The End of a Bull [PK POST]

[MissToni 3487]

Spoiler

 

The End of a Bull

 

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Ileana had always been a fighter, always gotten back up whenever she was beaten down, so why was she unable to now? She did not know the answer to her question, it almost felt like a punishment of her having been born a woman. After all, had she not she would never have had to bear children. And it was her last child that caused her body to break. She had not wanted that child, but she had felt a sense of duty to bear this son for her husband. He wanted one more Vilac and she thought she could bear one more child just fine after the rest had gone well after her firstborn. And she gave birth to another son, but it cost her everything.

 

The doctor gazed at her with a grim look, she knew what such meant, no happy news to graze her ears. “Vyr body is getting worse, Baroness. Ea don’t imagine that vy have long… Vy should say vyr farewells to vyr family and write letters.” He uttered, and then came the waterfalls from the hollow shell of a woman that was. She was not ready, she had wanted to live longer. To abdicate like so many others had done these days and watch her daughter run the house as she gave her support. But the world had different plans for her life. And so she wrote the letters, and they were stained by tears. Small hands wrapped around Ileana and she gazed up into Larissa’s eyes. She felt herself unable to smile at her daughter that had been there by her side since she fell sick. So she simply wrapped her own arms around hers in turn, silently crying.  

 

A few days passed since the news and she felt herself getting closer to death every morning she woke. She had not even been able to get out of bed for the family dinner or for the engagement dinner for Marian that she had promised she would. Her children came visiting her many times, to tell her stories of what they had done and achieved. Though Larissa almost never left her side, she had fallen sick herself and so they spent many nights together reading and hugging. She loved and treasured each child, but she could not bring herself to show the same affection to her son that would take it all. Each time her husband tried to put him in her arms she turned, she recoiled at the thought of even holding him. Was she truly that hateful? It was not the child’s fault, she knew that technically, and yet she could not help herself but blame him. She blamed him for everything, how she would never be able to teach Gwenyth how to fight the way she had during that duel. How she would never be able to watch that beautiful smile that belonged to Reuben and hopefully see him getting taller than her husband just to tease her dear August for it and hear him laugh or perhaps even grumble over it. How she would never be able to continue braiding Larissa’s wonderful hair and buy books upon books for that child’s growing brain. How she would never be able to teach Dimitri how to fish and make bait. How she would never be able to give more piggyback rides to her little Elena. How she would never be able to no longer guide her joy and pride, Irena, to the ways of running the house. To watch her father walk her down the aisle in her wedding dress. To see none of her beautiful children being wedded and bear children of their own. She cursed her son, she did not know his name. Had refused to learn it, she knew she had heard it many times. But she would not remember. She did not want to remember.

 

She woke from her sleep to a new day and looked to the side of the bed which lay empty, August had already gone off to train or perhaps taken the other children off on a trip. She glanced at the crib where her son laid. She found herself in front of the sleeping being that had caused her so much pain, her arms reaching down to pick him up. Has he always been this small? She thought to herself, a small laugh came from her throat. She laid back down onto the bed with the baby. She continued to stare as she rocked him back and forth. His eyes opened and glanced back up at Ileana, and she felt a pain in her chest. Droplets of water fell onto the child and it blinked and made a small fuss. She glanced up to the roof, but saw no leak, a hand brought itself to her cheeks and she realized where the water came from. She looked back down to her son. Her baby, and she felt the pain in her chest become an ache instead. She pulled him close to her chest and held him as she sobbed. Why had it taken her so long to love this child, and on her last day too.

 

“Cyrus, forgive this foolish mother. It is too late for me to give vy the love vy deserved from me, but vy will have a family that will treasure vy and make vy feel the love that ea did niet give vy in time. Grow up handsome and kind and loving. Don’t become one of those men who treat their wives badly or their daughters like they don’t exist. And know that ea love vy, even if vy are ever told otherwise. Ea just took too long to realize such and blamed vy for things that were niet vyr fault. Ea love vy, Cyrus” And after she uttered those words and had cried her heart out she felt her breathing getting shallow. She pleaded to Godani silently, to give her more time to love this child and to forgive her sins. But her wish was not granted, and she cursed herself for being so weak of a mother to have blamed her own child. She used her last strength to position herself safely along with her precious son on the bed. And so her last breaths were taken as she slipped from this world. And Larissa who was looking forward to another day of reading with her mother would find her still and cold body in the bed with her little brother sleeping on top. 

 

 

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Ileana Stefaniya Kortrevich

1900 - 1941

 

Letters that had been distributed after her death:

 

To House Kortrevich

Spoiler

“Stay strong and prevail without me. We have been knocked down many times, but we always get back up. Perhaps not the same, but we shall prevail. Remember our house words and keep them close. It has been an honour to be your Countess, and an honour as well to have been your Baroness. Help my daughter to achieve her dreams and aspirations and guide her where I cannot. Decide amongst yourself who you wish to be the regent as I know you will choose wisely and well, but my wish would be for the regent to be Fabian.”

 

To August

Spoiler

“I am sorry to leave you so soon, August. And it pains me that I leave for the same reason your previous wife did as well. But do know it is not your fault. And keep strong for our children, raise them well and treat them fairly.”

 

To my children

Spoiler

“I love all of you so much, take care of your father for me? Grow strong and brave, but don’t forget to show affection for your loved ones. And eat well, don’t forget your vegetables. I am sorry I can’t be there for you all when you get married, have children or achieve your dreams. But know that I am so proud of you all.”

 

To my heir 

Spoiler

“Irena, be fair in your judgment. Listen to the advice given to you by those around you that you trust. But in all trust in yourself. For you are so brave and you will do well for the House. I know you can bring us back to become a respected and well viewed noble house. I have tried my best to lay down the path for you to continue on, now run wild my little bull. Run wild, for the reins are your own now. I love you.”

 

To Fabian

Spoiler

“Fabi, it seems that I will be leaving this world before you. Who would have thought such? You can probably hear me laughing, everyone always thought you would kick the old bucket before me. But Godani had other plans. Don’t take it too hard and you deserve a good retirement when you finally decide to take one. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you helped me with in this House. Watch over my children for me will you? And keep an eye out on Aleksandr, keep our cousin out of trouble hmm?” 

 

To Aleksandr

Spoiler

“Keep out of trouble and stop your drinking habits, Aleks. You deserve a happy life, but don’t waste it on drinking your sorrows. Make something grand of yourself, live well. I know you and my husband don't get along that well. But help him will you? He will need some fishing trips in the coming years. Know that I am proud of you regardless of what has happened and what happens in the future once I am gone.”

 

 

 

OOC:

Spoiler

Thank you to everyone who has made Ileana a blast to roleplay. And thank you so much to maple, sarah and delta for giving me the chance of running a noble House which has been a long dream of mine since I joined lotc in 2016. Not everything went as I had hoped, but what’s done is done. Thank you to pudding, critter, marb, saint, eric, sarah & everyone else who joined me in reviving Kortrevich. I’m so thankful to all of you and can’t wait to hear about how you all do later on!

 

This will probably be my last serious character in Haense as I’m moving onto different paths in life. I will still be around of course and hang out in vcs every now and then. I wish my friends good luck with whatever it is that they wish to do! Whether or not I end up playing in a different nation or a different race or whatever is uncertain. We’ll see after a bit of a break from lotc if I return or not.

 

[crazedpudding 2124]

Irena Stefaniya Kortrevich stood within her family's manor, out in the hall beside her parents' room. She could hear her brothers and sisters moving within the house, but she dared not make a sound. If she spoke, if she saw, it would all be real.

 

She was not ready. She hadn't learned enough, she hadn't done enough, she hadn't lived enough. What was she supposed to do now? Her mother was supposed to be here, she wasn't supposed to leave like this.

What was she supposed to do?

Josefina Barclay pressed a hand to her mouth, muffling a sob. Her niece... her dear Matviy's daughter... gone. Gone like they all were. One by one, falling into the grave too soon.

[Lmcfc 440]

Larissa who has also had been under the weather, apron walking into her mothers room for another day of reading. Fell silent as she saw her mother still and lifeless… she would venture over as she picked up her sleeping brother placing him in his crib as she returned to her mothers side “mamej.. its day now… its time to wake up” she murmured to her mother. Deep down she knew she had passed but she didn't want to believe her gut for a change.  “Mamej. Wake up! vy got to wake up!” the girl cried shaking her mother slightly as the house physician came in to confirm her death as the maid curently tending to the sick Larissa dragged her outside the room while Larissa protested and cried in emotional agony..

 

Larissa locked herself in her room not opening it for anyone and everyone… 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Lmcfc

[Statherian 3318]

It had been quite some time since the now aged Kortrevich had felt something like this, he thought he had grown accustomed to the feeling. Ileana and didn't always see eye to eye, and he had treated her poorly in the past, making unreasonable demands and throwing tantrums where it was simply not needed. For the first time in many years, decades even Aleksandr Kortrevich felt something he thought he never would again, grief.

 

He retreated to the Kortrevich manor, where had isolated himself after the death of his wife just the same. Would he let this grief consume and change him like it had before, or would he change himself for the better?

 

 

---

 

From high up in the Seven Skies, the founder of Jerovitz, Count Jan Otto 'The Envoy' Kortrevich smiled as he welcomed his great-granddaughter with open arms. "You did well, Ileana, you're getting the rest you deserve now."

[erictafoya 2309]

Wrapped tightly in a warm wool blanket by the fireplace in their cozy tavern room, Leonid wept for hours upon hours as he held his lizard-like pet Ignis close to him, as well as the turtle plush his beloved Auntie Ileana had given him. This was, truly, the first loss he had ever experienced in his young life. The late Baroness and former Countess had served to be an inspiration to him as well as a role model to what a true Haeseni woman should be. "For vy, and for Irena, I'll always do my duty... Rest in Peace, Aedymamej..."

 

And at the gates of the seven skies, a man who Ileana had never seen before welcomed her with a warm smile and a firm handshake. He was old, scarred, and yet was whole and in peace. The man wore armor of a Knight, with a red bull painted on his back. The old warrior from House Kortrevich leaned in to quietly whisper to Ileana, saying "I have watched countless bulls throughout their lifetimes since my death. In you I saw a fire that dwindled before your birth instantly light up again... A constitution that even I wish I had in my prime... You are what it truly means to be a bull, and you have earned a warriors rest."

[_yink_ 348]

Off to the side, the Eldest Vilac daughter stood with her hands behind her back. She'd been in the company of her Mater Ileana for ten years now. Ten years that Gwenyth had grown to cherish. She was there to see her Mamej and Pater wed. The day she met Ileana. A day she would never forget as the day she regained a mother figure to step in for one she'd lost at her own birth. The death of mothers who shared the same fate. Was Gwenyth cursed with the same fate, now? She was not sure. 

"Ea'll see vy again, Mamej... Ea promise. E-Ea'll watch over everybody. Ea'll do everything Ea can tae fight just like vy, okay?" Gwenyth spoke over her mother's body. Having requested time alone to mourn away from the eyes of any Vilac or Kortrevich. She couldn't even fathom the thought of anyone seeing her in this sort of state. "E-Ea didn't even get time tae tell vy that Yam finally a squire. Ea know there was a time when that was vyr dream tae become a knight, but now Ea do this for vy. And meaself. Ea'll never stop fighting. As Uncle Fabian had said before, Ea have the blood of a drake, and the spirit of a bull. All because of vy."

[TotallyNotSaint 137]

August Vilac-Kortrevich wept.

He had returned to the house from a morning spar with Rueben, as he came up the stairs to check on his wife... He had stood there in utter disbelief, despite everything he had thought her invincible... His held to his disbelief while the children were present unwilling to let them see him cry. 
 

Later that night though his resolve failed him and he wept like he had not in years. He did not leave their- his room until the next day, others in the house would hear August's apologies to Ileana "Szam," echoed throughout the room all the while, until his throat was coarse. 

He read her letter in a daze,
"May vy rest mea beloved... Ea will make sure our children will stay safe. In this Ea will niet fail."
He whispered, hoping it would reach her soul as he left the house, letting the door slam behind him.

 

[LobsterLilly 605]

The young Vilac stared at at his red-bearded dragon which Ileana had gifted to him, tears welled up in those grey eyes and rolled down Reuben's cheeks. "ea loved her like she was mea Mater, Jarek.." the Teen Vilac spoke to his pet, wiping at the tears from his eyes as he let the sobs rattle through his chest, "ea wish ea could of been a better son to her"

[sarahbarah 5021]

Amaya Milena grieved the fallen peer, lighting a candle in her chambers that eve to honour the fallen Baroness.

"Your spark will always flicker - your fire will never die, Countess. I promise. Your light will continue to shine." Hoarsely did the Queen speak senseless utterances, staring into the flickering hearth that illuminated the darkened room about her. Her heart ached for her distant kin - her paternal house, Kortrevich.

 

Distantly, a mother weeps, clinging to the spirit of her daughter. She wished to see her again, one last time.

[beetle 2760]

♩♫♩

 

"Illy-Billy."

The second triplet of Kortrevich mumbled the name over and over again, until she was sick of it.

The way she was sick of all the lies, the nobility, the titles. However, she was not sick of her sister.

 

Nika missed her deeply and her brother, a bond that couldn't be broken.

Matching clothing, matching toys, matching names - she did miss it all.

 

"Run Illy, you'll be happier."

 

She threw an old cow plush off a snowy cliff in order to mourn.

 

Spoiler

ooc: ily toni <3 you slayed your era
i'm so proud of you and everything you have done for house kortrevich <33333

 

[DahStalker 2856]

For the sake of Viorica, the unyielding march of eight goats sounded at the gates of the seven skies. From the back of the gaggle their shepherd appeared; Elia Eryka. With a motherly smile to bid the Kortrevich some solace, she reached outwards to entangle that newly passed Kortrevich. “You did nejt anything wrong, little bull. Come, go meet your family as we await your precious modir. Then you may overlook your children as they grow- they shall be in gudi hands. They've the might of a bull, do they nejt?”

[Fawnytheturtle 706]

When Colette Stroheim heard the news she sighs sadly "A shame, she seemed so kind. I'll pray for the family, I know loss all to well" she then walked off to visit her own mother's grave

[Ezskel 24]

A feeling of sadness was what Isaak Valeriy Kortrevich felt as he put down the letter and took a seat in his workshop.
 

Taking a deep breath he'd examine his surroundings, his eyes slowly fixating on individual objects laying around. There was nothing specifically astonishing about them, it's more about the fact that they all had a story to tell. One by one, looking at these objects, he would recall memories of growing up with his decade older cousin. Memories of her pushing him to be what he wanted to be. Memories of her scolding him for making hasty and unwise decisions. But also many more memories of her being supportive, protective, understanding and kind towards him.

Standing up, he slowly makes his way out the building. "Work can wait, I should spend this afternoon with my wife and children" he mumbled to himself with a humble smile, looking upwards to the sky "And maybe check on her children too" he added. 

He was still sad, but alongside the sadness was now a feeling of deep gratitude.

"Ileana, thank you" ✧

[CopOwl 1668]

No longer the youngest Kortrevich following the birth of her brother Cyrus, Elena Viorica Kortrevich grieves the death of her beloved mother. As her siblings and father shared the news with her, speaking to the young girl with soft voices; she became fitful, bereaved and panicked. The tiny girl stumbled up from where she was seated and attempted to scurry past her kin up the stairs to where their mother lay. 

 

"Nie!" Screamed the sobbing child, cheeks reddened and hands balled into fists as she kicked and screamed. Her older, wiser siblings gently grappled with her, holding her in their arms as she cried and painfully screamed. "MAMEJ-!!" She gasped out.

 

Although eventually subdued and stifled by her family's envelopment, the Kortrevich home did not know quiet that evening, for the wracking sobs of a young baffled child emanated all night long.

[ElvenHuntress 207]

Dimitri stood silently alongside his siblings as he came to look upon his mother, his jaw clenched tight and hands clasped behind his back, as he had seen many a noble man do before. He looked to his youngest brother, eyes void of emotion, not truly knowing how to process such a loss. 

The boy left, soon returning with an old, worn polar bear plush; worn in such a way only many years of love could achieve. He moved over to his mother, placing the bear down beside her. "Pat will take care of vy while vy rest, mamej. He has always been good at that." Dimitri then placed a kiss upon the forehead of his mother, and quietly left the room, retreating to his own to process his emotions on his own.