Alexander's long limbs carried him with slow strides - wanting to ensure @Juliette was having no issue keeping up. Though, given his still slight limp from his injury, it wasn't as if he were going too fast anyway. As they came toward the top of the Hollows, the garden comes into view and the Savante smiles, sighing in a content manner. It was here he felt peace. With the Mother beneath his paws, and her blessings surrounding them; it was hard not to lose himself in moments like these.

The sun was setting slowly, the sky above a blanket of vibrant oranges, purples and pinks. Settling along the edge so they could look down over the territory just outside the cavern entrance, he sits and glances over his shoulder at her, "Thank you for coming with me, Juliette. I realize we haven't had many chances to speak." With her being his Sovereign, it felt almost criminal that this was the case. He'd never been blind to her or all that she did to the Hollows, Alexander had simply felt Juliette wanted to be her own woman - with her own goals and desires.

But now he wanted to know her better.

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Many a thing have happened, Juliette subtly references the events over the last few months that have made it near impossible to take a breath and truly converse. @Alexander ♔ had multitudes of family that had circled his den when he had been injured and when on the mend and thus Juliette had taken it upon herself to continue doing the work to support the Hollow alongside Reti while he did so. That was not to say that her feelings about her position had stayed the same, of course, for nothing was ever permanent but she did hope to listen to whatever he had to say. So Alexander had never been wrong in the assumption that she wanted to be her own woman. Desiring to do everything that she could to not become the sheep but rather the wolf.

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Many a thing have happened. Yes, and many more things would happen. It seemed like so much time had passed since he'd arrived here, within Amaryllis. Though in some ways, it felt like just yesterday he had been in Andal Oasis. Simpler times. A sigh escapes his lips, those pale blue eyes focused forward for the moment - admiring the sky ahead.

"Are you happy here, within the Hollows? I realize I have never asked. You have done an excellent job helping me, and even Reti lead our home, but is there anything else you want?" Did she even know. It occurred to him that he truly didn't know much about her at all, even who her family was. Or where she came from. "I would like to know more about you, Juliette." He murmured, finally saying it out loud.

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Now that was question of the year, was it not? Was she happy here? Would she be happy elsewhere? It was an unknown that even she could not begin to fathom but she had found a sort of rhythm to the Hollows that she found she enjoyed. Though, she had a feeling that one's happiness might be higher than her own. What she felt more often than not was contentment for how things currently were and certainly had not gone out of her way to find her own slice of heaven.

So after a long bout of silence she sighed and gave a soft chuckle, I do not believe I know much of true happiness, to be quite honest. As honest as one could ever be, Juliette aspired to be such. She wasn't much for lies but had been keeping a secret for some time now from many that she likely should have told a while ago. It had never been an important thing for anyone to know and yet she had coveted it like it was a great shame, which it wasn't.

I suppose you should know that I was born in Amaryllis. To one of the original lions of the land and I am certain I hold ties with many that still live within. I am a Valour, if the name has crossed your path. She had yet to be introduced to anyone with the name but she had her suspicions that she was not as alone here as she once thought. So she would rely on @Alexander ♔ and his thoughts, words and body language to access whether or not the name rang a bell and what he thought about having led alongside one for so long without knowing.

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Alexander was silent, observant - watching her closely with every word she spoke. His heart felt for her, understood her on a level he couldn't quite explain. Happiness was a fleeting feeling, it was hard to pin down. Even now, while he had much of what he'd always wanted, there was still things - others missing that made it hard to fully enjoy it. True happiness, it was a myth - he thought.

Ears flick as @Juliette begins to speak of her origin and family. Brows raise, surprise filtering over his features for a moment. But it wasn't anger, or hurt. Simply a curiosity that blossomed in his chest about this woman. The mention of the Valour name too familiar, but it was something he'd remember moving forward.

"Thank you for telling me, Juliette. I think there may be Valour in the Summit, if I am not mistaken. It has been some time since I visited." He had heard rumors of one of the leaders, but nothing more. If she were looking for family, he wished he could give her more information. "Are you looking for your family?" He questions finally, curious.

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Being somewhat anonymous in this land had been something that she and her sister had chosen when they had returned. That same sister had not stayed but it had mattered little for she had solid belief that she would do just as well alone. Losing her sister, however, had certainly put a larger weight on the idea of reuniting with family. Thankfully, @Alexander ♔ seemed to have some sort of understanding as to why she had kept her lineage a secret and if he didn't, then he was doing a great job of hiding his disdain.

The news he carried that there may be Valour in the Summit was, actually, quite a surprise. The snow? The first thought that popped into her head as most of the Valours had always known the more open warmth and expansive grasslands than the snow but surely there was a reason. At his question, however, she gave a little chuckle. Am I? Yes and no? She breathed out, shrugging her shoulders as she made it clear that that question had been on her mind far too many times to count.

I have sensed that things have changed greatly among my family since my original return to Amaryllis. I have not heard any mention on the wind of a Nymeria Valour or Gareth Taur, my parents. It was not like her mother, especially, to not be in the limelight but she supposed now they would have reached a great age... not willing (currently) to accept that either of them had perished.

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He had called her to the side in the hopes of helping her figure out what she wanted. Alexander didn't want any of his loyal members feeling unhappy or restless. She deserved to find happiness like anyone else he supported. Blue eyes watch her with avid interest, the curiosity in his expression undeniable. At the mention of her family changing, his ears swept back - brows furrowing a bit. As @Juliette continued on, he felt his heart suddenly squeeze tightly. One of those names was familiar.

Hard to forget.

She'd been there when Aelynthi had passed away. Suddenly his throat was dry and he was unsure on how to speak, or say what he knew needed to be said. Clearing his throat, Alexander's shoulders rolled back a bit and he sighed, "Juliette, I...when Aelynthi passed away, there was a spirit there to greet her into the afterlife. To bless her passage. She called herself Nymeria Valour." Attention shifts to focus on her, studying the reaction. He would shift a bit closer, in case she needed some sort of comfort. Juliette didn't quite seem the type, but he was more than willing to offer her a shoulder.

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There had always been a small part of her that knew that one day she would tell just the right lion and they would connect her to them. Someone in this valley was bound to know her parents, her family, one way or another and it seemed that @Alexander ♔ had the biggest news of them all.

A part of her was not surprised of the grim news. Juliette had had this dark cloud brewing over her head for some time now every time that she had considered going searching for her mother. Some voice that encouraged her to not and this was looking to be the reason.

So Juliette's expression numbed and her shoulders slouched, her eyes downcast as she took in a deep yet relentless breath. One that she felt she might never truly catch. I think a part of me knew already. When she had gone to that Passage that day and a stranger from the Brook had come to recruit she had felt the shift then. As time had progressed since then she had not heard anything about the Valours in general which only led her to believe that Nymeria was no longer at the head.

While he might have shifted closer, she did not move to comfort or console herself. Recognizing his desire to be a shoulder should it be needed but Juliette was not a simpering pup. She refused to give into her grief. At least not publicly.

I don't suppose you know the reason for her... position? Death her tongue seemed to want to say and yet that word only made her feel uncomfortable because she knew that death was not an end here. It seems that a trip to the Grotto was now inevitable and chided herself for not doing it sooner if only to have received her answers sooner.

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Alexander felt for her. He knew how it felt to lose your parents, especially your Mother. In his culture, the Mothers were always revered and he had all but worshipped his own. Loved her with all his heart and vowed to protect her until his dying breath. Of course, that hadn't happened - he'd failed.

Instinctively he wanted to comfort her, but he was unsure if @Juliette would even be open to such an action. Despite trusting her, and having her here for many years - there always felt like there was this wall she kept carefully placed between her and everyone else. Paws twitch with the desire to reach out and touch her shoulder.

Resisting that urge, he did, however - give into allowing himself to lean over just a bit, pressing his shoulder along her form for warmth. Comfort. Something, even if she did not want to cry or grieve right now. Alexander was not a callous beast and he wanted her to know he was here, and would remain by her side until she decided to leave.

At her question, the King shook his head solemnly. "Unfortunately, no. She was there to bless Aelynthi's birth. I have heard tales, though, I have heard rumor of a grotto you can visit to see the...departed." Just as she hadn't said death, he didn't want to say dead. A smile is offered to the woman. Perhaps there was hope to speak with her Mother?

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