Story - Justified Resolution
Full clouds drift through the softly moonlit sky. The light breaks through in beams, casting illumination over a small, worn down estate. Smaller than most, and seemingly growing smaller over the years, only a few buildings appear lived in now. The used remainder of the abandoned structures looks to have been destroyed in the likes many were during the tragic fall.
Wandering down its singular, dimly lit street, you find the head building at the top. It’s dark red/orange glass windows softly aglow from candlelight within. Traveling up to the source, two elves stand in a reasonably lit room. The glass keeping some of the light in.
One of the elves, standing tall, in a simple red robe and black hair is Tayara Coldspark. Across from her, an older woman, though not visibly old. She shares features with Tayara, but wears a more elaborate red and gold dress and carries herself with more regal dignity. This would be her mother, Lady Coldspark. A formal title, for the mother of the lord of the house and former lady of the house herself.
They appear to be in mid-conversation. Talks of a meal and arduous planning for such an occasion. The guests are to be Tayara’s mother, brother, and lover. The chef for the occasion is going to be Tayara herself, much to the amazement of Lady Coldspark. Their conversation centers mostly around Tayara promising to cook an amazing meal fit for the regent lord. Her mother seems to just sigh, knowing better than her daughter's ego-tripping rants. Tayara is many things, but a cook is not one of them.
“I am going to marry her.” Tayara suddenly blurts out. This seems to derail the conversation entirely as Lady Coldspark instantly knows what Tayara means. “We are going to do it on the day of the meal. Her, me, and my family.” She continues.
Lady Coldspark frowns. “You know how I feel about this-...”
It was at this point, a robed male walks into the room. Standing height-wise between the two women, the man is...strangely dressed in a dark blue and golden purple robe with a clean face and an amused grin. Though such expression melts when he spots the glares being shared in the room.
Lord Tandaras tilts his head but decides to not get involved. He fades off to the side to listen. His older sister and his mother both annoyed? That isn't something he desires to enter in the middle of. His strange outfit or his arrival doesn't seem to rip their gazes from one another after all.
The two have grown more agitated with each other now with the abrupt change of subject. Tayara retorts in a cold, harsh tone to her mother's words: “Yes, I know how you felt. I know how concerned father felt when he sent Tandaras to poison me over it.”
“He was wrong to do that…” Lady Coldspark responds. “But you went against our wishes as a daughter to our estate. You would have continued to live here if you had just continued our line.” Lady Coldspark seems adamant in defending her long-held opinion.
Tayara seems outraged by this now. Though angered, her tone isn’t yelling. As angry as she seems to be, there is trained and instinctive civility to her when it comes to addressing her mother. The most she can manage is a hiss. “I did… And you still look down on Brackwater and bite your lip.”
Her mother responds back: "Yes... recently. And after your father's passing."
The civility seemed to crumble with Tayara's next actions. In the middle of her angered and impassioned rant, she rips at the top of her robe now, compromising its ability to stay on her. To the surprise of both brother and mother, the robe falls down off of her. She still remains clothed in underwear, but the strange action prompts confusion in her mother, her brother looking away awkwardly.
"I don't care about father. He said I was a failure to him and this kingdom as he cast me out of this estate. You stood by and did nothing.
A failure was I? I mastered my craft, and now train in a rare and respected field.
Look at these scars. Each one represents when I gave my body, and almost my life for this kingdom. I bore a child, despite it not being what I wanted, for you. And father tried to kill me for refusing to do it sooner.
All I wanted was a little decency after everything I had done for this decrepit house. Yet you still turn your nose up to Brackwater because we both wish to give our bodies and love to women.
Father berated me with his unforgiving ambition, and you only stood to watch. Brackwater is mine, and you are going to respect it.
You have your granddaughter, and are lucky I returned here to carry her to term."
Tayara's tone calms a little now. She feels hot and frustrated at finally venting such thoughts after so many years.
Lady Coldspark stands stunned by her daughter’s words. Unable to respond and only able to think about them. Overwhelming guilt seems to form on her expression. She looks up to Tayara again, but before she can try to muster a response, Tayara continues.
“We will marry here, and you will be part of my audience. I did everything you wanted… give me this…”
Tayara almost pleads now.
Lady Coldspark exhales slowly, then nods a shallow nod.
"I was torn when Tandaras brought your body back. I wanted you to forgive me, as at that moment, I failed you as a mother and simply stood idle as your father cast you out.
I should have done more... and I thought I lost the chance in that moment you were carried in by your brother. But fortune rained down on me.
You can have your wedding... and I will support you both."
Tayara raises her chin to this acceptance. After all her life being expected to live one way, then being cast out for living another, it was strange new territory to finally be accepted within her home. Her mother truly means it, pulling Tayara into a soft hug.
Tayara frowns faintly, feeling a little emotional. But her pride burns at the thought of crying in her underwear in front of her mother and brother. She then blinks twice... right... underwear. She squats rapidly to snatch her robe up to cover herself again.
Tandaras claps slowly, he has always been on his sister’s side for her preference in partners. His father would roll in his ashes if he knew he passed his title down to his secretly gay son. But a man who forced him to poison his sister for the sake of his own ambition and worldview does not hold a place in his heart. Delivering the poisoned drink to him instead was just karma in Tandaras's eyes.
Tayara strides off to take her leave. After seeing his sister finally getting approval, he grins and speaks with a humored tone. “I am gay, mother.” Tayara snorts as she leaves the room, leaving her mother who doesn’t seem amused by what she thinks is a tasteless joke.
As she walks away, Tayara listens to her brother getting smacked around the head before trying to be serious and confess to their mother. Tayara mutters: “You always know when to pick your moments…”
Tayara wanders off to the kitchen now, distracted by a smile and the thoughts of that Skyguard training session. How it concluded, and there stood Brackwater. Tayara’s mind is set. It will be the best surprise ever, and she is going to make sure that happens. The world shall know that she is Brackwater’s.
