The task that had been set forth to Dalanesca and Angela Rose had been a daunting, yet welcome one.  Multiple factors had come into play as to why Dalanesca had been so keen on involving herself in the destruction of the Council.  They had threatened to destroy Kirika Rose's family, as vengeance for the horrible atrocities committed by the girl's mother.  She felt enough of a connection with the girl due to her being Angela's niece, but she was also Queen of the Black Court - the Black Court being the Rosenite court associated with darkness and shadows and assassins - all things that Dalanesca herself was very fond of.  These things coupled together drew Dalanesca in deeply, not to mention that Kirika's husband, Bryar Oakenfell Rose, was Dalanesca's eyes and ears in the mortal realm when she was not present, acting as her avatar.

The task the two goddesses had undertaken had become rather messy - Dalanesca could sense that Angela hadn't entirely been pleased with the way it had gone, but she had enjoyed it rather immensely herself. She could not fault the Goddess of Life for not finding joy in the destruction of the Council, but she had to give her credit - she knew it needed to be done - therefore, it was done.  After the task was completed, Angela had returned back to her realm, presumably to clean herself up a bit and process what had taken place.  Dalanesca, on the other hand, had stayed back, admiring the handiwork the two goddesses had completed and making sure that no survivors had been left.  Instead of doing what Angela had done and returning to her realm, she instead opened a portal to Sularia, where she made her way to the Black Court Manor, in search of Kirika.  She wanted to let her know that the task had been completed and she now was free to live her life as she chose. 

The goddess appeared at the manor's door, dressed to the nines as always - though her appearance was a bit more wild than usual.  Her long, raven hair, loosely waved, had a few strands that had been disheveled and were matted with spatters of blood from her previous activities.  With a smile on her face, she rapped her hand on the door - she could have very well entered if she had wanted to, but she observed common courtesy with those that she respected.  Kirika and Bryar were among that group.  She had, of course, traveled to tell Kirika of the good news.

Kirika heard the door and she stood up. “I’ll go let her in.” She was careful as she migrated the manor and opened the front door. “You look like a war zone My Lady Dalanesca.” Kirika bowed to her with a smile. “Someone is here who wants to meet you. Please come with me.”

Going through the levels of the home and out the balcony door of the library, there was her table set overlooking the beach. Sitting at the table was her husband Bryar, her avatar, and a blonde male cloaked in an aura of golden light. A holy man from the looks but when he looked up at Dalanesca he had features similar to that of Angela and the rest of her family. Gold eyes stared at her for a moment before he pushed himself up. “I’ve heard a great deal about the mighty Dalanesca. I will admit that the first words I heard about you were when the fighting with my aunt happened.” He waved his hand. “But that is the past and we move on when we are told to. We don’t particularly like to shed blood when we don’t need to.”

He took a bow before coming up to her and dabbing a cloth against her face cleaning the blood off of her. For a few moments, Kirika looked nervous but she took her seat next to Bryar. “My name is Rowan Rose, I am the eldest son of Lily Rose. I will take over my mother’s position when she is ready to leave this world but I do hope the gods don’t have plans for that so soon.”

He took a moment to shuffle a present out of his robes and hold it out. “From the House of Yellow, we gift you these daggers. The blades are lacriamium and the handles are abalone shell. It is a reminder of your past and how it has made you stronger Lady Dalanesca. Something deadly but beautiful just like the owner chosen for them.”

"Kirika,  I don't like that I keep having to tell you to stop bowing… and stop calling me those ridiculous titles," she said as she was greeted, though the warm smile on her face gave way to the fact that she was not actually upset with her.  She merely wanted her to know that she did not have to be so proper around her.  She would have embraced the girl, but adrenaline still coursed through her veins after the earlier fight she had endured, and she was afraid that her embrace would be a bit too much at the present moment, not to mention the blood that was smeared in her hair and possibly on her clothing that would have gotten all over Kirika had she embraced her.

She followed Kirika into the manor, taking in the beautiful sights.  As they walked, she commented on the manor's appearance.  "I have said it time and again, but you and Bryar did an absolutely wonderful job restoring this place," she said in an offhanded manner.  She followed Kirika until they reached the balcony.  Dalanesca gave Bryar a nod and a smile, to which he immediately began to stand up in an effort to bow to her, but stopped awkwardly halfway, remembering that the goddess had instructed him not to treat her with such formalities unless they were in the presence of strangers conducting business.

Dalanesca's attention then turned to the man at the table she didn't know.  There was an aura about him unlike any she had seen before, something completely the opposite of what was normal for her.  It was clear that he was of descent from Angela's family, he shared so many features with those she had already met.  As he stood, she gave him a nod of her head in acknowledgment, her eyes inadvertently scanning his form as she looked him up and down rather briefly.  She nodded at his words, knowing full well that was the Rosenite way.  She was close enough with several of the Rosenites now to know them well.   

She froze as he stepped towards her, his hand reaching out to wipe a bit of blood from her face.  His touch was much more gentle than any she had experienced in a great while, and it caught her off guard.  Her hand reached up and grasped his wrist momentarily as though to stop him, though she thought better of it and released it, dropping her hands to her side and allowing him to do so.

As he presented her with the gift, she opened it and looked at the blades.  They were a beautiful hue of blue and would do nicely in her collection.  "Thank you, Rowan Rose," she said, addressing him in a rather formal manner.  His last comment gave her a bit of chuckle.  "I see that my reputation precedes me," she said, pushing a bit of her hair behind her ears.  "It is perhaps best to acknowledge to someone that you are aware of the danger they could pose… but to compliment them at the same time… it is as if you seek to flatter me," she said.  She glanced back to Kirika.

"I have, of course, come to tell you that the Council has been dealt with.  I needn't go into details as my appearance will tell you enough."  She paused, finding her gaze drifting back to Rowan.  She took pause in her speech as though she thought he were not supposed to hear, but she assumed if Kirika was alright with his being here that things were fine.  "You needn't worry about them coming after you or your family ever again."  There was a finality to her words, and she pulled up a chair, sitting down right at the table with them.  "Any chance I could get a drink before I take my leave?" she asked.  "Bloodshed always makes me awfully thirsty," she said with a devilish glint to her eyes.

Rowan did not flinch as Dalanesca took his wrist. He rather waited to see what the goddess would do about it. Once she released his wrist he continued to clean her face before moving onto business. “The Yellow Court specializes in flattery and love My Lady. As with each of the courts, we have something the others do not. My mother has raised me with all of these things. Should you ever find yourself at my mother’s table you will see that she is not like the others. Her kindness knows no bounds but just like the others, there are limits to her kindness. She is the Fair Queen of these courts even more so than my Aunt Angela.”

For a moment more he chuckled. “Each person whether female or male should be treated like the flower they are. Women are not delicate, they are warriors here. Often times the men are the ones who are delicate. So we all are flowers in this garden. In life, we admire all gardens and every flower. Just like yourself, my lady. Those flowers typically are dangerous especially when it comes to the Court Queens.”

He bowed before her again taking her hand and placing it to her lips. “You are a flower just as much as you are a goddess, My Lady.” He appreciated her beauty but it was also in his nature to be this way.

Kirika laughed a bit. “You Yellow Court are all the same…”

“Not all of us…” Rowan said a bit disappointed. “Nymphaea could learn a few lessons in humility and grace.” His words were pointed.

“Well jeez, nice to know that I’m so very loved around here.” Nymphaea came up the steps.

“Yes, because you are slacking Nymph… You were supposed to be up here giving these daggers to Lady Dalanesca with me.”

“Right… Thank you for killing them. They are bitches. Sorry were.” Nymphaea had long wild brown eyes and brown eyes. A demonic aura came off of her, unlike Rowan. She was quite young and her respect needed work and it showed from the annoyed look Rowan was giving her.

Grumbling a bit Rowan smacked her upside the head and forced her into a bow. “Nymphaea… You don’t mouth off to a goddess. Sorry, my sister is still quite young… It might be the half-demon blood in her that makes her so rebellious.” Nymphaea was swinging her arms at Rowan but she was so small and short that she couldn’t reach him. “Go home Nymph… Don’t get into any fights on your way out.”

“Stupid Rowan… Stupid telling me what to do.” Nymphaea pouted and left them all.

Taking a deep sigh Rowan let out a frustrated noise and Kirika laughed a bit. “She still going through that stage?”

“I don’t think she’s ever going to come out of it…”

Once they were at the table again Kirika nodded and had alcohol delivered to them. “Only the best from Angela for this occasion. Rowan will you be staying with us?”

“Sure, I can only imagine the hell Nymphaea is raising at home about me bossing her around.” He laughed a bit now that he was calmed down.

“Having a little sister that young is a lot of work.” Kirika chuckled. “Rowan and Nymphaea are seventy years ago. Nymphaea is still a child in Rosenite life. Though Aunt Toya yells fight me just as much as Nymphaea does.” Once the drinks were there she poured some for all of them. “Thank you again Dalanesca for protecting my family. Our future family.” She took Bryar’s hand and put it to her stomach before laughing.

“I do believe congratulations are in order,” Rowan chuckled at the two of them.

A look of surprise mixed with something a bit darker crossed Dalanesca's features as he continued to clean her face, clearly not used to being touched in a manner she viewed as rather intimate by someone she had only just met.  His explanation helped to further her understanding at least a bit, to the point where her once tense features relaxed into a more gentle face as her eyes scanned his face.  Lily was one of Angela's sisters whom she had yet to meet, but she was sure that she would get along just fine with the Yellow Queen when the time came.  His next phrases were nearly enough to bring a tinge of a blush to Dalanesca's cheeks, though she managed to suppress such a reaction.  When his lips met the back of her hand, however, the blush made its way to the surface and she tilted her head slightly, looking at him rather analytically.

She joined Kirika's laughter, though hers was much softer, her hand lingering slightly in his as he pulled his lips from the back of her hand.  She knew that this was merely customary for him, but his touch felt so strange to her - the holy aura that he carried was tangible to her, and it nearly felt as though it burned her skin, but with a fire that did not cause pain.  She was sure it was just the interaction with her darkness, but she could not completely put her finger on it.

She listened to the concurrent exchange between siblings as Nymphaea joined them by coming up the stairs, learning from their exchange that she was to have been present at the same time as Rowan to offer the gift from the Yellow Court.  She cringed slightly as Rowan referred to her in such a proper manner, but held her tongue so as not to interrupt them in their speaking.  She found it rather silly when he chastised the girl for speaking her mind, knocking her upside the head.  "Half demon blood?" she said, quirking an eyebrow.  "That's nothing to apologize for - I'm on good terms with quite a few demons," she said, an obvious jest as it was well known the Reaper had several demons in her employ.  "But her rebellion… it will fade," she said.  "I can sense as much," she added, as Rowan expressed his fear that she would not ever depart the stage she found herself in.

Dalanesca clapped her hands together as the alcohol she requested arrive.  "Not as potent as the stuff she delivers to my realm, but enough to give me some warmth!"  she said, happily accepting the cup that Kirika poured for her and grinning somewhat, inadvertently interested in the fact that her new acquaintance would be remaining with them for a bit of conversation.  She took a sip of the drink, letting its warmth spread through her mouth before swallowing.  

"Happy to be of service," she said to Kirika, though she did not quite catch on at first.  "Wait… what!" she exclaimed, and jumped up from her seat.  She was positively beaming as she realized that Kirika and Bryar were with child.  Immediately, Dalanesca slunk over to kneel beside Kirika and embraced her in a tight hug.  "I cannot express my joy for you in a way that would be sufficient… but I am so, so incredibly happy for both of you," she said, laying her hand across Bryar's for a brief moment.  Her smile, however, faded from her lips as she backed away from Kirika after releasing her.  Her eyes, bright and icy blue, welled with oncoming tears.  

"Forgive me, my emotion at such a happy moment is rather unnecessary, I do apologize."  She looked at the sky for a moment, willing the tears to go away as she turned from the group.  It was clear that the thought of another child coming into the word gave her a bit of sadness as she remembered the loss of her own child.  "This is a truly wonderful occasion, and here I am mucking it up with my old demons," she said, stepping towards the railing of the balcony.  She looked out to the sea, in an attempt to regain her composure.  "Just need a moment," she said and waved her hand towards the group.  Bryar stood, and grabbed Dalanesca's cup, bringing it over to her.  He handed it to her without saying a word.

"Figured she would want that," he said to Kirika and Rowan as he sat back down.  "It's a rough one, though Kirika I know your aunt Angela has filled you in on the details.  Rowan, not sure how much you know… but I'm guessing you get the general gist of it."