𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter sixty-five; Half Of Me
"  If you believe I am a monster, my words will not sway you. "

  IT WAS A short while before a servant of the household came to retrieve Elspeth and Demetre from the orchard.

  The woman was fussing with Elspeth's dress, attempting feebly to wipe the dirt splotches out of her skirt, but Elspeth was being less than helpful in the process, determined only to see her parents.

  "Elspeth."

  Her frustrations only rose as they approached her awaiting brothers.

  "Fraser," Elspeth mocked, waving off the servant finally.

  "We are to greet mother and father. You should not have stained such a perfectly fine gown--"

  "Mother birthed me, I hardly think she'll care about a dirt spot."

  "How un-ladylike to speak of such things before your suitor."

  "As if Demetre is unaware of how children come to be," Elspeth argued, crossing her arms defiantly.

  Fraser's lips straightened into a thin line, his calculating eyes turning cold. And for once, Douglas seemed on his side, his own glare forming as his jaw tightened.

  Only then did Elspeth realize perhaps she had given the wrong impression.

  "That is not what I meant," She spat, flustered, "I only mean to say--"

  "I would hope someone who has been raised as a Lord understands he cannot take freedoms with an unwed Lady."

  "Fraser!" Elspeth all but shrieked.

  But Demetre's gentle hand came to rest on her shoulder, his looming presence enveloping her whole, calming her anger and embarrassment.

  "I think too highly of Elspeth to imagine anything improper. I would hope her brothers hold her in the same high regard."

  Fraser's lip curled up.

  Elspeth was shocked out of anger.

  No one, not one single person, not even Douglas, had managed to crack Fraser Liens's ever-perfect presentation.

  But Demetre Langlois had done it with a simple sentence.

  Before either Douglas or Fraser could retort, the doors to the grand dining room swung open, and all attention was pulled to the Duke and Duchess Liens.

  Demetre should have expected Rowan and Malcolm Liens to look exactly as they did.

  Malcolm looked like an older version of Hans; sandy hair, deep brown eyes, and a tall, athletic figure. He had resting lines on either side of his mouth, as well as crinkles at the edges of his eyes, proving he had spent most of his life smiling.

  Rowan had the same round features Elspeth did, but her hair was a soft brown that fell in loose waves to her mid-back. Her eyes were the same green as Elspeth's, and she lit up the same way when she spotted her daughter.

  "Dearest!"

  Rowan let go of her husband's arm only to wrap her daughter up in a tight hug. Malcolm chuckled at the sight, lazily strolling into the room as Rowan gushed over her daughter.

  "Boys, I'm glad to have you home," Malcolm greeted his sons first with a smile on his face.

  Fraser attempted to shake his hand, but Malcolm scoffed and brought the man into a hug, ruffling his hair before doing the same with Douglas.

  "Our meeting ran on, we're so sorry we weren't here to greet you all," Rowan said, finally letting Elspeth go so she could kiss each of her son's cheeks.

  "It's alright, Mother," Fraser said gently, squeezing her hands, "We understand."

  "Still, I should be apologizing to our guest," Rowan said, finally turning to Demetre, "It is not how we normally do things around here, I hate that it was your first experience."

  "You'd hate to know the extent of his first experience," Elspeth said shamelessly, her father's arm still wrapped around her.

  "Elspeth," Fraser scolded.

  "You're the ones who started the argument in the first place," Elspeth said.

  "Best we not continue it in front of our guest," Malcolm suggested gently, letting go of his daughter, "Malcolm Liens."

  "Demetre Langlois."

  Demetre waited for a reaction as he shook Malcolm's hand, but nothing came. His smile was ever-present and unflinching. Just as Rowan's was when she introduced herself.

  He wondered if they already knew more about him than he cared for. Perhaps Hans had relayed information when he'd returned from France. Perhaps Elspeth had been writing them about him.

  Either way, the idea of being welcomed so warmly was entirely foreign for Demetre Langlois.

  "Come, let us eat and enjoy one another's company," Malcolm said, clapping his hands, "We'll save the serious matters for later."

  Dinner was grand, and Demetre assumed it was normal.

  The table had been set perfectly; candles and flowers lined the center, and each place was set with heavy goblets, silverware, and heavy plates stacked with fresh and hearty food.

  The conversation had been light and jovial for the first few moments, and it only livened when Blair and Nessa joined.

  Elspeth and her mother were one and the same, though Rowan had a refined nature to her that Elspeth would only gain with time and age.

  Malcolm seemed content listening to his wife and daughter, occasionally taking a bite of food or a sip of wine.

  But Fraser and Douglas were stewing. And Demetre could see it.

  He was quite surprised neither had exploded yet. So when Rowan and Elspeth quieted to eat their food, it was no shock that one of the brothers took the chance.

  "Tell us more about how the two of you met, Ellie," Douglas prodded shamelessly, stabbing a piece of chicken on his plate, "I heard the story about the bastard. Haven't heard much about the monster."

  "Douglas Liens so help me if you cannot control yourself I will have someone escort you out."

  Douglas sunk into his chair at his mother's words.

  "It's a fair question," Fraser said stiffly, "This man is to be Duke. We wish to know more about him."

  "Perhaps you could engage in proper conversation, instead of attacking him," Blair suggested lightly, tossing a glare to Fraser.

  "There is no point in avoiding the center of what we wish to know," Fraser responded.

  "It's called compassion, Fraser, you should give it a try."

  Fraser rolled his shoulders back at Blair's comment but turned back toward Demetre and Elspeth.

  "Elspeth, we can hardly have a high opinion on a man we haven't spoken to."

  "No, you've already made your minds up because of baseless rumors," Elspeth spat, "And I won't stand for you disrespecting--"

  "It's alright, Petal."

  Elspeth turned to Demetre, her anger still prevalent. But he was calm, composed, an even face blank of any emotions. Her hands were clenched into fists on top of the mahogany table, and Demetre lifted his own hand to cover one of hers.

  Every member of the Liens family saw very clearly as Elspeth breathed out, each muscle un-tensing under this simple action.

  "I understand my reputation proceeds me, and it can't be counted as a good thing," Demetre said, clearing his throat, "I've no interest in speaking about that. You have heard whatever version made its way from France. You will believe whatever you wish to, no matter what it is I say. If you believe I am a monster, my words will not sway you."

  Fraser seemed to be listening intently as if this was convincing him slightly.

  Douglas watched with narrow eyes.

  "The one fact I wish to impart in my time here," Demetre said, "Is that I care for Elspeth in a way I never before thought possible. She is half of my soul. And I will never allow harm to come of her. I will care for and protect her until my dying breath."

  "Then what else is there to say?"

  Demetre's harsh exterior melted when Malcolm Liens spoke across the table. He was smiling warmly, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening as he peered down the table at the only person not born a Liens.

  It was the kind of way a father looked at someone, Demetre thought. The kind of way a father should look.

  Demetre's father had never looked at him like that. With such kindness.

  His father had always said men were not supposed to be tender. That wives were the extensions of them that carried the soft parts; kindness, forgiveness, love.

  But something about Duke Liens squeezing his wife's hand, with his soft smile still on Demetre, made him think his father had been wrong after all.

  "Though he may have affection for Elspeth, is that truly enough to hand him the duchy?"

  "Yes."

  Elspeth raised her brow at her father's quick response to Douglas's probing question.

  "Even though we don't know whether the tales of him murdering--"

  "You have denied the title," Malcolm said, though his expression never hardened. His tone never grew louder. "You and Fraser both did. Which means Ellie will carry it on. If you don't think your sister is wise enough to choose a good man as her husband, why do you believe she is capable of ruling this duchy? Or do you care so little for it that you would pass it along to someone you think would not care for it?"

  Douglas pursed his lips.

  "The two of you act as though Elspeth has ever been anything but smart. Rebellious, yes, and a bit unruly at times. Outspoken. Strong-willed. But only ever brilliant. She was the only child able to sneak away from lessons, the only one of you who managed to find a way into town on her own. Elspeth was helping Hans with ledgers when she was eleven, and making Fraser a better swordsman when she was twelve."

  "But it would not be out of the question for her to be fooled by a man promising freedom."

  "It would because I raised her to have a mind of her own," Malcolm continued, "She is ruled more so by her heart. As is Douglas. You and Hans were men of your mind. . . It disappoints me greatly that only she seems to remember the things we tried to impart to all of you."

  "You must use your heart as well as your mind."

  The brothers looked to Elspeth as she spoke softly, her eyes latched onto her father.

  He smiled again that same way, outpouring the light Elspeth carried with her everywhere.

  "Lord Langlois and I will meet about the small details," Malcolm said after a long moment, "But I have heard what I need. From you and my son."

  Elspeth felt her throat burn.

  "Oh, yes," Rowan chuckled softly, "Hans had quite the things to say when he returned from Scotland about the Lord Langlois that followed our Ellie around. I believe he put it best, didn't he? Rumors can be fickle things."

  Demetre's heart tightened at the thought.

  Hans Liens had met him for a brief speck of time in the grand scheme of things. Demetre had talked him out of attacking Sebastian and shared very sparse conversation beyond that.

  And yet, somehow, Hans had thought highly enough of him to relay who he was to Malcolm and Rowan.

  The rest of the dinner went by silently. And no one seemed to fight it.

↬

  Elspeth sat with Fraser, and Douglas in silence. Demetre had disappeared into Duke and Duchess Liens' study moments ago, Blair had departed to put Ness down for the night, and the siblings were left to their own devices.

  Which currently meant they would sit in silence until one of them exploded.

  Elspeth had learned well in France. That waiting was not always surrender; sometimes the best strikes were the ones held back. So she waited. Sitting with perfect posture on a sofa, staring at the tall clock that ticked away at time.

  It was to her surprise that Fraser broke first.

  He stood abruptly from the armchair he had claimed, smoothing down his lapels as he took lazily swooping strides to the furthest window that had a clear view of the town center.

  It was one of a few in the Duchy, but it was the closest to the Liens estate. Just at the bottom of the hill their home sat upon; buildings cropped up, stalls, people. It was always lively, with people shopping and strolling and chatting.

  It seemed emptier these days.

  "It was a lovely place, wasn't it? To be raised in?"

  "It still is a lovely place," Douglas said quietly.

  "Quieter," Fraser said, eyes still glued to the window, "Duller, somehow."

  "Suppose your home is grander, is it?"

  "I said nothing of—"

  "You didn't really have to."

  "Must we fight?"

  The boys halted, both turning to face their sister.

  Elspeth was sunk deep down in the faded crevice in the largest velvet sofa. Her hair had begun frizzing out of its neat style, and her arms were thrown loosely across her chest.

  "When have we not?" Fraser posed.

  "When Hans was here," Elspeth answered bluntly, meeting Fraser's eye just in time to see a flicker of emotion. "But now he is not. And we must figure out how to exist."

  Douglas sunk back into his seat, and Fraser crossed the room, reclaiming the armchair.

  "You love this man," Fraser said quietly, not a question but a statement.

  "I do."

  "Even after fighting off every perfectly decent suitor," Douglas mumbled.

  "Because I did not want 'perfectly decent' for the rest of my life," Elspeth said, letting her head lull back until she was staring at the ceiling, "I wanted freedom and safety. To be both held and let go. To be known, before being desired. . . And I love Demetre, not because or despite the rumors surrounding him. I just love him. As he is. As Demetre, as Lord Langlois, as the Monster of France. Just as he loves me as I am. As Ellie, Lady Elspeth, the un-tameable Liens."

  The grandfather clock ticked by seconds and Elspeth wasn't even sure her brothers were listening to her anymore.

  Tick. Tick. Tick.

  "Hans always supported me fighting off suitors, because none of them mattered. They cared for a title, a Duchy, a dowry. . . You two didn't see it. Not how Hans, Father, and I did. Propositions flooded in because I am the only daughter of Duke and Duchess Liens. . . Not a single one was ever addressed to me. The two of you cannot fathom such a thing, because you have always been people in the eyes of the world. Sure, Mother and Father raised us to treat people equally, but to anyone beyond this estate, I was not a woman to love. I was a thing to be owned."

  She let out a long sigh, lifting her head only to find Fraser and Douglas staring intently at her. Hanging onto every word.

  Briefly, Elspeth was too nervous to continue. She had gone on many rants about such things, but this was the first time they seemed to listen, not just hear her.

  "I fell in love with a man who did not care for such things. Which was. . . beautiful, and wonderful, and I would never take back what happened, but. . . I didn't want to just be free. I want to be first. The youngest child, always falling behind the three of you. . . watching the both of you move away. . . I wanted to be first to someone. To be known and cared for and valued and. . . and Demetre had done that for me long before our courtship. He listened to me, he watched me paint, he cared, and gave me enough safety for me to be free. . . and then one day he went off with Francis to conquer Calais for a man who never cared for him. And I realized I would never be okay if he did not come back to me."

  Fraser seemed to soften. He had always been sharp corners and crisp words. But now, his eyes read something else entirely; as if he knew what Elspeth was speaking of.

  Douglas's lips had sewn together. As Elspeth poured her heart out, it was as if she saw his regret grow larger.

  "I don't have the words to explain how or why I love him," Elspeth whispered, "He is half of me. Half of my soul, half of my heart-- he is so ingrained into my very being that he may as well have been there my entire life. I could not imagine a life after him, I can hardly believe there was one before. . .I don't know when I started loving him. I just know that I will not stop."

  "A soul tie."

  "Excuse me?"

  "A soul tie," Fraser repeated, ignoring Douglas's dramatics, "Some believe there are people that exist, who are tied to one another. Lives and fates intertwined. Bound to one another before, during, and after life. A perfect balance of one another. A match made by something beyond us."

  Elspeth swallowed her own questions at his statement and nodded.

  "He is not cruel?"

  "Never to me," Elspeth said quietly, "Only ever to protect those he loves."

  They sat in silence for another moment.

  "The stories say he is now the beacon of death."

  "Stories are just that. They are told and retold until they are more fable than fact," Elspeth said softly to Douglas, "They are no more reliable than fairytales."

  "But he did slay the Grim?"

  "Demetre has had to fight in ways none of us could ever bear to imagine," Elspeth said softly, "He is a skilled hunter. A noble soldier. A brilliant advisor. A cunning businessman. . . You have heard the worst parts of his story without ever knowing the man at the center of them. Whether the tales have any real weight doesn't matter. Not here. Not to us. They can't. I won't let them."

  Elspeth swallowed her emotions as both of her brothers stared intently at her. Even Douglas had transitioned into a rare state of calm, his emotions clear on his face.

  "We should've done more for you."

  The words came out so soft, Elspeth hardly believe Fraser had truly said them.

  "What?" She asked.

  "Hans did it so often, and so well, the two of us never chose to care for you," Fraser said, "We love you, of course, you are our sister, but. . . we never taught you how he did. Watched after you. Helped you. Listened. Not truly."

  "You two have been good brothers."

  "Not as good as we should have been," Douglas said thickly, looking down as he spoke, "You know, when you were born, we were both so jealous. Hans took to you instantly."

  Elspeth's brows knitted, looking between the boys.

  "We knew he would be your favorite," Fraser nodded tightly, "He had always been ours, after all."

  Tick. Tick. Tick.

  The clock clicked again.

  "If only he could see us now," Douglas breathed, shaking his head, "Fractured and arguing."

  "He'd be disappointed," Fraser agreed.

  Douglas lifted his head, a small shine of tears present as he looked at Fraser.

  "He's not."

  Both brothers turned to Elspeth, who had tucked her hands under the skirt of her dress, and sat upright with her chin tilted up.

  "He isn't disappointed," Elspeth said fiercely, "He never was. Because Hans knew we only ever argued because we loved each other. Hans knew Douglas was only furious you left because he would miss you. Hans knew I only fought you two because I wanted to prove I was strong enough to stand beside you. And Hans knows you two only fought the idea of Demetre because you were worried for me. He knows we are only bickering because we miss him. And we are lost. And scared. And he knows that when this blight ends and the three of us can face why we are so good at arguing, we will cling to each other the way we used to cling to him."

  "When did you become so wise?"

  "I always have been."

  Fraser breathed out a laugh. A real laugh.

  And then Douglas smiled, despite his tears.

  And Elspeth knew they would be alright. Maybe not yet, maybe not for a while.

  Tick. Tick. Tick.

  But in time, they would be.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
ohhhh the liens siblings!
ALSO HEY! Chapter 65 and we FINALLY
meet Ellie's parents!