Not As Planned

You should have expected it when you walked into the Sicilian Spirits in the mountain to grab a drink, but for some reason, it still throws you for a loop when you take a step into a place that's swarming with Sicilian's and all of a sudden they flock to you. So many of these Warriors, Sunriders and even Civilians want to talk with you, give their thanks, share a drink or even graze against your body to say they came in contact with the leader of the Sunriders. It made it so very difficult to not grow a huge ego but you did your best to push those thoughts aside and just smile, thank and cheers with them when you could.

Truth be told, not having to spend a single piece of gold on anything was awfully nice because food and drink would basically get offered to you free of charge for everything that you have done and continue to do for the Syndicate. It made you feel a little worse though when you weren't able to stay very long because there was still one more thing on the agenda for the day that you had to get done first. So, just sharing one quick drink with your comrades, you ask the questions you need and head out of the Spirits, making your way up the stairs and back into the heart of Sicilian.

From the warriors you talked with back at the Spirits you found out that Ashe was still at the castle, most likely talking with Queen Karisi about battle plans and strategy. Those two have really been working together almost flawlessly ever since they have met. It makes sense as both of them are strong willed women who never fear to put their foot forward and take control of a situation if needed. Karisi, a little too much but you believe she's learned her place for the time being and Ashe, she's always been there for you so even her hot headed ways you just smile at.

Soon enough, you make your way into the castle and immediately go towards the Throne Room where you expect the girls will be and as you push open the doors and step inside, your assumption was correct as once again, the same table Ashe and Karisi were sitting at the other day discussing plans for war, they are at that same exact spot. As if Déjà vu happens, both the girls look over their shoulders at you briefly, give a smile and then turn their gazes to the documents on the table.

"What can we help you with, Darien?" Karisi asks as her eyes still trail along some documents.

"I'm actually here because I need to talk with Ashe for a bit." you look at the red head who tilts her head and raises an eyebrow at you, "Preferably alone?"

"Uhh, everything alright Darien?" Ashe questions with a bit of concern in her voice.

"Yeah, no worries, no problems, no issues, we're good!" you smile back at the red head, "I just have something I need to tell you, it's important."

"Use my room if you'd like..." Karisi mumbles off, not paying much attention as she continues to read the documents laid out in front of her, "Well, to talk, please don't copulate in my bed."

"She did ask nicely!" Ashe pushes herself back, bringing herself up to her feet, "Although no guarantees." she gives you a wink before turning towards Karisi's chambers.

"Thanks Karisi, be right back." you say to her as you place a hand on her shoulder.

It was at that point she drops one hand on the document and brings it up to her shoulder, resting her hand on top of your own, her head turns and looks at you, "You know you can trust me, right?" Karisi questions you, "Is it so important you have to keep it from me?"

"I'm telling her about Hawk." you put it blunt, "I know she had a thing for him and she's been asking about him on and off sometimes so I want to come clean, let her know before we get down to war."

With a soft exhale, Karisi releases her grasp from your hand, "Good luck." she gives you a half smile before turning her head back to the documents and reading through them once again.

Shortly after, you make your way towards Karisi's chambers and snake your way inside, shutting the door behind.

"Okay mister..." Ashe immediately begins the instant the door closes, "What's on your mind?" she pivots in her stance as her arms fold up over her chest and she gives you that normal sassy look of hers.

"Uhh," you stumble in your words, knowing this is something you really don't want to bring up to Ashe because truthfully it doesn't really matter much but you know she could take it the wrong way because she did have almost a type of fan girl like crush on the archer. "I think we should have a seat, come on." you move towards the small table to the side that has two chairs next to it. As you reach it, you hold one chair out and motion with your hand to have Ashe take a seat.

"Darien..." Ashe's voice trails off, "Now I'm getting a little more worried?" she moves over to the chair you were offering and takes a seat down in it, resting her elbows on the table now as she leans forward. At the same time you pull out the opposite chair and sit down in it, looking at Ashe's green eyes and trying to think of the best way to lay the news out to the girl, "Darien?" her voice asks again.

Just like always, you just let it all hang loose, no need to sugar coat it at all, "Hawk is dead." you tell her only to go quiet immediately after. You should tell her sorry, apologize for her loss or ask if there's anything going on in her mind but you don't, you sit there quietly just waiting for a reaction from the girl.

After a few moments of the two of you staring at each other and, Ashe eventually breaks the silence, "W-W-What?" she leans back, lowering herself in the chair a bit, "What do you mean? How? When? Where? What happened?" she rattles off.

You were hoping she wouldn't ask those questions because now you're forced to tell her you killed him, which honestly is something you didn't want to do, "Umm, while you were south with the Sunriders, during that time he umm...he passed away."

"He passed away?" a bit of anger leaks from her voice, "He passed away? How?"

You gulp down, you didn't think this should be this hard to say but you had a feeling Ashe was going to explode at you with anger, "Well, he umm..."

"Spit it out." she replies.

"I dropped him." you look back into her eyes, "I dropped him into The Pit." you say again, confirming your murder of the man.

The look of confusion in her face was almost adorable as she kept scrunching up sections of her cheeks, forehead and eyes as she thought your words through, "But, why? Why would you do that?"

"Ashe..." you lean forward, resting your arms on the table, "He shot me. He was the one who hit me with that arrow."

"B-But I thought...he was working with us the whole time?" she still doesn't quite believe you.

"Look, I know Karisi told you she helped fund the assassination attempt on my life, but the thing she didn't tell you is she conspired with Hawk to shoot me, bring me back to the Syndicate, collect the bounty and figure out a story for me once I woke up." you continue, "So she asked Hawk to do the deed and then they would convince everybody I was dead, the bounty would get removed and I'd heal back up in the Syndicate. They didn't really think that far in advance and truth be told, they would have never admitted to doing it if it wasn't for Shade showing up."

Ashe isn't saying a word, she still seems to be processing everything.

"When I woke up, word spread I was alive, eventually it got down to Loner's Reach and thus to Shade." you grin, "He came to the Syndicate, told me the truth, I confronted Karisi about it and she confessed. I'm sorry for dropping him, I could have spared his life and maybe I should have but..." your eyes narrow slightly, "I had to tell you, you have the right to know."

"So wait..." Ashe tilts her head as she contemplates, "You're telling me, while you were passed out for those thirty some days, the entire time I became Leader of the Sunriders and Karisi became Queen of the Syndicate, we were best of friends, working together flawlessly and trying to figure out who assassinated you. We worked night after night trying to figure out what to do and who would have the most motive..." you see her clench her fist tight, "And this whole time, she was just flat out lying straight to my fucking face?" she slams her hand down on the table.

Well this wasn't going how you planned for it to go. You figure Ashe was going to lay into you, be a little upset with you but then all would be good and if you were lucky maybe it would turn into a rage filled fuck fiesta on Queen Karisi's bed. "Uh, well yeah sure, but...it's all good now. I settled it."

"All good now?" Ashe questions you, anger building up in those eyes, "Seriously?! That bitch has been lying to me the entire damn time when she was holding the truth for herself to cover up her shenanigans! Not once, not one single time has she apologized for anything, she knew how much I fucking cared for you and how devastated we all were and instead of coming to us and asking for us to help, she lies to us? Lies to me? For fuck sake!" she slams her hand on the table again.

"Look Ashe, it's, it's all good now. Don't worry about Karisi, she understands she screwed up, it's fine." you try to calm the situation.

"Except it's not." Ashe immediately stands up, "Helping fund an assassination is one thing but to go ahead and plan the whole fucking thing out and then lie to her so-called friends?! I helped mold her into the Queen for the Syndicate, I helped lead her army, I helped her with this damn alliance with Rathkin and now when I finally return, she still doesn't pull me aside and tell me anything?" she's gripping the back of the chair now, her fingers curling around the wood, "Every single fucking day you were passed out she would come find me, comfort me, ask questions and even ask favors of me and the entire time, she was lying to my fucking face when we talked about you." she's stomping around the room now, her anger is really building up, " Fuck this, we're having words, now!" she's already marching towards the door of the chambers.

"W-Wait, Ashe!" you stand up but you're already too late. Your feisty hot blooded red head high commander is already out the door. "Oh shit..." you groan out as you move with haste to the door to make sure Ashe doesn't do something she'll regret later.