Days had been long and lonesome for Thea, despite having both Dionysius and Dysius residing in their Midas home at the present, following the fires. Usually, both remained in their separate homes - Nethisa and Megaris, respectively - leaving Thea, Mihail, and Nethis to reside in Midas for the majority of the year.
Thea supposed she should be grateful to have even their company during this time, with Nethis in Taengea and Mihail bounding across the countryside to discover his peasant traits, if any. Their Midas home was large and sprawling, with enough help from servants and slaves to run seamlessly despite the current residents, but it was beyond lonesome without her usual company and surprisingly even more so with her father and brother present.
It was a welcome change when she received a missive from Evras, requesting her attendance for a few hours of company, as well as a few questions that Thea's knowledge of the body and herbs may assist in. Thea was curious with this and had her suspicions, but simply collected her items and prepared to go. Leaving the remaining help at the manor with specific instructions for her father's care, particularly regarding the manner in which to mix a certain tincture she used to help his ailing mind, she set out high into the upper levels for the Kotas residence.
Her guard accompanied her and also served to carry some of her bulkier tomes while Thea carried a small wicker box of herbs at her hip, suspended by a strap over her shoulder. It would be interesting if her suspicions were correct, yet she did not want to over anticipate her sister's query. Still, knowing Dion had been sick not too long in the past and she served this same purpose, Thea was pleased to venture away from her home for a change of scenery.
Arriving at the manor, Thea announced herself to the doorman who allowed her entrance.
It was not often that she visited the Kotas family home, yet every visit had been memorable thusfar, under several varying circumstances. There were no distractions on this visit, at both the King and Crown Prince were away. There was no telling where her nephew, Dion, could be in the sprawling estate, though she hoped to see him during her visit.
Before long, she was announced at the doorway to Evras' wing of the manor, a smile already lightening her features upon seeing a familiar and welcome face.
"Sister," Thea said, her voice warm and lighter than usual. Perhaps it was just the relief of being away from home for a moment, or the true joy of seeing one of her favored siblings, but her usual stoic expression curled into an expression of happiness as she reached out to take her sister's hands. "We must not go so long without seeing one another. How are you?"
Her conversation with her husband the night before had set Evras's mind thinking, and despite soothing Zanon to sleep, the girl herself had lain awake for hours after, her hands splayed on her stomach, as if that could confirm for her, somehow, that a life was now growing inside of her. A life which would not be taken away. After two miscarriages and three years of misery, which had left Dion the only child over the last many years ever since she had given birth to him, it was as if she was doing this all over again for the first time. How had it felt like last time? In the rush of falling for a second prince and their marriage, Dion had seemed to be born so quickly, Evras barely remembered her pregnancy, and her memories were filled only with those of being a mother.
But now... the only person she could think of helping her, was her sister. Whenever Mihail had problems, it would be Evras he turned to. But in turn, when Evras had problems, it would be Thea she ran to. While Nethis may be their eldest sister, and there was no doubt that Nethis would kill for their siblings, it was Thea who gave the comforting presence she wanted now. And more then that, it was Thea who had the knowledge to help her right now.
So she had written a quick missive to her sister, and was glad when Thea had replied affirmative.After ensuring Dion's schedule was well filled for the day, only then did Evras change out to her regular day chiton of orange and black, fastening it with golden fibulae's. The sleeves flowed like a river down to where they were tightened around her wrists, and Evras chose to allow her dark locks to fall freely eschewing any other forms of jewelry or attachments.
Instructing the Kotas servants that her sister would be visiting shortly, Evras retired to her private parlor, where she busied herself with mending Dion's outfit, which were quickly getting more and more worn as he spent more time outside in training with his new tutors that Zanon had hired for him. When Thea was led in, she would see her sister curled in a kline next to a window, and it was there which Evras would unfurl herself to meet her sister at the doorway, with an eager smile and a warm hug.
"Never again, please. I'm sorry, but my husband... was not eager on allowing me to go over." Thea knew the details of the whole fiasco that led to her reconciliation with Zanon, but Evras did not wish to delve into the details as servants stood around. Peering over Thea's soldier, she instructed the slaves to bring in watered down wine and snacks, waiting for the doors to close, before looping an arm through Thea's and leading her to a longer plush armchair. "I'm good, mostly tired lately. Have you heard from Mihail lately? Or is he stilll up to his antics?" There was a hint of amusement, for she was sure Thea had also been an audience of Mihail's theatrics ever since their sister had shown him his dubious birth certificates. "And father? Has he had better days?"
Thea’s eyes softened in understanding at her sister’s meaning, offering a small squeeze of her hand assuring her meaning was known. Times had been strange as of late, and tensions were high among the courtiers they knew, in addition to the added stress of the storm and fires. Thea could also imagine that the servants in the Kotas house were not discreet in the information they bore, unlike those hired under their own roof. Since they were young, there was always more intrigue in any situation that involved more than one Thanasi in a room, to the point of it almost becoming a spectacle. Thea smiled softly at them upon their dismissal, knowing they would not have the luxury of hearing whatever few words might fuel their gossip for the day.
”Send a missive at any hour of the day and I will hasten your way,” she added as the room cleared of all but her sister and her guard, who still carried a small trunk of books. After silently gesturing for him to set them down and then to exit, he bowed and made his leave, giving them their much needed privacy. It would be a few moments before the servants returned with their refreshments.
”Mihail’s tragedy grows with every missive,” Thea voiced lightly, consistently balancing her amusement and sympathy for their forlorn sibling, ”I imagine he has sent the same tale to Nethis in order to issue her some form of guilt, which he should know by now is a lost cause.” Their sister, for all they loved her, was not one to entertain their youngest brother’s theatrics. She suffered no fools or dramatics, and currently that did mean Mihail. It would have been understandable for him to quietly away to seek out whatever strains of his dubious origin presented him - however, it was as if his suffering did not count unless it was witnessed and he tended to use their home address as an alternative to a journal for his thoughts. ”Still, I hear he is in the care of the Baron of Nethisa for the time being, which can only mean he is safe for now.”
At the mention of their father, what small light of amusement flickered out of her expression and returned to her familiar neutral countenance.
”Some days are better than others,” she began, being honest on that forefront a moment before adding, ”His health is well. He remains more active in the morning hours.” Thea purposefully did not include the thrown dishes and the erratic activities at nearly every sunset. The prior week, he refused to go to bed until his wife joined him - something that had not taken place for just shy of twenty years. Thea also did not mention the mild sedatives she had encouraged her personal maid to blend into his evening meal and drink, which seemed to have reduced the number of such events thus far.
”You say you feel tired,” Thea began, immediately switching the subject to her sister’s well-being and away from her own, ”Your hands do not feel overly warm. Does it come and go?” There seemed to be no fever at her touch, nor a sickly pallor on her fair skin - in fact, it seemed to flush with a certain brightness that Thea could not put her finger on - not without more evidence. ”How else have you felt?”
Her questioning would continue, but she paused as the door opened to allow the food servants entrance. Still, as they departed, she quietly awaited her sister’s response.
Thea had always ran to Evras's side whenever she needed it, and in a way, despite having two younger siblings, it was Thea who always manages to make Evras feel very much like a little girl again whenever her elder sister doted on her. While she was now a mother of her own right, it was a nostalgic feeling that everyone would want every once in awhile, to be doted upon like one was a young child once again. It brought a smile to her face as Thea teased Mihail's situation, a situation that neither sister took seriously. They both knew Nethis too well to think that their eldest would even imagine tossing Mihail out on his arse... but they also knew Mihail well enough that their youngest would be dramaticizing things. Leave them well enough alone, and things would sort themselves out - or Nethis will.
Either ways, Evras wasn't too worried as long as Thea wasn't. The youngest Thanasi sister had always somewhat followed Thea's lead, for she knew her second sibling knew the eldest better then she did, forming some sort of a bridge between the two sisters. Nodding in agreement, it would be no surprise that Nethis would sort the matter out upon her arrival, which Evras hoped was soon.
When Thea's attentions turn to her though Evras allowed the sibling to pick up her hands and feel them, before giving her words some thought. Come and go? Somewhat, albeit usually in the evenings. Nodding to her sister, her visage turned thoughtful as she turned to seat Thea on the armchair, taking the seat next to her sibling before replying.
"Sleepy? I sleep an inordinate amount of late. I.." Well, she did have an explanation for it. It is the degree of which she believed it, which was why Evras had asked Thea to come along. What she needed wasn't a diagnosis, but a confirmation, and she could think of no one else. Flushing on her cheeks as she toyed with the idea, Evras finally looked up at Thea. "The truth is, sister, I...I suspect I may be carrying again, for I have missed my courses the past two months. But due to... well, history, I'm very much afraid to dwell too much on the issue. I can't be certain, and yet..." Evras trailed off, her fingers subconsciously touching her belly area as her face twisted in a torn look. Her sister knew of her past miscarriages, many years back, for Evras had cried in Thea's arms, away from their eldest sister's ears. She trusted no one more then she trusted Thea with such information.