#elsera

     there’s a moment of silence - for a few seconds, the only audible sound is the wind rushing through her ears. her cheek stings, though the blow had beenweak. it had come in a moment of emotion, a time of weakness ;; from the hands of a child, no less.

     it takes merely a moment for elsera’s hand to take hold of talia’s wrist, grasping it tightly. anger flashes in her eyes, a storm brewing behind coldgrey. her face is brought close to her half sister’s, a snarl quickly finding it’s place on her lips.

     she did not care what talia had lost ( for she’d lost just as much ), she would not let the girl attempt to treat her so. she was not ELISSA, she was notLADY ELAENA. she was strong - a warrior, in her own right.

      “ have you no DIGNITY, talia ?? control yourself, you are NOT a childany longer. “

She had been talking about ETHAN. Talia hadn’t thought, only acted...  She felt tears of anger spring  to her eyes. Both had lost, but it didn’t give her any  RIGHT ---

       (    if he had been smarter,   we would                 have all walked out of that hall alive    ) 

WHAT could a BOY do when faced with madness  ?  When faced with true danger. A boy of FOUR &  TEN facing a man threatening to take everything --  threatening to take her. Talia had struck her half-  sister before another word could be said. 

She knew Elsera was right -- she wasn’t a child anymore. She couldn’t be. She needed to be stronger than a child ; but she wouldn’t let her talk about Ethan that way. He had been brave as any could be in his position. 

         “ You can’t just ----                   talk about him like that. “              She nearly   chokes   on her              words when she speaks them.