Marked

Royal Presence

Liliana's P/V:

      "You guys know a queen?...I.. You know, why am I not very surprised..." I sighed, sliding off the medical table. Pain throbbed as my feet hit the floor but faded into an ache as I used the table to help support me. Gaster offered his hand though his mind seemed elsewhere as I took it.

       "....always coming at the worst of times..." Gaster muttered, pitching his nose bridge with a huff.

      "She's brought the entourage as well." Sans added looking hesitant. 

       "Wonderful." Gaster growled through his teeth. "Can't bother to come to any of our events but they have no trouble bursting into our home whenever they please."

      "Certaintly they can't be that bad?" My statement turned out to sound more like a question than anything. Gaster cast me a glance as we began to head out, my arm linking around his to better support myself. 

       "They.... have their ups and downs." Sans said vaguely as he hopped into step with us. 

       "Hopefully they will only be here for today... and as for you my dear, you will be resting up for the remainder of the day." W.D. gave a pat to the top of my hand as he turned down the hall to my room.

      "What? You can't be serious!" My head whipped up to the skeleton as he gave me an intrigued look. "I can't pass up an opportunity to meet some old friends of yours! Besides, I'm Papyrus' escape plan when he wants to get away from people." Sans scoffed, shaking his head while Gaster chuckled.

     "Papyrus can handle himself just fine, and you'll be here for quite some time so I have no doubt there will be other times for you to meet. Times when you are in full health." 

      "I..." Any argument died in my throat as I looked at Gaster's stern expression. "Fine..." I relented. 

      "Good." The monster smirked, leading me into my room. "Get some rest, one of us will be in the check on you before the day ends with some food."  He explained as I slid into bed.

      "Ok, well, good luck with her highness then." I joked lightly with an unsure smile. Gaster paused at my doorway, offering a smile in return before closing the door and leaving me in a comforting darkness.

                                                                           ......................

Gaster P/V:

      Bone scraped against bone as I dragged my hand down my face. Of all the times to be 'graced' by the royal courts presence it just had to be now. Rolling the stiffness from my shoulders I straightened my posture and smoothed my shirt. I could already hear Alphys' loud voice echoing now the hallways, I just prayed that Liliana would be far enough away to get some semblance of sleep. Especially once Sans joined in.

       "Gaster old friend, how wonderful of you to show up!" A kindhearted but booming voice quipped.

       "I don't see how I was given much of a choice." I countered exasperatedly as I offered my hand to the goat monster.

       "You may have a point there," Asgore laughed heartily as he pulled my hand into a firm shake. "But the real issue here is how hard you are working not only yourself, but your boys as well. I do hate to see you all treating self-care with such little respect." He sighed, slinging his arm around my shoulder. 

     "I'll admit we look a bit more... shaken than usual but that has been because of unusual circumstances."

       "Whatever do you mean? Is it because of the ball? I do not remember them being so tiring..."

      "No, not entirely... though I do think if I am going to have to explain this I would rather do so in the company of all the others to avoid redundancy." 

     "Whatever will you be explaining to us Gaster?" A smooth voice responded. Asgores voice could be compared to a fireplace, warm and comforting, a presence behind it. This voice however was like a wild fire, where beauty might be seen but easily turned into a destructive power.

     "Rather exhausting and cumbersome events my Queen, as well as a gang to lookout for in your territories." Toriel hummed as she came to a stop in front of us.

      "Well, we will have the next few days to discuss these events in detail." She nodded, seemingly making up her mind. "Now, let us be off to the others." The royal left no room for debate as she walked off with Asgore following after a moment of glaring.

     "That's was I was afraid of..." With a bitter sentence mumbled I followed after the Queen and Ex-King.