder than any Caspian d'Arkent had experienced in the past few years. He had heard talk of the battle that the Mali'fenn had endured a year or so before. Curious, the still young man made his way north, yet all was not as it seemed. He was caught off guard by a blisteringly cold, horrible blizzard, the snow covering the road within minutes and causing him to lose his way. Off the road, hundreds of meters beyond where he had planned to be was no good, especially not for someone who's in the midst of a blizzard and who's experience with the cold was next to null. A quick cold he caught, very quick indeed as he tried to keep himself warm beneath a sheepskin bedroll. The wool did not help him though, not in those temperatures.

   A day or so had past when the storm had finally subsided. The night was not favourable to him as the degrees dipped lower than they would have been during the day. He knew he had to turn back, he had so much to do, so much to yet live for. His daughter, Elaine, to be married in a Saint's Week. He stood, trying his darnedest to make it home and thankfully he did. Through the frost, the numbness, the pain in his extremities, he did make it home to Providence. It was, ironically enough, providence that he had believed allowed him to return home.
 

--***--

 

   Caspian sat in the front row as the Cardinal Providentia uttered the prayers that would wed his daughter with her soon-to-be husband. The vows were made and they were soon bound together. He smiled, coughing every so often as his family gazed at him with some concern. "I'm fine." He mumbled quietly, waving a hand dismissively, though he knew otherwise. He had struggled to breath these last few days and he could feel himself slowly withering away, becoming a shell of what he once was. He could no longer bear a blade at his side, and any who knew him well knew that him without a sword in it's sheath was not himself. He was a martial man, someone who thrived in combat. "Are you okay?" He knew that voice well. "Fret not, I'm fine. It isn't like my days on this realm are limited." He joked- but he knew he wasn't joking. Illness was not something to joke about. With that he answered little and returned home, trying to get some rest.. perhaps he could fight it off.

 

--***--

 

   A few days had passed and it only grew worse. Try as he may there was nothing he could do to remedy the infection. His breathing grew raspy and the cough more prominent. He knew there was no recovering from this. He recalled a lot of his history, what he had accomplished in his lifetime.. and he was satisfied with what he had. He knew his Grandfather, Peter, would be proud of him. He had numerous accolades under his belt, a Knight of the Order of the Lion, a bearer of the Sword of the Imperator, holder of a War Eagle. He was indeed proud with himself..

   Though, admittedly, there were things he wished he had done better in. He wasn't a family man, he was often cold, blunt, short-sighted. He didn't think enough of those around him and there were times where he followed orders to a tee, despite what his conscience had said of it. He wasn't perfect, but Caspian thought that there was no such thing. You could do your best to be good, but there were times where you wouldn't be. He sighed as he laid in his bed, before slowly drifting back to sleep.

   That night he slept soundly. Something he hadn't done in some time. On the 14th of Owyn's Flame, in the year 1842, Caspian d'Arkent passed. His mind was at ease as he did, happy with what he had accomplished in his short time in the world, happy with his children, Elaine, Kathrina, Daniel...  his wife, Anna. His twin sister, Maisie, his brother, Peter.. his nephews and nieces. He was content with what he had gotten to cherish before he joined his ancestors in the Seven Skies. His conscience was at rest, sometimes living was harder than dying, yet finally, after years of experiencing naught but violence and war, death and despair. He thought of Peter, his grandfather, he thought of his mother, his father, how he'd not done his best to see them- though his father wasn't great at it either. Yet he cherished the moments he had with them. He thought this all throughout a quick time, a flashback of all he had done during his short life.. but at the end, there was nothing but darkness.. and Caspian d'Arkent was at peace.

[bugbytes21 790]

Garret Darkwood dipped his head and said a prayer for Caspain D'Arkent "Truly a hero of my generation, a selfless man, Captain of Oren." Garret then recalled his memories in the Sedanian war, and the Tenth Nordling war "Rest in peace soldier, your work will be carried on" Garret then went to report to the Bastion, with a strengthened resolve to complete his cadet training. "Your service will never be forgotten" Garret then looks at his ailing knees, large scars along his chest, and wonders to himself. How long can he himself continue his line of work. Before he too joins Caspain D'Arkent in the Seven Skies 

[EmiliainWonderland 2311]

Amie sighed, preparing to venture to see her old and closest friend, Anna d'Arkent after hearing about her loss.

[kazoo 587]

R

[zuziee 4004]

"Two blondes sat in blissful youth, squabbling over almost everything. One belonged to the sword, the other the powers of the void." started off Maisie d'Arkent, as the news reached her in the darkness of a nursery. The greying evocationist perched on a rocking chair before two babbling girls. 

 

"What were their names?" one of the adolescences cried out, eager for a story. Maisie on the other hand was tired. She'd raise a boney finger and wag it about before the girls "Hush now, I will get to that in a moment." clearing her raspy voice as she attempted to summon up the memories. Yet the only one that resonated with her was when the blondes were merely 22. Now 28 years later that memory seemed fond to her even if it was dramatically horrid back then. 

 

Maisie's low attention span quickly snapped into gear as her cerulean eyes shifted back to the girls before her. "Right" she'd pause for dramatic impact, drumming her nails against the wooden armrest, "These blondes were born as complimenting opposites. Sun and moon. Black and white. When together they'd argue but when apart, it felt oddly lonely." the words echoing in the dark room. 

 

The greying woman continued to drone on about these two blondes until both girls had fallen asleep and been tucked in. A deep sigh escaped from aging lips as in this moment Maisie decided she would not wear black for her twin. 

[Maevlin 724]

Anna d'Arkent had left Caspian's side to go handle somethings from her past, when she got back she collapsed. It wasn't long that they had moved from the townhouse they had shared for the majority of their marriage into Sunholdt, but when he started to decline, she knew what was coming. She wasn't ready to lose the love of her life. Not when she wanted to introduce him still to those she cared about. There is very little solace for her. 

 

"Caspian d'Arkent, the finest man in the ISA." Kelhus had boasted that loudly when Anna had asked to be introduced to him. Sure enough he was right. She fell in love when she didn't think it possible and he loved her even when she didn't think she was worthy of it. Now her heart is broken once more. Only this time she won't have his kind smile, his jokes about her height and temper, and most of all: she won't have him by her side any more. And that's what did it.

"Please Love, be safe. Or else I'm not forgiving you for leaving me so soon... Save me a dance for when I join you." She whispered this prayer as she looked up to the sky. He was right: the world was niet fair.

[StrongBear 1239]

Elias O'Rourke blinked at the sight of his Uncle at Elaine's wedding, muttering under his breathe to his wife "It's Uncle Caspian, it's been years since ich saw him last"

 

Upon receiving the news of his Uncles passing, Elias brought himself to stand from the grand piano at Halstaig, "Ich vill need t' pay a visit to Anna." He said to Iduna Anne, heading down to his private study to grab his hidden stash of Carrion.

@Itz_Cookie123

[Itz_Cookie 1974]

6 minutes ago, StrongBear said:

Elias O'Rourke blinked at the sight of his Uncle at Elaine's wedding, muttering under his breathe to his wife "It's Uncle Caspian, it's been years since ich saw him last"

 

Upon receiving the news of his Uncles passing, Elias brought himself to stand from the grand piano at Halstaig, "Ich vill need t' pay a visit to Anna." He said to Iduna Anne, heading down to his private study to grab his hidden stash of Carrion.

@Itz_Cookie123

“O.. oh dear.” The Countess Halstaig choked out as the letter was passed. Caring for her newborn babe away in her chambers, she couldn’t help but shed a tear for her aunt. “May God be with them both.” She murmured through coughs. 

[Mannyy 982]

r

[Kholibrii 1211]

Dressed in black, Anne Josephine sat on her knees in the corner of her bedroom clasping a wooden Lorraine Cross. The young d'Arkent murmured prayers over and over again to herself, praying for her great uncle's soul, her grieving family, and even her puppy that seemed very sad. She didn't really understand how praying worked, but she knew it made her feel better and kept her from having to listen to her mourning relatives.

[Taketheshot 3834]

Joseph d'Azor set the missive down at the dining table within his home, letting out a long breath the man raised his eyes to survey the table where his wife and four children sat taking dinner, as Joseph looked to the window he watched the sun fade from the sky of Providence to the west, a demure frown coming to the mans face as he thought about the too early departure of the d'Arkent man. They had not been the closest of friends, yet together with the brave men of Oren they shared an unspoken bond known only to those who fought and bled for the Empire.

 

The mans thoughts drifted away as he stared out the window only to be interrupted by the quiet voice of his youngest daughter Analiese Juliana. "What's wrong Papa?" The girl spoke looking up to him with pale silvery blue eyes. "A good man died today little one, a hero who served the Empire well." Joseph responded with a faint smile hoping to reassure the concerned girl. Looking back to her plate the youngest d'Azor mused out soft words. "Its no good when people die." Joseph d'Azor tilted his head slowly as he turned his gaze away from the setting sun for a final time as he spoke. "No my Princess.... no its not." 

[Nectorist 12871]

Franz Nikolai pours one out for a real one, thinking about the many battles Caspian had helped win for the Empire.

[bee 184]

Kathrina Tara d’Arkent

Kathrina swings open her closet having not cried since she heard the news. It wasn’t that she was not sad, she was just in shock. He can’t really be gone. She’d repeat in her mind as she sifted through the different gowns before her. Anger filled her chest as she angerly tore the gowns from where they hung, realizing she had never had a need for a black gown. Even now she couldn’t fully grasp the fact that she needed one. Her eyes glossed over as she tore the last dress from the closet. Collapsing in a heap of dresses on her floor she wailed. She felt as if she were going to throw up, unable to breathe, she clutched her chest. “I don’t even have a dress for the funeral.” She mumbled to herself through her sobs. “I should ask Baba to- “she’d pause, realizing she couldn’t run to him, tugging on a sleeve to ask her father for a new gown. No more highly anticipated hugs after his long journeys. No more… he’s gone. No more anything. She gathered herself, standing up in the pile of fabric. Swallowing hard, she’d go to her window, throwing it open, letting the gentle breeze push back her hair just as her father used to push a piece behind her ear before setting off. What is the last thing he said to me? She couldn’t remember.

                                                                                      ***

Katya Rosalinde d’Azor

Katya would throw on the same dress that she had wore on the night she found out that her beloved hero had been married. Saying that the girl had an obsession for the man when she was little would be an understatement. She’d smile softly to herself as she remembered running around at the age of five with her teddy bear that she had cleverly named “Teddy”. One day, she dropped her bear off a wall into the confined bell within Providence. Horrified, the girl screamed for help. Someone to rescue her beloved friend from being crushed within the grasps of the Orenian bell system. “Teddy! SOMEONE SAVE MY FRIEND!!” She cried! And then! Captain Caspian d’Arkent swiftly picked up the bear, the girl’s eyes in awe as he did, saving him from the clutches of imminent death and delivering him back into the girl’s arms. On that day, Captain Caspian d’Arkent became Captain Hero Caspian along with a pug that Katya had named after him. And forever, in Katya’s heart her hero lives.

 

 

                                                                                       

                                                                                      by bee

 

 

[MissToni 3565]

Elaine sat in her chambers as she had received a letter of the news of her father's death. Tears staining the paper while her gaze was staring hollowly into the floor. Her husband most likely having entered their room at some point in an attempt to comfort her. But she did not remember, all her thoughts was with her father. Of the time they had and the time they didn't. 

 

"He is gone..." she muttered once in a while as if in an attempt to wake herself up from her state she had frozen into. But it had no effect, she stayed this way while some servants packed her things for her honeymoon trip. She then thought of her mother, how much pain would she be in now? 

 

"Miss Elaine, your things are ready" mumbled a servant to her. The woman then finally stirred as she moved to get up and walk out of her chambers. As she went outside where her husband would be waiting for her she gazed up into the sky.

 

"Watch over me, Papa"

[kuerbis 3802]

Anne froze upon hearing the news from one of her ladies. She offered a mere, stiff nod of her head, only to excuse herself a few moments later. There, once more within the confinement of her imperial apartments, was where she allowed herself to slump against the wall and to mourn the departure of yet another friend. That night, Anne prayed for his eternal soul. The next morning, a simple bouquet of lillies and a card, wishing her deepest condolences was sent to the d'Arkent household.