Council of the Heir

Chapter Four - more unexplained shenanigans

"Lydia, you listenin'?" Lydia blinked, snapped out of her thoughts.

"Um... what did you say?"

"I said you're headin' back to Lizzie and William's house." Steven's eyes were on her, as were Valor's. "Val an' I are goin' west to check out the mines, it's not safe 'fer a lady there."

"Oh." Lydia frowned. "...okay." Reasonable, but like, bruh. "...sure you won't need my help?"

"I mean no offense, but I don't see how you could be helpful." Val said bluntly. Lydia frowned harder. Again, bruh.

"...right." She zoned out again, mulling over the exclusion of Lithian from the story. It was a shame, for sure, but... was he really important to the plot?

He'd kinda just wormed his way into side-character status, then proceeded to not do much, narrative-wise. All he'd done that was important to the plot was interrupt Valor when trying to spy on Null's meeting, which... probably only pushed back the already-inevitable outcome. And he'd been company for Valor while in prison. For a bit. He'd also escorted Valor to the mines, but Steven could do that just as well - or Val could just go himself. He was a smart cookie.

Obviously, she really liked Lithian. He was an interesting character and a great guy. Very cool dude overall. But, considering that he just inserted himself into the story, he didn't really... have much use. Would it be worth the trouble to try to reintroduce him into it? Would she even have the chance? Then again, if her innocent action of walking through the market had completely removed him from the story, it was possible that a lack of Lithian could have grave, unintended consequences.

She'd try, if she could, but if not she would just have to accept it. Maybe she could take him back with her and introduce him to Grace.

Steven and Valor eventually finished up their talk, deciding that in the morning they would escort Lydia back to Steven's sister's farm and head to the mines from there. Lydia just kinda nodded along. She doubted she could really convince them otherwise, so she saved her breath.

She slept on the couch, as she had the previous night, curled up and facing the hearth where Val slept. She couldn't sleep for a long time. An ache in her heart continued to protest that she was missing out, that she couldn't let this opportunity slip away. But, she really had no choice in the matter. The only way she could think of that would convince them to let her come was to threaten to out Valor as Herobrine, and she wasn't about to do that.

Lydia lay awake on the couch for several hours, watching Valor where he slept before the fire, before her eyes eventually slipped shut.

**

Lydia startled awake.

At first, she wasn't sure what had woken her. Blinking around at the dark house revealed nothing out of place, and it was still the middle of the night. She was wide awake, though. Slowly, she pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the side of the couch. Was she hungry...? Had a weird dream? She didn't feel like she could sleep any more tonight.

A distant cry caught her attention.

At once, she was on the alert. She moved towards the door automatically, pausing briefly to wonder if she should maybe wake Val or Steven, but quickly decided she had no time and slipped out the door. It could be too late by the time she explained what was going on. Not far away, she could hear voices - and the sounds of a struggle.

"Let me GO, you blummin'- I didn't DO nothin'!" Lydia froze at the familiar voice. Lithian?? Immediately, she was darting down the alley, heart pounding. The struggle continued as she neared, and she paused at a corner upon spying the source. Lithian was being held against a wall by two men in the same armor he wore, with a third brandishing a sword. As she watched, the sword flashed forward, and Lithian's body was released to fall to the ground.