Relations.

Posted by Jinquil
Sun Apr 15 03:44:38 2007

The sunlight that flickered through the leaves above sent the darkness scattering in the lengthy shade of trees and shrubbery. Jinquil moved soundlessly, each step carefully chosen and executed to be undetectable. Jinquil moved through the trees, thinking of the many times she had done exactly this before. She followed her sisters, praying neither of the two noticed her presence and was suprised to find that Llorana paused to allow Nianica to take the lead. Usually the middle sister would have been first, trailed only slightly by Nianica. Today, however, the eldest Dalar was first to enter the gardens of the home they had all shared as children. After a moment of indecision, or perhaps uncertainty Nianica passed through the gates and into the garden's beyond. Shortly thereafter, Llorana herself followed suit.

Jinquil waited still, disguising herself as one of the scouts of the vallen that lingered nearby until Nianica appeared once again. Her sister's face was stoic and unreadable. The mask she wore constantly to shield her emotions having already slipped back into place. Once more the defender and no longer the daughter, her sister made her way back towards the city. Once again, Llorana was close behind, though for the first time in her remembrance there were tears in her eldest sister's eyes. Unshed, but they glisten there all the same.

Jinquil waited until both of her sister's had passed and then removed the spell that disguised her. With a heavy breath she made her way into the garden's herself, pausing for a long moment to study the elven woman that sat so elegantly on an ornately carved but simple wooden bench. It may very well have been a thrown for all the regalness of the woman that perched upon it. Jinquil watched her mother absently stab the needle into her cross stitch and knew her mood before she approached.

"Hello, momma. " Jinquil spoke the words as she drew near, startling her mother from her thoughts.

"Oh, Jinquil. You startled me. " Her mother set her cross-stitching on the bench beside her and fixed her with a direct stare, her eyes narrowed slightly.

Jinquil saw that look, and recognized it. "Nianica told you? "

Her mother shook her head slowly. "She told me only that she had promised not to tell me anything. Funny, that statement in itself told me all that I needed to know. " Her voice was disapproving, her tone meant to show Jinquil her displeasure.

With a soft sigh, Jinquil straightened to her full height. "Aye, mother. I, too, have joined Sha'falas. "

You knew... You knew how I hated that your sisters had become soldiers, infantry no less. Yet you decided to do so anyways. It is not a fit place for a lady of your breeding. You, of all my children, I had hoped would listen to my guidance, yet you went against me.

Jinquil held up a hand to silence her mother, noting the redness that grew in her mother's face as she did so. "Mother, please listen to me. I know that what you say, you say out of fear for us. But why can you not see that we are doing what you taught us to do. We are as you wished us to be. We defend what we love mother. Surely you can understand that? "

No, Jinquil. I cannot. To love and defend is well and good but there are places a lady may do so that does not require her to draw blood and fight as a man would. Battle is no place for a woman and no place for a daughter like mine. When I was your age..

Interrupting with a harsh laugh, Jinquil uttered the words of the spell and transformed herself into the very likeness of her mother. "Is this what you wish of us, mother? Perhaps if Nianica and Llorana would have presented themselves in this vein, you would be proud. "

Her mother drew back, the hurt on her face causing a pang within Jinquil's heart but she could not help her own anger.

"Enough. Jinquil. Go back to your city and your battles. " Her mother drew herself away from the bench, snatching up her needlework and turned away, moving towards the house.

Jinquil shook off the spell and stepped forward. "Mother... "

Her mother paused, her back rigid and tilted her face to study Jinquil for one long moment. "I did not know that Llorana had come. I assume she did not wish to speak to me. "

Mother, she did not wish to fight with you. Can you not see that they try so hard for your pride in them? Can you not give it, at least now, in this time of war. They may not return from this battle.

"I know it! Do you not think that I know they may not return? " Her mother's eyes flashed with anger and sorrow as she whirled to face Jinquil, her temper, rarely shown, breaking free of it's usual stronghold. "I know that they may die doing what they do, tis why I hate it so very much. If not this battle, then the next may take them. If not that one, then the next. War is not the only thing that could take them. This work the three of you chose takes it toll on not only yourselves but your mother and father as well. Would that you had listened and chosen something else... " With those words, her mother turned and hastened towards the manor house beyond.


Jinquil stood to watch her go, before dropping onto the empty bench and gazing out over the garden, her heart heavier now that it had been before.

"She says what she does out of love, Quil. You know this. " Her father's words drew her gaze up to his face and he slid a hand over her cheek gently. The elderly elven man lowered himself to perch on the edge of the bench beside his youngest daughter and drew her into his arms.

Jinquil buried her face against her father's shoulder, returning the loving gesture before she drew away.

"I know papa. " She sighed and leaned against him. "You will tell her we love her, when her anger cools? "

"Aye. I will tell her, but it is something she knows well. " He laughed softly, the rich sound lifting Jinquil's spirits slightly. "As for her anger, it will cool quickly. Your mother cannot stay angry with her children, though she tries quite hard to do so. "

Jinquil squeezed her father once more and stood. "I love you, papa. I must return to the city now, I have duties. "

"Aye, I heard of your duties, Jinquil. Did I truly raise three daughters to be such valiant soldiers? " At her nod, he let out a faint sigh but smiled at her. "Be safe, Jinquil. Keep watch over your older sisters, you know how they rush headlong into the fray. "

I will watch over them father, but you forget. Where they rush, I usually stumble right behind into the thick of it.

Jinquil made her way out of the gardens and into the forest, leaving her father, laughing, behind.