Following the near assassination that River has endured, the soldiers that were meant to protect her from such things fanned out to try and find the wannabe assassin, but they didn't find them. Now night, soldiers continue to search the streets while River is in the castle, her arm being tended to, she still is shaken by what has happened. The female doctor tasked with helping her does so, and Stace sits beside River, holding her left hand.

As River's arm gash gets sown closed with stitches it hurts, yet with Stace's emotional support in these trying times, gripping her hand tightly, she can endure it. Stace feels bad that River's supposed to be special day had to be ruined anyhow, and it honestly angers her. Seeing River nearly get killed makes her wish for the assassin to find the worst fate imaginable. "River... Are you okay?" Stace asks her, having noticed her disoriented expression, looking out to the wall of the room they are sitting in.

As River sits there, not responding to Stace's question and seemingly out of it, her thoughts creep in. To her, it seems only a matter of time. Today came close to turning into a funeral, and that can't go down easily. It's the first time her life was directly threatened, and she worries that it won't be the last. First her father, and now herself is going to be next. Stace taps her shoulder, and it snaps her out of her trance, "Huh? Oh, Stace." She looks over at Stace, who has a concerned face.

"Are you okay?" Stace asks her, worried about her severely and not wishing for her to be bothered by anything, even if it may be understandable. After all, who wouldn't be shaken by nearly getting killed? To Stace, all she can be is worried, as last thing she'd want is for her friend to be killed. That is an alternate reality that she would rather not live in, in all honesty.

River looks at the floor, still holding her right arm out for the doctor to suture it up. "I-I just can't... Can't believe that I nearly-" River says as her eyes well up with tears and she releases Stace's hand, covering her mouth and nose as tears begin to stream and she sobs ever-so softly. As Stace sees her starting to cry, she feels like she must do something.

Scootching closer, Stace pulls River over to her a tad as she hugs her tightly and comforts her to the best of her ability. "Hey, it's- It's okay... You... You'll be fine, I promise...!" Stace says fairly loudly, upset to see River crying, as this is a big deal that cannot be overlooked, nor forgotten. This event is something that could stick with anyone, men or women, child or adult, soldier or civilian, royalty or peasant, for the rest of their lives. Stace doesn't want River to suffer like this, though, as to see River so upset, while she is usually so upbeat and happy, is something that does not feel right to her.

As she hugs River, whose wound is nearly done getting patched up, River continues to sob, which makes Stace feel like crying herself. While this is happening, Elias arrives at the castle to speak about this incident. An incident that has quite angered him, as would be expected of a loyal citizen. This day has been a wake-up call however, as it shows that not all are so loyal, and that revolt could be a very real possibility going forward. To Elias, it seems as though it is only a matter of time.

He walks into the entryway of the castle, where guards stand ready. The castle grounds as a whole hold countless soldiers who are ready to defend against a full-on assault if it were to occur. Not that it is, but the castle is ready to get protected. After telling the guards inside why he is here, a couple take him to meet Captain Sheena, who is in her personal quarters at the moment. The door being knocked upon, she walks to it and opens it.

"Hm? Ah, mister Homings. I wasn't expecting your company this time of day." She is not wearing her armor at the moment, though is decently dressed in a shirt with her sleeves slightly rolled up, pants, and shoes. "Come in." She tells him, and he does so. Her room is actually kind of nice, and smells quite good thanks to scented candles.

Turning to face Sheena, who walks behind him upon closing the door, Elias feels the need to apologize. "I'm sorry if you feel like I am intruding, I just have to speak with you." He tells her and seems to be earnest in his apology.

Sheena shakes her head and waves her hand to signal that the apology is not needed. "Unnecessary." She tells him with a smile, walking past him and sitting at a table that has another chair. "Come, sit. I'm curious of what you have to discuss." She tells him, and he does as he is instructed, walking over and sitting in the seat.

It is a rather cozy place to sit ones behind, as Elias is quickly discovering. Frankly, he's a little bit jealous that his actual manor doesn't have a single seat so nice. "I wanted to speak about today's assassination attempt." He tells her, quickly turning the conversation into a serious one. "I couldn't attend due to work, as running a business conglomerate is tricky. But..." He leans forward with arms on his legs, and clasps his hands together, twiddling his thumbs as he looks at the floor. "I can't help but feel a sense that I played a role." He says as he looks up at her, still leaned over.

From the look on his face, Sheena can tell that harbors some self-loathing. He did play a part, particularly in the float part, so it makes sense to her as to why. "No, I don't think you did." She tells him, "You merely constructed a float for the parades extravagancy. And until that attack, it was certainly a spectacle. The citizens were in awe at the float." She says with a laugh, sitting back in her seat, putting her right leg up on her left knee.

Despite Sheena's words, he still can't help but feel some guilt. If it was a litter that was used, River wouldn't have been so exposed for such an attempt. He simply hadn't thought that anyone would want to kill her, largely because of how in his own circle, she's quite beloved. "Still, if I hadn't had my people make such a contraption, that could have been avoided altogether." He says, "And even though you may not think it was my fault, let alone that I had malicious intent, there are rumors already circulating." Looking back down at the floor, it's easy to tell that this whole day affects him as well.

"Ah, so that's an issue as well." She responds upon learning that. Although she hardly knows Elias, having only met him a couple times since the day that chaos erupted in the castle when he went to fight Haden, she knows enough. She stands up and he looks up at her as she does. "Utter nonsense. The fact that they would gossip even after all you've been doing to help this kingdom is shameful." Placing a hand on her hip, it's clear to see what she thinks of all of it.

Elias can't help but laugh as hears what she says and raises up to sit upright in the chair. As Sheena sits back down, he speaks what made him laugh. "It's funny. I thought that doing all of this would be enough to clear my family legacy." He says with a tired smile, "But it seems that his ghost still looms over me." Looking up towards the ceiling, it's almost as if he can hear his father's voice speaking to him. Though, it's a memory and nothing more. Still looking up, he feels the need to ask a question. "Tell me, what makes you think I didn't plot this attack? Some even think that everything I've been doing, even killing Haden, was to prepare for this and get close to River." He tells her, asking a legitimate question.

Sheena smirks, seemingly knowing her answer to this loaded question right out of the gate. She throws her right leg up over her left again and puts an arm over the back of her chair. "From the moment I met you that day and killed Captain Heartfelt, and when you delivered that wonderful speech before us in that hall, I knew exactly what type of a man you are." She says to him, still wearing that confident smirk. "You are a good kid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You saved this kingdom in more ways than one that day." She tells him.

This does bring a light to Elias' outlook, and he chips up a bit. He still knows his reputation is at risk thanks to the seemingly senseless paranoid rumors, the downright conspiracy theories that they are, but it does help his personal struggle with guilt. He can't even imagine his father WANTED to assassinate River's father, as being even tangentially related to such an act is a heavy weight to bear. "Wow. Thank you... Like, genuinely." He says, laughing afterwards, genuinely thankful.

Sheena is happy to see him less upset, as being his elder by nearly ten years, she believes strongly in caring the younger generations. But with his question answered, she feels she can ask one of her own. "Now that I answered your question, it's time for you to answer mine." She says, putting her right leg down and leaning forward in her seat. "I know we're on good terms and all, but why come to me with this? I'm not exactly your confidant." She says with a chuckle.

Elias isn't laughing anymore but knows that it is pretty important to tell her what it was really for. It's not totally right that he came just to bare his soul, after all. "Oh... Okay, well... I came because I want to help." He answers, honestly surprising her as he's saying it so suddenly, but also not totally shocking her since she knows his character well enough. "News has circulated that the assassin has eluded capture. I want to help get them and bring them to justice." He tells her, showing that he really does have a bit of heroism in his blood. Despite the other, more villainous path that he could have taken.

Sheena's impressed demeanor is visible, as his selfless want to lend his help is absolutely to be admired. "Wow, I'm impressed." She says with a smile, "And you know what? You can help. We could use someone like you." Standing up, she reaches her hand out to Elias, who is still sitting. "Elias Homings, I am glad to have you on the team." She tells him while wearing a smirk, hand extended to him.

Taking a moment to respond, Elias feels like he's doing something good. In his mind, this is recompense that is overdue. A way to ease his mind and the burden of guilt, even if there isn't anything to feel that way for and no one that matters blames him. Elias stands and grabs her hand, shaking it. The following morning, after a very restless night for the young queen, she lies in bed, moving around in her sleep, gripping the covers tight and breathing heavily.

In this nightmare, she sees her own death. Her own death in many different ways, as her father watches from above. Her death as her friends watch helplessly. Her death as the assassin transforms into vile imagery. As this nightmare reaches its apex, its most horrifying, she jolts awake with her heart beating rapidly and a scream. "Ahh!!!" She yells, terrified as she looks around her room that has mild sunlight shimmering through the window. Her heart beating quickly and her breathing ragged, she slowly calms down as it comes to her that it wasn't real.

Plopping back into her bed, she looks up at the top of its canopy, thinking about the day prior. "W-What's happening to me? Why- Why me...?" She covers her face using her hands, upset and starting to weep softly. She's been sad, and had some nightmares after her father died, but this being the first time that someone has really attempted to take her life, sits with her in a different way. To her, it feels like a hurricane. A cyclone with her in its center.

To Be Continued...