Vestiges of Hope

27th Sypheros, 999 YK

Mirasandra knocked on the door of the prince's office, waiting through the sounds of shuffling paper on the other side of the door. After a few moments, the tired voice of Prince Oargev ir'Wynarn answered, "yes?"
"Vestige is here to see you, as requested." Mirasandra replied, looking to the changeling that was waiting at the reception desk.
After a few moments more, the door to the office opened to reveal a disheveled and overworked Oargev. "Ah, right. Sorry, I got distracted. Thank you, Mirasandra, and thank you for coming Vestige. Would you like something to drink? Tal?"
"Tal would be lovely, thank you" replied the changeling. Oargev looked meaningfully to Mirasandra, who slipped away to fetch the drink. "How's your week been?" Oargev asked, and Vestige shrugged. "Much the same as every week in New Cyre, it could be better but we're making do."
Vestige walked into Oargev's office, as he had done countless times before, and got comfortable in the seat opposite Oargev's. Soon after, Mirasandra returned with a cup of steaming tal, and then retreated back out to give them privacy.
"So, my prince, who would you like to speak to this time?" Vestige asked, but he knew the answer from the prince's demeanor and the quiver in his breath.
"Falian, if it's no trouble" came the expected reply. Vestige transformed in place, changing from a masculine changeling into a feminine half-elf, and triggered his shiftweave to change into a humble dress in Cyran green.
Oargev held his breath as the changeling took on the persona of his lost wife, and struggled to press down the surge of emotion that always welled in him at the sight. "Thank you."
Falian smiled back at Oargev, that smile he'd fell in love with all those years ago, and asked "You wanted to see me?"
Oargev composed himself, "yes, I...I would like your opinion on some things. As you may have heard, there's a diplomatic summit coming up soon in Droaam, ostensibly to request a re-evaluation of their status as a Thronehold Nation. We have been invited to attend by Sora Katra, and I will be personally attending alongside the Mist Walkers."
Falian nodded, even if she was unaware of these events, Vestige was. Oargev continued, "You were always better than me, and I am afraid. I've heard the stories of the daughters of Sora Kell, and the Brelish have countless stories of their own about the monstrous denizens of Droaam. I'm going to be going there, right into the belly of the beast, and I don't know where I stand on the issue of their sovereignty. It seems that, at least for the moment, Breland opposes their nationhood. Terfel seems to support it, if for no other reason than it brings them under the Code of Galifar. Boranel gave us a home, shelter, how can I go against Breland on this?"
Falian listened in silence as Oargev got his worries off of his chest, nodding at the appropriate times, and then cupped his hands in hers. "My love, you were invited to this summit independently of Breland. If the daughters of Sora Kell wanted you to act with Breland, why invite you at all? What do you think about Droaam?"
"It scares me, but not as much it might've years ago. I've met so many people since the end of the war, and I'm not sure that I really believe in the concept of monsters anymore, at least no more so than any person can be monstrous. It seems...wrong, to me, that the Droaamites are only protected by our laws if they are tethered to House Tharashk, they shouldn't need to do that to know they are safe in our lands."
"It sounds like you know the answer, then, my love. This is why you were invited to the summit, for your own perspective. Terfel could've told you that."
"I know, I just...I needed it to be you."
Falian pulled Oargev into a hug, and he savoured this chance to lose himself in her arms before having to face the reality of the situation, that he could never truly hold her again.
"Thank you, Vestige."