Euryleia looked, for the first time that anyone here had known her, off balance.  Happily so, but surprised, by something.  She actually leaned against Brun, wrapping an arm around him for support and a loving need for that closeness.  Smiling, she told Brun quietly, "They have /your/ taste in music." Even so, she accepted the invitation to descend into the all encompassing music of Eppagelia's creation.  Euryleia wondered for a moment at even trying to join in the intricate song, but realized she didn't need to worry.  She lent her voice at Eppy's invitation and, due to the possibilities of their digital nature, gave her child free reign to direct and shape the voice through their song.

Brun grinned knowingly, returning the gentle support and hug, "I will not apologize.  I had to win /somewhere/." Not having the music in /his/ head, Brun was free to follow the surrounding interactions.

At Gwydion's reveal, Brun tried to look shocked, as though he didn't know, "Scandalous....  What /will/ people say?  How will we manage to work this out?  This could change..../everything/....". His tone was an amused, sarcastic deadpan.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:30, Thu 02 May.

Pinched and bapped, Gwydion's stupid smile never faded despite all the flinching.

"Ow. Sorry, my love. Ow! Okay, I'm sorry! But I'm so excited! And I trust everyone here to be excited with us and maybe not tell Auntie Val for a while. And look at them! They're perfect! Beautiful and brilliant, just like their mother. See? Brun gets it! I've got kids, and I'm around for them to grow up with! And they like us enough to deliberately tear holes in the fabric of spacetime to visit! We do right by them. There's a future. Isn't that amazing?"

Now that Gwydion had been properly chided, Meara mulled a bit more on what Mordwynn had said.  Combining other clues and information she had about their whereabouts, it all lead together to-

No way.  It couldn't be.  I can't get my hopes up until I see it with my own eyes.

There was a very brief, momentary glimpse of shock and surprise that crossed her face as she looked directly at the twins with her eyes (but not the rest of her face), then closed her eyes, pushed it back down, and resumed as if she had not just had a potentially universe-shattering revelation.

"That's not how it works," Irina added still seemingly focused elsewhere. She finally turned and looked at the twins, "Is it?"

They shook their heads as they looked at their Dad, clearly pleased with his excitement.

---

Euryleia joined in the song along with Eppagelía and noticed that Brun seemed to be unconsciously tapping his fingers in rhythm even though he couldn't hear the music. He was perfectly in sync even when the tempo changed.

---

The afternoon continued with pleasant and amusing company until Agravina suddenly announced, "It is time we must be going. It has been so wonderful to meet you all and experience you as you were, as we are. Please, know that the fight is worth it. Not just for all of us, but for the countless lives that this realm safeguards."

"Don't worry, we'll all be together again upon the Wall. See you soon," Mordwynn added. Their clothing rippled for a brief instant and was suddenly replaced by the armored suits that the group had witnessed the previous day and suddenly the three visitors were gone.

---

Queen Valerie La Guin's vision was returning, but it was still less than perfect. Sometimes there were artifacts, amorphous shapes that were not really there, in her field of vision. Products of her brain trying to interpret the imperfect signals given to it by her healing eyes. She was surprised, then, when one of those artifacts flicked into existence and proved to be solid as she ran into it.

The artifact, a tall figure, dressed in a scorched flight suit, judging by the texture and smell, was clearly disoriented.

"Val? The Battle! Where's Ember-Rend," the figure asked clearly confused.

"John," gasped Valerie La Guin, as she instantly recognized the voice "Goddesses, is it really you?"

"Val? What's going on? Is this a dream," the figure asked clearly confused.

"It is for me," she said as the tears fell. She threw her arms around him and for the first time since she lost him, she truly felt alive again.

---

Brun stood before two figures in shimmering armor, one black, one white. Gleaming faceplates, not unlike the one once worn by his beloved, covered their faces, but he knew them.

"This is the only way. It must be done," he heard his own voice say, weighted with the anguish of certainty. "The King Must Die."

Brun felt something shift, his own awareness displacing itself through the tides of time."The future is not written!  Gwydion lives!  Now...." He looked at each of his squires as he regained himself and finished. "...make sure he stays that way." He couldn't see it, but he knew they were both solemn beneath their helms. They understood the importance of their duty. That they had only one opportunity to get it right. In the next instant they vanished.

They reappeared only a heartbeat later. Their faceplates retracted and then two figures became three. Another joined the two young squires standing before their knight. Tall with curly dark hair, they had an androgynous look, both striking and fair.

"Well, you three made short work of that," John Arthur said as he strode out of the dimminess behind Sir Brun and ruffled the girls' hair like the proud great uncle he was. He managed to do the same to Eppagelía who was unable to escape despite knowing that it was coming.

"John," admonished Valerie La Guin, older, though still every inch the warrior queen in stature if not in title.

Brun smiled. The King Must Die. It was the only way. The only path to victory. In every branch, the Dragon exacted an unthinkable toll. Only John Arthur's death was enough to stop Gwydion from being claimed instead. The King Must Die, yes. Or at least come close enough...

Brun stared out the viewport as, one by one, he felt a trillion possibilities collapse into a single one. For the first time in a long time, he was anchored again. Alive only a single moment at a time. "They've done it. The G.R.A.I.L is made whole. The Final Hour is upon us."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:37, Tue 07 May.

Moments before the twins vanished, Meara called out cheerfully, "Have fun saving Uncle John!"

When everyone, except perhaps Brun and Euryleia gave her various looks, she shrugged and asked, "What other urgent business could Auntie Val have that would keep her from being here but wouldn't involve us being summoned?"

As the visit came to a close, Gwydion gave each of the girls a hug, a kiss on the forehead, and a proud, beaming gaze. He also gave an awkward goodbye to Eppagelía, not sure quite where to look, or even which of the girls's outfits to be looking at. The last thing they saw before blinking away was the happiest Gwydion in spacetime and Iliza holding hands.

Meara's explanation was confusing for a moment, but comprehension flashed across his face after a moment of thought and Iliza's hand felt a sharp squeeze as he tensed up.

"Wait, you don't mean... Right now?" And he started to get up and head for the exit, though not letting go of Iliza's hand (a thing he couldn't imagine ever doing again, after everything that went wrong since last time he did). "Thank the chef, everything was perfect!"

Euryleia found there was a hole left when the song was brought to an end and goodbyes were exchanged.  But she knew that hole would be filled again.  She just had to be patient.  Which was a thing she was /very/ practiced at.  Fifteen years didn't really seem all that long really.

At Meara 's suggestion and Gwydion's dawning realization, Euryleia quickly began reviewing her interactions with the Queen over the incident through this lens.  Certain seemingly inconsistent behaviors gained clarity.  She added these details into her analysis routines.  Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me

While his Lady made her corrections, Brun grinned again, oh so knowingly.  As Gwydion turned for the exit, he laughed, "Give them some more time.  And....privacy....  You will have time as well.  You will."

Was Meara right? Were the trio from the future intent upon fulfilling Gwydion's oath to save his beloved Uncle and King of the Realm? The wait to find out seemed an unbearable eternity. Finally, the summons came and Gwydion, Meara, Brun, & Euryleia were summoned to the Queen.

Just as when they had been summoned upon deciphering the G.R.A.I.L coordinates at Meara's impromptu dinner party, they were summoned to the stateroom. And just like that evening, both the King and the Queen were in attendance.

The Queen was no longer dressed in mourning and the King...the King was whole  and intact, even if he did look quite haggard. He smiled when he saw them and they knew at once that it was him. He rushed forward and hugged his nephew tightly, squeezing him harder than Gwydion had ever felt, "My boy, my boy."

Upon reaching the stateroom and seeing the both of them, Meara gave them both a very happy, but knowing smile.  Inwardly, she was screaming and cheering and losing her mind, but outwardly she only showed those emotions through her eyes - which all present would be able to notice.  Having Irina there to ground her helped, and they were very visibly holding hands.

"Welcome back, Uncle.  Gwydion has some very big news to give you."

She wanted to hug the King as well, but she wasn't about to force herself in, either.

As for Irina, as far as Meara could tell, she was still in science mode.  She was so cute in science mode.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Fri 10 May.

Gwydion had been held back from his rush to the royal chambers, and instead was pacing for the entire three centuries of waiting to be summoned. When the call did come, he practically raced to arrive, once again holding Iliza's hand. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight until he felt like things were beginning to stabilize.

---

He did his best to slow down and compose himself before they entered the stateroom. Running about like a child was alright when he was a child, but the prince was a grown Knight now and had to present himself to the King and Queen with dignity, despite their close relationship. Iliza helped him smooth his hair and suit, calm his breathing, and ready himself to step inside.

Then he fell completely apart. After staring in shock that John Arthur was, in fact, present and alive, Gwydion tried to speak but choked up instead. He returned his uncle's hug and fell completely into sobbing tears. His own descent into madness and discussion with his children from the future couldn't have prepared him for the plan actually working out, and all Gwydion could do was hug John tighter. After a few moments, he blindly reached out in the direction of Meara to try and pull her into the hug, or at least get her closer. Then he did the same for Iliza. Then Brun.

Euryleia and Brun enjoyed their time together awaiting the expected summons.  This future Brun was still not her Brun, but will be.  As with her child, she found herself looking forward to joining this future person as well.  She was just delayed a short while.

The conversation stayed as innocuous as possible.  No spoilers.  Even so, Euryleia could get a sense of the depth of some of these untold things.  A quick look to one of the others...  A pause to change a word at the last second.  His smile was genuine, but whatever he couldn't say to these people he cared so much for was haunting him deeply...  He was so worried for them all.

When the summons did arrive, Brun had just stood to be ready.  Timing it near perfectly.  He rushed with the others, hand in hand with his Lady.  As they moved into Avaluna proper. Into the bustle of people and chances, Euryleia felt his hand tighten.  Saw the strain on his face.

He tried to hang on, but that's not how it works.  Time and Tides...

As the group moved to down a corridor, Brun stopped and turned to his Lady and kissed as though it might be the last time, "I'll see you soon, my Lady... I love you and I...." The rest was cut off as he fell away through time.

And literally, physically fell.

Euryleia caught him quickly as Brun began laughing.  Almost wildly, "You are the most amazing and beautiful sight in the universe... Then confusion quickly set in as he was not tumbling through the skies of Earth....

Euryleia smiled at him, with a sadness that didn't fit, "I have you, my Knight.  Always."

The rest of the trip allowed Euryleia some chance to let this near Brun be somewhat prepared.  But as usual, it was a lot to take in.

As Gwydion reached out to gather nearest and dearest, Euryleia very politely but firmly shoved Brun into arm's reach so he too could be gathered up despite his overwhelming confusion.  A Brun was needed and this was the one she had to hand.

For herself, Euryleia waited patiently upon the reunion.  She stationed herself near Irina.  In case she needed a nudge towards the hug or shoulder or anything really.

The hug between Uncle and Nephew quickly became a group hug that lasted for several moments. Tears flowed, not just from Gwydion, but Iliza, and Uncle John as well.

"There, there my boy. It's alright now. It's alright," John Arthur comforted his nephew. "It's certainly all a lot to take in, and, you all bore the worst of it." John Arthur's face showed his love, concern, and sorrow. "I'm not sure I fully understand what has transpired, but the explanation can wait. What's this news that has my niece so excited?"

Before anyone could respond, Meara gave Gwydion a huge grin, letting him know exactly what her feelings on the matter were.

She was simultaneously happy for him, but also throwing him under the bus because it amused her.  It was a grin he knew well.  He also knew the 'throwing him under the bus' wasn't being done maliciously, but teasingly.  She wouldn't actually do it in a way that would hurt him.  That's just cold and cruel and heartless.

Meara also gave Irina a squeeze around her lover's waist with her left arm, quite happy to be open about her feelings again.  After all, as far as she knew, her uncle was still under the impression that she and Irina were together, and Gwydion and Iliza were a pair, not that she and her cousin were to be wed to unite Venus and Avaluna.

When the hug ended, Gwydion kept clasped onto Iliza's hand while he wiped the tears from his face. His voice had returned, but broken and a little lost. Meara's teasing got a brief laugh from him and a smile as he tried to explain.

"Um, w-we thought you'd died, and-and L4-NC3-L07 was a jerk to Auntie Val and I have to fight him, and Brun and Euryleia fell into a t-time vortex and now she's a p-pretty lady and he s-sometimes remembers things from the fut-future, and Auntie Val decided Meara and I are getting married, and I decided Meara and Irina and Iliza and I are getting married be-because I really do love Meara and would be happy to marry her but she loves Irina and I love Iliza so much and am not letting anyone get buh-between any of us, and I d-deci-decided we needed to rescue you because ev-everything was bad, and then our daughters from the future r-rescued you, and they're am-mazing and p-perfect just like their mother and they're right h-here if you want to meet them and I missed you so much..." As he implied Iliza being pregnant, he managed to vaguely point towards her belly while pulling her closer to him for the added comfort.

Very stately. Much coherent. The prince broke down into more tears after getting through his recap.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Mon 13 May.

Meara stared at Gwydion with disbelief.  That wasn't the news she had meant at all.  She turned her gaze to Iliza, her expression unchanging, before she turned it back to Gwydion.

"That was not exactly the news to which I was referring, cousin.  I just meant the bit about Lady Iliza currently carrying your child.  Well, children.  I figured we could drop the rest of the news later once emotions had calmed."

The prince blinked through his new set of tears at Meara.

"But... th-that's what I s-said..."

Brun stepped politely back, once released, from the hug.  It was very nice but after everything Euryleia had tried to explain in the corridor (and still riding the adrenaline rush of accidental atmospheric free fall), it was all bewildering.  Then Gwydion began rambling and Brun's eyes just got wider and wider.

He drifted quietly back towards Euryleia, not wanting to rudely interrupt Gwydion.  He shot her a look and silently mouthed the word, "WHAT!?"

Euryleia looked apologetic, but nodded.  Silently confirming that it was all true.  When they were close enough, she whispered, "I did not have alot of time and not all those details seemed pertinent right then.". Mirroring Meara's feelings, she added, "Or right now."

Euryleia wanted to correct and clarify about time vortexes, Brun's temporally displaced state, and that she, while pretty and despite loving nicknames, was not technically a lady.  But, again, these details didn't feel pertinent right now.  For anyone.

John Arthur listened patiently as Gwydion rambled on, and, once the Prince had finished, he placed a reassuring hand on the Prince's shoulder. "Steady, son. The first step to ruling a kingdom is to keep perspective. What's all the rest compared to such wonderful news?"

He hugged Gwydion and Iliza tightly. "I'll be a Great Uncle," John Arthur announced proudly, "That's much better than the Monkies' Uncle I am now." He playfully cut his eyes toward Gwydion and Meara, indicating the monkies to which he was referring. Iliza nodded her agreement with the assessment of Gwydion.

John's voice took on a more kingly manner as the Queen stepped up to join him "Now, then, perhaps we should discuss these wedding arrangements, seeing as how the Solar System is in attendance and they're all expecting a wedding..."

Meara's resigned grin when her uncle looked at her gave her reply that she wouldn't argue with his assessment.  When the subject went back to the wedding - which she knew he'd care about more than the rest - she gave a hopeful smile.

"I do not suppose it is against tradition to have multiple spouses?" she asked, not expecting affirmation that it was okay, but definitely seeking that sort of answer, "Also, is it okay that I still feel a bit weird about this?  I've known Gwydion since we were little children.  Trying to think of him as a lover and not a Best Friend Forever and sort-of-brother is taking some effort."

Gwydion finished wiping off his face and beamed at his uncle. Then he looked over at Meara with some surprise.

"Huh? They were readying me to marry you from about the time we first met. You didn't have that? Well, I think you're amazing and I won't stop being your best friend, no matter what."

---

After recovering from the joyful shock of seeing his uncle alive and more-or-less well, the prince took a sharp breath and stood.

"Well. This has been the best surprise of my life. There's just one thing missing to make things perfect." He activated his comlink. "Rose, prepare Durnwyn Mark II aboard my ship. Run a full set of diagnostics." And then another call. "Captain, ready my ship for immediate departure. We're picking up the last wedding guest right now."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:51, Wed 15 May.

"Wait, what?!  Hold up, we spent all that time on the guest list and you want to spring a surprise guest?!  Do you have any idea how that is going to mess with the seating?!" Meara exclaimed in surprise, thinking of the poor, overworked retainers and commoners who would have to scramble to make concessions and arrangements, "It is a logistical nightmare!  The only fighting I want at the wedding is people challenging me for Iri's hand in marriage!  O-or yours.  You will have to fend off the suitors for Liza, though."

Lowering her head a bit, she added quietly, "I will be terribly upset if there are none.  They deserve it."

"Perfectly normal, Meara," John Arthur said with a chuckle. "While it's true your Aunt and I had discussed wedding the pair of you, we'd hoped that we'd have own heir to solve the issue. We'd moved on from the idea until, well..." He motioned vaguely around him, "Until whatever it is that happened, happened."

"We'll need to get to that in a moment. But, whatever miracle, plan, or time-defying grand nieces occurred, it has changed the necessity of our course. Somewhat. So the question now, is what do you all want to do about it?"


"While such arrangements are not common among the Morningstars of Venus, from which your family hails, there is some precedent amongst the Vespers. As for Avaluna...well there's not much to go on there, seeing as how John Arthur is the first and only King of Avaluna and his marriage to Queen Valerie La Guin has been the only royal marriage in the line...Strictly speaking that is the only precedent," MerLN answered authoritatively.

In reply to Meara (msg # 233):

Gwydion turned to Meara with his old grin back. "No surprises, he just didn't RSVP. I guess he thinks he's not coming just because he was an ass in front of the entire solar system. He's going to be here if I have to drag him back myself. And I don't think we'll have to worry about suitors. They may be perfect, but nobody's mad enough to try and steal away our loves. Well, except maybe Euryleia, but she'd only be doing it in good fun. Right, Lady? Maybe Sir Dalibrad, come to think of it. Those duels would make for a fun show, actually. Especially in full wedding regalia rather than in flight suits..."



Gwydion was lost in thought for a moment before John's question brought him back.

"Hm? Oh, you know that tradition has never come before my feelings, uncle."



A wider smile from the prince.

"Like I've been saying all along, the rules are ours to make and mold as best suits the needs of the kingdom and her people, and just because we're royalty doesn't make us no longer the people of our land. I see no reason politics should have to take precedence over love. I'm not wedding if I'm not marrying Iliza, and I adore Meara and would be happy to be her husband as well. Likewise, I'll raise a sword to anyone who tries to get between her and sweet Irina. Meara can't go hogging all the duels, after all."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:48, Mon 20 May.

Euryleia didn't miss a beat as Gwydion mentioned the potential for "theft".  Silver eyes flicked to the prince and she answered, with deadpan seriousness, "Fun for some.  Yes." Those eyes then slid to said fiancee's, brow lifted in silent question.  As though all they had to do was ask.  The only hint that she was /probably/ kidding was a subtle grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Brun had been concentrating on following the proceeding.  Still bewildering, yes, but it all seemed to be turning out quite well for his friends.  Which felt all to the good.  Whew.

Then his Lady offered, however subtle, to steal fiancees and, possibly, duel Gwydion and Meara, as well?  He leaned forward at her side to try and catch a look at her face, again mouthing a silent, "WHAT!?"

Euryleia did not break her "serious" expression for his benefit.  She did slip an arm around her Knight, in case anyone got any ideas of "stealing" from /her/.

Before Meara could reach any internal conclusions of her thoughts on the matters at hand, Gwydion went ahead and spoke from his heart (as he always did), and before she could figure out whether to agree or protest, Euryleia chimed in, hinting that she'd be up for dueling over the honor to marry Irina!  Sure, Euryleia was most likely making a jest, but she was also likely up for it because it meant fighting - and that meant Meara would have an actual challenge and might lose!

That couldn't be allowed.

Meara protectively hugged Irina and gave Euryleia a glare as if to say 'mine.'  Which is exactly what the glare was saying.  She then regained some semblance of wits and looked between Iliza and, more importantly to her, Irina.

"With everything going on, nobody has really asked, which I think is horribly unfair.  How do the two of you feel about all this?"