[Raleigh knows that she's frustrated with her forced period of rest, that she doesn't trust his other knights to protect him like she does, that she would push herself before she's ready. And that's why he puts his foot down, one of the rare times that he actually does with her.
She will rest because she needs to and he needs her to get better. It's that simple.
It is less interesting without her by his side constantly. He's reminded of how much he actually... tunes people out when he doesn't feel like listening to them and perhaps that's bad, worse that he only realizes it when he doesn't have Mako to watch instead of listening to people prattle on. He comes back to his room that night, a little more tense for the day, more on edge than he usually is and maybe that's why he's not immediately grateful that Mako already has dinner and a bath ready for him, because--]
[ Raleigh's in a very bad mood today, and Mako knows it. The downside, she supposes, of being the lover of a king is that you don't know when you'll fall out of favour, or if it's only a passing storm. Mako doesn't jump the gun; aware that this has always been a point of contention between them -- she's too proud to want to be an invalid for long, and even if it kills her, she must move around, do something, at the very least.
She knows he cares for her, and she inclines her head, a hand on the back of the chair -- if she's gripping it a little tighter than usual for support (she still tires easily, and it frustrates her to no end), she fights not to let on. ]
I'll rest when I'm dead, Raleigh. Would you like to take a bath first?
[She very nearly was dead and that's why he's giving her the look that he is right now-- entirely not amused or indulgent and no, he's not very good at sitting still either but she was poisoned, intentionally and he's still not over the fear of losing her.]
Will you at least sit down. Please. [Though his tone is not very questioning and more commanding.]
[ Mako has half a mind to brush it off as always -- the thing with being the King's favoured is that sometimes Mako gets to do whatever the hell she wants and out-stubborn him. But there's something in his tone of voice this evening that makes her re-think that decision.
He might be her lover, but he's her sovereign, her king, and tonight it seems like he has no qualms reminding her of it.
Mako takes a seat beside Raleigh's designated chair, askance. ]
[Raleigh's in one of those moods where he doesn't mind reminding anyone that comes within five feet of him that he's their king and he could have them killed if he wanted to, simply because he wanted to and unfortunately, that doesn't exclude Mako from it just because she is his favorite.
He won't order her death but he will snap and part of him is sorry and the rest of him knows that she can take it. She's not going to wilt because he's crabby. She's tougher than that.]
It's been a very long day. [He rubs at his head while moving to sit in his chair near her.] Please don't make me struggle with you too.
[ Of course she can take it -- she wouldn't be much of a consort if she cowered in the face of his anger, which is all the more potent when one discovers that kings have killed for less. There is no man in this kingdom that doesn't fear Raleigh when he's angry, and Mako is aware of that, too.
She starts to rise to her feet again despite his command, intending to help him disrobe, to loosen the various constraints in the obscenely rich garb that he has to wear to court everyday. ]
[Raleigh brushes her help aside, irritated with her for helping because he doesn't need her help right now. He needs her to sit down and rest instead of pushing every chance she gets.]
[ Mako narrows her eyes, because from time to time she can be prideful, and she doesn't like it when Raleigh treats her like an invalid. Actually, it's mostly the prideful thing, but she sits down away, her jaw set at the curt rebuff. ]
[He's not treating her like an invalid. She looks pale and like she's about to pass out and yes, fine, okay she's doing much better than she was a couple of days ago.
But he's going to be even more pissed off if she faints.]
[ Mako is silent for a long, long moment. A part of her had always suspected it to be so, but she knew better than to level such an insinuation at her -- their kingdom's peace and continued abundance relies on it.
Mako doesn't forgive easily, but she knows, too, the price of rash action -- her king's life is above hers, as is their kingdom's continued peace. ]
[The way he laughs, it's not happy. It's exasperated and tired and frustrated and angry.]
It wasn't me who accused her.
[But he hadn't done anything to silence Hercules' accusation either. Raleigh knows that the man is fond of Mako, that he knew her father for many years and that he watched her grow. If it came down to it, the man would be loyal to her and not at all to his Queen.
And that really raises the question of who else in the nobility would do the same.]
The last thing Mako wants to do is to be the source of the conflict -- they have more crucial things to attend to, and didn't she come out of this quite well? She'll just have to be more careful in future. ]
Did the Marshal do that...? [ She might have to have a talk with him -- she loves Herc like a father, but peace with their neighbour is of utmost importance, too. ]
[It was the end of the day, and he was already irritated and had a headache and at the end of his proverbial rope. So he dismissed court for the day and said that he'd deal with it in the morning.
Raleigh literally has no idea what tomorrow is going to bring.]
[ Mako's frown doesn't ease, but one look at Raleigh's expression tells her all that she needs to know. He's not in the mood to talk about it tonight, and all things are better served when he's in a better mood, whether tomorrow or the day after.
After all, there's nothing they can do tonight. She reaches out to take his hand, squeezing it lightly. ]
He's not, but -- what is there to gain by making that woman an enemy?
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She will rest because she needs to and he needs her to get better. It's that simple.
It is less interesting without her by his side constantly. He's reminded of how much he actually... tunes people out when he doesn't feel like listening to them and perhaps that's bad, worse that he only realizes it when he doesn't have Mako to watch instead of listening to people prattle on. He comes back to his room that night, a little more tense for the day, more on edge than he usually is and maybe that's why he's not immediately grateful that Mako already has dinner and a bath ready for him, because--]
I thought you were supposed to be resting.
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She knows he cares for her, and she inclines her head, a hand on the back of the chair -- if she's gripping it a little tighter than usual for support (she still tires easily, and it frustrates her to no end), she fights not to let on. ]
I'll rest when I'm dead, Raleigh. Would you like to take a bath first?
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Will you at least sit down. Please. [Though his tone is not very questioning and more commanding.]
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He might be her lover, but he's her sovereign, her king, and tonight it seems like he has no qualms reminding her of it.
Mako takes a seat beside Raleigh's designated chair, askance. ]
What's wrong?
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He won't order her death but he will snap and part of him is sorry and the rest of him knows that she can take it. She's not going to wilt because he's crabby. She's tougher than that.]
It's been a very long day. [He rubs at his head while moving to sit in his chair near her.] Please don't make me struggle with you too.
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She starts to rise to her feet again despite his command, intending to help him disrobe, to loosen the various constraints in the obscenely rich garb that he has to wear to court everyday. ]
Was it the advisors?
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[Raleigh brushes her help aside, irritated with her for helping because he doesn't need her help right now. He needs her to sit down and rest instead of pushing every chance she gets.]
Sit down.
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What is it?
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But he's going to be even more pissed off if she faints.]
We might be going back to war.
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Mako stiffens at that, staring at him for a long, long moment -- what just happened while she hadn't been lurking around him at court? ]
Why are we going to war?
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It may have been insinuated that it was the Queen who poisoned you.
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Mako doesn't forgive easily, but she knows, too, the price of rash action -- her king's life is above hers, as is their kingdom's continued peace. ]
...Raleigh. You shouldn't have done that.
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It wasn't me who accused her.
[But he hadn't done anything to silence Hercules' accusation either. Raleigh knows that the man is fond of Mako, that he knew her father for many years and that he watched her grow. If it came down to it, the man would be loyal to her and not at all to his Queen.
And that really raises the question of who else in the nobility would do the same.]
The court's dividing already.
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The last thing Mako wants to do is to be the source of the conflict -- they have more crucial things to attend to, and didn't she come out of this quite well? She'll just have to be more careful in future. ]
Did the Marshal do that...? [ She might have to have a talk with him -- she loves Herc like a father, but peace with their neighbour is of utmost importance, too. ]
Did you talk to him?
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[It was the end of the day, and he was already irritated and had a headache and at the end of his proverbial rope. So he dismissed court for the day and said that he'd deal with it in the morning.
Raleigh literally has no idea what tomorrow is going to bring.]
He's not wrong, you know.
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After all, there's nothing they can do tonight. She reaches out to take his hand, squeezing it lightly. ]
He's not, but -- what is there to gain by making that woman an enemy?
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She tried to murder you, she's already an enemy. Maybe this way I could be rid of her.