The peace that formerly reigned in Terra Nova has eroded, now little more than a memory. War ravages the continent. Disputes divide kingdoms; ideals divide families. The quest for power consumes absolutely and indiscriminately. None are immune to its allure.
Who will rise and who will fall? Only time—and ambition—will tell.
UPDATES
05.26.2023
2 month character creation hold for all existing members begins 6/5/2023. Ended 8/5/2023.
10.29.2023
Change in how times flows. Was 4 IC seasons, now only 2 IC seasons per 1 OOC year.
5 whole years of Heir Apparent goodness! When I started the site, I knew I was hunkering down for the long haul, but I never could have predicted the numerous twists and turns this roleplay site has seen. Hundreds of plots, characters, and members have come and gone, all leaving marks on the site. I am so very thankful for those who have invested. Because you keep coming back, keep getting on, and keep writing, Heir Apparent has the legacy it does today. Three cheers to us!
Dark eyes moved back to him, her smile small but genuine. Her chin tucked into her shoulder as he teased her about what she was going to do when he went back, a sad weight suddenly sinking like a stone in her stomach. “Miss you, really.” She admitted, her hand still lingering on his but clearly forgetting what they were supposed to be doing.
Alys almost asked if he’d consider staying. Almost. But as her eyes flicked between him and Rune, she didn’t have to ask to know what the answer would have been. No matter the strange pull she had for him, she doubted he felt it too. “Would you consider visiting me? If you had the chance?” Her, not Nevermere… but her.
The small smile on his face grew more when she admitted she would miss him, his hold around her tightening just a bit. Her question gave him pause though, and he hummed as he considered it.
"Perhaps," he finally said. "It may be a long time before I could though. There will be a lot to do in Dresmond once we are free of the Eldouir." The extent of it all, and his role in it, was yet to be truly figured out. But then he shook his head, "But I'm not gone yet, so let's not act like I am."
Looking to the writing on the page, he asked, "Have we completed enough for you to be satisfied?"
Alys grumbled a little at his mention of it taking a long time, something feminine and soft in her throat that showed her clear dislike at hearing it. But she also understood. She knew why it would be the way it was once they got Dresmond back. "I know," she finally let out, her fingers tracing a small pattern on the back of his hand before it fell away. He didn't commit to it, nor flat out say he wouldn't be coming back, even when she had a feeling deep in her gut it was more likely to be the latter.
Staring at the paper, she did note that she really was expecting one more sentence but she didn't press it. Not when she was reminded of the ticking time that they had against them. "For today, yes." She confirm and turned her upper body towards him with an almost expectant look. "You are getting better." She commented, her eyes moving over his face as if to re-memorize it before she glanced over at Rune. She looked over her soft fur and the brightness of those intelligent eyes. The ones that seemed far more human than any other animal she had ever come across.
"You two are quite the remarkable pair." Alys commented more towards Rune than Zevran. Though her hand found his arm and gave it a light squeeze, her heart making the same motion before she took a deep breath and gave him a smile. "Would you like to accompany me to our upcoming military ball? Hadrian had already said it was okay, and I thought since you have been training with a few... you might like to come, with me."
Finally freed from the task of writing, he let the pen fall to the table and wrapped his other arm around Alys, pulling her tighter against him. He could only chuckle at her compliments, even as he felt Rune practically preening at the attention. Shifting so he could gently take her chin in his hand and bring her gaze from Rune back to his. "Have you ever stopped to consider how remarkable you are?"
His thumb slowly stroked over her cheek as his gaze began to travel all over her face. "Alys Delaney, the King's Witch. She who came to Dresmond, knowing the enemy that she could possibly run into. She who has raised beautiful children and remained strong through her husband's death."
Glancing behind them to the abandoned paper, he smirked, "And who has enough patience to teach a stubborn bastard like me to read and write." His hand slid from her chin up to play with her curls, his head tilting slightly at her question, even as a certain type of hunger slowly darkened his eyes.
"Sure. I don't know what a ball is, but I'm sure whatever it is will be fun enough if I'm there with you."
She had prepared for Rune to fluff her fur or make a noise that seemed like her own thanks. Had expected Zevran to translate perhaps and even expected him to turn her face like he did with his hand. What she hadn’t been quite prepared for was how he complimented her, how she had made it through Dresmond and the loss of Logan, had continued to put her children as a priority instead of letting them fade back.
She didn’t mean for it to happen, but her lip wavered, a small lining of tears in her eyes as his eyes flickered from her to the paper behind her. A soft, breathy laugh left her and she leaned into his touch. “Quite remarkable,” she lifted her hands to cup his face, curling into him as she brushed a small kiss across his lips. Alys needed that, more than he probably realized. At times she felt lost lately, drifting from one place to another… she wouldn’t realize how bad it would be later, but for now, he helped stable her.
He agreed to the ball, and her smile widened, pinching her cheeks. “It’s… basically a big get together with drinks and food, music and dancing, but with rather fancy clothing that can be rather uncomfortable at times.” She gave him a small, apologetic smile. “But perhaps you can retire with me after all the festivities. Most would be quite preoccupied anyway, unless you find more suitable company,” smiling fading to a smirk, as if she would let him find better company.
He noticed the tears lining her eyes and his heart squeezed in his chest. He wasn't certain if it was Nevermere in general or the people she was surrounded with, but it was quite evident that Alys was given the kind words she deserved often enough. He could only hope she would remembered the ones he offered her when he returned to Dresmond, or that she would come across someone to treat her just as well once he went home.
He continued to hold her close as she explained the concept of a ball to him, and besides the uncomfortable clothes, it sounded just like a night around a fire. He zeroed in on the little smirk on her face, a similar one coming to his own features. "Perhaps..." he said in a teasing tone before he stood from the chair, Alys still in his arms.
He wobbled a bit but was able to remain standing with her in his arms, triumph underlining the mischief in his face. His training here was really starting to pay off. "Perhaps you should show me why I should retire with you after this ball, my lady."
The last couple words dripped with sarcasm as he used Nevermere's common language instead of his own. He took a few steps forward, meaning to carry her to the settee, fulling intending to show her how else such a remarkable woman should be treated.
A sound of surprise left her lips the moment he went to stand, her arms wrapping around his shoulders to keep balance as if they'd just tip over. His little wobble made her laugh, and she shot him a look that simply asked if he was sure he had her, only to let it fade into a smile as she pressed her lips together to keep from laughing again. He looked so proud, as if this was all new and he was figuring out his own strength now after training in Nevermere.
The sarcasm made her turn her head from him, rolling her eyes slightly. "Alys," she said it as she looked at the settee, the same one he'd carry her to, and the same one she was going to pull him onto the moment he lowered her. "Always just Alys with you." Because with Zevran... she didn't have to worry about the title, about the weight of her last name. It brought her back to a time where she was just Alys, just a soldier, just a woman who scraped by with affording simple meals and a glass of ale. After everything that had happened lately, it was nice to live as just Alys within these four walls with him.
"Well, my lord," she shot him a look with a Cheshire grin. "I do believe that you have told me stories that after great dancing around bonfires and having quite a good night, that retiring with someone in your wagon was just the right way to end the celebration." She reached for him the moment he'd move to set her down, pulling him towards her. "And I'd rather have you warm my bed. Especially if my time with you is so limited now, being the wanted man you are between Nevermere and Dresmond."
"Ah, so you have been paying attention to all of my stories," Zevran said with a grin as he finished crossing the room and gently laid her upon the small couch, then settled more firmly against her when she reached to pull him with her. He gently placed a kiss on her forehead, then one on each cheek.
"Luckily for you, I quite enjoy warming your bed," he said, smirking before leaning in to capture her lips in a long kiss. Any other time he may have let her words about being a wanted man sink further into his mind. May have let them unsettle him as such things had been doing as of late. But he was thoroughly caught up in the throes of desire at this point and they merely passed through his mind.
"Let us practice for the end of this grand celebration then," he murmured onto her skin, his hands roaming up under her shirt as he sought to lose himself to the beautiful witch once again.