A Last Resort (Part 1)

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[203] Llorana: A Last Resort
Sat Jun 2 17:45:01 2007
To: Shalonesti_kingdom Shalonesti Imm RP ( Nianica Jinquil Azaros Evandim )
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The table was adorned with fine linen, priceless china and silver
utensils. Two gold candles sat along the center, surrounded with a
delightful assortment of food - and all Llorana could do was stare down at
her plate, feeling the cool aura that her mother permeated.

The sound of clinking silverware seemed loud in the uncomfortable silence,
punctuated by the soft conversation between everyone else. Her mother had
barely looked at her, let alone acknowledged her presence. Lifting her gaze
slightly, she spied Nianica frowning at her, and could only sigh and shift
uncomfortably. She shouldn't have agreed to wear a dress. It was only
compounding her discomfort.

The process of eating seemed tasteless to her, though the motions helped
ease her anxiety. She was glad that they were all together, that Jinquil
seemed to be getting along well and that mother had not made Azaros feel
unwelcome. She hadn't known what to expect upon seeing their mother and had
found herself feeling the weight of guilt for refusing to visit with her the
first time. How could she look so much like the woman, and be so opposite?

Sighing heavily again, she set her utensils down and directed her stare at
the much older woman, who in turn seemed to stiffen. The tension rose, she
could feel it, see it in the others and began to regret her rash decision.

"I'm sorry, mother." Her words fell into the stillness like pebbles into a
pond. "It was wrong of me to avoid you, even for the sake of preventing a
fight. It was cowardly of me, and you did not raise cowards."

"No." Their mother finally responded in a crisp tone, "I raised daughters
who wish to throw their futures away to bloodshed and death."

And there it was. The age-old bitterness, the regret and the underlying
sorrow. She wanted to get up and walk away but she could feel the gazes of
her sisters boring into her, the challenge in her mother's voice, daring her
yet again to take the easier path and simply leave. Not this time. Leaning
forward, quite deliberately placing her elbows upon the tabletop, she stared
her mother down and spoke gently.

"This is our last chance mother. There may not ever be time for another.
Is this truly how you want us to leave this home? With your bitterness
ringing in our ears as we battle for Shalonesti and everything it stands
for?"

The silence after her answering challege was deafening, but as she held
their mother's emerald gaze, she watched tears mist in her eyes and then
quite to Llorana's surprise she whispered in a subdued tone, "No."

She looked away from Llorana then, glancing at everyone around the table,
leaving Llorana to wonder if this time, their mother might be the one to
flee.