Home Sweet Home

Life, Wealth

Fenneck's last happy memory with Evelyn. Erikur tells Fenneck about the revolution and Fenneck tells him he wants no part of it and tells Erikur to leave. Faina and Leonid come and try to talk to him but are met with resistance. It's the last time he ever sees them alive.

Fenneck walked into his home and smiled seeing Evelyn laying on his couch reading. She was wearing her sexy blue lacy robe Fenneck had made her that she always wore around his house that showed off her beautiful body. Her beautiful golden hair was loose around her perfect face and Fenneck's heart swelled with love and happiness seeing her there with a warm fire going and fresh bread on the table. Fenneck closed the door and removed his bag and his shoes. "Hello, my love," he told Evelyn who was smiling and twirling her hair at him across the room. "Hello, how was work, darling?" she asked him as she jumped up and pranced over to him. Fenneck took her in his arms and pulled her into an intense kiss, dipping her down dramatically toward the ground. Life was so perfect in that moment. "It was wonderful," he told her wistfully. "I made a beautiful dress for one of the princesses today. Beautiful sky blue fabric with a silver brocade and lining," he mused as he walked over to the fresh bread to quiet his hungry stomach. "I think she'll look quite lovely in it. I might end up falling in love with her," he teased Evelyn who smiled lovingly up at him. "Consider me extremely jealous," she said, playing along. Fenneck sighed with happiness as he sliced a loaf of bread and smeared some butter on it. "This smells amazing," he complimented her. She giggled. "I should hope so. I stole it from the royal kitchen!" she told him. Fenneck giggled and took a few bites, excited to spend the evening with his beloved. "How have you been?" he asked her. "You haven't been by in a couple days." She shrugged. "I'm fine," she said. "These last few months I've been feeling a bit... different than normal," she told him. Fenneck gave her a curious look. "Have you been feeling worse?" he asked her, growing concerned. She leaned against the counter to face him. "A bit," she admitted. "I haven't been able to rest, Fenneck. I... I think it's nothing, it's just..." Fenneck walked over to her and held her tiny waist in his hands. "You can tell me if something's wrong," he told her. She nodded. "It's just been a bit of nausea, mostly. I've also been gaining weight, but the real issue is that I can't rest without..." Her eyes looked concerned and Fenneck kissed her forehead. "Without what, love?" he asked her gently. "Just... bad memories, that's all," she told him. Fenneck sighed and kissed her perfect forehead. "Well why don't we make some good ones tonight to try and even the scales?" he suggested, pulling her into his arms and kissing her cheek. "Fenneck..." she said cautiously. "Yes, love?" he asked her as his lips found her neck. "Is this a good idea?" she asked him suddenly. Fenneck pulled away and gave her a confused look. "Is what a good idea? I mean, I should probably eat something else first, it's been a long day-" She shook her head at him. "No, this," she said motioning to the two of them. Fenneck shook his head at her. "Ev, look, we're happy. This is working. Sure I can't be your prince charming yet but maybe one day when you become a duchess-" "Stop Fenneck," she said harshly. He recoiled from her a bit in fear. "Evelyn," he begged her as he saw her eyes start to turn silver, knowing what was coming. "You're just upset, darling. Come on, lets go to my room. We can cuddle under the blankets together and talk about this." "Fenneck, we both know this won't last forever!" she suddenly exclaimed. "I can't just make you a prince!" Fenneck sighed. "I know that. I just... I love you, Ev. I love you so much. You don't think I know how risky this is? I love you too much to just stop loving you," he begged her. She looked scared and was glancing around the room in fear. Fenneck went to her. "Evelyn, look at me-" She screamed suddenly and fell into his arms as she started sobbing. Fenneck clutched her to him and caressed her hair. "It's okay, Evelyn," he softly told her. "It's okay. I'm right here." She was sobbing harder than normal and Fenneck scooped her up into his arms and carried her into their bedroom. He laid her down on the bed mat and laid down next to her, holding her in his arms as she cried. He started singing a soft elvish folk song she liked to calm her and after a few minutes she was sniffling softly and looking into his eyes with her puffy red face. "Hi," he told her gently as her eyes changed back to their normal bright blue color. "Hi," she told him weakly. He kissed her lips and caressed her hair out of her face. She kissed him back and pulled Fenneck on top of her body. They made love and when Fenneck had finished he held her in his arms, still enjoying the feeling of being inside her. She smiled sweetly up at him. "I'm sorry," she told him quietly. "It's okay, love," he assured her. "It keeps happening," she said fearfully. Fenneck sighed and pulled out of her and went over to the water basin and chamber pot in the corner of the room to wash himself off. "How can we stop it? Do you know what's wrong, Ev?" he asked her. She gave him a nervous look. "I'm not sure. I've been doing research, Fen, but... I'm worried there might not be anything to do." Fenneck knew she was keeping something from him but he knew it was a sensitive subject. "Look, I want to help," he told her as he joined her back in the bed. "I love you and I'm worried about you," he told her. She reached up and kissed him. "I know, Fen. You help. You being a part of my life helps. Trust me," she assured him. Fenneck pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her romantically. "Rest here tonight. With me," he begged her. She shook her head. "It's too risky, Fenneck," she said, giving him a sad smile. Fenneck sighed in defeat. "Very well," he conceded. She gave him a sad look. "I love you, Fenneck," she told him. "I love you too, Evelyn," he said before letting her up so she could change. He got up and threw on a pair of pants and kissed her goodbye as she teleported back to the palace. He sighed and walked out into his kitchen and fixed another slice of bread when he heard a knock on the door. He looked around to make sure Evelyn hadn't left anything lying around and walked to his door and opened it to see Erikur there. "Hey," he greeted him. "Hey," Erikur said, walking past Fenneck, not even waiting for Fenneck to welcome him in. "What's up?" Fenneck asked him as he closed the door. Erikur started cutting off a slice of bread for himself and he plopped down at the table. "I'm just lonely," he said bluntly. "Why don't you ever come down to the bar anymore?" he asked Fenneck. Fenneck sighed and sat down next to Erikur at the table. "I don't know," he said. "In case Evelyn comes over I guess." "Is she here now?" Erikur asked him, glancing over at the bedroom door. "She just left," Fenneck told him. "I see," Erikur mused. He looked Fenneck over intensely for a moment. "What's wrong?" he asked him. Fenneck shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about," Fenneck told him, knowing full well what Erikur was talking about. "Don't lie to me, Fenneck," Erikur told him as he took a bite of the warm palace bread. Fenneck put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on the table. "Something's wrong with Evelyn, but she won't tell me what," he finally admitted. Erikur stopped chewing and looked at Fenneck intensely. "What do you mean?" he mumbled through the fluffy bread in his mouth. Fenneck shrugged. "She has... these... episodes sometimes," he told him. Erikur had a weird look in his eyes and he quickly swallowed his bread. "Like what? What happens?" he asked intently. Fenneck wondered if he might know what was wrong with her. "Well, she's been feeling generally under the weather lately. She's nauseous a lot and says she's gaining weight and can't rest at night. Sometimes she gets angry and upset at seemingly random moments," he said. Erikur rolled his eyes. "Sounds like you knocked her up," he teased Fenneck. Fenneck scoffed at him. "No, it's... different. Like tonight, we were having a wonderful time in here together when I got home from work and then she started freaking out about our relationship and... she started looking around the room, like she could see something or someone I couldn't and she started crying. I had to calm her down before she finally felt normal again," he told Erikur. "It's been happening quite often these last few months. I can always tell its coming because her eyes... they... they turn silver." Erikur looked very pensive as he considered these things. "What does she tell you is happening?" he asked Fenneck cautiously. Fenneck shrugged. "She never really does. I keep asking her but when I press her too much she gets upset with me." Erikur leaned back in his chair and Fenneck could tell he was considering this information as if he knew something Fenneck didn't. "Let me guess, more secrets?" Fenneck asked him sarcastically. Erikur slowly looked over at him and swallowed as if he was about to say something before turning away again. "Erik? What's going on?" he asked his friend. Erikur turned to him and reached out a hand to Fenneck who cautiously took it. Erikur squeezed it affectionately. "Look, Fenneck, I'm telling you this because I love you and I care about you, okay?" Fenneck gave Erikur a worried look. "Okay..." he said hesitantly. Erikur swallowed again. "You don't understand the gravity of the dangers the royal family poses to our people," he started. Fenneck pulled his hand away. "I know how you feel about politics, Erik, I'm not an idiot," he told him, annoyed at Erikur's condescension. Erikur sighed in annoyance. "Let me finish, Fenneck. I know you love her. I know you think you know what's going on but... you don't, okay? Do you remember when Catherine and Vyndius died?" he asked Fenneck who squinted and nodded, remembering that awful night. "Did it never occur to you how odd it was that the Marquis, Nikolai, Evelyn's brother, died the same night?" he asked Fenneck cautiously. Fenneck recoiled from Erikur in fear. "What are you saying?" he asked Erikur accusingly. Erikur sighed. "Look Fenneck, I can trust you. I have thus far. Please don't make me regret this," he begged Fenneck. Fenneck wasn't sure what to make of this. "Are you telling me that you and my parents killed the Marquis that night?" he asked Erikur distrustfully. Erikur swallowed. "Fenneck, he was possessed-" he said quickly, trying to justify their treasonous actions. Fenneck stood up and walked across the room and put his hands on his head, not sure how to process this. "What the hell, Erikur?!" he exclaimed. Erikur shook his head. "Look Fenneck, you deserve to know. You deserve to know everything," he said, walking toward him and trying to hold his arms. Fenneck jerked away though. "Fuck off me!" he said, fearfully backing away from his friend. "I know what's wrong with Evelyn, Fenneck. There might be a way to help her!" he exclaimed. Fenneck glared at Erikur distrustfully. Erikur gave him a begging look. "Fenneck, she's being preyed upon by the devil..." He quickly glanced around and lowered his voice as if the walls had ears. "...Mephistopheles. We can help her. We helped Jasna with the same thing. Their family is cursed, Fenneck! The Staladin bloodline is cursed but there is a way to undo it. Jasna is okay now and we can help Evelyn, too," he promised. Fenneck squinted his eyes at Erikur. "Is that what happened with Nikolai?" he asked him. Fenneck could see Erikur's heartbreak in his face from the accusation. "Look, that situation was different," he tried to explain. Fenneck shook his head. "You need to leave," he told Erikur harshly. Erikur's jaw dropped in horror. "Fenneck-" "You need to leave before I get the guards involved," Fenneck threatened him. Erikur shook his head in fear. "Fenneck, I'm trying to help you!" he pleaded with him. "No, you aren't," Fenneck told him. "You just want to play some treasonous game with my parents! You've always disliked Evelyn and this is probably some trap for you to kill her like you did her brother! You think this is funny?! You think you're some kind of hero?! Your little revolution is never going to happen, Erikur! Our country has been this way for centuries! You really think you can just overthrow the emperor and take over the throne?!" Erikur looked horrified and had tears in his eyes. "Fenneck, please don't do this!" he begged as he dropped to his knees in front of him. Fenneck shook his head in despair at Erikur. "You need to leave. My loyalty is with Evelyn and her family, not this coup you have planned with my mother and father," he told him. "Will you turn us in?" Erikur whispered fearfully. Fenneck shook his head. "Of course not. I could never do that to you, but I can't join you, Erik. I can't. Please leave," Fenneck begged him. Erikur slowly stood up and backed away from Fenneck toward the door. "I'm sorry, Fen. I just wanted to help," he said pleadingly. Fenneck turned away and avoided Erikur's eyes. Fenneck heard the door close as Erikur left and he paced his living room for a while, wondering what he should do. He felt conflicted. He had experienced a lot of great things in their country. He loved Evelyn and had a house of his own and a pretty good life. He didn't want to give that up. He understood why his parents felt the way they did about certain things. He knew there were plenty of unfair things about the system and the way it treated people who weren't high-elves. He knew it was dangerous for people like Erikur who wanted to love people of the same gender proudly. He knew people were starving in the Vallee and dying of cold and homelessness. But the idea of revolting seemed so futile. He was also angry. Evelyn had been so upset when her brother died. Learning that his parents and Erikur helped to kill him in their weird game of politics was remarkably upsetting. He looked into the fire and thought about what Erikur had said about Evelyn being possessed; that she was cursed. Fenneck paced the room a bit more and decided to rest and put his mind at ease, but as he settled down into his bed there was another knock on the door. Fenneck cautiously got up and walked to the front door and opened it to see his mother and father, no doubt sent by Erikur. Fenneck went to shut the door in their faces but his father reached out a strong hand and stopped it. "We need to talk," he told his son harshly. Fenneck reluctantly stepped aside and let his parents into his house. He closed the door behind them and they walked into the living room. "Erikur told us what happened," Leonid started. "We just want to help." Fenneck felt anger start to boil in him as he realized Erikur had to have told them about Evelyn. "Told you what?" Fenneck asked his father angrily. Faina sighed. "We know about Evelyn, dear," she told him gently. "We can try to help her. It's actually good that you two are so close. We might be able to convince her to make the journey to the shrine like Jasna did," she told Fenneck. Fenneck shook his head at her. "You just want to use her and her position to help your cause," he accused her. Faina frowned. "Fenneck, what do you think we're doing?" she asked him sadly. "I know you've been planning a coup against the Malenthots for the last ten years," he said accusingly. "I know you want to overthrow the government and that you're willing to kill people over it. I mean seriously! I know there are problems but you don't actually think you can overthrow Emperor Staladin, do you!?" he asked them in disbelief. "I know you practice magic illegally! I know you got both of my best friends wrapped up in your scheme and had them keep secrets from me for years over it. I swear, you really think I want any part of this? I love Evelyn and I will die before I let you hurt her or any more members of her family," he told his mother harshly. Faina shook her head in disbelief and sadness and looked to her husband for help. "Fenneck," Leonid sighed. "Your loyalty is admirable. We just worry it's a bit misplaced-" Fenneck cut him off. "Stop talking to me like I'm a child!" he told his father harshly. Leonid closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Fenneck, the royal family is evil," he said bluntly. "They're hurting people. They're killing people. They're starving people. We cannot just sit back and let them do that," he said harshly. Fenneck shook his head at them. "You cannot fight the Emperor! You don't have an army. I'm closer to royalty than you'll ever be! Princess Evelyn loves me and that is the closest our family is going to get to living in that palace! Your cause may be in good faith but you cannot actually believe this is worth it!" he exclaimed to them. "You got Catherine and Vyndius killed over this. Erikur lost his sister! Do not use him as a pawn in your hopeless game of chess as well! Or Alexei!" "They came to us!" Leonid countered. "I don't care!" Fenneck told him. "You know what they're risking for this and you're willing to let them. Naertho told me long ago that the reason you kept me out of it was for my safety. Clearly you didn't have the same respect for my friends!" he said accusingly. "Fenneck," his mother tried to calm him. "Look, we just want to help. Jasna was going through something similar and she was able to fight off Mephistopheles before it was too late!" "Leave, now!" Fenneck told them, gesturing toward the door. "I don't want your help. I don't want to be a part of this. I want you to leave," he told them decisively. Faina had tears in her eyes as she looked up at Fenneck. "Fenny..." she begged him. He gave her a sad shrug. "I'm sorry, mum. I can't do this," he told her, unwilling to risk losing his perfect life and situation with Evelyn. Leonid gave him a pitying look. "Fenneck, we're just trying to help you," he told his son. Fenneck nodded. "I know. I'm just... not interested," he said sadly. "I love you both very much and I'm sorry if this disappoints you but I have my own life to look out for now. I'm happy here," he told them. Faina nodded and took his hands. "That's all we want, Fenneck. That's why we believe what we do and fight for the things we fight for," she told him passionately, trying to ignore the tears in her eyes. "We just want you to be happy." Fenneck squeezed his mother's hands and kissed her forehead. "I need to rest for work tomorrow," he told them. Leonid nodded. "We love you, Fenneck. Please don't forget that," his father told him. Fenneck nodded as his mother and father walked toward the door. "Goodnight," he told them. "Goodnight, Fenny," his mother told him. "Goodnight, son," Leonid said, giving him a sad frown as the door closed behind them. Fenneck took a deep breath and sat down next to the fire. He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes, trying not to worry about Evelyn and whatever horrible thing was actually happening to her.