In Which Dalston Has to Leave

**Trigger Warning

NOTE: I almost didn't write this post. Thing is, I've been unable to get a good read on this character for years now, and when I finally figured out exactly what was up... well, frankly, it wasn't something I wanted to write about. But, especially now that he's first in line to succeed Severin as Lord Veldora, Dalston is connected enough that a sudden disappearance from the story would be a colossal loose end. And, if I thought about it... in the long run, if a serious issue like this comes up, it's better off being addressed and tackled rather than swept under the rug and ignored.

So for now, I will state outright that this is NOT a storyline about someone who is tempted to do horrible things and then does them. This is a storyline about someone who is tempted to do horrible things, but realizes that these things are horrible, and, in the end, does not give in. That said, if you'd rather give this storyline a pass, I understand completely. All of the posts in this storyline will be marked with trigger warnings, like this one is. Posts will be recapped in the warning link in what I hope will be a less upsetting format for those reading them: clear and quick, without going into any characters' heads.

That said, I will make a point to keep this arc as isolated from the rest of the story as possible (though there will have to be some intersect with other characters and arcs at some point; if this wasn't the case, I wouldn't be doing this storyline at all), so if you'd rather not have the think about this storyline at all, don't feel obliged to even look at the recaps. Your well-being is INFINITELY more important than my hit counter or my comment total, so whatever you need to do to take care of yourself, that's what you should do.

That's probably all I can say on the matter without making things worse. For those of you who do wish to continue... well, here it goes...

August 21, 1191

Gennie was chattering on about something--Dalston wasn't sure what. It wasn't that he didn't think she was intelligent enough to carry on a decent conversation, or so inconsiderate that she wouldn't choose a topic she felt would interest him. When it came to Gennie, he just never had any energy leftover for listening.

All of it went into begging himself, almost forcing himself, to like her.

What was wrong with him? She was pretty, clever, the right age... and a princess, for God's sake! How many heirs to mere lordships had a chance with a princess?

"So... what do you think?"

Shit. "Uh..." "I think you're right, Gennie," perked up Wolf from the couch--to Dalston's great relief.

"Yes, I--I think you're right too." He never would have survived his conversations with Gennie if not for Wolf's insistence on following her around like a puppy. Wolf adored Gennie. Possibly even more strongly than Gennie adored Dalston.

Why couldn't Gennie like Wolf? It wouldn't change anything for Dalston--Dalston was a lost cause--but the two of them would both be that much happier.

"So, do you want to go for a walk or something? It's been far too long since I've been to the village here."

The village. The polite thing would have been to accept, but there were just too many people in the village. And too many of them were--no. No, he couldn't risk it. "I don't know..."

"I'll go for a walk with you," Wolf offered.

Before Gennie had a chance to reply, the door opened. "Hello, cousins!"

SHIT! Why did his cousins of that age feel free to come and go as they pleased? If only they could sense that what was good for them was staying away! "Uh... hello, Alina." Where was his Aunt Vera? "Is your mother with you?"

"Yours wanted to show her a new dress or something. I got bored, so I thought I'd see if I could find anyone. Is Celina here?"

"She went for a ride with Grandmother." Worst possible timing. If his little sister was here to monopolize their guests, than Dalston didn't have to worry about slipping up and doing something unforgivable. "They didn't leave that long ago; maybe you could catch up?"

"Nah. I'll just sit here with Wolf."

She did as she promised--with no intention of leaving. "You're so strange, Dalston."

He wished he was only 'strange'.

"Oh, don't push her away, Dalston!" Gennie shot Alina a smile. In his attempt not to meet his cousin's eye, all he got from the sight of her was how soft her hair looked, how it bounced even as she sat. What the ever-loving fuck was wrong with him? "You're not bothering anyone, Alina. Besides, Dalston and I were just about to head out for a walk.

"Weren't we, Dalston?"

"Uh..." What to do? Here, there was Alina. In the village, who knew how many little girls whose soft hair he should not have been thinking about touching. God, why couldn't he be attracted to girls his own age? Hell, he'd take being attracted to boys his own age. At least boys his own age were...

Well, they weren't little kids. And Dalston wouldn't have been a monster for thinking of them that way.

"I, uh... I have to leave."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Morgan Sees a Man Fooled

June 6, 1184

If Morgan had expected to find Lucien right outside the bedroom door rather than downstairs with Lord Severin and Sir Isidro, she wouldn't have opened it so widely. But the sight of the new baby had proven a sufficient distraction from anything going on back in the room; surely he would have said something if he'd seen?

"Aww, look at her! She has her mama's eyes!" He dove in with a wide smile to greet the baby up close, only to look back up at Morgan, anxious, grin now a grimace. "Er... she is a she, right?"

The poor silly man. She'd have thought the assumption adorable if she could stop wondering for a second what Lonan might have done when presented with their daughter, if both of them had lived. "Yes, she's a girl. Vera wants to name her for her mother."

"That was the plan from the beginning; she even wanted Alin for a boy." As if Morgan didn't know it!

"She, uh..." He swallowed, his grin loosening as his eyes drooped. Poor Vera. She had been so anxious. "She thought that since there was such a gap after Severin, that this might be the last... ah, never mind. I take it you wouldn't have been smiling if she wasn't all right?"

"You take it right. She's doing very well." Physically, and mentally, at least Morgan hoped. Vera may have been doubting her fertility before, but surely after this...

Don't be ridiculous. You know how she felt, so don't make her out to be irrational. You aren't exactly sure if you'll ever have another child yourself.

Once the thought had served its purpose, she pushed it back to the side. Today was Vera and Lucien's day.

She wouldn't ruin it with her own problems, even in her own head. "Really. She's even out of bed, walking around. Said she felt restless."

"Huh." He shrugged. "Well, I guess I've heard stranger things. And I guess she couldn't be doing much better than that, could she?"

"Probably not--unless seeing you would help." Mindful of little Alina in her arms, Morgan took a step back and reached for the doorhandle. Everyone inside had been nice and quiet, only a dull murmur of conversation between Nora and Riona audible from the hall. It was almost as if he was in on it. "Come inside? Everyone's all cleaned up."

"Of course."

She opened the door and stepped in, Lucien following some feet back. She looked over to the other side of the room, where Vera stood and the other two sat; Vera was of course preoccupied, but Nora smirked and Riona shot a wink. "Lucien's here."

"Oh, good." Vera lifted her head, meeting her husband with eyes like their daughters'. The eyes like her grandfather's remained turned elsewhere. "Hello, honey. Come meet the baby."

"I just d--" A stop. So he'd noticed. "What."

He looked at Vera. Then at Morgan. Then Vera again. "And here I thought Garrett was an idiot when they fooled him."

"All men are idiots where new babies are concerned," Nora assured him; beside her, Riona nodded in agreement. "I'll throw you a bone and assure you that we don't have a triplet stashed away anywhere."

"If only to throw you off so you'll be surprised when you find him." Morgan nudged him lightly as she brushed past, meeting Vera by the corner of the bed. She'd figured Lucien might like to see the twins side by side, even if they didn't look any more alike than any two random newborns might have.

But who knew? Once their features matured, the resemblance might have proven uncanny.

"So... this one?"

"He's a boy. Isn't Alina lucky? A big brother to look out for her, and a little brother to pester." Vera smiled down at her new son, though Morgan knew full well that the grin was for the both of them. "And with two big siblings to look out for him, I'd say Alin is pretty lucky too."

Lucien's brows twitched upward. "Alin?"

"Well, we said we'd name the baby for my mother either way, right?"

If they hadn't, Lucien didn't argue. From the looks of it, he didn't want to; how better to name twins, after all? "That we did."

NEXT CHAPTER: