The sea breeze drifted up in eddies from the ocean, carrying with it the scent of salt and seaweed. Orn seemed to delight in the flowers that he found everywhere around him, though Sanria picked him up as she spun in a slow circle. "Where do we go from here?" she thought, and almost on cue, a stately buck lifted its head. With sudden purpose, it bounded back into the forests on the mountain, using a well worn path as its mode of escape. Sanria cautiously walked over to it and looked into the small boy's eyes. "Well, it looks like down."
"Down mama! Lets get Papa, go down!"
They followed the path until it ended at a well at the edge of a small village. The people hesistated, looking at Sanria as an outsider, parting the way until at last, a man dressed in the long robes of a healer stepped forward. "Welcome, traveler. We weren't expecting visitors."
"I'm sorry," Sanria said quietly. "I've come to see if my husband has been here."
"Husband?" the man asked, his eyebrows arching. "Does he have a name or description?"
"Yes, his name is Colin. He's... well... rather large and -"
"Yes," Banion replied. "He is here, but we were under the impression that he was no longer your husband. He is here with his fiancee."
Sanria felt as though she had been punched in the gut and Orn looked at Banion with toddler frustration. "Where Papa?"
"This is his son?" Banion asked.
"Yes, this is Orn. We both miss him very much and would just like to talk to him. That's all."
"I was not aware he had a child..."
"And another on the way," Sanria replied, revealing a four-month swell.
She knew that the man had a change of heart as Banion's face looked to the ground with a frown. "Come, you deserve to speak with Colin. I will allow you both to say in a hut nearby.
"Thank you," Sanria said breathlessly.
The man led the way and showed her to a small hut. "You will be guarded, for your own safety, you understand."
"I understand. I appreciate you letting me speak to him."
"We will see," Banion said, leaving Sanria alone with Orn to wonder how this would play out.
Seeking Guardian
The stream outside the cavern did little to soothe Sanria's mind as Orn gripped her finger, dragging her over to the leaning pine. "Alright," she said, "You talk to the tree." She watched as Orn stuck his little jaw out - looking so much like his father when he was confused or processing information.
"Trees say Papa very far away," Orn said. "Why he go so far away?"
"I know he is," Sanria said, tears dropping from her face. "But he will come back to see you, I'm sure."
"Mama... I no understand. Trees say people took papa from here."
Sanria still didn't believe the information, even when Orn put her hand to the tree trunk and forced her to listen. "The one you call Colin," began the tree, "he was felled here, beneath my branches - harvested."
"Where is he? Do you know?" Sanria asked with desperation.
"Why do you ask such a silly question?"
"Please..."
"Of course... and if you only opened your eyes, you would see as well."
The tears of frustration crowded Sanria's eyes and forced out frustrated sobs. "I can't do this!"
"Is ok Mama," Orn said. "I help."
The small child took hold of her hand and Sanria got a glimpse of a far off place - a mountaintop. "I... I know that place... I... I've seen it in a dream... but..."
"He has been uprooted and transplanted to that place," said the tree.
"You can find him there if you wish. Now, young one, will you let me sleep? You are so noisy."
"But, where is it?" Sanria asked.
"Dark Con... Cont... Content," Orn pronounced happily.
"Dark Content. Okay. We... we have to find a way."
"Yes, we find Papa!" Orn beamed.
They let the tree fall back into its slumber and Sanria rose and walked toward the cavern. She had named herself. The tree said that to do so would open her worlds. She concentrated, Orn at her feet, and focused on the Dark Content. Words filled her mouth, her mind working on a level far deeper than her consciousness. Within a moment, a moonwell burst into view. Mesmerized, Orn toddled forward and slipped, but before he could fall, Sanria caught him on the other side - high above a sea coast in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.
"Trees say Papa very far away," Orn said. "Why he go so far away?"
"I know he is," Sanria said, tears dropping from her face. "But he will come back to see you, I'm sure."
"Mama... I no understand. Trees say people took papa from here."
Sanria still didn't believe the information, even when Orn put her hand to the tree trunk and forced her to listen. "The one you call Colin," began the tree, "he was felled here, beneath my branches - harvested."
"Where is he? Do you know?" Sanria asked with desperation.
"Why do you ask such a silly question?"
"Please..."
"Of course... and if you only opened your eyes, you would see as well."
The tears of frustration crowded Sanria's eyes and forced out frustrated sobs. "I can't do this!"
"Is ok Mama," Orn said. "I help."
The small child took hold of her hand and Sanria got a glimpse of a far off place - a mountaintop. "I... I know that place... I... I've seen it in a dream... but..."
"He has been uprooted and transplanted to that place," said the tree.
"You can find him there if you wish. Now, young one, will you let me sleep? You are so noisy."
"But, where is it?" Sanria asked.
"Dark Con... Cont... Content," Orn pronounced happily.
"Dark Content. Okay. We... we have to find a way."
"Yes, we find Papa!" Orn beamed.
They let the tree fall back into its slumber and Sanria rose and walked toward the cavern. She had named herself. The tree said that to do so would open her worlds. She concentrated, Orn at her feet, and focused on the Dark Content. Words filled her mouth, her mind working on a level far deeper than her consciousness. Within a moment, a moonwell burst into view. Mesmerized, Orn toddled forward and slipped, but before he could fall, Sanria caught him on the other side - high above a sea coast in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.
Waking Colin
Arlenia had tried and tried to wake Colin up, all while attempting to get him to stay. The closer the big man came to consciousness, the more he would look at her with clear and utter contempt and revulsion. Each time, Arlenia would knock him back out until he was content, but would keep calling her Sanria. It wasn't working.
Still, Arlenia had to keep trying. She would keep him in the hut for as long as it took for him to know her as his wife. If that meant he had to stay under sedative for the birth of their child and beyond, so be it. Eventually, he would see the light and they could be a family. Eventually.
For now, Arlenia sat on the edge of the bed, watching the rise and fall of Colin's steady breathing, her heart heavy and her mind cursing the moment Sanria ever came back to life.
Still, Arlenia had to keep trying. She would keep him in the hut for as long as it took for him to know her as his wife. If that meant he had to stay under sedative for the birth of their child and beyond, so be it. Eventually, he would see the light and they could be a family. Eventually.
For now, Arlenia sat on the edge of the bed, watching the rise and fall of Colin's steady breathing, her heart heavy and her mind cursing the moment Sanria ever came back to life.
Going to Hell (1-3)
Telfenham's soul was tired and even moreso as he tried desperately to keep Gilean and Velentham from destroying one another. The sooner they could get underway, the better. Unfortunately, that meant passing through the bowels of hell to get Gilean home. And predictably, the lesser celestial didn't seem at all plussed by the situation. What was the worse, Telfenham knew what was to happen. There would be no chance of Velentham staying behind.
"I don't know why I do this," Telfenham said, "but you do understand, that if we undertake this journey - there is no way I can let my son straggle behind. I know he will follow us, and I won't chance him dying as he attempts it."
"Then he shouldn't straggle behind at all, he should be staying here! If you didn't make the allowance for him to come, maybe he would actually think better of it."
"You speak as one who has forgotten what it means to have a willfully ignorant child." Telfenham looked to Gilean. The shared memories of Gilean's daughter, Bloodmaiden, stood in painful relief. "Should I refresh your memory of your daughter?"
"I had a child who made mistakes... and she paid for them. I couldn't intervene in all matters of her life. Your son must grow up at some point."
"At some point, yes, but it is also my task, as it was yours, to know my child. I know my child. Do you understand?"
"I understand all too well... that you don't particularly care if he comes or not. That you are willing to sacrifice the happiness of others to enable your child to act like a spoiled little brat who wants another child's toy."
Telfenham barely cooled the ire that rose within him. This child had no idea. "I will attempt a final time to explain this to you. My son is the reason I created this place, to try - desperately - to tame him. To teach him. We are across the entirety of the planes from our homeland. Perhaps that means little to you in your form, but if you recall anything, you should know what that separation means. If I leave here with you, he will follow. And most likely, he will die. Perhaps that means little to you and you wish for it, in fact, but I do not. I am his father and I will protect my son."
"No, I wish nothing of the sort, even if he wishes it of me. I just give your son more credit that he's not as foolhardy as you think. He cannot be so blind to his own safety."
Telfenham paused for a moment and sighed deeply. "You do not know my son."
"As we descend into that place, you understand that we will lose more of ourselves." Telfenham looked at Gilean. "We are Guardinals... and the longer we surround ourselves with evil... the harder it will become for us to act with clear minds."
"I have dedicated my life to pacifism, and I am only a part of what I once was... it is you I am more concerned about in that regard."
Telfenham chuckled. Already he could foresee the problems that a pacifist would have in the hells. "If you are even a tenth Celestial, the nine hells will bring it rushing like boiling water to the surface. Velentham and I will feel it first, but feel it - you will." Telfenham nodded. "I will fashion a few trinkets for us to take, essences of this place to hold us as long as can be expected, but if we find ourselves sidetracked for any reason, we may well find ourselves dead."
"Very well then. I am ready as soon as your trinkets have been fashioned."
"When we get into the hells," Telfenham began, "you will see that there is no time for consideration. There is no room for time at all - for the beings there will slaughter you as soon as they get whiff of your scent. I hope, for your sake, you can draw upon what you are, for we will need your blade, not your healing touch."
"You may not have noticed, I do not even carry a blade... but I will defend myself when needed."
"We will remedy that. And I hope you understand it is not only your self that you will need to defend." Telfenham looked at Gilean intently.
"Of course, without you I stand little chance of arriving home," Gilean said with a smirk.
Telfenham let out a sigh. He knew that his knowledge would have to come out. He gave another attempt to avoid speaking what he knew. "No matter what our disagreements are, once we enter the hells, we are family. Without that mindset, we stand little chance at all."
"While we may disagree on several things," Gilean said, "I do have respect for you Telfenham. Do not mistake my disapproval for malice."
"I worry not on your respect for me. But the respect between you and my son."
"If your son chooses to come that is your charge, not mine." Gilean frowned. "I cannot be responsible for his actions, and I fear he would be the most dangerous member of the journey. He doesn't seem exactly stable, even in this place."
"Eosos, yet again your mouth precedes your mind." Telfenham lowered his head into his hand. "For all your bickering, you two are so much alike."
Telfenham continued, ignoring Gilean's scoff. "I take no charges or wards into the hells, but brothers who will defend one another to the death. Do you understand?"
"And you think he thinks that of me?"
"He thinks just as you do now. He hears me just as you do now. He abhors the idea and finds it disgustingly sweet. But he will obey, as will you."
"Telfenham, stop enabling his behavior! You created this whole place just to accommodate him. How will he ever change if you keep making allowances for him?"
Telfenham stared at Gilean with a long sigh. "We are doomed."
Telfenham turned away, the secret he had kept from both Gilean and Velentham weighing him down. "You said you would talk to him... what of that?" Gilean said from behind. The shorter celestial quickened his pace to keep up with Telfenham.
"Do you think I did not? We will see if you arrive home to your family, Eosos, and if either my son or I make it out alive. With the division you two create between one another, we'll be fortunate if we make it out at all - let alone through all nine levels."
"Velentham is willing to trek through the nine hells to speak once more with a woman he barely knows?"
Telfenham stopped at this. He suddenly realized that Gilean had no truly deep understanding of what had transpired between Velentham and Sanria. The man could not comprehend. Even then, through helping Gilean obtain his memories, Telfenham had seen much, too. "You say this, yet you are willing to trek through the hells to get back to a woman you've known for nearing two months? You are not the only one who had gained your memories, Eosos. You should know, in the fact of things, that my son just by touching her has gained more of her than the mere passage of time allowed. Both he and I had every reason to believe she would be returning. It appears her death prevented that."
Gilean looked down and Telfenham had a shred of hope. "I will do whatever I can to ensure the success of our journey, I just fear for what may become of his actions. It seems I am helpless in that regard."
"I cannot claim I know what he will do. I intend fully to try to speak to him as we move through our journey. If he can be dissuaded, I will do what I can... but you do not wish to wait for me to continue trying here, do you?"
"Do what you can in the time it takes for the preparations to be complete. We will begin as soon as all is ready."
"I will handle my son - in the meantime, dwell upon what I've said. Distaste will have to be put aside. We are going to be in far too much danger for anything to take that focus."
Telfenham watched as Gilean nodded, his face somber. He knew they wouldn't survive the trip if he left it merely to his words. He had to let Gilean understand. He lifted his hand to Gilean's temple, revealing a memory to him. A girl with the features of Gilean's mother playing with a boy holding Telfenham's features. He watched with sad eyes as reality sank into Gilean. "I'll do whatever I can to ensure we succeed," Gilean said quietly.
With that, Gilean's uncle turned and walked sullenly into the fields beyond.
"I don't know why I do this," Telfenham said, "but you do understand, that if we undertake this journey - there is no way I can let my son straggle behind. I know he will follow us, and I won't chance him dying as he attempts it."
"Then he shouldn't straggle behind at all, he should be staying here! If you didn't make the allowance for him to come, maybe he would actually think better of it."
"You speak as one who has forgotten what it means to have a willfully ignorant child." Telfenham looked to Gilean. The shared memories of Gilean's daughter, Bloodmaiden, stood in painful relief. "Should I refresh your memory of your daughter?"
"I had a child who made mistakes... and she paid for them. I couldn't intervene in all matters of her life. Your son must grow up at some point."
"At some point, yes, but it is also my task, as it was yours, to know my child. I know my child. Do you understand?"
"I understand all too well... that you don't particularly care if he comes or not. That you are willing to sacrifice the happiness of others to enable your child to act like a spoiled little brat who wants another child's toy."
Telfenham barely cooled the ire that rose within him. This child had no idea. "I will attempt a final time to explain this to you. My son is the reason I created this place, to try - desperately - to tame him. To teach him. We are across the entirety of the planes from our homeland. Perhaps that means little to you in your form, but if you recall anything, you should know what that separation means. If I leave here with you, he will follow. And most likely, he will die. Perhaps that means little to you and you wish for it, in fact, but I do not. I am his father and I will protect my son."
"No, I wish nothing of the sort, even if he wishes it of me. I just give your son more credit that he's not as foolhardy as you think. He cannot be so blind to his own safety."
Telfenham paused for a moment and sighed deeply. "You do not know my son."
"As we descend into that place, you understand that we will lose more of ourselves." Telfenham looked at Gilean. "We are Guardinals... and the longer we surround ourselves with evil... the harder it will become for us to act with clear minds."
"I have dedicated my life to pacifism, and I am only a part of what I once was... it is you I am more concerned about in that regard."
Telfenham chuckled. Already he could foresee the problems that a pacifist would have in the hells. "If you are even a tenth Celestial, the nine hells will bring it rushing like boiling water to the surface. Velentham and I will feel it first, but feel it - you will." Telfenham nodded. "I will fashion a few trinkets for us to take, essences of this place to hold us as long as can be expected, but if we find ourselves sidetracked for any reason, we may well find ourselves dead."
"Very well then. I am ready as soon as your trinkets have been fashioned."
"When we get into the hells," Telfenham began, "you will see that there is no time for consideration. There is no room for time at all - for the beings there will slaughter you as soon as they get whiff of your scent. I hope, for your sake, you can draw upon what you are, for we will need your blade, not your healing touch."
"You may not have noticed, I do not even carry a blade... but I will defend myself when needed."
"We will remedy that. And I hope you understand it is not only your self that you will need to defend." Telfenham looked at Gilean intently.
"Of course, without you I stand little chance of arriving home," Gilean said with a smirk.
Telfenham let out a sigh. He knew that his knowledge would have to come out. He gave another attempt to avoid speaking what he knew. "No matter what our disagreements are, once we enter the hells, we are family. Without that mindset, we stand little chance at all."
"While we may disagree on several things," Gilean said, "I do have respect for you Telfenham. Do not mistake my disapproval for malice."
"I worry not on your respect for me. But the respect between you and my son."
"If your son chooses to come that is your charge, not mine." Gilean frowned. "I cannot be responsible for his actions, and I fear he would be the most dangerous member of the journey. He doesn't seem exactly stable, even in this place."
"Eosos, yet again your mouth precedes your mind." Telfenham lowered his head into his hand. "For all your bickering, you two are so much alike."
Telfenham continued, ignoring Gilean's scoff. "I take no charges or wards into the hells, but brothers who will defend one another to the death. Do you understand?"
"And you think he thinks that of me?"
"He thinks just as you do now. He hears me just as you do now. He abhors the idea and finds it disgustingly sweet. But he will obey, as will you."
"Telfenham, stop enabling his behavior! You created this whole place just to accommodate him. How will he ever change if you keep making allowances for him?"
Telfenham stared at Gilean with a long sigh. "We are doomed."
Telfenham turned away, the secret he had kept from both Gilean and Velentham weighing him down. "You said you would talk to him... what of that?" Gilean said from behind. The shorter celestial quickened his pace to keep up with Telfenham.
"Do you think I did not? We will see if you arrive home to your family, Eosos, and if either my son or I make it out alive. With the division you two create between one another, we'll be fortunate if we make it out at all - let alone through all nine levels."
"Velentham is willing to trek through the nine hells to speak once more with a woman he barely knows?"
Telfenham stopped at this. He suddenly realized that Gilean had no truly deep understanding of what had transpired between Velentham and Sanria. The man could not comprehend. Even then, through helping Gilean obtain his memories, Telfenham had seen much, too. "You say this, yet you are willing to trek through the hells to get back to a woman you've known for nearing two months? You are not the only one who had gained your memories, Eosos. You should know, in the fact of things, that my son just by touching her has gained more of her than the mere passage of time allowed. Both he and I had every reason to believe she would be returning. It appears her death prevented that."
Gilean looked down and Telfenham had a shred of hope. "I will do whatever I can to ensure the success of our journey, I just fear for what may become of his actions. It seems I am helpless in that regard."
"I cannot claim I know what he will do. I intend fully to try to speak to him as we move through our journey. If he can be dissuaded, I will do what I can... but you do not wish to wait for me to continue trying here, do you?"
"Do what you can in the time it takes for the preparations to be complete. We will begin as soon as all is ready."
"I will handle my son - in the meantime, dwell upon what I've said. Distaste will have to be put aside. We are going to be in far too much danger for anything to take that focus."
Telfenham watched as Gilean nodded, his face somber. He knew they wouldn't survive the trip if he left it merely to his words. He had to let Gilean understand. He lifted his hand to Gilean's temple, revealing a memory to him. A girl with the features of Gilean's mother playing with a boy holding Telfenham's features. He watched with sad eyes as reality sank into Gilean. "I'll do whatever I can to ensure we succeed," Gilean said quietly.
With that, Gilean's uncle turned and walked sullenly into the fields beyond.
Outrageous Plans
Velentham stood in the center of the plains and let out a loud yell of anger. What had happened? Everything was fine for so long. He hadn't had a problem or a care in the world. Years prior, his father brought him to this plane, it soothed him yet he was still close enough to go forth and battle the evil that swarmed near the Nine Hells and Gehenna. He would let out his anger and return. Then he met Sanria. He fell in love with her, he touched her heart, she made him feel whole. Then came all the others - and Gilean.
Velentham took out his sword and with a howl of anger, sliced through the tall grasses, felling them easily. Gilean Eosos. Son of a traitor, still a traitor, a man who didn't know his place. He would learn.
Velentham bent space within the plane and arrived at Gilean's side, looking as though he was ready for battle. "You're not worth it."
"Just what are you planning then?" Gilean asked, rising from the grass.
Velentham crossed the distance, his face pinched with rage. "By the Gods, would that I could run you through and ensure you'd never return."
"I hope that someday you can be more accepting of others' viewpoints."
Immediately, Velentham drew back his free fist. He would smash Gilean's face in if nothing else. He would teach him a lesson. Before he could, from nowhere, Telfenham's hand wrapped tightly about his son's fist. "No, Velentham. This will solve nothing."
"He's not worth it, father. You can't go through with this."
"That is for me to decide. My choice - and his."
Velentham snatched his hand from his father and glared at Gilean. The hatred ran like ice through his veins. 'Go, Velentham,' his father telepathed. 'You are doing nothing here but attempting to cause strife. If you harm him, no good will be done. You will have your way, even if I may not agree.' Velentham vanished with a huff.
Velentham took out his sword and with a howl of anger, sliced through the tall grasses, felling them easily. Gilean Eosos. Son of a traitor, still a traitor, a man who didn't know his place. He would learn.
Velentham bent space within the plane and arrived at Gilean's side, looking as though he was ready for battle. "You're not worth it."
"Just what are you planning then?" Gilean asked, rising from the grass.
Velentham crossed the distance, his face pinched with rage. "By the Gods, would that I could run you through and ensure you'd never return."
"I hope that someday you can be more accepting of others' viewpoints."
Immediately, Velentham drew back his free fist. He would smash Gilean's face in if nothing else. He would teach him a lesson. Before he could, from nowhere, Telfenham's hand wrapped tightly about his son's fist. "No, Velentham. This will solve nothing."
"He's not worth it, father. You can't go through with this."
"That is for me to decide. My choice - and his."
Velentham snatched his hand from his father and glared at Gilean. The hatred ran like ice through his veins. 'Go, Velentham,' his father telepathed. 'You are doing nothing here but attempting to cause strife. If you harm him, no good will be done. You will have your way, even if I may not agree.' Velentham vanished with a huff.
Ancient Studies
Telfenham had walked the planes many times before, but never in the way that would be required to get Gilean home as soon as possible. Unlike the elf that showed up with the necklace, Telfenham had no trinket which easily sliced through planes. Telfenham only had abilities. He could create planes, he could traverse them, but only in real time, and that meant from where they were, Gilean was a long, long, long way from home.
Telfenham sighed as he looked over the planar map in his study. There was only one way to make this trip fast, and by fast, 5 months. Only one way, and it would put them all in the deepest danger. He would have to escort Gilean through the Nine Hells. All the way down, until at last, they could reach the portal to the Outlands. once there, the city of Sigil would await them and they could easily find the portal to the material plane. But oh, the risk.
Celestials in the den of everything evil. Telfenham stared at the map, looking for any other way. It was the fastest, and he knew that Gilean would not hesitate to use it, but it was the most risky. Outside of that, the trip to the material plane would take them through roughly eighty-seven major- and demi-planes.
Velentham walked in and peered down over his father's shoulder. "You can't be serious, father. You can't be."
"I gave him my word, Velentham. What more can be done?"
"For him? Eosos? He's a traitor to his race and a... a..."
"There is more to him, Velentham. There are things you do not understand."
"Then help me to understand, father. Help me understand why you will go to such lengths for this man but not for me?"
Telfenham stood up and glared at his son. For the first time in a long time, the aura about him glowed with intensity. His eyes burned with a bright silver as he looked at the cowed young Celestial. "I have done more than I ever intended to do for you, Velentham. I have allowed you to insult me. I have allowed you to pout like a child. I will no longer have it. It is because of your appetites that we are here, and because of your appetites that we are both at risk of banishment. If you know what is best for you, you will stay your tongue and your temper."
His head bowed, Velentham vanished, leaving Telfenham to calm himself and look back at the map. There had to be another way, perhaps he just hadn't seen it yet.
Telfenham sighed as he looked over the planar map in his study. There was only one way to make this trip fast, and by fast, 5 months. Only one way, and it would put them all in the deepest danger. He would have to escort Gilean through the Nine Hells. All the way down, until at last, they could reach the portal to the Outlands. once there, the city of Sigil would await them and they could easily find the portal to the material plane. But oh, the risk.
Celestials in the den of everything evil. Telfenham stared at the map, looking for any other way. It was the fastest, and he knew that Gilean would not hesitate to use it, but it was the most risky. Outside of that, the trip to the material plane would take them through roughly eighty-seven major- and demi-planes.
Velentham walked in and peered down over his father's shoulder. "You can't be serious, father. You can't be."
"I gave him my word, Velentham. What more can be done?"
"For him? Eosos? He's a traitor to his race and a... a..."
"There is more to him, Velentham. There are things you do not understand."
"Then help me to understand, father. Help me understand why you will go to such lengths for this man but not for me?"
Telfenham stood up and glared at his son. For the first time in a long time, the aura about him glowed with intensity. His eyes burned with a bright silver as he looked at the cowed young Celestial. "I have done more than I ever intended to do for you, Velentham. I have allowed you to insult me. I have allowed you to pout like a child. I will no longer have it. It is because of your appetites that we are here, and because of your appetites that we are both at risk of banishment. If you know what is best for you, you will stay your tongue and your temper."
His head bowed, Velentham vanished, leaving Telfenham to calm himself and look back at the map. There had to be another way, perhaps he just hadn't seen it yet.
Asking Nature
It had been a day, or perhaps it had been two, could it have been three weeks already? Sanria didn't know or care. She had trudged around the cavern doing everything she normally did without seeing herself actually doing anything. She moved in a perpetual slow motion and her constant companion was the note she held clutched in her hand.
She had climbed the stairs to Orn's room and found herself staring at the little boy as he played. Suddenly, he was at her legs. "Mama."
"What is it little heart?"
"Where's Papa?"
It was as though Sanria realized for the first time she wasn't alone in this. Orn wore an expression of both confusion and anger. She could hardly bear to look at him. "I don't know, Papa went on a trip."
"He went on trip?" the little boy parroted.
"Mmhmm. On a trip."
"Where he go?" The question out of the mouth of her son was nearly more than Sanria coule bear.
"I don't know, Orn," she replied, her eyes filling with tears. "He said he had to go away and think about things. He's going away for a little while."
"You miss Papa?" Orn asked, his little hand resting on Sanria's. The tears could no longer be held back.
"I miss your Papa."
"I miss Papa too. When he come back?" Orn asked.
"In a little while, I'm sure." Sanria looked to her hands. "I hope..."
"Tomorrow?" Orn asked, his eyes wide with hope.
"We will see. Would you like to go outside?" Perhaps the change of scenery would stop the questioning and make the ache in Sanria's heart cease throbbing.
"I want go see Papa!"
"We can't, Orn. I don't know where he's gone. I'm sorry."
Orn took Sanria's hand in his. "It's ok Mama, I find Papa! We ask trees! We go see him!" Sanria frowned inwardly, how she was going to deal with Orn for however long it took Colin to come back, she didn't know. With a small sigh, she rose and let the tiny boy lead her out of the room.
She had climbed the stairs to Orn's room and found herself staring at the little boy as he played. Suddenly, he was at her legs. "Mama."
"What is it little heart?"
"Where's Papa?"
It was as though Sanria realized for the first time she wasn't alone in this. Orn wore an expression of both confusion and anger. She could hardly bear to look at him. "I don't know, Papa went on a trip."
"He went on trip?" the little boy parroted.
"Mmhmm. On a trip."
"Where he go?" The question out of the mouth of her son was nearly more than Sanria coule bear.
"I don't know, Orn," she replied, her eyes filling with tears. "He said he had to go away and think about things. He's going away for a little while."
"You miss Papa?" Orn asked, his little hand resting on Sanria's. The tears could no longer be held back.
"I miss your Papa."
"I miss Papa too. When he come back?" Orn asked.
"In a little while, I'm sure." Sanria looked to her hands. "I hope..."
"Tomorrow?" Orn asked, his eyes wide with hope.
"We will see. Would you like to go outside?" Perhaps the change of scenery would stop the questioning and make the ache in Sanria's heart cease throbbing.
"I want go see Papa!"
"We can't, Orn. I don't know where he's gone. I'm sorry."
Orn took Sanria's hand in his. "It's ok Mama, I find Papa! We ask trees! We go see him!" Sanria frowned inwardly, how she was going to deal with Orn for however long it took Colin to come back, she didn't know. With a small sigh, she rose and let the tiny boy lead her out of the room.
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