Helena Kane had been pleasantly relieved to come back home. It was a reminder why she had abandoned the busy streets of the bustling castle, in favor for the dry and dusty Kane lands of the south. No doubt those who hadn't visited them before would find them arid, the population to be strange, living simple lives whilst paradoxically, almost every house had some of the finest horses known on the continent and intricate armor to match. Almost every single man and woman could ride a horse as if it was a part of them. If asked, they would throw their lives away in a heartbeat for their nation.

Yes, this was home, and Helena had missed it dearly.

Outside, she could hear the children going about their daily activities, practicing their lessons. The school had settled down in its new location well enough. The warm climate had done the elder's woman hip some good. It didn't creak as much as it should have done ordinarily. She was relieved. It could have been quite nice, until that morning. A rather pale villager had come in, bearing ill news indeed. Helena had kept her steely face, and requested that the body be tended to. What manner of man fell of his horse and died? Apparently, one who claimed the name "Kane". 

Helena wasn't terribly close to Astor. Her heart, tired by the many losses it had endured, ached only for her granddaughter, for it was her husband who she would have to put in the ground. Such a pointless death too... There was no glory to be found. Only a man who couldn't sit in his saddle when his mount had bolted. She'd eventually taken a quill and ink. Initially, she had intended to write to Scout, but had thought better of it. The woman wrote to her son instead, telling him what had happened. He would be more diplomatic than she ever could be. 

There was a knock at the door, Helena would turn around. She was reminded that there was another here who would mourn. The woman quietly readied herself, she had been here before. "Ah yes... Come on in Annabeth, there are some things we need to discuss." 

When Helena announced that she could come in, Annabeth was a moment tried to steady herself. She hasn't stepped out of line, she even tried to meditate, even though she found it hard, cause she was finding it hard to empty her head of her thoughts. However, she promised Helena that she would try because that was what Helena asked for her. She has promised so many people that she would try for them to get back on her feet. however, she still doesn't know where they will go. She still have no direction but to step one foot in front of the other.

Opening the door as Helena expla ined that there something that they have to talk about, she tried to think of what it might be. A part of her wanted to just say the words that she spoken after Helena summoned her due to her unfaithfulness to Castiel the two simple words of yes ma'am. Annabeth knew that Helena wasn't pleased with the lack of communication and even in this moment she finding it hard to find the words to say. Taking a couple of breaths "How can I be of assistance?" was the only words that came out of Annabeth's mouth cause at the moment in time she was unaware of Astor's death.

Whilst Annabeth might have had baggage with her that the Kanes wouldn't normally have associated themselves with, the fact was that she was here, and that meant she was entitled to at least some amount of respect and consideration at a time like this. Helena was as ready as she could be. She blocked out her own emotions, such as they were. "Please, sit." Helena wouldn't continue until Annabeth had done so. She didn't want the woman fainting or anything, and if she had to, it would be better that she do so from a lower height to limit the chances of her injuring herself.

"I have some bad news. Your brother was unseated from his horse this morning. I'm afraid he'd died." It was perhaps a rather blunt way to put things, but the elder wasn't about to beat about the bush. She would leave the younger woman some time to put things together and make sense of what had happened. It had seemed to her that the two siblings had been rather close. No doubt this would be a terrible blow. There was no changing what had happened however. Astor Kane/Porter was dead now. It would be time for those closest to him to begin their mourning. After all, the world wouldn't stop its rotating. 

As she took the seat opposite Helena she took the time as she did to focus on her breathing. It is the only thing she can think of doing, at least she can do that. However, when the elderly lady said those words in regards to Astor, 'he's dead.' It is like the world around her has zoned out, not because she had fainted, but because she was in such shock that Astor was dead.

As the world gradually emerged from the shroud of darkness, Annabeth's eyes reflected a sense of melancholy. She valiantly tried to maintain her poise, but the intensity of her emotions proved too overwhelming. "May I ask if Scout has been informed?" she inquired, her voice scarcely audible. Despite her best endeavours, tears streamed down her face, betraying her inner turmoil.

There was no screaming or bouts of hysteria. That was a fairly good start. Of course, Helena who was no stranger to grief remained poised, aware that things could change in a heartbeat. This was so out of the blue. At least when going to war, someone might have enough time to at least think that it might possibly happen. 

"I'm writing to Tybalt to ask him to inform her." The message would be gone before lunchtime. Scout would likely be aware within a day or two. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best that they could realistically ask for. Helena would pause for a moment. The tears which flowed down that woman's cheeks weren't lost on the elder. "Is there anyone that we can contact for you?" She didn't think that there would be many people. It wasn't as if the rest of the Porter family were playing any sizeable role in her life. Still, the Kane felt obliged to ask all the same. This would be a hard time for Annabeth, there could be no denying it.

Annabeth was trying so hard to keep herself together, one of her hands was in a tight fist. In her head a million thoughts ran through her head, 'if she was there she would of studied his horse or helped him so he didn't die from his injuries."ok." Was all that Annabeth could managed in regards to Helena writing to Tybalt. Annabeth wasn't on speaking terms with Scout, the last time they spoke Scout made it very clear that she wasn't be connected to her. However Astor was willing to support her.

When she was asked if she has anyone she would like to contact, who could she contact, she had no one, no friends, she couldn't contact her family they would of dragged her away, they wouldn't care if anybody tried to stop them. "Astor was all that I ..." Her voice was breaking as she was holding back her tears as she can't say the word had.

Helena's eyes rested upon the young woman, studying her carefully. People reacted differently to grief. Some where struck down by it instantly, others could be seemingly unbothered for days, weeks or even months before abruptly the reality of what had happened hit home. Whatever the case, someone in the Kane lands would be keeping a close eye on Annabeth for the next few days, that was to be sure. "If it means anything, there was very little that could have been done." He'd been thrown after his horse spooked. Luck, or rather a lack of it, had seen the man land at an awkward angle which had broken his neck. It had all happened and been over, in the space of a few seconds.

Helena's expression would soften, upon seeing the man's sister unable to finish her sentence. "I understand." There was no need for her to go any further. "You're of course, welcome to stay here with us. Astor will receive a proper Kane funeral with full honors." The woman hesitated a moment before adding, her lips pouting with obligated disgust as she did so. "Exceptionally, if you wish to inform your family about what's happened here. You can."

Givin a soft nod, she was thankful that Helena didn't expect her to say more or to finish her sentence. It was hard for except that Astor was dead, she wanted this to be a dream so much, but there a feeling in her heart that she knows all too much that telling her this is really. A proper Kane funeral, he would have liked thank.

When Helena mentioned telling the family she felt a slight fear in her body about the thought of telling the Porters last time she told her mother and father that her younger brother died, her father tried to kill her, still to this day she has the scar at the side of her head. "I feel like it might be best for the safety of The Kanes and the children here that I don't. Last time I told them somebody died, it didn't go well, they would want to blame somebody and deal with them."

The whole family would have to be summoned back. That included Scout, Tybalt and his family. Although, apparently things were a little bit awkward with Felicity right now, the elder's son wasn't being very open about it. So perhaps it would be best if she stayed behind. 

The elder frowned at the young woman's statement. "Well, I can assure you that the Kane army is more than capable of defending itself and anyone in it." Helena reminded the young woman. With five-thousand of the best-equipped, and best-disciplined cavalry in Lorendale, it would take a very daring foe to challenge them. She doubted that the Porters had the ability, much less the guts to dare challenge the full might of the house of Kane. "Regardless, if that's your wish, then I certainly won't force you talk about them." 

The ceremony would have to be sooner, rather than later. It was summer after all, and well... They weren't going to leave the body lying around for too long. As such, Helena had summoned one of her faster messengers. "Is there anything you would like me to include in the note?" Helena would ask the younger woman.

Unless people lived and put up with her family then nobody would truly understand what her family was like and now her surname is connected to the Porter family again, she has tried so much to not be connected to them. When the Porters wanted something then they would do anything to do with them. Her father tried to kill her when she had two guards standing behind her protecting her. However she gave a soft nod, she was doing all that she could to make sure that people here are safe, this was her way of keeping them safe.

When Helena asked if there was anything she would like to add to the note, there was nothing she needed to send. She needs to be brave for Astor, he wanted her to get back on her feet and believed that she was able to get back on them. However she was scared without her best friend to guide her that she will never be able to stand up. "there is nothing I feel like I need to add to this note." She takes a soft breath.

Keeping forcus on her breathing she looked outside the window and then back to Helena. "Marchioness Kane? How do you do it? I've tried to be the perfect person but my heart to kind, I am too emotional and Astor was the one person who had faith in me..."

Helena would nod in response to Annabeth. The enveloppe was sealed with the Zane family crest, and would be read only by Tybalt Zane in person. It was handed over to a messenger. The man would take it as fast as he could to the capital, some two days ride again. It would reach there two days following the Queen's speech, and the chaos that would befall the city. For the time being though, it was all but forgotten about. "With luck, the rest of the family should be here before the week is out." Although that probably wouldn't be of much consequence or comfort to Annabeth.

"Well, I'm most certainly not perfect. I would dearly like to know who gave you that impression..." At 71 years of age, Helena certainly wasn't about to flatter herself that she might have a secret admirer. Flattery, especially when false, wasn't something generally appreciated within the Kane household. Regardless, that wasn't the subject right now.

"You may be emotional. That isn't necessarily a fault if you don't allow them to dominate you. Passion is what drives us forwards, and what can hold us back." The elder gripped the pommel of her cane, twirling it against the stone floor of the austere castle. "Now, when you've lost so much, is not the time to be having this discussion. We believe in these lands that men and women are to be judged by their actions, not who they were born as. If you wish to change, it's within your power to do so." 

The rest of the family, it felt like Helena was talking as if Annabeth was a Kane. The only way she was allowed here was because of Astor. Now he is gone, she feels like she would be easily thrown out. Scout doesn't like her because of a stupid mistake she made.

Looking down slightly, "I have let them dominate me because I let my emotions get in the way. I have lost so much that I don't know what to fight for, I never knew what to fight for because I was always told what to fight for. If not now then when because knowing my luck I will lose so much more. I want to change but I am scared because I lead with my heart."

Helena frowned as she considered the young woman. Oversentimentality wasn't usually something that was encouraged within Kane circles. They had proof enough about how complicated it could make things simply because of her daughter-in-law. Felicity was a complication which Tybalt was going to have to address sooner or later.

"Then, young lady, all I can suggest is that you find something to fight for." The elder suggested. "Not now, but when you're ready. You'll be able to find something within yourself. We won't be here forever." Whilst Helena loved her homelands, she knew that they weren't for everyone. Out here in the dusty plains, away from the world, it was easy enough to lose yourself in the heat. Annabeth wasn't a Kane, at least not quite yet anyhow.