Half a Man

It was getting frustrating. Dealing with Elgar'nan, being away from her children—she even missed the ones Magnus had insisted on adopting to use as decoys. Fuck, she regretted offering her skills to the Crown. How had she fallen back into that fucking trap, anyway? She'd just given up the throne. But every time she thought she was finally free of the responsibilities of the Crown, something came up. A mad man attacking citizens, taking half of the outskirts, ruining villages. 

So when she received an unsigned letter in familiar handwriting, she'd slipped out of the Eth headquarters. He knew these streets just as well as she. Fuck, she'd messed everything up. He'd just regained his memory a few days before she'd left for the Eth. She hadn't been sure what to expect from him; what he remembered of his time as that bard. His letter had instructed her to go somewhere just outside of Antiva City. Far enough from Eth headquarters to be... safe-ish. So she didn't think twice about going. 

Eularia would be a liar if she said she wasn't excited to see her husband. Even if that meant potentially facing his anger. She'd take his temper over cold silence any day. Her face was covered by a mask, cloak hood pulled over her head. She'd dressed down. Nobody would suspect a peasant protecting herself from inhaling the shit in the air these days. Antiva was rotting from the inside out, and she hated every second of it. Fucking Elves and their goddamn deities. She cursed as she stepped wrong, slipping across wet cobblestone. 

But she didn't hit the ground. Fingers curled around her wrist and righted her. Her lips pulled into a grin underneath her mask, and she slid the bandana down her face. A moment to glance around, sussing out whether the man she currently served was anywhere. It didn't seem like he'd followed her. So, without a second thought, she straightened and beamed at her husband. One hand reached for his face, the other pressed against his chest to back him back into the alley he'd stepped from. 

You can't be seen with me, Frankie. Her words were murmured. I'm supposed to hate every aspect of the Antivan monarchy, and fuck if that's not hard. Both men she loved were part of the goddamn Crown. So intertwined with it that she'd never escape; even to the little cottage that Magnus had purchased for them to raise their girls at. A lovely view. She wondered if the view was still so lovely, given everything she's heard about the undead spreading across Thedas.

No-one can catch a break. 

But it really feels like she can't catch her breath sometimes. 

Not at this moment, though. Because he doesn't look too upset, and she's smiling, and she's certain she sees a hint of a smile across his mouth too. I've missed you. How are the children? My boy's doing okay on the throne? She has enough respect for him not to ask about her girls with Magnus. She has enough respect not to bring Magnus up while she's with Francesco. That's the least she can do right now, given that she's not been able to see Magnus or her babies in weeks. 

---

tldr;; Eularia has slipped out of Eth HQ after receiving a letter from Frankie detailing a meeting spot just outside of Antiva City. It's far enough away from HQ that she feels safe going.

She's pushed Frankie against the wall of an alley, after he caught her from tripping.

It's been a few weeks since Frankie's memory's returned. She's not seen her family (either family) in weeks, and hasn't felt safe enough to even receive progress updates from Magnus or Aethra either. She has no idea what's been going on in Antiva City as they prepare for an invasion that's going too quickly.

She asks Frankie about their children only; she does not expect him to keep tabs on her daughters with Rhysand, and she won't bring Magnus up while she's with Francesco.