#laenetta

The Rosespear gardens were a sight to see. Their large walls brimming with the namesake of the family. Golden spears piercing out of well taken care of bushes of a variety of roses. The heady scent heavy in the air, choking out anything else the closer you would get to the main entrance. The broad iron gate was adorned with creeping vines, looking old yet well maintained all at once.

It was like an entrance to a dream, the paths seen beyond the gate carefully made to look so natural, weaving away into the enchanted gardens.

Sitting at the front, was a small woman, dressed in an elegant dress that fit her perfectly, making her look as if she were a bloom that had plucked itself off the bushes and walked around with them. Taliorinth’s hair fell in those stark white blonde curls, perfectly kept with a small pin to hold back her bangs. On her face was the signs of excitement and nerves, her hands never keeping still as she messed with the cloth of her skirts, staring with wide eyes down the road that brought all visitors here.

Besides her, there was the taller sibling, similar in some ways, but holding a completely different air. Where her sister was dressed like some pretty flower, she was dressed like a noble. Form fitting vest that trailed down to her knee, cut high on her thigh. Boots traveled up encasing her legs, and giving her an oddly sharp look.

Laenetta was waiting, just the same as her youngest sister, for the man of the hour. The highly anticipated guest that she took a certain joy in prodding at with sharp nettles of words and actions.

Taliorinth was impatient, and it was none the more clear when she turned to the woman, snuggling herself closer to the others arm wrapped about her own, quietly asking, “Do you think he’ll be here soon?”

Laenetta looked down to her sister, “I’m not sure, Taliorinth. We invited him, but…” She offers a small sigh. “He makes it no secret that he doesn’t like us. He might be planning on not coming.” There was a pause, her words sinking into the smaller woman with a heavy weight before she leaned down, speaking so honestly to her.

“I hope he shows. I hope he shows soon.”

While there was a visible lowering of Taliorinth’s ears, Laenetta reached over and patted her hand with a gentle touch and another sigh, “At least we’re here. You’re doing well.”

In a way, the small praise of doing well made her feel better. While she surely hoped that her guest would come, being here with her sisters and getting so much of their attention and love relieved those minor disappointments.

Just as she considered telling her sister that perhaps they should go back to the dinner that was set out for them, she saw someone approaching.

Down the road, the rogue dressed in a garb unlike his normal leathers walked slowly towards them. He did not look happy, but that was something common enough for him. Gabriel, after all, was rarely one to show a smile easily.

Taliorinth, on the other hand, felt her heart leap up and the knots in her stomach unwound. All the small conversations with the man who was as close as blood to her lead up to the moment she’d finally seen him again. It felt as if it had been forever, and truly it had been. It was as if a light had switched, and she immediately wiggled out of her sisters hold.

Running forward, her arms spread out, her voice clearly heard, “Gabriel!”

Gabriel caught her in his arms, a genuine smile lighting his features before she hit him. She was picked up, twirled about before being set back down. His gruff voice sounded so much better here in person.

“That’s quite a welcome,” he said as he looked her over. “If I didn’t know any better, i’d think you were someone else. Ye… You look nice, Tali.” His attention was fully on her, and clearly so.

Taliorinth just looked beyond pleased, the bright smile on her own face, “I’m glad you came! You look really nice too. Really different… almost didn’t recognize you.” She nudged him a bit.

She was released, but his hand stayed lingering on her shoulder, “Not often I wear such, aye?”

While the two were having their moment, Laenetta had sat back, tossing a cruel glare to Gabriel. Her words had been unheard when Taliorinth had darted off, and in that it only caused her to quickly interrupt such. She cleared her throat, striding forward. Her voice impossibly sweet, a poor imitation of the eldest Rosespear.

“Does your friend have any manners? We’ve invited him here and shouldn’t he say hello? You heard my greeting, right… Gabriel?”

Taliorinth paused, glancing back to her sisters, and abruptly realizing herself, “Oh… Ah…” She glanced back to Gabe then, her brows coming together.

That caused Gabriel to finally show recognition to Laenetta. He gave a polite smile, so odd to his behavior, and said, “Ah, forgive me. I was caught up in the moment. A pleasure to see you again, Laenetta.”

Laenetta went on, smiling sweetly, “It is always a good moment to be around dear Taliorinth, isn’t it? Something we’ve been enjoying greatly now that she’s home with her family.”

“Indeed.” Gabriel said, a twitch in his expression, “She has been greatly missed. My days have been much too quiet, so I am ever more happy to see her again.” His eyes focused only on Lanetta for that moment.

As the two seemed to get along, Taliorinth felt herself just grow happier. She missed the sour looks, the oddity of the familiar words and what they truly meant. All that she cared was that her families got along… a way to prove that the witches words might be wrong, and that everything might work out the way she tried so desperately to make them.

The small woman quickly said, “Though, you’re probably happy that i’m not causing as much trouble now, right?” She smirked, looking to Gabriel.

Before he could reply, Laenetta cut in, “Then let us take advantage of the time we have. We have much to discuss. And people to introduce you to.”

Gabriel would finally answer, suspicious of such words spoken by the elder sister, yet speaking casually nonetheless, “Honestly, I miss it. I realize it’s made my days much more dull without you around. I look forward to catching up.” His smile was plain for Taliorinth, yet his eyes rose again to the sister, sharp as daggers, “I’m sure we do. I look forward to it.”

Laenetta’s smile just grew, “I’m sure Vesthiriel will want to do the honors. And I don’t think we should keep her waiting. Taliorinth, do you want to give him a quick tour before we head inside?”

Taliorinth smiled, immediately shifting and grabbing hold of Gabriel’s hand, tugging him already, “I’ll show him around. If you wanna go back or anything… I promise it won’t be too long.”

Laenetta just watched them as they went on, “I’ll wait. I like company while I walk. But i’ll wait by the path.”

There was a bit of weight to such words, something that nagged at Taliorinth, but she didn’t say anything, focusing instead on dragging Gabriel as far into the grand gardens as she could, ready to babble with her friend she missed so very much.

Taliorinth walked slowly around the room, glancing down to herself to see she’d been changed. A comfortable dress, something far from the finery of her home. Her hands brushed along the length of it, fingers pinching the cloth and rubbing it between her fingers to ease away some building nerves.

She kept trying to place where this seemed familiar, and just couldn’t seem to. In part, she was worried she’d been taken away, gone to the home of her husband without even remembering such. Yet, it didn’t seem right. It didn’t smell like such a place, and what distant memories she had of his home were not aligned to this place. Unless things had changed, in all those years, this did not seem to be Nesrin’s home...

Walking on, she moved towards the door to the bedroom, grabbed hold of the knob and carefully pushed open the exit. Peeking around to the new room, she saw more furniture for a small sitting room. It was quiet, a table in between two chairs having a plate of food that still looked warm and ready.

Already, she started to move towards it, realizing just how hungry she was… after all, the last time she remembered eating was the dinner itself.

The trio had moved forward through the gardens, urged to hurry along rather than linger longer as everyone was waiting for them to get back. The large glass enclosed pavilion rose from the broad bushes. Arcanic lights glowed brightly, casting a gentle blue glow along the wide glass, giving an ethereal look to the entire place. There was wide, low steps that lead up through arches that had flowering vines growing in winding, lazy.

As they all walked up the stairs, the closer they got to the pavilion, there was the smell of food, overpowering the smell of roses by some manner. It was fresh and tantalizing. There was the sounds of light conversation coming, and while the food had been set out, it was yet to be touched.

The table itself held seven spots, four of them taken up currently by those in attendance, and three awaiting the last of the arrivals. One was a man who had a bushy beard and a calm demeanor. Another was taken by a fanciful dressed woman who looked impatient to eat, clearly trying her best to refrain from looking overly relieved at the arrivals finally. There was, of course, one that Taliorinth was very familiar with- her husband-to-be after all, sitting with one empty spot right next to him.

Vesthiriel Rosespear presided over a table that was laden with food from every world that Azeroth could access; fruits from Draenor and Outland, meat from Kalimdor, bread from the Goldsea, wine from Vineglow. It was fit for kings-- it was fit for a princess, and her prince. She absolutely glowed, radiance pouring from her features as she watched her sisters and their... guest, ascend the stair and the vine-laden arches.

"Welcome back, my sweet sisters!" Vesthiriel laughed delightedly-- her joy was infectious and she tossed her gilded waves. "Oh, and look, our guest, Lord Gabriel!"

She swept to her feet and clasped her hands. "Oh, thank you for joining us, this is to be a delightful eve and I would not have you miss it for anything in the world." These words were offered to Gabriel, specifically... and then, soft eyes on her youngest sister.

"Taliorinth, please join me here at the head of the table." There was such pleasure in the words, a thread of pride.

Laenetta moved around the table, already pulling out the chair between Vesthiriel at the head of the table and the youngest’s fiance. A smile on her face, but a touch of bitterness behind the sweet honey. “Here you are, Taliorinth.”

Taliorinth’s smile that was on her face from before faded a bit as she went on, getting closer to the seat she was meant to sit. She still smiled, but it wasn't as sincere or bright as the one Gabriel received. Slipping into the seat next to her fiance, she thanked Laenetta, then scooted closer to the setting... trying not to look to her left at the man that was clearly closer seated than anyone else at the table.

As soon as Taliorinth settled in, Laenetta moved to her own chair, casting a brief glance to Vesthiriel before she just got settled, nice and neat.

Gabriel had followed along closely behind the pair, almost scowling while he was hidden. Yet, as soon as they came upon the banquet, his demeanor changed, and that polite smile was returned. His gaze lingered on Tali for a few lingering moments before he looked on ahead towards the Lady hostess.

"A pleasure to be here again, Lady Rosespear. I am glad I could come." He continued closer towards the table, and for now, his focus would be upon the Rosespear sisters.... and that one sitting next to Tali. It didn't take much to guess who that one was.

Nesrin Thori’thal. Taliorinth’s husband-to-be.

A once over was given the man, along with that polite smile of greeting. Indeed, appearances. In fact, he didn't even seem to notice, for the moment, all the other guests that were in attendance as he took his seat right across from Tali.

Vesthiriel beamed at the man across from her youngest sister, and then to Nesrin. "Lord Thori'thal, this is Taliorinth's associate from her days apart. He has been most certain to take care of our sweetest treasure." She leaned in, wrapping a hand around Tali's shoulder, placing a kiss on the pale waves. "And made certain she was delivered home, safe to us, where she belongs."

Taliorinth perked up as she was gifted a kiss on her head, smiling to Vesthiriel with that adoring look. It was enough that she even found that she didn’t mind sitting here near as much now.

Nesrin watched in silence, not moving his gaze from Gabriel in the least. “He’s done a good job then.” He said in short, “We should thank him graciously for the time he took care of her.”

There was a look of envy in Laenetta’s gaze as she watched her sisters, but her focus was turned to Gabriel soon after. “Was the trip long?” Quick to change onto a new subject.

Gabriel kept up that smile, speaking at first to Vesthiriel and Nesrin’s words, "I wouldn't exactly say I 'took care' of her. She is actually quite a capable one herself and has even gotten me out of some rather tough spots." He, however, did not forget the question that was posed to him, as he looked over to Laenetta, seated near to him, "Not at all. It was actually rather enjoyable."

"Oh, so you were just late on purpose then?" Laenetta mutters, glancing to the side. Before anything can be said, she smiles brightly to the others."Vesthiriel, Taliorinth showed him around your rose garden."

Vesthiriel paused, her features clouding a moment as she gazed from Taliorinth to Laenetta. "Well..." She paused, and folded her hands in her lap. "It is a lovely garden. It is... hard to fault, loving the roses."

Gabriel Shadowdrake would remain pleasant. A flash of a look was given to Netta, but that smile remained. "Forgive me, I must have lost track of the time admiring the lovely gardens on the way."

Nesrin’s cool tone spoke clear across the table, "And what sort of work is it you do?"

Laenetta snorts at the question, yet looked to Gabriel, waiting.

The man with a bushy beard across the way sat quietly, listening with an intent gaze upon Gabriel and no one else, a look of question in his eyes.

"Acquisitions on the side, you could say. I am also a part of a private militia that is often deployed in different places. It's never dull work, at least." Gabriel said.

Vesthiriel chimed in, "A sailor, so I hear, in acquisitions. Such a... unique combination."

"Unique." Laenetta said right after. A snort followed, and the woman reached for her wine.

Nesrin sat back a bit in his chair, placing his free arm back around Taliorinth's chair. He glanced briefly to the other sisters, then to Gabriel. "I see then." Unimpressed. "It must be hard work."

The woman at the end of the table, yet to be properly introduced, had been busily eating away at her food. Yet, with the words from Gabriel, she said, “Oh! How peculiar, but..." She smiled at the handsome scarred man. "I suppose that your militia works for the state, yes? What dreadful places you must have seen!" She said it with no dread at all.

Laenetta cuts in. "And - Gabriel. What was it--" She shoots a look to the woman on the far side, vicious in nature behind her smile. "....What was it that you did -before-, Gabriel?"

The woman that was interrupted seemed wounded a moment, but a smile from Vesthiriel and a laugh soothed her ruffling.

Vesthiriel smiled. "Unique, dreadful... such topics, but you must see how curious we are for where our sister has been." Her voice was a coo. "Though please, indulge us with how things were before your stint in that shared military."

Gabriel smoothly offered a charming smile. "It is not always at sea, but you would be amazed at the value people put into what can be acquired. Legally, of course." He had to add that on. He would not be pushed into a corner. "I admit, some places did not offer such fair conditions, but it was not too terrible." At the barrage of questions, it was no doubt they were trying to needle something out of him.

Laenetta clears her throat pointedly. "The Lady of the House asked you a question. I'm sure we all want to know."

"Yes, please share! I want to know where a man gets eyes like -those-" The woman at the far end of the table asked with a purr in her voice.

Gabriel lofted an eyebrow at that. "I'm afraid there's not much to tell on that, besides some years at sea to see some of the world. I offer my apologies on that. Before that, I'm afraid it's very dull."

Vesthiriel smiled. "Oh, nothing that could have kept our sweet Taliorinth intrigued could have been so dull. After all, you must have obtained the skill to protect her... somewhere." She leaned forward, and glanced at Nesrin a moment.

The bushy bearded man offered a glance to the women who barraged the man next to him with questions, then to the man himself. There was no mistake of the suspicion in his eyes, which came to slow confirmation as he continued to observe the man. He stroked his beard a moment in thought.

Nesrin was just watching the fuck out of Gabriel, no show of like or dislike in his gaze. Slowly though, his hand had strayed to play lightly and possessively against Taliorinth's shoulder. He was just watching this unfold.

Taliorinth's ears twitched, not liking the hand on her shoulder, but not moving away. She didn't like how they were poking at Gabriel, but she just couldn't find her voice to try and change the pace of the conversation. Only give a pitying look to Gabe.

Gabriel still held onto that smile, refusing to falter. "Perhaps it is in the eye of the beholder then, or perhaps the company was simply enjoyed to make it worthwhile." That polite smile again, not revealing much more. A glance to Tali and the way Nesrin was treating Tali so possessively, a flash of anger in his eyes, yet the smile still lingering on his face.

The bearded man made a low hum sound before adding his voice to this conversation. "How interesting to have developed such a strong bond with the young woman."

Laenetta suddenly starts to laugh. "Oh!! Wait. I'm sorry--” She looked to her older sister, “Vesthiriel. Silly us. Or--" She pauses and flushes slightly. "Silly me," she quickly corrects. "We forgot to introduce the whole table."

She looked to the bushy bearded man, saying, “Gabriel, you've met Taeral Everdawn, yes?” The look she gave between them was unbearable, a wide smile on her features.

Gabriel froze as soon as he heard the man's voice, and with Laenetta's confirmation, it caused the color to immediately drain from his face. After a moment, he cleared his throat, and attempted to keep the facade up. "A pleasure, Taeral Everdawn," his voice losing the confident edge he had carried before.

Taeral responded in kind with an observant sound, his eyes narrowed as he stared the other man down. "Indeed. A pleasure," he responded crisply. "'Gabriel', was it?"

Laenetta's smirk spreads further across her face. She looks to Nesrin briefly and then to Vesthiriel, offering a brighter, proud smile.

Nesrin turned his gaze from the two men across from them to instead Vesthiriel. There was a brief look, waiting for her eyes to meet... before there was a nod of approval to the woman.

Gabriel nodded mutely, and gave another clearing of his throat. That flash of panic in his expression would have been a hard one to miss, and no doubt those across the table might have noticed. "Indeed. I don't believe we've met before, but it is an honor."

Taeral fiddled with his wineglass. "Perhaps. You do look rather... -familiar-, truth be told," putting emphasis on that particular word, while not breaking eye contact. "In all your travels, perhaps you might have visited the Everdawn? Or somewhere close, at least?"

Taliorinth Rosespear 's brows creased with some concern, looking between the two men as she nibbled on her food. She saw Laenetta’s sharp eyes snapping to Gabriel and the amusement she seemed to have. It concerned her, in a certain way, the predatory look between them.

Vesthiriel laughed. "That is what -I- said when I met him! That jaw, those cheeks... he bears a striking resemblance, but I couldn't place it." She turned to Taliorinth, and laid her own hand on the woman's arm. "Do you remember, when you were very small, that gala we had? The one near the sea."

Taliorinth blinked as the hand was on her arm, looking to Vesthiriel. She thought over it a moment, trying to remember. "I... think I do."

Gabriel drew in a breath. "Perhaps," he responded in kind. "I am sure I would have remembered if I had-." His ears twitched as that Laenetta spoke up. "I am sure I just remind you of someone." He quickly turned his eyes to Tali, uncertainty in them.

Vesthiriel smiled. "I seem to remember it as well, you were so darling." A voice. "Silent as a portrait and pretty as one. I seem to remember something, but maybe your memory will be better." She patted her arm, humming and looking back to Taeral.

Laenetta looks entirely pleased with herself. She shoots a territorial look towards the woman at the end of the table, who still had not been introduced in the least, and then a vicious smirk towards Gabriel...but it turns into a sweet smile to Taliorinth.

She spoke up, "Taliorinth, we got peach wine for you for tonight."

Taliorinth blinked, watching Vesthiriel a long moment, then glancing to Netta. "Oh... I saw." She smiled happily, "It's very good. I'm glad you could find some!" She paused again, glancing to her eldest sister. "I remember there was a gala like that..... where it was lit up all pretty... I remember meeting someone really pretty..."

Nesrin caught the glance Gabriel gave Taliorinth, and almost immediately, his arm around the small woman tightened... possessively.

Taliorinth continued on, trying to recall the information her sister seemed to want, "She had... brunette hair, I think. She was really kind and had a nice smile… We went for an engagement, didn't we? Sun...leaf? I think it was Sunleaf. That might be her name.”

Vesthiriel smiled. "Oh, yes, we were having a delightful time, and there was a girl... oh, yes! Belindea. You were enamored-- told me you wanted to be just like her. She was to be an Everdawn too. Such a shame, what happened to her."

The woman’s eyes went to Taeral... and then to Gabriel.

Taliorinth seemed confused, glancing back to the man... and then stopping dead. Suddenly she looked to Gabriel, her eyes went wide as she remembered something VERY important about that name. Something private, that she hadn’t quite connected in time to realize what weight her words meant at this time. What weight the name of the man with the beard meant. What them meeting meant, "Oh.... oh...no." She said quietly.

Taeral spoke up, "Ah, yes. I do remember that night well. It was the night we celebrated my late nephew's engagement to a daughter of one of the neighboring houses." He swirled the wine around in his glass a moment. "I remember fondly how happy the both of them were. My nephew wouldn't ever be quiet about her. You could swear, you'd never seen a pair more in love than those two."

Gabriel was silent throughout this, his gaze dropping and fists balling up at his sides underneath the table. They were mocking him at this point, a show put on to belittle him, but he knew it was not simply for that. His ears wilted slightly, but he lifted his head and looked on to Vesthirel across the table. "I wouldn't know, as I don't believe I was there. It sounds like it must have been a wonderful time." He offered that same smile again, though his tone suggested he was barely holding it together.

Taeral observed Gabriel's responses with interest, tilting his head ever slightly. "A pity. I'm sure you would have enjoyed it." He drew in a sigh, “Though unfortunate, yes, what became of them. A rather unfortunate thing indeed."

Gabriel's ears lowered even further.

Taliorinth took in a breath to speak, about to say something.... but she was stopped short. Not only by the stiffening presence of her sisters there and the company they had, but by the man who was holding onto her shoulder. Squeezing tight and keeping her firmly placed. She looked worried and concerned, looking from Gabe and on to Nesrin, her brows coming together as she dared the glance to the man that clung to her.

Nesrin was pleased by this, even if his features didn't show it particularly. The position they'd put this threat of a man in made sure that no trouble would come of him, surely. He'd felt the woman take in a breath at his side, surely about to let forth some words of complaint, yet he silenced that. His gaze left Gabriel only a moment to look on disapprovingly to his fiancee. He lowered his voice, leaning over to whisper into her ear.

His deep voice reverberated in her ear, causing a shiver to run down her spine and her body to stiffen, “I would suggest to you to behave yourself if you want your guest to stay here longer, my dear. One wrong word and I dare say your sisters may never let him come back to visit. You do not want that, do you?”

Taliorinth’s lips felt tight as she bit back her words she wanted to say, feeling the pressure of such a fact on her shoulders. She lowered her gaze, focusing intently on the wine glass that she now picked up and drank to distract herself; to silence herself.

All she had to do was behave…

Tide of Fate Story Index Here

There was a beautiful laugh that echoed along the table, and abruptly, attention was demanded with the honey voice of the head of the family.

“Now, this is the moment to speak of it in truth! Please!” Vesthiriel’s gaze drifted to Taliorinth and the man beside her, glowing with pride, “It is official then, and that is why I asked you all here. My dear, darling young sister Taliorinth Rosespear, has officially accepted the proposal of Nesrin Thori’thal, and we are having the ceremony in a matter of weeks!”

She clapped, her delighted features guileless. “Normally we would wait, but seeing as the groom waited so long, and the bride herself was without… haste we thought was the kinder gesture.”

Nesrin smiled at that, rubbing his hand along Taliorinth’s shoulder slowly. “Truly, there is nothing we look forward to more.”

The small woman herself kept a neutral expression, holding back something in favor of a look to the man who smiled to her. Automatically, she lifted her lips and offered a reflection of that smile.

The man with the bushy beard, Taeral Everdawn, lifted his glass in kind. “Ah, such wonderful news. My congratulations to the soon to be happy couple.” A polite smile offered to both.

Gabriel’s expression twitched at the mention of the wedding, his grey gaze drifting over to Taliorinth, watching her reaction. A twitch of a frown on the edge of his lips, no words said at all from his side.

Laenetta took the moment to lean forward slowly, looking like a panther ready to pounce. “No congratulations for the happy couple?”

In a moment, the man shook his head, snapping out of thoughts unheard and focusing his gaze instead on Laenetta, “Forgive me, I was merely… overcome with joy for words.” He tried to smile again, but it was clearly forced.

“Well, here’s your chance. Say it.” Lanetta smiled viciously.

Silence fell over the table, drawing on an almost awkward length, yet it was cut through quickly by that sweet voice of Vesthiriel once more.

“Then a toast! To the happy couple.” She swept back behind Taliorinth, placing a hand on her shoulder, raising her glass with the other, “To Taliorinth Thori’thal, future Lady of Hymethalas, and her adoring and patient husband-to-be.” Her eyes were cast along the table, “Please, all of you, raise your glasses! To the Bride!”

One by one, the others at the table rose their glasses, Laenetta quick to offer out, “Cheers! Gabriel should give a toast too!”

There was clear hesitancy, Gabriel not wanting to say something, but eventually he said, “To your continued happiness and everything you deserve.” Yet his eyes did not fall on anyone but Taliorinth.

The small bride-to-be met his gaze, her smile faltering a bit with that look, one that spoke volumes of it’s own paired with the words he said.

Vesthiriel quickly added, “And to the groom!” Which was echoed along the table from the others. As it fell to silence again, she went on easily, looking to each gathered, “We will be celebrating and enjoying the union for those coming days, and you are all invited to join us in our hospitality. We plan on remaining together for this time-- it would be a shame to part the pair after so long, so many years without each other.”

Gabriel took this moment to speak up, “While you have my congratulations, there are many I am sure would delight in this news of her coming… union. Perhaps she could spare some time to share this news with certain others who have been missing her terribly these past few weeks.”

Laenetta rose her brow, “And we have been missing her terribly these past -years-. They can wait.”

Vesthiriel spoke up then, “Ah, but they are welcome here, Lord Shadowdrake! And in our home they are most, most welcome. After all, we are nothing--” A sharp look was given to Laenetta, causing the other woman to wilt, “if not hospitable.”

Her words spent, she leaned in to whisper to Taliorinth, “My peach, you must smile more and speak more kindly of Nesrin. Your silence is unbecoming this time; I know you so love to chatter, why do you not tell us how much you are excited for this chance to make everyone so very happy?”

Taliorinth blinked at her sister’s words right next to her ear, lifting her gaze and looking about at the table. Just as commanded, she put on a bright smile, truly looking happy as she said, "I am really happy here- being able to spend so much time with everyone. I'd hate to waste the opportunity, especially after so long."

She looked to her sisters... especially Vesthiriel, looking for that approval before she went on, "And especially with all the delicious food and places we've gotten to go experience. It feels nice..." She did slowly look to Nesrin, somehow wanting approval from that man as well.

Nesrin’s fingers still gently caressed Taliorinth’s arm, he nodded at her look, “And there’s still much to see. We’ll, of course, take some time in my own lands… but afterwards we’ll be coming back here to host the ceremony proper, is that not correct?”

“Perhaps,” Gabriel spoke up again, “I can make the arrangements then if that is what you wish. I am sure they would all love to hear you say such. One in particular comes to mind. They don’t like to get out much, as you remember, but they have told me before I came here of how much they have missed you. Quite. Even so, I am sure they would be delighted to have you tell them in person.”

Taliorinth’s attention focused on Gabriel again, the words garnering something in her. She knew he was talking of Quineven, and immediately there was a pang in her heart. Her eyes spoke of her want to see him. Her want was enough that she dared to open her mouth and say, “Maybe… maybe just for a day I could go visit them?” Like a child asking permission, she looked to her eldest sister.

Vesthiriel looked at her sisters, and the woman clucked maternally. "Oh darling, you would ask that after your escapade at the beach?" Her voice had a shadow of hurt to it. "I thought you were being wiser, like we know you can be, my dear."

Taliorinth’s ears pinned down, the hurt felt like a stab through her heart, silencing away any desire to do what she should have know was forbidden at this time.

Gabriel, however, would not stay silent, quickly saying, “I hardly think a mere day would hurt anything, with all due respect, Lady Rosespear.”

Vesthiriel merely let her face show a moment of emotion, her words dripping with the wound the simple request had caused, “You promised, Taliorinth…”

Laenetta had cast a sharp look to Gabriel, putting a comforting hand on the eldest sisters arm before slowly looking away from Gabriel to Taliorinth instead, “We… only want to spend these times with you. Your promises mean a lot to us, Taliorinth. We love you.”

Before a response could be given, Vesth just shook her head, “It is not to be considered, my dear. You must remain here. It’s only the wise decision.” She reached forward, placing her soft hand against Tali’s cheek, “It is what father would have wanted for you, you know how he loved us to be happy together.”

Taliorinth’s eyes widened a bit, looking worried… and then hurt at her own words. She swallowed down, leaning against the hand slightly before she said, “Ah…” hesitant, yet quick to put on a smile, “I won’t go anywhere… I did promise. I’m sorry I asked. I didn’t mean to offend.”

An approving glance was given to Vesthiriel over Taliorinth’s head, Nesrin’s intense gaze settling instead on Gabriel then, “You’ll have to tell these… friends… that she simply cannot do such. If they miss her so, then surely they can come to her. If not, then perhaps they are not as true to their friendships and commitments to her happiness as they make themselves seem.”

Silence was cast over the table, the moment giving Gabriel the chance to speak, “Very well. If even one day is asking far too much in order to see the other people in her life that love her, a question would have to be raised as to when she might be able to leave to go see them.”

Lanetta scoffed, “We said that they could come here. She can see them just fine that way.”

“After the wedding, of course.” Vesthiriel smiled, as though it was the clearest thing in the world.

Taliorinth’s brows twitched together, “The wedding isn’t… too far off. It’s not too much longer, so…”

Nesrin shifted, “Of course… Such a shame it could not be sooner, hrm?” He brushed his hand through some of Taliorinth’s hair, offer out the idea to the table.

Taeral cleared his throat then, rather loudly so as to drew attention to himself. "I can see this family is nothing if not close and loving. A refreshing thing to witness, in these trying times. If only more families were such." A subtle glance was spared Gabriel, before turning that polite smile to the hostess and her family. "If you might permit me, however, I would like to walk off a bit of this wine and observe your lovely gardens in the process." He set his now empty wineglass upon the table and shifted to stand. "Perhaps this other guest of yours might occupy me? I would very much enjoy the company." He turned then, setting his gaze upon Gabriel with a sharpness.

Gabriel opened his mouth to object to Taliorinth's acceptance of this matter, but his words were silenced once the other man spoke. He looked to Tali pleadingly before swallowing and drawing his attention to the man that now hovered over him. "I am not familiar with these grounds, I am afraid. Perhaps one of the ladies here would be better company to you?"

Vesthiriel just smiled, motioning them on, “Please, Taeral, Gabriel. We’ll join you in the gardens momentarily, but the new family needs a moment together.”

Nesrin’s eyes lidded a bit, watching the two with a secret pleasure. “I would agree. Do not be so very rude to our good friend here, Gabriel.”

Taliorinth could only watch as they all pushed Gabriel away. She wanted to apologize, but no words would rise from her throat… not now.

Taeral Everdawn narrowed his eyes and placed a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder, holding the man in place for the time. “I’m afraid I must insist, Gabriel,” A certain sharpness to his tone, before tightening his grip on the man’s shoulder. “There is a question on my mind, if you would allow us some time, Lady Rosespear. With all due respect.”

Vesthiriel merely smiled indulgently, “Please, go on.”

Gabriel’s brows furrowed, and he looked back to Taliorinth… only to lower his eyes in defeat soon after, “Very well, Lord Everdawn… if that is what you wish. I will comply.”

She stared out of the window still, her eyes glazed over in thought as she pieced together her memory of things again. It was like an itch that she was finally getting to scratch, yet the more she went at it, the more she felt pangs of pain.

Like something was wrong.

Gabriel being there.

Everyone leaving.

Her being here.

Something had happened, and as she remembered more and more of it, Taliorinth was realizing just how much was truly wrong. Just how much trouble she’d be in.

It scared her, a bit, making her wring her hands in the loose gentle skirts of her dress.

What was she going to do?

They were alone.

Gabriel. Taeral. Her sisters.

All left her with her husband-to-be.

Taliorinth wanted to get up, and truth be told, there'd be a little shift in her position to try and do so.... ahhhh but that would not happen. Not with Nesrin there, holding her shoulders close. When Vesthiriel and Laenetta wandered off, she felt that dread well up inside of her again, knowing that left her to whatever Nesrin wished.... but was it really all that bad? She had to stop thinking the worst of it. Having Gabe here.... reminding her of all those things... it just made it all the worst.

She had those doubts swirling about her mind again that troubled her so, torn between wanting to comply to her sister’s wishes, to Nesrin’s wishes... to be offered everything, or to go with Gabe... to argue against what the sisters offered and go back to the ship, the grungy life that she'd grown to love and care for and all the people that came with it.... People like Quineven, that Gabriel so wished her to remember in times such as this. Truthfully, she felt immense guilt for such, but what could she honestly do? What could anyone do in this position?

Nesrin, to his credit, was well and patient as the pairs all too their turns wandering off. Slowly, he glanced about to the empty chairs, his fingers teasing through the curls of the blonde that he still had a possessive hold over. Eventually, without turning his gaze to her, he stated, "So this is the man that you were so adamant about abandoning us for."

Taliorinth blinked, looking to Nesrin, and then to the side with a guilty look. She didn't know what to say to that…

"I can honestly say i'm disappointed in it. The way he speaks of us, he is clearly a bad influence in your life, Taliorinth... Much like that man that stole you away from us all those years ago. I had thought you to be smarter than to fall for such lies from the man? Do you honestly think he cares about you? Do you not realize how valuable you are?" Nesrin stated in a calm and even tone.

Taliorinth's ears wilted further at the words, feeling the stinging of each syllable. Swallowing down, she muttered, "He is just worried, Nesrin."

He snorted, showing a break of that neutral expression, "Worried? Do you really believe that? Honestly, Taliorinth, listen to us.... listen to those that you've known all your life to be true, to be wise. He is not good for you. He is merely using you for something more..."

Nesrin frowned, looking down to her and shifting his hand, moving to grab hold of her face 'gently' and force her to look up at him, "I care about you, Taliorinth.... and I will not allow you to be lost to some man that thinks himself smart enough to pull the wool over all our eyes. He is bad for you, do you understand?"

Taliorinth didn't resist the hand that pulled up her chin, looking to Nesrin right in that intense gaze of his, frowning as she did so. His words made sense... too much sense. She cursed herself, curled her hands into fists... She was so conflicted, but she knew.... she knew she couldn't trust herself with it. "Nesrin..." She started, failing to finish.

Nesrin's fingers twitched, tightening ever so slightly on her, "Taliorinth. Trust me. You know I would not do anything to hurt you, yes? I have taken care of you all this time... just let me take care of you again." There was a genuine tone there in his voice, watching her closely.

Taliorinth wanted to pull her gaze away, yet she couldn't as was so often the case. She just watched into those sharp eyes of his, seeing that honesty, that commitment. She reminded herself that he was a good man. That he did mean well, and that her discomfort was perhaps just was an overreaction. Slowly, her hands uncurled from the fists and she nodded her head, "I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I know you care. I do trust you, Nesrin."

Nesrin Thori'thal stayed silent for a few moments, letting the words she spoke hang in the air for a few long moments.

"Tell me you understand, Taliorinth." He'd finally say, commanding her such.

Taliorinth took in a slow breath, and without hesitation she said, "I understand, Nesrin."

Nesrin waited a few moments after as well, once again letting the weight of her words settle. Eventually, his grip on her chin would loosen, his knuckles brushing along her cheek, "That's my good girl. That's all you have to do, yes?"

She nodded her head, still feeling uneasy. Yet soon after, he leaned down to press a kiss to her lips, heavy and wanting. Trapping her there for an endless time against him in some form of romance and affection.

Suddenly there was a voice, “Sorry to interrupt…”

The voice pulled her from her thoughts, pulled her from the memory of the chilling touches she felt like she could never escape, leaving her only with the sight of what was in front of her. What was outside of the window she still sat in front of.

Taliorinth glanced over her shoulder, turning her gaze back to the doorway that had recently opened and allowed in a visitor she’d not heard from in so long. A tall man, clothes hanging off of his frame in a lazy fashion that made him always look more a traveler than anything. One stark blue eye contrasting against his tanned skin and his blonde locks.

She knew him like she knew no other, and to see him there, she felt some wash of emotions run over her. Like so many times, she tried to hide it away for a time. To hold back just how much just seeing him affected her… so much within her that she could say, yet her tongue failed to allow escape, her lips shut defiant against her mind.

“Quineven…” she finally uttered, turning herself about to fully face him.

Taeral had come back, his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and an apologetic smile on his face. “We did not mean to intrude on your moment.”

Taliorinth immediately felt shame for having been caught, her cheeks turning red and her eyes dropping down.

Nesrin had pulled back from Taliorinth as soon as the others returned. Straightening up, he adjusted in his seat and looked forward to Taeral and Gabriel. "It is fine. Absolutely fine." He waved his hand. "There are more moments to be had. Many more, in fact, in the future."

Taeral looked between the pair, but still carried that smile. "As I am sure, considering your fast approaching engagement."

He looked around a moment, seemingly looking for the pair of women that were absent. "I had wished to show my appreciation for the fine dinner this evening before departing." His eyes gave a side glance to the man he held onto. "It appears there are dire matters that require my immediate attention, if you would forgive me."

Gabriel’s voice rose up with a bitter tone, “It would appear… I cannot stay long as well.”

Immediately, Taliorinth found her voice to weakly say, “No.” at the mention of him leaving. She didn’t want him gone… she didn’t want to be alone again. Not yet.

Nesrin nodded his head to Taeral, "Ah of course... of course." He hesitated at the sound of her Taliorinth, frowning, "There is no reason for you to stay any longer. I'll be sure to pass on the appreciation to the Rosespears myself."

Taeral blinked a moment, but without missing a beat, he nodded. "My thanks, Lord Thon'dil, and soon to be Lady." He bowed his head before turning to the man at his side. "Come along then. It is a long journey." That grip never faltering.

Gabriel perked his ears as Tali spoke up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. He spoke up quickly, "If I may request you show us out, Tali?" He watched her hopefully. "I am not certain when next I may return, as it may not be before the wedding." His eyes only drifted momentarily to the man whom gripped Tali, before fixating on the woman herself again with that plead. "I would like... one last moment, if I may?"

"I'm afraid that won't be an option," Nesrin shot back without a moment’s hesitation.

Taeral made a low sound of disappointment. Even still. "Unfortunate, but I am sure you both would like to continue your privacy. I can respect that."

"We would, yes," the man said, his arm still around Taliorinth as he watched the pair.

The air was tense, and it seemed as if it would pass with the departure that would surely follow… but instead, Gabriel’s expression changed. He narrowed his eyes, and in a gruff tone he said, “I won’t.”

Within a heartbeat, he darted forward as Taeral released him from the grip. The man vaulted the table, pushing aside finery and foods all across them, his hand slipping into a hidden pocket and pulling out a small stone.

“NO!” Taliorinth tried to stop him; tried desperately to avoid this collision that was going to happen… to stop before something was truly ruined in this delicate balance.

There was a buzz of magic rose up, both from Nesrin himself and the stone that was held between Gabriel’s fingers. It was a quick moment that felt like an eternity, watching in a slowed manner as the spell activated against the stone and collided directly with the man’s skull. A shock of arcane went through the body, leaving him to slump back uselessly against the chair.

There was a miscast of a half-baked spell to the side, loudly tossing dishes along the floor and chairs, breaking them and leaving a scorch mark across the table’s surface. Deadly and meant for the man that was now standing to Taliorinth’s side.

Taliorinth had moved quickly, trying to check to make sure that Nesrin had not been killed by whatever magic was let loose. She couldn’t tell, pressing her fingers rapidly to his neck to find the pulse or sense he was still breathing.

Yet, true to his name, the shadow was standing there with her, and the last words she heard were from his gruff, familiar voice. One that so often warned her of the dangers of this situation or filled her thoughts with arguments against what she so desperately wanted…

“I’m sorry about this Tali…”

And the world darkened.

That was what was missing, she realized. That was what truly had happened.

That was why she was here…

That’s why Quineven stood before her now.

In a moment, she realized the weight of the actions that had transpired. The amount of troubles had been caused because of her and her decisions.

She had ran away again… just as she promised not to.

Already she felt the disappointment from her sisters.

Her sisters…

Her family…

All that she could do now was look to the man who surely gave that stone to Gabriel. Who surely knew this would all happen. Who surely requested her to be brought back here.

All she could do was ask that simple question that rang through her thoughts.

“What have you done?”

Tide of Fate Story Index Here

Taliorinth had taken herself on a walk off to the beach, for a moment free of anyone trailing after her or herself trying to trail after another. She enjoyed the feeling of the sand beneath her bare feet, shifting and moving with each step she took. The warmth of the sun basking down on her skin. The salty wind brushing through her loose curls and cooling her down.

Her ears twitched, hearing something beyond the crashing waves along the shore and feeling the eyes that she knew were cast upon her. It was something she was still getting used to after so many years, but no longer something she was so scared of.

After the first night she had been approached by him, she had reminded herself of all the times she’d stared down worse with little care. Tried to tell herself it was just like that. Just another challenge she had to get over.

Times had changed. She had changed. They had changed.

She was no longer the woman who fled from the night they were to announce their engagement together.

Now, he was by her side yet again. His presence was intimidating in its own way, making her more uncomfortable than she’d really care for, yet she didn’t say a word. She knew better than to do such.

“Tired of chasing after your sisters yet again, Taliorinth?”

She frowned, disliking the way the man even spoke. Yet, in a short and quiet tone, she said, “I am just getting air. They are busy anyway.”

“That is what you used to tell yourself, wasn’t it. Before.”

She declined to answer him there, instead just taking longer steps along the shoreline, as if that would help her escape him. He had longer legs, and she knew it.

Before she could go too far, she suddenly felt his hand grab hold of her arm, stopping her in her tracks. She whipped around, looking at him with wide eyes as he kept such a strong hold on her arm. She looked from his hand on her and then up to his intense gaze.

“Taliorinth, stop running from me. We need to talk, and there is no better time than now to do so, and you know this. I have been patient for I know how hard these years must have been on you, but I am here now, just as you are. And here, your sisters are not looming over you, telling you what to say or do. So you will stop-”

There was suddenly a voice from her side, in a small satchel she’d been collecting things in and carrying other goods in. A rough deep voice of a man far more favored to the woman than the one that held her now.

Both of them looked to the side, and immediately she saw her opening. “I have to take that. It is important.”

Before she could even pull herself away, he suddenly tugged her closer. Grabbing onto her other arm lightly, he kept her far closer than she wished to be. She bit down the urge to simply toss him to the sand and run off, and instead was forced to listen as he said in a voice that chilled her to her core, “You will talk to me, Taliorinth.”

Gritting her teeth, she tried to pull away slightly, only finding that Nesrin tightened his own grip. She let out a breath, then saying, “Please…” She started, her voice wavering as she tried her damndest not to cause more trouble with this, “Please let me go take this. It is important!”

Nesrin frowned, clearly displeased by this response and starting to speak again. Abruptly, she spoke over him, saying, “I promise I’ll talk to you. Privately. Right after. I promise I will.”

There was a long, long moment between them that she didn’t know if he’d actually listen to her. Looking up to his gaze, she was only met with an unreadable expression that was lined with disapproval that caused her ears to actually wilt. She hated that look, yet she couldn’t escape it.

Suddenly, she was released, and he just gave her the look that she knew meant trouble. She had angered him, and as she backed away slowly, she felt a chill run down her spine. Instead of lingering there, she turned and went off, away from the shore and instead up to the slim forestline that laid at the edge of it all.

Each step she took, she knew his eyes were on her.

All the way…

… every inch…

… till she disappeared from his piercing gaze.

She was quick to hide behind a thick tree, slumping down against its rough bark and falling to it’s roots. She was a mess of emotions, half of her stating she shouldn’t be fearful and forget the past, while the other half screamed with fear and anger. She hated being that way, which made her all the more willing to speak with the man whom called her on the comm stones.

Reaching into the little pouch she carried, the glowing stone appeared and was brought close. Something in her told her to be quiet, to keep her voice low and soft, despite having snuck herself away already from that other man’s presence. As if he would just show up at any moment and steal away the time she had bought for herself.

Bringing the stone to her lips, she spoke, "Gabe?" His familiar, deep voice came quick in response, "Missed ye at the pathfinder meeting last night."

"Oh... was there one?"

"Aye," he remarked. "Missed a rather 'memorable' one at that." There was a short pause before he then asked. "Ye allowed to speak?"

She hesitated a moment, concerned about how she really must sound. How could she possibly explain to him why she was so worried about being quiet? What would he think? She didn’t want to make him worried. "Aye. I am. What was memorable 'bout it?" "Only that a few almost dropped dead from the Captain and woman driving them to exhaustion from lap running and the like." "Why'd they do that?" "Apparently, the Captain and woman weren't too happy with some 'incidents' that came up, so the whole unit was given a drill, perhaps to make them think on their actions better." "Oh... What other sorts of things did they make 'em do other than run?" "Well, climbed some stairs, swam across the bay, though some almost drowned because they couldn't fucking swim, did some pushups, and some other shit. Were exhausting, but weren't so bad." She smiled, unbeknownst to Gabriel on the other side. "That sounds kinda fun actually. Wish I could've gone... Would've definitely beaten you." A snort came in response. "Weren't a competition. Knowing ye, ye'd probably make me carry ye the whole way." She had to stifle a laugh at that, trying to keep quiet. "You'd've probably done it."

"Not likely," he scoffed in return. "Ye got ye own pair o' legs. Best ye keep using them or ye likely to end up being flabby with all the pampering ye getting." "Aye, aye…” She rolled her eyes as she spoke. Oh yes, because she was getting flabby with pampering. As if she’d just lay down and eat cakes all day. "Or heaven forbid ye dirty one o' yer fancy dresses now," he teased her.

She frowned at the thought, saying abruptly, "I ain’t gonna wear them if I’m gonna train." "Aye, but that's assuming ye ain't get caught up in drills at a meeting." "You think I’m gonna get caught in drills elsewise?" "Were hypothetical." Oh because that made so much more sense. She resisted the want to sigh at him.

"Well hypothetically speakin', I wouldn't be in a dress." "Good. 'Cause ye look unnatural as hell in one." "I think they look pretty." She tried to defend herself. She did like wearing them, feeling nice and pretty once in awhile. Just like her sisters… just like she wanted to be... "They do, aye, but you being in one be a strange sight." "Ain’t so strange. You're just not used to it." It made sense if he wasn’t. After all, most of the time he just saw her as some dirty little shipmate.

"Maybe not, but considering how dirty ye tend to get when ye be out and about and fuck who knows, be the furthest thing I be expecting ye to be wearing." She let out a soft snort, purposefully ignoring the ‘fuck’ part, "Well, I like them. Even if they aren't the best to actually do work or training or fighting in. They're pretty and they smell nice." There was some small silence before he then asked. "Ye prefer wearing them to ye usual?" He sounded so weird when he asked that sort of question. "Not really. Can't move as easy, plus I aint used to wearing them anymore. But it makes me feel...." She trailed off, staying silent afterwards. She felt mildly embarrassed just admitting how much she liked to dress up like them. "Feel what?" He asked, the obvious question that was going to come. "Nothin'." Tali shot back, trying to think of a way to get out of this conversation. "Pretty?" Then Gabe’s tone switched to something a bit more teasing. "Like an adorable lil doll?" Taliori let out a frustrated huff. Oh here it comes… She restrained herself from shutting off the communication stone right then and there. "How cute," he continued mockingly. "Are ye gonna tell me next ye be getting into them powders and lipstick and perfumes?" She just stayed dead silent. "That be what ye be enjoying now, is it?" Finally she just stated, "Aye. And lots of other stuff. Sorta." There was some brief silence before he then asked. "Like what?" "Other stuff. I dunno. I wanna hear more about what’s been happening out there anyway. Did anything else interesting happen at the meeting?" There was a skeptical silence, before he pushed on, “Well…” What else had been interesting? Oh right… “Suppose ye also did miss that woman giving me a good slap across the face.” Sacrificing some humility in order to keep her talking seemed worth it enough. Even if it meant more taunting. "Why'd she slap ye this time?" "Woman be ornery most of the time, so who knows. Must have been on her rag or something. " She snorted, "More like you were probably an ass." Gabe gave a snort in return. "Weren't doing anything any different than usual at those meetings. Didn't even say anything,"

"Meaning you were more than likely an ass." She replied in a flat tone. A scoff came. "Didn't even say a word. She just happened to pick me out the lot." Partially true.... partially not. "Did she? Did she -really-?" "Aye, o'course," he replied, not even missing a beat. "I ain't done shit." "You probably did somethin'." "Like what?" "Like what you always do." She said arrogantly. "That ain't explain shit," He grumbled something inaudible, barely picked up by the comm. Eventually though, he went on, "Were because I ain't say 'aye' to her when the others did. Didn't see a reason to." "Y'know she's technically your superior now." She paused, then with a small giggle she muttered, "Not like much has changed there, has it?" Taliori could practically feel the eye roll on this side of the stone, "Harr harr. Ye hilarious." "I am." she said proudly. "Regardless," he grumbled. "We ran, we did pushups, we swam, some complained, Captain and woman did some yelling, were about the geist of the evening. Then I went to go relax with a drink." "No woman, eh?" There was a long silence to her question. In fact, she swore she could hear a faint 'hmm' in the background, rather than an answer. "Well? Was there?" She was heavily interested in this, wondering if he’d actually found someone he tolerated enough to sleep with again. He needed to get laid, honestly. There was that faint 'hmmm' again before he finally answered. "Well," adding another long pause before continuing. "I weren't alone so... maybe there were one." She gasped excitedly, "Who!? Did ye really?! What did she look like?!" "Maybe if ye were at the meeting, ye'da met the lass," he replied with a snort. "So ye did!? Oh! Tell me!" "Hmmmm nah," he responded with a smirk in his tone. "Don't think I oughta." "oh c'mon... I wanna know!" She whined.

"Then maybe ye can wait til the next time I see ye, and then I'll tell ye all about the lass." "Aye but I wanna know -now-. Please?" "Then maybe ye ought to come back and visit soon," he replied, not budging. She whined again, "Gabe... I wanna know now. I don't know when I can come back yet..." "Why do ye say that? Ain't like ye be some kind of prisoner, are ye?"

Shit… she hadn’t meant to say something like that. "Well no. But.... I can't leave right now. It'd look real bad, and with how things've changed, I wanna make sure I can do something. I'm trying. But I wanna know!" Rather than answer her question, he pressed further, as would be expected, "What do ye mean? What are ye trying to do?" "Gabriel..." She whined again. "Tali..." his tone almost stern. "What do ye mean by that?" There was a small silence from her side, then a sigh, "Nothin'. I just wanna know, Gabe." "As do I," he responded back. "Ain't seen ye fer awhile so... I just wanna know what ye be up to." "Will you tell me if I tell you?" She tried, wondering how she could backtrack now. "Aye, but ye first." She huffed, knowing damn well he wouldn’t change his mind on that. She decidedly just went on, "I've been... I dunno, eating a lot. We go to the beach and stuff. We've had some of... uh... other people come by. People from a real long time ago... I've been trying to be on my best behavior... Making sure I can keep up and stuff with everything, since they talk about business a lot, and i'm not really good at that. Trying to be nice to everyone too, since they're so important..." She trailed off a moment, not sure how much to really tell gabe. "And that be all?" Gabriel’s tone suggesting he didn't quite believe her. "Mostly, aye." "Mostly," he repeated. "Be there something yer not telling me?" There was silence for a long moment before she said, "It doesn't really matter, nothin' you gotta worry about." "When ye say stuff like that, it gives me even more reason to worry," he shot back, followed by a sigh. "Ye ain't gotta hide anything, lil doll. Whatever it be, just be honest with me." There was another silence, then Tali let out a little sigh. "Just... I don't... know.... I don't even know much of how to say it... Just, there’s some stuff... Stuff I don't like, but that I should and I know I should. It's not right of me to not like it, and besides, after all this time, people change and all, you know?"

She hesitated again, slowly going on, "I changed... and so did they... so..."

There was a moment her words failed her, then she quickly tacked on, "Just difficult... I suppose..." There was a long silence following her answer that made her fearful he wouldn’t accept the answer. She knew he cared a lot, and his care did not extend to her family. If he caught wind of any trouble of any kind, he’d more than likely show up there.

"The way I see it, ye like what ye like and ye don't like what ye don't. Ain't no 'should' about it, no matter who be telling ye that or where ye be.  Ye ain't got to like something and there be nothing wrong with that." He said with such finality.

"I just don't wanna cause a probl-" She cut off, suddenly realizing that someone was there besides her.

Unbeknownst to her, Laenetta had tracked her down and was looking at her with overbearing disappointment. Without a moment given to explain what happened on her side, the standing woman spoke, “Do you know how much you’ve worried everyone at the estate, Taliorinth? Why did you sneak off like that without telling anyone where you were going? I was told you ran off from Lord Thori’thal and rudely ignored him.”

“I’m sorry, Netta.” the younger woman said, her ears wilting down, looking almost embarrassed as she clutched the stone close to her. “I just had a call that came in, and it was just-”

She cut her off, instead going on her own, “Well, surely whatever it is won’t take you too long. You’ll be over soon, won’t you?”

Tali quick said, “Of course! I will. I promise, real soon. It’s guard business, that’s all, and i’m just checking in.” She tried to give a smile up to her intimidating sister.

Laenetta gave her a long stare and Tali fell silent. She started to move off, “We’ll expect you at home.”

Finally, when Laenetta was most certainly far away, Taliori let out a breath she had held and spoke in the stone again, quietly once more, "Gabe?" "Aye,” There was a hesitant moment before he went on, “But problem, or not, lil doll, ye gotta be true to ye’self and ye ain't gotta like what ye don't. Afterall, ye be loud enough to me when voicing what ye don't, aye?" He gave a short snort after that, though it carried with it some humor. "Aye... I am. But... it's different here. Ain’t as easy, you know? With you or the crew or any of them, it's just... you gotta be loud, ain’t ya? I mean, it's either that or you end up getting trampled and all. Here's it's... different." Second time she's said that. "It's... you know, like a game. A really big game that really smart people play. Like in the books and all, you know?" "Like court intrigue, y'mean?" he answered, though his tone was anything but happy.  "Just what kinds of stuff they making ye do that ye ain't like?" She huffed, trying to play it off some and redirect the conversation quickly. "Gabe you promised to tell me." "And I'll tell when ye tell me!" "I've told you!" "Then answer my question! What are they making ye do that ye don't like?" She sighed, pausing for a long moment, then saying quietly. "It ain't that bad. Just be tolerating some people... tryin' to forget and forgive and all." There was a brief silence before the man pressed further. "Like who? what did they do?" "Just.... old acquaintances and all." If one could consider Nesrin simply an ‘acquaintance’.

"Don't have to forgive if ye don't want to. Just give em that prize winning smile that makes my coin purse lighter and curse them behind their backs. Ain't nothing wrong with that, it be the way of the court anyways."

As if it were that easy…

"Aye... but... I wanna try still. For my sisters." She spoke honestly.

"And I'm telling ye, it ain't bad if ye don't. There be some things people do that ain't worth forgiving.” "Aye, Gabe, and I understand... but the oracle said there was a choice. The time was now... and I don't wanna be makin' the wrong choice." There was a long silence to that before he responded. "Yer not planning on coming back to the crew, are ye?" There was a pang of guilt. Did he really think she’d do that? Just like the Captain did? "Gabe, no, that's not what I said. I don't..."

She hesitated before going on, "... I don't want -that- to be the decision. I don't want to abandon the crew..." A small breath was heard. A small sigh of relief. "Then... ye still deciding."

"I don't know what the decision even is, Gabe. I don't know anymore... all I know is... now is the time." A low snarl sounded from his throat, like a wild beast of some sort, "Ye ain't got to listen to the words of some damned witch, Tali. Ye fate be ye own and ye ain't have to give up either just because of some damned cards." "Gabe..." She said warningly, feeling honestly defensive of the woman and her readings now, "The oracles cards are real. They tell the truth." "Do they now?" he shot back. "So ye saying what they told me about ye engagement be real as well?" As soon as he said that, her breath pulled in.The cards had told him about Nesrin? About back then? When she was his betrothed? The fact that, by all technicalities, she truly still was? She was stunned silent for the moment, worried about all he might’ve known about it then.

"Fate be ye own, Tali. While I admit, that witches' cards can be scarily accurate sometimes, what I do know is, if there's any truth in them, what they show is a possible path among many. The choice still be yers." Slowly, swallowing down, she said, "Aye, Gabe. And I know that and I well and mean to remember it. There ain’t a bad part of me trying to do right by my sisters, and just enjoy some of the time that I get with them now, is there?" "Ain't a bad thing, no, to just want to enjoy the company of those ye care about. What is, however, is sacrificing ye own happiness fer it. Just don't want ye doing things ye ain't like just because they tell ye to, understand?" "I'm doin' 'em because I wanna, Gabe. Ain’t sacrificin' nothin' but a bit o' comfort. Times've changed, ain’t be th' same." There was a moment of silence at that before he then said. "Maybe so, and maybe times have changed, but ain't always mean gotta go along with it." There was a slight pause before he went on. "Just worry about ye is all. Haven't seen ye in a bit, and so, suppose... ye be missed."

Another pause, before he then asked. "Ye planning on coming back anytime soon?" She didn’t know the answer to such a thing, and taking in a deep breath she started slowly, "I suppose it depends. This trip isn't over yet, and I don't really wanna leave quite yet. I've been having fun and all, but I do sorta miss you all." "Keep me updated, aye? Then ye can tell me all about it as soon as ye get back. I'll even buy ye as many peach pastries as ye want." She had barely even heard him, instead, her gaze focused once more on Laenetta whom had reappeared. She looked very unhappy with her, and there was a particular look given to the stone in her hands, "I..." She paused, unsure if she should speak to Netta first or Gabe, eventually favoring the man on the stone, "Aye... I will." "A promise then." Then a short pause. "Keep ye’self well, lil doll." Laenetta’s brows rose, her arms crossed as she just waited and watched. Taliori knew her time was up with this, slowly answering Gabe, as if it would extend the chat just a bit more, "I will. I have to go, Gabe. I'll talk to you later." "Later then," he responded, and then nothing. "Bye Gabe." She said, almost sadly, knowing it would be a bit of time before she’d be able to talk to him. She made the right motion to turn the stone off, and then lowered it to her lap, looking to her sister that awaited her.

Without a word, Laenetta held out her hand, waiting.

It wasn’t a gesture to help Taliori up. No… it was for the stone. She was not the smartest, but she knew that much.

She wanted to argue against it, try and tell her she hadn’t meant to disturb anyone with a simple call, but she knew it wouldn’t make a difference. She’d done this to herself, after all. She cursed herself, thinking it would have been better to have just stayed on the beach with that man’s hand on her arm, keeping her with those intense eyes.

Slowly, she pulled the stone up from her lap, looking over it once more before she slowly handed it away to Netta, watching as she gripped it in long, beautiful fingers and tucked it away expertly in her lavished clothes.

Even as she took the stone, she didn’t leave, instead looking down to Taliorinth with a raise of her brows. “Now, you should go apologize to Lord Thori’thal and get ready for dinner. Otherwise, Vesthiriel might find out, and light knows how she’d take to hearing you ignored our very esteemed guest for your friend who just wants you to leave us early. It breaks my heart that you’d talk about that… after all we’ve been doing to make sure you’re having such a good time together with us… with your family.”

She let out a sigh, “I suppose i’ll walk back home alone.” She sounded woeful about the fact, causing Taliori’s heart to tug.

Quick as lightning, she pulled herself up and ran towards her sister, “Netta! I-”

She stopped as the other woman paused, not even looking back to her. Only a small flick of her ear gave a notice that she was paying attention.

“I’ll go home with you. And… I’ll go talk to Nesrin immediately. I don’t mean to make it seem like I don’t wanna be here, it’s just… Gabe… just likes to… to tell me about updates of what happened with the guard and all, you know?”

She let out a huff. “I suppose if you want to see it that way. Though they do take so much time away from spending more with us… especially with how much time we’ve made for all of us to spend together… as a family.”

Netta’s head lowered, and tali’s ears pinned down. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she quickly moved forward and grabbed hold of Netta’s hand, gripping tightly and moving to stand in front of the woman.

“I’m sorry, Netta. I’ll make sure to appreciate more of the time you’ve given for this. I know how busy you both are… I’ll be better about it.” She tried to smile, getting one from her sister.

@jessipalooza @sakialyn @stormandozone @forever-afk for mentions

“I am just…” There, a hurt pause, green eyes growing wider a moment as though she struggled for words. “I am genuinely baffled that you would see a need to run away, hiding away to talk to your friend, Taliorinth. A friend we have invited into our homes-- our lives.” She grew quieter, voice rich and smooth even in such agonies. “To hear from Nesrin, who was so patient and true all these years that you had done something so-- so flippant, it worried me to my heart.”

She looked away then, to Netta’s glinting waves, the silk in her voice finally catching in emotion. “I had thought-- it must have been that something terrible had happened. There could be no other reason you would so thoughtlessly tear off after our scare when you were injured and you promised to be careful, and I had to stop everything I was doing just to make sure Laenetta would be off as soon as she could to go and make sure you were alright.”

The honeyed voice of Vesthiriel rang clear in the room, despite the soft tone. Even at it’s most sorrowful, the warm inflections dripped with disappointment that her words held context to. It brought Taliorinth both comfort and utter silence. What could she say to that? She hated the thought of interrupting them any more, after spending so much time as it is. She knew how much work it was, how much hassle it must be, and then to worry them over nothing like that?

There was a soft sigh, and Taliorinth brought her eyes up finally to meet the gaze of her eldest sister. It was an intensity of it’s own. Alluring and captivating, how royal she looked. It made Tali giddy to meet her sister’s gaze in such a way usually, vying for the attention that would be cast upon her in the better times.

Yet, this was not one of those times. The lidded gaze held the sadness of someone that had been put in the wrong in this instance. And in that, Taliorinth wished that gaze could be directed to anyone but herself. It sent her stomach in knots, made her heart just drop with the weight of the knowledge that she’d done wrong.

In a quiet voice, she tried to speak up, to come up with some excuse for this act of running away, “I’m sorry, Vesthiriel. I hadn’t meant to worry anyone or anything, I just thought…” She trailed off, her gaze lowering down to her hands nervously at the unchanging look in her sister’s eyes.

“I do not understand, Taliorinth, what did you think? That we care so little that your disappearance would be unnoticed, no word or warning given, no consideration for our feelings? That we would let ourselves lose you-- lose you again, without so much as a batting of lashes?” There was a small pause, then a clink of jewelry that noted the movement of the woman across from her. “I thought-- I thought the worst, I did not know what had been done, but that you had run.” She sighed softly, a thread of reproach entering the sadness of her tone. “Is it that you believe us to be so careless of our sister, that we would not fret and worry-- that we do not care for your presence, and would not note its absence? Do you honestly think that we do not care about you at all?” Hurt finally broke the last words, the crack of that pristine voice perfect in timing and pitch.

Taliorinth’s brow’s twitched, coming together with a troubled expression. That wasn’t what she meant to do, it wasn’t what she wanted them to think. She wasn’t running away, she was just… she had just gotten away for a few moments. Went to speak with Gabe. She had just wanted to speak with him for a little bit. She’d wanted to get away…. Get away…

Her hands curled into fists, clutching the soft cloth of her tunic, taking in a breath. Her thoughts swirled up, bubbling up in her throat. Abruptly, she started to spew out the words, quiet at first, but then growing in volume and speed as she went. Frantic to try and make them understand, to let them hear her.

“I hadn’t meant to make you worry at all, it was just that I had been walking alone and then I got surprised by Nesrin and I know that i’m supposed to be good and all and such but I don’t always like being around him and I know that he hasn’t done anything particularly to me but I don’t know how else to explain it other than that it doesn’t feel right to be with him and I didn’t want to talk to him but he wants to talk and I didn’t want to but then I got a call on my stone which I can’t always ignore because sometimes it’s guard business and that’s when I said I had to leave because it was a call and I had to make sure to get it-”

She was cut off by Laenetta’s sharper voice, “Taliorinth.”

Abruptly, she looked up to the woman who stood off to the side, her arms crossed and looking none too happy. Tali’s ears pinned down, knowing that spewing out such nonsense just made it worse. She fell dead silent then, looking down once more with guilt.

Vesthiriel sighed, soft as a moth’s landing. “Lord Thori’thal has been worried as well, you know this, yes? He is a-- he is a good man, who has been worried-- almost as much as we have these decades. He was so patient, and when he went to speak to you, he was most adamant that he do so where he thought you would be comfortable. By the sea.” She let the words settle. “He ran back to us as soon as you vanished, all panic and fretfulness. He is a man of great feeling, Taliorinth, and that is a thing we have been blessed to have in these years. He never gave up on you, even when we feared the worst.”

When Taliorinth stayed silent, she heard Laenetta speak up, “He is a good man, Taliorinth.”

It only added more guilt to her conscience. Swallowing down, she closed her eyes and tried to think of a solution for this. How to fix it. How to make it right. All she could think of was…

“I will promise not to run off again… and I will go speak with Nesrin to apologize.” She said quietly.

There, the warmth returned. “Oh Taliorinth.” Her voice held spring in it, the bloom of a thousand roses, and she swept to her feet. “I am so glad you understand.” Rising to her feet, Vesthiriel seemed to radiate her pleasure-- one of the qualities that made her so beloved. Her affection was a sun.

Crossing the small span between her place and her sisters, Vesthiriel smoothed her hand over the wild, pale curls of Tali’s head. “You are so dear to us, I had worried you wouldn’t understand but I see you are as clever and good as I always hoped you would be.” She crooned, and leaned down to lay a kiss on the younger woman’s hair. “We have always wanted you to be as wise as we are, and now it finally seems that you have begun… to bloom.”

@jessipalooza @stormandozone

So often was she one to run along, yearning to experience every moment as fast as she could anymore, it was moments where she allowed herself to just stop that she adored. To sense every beat of the world, to bathe in the moments as they played out alongside her. Another memory, another detail that engraved upon her mind, no matter how insignificant.

Yet, while she’d forever be able to recall such miniscule moments in her life, she knew it would not last. The daze of sleep blew away with each caress of the wind along her cheek, tugging her mind to rouse until she would come to accept that she had to rise from bed.

And she would. Pulling herself from rich sheets, she stood and brushed away the last lingering aches of waking up. A stretch of her arms, then a brush of those fingers through her curls that messed them ever so slightly, yet pulled them from her face. She already found clothes laid out for her, clean and new.

She slipped the short dress over her body, feeling as it fit perfectly, as if it were made for her. Enjoying the light greens and the spread of flowers across the skirt. Moving to a mirror, she looked at herself with some degree of admiration.

Since she had come here to the seaside estate of the Rosespears four days ago, she had felt a part of the place. Pampered and pleased, she had been enjoying the stay, feeling the stresses of all that occurred before slip away and instead replaced by fond memories reforged with those of her own blood.

When she was with them, she found her wild look tamed out. Her hair was rid of tangles that pulled and hairs that stuck every way they desired. Thick curls spiraled down her shoulders, only mussed up by the nights turns and twists. Her wide eyes looked over her features, seeing the splay of freckles along her tanned skin, soft looking lips, a sharp jawline that looked so much like her sisters who she desired so strongly to appear like. The dress was fitting, the shoulders fallen off her own with a loose look, the cloth fitting to her trim form in the right places, despite her lacking curves, and the short skirt girlish and fun in a way, leading to legs that were made to look much longer than they truly were.

She was beautiful, just like her sisters were.

In that moment, Taliorinth reflected on just how much she changed when she came here. In a way, it was disturbing. She had seen a century of grit and grime, blood stains and threadbare clothes that smelled of piss and sweat. Yet here, she saw only a fresh, clean woman.

No, not just a woman. A lady. She was a lady of the Rosespears, and that in itself was the difference.

The words of her sisters reverberated in her mind.

“You belong here, with us, Taliorinth.”

“This is your place, Taliorinth.”

The monks hand reached out to touch the glass, her fingers pressed against the cool reflection of her face, brushing along the lines she saw in her features slowly.

Did she truly belong here? In a place where those she considered just as close as family did not belong? In this clean dream where there was this certain air of happiness that was not matched when you sat along so many others on the ship. In this place where war seemed so distant, and violence a mere rumor along lips at a meal to amuse along a conversation.

In her mind mulled that hurricane of thoughts. No matter what she did, she never could sort through them all, only listen to them as they passed by like harsh winds.

She told herself she belonged here.

She told herself her sisters loved her.

She told herself that the witches words surely could not be true.

She told herself to remember Vaelrin’s words. To remember Gabriel’s words.

She told herself that her fate was her own.

She told herself not to be scared.

She told herself not to cry.

She told herself… she told herself…

So many words, she told herself, to remind her of what to do. To tell her where to go, and where things would take her.

As if in need of convincing her own reflection, she spoke softly to it. “I do belong here. I’m happy here, I really am, and it doesn’t matter if I have to make a hard choice. I won’t lose my family, not again. I won’t lose any part of them. Not a single one.”

Her brows creased together, and she frowned at herself, her ears lowering with a certain heaviness that fell upon her shoulders. It made no difference what she said here. She didn’t know what to think, even as she spoke the words that made it seem as if she did. Her doubts were fueled by memories of conversations long past. Worries of those who said they cared for her, and that she believed did. Who could she really believe in such a case? Why was it the world slated her for such decisions? Why would things not just be the way she wanted them, for all to be happy and to be able to be a part of it all?

In a sudden burst, she felt pain in her chest. An ache of loneliness in her that unsettled her so strongly in moments such as these. She didn’t want to be left alone in these thoughts. She wanted to distract herself, to hold herself close to another person, no matter who it was.

Drawing her hand back from the glass, she rubbed a hand along her face and let out a slow breath, erasing the aching look of trouble from her face as she turned from the reflective surface that showed the woman that she was.

Tonight was an important night, she knew that much. A celebration of sorts, a calling of close friends from so long ago. She didn’t want to disappoint anyone by being troubled. She wanted to be happy. She wanted to enjoy this time.

Her feet were quick, and soon all that rested in that early morning room was the sound of the morning passing on.

Tagging for mentions: @forever-afk @sakialyn @jessipalooza @stormandozone

The monks hair was done finely, pinned up in a style that looked just barely styled, the rest of her long locks carefully placed in a waterfall of curls that smelled of sweet peach oils. Another gift she’d gotten.

‘Perhaps another way to buy ye out, lil doll.’ Came that gruff voice of the rogue, ever the voice of doubt in her mind when she wished only to push it out.

Shaking away the thought, she was accosted by the servant, gently tapped on the nose with a soft brush which made her eyes blink.

“Stop moving so. I have to finish this so you can go make your grand entrance, you know.” She stuck out her tongue, teasing along with Taliori in a playful manner as she motioned for the woman to close her eyes again.

Tali murmured a small ‘Sorry’ before she let out a small sigh. For the thousandth time, she asked, “Are you really sure you can’t tell me even one hint?”

“I certainly won’t if you keep bustling about shaking your head and all.”

Taliorinth let out a small huff through her nose and she just continued to sit still as she felt the soft bristles against her face, brushing on powders so delicately it felt like butterfly wings or the like.

The thought amused her, imagining how romantic such a way of describing it was. And soon, she just let her mind wander and amuse herself with it. Even so, she knew that if she kept asking, she might finally get her answer.

Before the small woman could open her mouth to speak, the servant spoke up, “I’ve already told you now, I don’t know too many of the details of the guests. I don’t even know their names or what most look like. What I do know is that some of the others… Hold still. Some of the others have been saying it’s a very important sort of evening. They say it’s a way of welcoming you back home.”

She paused a moment, and Tali felt the brush pulled up off of her skin.

Opening her eyes, she looked at the servant, meeting her bright green eyes in turn as the other woman surveyed her work upon the monk’s face. She looked satisfied, and with a job completed, she turned and put away the brushes.

“What I do know…” She continued on, “Is that it’s supposed to be handsome company… and that you will enjoy it very much. I know you’re probably nervous, but it really isn’t too big. Besides, look how beautiful you look.”

The servant reached down, brushing fingers along the skirts of the new dress. Sheer sheets of cloth embroidered with flowers of various kinds bloomed along her. Certainly, as the monk looked down, she couldn’t agree more. The pattern was soft and addicting to touch. It was beautiful, and in a way, she loved the large poofed out sheer sleeves she had.

“I do think it’s real pretty… Though I really do feel worried. Isn’t it a bit improper looking? For an important dinner like this, it’s awfully sheer.” She looked worriedly to Serana, who just smiled and took her hands.

She was urged up quickly and brought to the full length mirror to inspect her look. Just as so many times before, her breath was caught and she could do nothing but stare at how beautiful she really had become.

“You see?” Urged Serana in her ear, just behind her, as she could see. “You’re stunning, really. I’d kill to be able to wear something as pretty as that out. And it’s not too uncomfortable, right?”

Taliorinth barely registered the question, shaking her head. She was awestruck, taken in by the beauty of it. Slowly, but surely, she murmured, “I look just as pretty as them.”

Serena only smiled, moving off to finish cleaning up. “Of course you do. I’m very good at my job, you know. Even if some of the others think not, I am.”

Tali couldn’t hold back a small giggle as she heard that, looking back to where she was. “Well I think you do a fantastic job.”

Serena winked at her, then her ears perked at some faraway sound. There was a call, a sort of tinkling bell afterwards. A servants calling, Tali knew well enough.

“That’s our que. You should head off to the main room. C’mon, they’re probably dying to see what you look like.” Before Tali could even argue, she was being pulled forth by her hand, listening to the clinking of jeweled hoops along her wrist as she went on and the clicking of her heels along the stone floors.

In no time, she was being urged, pushed towards the last door before this main room. Behind the door, she heard laughing and the sounds of people other than the servants and her sisters beyond. Even as she put her hands to the handle, she hesitated. Her heart was beating fast, and she felt warm. She wanted to do good, but she wasn’t sure how well she could do. She hadn’t the right mind or wit to handle nobility, like her brilliant sisters. Where they lived this life for years, she was new.

She couldn’t get it out of her mind, the ever gnawing worry that she’d mess this up. All the eyes would be on her tonight, and she knew it. She hated that attention, in a way- or did she?

Tali cursed lowly. How could someone like her get nervous about something as easy as talking to other people. She’d seen years of bloodshed, raided ships along some of the worst sorts of people, commanded more than just a small group of people’s attention and she enjoyed it. What was so different?

Steeling herself, she straightened her back and took in a deep breath. Her eyes closed, imagining her worries as tangible items, small coins that spoke in ringing rhythms. Slowly, she pushed them all away, emptying her mind and calming herself, just as she was taught. Finding her center, she set herself steady and slowly turned the knob and pushed open the door.

The room was full for it’s small space. Many faces of which Taliorinth didn’t know were there, and the first step into the room brought forth the attention of her eldest sister, Vesthiriel. In a quick moment, the woman who shone bright as the sun itself moved over to her, arm brushed across her shoulders and a smile given to her.

“Everyone, may I have your attention?” Came the honeyed tones, commanding the attention as if there was a way that there was a soul in the room that would dare look anywhere else.

Silence descended, and Taliorinth felt every eye in the room upon herself and her sister who clung so closely to her.

‘So possessively.’ Whispered that gruff voice in her mind.

“I would like to introduce our guest of honor. A long lost rose whom has finally come back home to where she belongs. I’m sure some of you remember her well, but for those who may have possibly forgotten, may I introduce to you Lady Taliorinth Rosespear.”

There was a moment of murmuring, smiles passed between those few unfamiliar faces. Before any more noise could go on, Vesthiriel went on. “Tonight, we are celebrating a reunion for one we thought lost, and the joy of coming back together. With that, i’ll give you all a moment to reintroduce yourselves to my dear sister and then we’ll continue enjoying the evening with a brilliant meal from our top tier chefs. Enjoy.”

A brilliant smile was given by Vesthiriel when Taliorinth looked up, and it was such a thing that she couldn’t help but smile in return, feeling a rush of pride and confidence that  just seemed to seep from the woman.

She was a Rosespear and this is where she belonged. She knew it.

With that thought, she turned her gaze forward to the many faces that she couldn’t place in her memory. The arm retracted from her shoulders and she felt the urging to step forward. She smiled, and did just that.

She had a lot of people to meet.

~~~

The dinner had been long and tedious in it’s own way. A good portion of the visitors would cite memories that Taliorinth only could barely recall. Small details, faces she never had looked at properly, blurs of moments overwhelmed by times she pushed to the recesses of her mind.

It was a struggle, and by the end, she was exhausted. She knew it was important, knew all these people were important, and as such she tried to put on her best face through it all. They talked of things she just didn’t understand, and in a way it bothered her because of just how little she knew. She burned with a desire to ask, though every time she got close, she felt the eyes of her sisters on her or knew they were close enough to hear, and she hadn’t wanted to make it known she was wasting these important people’s times on ‘stupid’ questions.

Most were friendly, some where almost judgemental in the way the questioned where she was and how she’d survived all these years. She wove tales that seemed far better than to admit to the crimes she’d committed, and thankfully  most of the time they would ramble off on their own tales or ideas halfway through. Every single time, they’d make it known how she thankful she should feel or tell her how lucky she was to have made it through such troubling times.

By the end, she started to agree with them. It had been a hard amount of time, in comparison. There were many times she’d nearly died, and often it was a wonder she hadn’t. It had been gritty, and slowly, she was beginning to wonder why it was that she had liked those days so much when she had to struggle so often. When she had to be dishonest, just to make it through a day.

The most notable part of the night, though, had been after the dinner.

Taliorinth had wandered off to the edge of the house, sitting on one of the balconies that allowed her a view of the ocean that was so very close to the house. She was thankful for the moment, taking in deep breaths of the sea air, relaxing greatly before she felt a presence behind her.

Before she could even turn around, a deep and familiar voice spoke slowly, in a manner she knew far too well. “It has been a long time since i’ve last seen you, Taliorinth, yet despite this, there are things that haven’t changed about you.”

She swallowed down a sudden urge to run, to get away, as she turned her gaze to look back to the man who had eyes that pinned her down like the strongest currents she’d swam against. Such an intense gaze, she knew it well, and she knew too that she could never truly escape it when it was upon her. Had everything else changed about this man, there was that one thing she could always know and count on.

In a quiet voice, almost swept away by the sea breeze, she uttered the name she hadn’t thought she’d had to say here. “Nesrin.”

Despite herself, she felt her hands curl into fists, her mind suddenly blank of any thought to escape. She was trapped there, looking back to the tall man dressed finely with a smile that made her feel both grateful and disturbed. Every inch of her skin seemed to crawl, and she struggled to look anywhere but his own eyes.

The silence did not stay, instead, he moved forward, bringing himself closer to her as he spoke in that same tone that commanded just as much, if not more respect than her own sister. “It is good to know you haven’t forgotten me along with all the others you seem to have, my dear. Then again, you cannot fool me with such a thing, knowing how your lovely little mind works.”

He loomed over her, causing her to push herself back against the unforgiving railing, as if that would make any difference. She felt trapped, yet somewhere, in the back of her mind, she felt some need to stay. It wasn’t right of her to run off, wasn’t right of her to feel this way. He was no threat to her, and had anything truly made her feel uncomfortable to such a degree, she could have done something about it. Here he was, just speaking to her, yet she was reacting in such an inappropriate way.

In all her thoughts, it seemed she’d been silent enough for him to go on, his expression changing a slight degree in a way she just couldn’t read. “You know, I considered approaching you earlier. I wanted to. When your sisters told me of your return, I could not describe how relieved I was to hear. I had wanted to get up at that moment and come back to find you, despite what you did to me.”

Nesrin’s hand reached up without her invitation and cupped her cheek. It was a cold touch, his fingers brushing against her skin for longer than she wanted, urging her to keep her head turned up to meet his gaze.

In a softer tone, one so strange for a man such as himself, he stated, “I waited so long for you to come back. I believed you were stronger than one who would get herself killed, and I was right, wasn’t I, Taliorinth?”

She swallowed down, taking in a breath and speaking up as loud as she could muster, barely over a whisper to him, “I came back for my sisters.” She was honest with him, in hopes that it would in some way satisfy some unspoken question. As if she could play this game a step ahead of him, to get him to leave just that much quicker.

There was a breath released from his nose, and his hand slowly curled under her chin, taking hold of her in a light hold that felt heavier than an iron grip to her. “I know you did.” There was another twitch of his expression that she just couldn’t read, placing her on edge. “And I have come back for you.”

She didn’t want him to come back, she wanted to tell him that to his face, yet she couldn’t bring it to herself. It seemed the mere thought of saying it put her entire mind on edge. To say such a disrespectful thing to this man… This man who meant so much to her family… who was so very important…

She tried, though, she did, “Nesrin, I…”

Taliorinth trailed off, what could she even say? How could she twist her words to communicate the feelings she had.

When the rest did not come from her, she felt his grip squeeze a bit, causing her attention to focus back on him, as if it had truly ever strayed away. “I know that you know me well, Taliorinth, just as I know you entirely. I forgive you for what you have done. I forgive you because I love you, and those feelings have not changed over all this time.”

She felt a wave of guilt was over her, and finally, she looked away and to the side, closing her eyes to it. Even Nesrin, in the incredible disrespect she had shown to him, would utter such words. Her sisters, this man, everyone around them. They didn’t blame her, they didn’t accuse her, as she so feared. Truthfully, they did care, and she believed it.

Her hands slowly uncurled from fists, and before she could open her eyes again, she felt Nesrin’s breath besides her ear, speaking lowly, “I do not say this lightly, my sweet little rose. Do not leave us again, Taliorinth.”

She frowned, yet she felt his lips against her cheek, pressing a kiss that she did not want against her skin. She could have done something, yet that heavy guilt still draped over her. What had he truly done to her? What right did she have to think this way when he had said nothing but kind forgiving words to her?

As he pulled away, his hand finally slipping away, she looked up to the man. There was a moment of silence between them, the air heavy in it’s own way, before finally he turned away. His striking figure disappeared quickly, turning away into a hall away from the balcony and back to the party.

Abruptly, there was a moment she felt like she was going to collapse. Memories that she reserved to forget had forced their way up of that man, the feeling of his hands on her, holding her close in moments she had so often had to share with him.

The man that she had known for what seemed like an eternity in itself, just as close as family to her.

The man whom had given her a ring and a promise to care for her.

The man whom she had ran from that night over a century ago.

Taliorinth’s knees gave up, and barely grabbing herself on the railing, she slowly slid to sit on the cold stone, the dress pooling around her.

She was confused and she felt guilt paired with pain. Regrets and questions of her own memory rose up. She could close her eyes, and see it so clearly there. Times long past, little details remembered, words passed between them. She played them out, thought over them, and abruptly she realized just how terrible of a person she had been. The words she said about him, the things she thought. She rose her hand up, covering her mouth as she felt tears well up in her eyes.

Silently, she sat there as the tears started to spill over her cheeks, her hand shaking a bit. She was terrified and confused, thinking over the reasons she left, the moments that lead to it, the thoughts she had. She thought of who was to blame, what reasons she had, why she even had decided upon it, and could never find one single answer.

In the end, the only thing she could ask of herself was...

‘What have I done?’

@jessipalooza @stormandozone