#kc_necropolis

He laughs weakly. "Me either."

She rereads the papers, frowning. "They thought I was a Fiona. I thought I was a Fiona. I was going to be a knight and a vassal..."

"A changeling?"

"I don't understand that part, either, but we can work together, figure it out; the changeling part. I mean, I guess we all are, in a way...."

"But... but doesn't... wouldn't that mean I didn't... didn't... steal?"

"I don't know." Simply. "I don't know, this is new information."

"The Fiona said that it isn't uncommon for host memories to be strong. Especially with older hosts - children don't have as much, the fae soul is less... damaged."

He nods. "That would match the information I've read."

"She... I? She was seventeen."

"I was 14."

OOC I think?

((sure!))

"I was at a dance, at school. Me, and Lira, it had been a big secret from my... her.. my parents. Julia's parents. It was a big, stupid risk."

He rests his hand on her, a soft touch, and listens.

"She kissed me. Julia." A frown, struggling to work through the memory. "And then, it was like an explosion..."

"I... everything was light and color and shadows. I remembered being cold. Very cold, and scared. And... fighting... I was so tired of fighting, and so sure I was going to freeze to death that I had just reached, grabbing on..."

"I know, when I could see again, Lira was there. Holding me. She was so beautiful.... and I had a sword in my hands, and.. and my wings..."

"You are very beautiful, D... Deryn." Honestly.

"Not like her." Saddened. "She had hair like spun gold and sunshine. Eyes like the sky. She was a summer's day, made flesh."

"She took me to the freehold. We were going to be knights together."

"But you aren't?"

"I'm not a knight. I'm not a Fiona."

"Lira... couldn't... she couldn't be with an Oathbreaker, not if she wanted to rise to the Red Branch. She had to keep her honor intact." Her feathers have slowly flattened, wings sagging low.

"Oh. Oh. I'm sorry, Deryn." Sincerely. "But... when you were Sained.... are you not a Baroness?"

"Yes."

"Then you outrank a knight." He pauses. "You outrank -me-." He laughs softly.

@roocifer has joined the channel

"I guess. But... I only ever wanted to be a knight. And 'baroness' doesn't mean much. I have no freehold, nowhere that's mine. All it means is that I can't just bend knee to, say, Chieftain Brekke."

A sad smile. "I never wanted to be a knight. Weird, huh? But, hey, there are a lot of Liam who are titled and don't have lands. There are ways."

"I know. So... so I thought I'd try here, right? Make a difference. Firnost accepts everyone, I'd have a refuge."

"And you met Magnus there."

Thinking.

"In the garden. He recognized the arms on my sword..."

He nods. "A silver tree in a golden lantern. Blue background.

She nods. "They.. as a fledge, they said it was... I was... Fiona..."

A sad smile. "The records say your mother was."

"I guess... I guess the mistake makes sense? Dio - Danah Olivia - she thinks I probably still could be, if I wanted. I could swear to the Lion."

"You could." Evenly.

If it would help, I'll vouch for you, offer the records I have.

*Adds quotation marks to that*

"That doesn't seem entirely honest to me. I don't think that would change the fact that I'm Derynwydd ap Liam. That I'm Oathbroken."

"I... you know, you're the first Liam I ever met? There weren't any at home."

He chuffs softly, a small laugh. "Fitting."

"It is true, you're Liam. Something tells me you're Liam to your bones, and you'll always be. But if you wanted to be part of House Fiona, I'll do all I can to help you."

"But now there's you, and Miriam, and Tanner. And Sir Frank - he's a troll. Brekke's trueheart. He's... he's been teaching me about the house. More than what I'd learned otherwise."

"He sounds like a good man, then."

"I'm going to take the Oath. I... I didn't expect to be this, but you need to be honest, right? I want to be who I am. I want to do good in the world, and protect people, and foster dreams..."

He smiles, shining.

She closes her eyes, a tired smile. "You get it."

"I do."