Walking through the forest, Ror placed his hand on a tree every few feet. As he closed his eyes, he concentrated. Where was it? It had been a long time, and the forest was a living thing. Living things
changed. Ror tapped into his memories and compared them to that of the trees. Gradually he came closer to what he was looking for.
Ror looked up at the wall of plants before him that blocked his path. "It's here."
With a single step, he stepped forward and pushed himself through the plants. The greenery swallowed him, and before he knew it, he was at the other side. He placed his foot on one of the many small rocks
in his vicinity and looked up at the giant tree that still grew here. Ror pressed on, climbing the rocks up towards the tree trunk.
He smiled as he noticed a weathered, wooden sign. The letters had faded, but he knew what they had said, once, they had spelled out "Welcome".
"I'm home."
Renewed Vigor
Claire appeared in a flash of purple light that shot through Ruthivan's room, illuminating his sleeping form on the bed. Claire crept closer and looked down at him. He looked lost, haggard, scraggly, and most of all, exhausted. She loathed him, the way he had forced this link upon her, the way he had succeeded in tearing apart her life with Gilean. Yes, death would certainly end the bond, but to kill an esper - indeed to kill anyone - was beneath Claire's capacity. There had to be another way.
Claire stood there for a long moment, staring down at Ruthivan's sleeping form, and thought about leaving. But the smell of him, sweat - forest - leather, made her body dance with a charged energy. Every atom in her skin seemed to vibrate and as if calling out to his, they roused Ruthivan.
Claire held her breath as, by the light of her own purple skin, Ruthivan's dark red eyes locked onto her. She could see in that moment the confusion, the state of believing it to be a dream, then the realization that it wasn't. She loathed him. Yes, she truly did loathe him. But she felt herself willingly go as he pulled her to him. Like a drug, his kiss sent Claire into a swoon of intoxication. Logic could tell her why. But all logic had been left standing at the bedside.
"You can stay here with me, you know..."
"No. I can't."
"Why? Why not?" Claire rose from the bed and dressed, facing away from Ruthivan. "I just... can't. I'll bring the children to see you tomorrow but..." In a moment she was back at the cottage, slipping into her familiar bed. She knew Gilean was awake, but she couldn't bear to touch him. She wasn't sure he'd let her if she tried.
Claire stood there for a long moment, staring down at Ruthivan's sleeping form, and thought about leaving. But the smell of him, sweat - forest - leather, made her body dance with a charged energy. Every atom in her skin seemed to vibrate and as if calling out to his, they roused Ruthivan.
Claire held her breath as, by the light of her own purple skin, Ruthivan's dark red eyes locked onto her. She could see in that moment the confusion, the state of believing it to be a dream, then the realization that it wasn't. She loathed him. Yes, she truly did loathe him. But she felt herself willingly go as he pulled her to him. Like a drug, his kiss sent Claire into a swoon of intoxication. Logic could tell her why. But all logic had been left standing at the bedside.
"You can stay here with me, you know..."
"No. I can't."
"Why? Why not?" Claire rose from the bed and dressed, facing away from Ruthivan. "I just... can't. I'll bring the children to see you tomorrow but..." In a moment she was back at the cottage, slipping into her familiar bed. She knew Gilean was awake, but she couldn't bear to touch him. She wasn't sure he'd let her if she tried.
Lost and Found
Claire stared out of the window that faced the back of her cottage. She watched the lazy stream bubble and babble its way over the rocks, scattering the sunlight on its surface. She watched the tufts of pollen that dropped from the trees, glowing speckles that drifted on the light breeze. They had more freedom than she.
Night finally fell and the children were tucked away in bed. Claire sat with Gilean, watching him read in his chair, the firelight casting a deep yellow glow on his skin. From the corner of his eye, he looked over at her and closed his book. He gave a warm, though pitying smile. "You seem troubled," he said gently.
"I can't keep doing this, Gilean," Claire replied.
"Doing what?"
"Staying inside, locked away from life out of fear."
"There's nothing else we can do."
"I am going to go to him."
A sudden chill went through the room and Gilean looked down at his lap. Claire sighed lightly. "I know we have been trying to let this bond die, but it's not, Gilean. I am losing my mind."
"I just think that given time-"
"How much time? I'm... I'm miserable, Gilean. This method is not the answer. I'm not feeling less drawn to him, on the contrary, it's gotten worse."
"I don't know what else I can say," he whispered.
Claire's heart ached for Gilean. She hated what she did to him, hated making him hurt, but she could do nothing about what nature had placed between herself and Ruthivan. She stood up and walked over to Gilean, giving him a small hug, one that was meekly returned. "I'll be back." A nod was all she gained by way of a reply.
Night finally fell and the children were tucked away in bed. Claire sat with Gilean, watching him read in his chair, the firelight casting a deep yellow glow on his skin. From the corner of his eye, he looked over at her and closed his book. He gave a warm, though pitying smile. "You seem troubled," he said gently.
"I can't keep doing this, Gilean," Claire replied.
"Doing what?"
"Staying inside, locked away from life out of fear."
"There's nothing else we can do."
"I am going to go to him."
A sudden chill went through the room and Gilean looked down at his lap. Claire sighed lightly. "I know we have been trying to let this bond die, but it's not, Gilean. I am losing my mind."
"I just think that given time-"
"How much time? I'm... I'm miserable, Gilean. This method is not the answer. I'm not feeling less drawn to him, on the contrary, it's gotten worse."
"I don't know what else I can say," he whispered.
Claire's heart ached for Gilean. She hated what she did to him, hated making him hurt, but she could do nothing about what nature had placed between herself and Ruthivan. She stood up and walked over to Gilean, giving him a small hug, one that was meekly returned. "I'll be back." A nod was all she gained by way of a reply.
Mrs. Wolldon
Leandra looked down at the bundle in her arms. Truth was she was afraid of the tiny infant that lay there, sleeping. She'd never had a baby before and it hurt like hell. He came out screaming and didn't quiet until her mom put him in her arms. She was afraid because for the first time, Leandra realized she really was a mom and really did actually marry Askari. She realized they had no where to live but here with her mom and dad. She looked at Askari and saw that he was afraid, too.
Even the day of her wedding, as she and Askari stared at each other in the druid grove, even as the Elder Druid looked at them like they were too young but trying, even as she repeated the druid's words and squeezed Askari's hands and put the ring on his finger, she was afraid. Was the rest of her life going to be fear like this?
The baby (they couldn't even figure out what to name him yet) stirred and brought Leandra's eyes onto him. He was cute - with the dark hair of his dad and the dark eyes of his dad and the lighter red skin of his dad... and Leandra's mind wandered. Maybe Esper genes were stronger than human genes. Maybe.
Leandra called to her dad. She asked him to let her and Askari stay until they found their own house. She talked to Colin and felt her heart sink. She could tell he wasn't proud of her, maybe even embarrassed by her but he said that wasn't true. Then, Leandra's mind wandered to Nioma. She asked her father if he'd be telling the baby who her real dad was - but every time she asked, Colin just got mad. Like he didn't think she had a different dad... like he didn't care that she wouldn't know when she got bigger. Sometimes, though, it was good to know when to stop talking.
Askari came back into the room after her dad left, and Leandra looked at him closely. He was her husband now, and her baby's dad, and she did love him. She may not know everything about him yet, but she would, and even though things still didn't feel completely right, and even though she was still afraid, at least looking at him made her feel not alone. She would never again be alone.
Even the day of her wedding, as she and Askari stared at each other in the druid grove, even as the Elder Druid looked at them like they were too young but trying, even as she repeated the druid's words and squeezed Askari's hands and put the ring on his finger, she was afraid. Was the rest of her life going to be fear like this?
The baby (they couldn't even figure out what to name him yet) stirred and brought Leandra's eyes onto him. He was cute - with the dark hair of his dad and the dark eyes of his dad and the lighter red skin of his dad... and Leandra's mind wandered. Maybe Esper genes were stronger than human genes. Maybe.
Leandra called to her dad. She asked him to let her and Askari stay until they found their own house. She talked to Colin and felt her heart sink. She could tell he wasn't proud of her, maybe even embarrassed by her but he said that wasn't true. Then, Leandra's mind wandered to Nioma. She asked her father if he'd be telling the baby who her real dad was - but every time she asked, Colin just got mad. Like he didn't think she had a different dad... like he didn't care that she wouldn't know when she got bigger. Sometimes, though, it was good to know when to stop talking.
Askari came back into the room after her dad left, and Leandra looked at him closely. He was her husband now, and her baby's dad, and she did love him. She may not know everything about him yet, but she would, and even though things still didn't feel completely right, and even though she was still afraid, at least looking at him made her feel not alone. She would never again be alone.
Familiarity (1-2)
Sanria was warmed at how enthusiastically Ror took the moss. He checked his list and agreed he had all he needed. Methodical and attentive. She stared at the uniform again with a smile and nod. "Throm would have been very happy with you, I know it."
"Eh?" came the puzzled reply.
"Ah, my ramblings. You're a studious mind and a researcher. He would have truly enjoyed meeting you and perhaps getting to know you as he was also."
"Was he a famous researcher?" Ror asked.
"Famous..." and Sanria chuckled. "He was a congressman for TriPower and a leader of the army. I don't know about famous, but well known. Well known."
"I will ask around then, because I have not seen any statues of him yet."
"I don't know that there will be any. But he was a good man. It seems you are as well."
She anticipated Ror would be off and in fact Sanria had made ready to say goodbye, but it seemed the sorrow on her face had stopped the researcher from going. "My apologies if my remarks have caused you sorrow. I meant well. All the great men and women of the TriPower have their statue. I know, I studied them. Just none of Throm."
"There is no need for apologies. I'm not truly certain all know of his death, he was known for disappearing as well. In their minds, he may simply be off on another adventure." Wasn't that death anyway? Another grand adventure? Inwardly she chuckled, certainly Throm would have thought so.
"May I be so bold and ask you how he died?"
Sanria took the proffered arm and allowed herself to be led to the side of the falls where moss grew in abundance. There, she sat near Ror, and told him about Throm's death - the black makou that had plagued him for so many years - the last time she saw him that he was free of it, but had died. The truth was, Sanria did not know how Throm had died, but she had a suspicion. Getting the black mako out, in her mind, had ended Throm's life. The thought flittered across her mind that what was in Colin might just have to stay in there forever.
Colin... she had forgotten completely about Colin and Nioma. The last thing she needed was Colin to come out of the cavern and see her sprawled on the moss with a man he'd never seen. Not that she was, necessarily, sprawled "with" Ror, but... "I think I shall go then, but I would like to make an appoint, if that's not a problem," he asked as she rose to go.
"To return?"
"Here? I suspect elsewhere to be honest. But if here, then here, yes." It shocked Sanria a little, they hadn't gotten on that well, had they? "Any where, certainly. When and where?"
"When you have the time, as for where, that would be Throm's laboratory."
Sanria's breath caught. The absolute forward nature of the request was raw against the wound she had allowed to surface. What had she done? "I... can't do that... I'm sorry."
"Sorry, I didn't mean you have to go with me. You can if you want. All I ask is that you show me where it is."
"No... I can't... do that," she replied again. What the hell had she done.
"Too dangerous or personal objections?"
"Quite a bit of both, I assure you. Throm had secrets that... even with his not being here, I suspect would be best kept that way. Besides... he does still have a son out there somewhere and I don't feel it my place to reveal his father's personal life."
"Alright. There's nothing I can do then. But, if Throm's research falls in another's hands, outside the TriPower, what then?"
"There is much you do not know about Throm uth Bannon, Ror."
They parted, Ror's words, "Heh, you told me more than they did. And I read the books too. Such an important man, yet no statue," knocking against her brain. And then he mouthed a few words, no sound, but she was certain she had not misinterpreted. "I need to know. Because I don't trust him." Even in death, she thought, Throm was plagued with what? Being a politician and a sorcerer who knew far more than he ever let on. She would meet with Ror again, but this time, she would watch her words carefully.
Sanria went back inside, back into the thick air, back into the place where happiness hinged on her staying put. She regretted going outside today. She regretted talking to someone new. She regretted that she would have to weave yet another fabrication to extricate herself from saying too much, and yet another fabrication to keep someone she cared for safe... even if he was dead.
"Eh?" came the puzzled reply.
"Ah, my ramblings. You're a studious mind and a researcher. He would have truly enjoyed meeting you and perhaps getting to know you as he was also."
"Was he a famous researcher?" Ror asked.
"Famous..." and Sanria chuckled. "He was a congressman for TriPower and a leader of the army. I don't know about famous, but well known. Well known."
"I will ask around then, because I have not seen any statues of him yet."
"I don't know that there will be any. But he was a good man. It seems you are as well."
She anticipated Ror would be off and in fact Sanria had made ready to say goodbye, but it seemed the sorrow on her face had stopped the researcher from going. "My apologies if my remarks have caused you sorrow. I meant well. All the great men and women of the TriPower have their statue. I know, I studied them. Just none of Throm."
"There is no need for apologies. I'm not truly certain all know of his death, he was known for disappearing as well. In their minds, he may simply be off on another adventure." Wasn't that death anyway? Another grand adventure? Inwardly she chuckled, certainly Throm would have thought so.
"May I be so bold and ask you how he died?"
Sanria took the proffered arm and allowed herself to be led to the side of the falls where moss grew in abundance. There, she sat near Ror, and told him about Throm's death - the black makou that had plagued him for so many years - the last time she saw him that he was free of it, but had died. The truth was, Sanria did not know how Throm had died, but she had a suspicion. Getting the black mako out, in her mind, had ended Throm's life. The thought flittered across her mind that what was in Colin might just have to stay in there forever.
Colin... she had forgotten completely about Colin and Nioma. The last thing she needed was Colin to come out of the cavern and see her sprawled on the moss with a man he'd never seen. Not that she was, necessarily, sprawled "with" Ror, but... "I think I shall go then, but I would like to make an appoint, if that's not a problem," he asked as she rose to go.
"To return?"
"Here? I suspect elsewhere to be honest. But if here, then here, yes." It shocked Sanria a little, they hadn't gotten on that well, had they? "Any where, certainly. When and where?"
"When you have the time, as for where, that would be Throm's laboratory."
Sanria's breath caught. The absolute forward nature of the request was raw against the wound she had allowed to surface. What had she done? "I... can't do that... I'm sorry."
"Sorry, I didn't mean you have to go with me. You can if you want. All I ask is that you show me where it is."
"No... I can't... do that," she replied again. What the hell had she done.
"Too dangerous or personal objections?"
"Quite a bit of both, I assure you. Throm had secrets that... even with his not being here, I suspect would be best kept that way. Besides... he does still have a son out there somewhere and I don't feel it my place to reveal his father's personal life."
"Alright. There's nothing I can do then. But, if Throm's research falls in another's hands, outside the TriPower, what then?"
"There is much you do not know about Throm uth Bannon, Ror."
They parted, Ror's words, "Heh, you told me more than they did. And I read the books too. Such an important man, yet no statue," knocking against her brain. And then he mouthed a few words, no sound, but she was certain she had not misinterpreted. "I need to know. Because I don't trust him." Even in death, she thought, Throm was plagued with what? Being a politician and a sorcerer who knew far more than he ever let on. She would meet with Ror again, but this time, she would watch her words carefully.
Sanria went back inside, back into the thick air, back into the place where happiness hinged on her staying put. She regretted going outside today. She regretted talking to someone new. She regretted that she would have to weave yet another fabrication to extricate herself from saying too much, and yet another fabrication to keep someone she cared for safe... even if he was dead.
Research Division
"He disappeared?" the elf asked.
"He died. Old history... I'm sorry," Sanria replied, standing straighter.
"I see. My condolences"
"Thank you. I'm Sanria Stone."
"Ror Surion," he said with a salute. "Research division."
"What do you research, if I could ask?"
"Ah, I research the domains of magic, most predominantly the lifeforce and nature."
Sanria's head swam. Lifeforce and nature. Key components in the creation of Nioma. She batted the thoughts away before they could take hold. This was a new face. Before she knew it, he rattled off the names of each herb in her hand and it pleased her greatly. "Are you a sage? Most who aren't don't really know them so well..."
"Indeed, I am a sage. Although still in training, I must admit."
"We are always in training, Sir Ror."
"Touche."
The elf, Ror, had been looking for herbs and in particular the moss that grew abundantly at the edge of the falls. It was an opportunity to show the cavern to a new face, and Sanria led Ror behind the falls and into the sparkle of the Bejuril Crystals. She allowed him to take a few, telling him the story of Icehawk and how, long ago, he had been able to fashion communication crystals that worked with technology. Yet another memory from a time that seemed so far away from now.
Sanria left Ror happily pulling crystals from the cavern and walked back out into the forests. She gathered the moss for him, tucking it into one of the satchels she had brought for her own purposes, then sat across from the falls, watching the water. An elf. In truth, the last one she had seen was Kaliadra and that was ages past. How was she? Obviously alive, for without her Sanria would also be dead. Had she forgotten herself? Or perhaps she had found a new life and moved on. The questions kept surfacing until Ror at last made his way back out from the cavern.
"He died. Old history... I'm sorry," Sanria replied, standing straighter.
"I see. My condolences"
"Thank you. I'm Sanria Stone."
"Ror Surion," he said with a salute. "Research division."
"What do you research, if I could ask?"
"Ah, I research the domains of magic, most predominantly the lifeforce and nature."
Sanria's head swam. Lifeforce and nature. Key components in the creation of Nioma. She batted the thoughts away before they could take hold. This was a new face. Before she knew it, he rattled off the names of each herb in her hand and it pleased her greatly. "Are you a sage? Most who aren't don't really know them so well..."
"Indeed, I am a sage. Although still in training, I must admit."
"We are always in training, Sir Ror."
"Touche."
The elf, Ror, had been looking for herbs and in particular the moss that grew abundantly at the edge of the falls. It was an opportunity to show the cavern to a new face, and Sanria led Ror behind the falls and into the sparkle of the Bejuril Crystals. She allowed him to take a few, telling him the story of Icehawk and how, long ago, he had been able to fashion communication crystals that worked with technology. Yet another memory from a time that seemed so far away from now.
Sanria left Ror happily pulling crystals from the cavern and walked back out into the forests. She gathered the moss for him, tucking it into one of the satchels she had brought for her own purposes, then sat across from the falls, watching the water. An elf. In truth, the last one she had seen was Kaliadra and that was ages past. How was she? Obviously alive, for without her Sanria would also be dead. Had she forgotten herself? Or perhaps she had found a new life and moved on. The questions kept surfacing until Ror at last made his way back out from the cavern.
The Elf
Tea. That's why Sanria needed to leave the cavern. Not for the stifling feeling or the sensation she was drowning beneath the weight of some yet untold lie. Not for the tiny twinge of guilt that wrenched her bowels in a tremor of tiny needles pricking at her innards. Tea. Herbs. She was running out, knowing full well the containers were full. Sanria excused herself, leaving Colin holding Nioma, "their" blue-eyed daughter.
The forest offered a lungful of fresh air. Sanria could never quite explain how the forest made her feel. The air was vital, thick with the scent of pine and loam. It was cool and soothing, and she found herself humming quietly as she plucked the growing sprigs of chamomile and yarrow. With a few more spearmint leaves, she would have enough. And as she went to the edge of a tree, she heard the humming that was not her own.
Sanria was stunned into silence. He was an elf, tanned, athletic, and a bit taller than Sanria herself. Her eyes then fell on his uniform and she found her breath caught in her throat. When was the last time she had seen a TriPower uniform? A sudden wave grief hit her, but she untied the knot in her stomach and fought back the tears that stung her eyes. She rarely allowed herself time to think of Throm. In everything that had happened, those memories had been relegated to the back of her mind.
"Excuse me..." Sanria said, approaching the elf, who now picked at a few herbs of his own.
"Oh! Hello, didn't see you there," he replied.
"Quite alright... I was just... wondering... you are wearing TriPower regalia, correct?" Of course she was correct, but anything to make small talk. Anything to perhaps touch a tiny corner of the fabric that had been her life. Not too much... but just enough.
"Ahem, yes madam, indeed, you are correct."
"It's been a long while since I've seen it..."
"The regalia, or something else?"
"You are keenly perceptive. I lost someone very special to me." She wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch the armors. She refrained.
"You may have known him, though perhaps not, he was a leader of TriPower."
"I'm all ears, madam."
"Throm uth Bannon," she replied, fighting her grief back.
The forest offered a lungful of fresh air. Sanria could never quite explain how the forest made her feel. The air was vital, thick with the scent of pine and loam. It was cool and soothing, and she found herself humming quietly as she plucked the growing sprigs of chamomile and yarrow. With a few more spearmint leaves, she would have enough. And as she went to the edge of a tree, she heard the humming that was not her own.
Sanria was stunned into silence. He was an elf, tanned, athletic, and a bit taller than Sanria herself. Her eyes then fell on his uniform and she found her breath caught in her throat. When was the last time she had seen a TriPower uniform? A sudden wave grief hit her, but she untied the knot in her stomach and fought back the tears that stung her eyes. She rarely allowed herself time to think of Throm. In everything that had happened, those memories had been relegated to the back of her mind.
"Excuse me..." Sanria said, approaching the elf, who now picked at a few herbs of his own.
"Oh! Hello, didn't see you there," he replied.
"Quite alright... I was just... wondering... you are wearing TriPower regalia, correct?" Of course she was correct, but anything to make small talk. Anything to perhaps touch a tiny corner of the fabric that had been her life. Not too much... but just enough.
"Ahem, yes madam, indeed, you are correct."
"It's been a long while since I've seen it..."
"The regalia, or something else?"
"You are keenly perceptive. I lost someone very special to me." She wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch the armors. She refrained.
"You may have known him, though perhaps not, he was a leader of TriPower."
"I'm all ears, madam."
"Throm uth Bannon," she replied, fighting her grief back.
Casualties of Love (1-2)
Sanria had barely put her head against Colin's chest, conceding that she would stay with him, when the scream cut through the night. Immediately, Colin bristled and moved her behind him as he snaked through the trees. A body lay at the entrance to the cavern and as they approached, Sanria made out the clothing - or lack of clothing - as belonging to Maya.
"Well, she's alive but she's losing a lot of blood..." Colin said, and Sanria walked to the pathway, bringing a large ball of continual light into existence. There was no one as far as she could see, and she let the spell go and turned back to Colin and Maya.
"H....help me.."
"What happened to you?"
Sanria did not listen to the remainder of her words. The woman's arm was laid open and she focused what limited ability she had on staunching the flow of blood. At last, the fibers of muscle were knitted back together and the skin was more or less a weeping scrape. A priest she was not. "I'm afraid I will... I will, I wont be able to refrain from try... trying to destroy it."
"Trying to destroy what?" Sanria asked, wiping her forehead.
"The.... b..baby.." Maya strained.
"Your baby? But... why?"
"It wasn't.... born from love... It's.... its all a lie.."
The guilt swept over Sanria as well as a twinge of sorrow. She glanced at Colin before looking down. They had just expended so much energy on this topic and it was as if the realms were conspiring to keep it at the fore. "No. I know Thasmudyan and he wouldn't do that to you," Sanria said.
"Listen, you have been hurt. We need to get you more help," Colin said.
"He wouldn't be with you if he didn't love you, Maya."
"You should try to save your strength. There will be time to talk more about this later."
Colin was right. "We should take her into town. There should be healers that can help her at the temples." Sanria stood as Colin lifted Maya in his arms.
"It's not mine, not really," Maya sobbed. "He laid with me wanting you... Its.... really your ....baby."
"No. No that isn't true," Sanria would not allow herself to believe it.
"Take it away, before I di....die..."
"He wouldn't have been with you without affection for you. I... I know him, Maya."
Colin looked at Maya, his voice authoritative, "Maya, you must save your strength." He looked over at Sanria, his face tired, angry, frustrated. "I can take her if you can just send us. I will make sure she is seen."
With a nod, Sanria envisioned the Temple of Lathander, and with a quick spell, sent the two on their way. She slowly retreated back to the cavern with a deep sigh. She couldn't picture Thasmudyan =not= loving Maya if he slept with her, she couldn't picture him using her. And why had all this happened tonight?
It was a long time before Colin arrived back at the cavern. He seemed little willing to speak about Maya, preferring to tell Sanria that the woman was safe, would be fine, and that she had claimed Thasmudyan had poisoned her. Sanria looked back at him incredulously, a look that was mirrored on Colin's face. Thasmudyan poisoning someone was about as likely as Orn turning into a butterfly. Something wasn't right, but it was nothing Sanria could worry about at that moment. She settled into Colin's arms as he let out a long exhale and drifted off to sleep.
Sanria laid there a long time in the dark, Colin seeming to clutch her to him in his sleep. She watched his face betray a range of dreaming emotions. She felt there was something more that he knew, something that he was not telling her. Sanria sighed and settled her head into the crook of his arm. Things would get better, no matter whether there were secrets or not. There was no other choice. They had to.
"Well, she's alive but she's losing a lot of blood..." Colin said, and Sanria walked to the pathway, bringing a large ball of continual light into existence. There was no one as far as she could see, and she let the spell go and turned back to Colin and Maya.
"H....help me.."
"What happened to you?"
Sanria did not listen to the remainder of her words. The woman's arm was laid open and she focused what limited ability she had on staunching the flow of blood. At last, the fibers of muscle were knitted back together and the skin was more or less a weeping scrape. A priest she was not. "I'm afraid I will... I will, I wont be able to refrain from try... trying to destroy it."
"Trying to destroy what?" Sanria asked, wiping her forehead.
"The.... b..baby.." Maya strained.
"Your baby? But... why?"
"It wasn't.... born from love... It's.... its all a lie.."
The guilt swept over Sanria as well as a twinge of sorrow. She glanced at Colin before looking down. They had just expended so much energy on this topic and it was as if the realms were conspiring to keep it at the fore. "No. I know Thasmudyan and he wouldn't do that to you," Sanria said.
"Listen, you have been hurt. We need to get you more help," Colin said.
"He wouldn't be with you if he didn't love you, Maya."
"You should try to save your strength. There will be time to talk more about this later."
Colin was right. "We should take her into town. There should be healers that can help her at the temples." Sanria stood as Colin lifted Maya in his arms.
"It's not mine, not really," Maya sobbed. "He laid with me wanting you... Its.... really your ....baby."
"No. No that isn't true," Sanria would not allow herself to believe it.
"Take it away, before I di....die..."
"He wouldn't have been with you without affection for you. I... I know him, Maya."
Colin looked at Maya, his voice authoritative, "Maya, you must save your strength." He looked over at Sanria, his face tired, angry, frustrated. "I can take her if you can just send us. I will make sure she is seen."
With a nod, Sanria envisioned the Temple of Lathander, and with a quick spell, sent the two on their way. She slowly retreated back to the cavern with a deep sigh. She couldn't picture Thasmudyan =not= loving Maya if he slept with her, she couldn't picture him using her. And why had all this happened tonight?
It was a long time before Colin arrived back at the cavern. He seemed little willing to speak about Maya, preferring to tell Sanria that the woman was safe, would be fine, and that she had claimed Thasmudyan had poisoned her. Sanria looked back at him incredulously, a look that was mirrored on Colin's face. Thasmudyan poisoning someone was about as likely as Orn turning into a butterfly. Something wasn't right, but it was nothing Sanria could worry about at that moment. She settled into Colin's arms as he let out a long exhale and drifted off to sleep.
Sanria laid there a long time in the dark, Colin seeming to clutch her to him in his sleep. She watched his face betray a range of dreaming emotions. She felt there was something more that he knew, something that he was not telling her. Sanria sighed and settled her head into the crook of his arm. Things would get better, no matter whether there were secrets or not. There was no other choice. They had to.
An end to a Beginning
Looking down at her own body as the yelling in the nearby glade ceased, Maya pondered her own prediciment for the first time. She was with child, Thasmudyans child, and now she knew he never even loved her. Unlike that man, who loved Sanria so much, even though she loved another... Love? Maya snorted at the rediculousness of her thoughts? Love? No, Not her.
She could hasten the pregnancy along, or let it take its own course, it didnt matter to her which way it happened, she wasnt going to keep the child, The pregnancy would suit her purpose, long enough to destory the families happy end, and she would offer the half drow bastard up to the order, it was bad enough she had to live under this guise as a human, let alone birthing a half breed.
"Time to get on with it then, be seeing you soon, Colin." she muttered to herself, pushing up from the rocks by the falls, Maya staggered out, Slashing her flesh willingly on the rocks, Maya made her way toward the tiny little cabbin, allowing a gut renching scream, she pitched foward, face down into the ground about 20 paces from the caverns entrance and waited, her blood soaking into her garments.
She could hasten the pregnancy along, or let it take its own course, it didnt matter to her which way it happened, she wasnt going to keep the child, The pregnancy would suit her purpose, long enough to destory the families happy end, and she would offer the half drow bastard up to the order, it was bad enough she had to live under this guise as a human, let alone birthing a half breed.
"Time to get on with it then, be seeing you soon, Colin." she muttered to herself, pushing up from the rocks by the falls, Maya staggered out, Slashing her flesh willingly on the rocks, Maya made her way toward the tiny little cabbin, allowing a gut renching scream, she pitched foward, face down into the ground about 20 paces from the caverns entrance and waited, her blood soaking into her garments.
Watching Waiting
Maya had sat on the rocks by the waterfall, listening to the deafening roar of the spray smashing into where she sat, echoing along with each pump of her own heart. She couldn't recall how long she had sat and waited, watching the small little home in the cavern just north of the falls. She smiled at the first sound of breaking wood and raised voice. She tried to warn him, The husband, Colin he was called, that it wouldnt be his baby, but he wouldn't listen, Maya didnt even remember how she knew, just that she had baited him with those very words just a short time before And here out of that small little home, it all came spilling over. She wanted to take that child, with all its whorish origin and fling it into the raging current of the falls, but that wouldn't get her anywhere... If she did take it though, would it cause a closer union between Sanria andColin? Better to wait, wait and watch, Yes, thats what she would do.... As soon as Maya had decided what to do, the cabin door burst open and Colin stormed from the small home, followed shortly by Sanria. Maya nestled down into the shadows cast by the rocks, and listened in to as much as she could hear. Yes if she was going to succeed with this man, she needed the upper hand, taking the child wouldn't do that, not yet anyway... He had to come around to her way of thinking, and Maya smiled as she realised how to do that.
Log: 07102012 - Ror and Sanria
OOC commentary: Second encounter with Sanria. It is a continuation of the previous one. This time she tells Ror quite a bit about the past, including the TriPower and Throm! The conversation also strayed upon Westbridge and its occupation. A discussion that not only had the important line "uplifting the spirit of the people of Westbridge" in it, but possibly also pushed Sanria further onto the path of ensuring Westbridge would be liberated.
Family Guardian (1-2)
Sanria had been puzzled for the entire day. She watched Colin as he doted on their new arrival, smiles, kisses, hugs, her breath catching. Why wasn't he angry? He took care of her as well, though with the residual healing energy from the child coursing through her, she didn't need much. It was as if he truly didn't care - or maybe didn't know - but how could that be?
"How are you feeling?" he asked once the day had wound to a close.
"I'm fine... but how are you?"
"Wonderful. She's beautiful isn't she?"
"Colin... I'm really sorry."
"About what?"
"Well, that she's..." Sanria paused as Colin looked at her, completely not understanding... or perhaps not really wanting to. "We'll have to have Thasmudyan around, you know, not all the time but-"
"Why?" Colin asked, his demeanor beginning to shift.
"Because she needs to have her father around, don't you think?"
"She has her father, right here. Right?" The very slow darkening of Colin's eyes sent a small chill through Sanria, but she couldn't lie to him. "Right?"
"Colin..."
"Sanria, that is our daughter. Yours and mine."
Sanria's heart went out to the little girl, sleeping soundly in the small dressing room. She knew she had to get Colin to see, and so with careful steps, she continued dropping the hints until Colin exploded. With fury he ransacked the bedroom and stormed out. With a small spell woven to keep the baby asleep, Sanria went quickly after him and out into the forest beyond.
"NO!" Colin kept repeating, slamming his fists into tree trunks and sending bits of them flying off into the darkness. "You're wrong!"
"Colin, please, stop. Listen to me..." and finally, he stopped, heaving with unspent energy. He stared down at her, his face looking on the verge of tears through the utter rage. "Okay. She is our daughter... I'm probably wrong."
"But you don't believe that," he said through clenched teeth.
"Do you?"
And the fight slowly left. His voice grew quieter as he kept himself from tears. "I shouldn't be here."
"Why would you say that?"
"Look at what I put you through. I have to lie to myself just to keep control..."
"You are needed and important. Orn needs you, Leandra adores you-"
"All I want is for us to be together, a family, for you to be happy..."
"We are a family," Sanria said, feeling the full implication of her words.
"And I'm trying. But we are all together, and we have our family." Colin looked at Sanria in the darkness, the moon casting only the faintest glow through the trees. "You came after me..."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You want me around... you want to have me with you."
Sanria walked nearer, wrapping her arms around Colin, leaning her head against him. She couldn't have this happen again. If it meant that Thasmudyan never knew, that is what it meant. She was their daughter, hers and Colin's, and she loved Colin before, she would do it again. What he wanted was simple, and that is just how Sanria would try to keep it.
"How are you feeling?" he asked once the day had wound to a close.
"I'm fine... but how are you?"
"Wonderful. She's beautiful isn't she?"
"Colin... I'm really sorry."
"About what?"
"Well, that she's..." Sanria paused as Colin looked at her, completely not understanding... or perhaps not really wanting to. "We'll have to have Thasmudyan around, you know, not all the time but-"
"Why?" Colin asked, his demeanor beginning to shift.
"Because she needs to have her father around, don't you think?"
"She has her father, right here. Right?" The very slow darkening of Colin's eyes sent a small chill through Sanria, but she couldn't lie to him. "Right?"
"Colin..."
"Sanria, that is our daughter. Yours and mine."
Sanria's heart went out to the little girl, sleeping soundly in the small dressing room. She knew she had to get Colin to see, and so with careful steps, she continued dropping the hints until Colin exploded. With fury he ransacked the bedroom and stormed out. With a small spell woven to keep the baby asleep, Sanria went quickly after him and out into the forest beyond.
"NO!" Colin kept repeating, slamming his fists into tree trunks and sending bits of them flying off into the darkness. "You're wrong!"
"Colin, please, stop. Listen to me..." and finally, he stopped, heaving with unspent energy. He stared down at her, his face looking on the verge of tears through the utter rage. "Okay. She is our daughter... I'm probably wrong."
"But you don't believe that," he said through clenched teeth.
"Do you?"
And the fight slowly left. His voice grew quieter as he kept himself from tears. "I shouldn't be here."
"Why would you say that?"
"Look at what I put you through. I have to lie to myself just to keep control..."
"You are needed and important. Orn needs you, Leandra adores you-"
"All I want is for us to be together, a family, for you to be happy..."
"We are a family," Sanria said, feeling the full implication of her words.
"And I'm trying. But we are all together, and we have our family." Colin looked at Sanria in the darkness, the moon casting only the faintest glow through the trees. "You came after me..."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You want me around... you want to have me with you."
Sanria walked nearer, wrapping her arms around Colin, leaning her head against him. She couldn't have this happen again. If it meant that Thasmudyan never knew, that is what it meant. She was their daughter, hers and Colin's, and she loved Colin before, she would do it again. What he wanted was simple, and that is just how Sanria would try to keep it.
A Bundle of Hope
Colin felt like things were finally coming together. Times had been very difficult since Arlenia's... death. Just the thought of that incident brought pangs of dread and sorrow up in his chest. That single event not only showed Colin a part of just how much the black makou within him could take control, but it had also shattered his almost perfect life with one sweep of his blades. Colin deeply regretted his actions on that day, not because he felt Arlenia deserved better - after all, the woman had murdered one child of his and attempted to kill another, but rather because of just how far it had driven Sanria from him.
Over the past few months Colin had tried desperately to keep Sanria at least around him, even if she refused to be in a relationship with him. The occasional nights they had shared were much needed breaths of fresh air to keep him fron suffocating. Every time he thought of her going away he could feel himself losing control. He loved Sanria deeply, which made things painful enough, but this was something worse. He had a taste of it before when Sanria had gone off to the frozen north to die. In those few days she was gone it was all he could do to stay sane and he had held onto the then infant Orn like a drowning man to a piece of driftwood.
Finally, things were beginning to change. The visit from Maya the other day was almost more than he could have hoped for. While it truly pained him to see Sanria hurt by the news of Thasmudyan's continued relationship with, and impregnation of, the other woman, Colin couldn't help but feel relief at the revelation. Thasmudyan wasn't the right man for Sanria and maybe now she could finally see that. At least he wouldn't have to deal with him in the house anymore... when or if he ever showed back up.
And now, their daughter was born. He held the small bundle in his arms, cradling the tiny new life that was a part Sanria and a part him. He handed the child off and watched each of their other two children take their turns holding the baby. Finally the child made it back to Sanria and Colin stood there full of pride, love, and hope. Their whole family, together in one room, celebrating the addition of another.
Colin had never let go of hope. After all, he didn't even think he could if he wanted to maintain his sanity and control over his own actions. But now, finally, he felt that his hope wasn't just in desperation but that they could truly begin moving back toward happiness. Things were finally coming back together.
Over the past few months Colin had tried desperately to keep Sanria at least around him, even if she refused to be in a relationship with him. The occasional nights they had shared were much needed breaths of fresh air to keep him fron suffocating. Every time he thought of her going away he could feel himself losing control. He loved Sanria deeply, which made things painful enough, but this was something worse. He had a taste of it before when Sanria had gone off to the frozen north to die. In those few days she was gone it was all he could do to stay sane and he had held onto the then infant Orn like a drowning man to a piece of driftwood.
Finally, things were beginning to change. The visit from Maya the other day was almost more than he could have hoped for. While it truly pained him to see Sanria hurt by the news of Thasmudyan's continued relationship with, and impregnation of, the other woman, Colin couldn't help but feel relief at the revelation. Thasmudyan wasn't the right man for Sanria and maybe now she could finally see that. At least he wouldn't have to deal with him in the house anymore... when or if he ever showed back up.
And now, their daughter was born. He held the small bundle in his arms, cradling the tiny new life that was a part Sanria and a part him. He handed the child off and watched each of their other two children take their turns holding the baby. Finally the child made it back to Sanria and Colin stood there full of pride, love, and hope. Their whole family, together in one room, celebrating the addition of another.
Colin had never let go of hope. After all, he didn't even think he could if he wanted to maintain his sanity and control over his own actions. But now, finally, he felt that his hope wasn't just in desperation but that they could truly begin moving back toward happiness. Things were finally coming back together.
New Arrival
The birth was as simple as Sanria had anticipated. Of course, there was the obligatory pain and blood, but she had done this before. In fact, as she watched Colin cradling the bundle protectively to his chest, she had done this five times now. Five children, one dead, one fully grown and with his own life and responsibilities, two teenagers, and one tiny infant who was the most unexpected of them all. Surprise.
Colin was elated, as he always was, at the newest Stone. Sanria watched him cuddle the little girl who stayed contentedly quiet throughout all of the proceedings -a sleepy little bundle who seemed to need little in her first moments in the world. Colin, Sanria thought, was perfectly fine to insulate himself in this cavern so long as she was in it with him. As predicted, he did not want Thasmudyan around, he would no longer accept healings. Simply stated, he did not want Sanria to have the chance to get close to Thasmudyan again. She could do nothing but relent.
Orn and Leandra both came into the room, Orn taking a few moments to look over the sleeping baby, then passing her to Leandra who seemed to coo in a way that Sanria assumed was just her hormones. This child was due to her meddling, Sanria thought, but she could not be angry. The only thing Leandra wanted was to have her mother and father together again, and through the perfect storm of circumstances, she was to have it. Soon enough, she'd be a mother herself. It was a thought Sanria had to save for another time.
The sleeping infant was passed back to her mother, and Sanria laid down in the bed, resting in the pillows with a sigh. This would have to be the last one. She closed her eyes and listened to Colin's baritone voice, chatting with Orn and Leandra. The entire family, present in one room for the first time in... a very long time. Sanria looked down at the baby, running a finger on her cheek, and the infant opened her eyes. Sanria's heart stopped. Looking back at her was a pair of the bluest eyes she had seen - exactly like Thasmudyan's.
Colin was elated, as he always was, at the newest Stone. Sanria watched him cuddle the little girl who stayed contentedly quiet throughout all of the proceedings -a sleepy little bundle who seemed to need little in her first moments in the world. Colin, Sanria thought, was perfectly fine to insulate himself in this cavern so long as she was in it with him. As predicted, he did not want Thasmudyan around, he would no longer accept healings. Simply stated, he did not want Sanria to have the chance to get close to Thasmudyan again. She could do nothing but relent.
Orn and Leandra both came into the room, Orn taking a few moments to look over the sleeping baby, then passing her to Leandra who seemed to coo in a way that Sanria assumed was just her hormones. This child was due to her meddling, Sanria thought, but she could not be angry. The only thing Leandra wanted was to have her mother and father together again, and through the perfect storm of circumstances, she was to have it. Soon enough, she'd be a mother herself. It was a thought Sanria had to save for another time.
The sleeping infant was passed back to her mother, and Sanria laid down in the bed, resting in the pillows with a sigh. This would have to be the last one. She closed her eyes and listened to Colin's baritone voice, chatting with Orn and Leandra. The entire family, present in one room for the first time in... a very long time. Sanria looked down at the baby, running a finger on her cheek, and the infant opened her eyes. Sanria's heart stopped. Looking back at her was a pair of the bluest eyes she had seen - exactly like Thasmudyan's.
Mother Daughter
Sanria ascended the stairs, leaving Maya and Colin behind. She would send Thasmudyan to Maya as soon as he arrived back at the cavern. First, she would talk to her daughter. She opened Leandra's door, her eyes locking on her daughter's. "Why did you guys have to tell her I was pregnant?"
"I didn't. Your father did," Sanria said and closed the door behind her.
"It's not fair," Leandra began, and Sanria felt the anger leave her limbs. She sat heavily in the rocking chair and stared into the room. "Mama?"
"Yes, Leandra?"
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"No. I don't believe I am."
There was nothing to say. There was nowhere left to go. It was her reality. "I'm sorry, Mama," Leandra whispered.
"You should never be sorry for uncovering the truth, Leandra. No matter how bad it may hurt."
"I was really mad at you but... I'm not mad anymore."
"Thank you, Leandra," Sanria said, her chest weighted.
"I... hope you're not mad at Papa."
Sanria sighed deeply and looked at Leandra. How could this child know that her words gouged Sanria's heart. Leandra had done everything to get Sanria back with Colin. How could she have assumed that it would stop? Somehow, the girl had found the key, and twisted it. Sanria closed her eyes and looked away. It was her reality, and she knew that this was merely the moment when life had decided to force her hand. She got up and walked over to Leandra, patting her affectionately on the shoulder. "I love you, Leandra."
Sanria walked from the room, down the hall, to the Observatory and sat in the chair. All hope for the end of this situation was gone. She knew Colin wouldn't want Thasmudyan around, and that meant Colin would not get healed. She knew that within hours, Colin would push her again to recommit him, and what would she say? There was no where left for her to go and knowing what Colin had in him, she couldn't go even if she wanted to. She slid down in the chair, feeling small, and stared out over the realms as they changed color with the setting sun. There were no other options. Not anymore.
"I didn't. Your father did," Sanria said and closed the door behind her.
"It's not fair," Leandra began, and Sanria felt the anger leave her limbs. She sat heavily in the rocking chair and stared into the room. "Mama?"
"Yes, Leandra?"
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"No. I don't believe I am."
There was nothing to say. There was nowhere left to go. It was her reality. "I'm sorry, Mama," Leandra whispered.
"You should never be sorry for uncovering the truth, Leandra. No matter how bad it may hurt."
"I was really mad at you but... I'm not mad anymore."
"Thank you, Leandra," Sanria said, her chest weighted.
"I... hope you're not mad at Papa."
Sanria sighed deeply and looked at Leandra. How could this child know that her words gouged Sanria's heart. Leandra had done everything to get Sanria back with Colin. How could she have assumed that it would stop? Somehow, the girl had found the key, and twisted it. Sanria closed her eyes and looked away. It was her reality, and she knew that this was merely the moment when life had decided to force her hand. She got up and walked over to Leandra, patting her affectionately on the shoulder. "I love you, Leandra."
Sanria walked from the room, down the hall, to the Observatory and sat in the chair. All hope for the end of this situation was gone. She knew Colin wouldn't want Thasmudyan around, and that meant Colin would not get healed. She knew that within hours, Colin would push her again to recommit him, and what would she say? There was no where left for her to go and knowing what Colin had in him, she couldn't go even if she wanted to. She slid down in the chair, feeling small, and stared out over the realms as they changed color with the setting sun. There were no other options. Not anymore.
Escher's Relativity
The sensation was most like falling, or perhaps it was like being punched in the gut and needing to vomit, or perhaps it was like nothing. Yes. If nothing had a feeling, it would be this. A void. But then again... no. Whatever it was, it was in Sanria as she opened her door and watched Maya walk in. The words came back to her in a roar, a distant conversation:
"You asked why I keep showing up in your life," Thasmudyan said, "Don't
you think that maybe, being with you was the happiest moment in my lives,
and that all I'm hoping for is another chance to have something like that
again?"
"What if Maya comes looking for you?" she asked.
"I'll deal with that if it happens. She hasn't been, though."
"If you want to be with her... if she does, I won't stop you. I've done
my fair share of... others."
"Fair enough. Still, I don't see myself choosing her if I could have you
instead."
Sanria felt her knees go weak. This was not supposed to happen. Not when she had just decided. Not when she had just told Colin that when Thasmudyan came back, she was going to be with him. No. Not this. Not now.
"So it is the right residence then. Evening to you Sanria," Maya said. No, no, this wasn't supposed to be. How did she know anything was going on? And then Sanria's questions were answered as her daughter hopped down the stairs calling out a hello. No.
"I... I see you've met my daughter, somehow. Colin... this is Maya. Maya, this is Colin, Leandra's father."
"The husband I presume," and the words seemed a slap in Sanria's face.
"No... not... exactly," Sanria said, ignored.
"I have heard your name before," Colin said.
"I'm an acquaintance of your wife's," another slap.
"We're, separated... actually,"
"Such a shame, true love really is something rare to be treasured. I'm sure you'll both find it some day," and Maya rested her eyes on Sanria.
This was not supposed to be happening. Leandra excused herself and ran back up the stairs, and Maya launched into a discussion - one to which Sanria found no choice but to sit down for. Leandra hated her, and was miserable, and needed to know the truth about Brin and Visha and- where had this come from? "Driven by a series of hates and hurts that filtered into the wrong hands will destroy your family," Maya said.
"Please, listen. There are no lies here. She knows her father and I love her, she knows that I'm not... exactly with her father. As far as Brin goes, she had issues within her that Leandra couldn't hope to compete with."
"In a world where so many children prepare to come to breathe.... should we not offer them a future worth living? Your daughter gives me hope towards my own, please do not misplace my intentions."
"...your own?"
"You didn't know? Oh of course not, it has been so long since that day you introduced us. I'm with child."
"With... wait... whose child?"
"Thasmudyan's of course."
Yes. Like falling and being punched and needing to vomit. Like cold that curls up at your feet, winding about them, nestling like a viper. Sanria felt herself turn away, blanching at the expression on Colin's face, the one he was trying to keep her from seeing. She had told Thasmudyan before that she was afraid this reality was permanent for her. Though he gave his assurances it was not... Sanria had merely to turn around to look on the face of the truth.
"You asked why I keep showing up in your life," Thasmudyan said, "Don't
you think that maybe, being with you was the happiest moment in my lives,
and that all I'm hoping for is another chance to have something like that
again?"
"What if Maya comes looking for you?" she asked.
"I'll deal with that if it happens. She hasn't been, though."
"If you want to be with her... if she does, I won't stop you. I've done
my fair share of... others."
"Fair enough. Still, I don't see myself choosing her if I could have you
instead."
Sanria felt her knees go weak. This was not supposed to happen. Not when she had just decided. Not when she had just told Colin that when Thasmudyan came back, she was going to be with him. No. Not this. Not now.
"So it is the right residence then. Evening to you Sanria," Maya said. No, no, this wasn't supposed to be. How did she know anything was going on? And then Sanria's questions were answered as her daughter hopped down the stairs calling out a hello. No.
"I... I see you've met my daughter, somehow. Colin... this is Maya. Maya, this is Colin, Leandra's father."
"The husband I presume," and the words seemed a slap in Sanria's face.
"No... not... exactly," Sanria said, ignored.
"I have heard your name before," Colin said.
"I'm an acquaintance of your wife's," another slap.
"We're, separated... actually,"
"Such a shame, true love really is something rare to be treasured. I'm sure you'll both find it some day," and Maya rested her eyes on Sanria.
This was not supposed to be happening. Leandra excused herself and ran back up the stairs, and Maya launched into a discussion - one to which Sanria found no choice but to sit down for. Leandra hated her, and was miserable, and needed to know the truth about Brin and Visha and- where had this come from? "Driven by a series of hates and hurts that filtered into the wrong hands will destroy your family," Maya said.
"Please, listen. There are no lies here. She knows her father and I love her, she knows that I'm not... exactly with her father. As far as Brin goes, she had issues within her that Leandra couldn't hope to compete with."
"In a world where so many children prepare to come to breathe.... should we not offer them a future worth living? Your daughter gives me hope towards my own, please do not misplace my intentions."
"...your own?"
"You didn't know? Oh of course not, it has been so long since that day you introduced us. I'm with child."
"With... wait... whose child?"
"Thasmudyan's of course."
Yes. Like falling and being punched and needing to vomit. Like cold that curls up at your feet, winding about them, nestling like a viper. Sanria felt herself turn away, blanching at the expression on Colin's face, the one he was trying to keep her from seeing. She had told Thasmudyan before that she was afraid this reality was permanent for her. Though he gave his assurances it was not... Sanria had merely to turn around to look on the face of the truth.
Adults Blow
Leandra called mentally for her father and waited, twiddling her thumbs and sighing. He was certainly taking his time, maybe he was just upset and didn't really want to see her - he still sounded upset by all of this. Still, she had to clarify things. As she left Maya, the woman had spoken into her mind, "Visha." She had mentioned that Visha was Brin's father, but if Visha was Brin's father, then that meant Visha was her father, too. Then Colin wasn't her dad at all, and that sent a little bit of panic into Leandra's body.
"Papa," she started once Colin had barely gotten into the room, "who is Visha?" She couldn't have anticipated the look of shock on his face.
"Visha...? Where did you hear that name?"
"I... you're my real dad, aren't you? Not Visha?"
"Of course I'm your dad. Now, Leandra, tell me, where did you hear this?"
"Promise you won't get mad at me?"
"Oh Leandra..."
So Leandra launched into the story of how she escaped the confines of the cavern and headed into Westbridge (what else was she supposed to do, actually stay here?) and her encounter with Maya. She told Colin how Maya was supposed to marry Thasmudyan and saw her father's eyes lighten a bit. "So anyways, I talked to her more about it and begged her to help me get rid of him, and she said she would. That all I had to do was tell Thasmudyan that I wanted a little time with my family before he got with Mama so he'd leave and go to Maya. Then she said she'd do the rest."
"Wait, wait... Leandra, you just met this woman and you're... plotting with her?"
"Not to kill him, she told me that she wasn't going to do that. Just to get him away from here so that you and mama can be together again. But... then she got this weird look on her face when I told her my name. She said, "Brin Stone?" and I was like yeah, and told her how gross... I mean, how you and Emalia had a baby and named her that."
"Leandra, be respectful."
"Well it is..." she muttered.
"Did she say anything about where Visha and Brin are now?" Colin asked.
"No. Nothing else. But she asked where we live and said maybe she'd come visit us."
And like magic, like, really - the doorbell rang. Ignoring her grounding, Leandra leapt up from her bed with a grin. "Maybe that's her!" And she zipped out the door.
"Leandra, wait!" Colin called after.
"Papa," she started once Colin had barely gotten into the room, "who is Visha?" She couldn't have anticipated the look of shock on his face.
"Visha...? Where did you hear that name?"
"I... you're my real dad, aren't you? Not Visha?"
"Of course I'm your dad. Now, Leandra, tell me, where did you hear this?"
"Promise you won't get mad at me?"
"Oh Leandra..."
So Leandra launched into the story of how she escaped the confines of the cavern and headed into Westbridge (what else was she supposed to do, actually stay here?) and her encounter with Maya. She told Colin how Maya was supposed to marry Thasmudyan and saw her father's eyes lighten a bit. "So anyways, I talked to her more about it and begged her to help me get rid of him, and she said she would. That all I had to do was tell Thasmudyan that I wanted a little time with my family before he got with Mama so he'd leave and go to Maya. Then she said she'd do the rest."
"Wait, wait... Leandra, you just met this woman and you're... plotting with her?"
"Not to kill him, she told me that she wasn't going to do that. Just to get him away from here so that you and mama can be together again. But... then she got this weird look on her face when I told her my name. She said, "Brin Stone?" and I was like yeah, and told her how gross... I mean, how you and Emalia had a baby and named her that."
"Leandra, be respectful."
"Well it is..." she muttered.
"Did she say anything about where Visha and Brin are now?" Colin asked.
"No. Nothing else. But she asked where we live and said maybe she'd come visit us."
And like magic, like, really - the doorbell rang. Ignoring her grounding, Leandra leapt up from her bed with a grin. "Maybe that's her!" And she zipped out the door.
"Leandra, wait!" Colin called after.
Directive Lambda
The Report from Lynk was disturbing to be sure, but the news was not out of the ordinary. With Vecotr's occupation of the city of Westbidge came the rise in crime, and filth present in the city. The level of corruption that had found its way into the city, against his efforts left a sour copper taste in Psycho's mouth. The reports claimed that this may have been the Long Death, but with the spread his efforts left a sour copper taste in Psycho's mouth. The reports claimed that this may have been the Long Death, but with the spread of disease in the minds of the public it could have been any number of crazy groups.
After Lynk had left his chambers Psycho spoke out loud to himself discussing his options. He often found it better to discuss complicated matters out loud to himself s that he could respond to the pitfaalls of his thinking. "Someone is making a display of these bodies, trying to reach someone. " "What would they gain by attacking civilians, and how could they be protected in the future? " "The people were afraid to go out at night. Until the truth was uncovered it would be hard to protect the populace. " "What would they gain by scaring people into their homes? " "The town may have other night activity around the area worth investigating. "If the actions were indeed the Long Death the Order would have to be put on Alert." Psycho thought very deeply about how to respond to any attack or ambush that Long Death may be preparing. After several hours and under consultation from his Magical Adviser Galactus and from the Steel Priest Psycho came upwith Directive Lambda.
After Lynk had left his chambers Psycho spoke out loud to himself discussing his options. He often found it better to discuss complicated matters out loud to himself s that he could respond to the pitfaalls of his thinking. "Someone is making a display of these bodies, trying to reach someone. " "What would they gain by attacking civilians, and how could they be protected in the future? " "The people were afraid to go out at night. Until the truth was uncovered it would be hard to protect the populace. " "What would they gain by scaring people into their homes? " "The town may have other night activity around the area worth investigating. "If the actions were indeed the Long Death the Order would have to be put on Alert." Psycho thought very deeply about how to respond to any attack or ambush that Long Death may be preparing. After several hours and under consultation from his Magical Adviser Galactus and from the Steel Priest Psycho came upwith Directive Lambda.
Understanding
Slowly, very slowly, the scream faded into silence. Then, Banion's lovely girl was sobbing dry tears onto the ground. "There, now, child," he crooned, and got to his hands and knees, lifting her skeletal face to look at him. She bore the necessary equipment for stealing the life force from anyone - a pair of curved fangs. "You will have your revenge and then your rest."
"Fire... I'm on f... fire..."
"A side affect that will soon diminish," Banion lied. The pain would be omnipresent, eternal, until he sent her back into oblivion.
"Make... it stop..." she chattered.
"Easy now," he said, running a hand over her head. "You were murdered, my dear girl."
"Yes..."
"I want you to have your revenge."
Banion smiled as Arlenia rose for the first time since her death. She stumbled at first, then stood and held her hands out, looking at the skeletal remains that glowed dully. "Why... why..."
Banion got up as well, putting a hand on Arlenia's arm. "Child, you have been gone from this mortal coil for nigh on a month. You are still just as beautiful as before. Even more beautiful, for now, you are my creation. My daughter."
The furnace-red eyes blazed in his direction and Banion gave a small, placating smile. Arlenia looked at him with her head tilted. "Creation?"
"Yes, child."
"No... I don't want this..."
"Ustulo in anima quod non obedit, Maldicam in corpus quod non secor," as he spoke the words, Arlenia let forth a scream of pain, "Pati in dolorem de tuus dominus, Donec vos discere in semitam."
"PLEASE!" Arlenia screamed out, driven to her knees.
With a wave of his hand, Banion released the spell and knelt beside Arlenia. "Sweet child," he said. "Please, go find your revenge and don't make me have to do any more of that. I don't want your soul to suffer. Go find him. And bring his head back to me."
"My... revenge..."
"Vicariously through me, vicariously through you, child. It will be ours together."
"Fire... I'm on f... fire..."
"A side affect that will soon diminish," Banion lied. The pain would be omnipresent, eternal, until he sent her back into oblivion.
"Make... it stop..." she chattered.
"Easy now," he said, running a hand over her head. "You were murdered, my dear girl."
"Yes..."
"I want you to have your revenge."
Banion smiled as Arlenia rose for the first time since her death. She stumbled at first, then stood and held her hands out, looking at the skeletal remains that glowed dully. "Why... why..."
Banion got up as well, putting a hand on Arlenia's arm. "Child, you have been gone from this mortal coil for nigh on a month. You are still just as beautiful as before. Even more beautiful, for now, you are my creation. My daughter."
The furnace-red eyes blazed in his direction and Banion gave a small, placating smile. Arlenia looked at him with her head tilted. "Creation?"
"Yes, child."
"No... I don't want this..."
"Ustulo in anima quod non obedit, Maldicam in corpus quod non secor," as he spoke the words, Arlenia let forth a scream of pain, "Pati in dolorem de tuus dominus, Donec vos discere in semitam."
"PLEASE!" Arlenia screamed out, driven to her knees.
With a wave of his hand, Banion released the spell and knelt beside Arlenia. "Sweet child," he said. "Please, go find your revenge and don't make me have to do any more of that. I don't want your soul to suffer. Go find him. And bring his head back to me."
"My... revenge..."
"Vicariously through me, vicariously through you, child. It will be ours together."
No way... I Mean, Really?!
No way... I mean, really, what were the odds that some half naked, tattooed woman with tons of kinda cool piercings would be able to recite the name of the man that drove Leandra to madness. How in the hell did she know him, anyway? And so Leandra found herself sliding shyly toward the woman, "H... hey... Excuse me... I... uh, I heard you say Thasmudyan. You know him?"
"Depends which me your asking," the woman replied, and Leandra was automatically confused. "Apologies dear, Why?" Much better.
"He's the man screwing around with my mom. He's ruined my life and my family," Leandra said simply - it was a fact however you looked at it, really.
There was something about the woman, maybe it was that twitching that started at her temples, that told Leandra she might not want to bother her, but then, "Take a load off my dear, the gods tell me you've been on your feet some time. Yes I knew him. A woman introduced him to me some time ago, helping him to find love after their own marriage didn't last. Sanria her name was."
And the odds were astronomical and just kept coming. "That's my mom... You know my mom, too? I used to think she was a complete moron, but she's not toooo bad."
"Apologies dear, your mother IS.. a complete moron." The statement made Leandra mad for a second. It was one thing to call your own mother a moron, another to have a stranger do it. "She has this habit of interfering, and causing troubles of heart ache and danger on those she claims to love. She destroyed that man, We are almost married you know. She didn't tell you he was seeing somebody?"
"You and Thasmudyan are supposed to get married??? He's always staying in our house and stuff. He's supposed to be healing my dad but while my dad was asleep he was sleeping with my mom."
"He told me he was stuck in the lifestream. That time travels different there, knowing I can not enter."
"He's a good liar, it seems. He's been at our house since I was, like, little. Sometimes he leaves. Then he comes back and my mom gets stupid happy."
"When he comes to lay in my bed no doubt."
"Adults are stupid. No offense."
Leandra said nothing of the twitching temples of the woman, they were a little unnerving, so she just kept her eyes off of them so no one would be the wiser. "Well... I'm going to have to call of the wedding proposal," the woman said.
"No... don't do that!" Shit! SHIT! Thought Leandra. And here she had just screwed up the one chance to get that man out of her house for good! SHIT! "You have to take him... get him out of my house..."
"Well I don't want him, not anymore."
"No no... no... if you don't want him that means he might end up being my dad..."
"Not if you got rid of him."
"You mean to kill him?"
"Of course not child, to deliberately take death from a being would be wrong."
And Leandra found herself listening to a woman telling her exactly what she would need to do to get rid of the problem. It was simple, really and Leandra found her heart lightening. "Thank you... uh... what's your name?"
"Maya, Maya Do'Urden of the 9th house of Menzoberranzan."
"Depends which me your asking," the woman replied, and Leandra was automatically confused. "Apologies dear, Why?" Much better.
"He's the man screwing around with my mom. He's ruined my life and my family," Leandra said simply - it was a fact however you looked at it, really.
There was something about the woman, maybe it was that twitching that started at her temples, that told Leandra she might not want to bother her, but then, "Take a load off my dear, the gods tell me you've been on your feet some time. Yes I knew him. A woman introduced him to me some time ago, helping him to find love after their own marriage didn't last. Sanria her name was."
And the odds were astronomical and just kept coming. "That's my mom... You know my mom, too? I used to think she was a complete moron, but she's not toooo bad."
"Apologies dear, your mother IS.. a complete moron." The statement made Leandra mad for a second. It was one thing to call your own mother a moron, another to have a stranger do it. "She has this habit of interfering, and causing troubles of heart ache and danger on those she claims to love. She destroyed that man, We are almost married you know. She didn't tell you he was seeing somebody?"
"You and Thasmudyan are supposed to get married??? He's always staying in our house and stuff. He's supposed to be healing my dad but while my dad was asleep he was sleeping with my mom."
"He told me he was stuck in the lifestream. That time travels different there, knowing I can not enter."
"He's a good liar, it seems. He's been at our house since I was, like, little. Sometimes he leaves. Then he comes back and my mom gets stupid happy."
"When he comes to lay in my bed no doubt."
"Adults are stupid. No offense."
Leandra said nothing of the twitching temples of the woman, they were a little unnerving, so she just kept her eyes off of them so no one would be the wiser. "Well... I'm going to have to call of the wedding proposal," the woman said.
"No... don't do that!" Shit! SHIT! Thought Leandra. And here she had just screwed up the one chance to get that man out of her house for good! SHIT! "You have to take him... get him out of my house..."
"Well I don't want him, not anymore."
"No no... no... if you don't want him that means he might end up being my dad..."
"Not if you got rid of him."
"You mean to kill him?"
"Of course not child, to deliberately take death from a being would be wrong."
And Leandra found herself listening to a woman telling her exactly what she would need to do to get rid of the problem. It was simple, really and Leandra found her heart lightening. "Thank you... uh... what's your name?"
"Maya, Maya Do'Urden of the 9th house of Menzoberranzan."
Grounded!
It was so boring. More than boring it was like, ugh, frustrating. How many times could Leandra count the leaves on the tree that grew in her room? How many times could she stare at the walls, the winking crystals. Ugh! Leandra put a hand on her stomach and patted it lightly. It was still relatively flat, barely anything there, but it was kinda cool to think that there was something in there. A little boy - eventually. Leandra sighed and sat up on her bed. She had to get rid of the boredom.
Peeking out her door, the coast clear, Leandra slipped down the stairwell and opened the heavy front door. She thought of going to Skive and asking him to fly her somewhere, but that would alert her mother that she was out of her room. If she went to Askari's house, they'd certainly tell on her - she couldn't appear and disappear like Askari could. So, Leandra shrugged and decided to go to town - Westbridge - simply because... she'd never been and she was bored.
It was a bit of a walk, but Leandra made decent time. Whenever a traveler passed her, she kept her gaze averted just in case they might have known she was her mother's daughter. She reached the gates and her mouth fell open. It was like... huge! The buildings, the soldiers, the people, even the smell - like food and body odor and - Leandra's eyes fell on the bench in Market Square. Who the hell was that?
Leandra crept closer, looking at the woman who barely wore clothes. She looked wild somehow, all those markings and piercings and tattoos... and she looked sad. Then Leandra heard a word tumble from the woman's lips that sent a shock of electricity through her body. "Thasmudyan."
Peeking out her door, the coast clear, Leandra slipped down the stairwell and opened the heavy front door. She thought of going to Skive and asking him to fly her somewhere, but that would alert her mother that she was out of her room. If she went to Askari's house, they'd certainly tell on her - she couldn't appear and disappear like Askari could. So, Leandra shrugged and decided to go to town - Westbridge - simply because... she'd never been and she was bored.
It was a bit of a walk, but Leandra made decent time. Whenever a traveler passed her, she kept her gaze averted just in case they might have known she was her mother's daughter. She reached the gates and her mouth fell open. It was like... huge! The buildings, the soldiers, the people, even the smell - like food and body odor and - Leandra's eyes fell on the bench in Market Square. Who the hell was that?
Leandra crept closer, looking at the woman who barely wore clothes. She looked wild somehow, all those markings and piercings and tattoos... and she looked sad. Then Leandra heard a word tumble from the woman's lips that sent a shock of electricity through her body. "Thasmudyan."
Mother's Spirit
Time had marched on. Claire didn't know by how far or for how long. Everything bled into the same and more of the same. She was in her bedroom, reading one of the same books she had read twice before, when Gilean's telepath brought her to the dining room.
There was Sanria and Leandra, the girl looking wan and pale. With Askari in attendance, they were told that Leandra - a girl of no more than fourteen or fifteen - was pregnant, and Askari was the father.
Claire felt suffocated. She couldn't breathe, but there was no where she could go. She forced herself to sit at the table, her mouth hanging open, contemplating what had been said. And when the two announced they would get married, Claire had been the first to object. They couldn't, they couldn't move out. They... he... he couldn't leave. She hadn't been able to fix them... she hadn't been able to make him understand, and now he might be leaving...
Leandra and her mother left, and before Claire could say a word, Askari vanished back to his room. Claire wanted to cry, but there would be no tears. She stood up and excused herself from Gilean. In a flash of light, she appeared in their bathroom and vomited into the sink.
There was Sanria and Leandra, the girl looking wan and pale. With Askari in attendance, they were told that Leandra - a girl of no more than fourteen or fifteen - was pregnant, and Askari was the father.
Claire felt suffocated. She couldn't breathe, but there was no where she could go. She forced herself to sit at the table, her mouth hanging open, contemplating what had been said. And when the two announced they would get married, Claire had been the first to object. They couldn't, they couldn't move out. They... he... he couldn't leave. She hadn't been able to fix them... she hadn't been able to make him understand, and now he might be leaving...
Leandra and her mother left, and before Claire could say a word, Askari vanished back to his room. Claire wanted to cry, but there would be no tears. She stood up and excused herself from Gilean. In a flash of light, she appeared in their bathroom and vomited into the sink.
Announcements
Magic lifted Sanria and Leandra to Claire and Gilean's cottage, where Gilean greeted them and ushered them inside. Sanria felt hollow, and oddly numb as Gilean asked about Colin and Orn - he knew something wasn't quite right. The five of them, including Askari once he found out Leandra was there, gathered in the dining room. Claire looked small, almost mousy, as though she were cowed in some deep way. Gilean appeared to be his normal self and Askari... Sanria gave a long inward sigh. The boy was moody, hormonal, and the father of her daughter's child. How in the nine hells had this happened?
"I... wasn't feeling good so... my mom tried to heal me..." Leandra began,
"I... kept feeling like I was gonna throw up, you know..."
"I'm sure my Mom can make you better, right mom?" Askari asked.
"I could try," Claire said slowly.
"There is more," Sanria interrupted. And she saw the shock register as she looked over at Gilean's face.
"My mom took me to the druid grove to... see if the Elders could figure out what was wrong... And... they... they... I..."
"You're with child," Gilean finished.
"Well... that's... I mean... why are you here, though?" Claire asked.
"W... wait... a baby?" Askari said with trepidation.
"Wait... no... no no... not... Askari?" Claire said, her voice in a tremor.
"Oh... oh yes, it is..." Gilean said quietly.
"But that means that... they'd... Askari?!"
"What Mom? I... I love Leandra!" Askari defiantly proclaimed.
Oh not this. Not love. Sanria felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. All of this was just too fast, they didn't even know what love was... come to think of it, did she? "It appears we are to be grandparents. Well... I will be again, but..." Sanria trailed off.
Gilean, for all the world, seemed nearly happy for the children, which irked Sanria a tad. This was serious, not a time to be delighting in the world of kids bringing about more kids. She watched him heal Leandra of her morning sickness, and even tell them that their child was to be a boy. Both Askari and Leandra seemed wrapped in their own world, and Claire seemed void of even the air in her lungs. "It's alright," Gilean said. "We'll help them through. Believe me... I have seem many younger parents than them."
"Younger?" Sanria asked in disbelief.
"More often that you might think. At least these two have all of us to help support them... but Colin's not here."
"He isn't quite happy about this and... given his disposition recently... we thought it better he stay."
"Oh... I... I see..."
"I'll make sure no harm comes to Askari," Sanria offered.
After subduing Leandra and Askari's talk of getting married and moving out so as not to be like the adults that were in their lives, and reminding her daughter that she should not ask at the current moment to stay with Askari, Sanria took Leandra home where the grounding remained in effect. For herself, Sanria crept into her private study and closed the door behind her.
"I... wasn't feeling good so... my mom tried to heal me..." Leandra began,
"I... kept feeling like I was gonna throw up, you know..."
"I'm sure my Mom can make you better, right mom?" Askari asked.
"I could try," Claire said slowly.
"There is more," Sanria interrupted. And she saw the shock register as she looked over at Gilean's face.
"My mom took me to the druid grove to... see if the Elders could figure out what was wrong... And... they... they... I..."
"You're with child," Gilean finished.
"Well... that's... I mean... why are you here, though?" Claire asked.
"W... wait... a baby?" Askari said with trepidation.
"Wait... no... no no... not... Askari?" Claire said, her voice in a tremor.
"Oh... oh yes, it is..." Gilean said quietly.
"But that means that... they'd... Askari?!"
"What Mom? I... I love Leandra!" Askari defiantly proclaimed.
Oh not this. Not love. Sanria felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. All of this was just too fast, they didn't even know what love was... come to think of it, did she? "It appears we are to be grandparents. Well... I will be again, but..." Sanria trailed off.
Gilean, for all the world, seemed nearly happy for the children, which irked Sanria a tad. This was serious, not a time to be delighting in the world of kids bringing about more kids. She watched him heal Leandra of her morning sickness, and even tell them that their child was to be a boy. Both Askari and Leandra seemed wrapped in their own world, and Claire seemed void of even the air in her lungs. "It's alright," Gilean said. "We'll help them through. Believe me... I have seem many younger parents than them."
"Younger?" Sanria asked in disbelief.
"More often that you might think. At least these two have all of us to help support them... but Colin's not here."
"He isn't quite happy about this and... given his disposition recently... we thought it better he stay."
"Oh... I... I see..."
"I'll make sure no harm comes to Askari," Sanria offered.
After subduing Leandra and Askari's talk of getting married and moving out so as not to be like the adults that were in their lives, and reminding her daughter that she should not ask at the current moment to stay with Askari, Sanria took Leandra home where the grounding remained in effect. For herself, Sanria crept into her private study and closed the door behind her.
Failure
The news came as a crushing blow to Sanria and the world seemed to shift precariously beneath her feet. Her daughter was pregnant. How could she have neglected to tell her the way these things worked? Had she truly been so blind as to assume that she really knew? They walked home, Sanria's mind reeling - Colin was going to lose it - she'd have to step in, calm him, all the things she had to do all the time - things that made her weary.
"Colin, can you come to Leandra's room," Sanria telepathed, and she rocked in the chair, her chin resting on two steepled fingers, silent as Leandra sat beside her. When Colin arrived, things went roughly as she had expected.
"Pregnant?" he asked between clenched teeth. "No... no... you can't be. They must be mistaken. I mean, you haven't.. You haven't..." Colin looked to her. "She hasn't..."
"I... I didn't know... and... me and Askari... we..." Leandra said quietly.
"You... and Askari!?"
"Papa... I didn't... know that would happen... and things just..."
"That little..." and Colin let fly a punch into the wall that left a crack.
Sanria stood up with patience, tired patience, and went to Colin, laying a hand on his arm. "It took both of them to do this and what is done is done."
"What he did... to our little girl..."
"No, Papa... he didn't... I mean, we both did... it..." Leandra said.
"We should have known with Orn that we needed to talk to her, but we didn't."
"Oh... oh my little girl..."
"Papa... I'm not... hurt..."
Sanria heard the words. Leandra was right, she wasn't hurt. She was just a girl who was pregnant. Her daughter. The one she'd been neglecting as she tried to figure out her own life. She was guilty. For all the talk of balance, she'd forgotten this one crucial piece and life was obligingly filling in for her in ways unimaginable.
Much to Colin's chagrin, Sanria offered her daughter a way out. One which, like her father, Leandra balked at, saying, "I... don't think I wanna kill a baby, Mama."
"Then we will help you... but you need to tell Askari. Can you manage, or do you need to stay here, Colin?"
"I'm not sure I'm ready to see him quite yet."
"I'm sorry, Mama... Papa... I'm sorry," Leandra whispered.
"Everything will be alright... we'll make it through as a family," Colin said, rising to hug Leandra. And Sanria couldn't help but hear that as a clear indication of Colin's expectations.
"Colin, can you come to Leandra's room," Sanria telepathed, and she rocked in the chair, her chin resting on two steepled fingers, silent as Leandra sat beside her. When Colin arrived, things went roughly as she had expected.
"Pregnant?" he asked between clenched teeth. "No... no... you can't be. They must be mistaken. I mean, you haven't.. You haven't..." Colin looked to her. "She hasn't..."
"I... I didn't know... and... me and Askari... we..." Leandra said quietly.
"You... and Askari!?"
"Papa... I didn't... know that would happen... and things just..."
"That little..." and Colin let fly a punch into the wall that left a crack.
Sanria stood up with patience, tired patience, and went to Colin, laying a hand on his arm. "It took both of them to do this and what is done is done."
"What he did... to our little girl..."
"No, Papa... he didn't... I mean, we both did... it..." Leandra said.
"We should have known with Orn that we needed to talk to her, but we didn't."
"Oh... oh my little girl..."
"Papa... I'm not... hurt..."
Sanria heard the words. Leandra was right, she wasn't hurt. She was just a girl who was pregnant. Her daughter. The one she'd been neglecting as she tried to figure out her own life. She was guilty. For all the talk of balance, she'd forgotten this one crucial piece and life was obligingly filling in for her in ways unimaginable.
Much to Colin's chagrin, Sanria offered her daughter a way out. One which, like her father, Leandra balked at, saying, "I... don't think I wanna kill a baby, Mama."
"Then we will help you... but you need to tell Askari. Can you manage, or do you need to stay here, Colin?"
"I'm not sure I'm ready to see him quite yet."
"I'm sorry, Mama... Papa... I'm sorry," Leandra whispered.
"Everything will be alright... we'll make it through as a family," Colin said, rising to hug Leandra. And Sanria couldn't help but hear that as a clear indication of Colin's expectations.
Like... no way
Really, no way. If it hadn't been the Elder Druid telling her himself, Leandra wouldn't have ever believed it. Her mom looked like she was about to pass out on the ground and Leandra didn't know what to do if that happened. She'd have to tell her dad... and she'd have to tell Askari. She really liked him, too, and he was probably going to want to get away from her. Like, really far away from her. Who wants a baby if you're not together like that? Damnit, Leandra thought to herself, I'm just like my stupid, moron mom.
The walk home was tense. Leandra was mortified, but kept glancing over at Sanria, watching her run her hand through her hair like she did a lot lately. Ever since she'd started being in that Keepers clan, actually. Like it all made her nervous or something, but this was... excessive. Leandra thought that if she kept it up, she might pull all her hair out. She put her eyes on the road.
"Your father is going to be furious, Leandra... but it's our fault. We didn't tell you anything about... that. We should have known better."
"It's not you guy's fault -"
"No," Sanria snapped. "It is. You're going to tell your father, but I'm going to have to soothe him. He's probably going to want to kill that boy."
"That's my boy*friend* Mama. Askari is his name."
Leandra jumped when Sanria turned to her, pointing a finger in Leandra's face. "Do you think this is funny?"
"What... what did I say? Sheesh."
"Young lady, you have a child in there and you're a child yourself. If you think for a minute your father is going to care what the hell that boy's name is, outside of knowing it to go wring his neck, you are sorely mistaken."
"Sorry..." Leandra muttered with a frown.
They continued walking and the closer they came to the cavern, the deeper the sick feeling got for Leandra. Of course, her mom was right. Even the thought of her dad getting mad, that vein on his forehead... Leandra frowned as the walked into the house and up to her room. She was so nervous she almost threw up. Her mom called for her dad, and they sat in silence, waiting.
The walk home was tense. Leandra was mortified, but kept glancing over at Sanria, watching her run her hand through her hair like she did a lot lately. Ever since she'd started being in that Keepers clan, actually. Like it all made her nervous or something, but this was... excessive. Leandra thought that if she kept it up, she might pull all her hair out. She put her eyes on the road.
"Your father is going to be furious, Leandra... but it's our fault. We didn't tell you anything about... that. We should have known better."
"It's not you guy's fault -"
"No," Sanria snapped. "It is. You're going to tell your father, but I'm going to have to soothe him. He's probably going to want to kill that boy."
"That's my boy*friend* Mama. Askari is his name."
Leandra jumped when Sanria turned to her, pointing a finger in Leandra's face. "Do you think this is funny?"
"What... what did I say? Sheesh."
"Young lady, you have a child in there and you're a child yourself. If you think for a minute your father is going to care what the hell that boy's name is, outside of knowing it to go wring his neck, you are sorely mistaken."
"Sorry..." Leandra muttered with a frown.
They continued walking and the closer they came to the cavern, the deeper the sick feeling got for Leandra. Of course, her mom was right. Even the thought of her dad getting mad, that vein on his forehead... Leandra frowned as the walked into the house and up to her room. She was so nervous she almost threw up. Her mom called for her dad, and they sat in silence, waiting.
Whoa... What?
Leandra walked beside her mother, her arms folded, petulant and irritated. She scuffed her feet, hoping to goad some sort of response out of her mother, but Sanria kept quiet. "So they'll make me not feel sick?"
"That is the plan, Leandra. Then, it's back to your room."
"I think it's stupid that you guys came after me like that."
"Well, Leandra, you may not believe it, but your father and I do love you - even if we are having our own difficulties."
"You guys always have difficulties. You need to get over it and get rid of Thasmudyan and get back with dad."
"That is none of your concern."
They arrived at the druid's grove without any other words passed between them. The whole thing was just stupid... there really wasn't any other word for it. Leandra waited, impatiently, as the Elder Druid came over, feeling her forehead, feeling her neck, and then sending small pulses of magic into her body. The only other time they'd done this was when she was young to test her magical abilities.
The druid paused and raised an eyebrow. "So? Am I sick or what?" Sanria gave Leandra a scathing look, sending her into silence. She was such an ass. The druid took in a breath and looked at Leandra, then Sanria, and back.
"Well... you are having sickness."
"Well whooptie-doo. I could have told you that."
"I'm sorry," Sanria interjected, "my daughter is in trouble and feels it is her duty to take it out on everyone."
"Pfft."
"Well, you, ah... how should I say this... you're... with child."
Leandra felt the blood rush to her head, thudding with the pulse of her heart. "What?!" both she and her mother shouted at once.
"Well, that's the cause of this sickness..."
Leandra wanted to shrink into nothing, to disappear, to vanish into thin air, to be anywhere but looking into her mother's shocked and disappointed gaze. "What... did you... do..."
"Mama... I..." her voice sounded like a little girl.
"Oh Gods... your father is going to lose his mind."
"That is the plan, Leandra. Then, it's back to your room."
"I think it's stupid that you guys came after me like that."
"Well, Leandra, you may not believe it, but your father and I do love you - even if we are having our own difficulties."
"You guys always have difficulties. You need to get over it and get rid of Thasmudyan and get back with dad."
"That is none of your concern."
They arrived at the druid's grove without any other words passed between them. The whole thing was just stupid... there really wasn't any other word for it. Leandra waited, impatiently, as the Elder Druid came over, feeling her forehead, feeling her neck, and then sending small pulses of magic into her body. The only other time they'd done this was when she was young to test her magical abilities.
The druid paused and raised an eyebrow. "So? Am I sick or what?" Sanria gave Leandra a scathing look, sending her into silence. She was such an ass. The druid took in a breath and looked at Leandra, then Sanria, and back.
"Well... you are having sickness."
"Well whooptie-doo. I could have told you that."
"I'm sorry," Sanria interjected, "my daughter is in trouble and feels it is her duty to take it out on everyone."
"Pfft."
"Well, you, ah... how should I say this... you're... with child."
Leandra felt the blood rush to her head, thudding with the pulse of her heart. "What?!" both she and her mother shouted at once.
"Well, that's the cause of this sickness..."
Leandra wanted to shrink into nothing, to disappear, to vanish into thin air, to be anywhere but looking into her mother's shocked and disappointed gaze. "What... did you... do..."
"Mama... I..." her voice sounded like a little girl.
"Oh Gods... your father is going to lose his mind."
Mock Turtle
The lilac flames that surrounded Claire's body did not burn as intensely anymore. She was relatively silent, withdrawn, just a shell. She had not talked to Ruthivan in months, and he could not reach her inside the cottage. She tried to talk to her children, but Mirin seemed overly concerned to the point of avoidance, while Askari seemed so angry with her he couldn't stand her presence. The others were still too young to understand, but already Claire could see Celiara having the same pain that her brother carried, and handling it in the same way she was herself - silence and withdraw.
Claire tried to be happy, but the emptiness was back within her. She went through her days caring for Matinus and Celiara while Gilean went to the temple, and the other children went out. She did miss going out. She stared longingly at the garden beyond the back door, her hand on the glass, until one of the children cried or needed her. This was the only way she could manage to keep herself from being taken, the only way to make everyone... she didn't know. She turned away, wiping a tear from her eye, tears she never let anyone in the cottage see.
That night, Claire was visited by Sanria and a very distraught Colin. The trees had brought them to her because Askari had vanished with their daughter. She called him to the house and in typical fashion, he avoided speaking outright. Finally, in fear of Colin, he admitted to knowing where Leandra was. The boy brought her back, and Claire tried to give him a hug of gratitude, which was promptly shrugged off. She had never felt so defeated.
When she went to Askari's room later, she finally told the boy of his conception - how she was forced into marriage and bearing him - she had hoped that it might spark some camaraderie between them. It had backfired, and Claire left the room with an even larger hole in her chest. Something would have to give. She lay in her bed, Gilean sleeping beside her, and cried in silence until sleep overtook her.
Claire tried to be happy, but the emptiness was back within her. She went through her days caring for Matinus and Celiara while Gilean went to the temple, and the other children went out. She did miss going out. She stared longingly at the garden beyond the back door, her hand on the glass, until one of the children cried or needed her. This was the only way she could manage to keep herself from being taken, the only way to make everyone... she didn't know. She turned away, wiping a tear from her eye, tears she never let anyone in the cottage see.
That night, Claire was visited by Sanria and a very distraught Colin. The trees had brought them to her because Askari had vanished with their daughter. She called him to the house and in typical fashion, he avoided speaking outright. Finally, in fear of Colin, he admitted to knowing where Leandra was. The boy brought her back, and Claire tried to give him a hug of gratitude, which was promptly shrugged off. She had never felt so defeated.
When she went to Askari's room later, she finally told the boy of his conception - how she was forced into marriage and bearing him - she had hoped that it might spark some camaraderie between them. It had backfired, and Claire left the room with an even larger hole in her chest. Something would have to give. She lay in her bed, Gilean sleeping beside her, and cried in silence until sleep overtook her.
Returned!
Askari took Leandra to his tent. While the outside was nothing to be impressed with, the inside was much larger, and full of all sorts of things that he said he had created himself using magic. They had talked for hours about little nothings, about their families and how much parents sucked and were stupid, then about themselves, their bodies... even Leandra's own magic didn't feel that good.
The next day she woke up and Askari was gone. It didn't matter. Leandra sat on the edge of the bed getting dressed. She'd probably go out and see what the Esper camp was like, maybe talk to the trees to figure out where she was, and then see Askari when he got back from wherever he was. But she didn't get that far.
Askari had come back to tell her that her dad and mom were at his house. She couldn't believe it. Part of her thought it was really cool that her dad would leave the cavern just to find her. The other part of her was terrified because she knew for him to leave the cavern to find her mean that he was utterly, thoroughly pissed. She'd have to go back.
And so she did. Her mother and father, of course, treated her like she'd done the worst thing in the world by leaving. She tried to explain that she couldn't live in the house seeing how her dad acted like a dog following around her mother who acted like he didn't exist, but in the end, she was relegated to a term of confinement (grounded!) in her room.
They didn't know that Askari popped in and spent vast parts of the day with her, nor that he spent vast parts of the night with her too. In fact, nothing would have been wrong at all if it weren't for the sick feeling she'd started getting all the time. So sick sometimes that her mom couldn't even fix it.
The next day she woke up and Askari was gone. It didn't matter. Leandra sat on the edge of the bed getting dressed. She'd probably go out and see what the Esper camp was like, maybe talk to the trees to figure out where she was, and then see Askari when he got back from wherever he was. But she didn't get that far.
Askari had come back to tell her that her dad and mom were at his house. She couldn't believe it. Part of her thought it was really cool that her dad would leave the cavern just to find her. The other part of her was terrified because she knew for him to leave the cavern to find her mean that he was utterly, thoroughly pissed. She'd have to go back.
And so she did. Her mother and father, of course, treated her like she'd done the worst thing in the world by leaving. She tried to explain that she couldn't live in the house seeing how her dad acted like a dog following around her mother who acted like he didn't exist, but in the end, she was relegated to a term of confinement (grounded!) in her room.
They didn't know that Askari popped in and spent vast parts of the day with her, nor that he spent vast parts of the night with her too. In fact, nothing would have been wrong at all if it weren't for the sick feeling she'd started getting all the time. So sick sometimes that her mom couldn't even fix it.
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