Alys had sought out Cassian, she had asked for his evening and he gave it to her. Willingly. He didn’t fight her on it, he cleared his schedule, and she knew that he’d arrive on time. Which meant she had her work cut out from her, leaving him and setting to work as she did. Checking in before dark with her children, reading a story to them as they readied for bed and giving them a kiss in their heads before she grabbed her bag and went to the gardens.

She could have asked anyone to set up, easily giving directions… but it wasn’t like her. She wanted to do this, busy work, yes. But it was her work and her time with Cassian. And she’d never take her time with him for granted, knowing how busy he was… how busy she was too. But this was going to matter. Just with a bit more… flair.

Cassian would arrive in the garden, finding little vials with glowing potion every three or so feet on the path that lead him a bit deeper in. The garden wasn’t as large as Lorendale’s, but you could still disappear within it after a few turns on the path. Assuming he’d follow within, he’d find Alys as she laid out the last of them around a blanket on a soft patch of grass, another two on the edges for warmth. And a tea set on a small platter if they wanted as well.

“Cassian,” she’d stand up straight, her hands smoothing her sides as she caught sight of him. A flicker of her, the smile small but warm, was there now. A flicker of the woman she was and is, not the one screaming with pain in a throne room. Though she spoke his name, she bowed her head and curtsied. “I wanted to give us a different choice of scenery today, even if we only talk about what’s next for the kingdom.” Which could have been done in an office. But this… was more for them. A break in a way, a small reprieve for only a few moments. Cassian and Alys. Man and woman.

“Please, join me.” She hoped he would, and that he wouldn’t find this a waste of his time.

well to keep expectations at bay, but still he found what lay before him to be puzzling. Blame it on the years they spent apart.

His dark gaze flickered over the vials as he drew near. Was…did she intend for him to sit on the ground? Unsure, he clasped his hands behind his back and stopped with his toes at the edge of the blanket.

“What is this?” He quietly questioned.

Alys didn’t miss a beat. It was unconventional, yes. But when had they ever been conventional. Even before Dresmond, she had reached back out for him, she had wanted him. Want him. But after months apart now she was unsure. Even more so after how she had returned, after how her life altered.

She glanced down and gave a small smile. “Something different.” She answered, maybe traveling with the Dresmondi had gotten to her a little. “I just wanted a meeting that was not in an office or on a balcony. The garden has always been my favorite spot here, and I know it was a means to get away at one time for you.” Her voice trailed off as she looked up at him.

“And I have more to share about Dresmond, than the information we shared before. But if you don’t want to be here…” she trailed off, letting it be his decision if they left.

Cassian didn't fully understand. He wasn't where she was mentally, hadn't experienced what she had, and the gap between where they had been and this now was puzzling. But he wouldn't question it further. He could tell from her trailing words that this wasn't necessarily within her comfort zone, either. So then, he would let this be what it was, what she made it, and be the king and alpha that Alys needed of him.

He nodded wordlessly, soundlessly, accepting her explanation. The garden was still his place of refuge, just not normally at night and with vials about, but he would roll with it.

"Tell me." He implored. Dresmond. Where his eyes were set. It would be quite the task but he was making careful preparations. Anything else Alys could provide would be helpful.

Slowly, Cassian made his way towards where he thought she wanted him to sit.

She’d only sit after he had, setting across from him. She wasn’t sure what he all knew, but she wanted to give more for any sort of gain for their kingdom… for him. Alys would share with him about the medallion that was lost, the little she knew about it and the ceremony of the Dresmondi, about the tribute that the Eldouir’s had, about the all in but none out rule that they had over the place they called Elderkeep.

She had asked about the Eldouir’s and she shared the ones that Zevran or Kezia knew to mention. The gifts they had observed and the army that they were building. “The ones that have turned to worshipping the Eldouir’s… those will be the most unpredictable. Some might change sides if they see help… some might fight harder against us.” She had leaned towards him a good amount during her explanations. Even if he knew some of it, it was best in case she even had a small amount of something more to offer that she shared.

Cassian listened diligently. Even if he had heard some of it before that hardly mattered. He collected information as honeyed water collects flies, greedily and without reservation.

“Hmm.” A quiet, thoughtful response to her last words. There not he learned of Dresmond the more way he became of the task. The last thing he wanted was to sacrifice soldiers for an unsuccessful cause. They had to win.

His eyes fell away from hers and thoughtfully moved to the closest glowing glass. Magic. They needed more magic. His mind turned.

She waited a few moments in silence with him, glancing towards where he was focused. “Kezia had mentioned she had ties in Arynn Frey with the Dresmondi there. Perhaps giving her the chance to travel there… we could rally those who would fight.” She said it softly, remembering the mentions on their travels.

She paused for a touch longer before she mentioned the next part. “If we are going to help them, I think we should call on the covens.” She looked back at him then. “Curses and potions for those who are no longer military or don’t want to fight. The women in them, the ones I know, are capable of great things. Especially if they work together.”

Cassian always listened to advice, even if he didn't always take it. He and Hadrian had been deliberating for months now, coming up with the best plan for how to take on Dresmond. It didn't involve the covens. Hearing Alys mention them now, however, set a light of mild interest into Cassian's eyes. It was an idea, certainly.

"I am not counting on Dresmondi aid in aiding the Dresmondi." He didn't say it to shoot her thoughts down, but to disclose some of what he was thinking to her. "If they were going to do something, I believe they would have by now. Allowing Kezia to travel to them, however, cannot hurt the current plan." His eyes wandered from where they had been focused to the vials around them. He was still curious about her choice of location, not fully believing what she had claimed. A cushioned chair might have gone a long way to making this a more fruitful conversation. As it was, the king sat on a blanket on the ground. It was odd, to say the least.

"Is it your desire to play a part in this affair, or should I plan for your presence here, at the castle?" Her kids were here now, and they only had her. It wouldn't have been unreasonable for her to plan to stay.

She almost argued, the response rushing to her tongue as he said that Dresmondi would have already tried. They had... but this was the Eldouir's. And after Coheed... the devastation they had still been rebuilding from... But she also could understand the same. So many now lived, thrived even, in Arynn Frey and yet did not try and go back. Didn't try and push to get their people back into their lands. From her understanding... it was because of the medallion. "A lot had lost hope after they couldn't make more Dresmondi." She agreed.

His next question had her looking at him almost uncertainly. Things had changed for her. Several times since being in her role at his side. "I am where you need me, as always." She let her eyes dropped to the distance between them. To how almost uncomfortable he looked. Perhaps it was a mistake, they were no longer young and reckless. If she could have ever considered him such a thing, but she remembered the moments... when he kissed her on their second meeting in this very garden... in how he had pinned her to the castle wall in the middle of the night when he had come across her and told her she was to be kept close as his guard.

"I know you have Regan now." Her words perhaps a touch emptier than normal, as she was still trying to sort through how the three of them fit together. "But I am still here. I can be here at the castle if you need one of us here. I can be in the battlefield just as well." Always the adaptable piece for him to play. "But we need to start our work here if we need to be ready. I can speak with the coven's if you are agreeable to that." Born noble or not, she had worked well with many within the military in her years there, and had built up a good rapport.

It was true, once upon a time things had been different between them. Cassian had burned for her and she had fed his flames. But his passion and his promises hadn't been enough. She had chosen another path, and he had learned how to let her go. The distance between them was certainly an uncomfortable one, but only because of all the history that had been suppressed and rejected. Cassian had changed over the years. He had a fire still, but the flames were no longer fed by this witch.

She expressed no preference about where she was placed in the upcoming events, so Cassian would file that away for another time.

"Not yet." He responded, regarding to speaking to the covens. These were not desperate times. He might have said more, but a soldier came trotting up, slowing down as he approached, eying the vials with suspicion.

"Sire." He bowed deeply, then saluted Alys. "Excuse me, your majesty, but your presence is needed."

Cassian hadn't turned to face the soldier. His eyes were still on Alys, waiting to hear if she had any last words.