Let it go, please, let it go. All that strength; she doesn’t need it around him. His little girl has grown up to be so strong but he wishes to take some of that weight away from her. Be the father he was never quite allowed to be before it all.
There was no way she could have known about what had transpired. The events at there were clouded. They were private – his wife was responsible for saving the prince one last time and the price they paid were their lives, their reputation, with everything they had… life had been sucked out of them in those coins but now they can breathe and be free. To be free with his daughter once again.
“You are so brave, and so strong… my light,” his throat is thick; laced with guilt. The guilt of not being the best father he should have been. The weight he and his wife must have left behind to Ethari and his husband. No one knew – no one knew what had happened, and that is the truth. Being shunned, even after all the suffering, feels right if it lead him back to his daughter. To this moment of this possible peaceful co-existence.
“Do not apologize for moving forward the only way you knew how. I am just grateful you found us.”
They’re together again; with a brighter future. there’s no need to worry about what their people think of them now. For their home is with each other – it always has been.
“I love you, Rayla – none of what you thought, or felt, before will ever change that.”
“ But dad, I.. ” How could she tell him she harbored anger all these years towards them ? How could she tell them she saw them as cowards until recently ? She had adapted to growing up with Runaan and Ethari, she didn’t even know what to do with herself knowing they were back. She let them down, and it was so hard to let herself feel small again after everything she’s gone through.
“ I let you both down, I.. I wanted to forget you. I told everyone you were dead to me. I can’t.. forgive myself for that. ” She focussed on her breathing, holding everything in. She did her absolute best to keep everything in that once things started to fall apart, it made it difficult to let it all overflow. It wasn’t their fault, Viren had them. In fact, she harbored anger towards Viren for keeping them, and Runaan, away from her like this. She thought they were all dead, and nothing was more earth-shattering than the realization your family was dead.
“ I defended the prince.... just as you and mum did. ” It was a small, desperate effort to change the subject in any way.