Post by Natasia Rashai on Oct 3, 2021 2:33:45 GMT
It's quiet.
Natasia Rashai found the silence uncomfortably familiar. Night had crept up on them all, though you'd be hard pressed to tell with the light of the full moon illuminating the grounds like the bright of day. Still, people had slowly retired to their homes or settled into their beds. Somehow, anyway. Natasia herself wasn't sure how they'd managed it, what with the return of a member of House Rashai bloodied and unconscious. It had to have stirred memories of Fenr's final return to Sidona twelve years ago. Natasia had been a child then (more of a child, she added, with only a hint of bitterness) but the oppressive silence felt the same now as it had then.
Unlike Fenr, Taivin Rashai would live. He had, in fact, been well enough on their arrival thanks to Aes Sedai healing. He was resting peacefully now, not far from where Natasia and the others waited. That bit of good news did not hold as much comfort as it might have, tangled as it was with the complicated feelings of the past few weeks.
She was in a sitting room off of Taivin's bedchamber, leaning against the windowsill and looking out on the grounds of House Rashai's manor. Her aunt, Aletheia, was asleep on a chair nearby, chin on her chest. Aunt Theia had no doubt suffered the worst scare of them all. Perhaps, she thought with just a hint of a smile, Taivin would have to contend with overprotective parents of his own for awhile.
The only other woman in the room was the Aes Sedai responsible for saving Taivin. Ishara Trakand, Daughter-Heir of Andor, was yet another in the increasingly long line of stunningly beautiful women who were actually, shockingly, Aes Sedai. By Natasia's last count she was at three, including Elaira Taravin, who was in another room to keep watch over the man who'd nearly killed Natasia's cousin.
The events of the past few weeks were blurry and confused, a string of violence, heartbreak, and relief. She'd never expected her adventures to lead her to the presumed-dead First Prince of Andor, nor to her direct involvement in his capture-or rescue, as Ishara, Elaira, and Taivin had insisted. And those events had even brought her home. Natasia had always expected to return to Sidona eventually, but she never could have predicted the circumstances. Her mother and father had already been by the main house, partially to check on Taivin though likely more to check on her. The visit was mercifully short. There was hurt there, she knew, from her decision to disappear on Winternight. She hadn't been able to apologize and still didn't know what to say, so it was lucky that they'd not wanted to intrude on the Aes Sedai. The problem was, no matter how sorry she might feel, Natasia was not ready to return home for good, certainly not under the restrictions her parents would insist on.
"Light, this is going to be a mess."
Her head was full near to spinning with thoughts of past, present, and future, and Natasia couldn't bear the stillness and silence a moment more. She kept her voice pitched low to avoid waking her aunt, but still turned to look at the other woman in the room. Natasia hadn't a clue how to feel about Ishara Trakand either. She had bonded Natasia's cousin and confessed her love to him. Taivin obviously loved her back, Natasia had always been able to read her cousin and that may as well have been written on his face for all to see. She knew how to treat an Aes Sedai, but how did one treat an Aes Sedai who was in a relationship with the closest person she'd ever had to a sibling?
"I never expected that this would be how'd I'd come back, you know."
She said it with a grin, but her eyes to the door to Taivin's room involuntarily.
"I was hoping I'd come back with some grand stories and trophies. Kid's stuff, really, but it was always either that or getting dragged back by my ear by some Saldaean soldiers."
She leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms, shaking her head.
"Still, it could be worse. Everyone made it back safe and sound...though Tai might regret that when the lectures start tomorrow."
Natasia Rashai found the silence uncomfortably familiar. Night had crept up on them all, though you'd be hard pressed to tell with the light of the full moon illuminating the grounds like the bright of day. Still, people had slowly retired to their homes or settled into their beds. Somehow, anyway. Natasia herself wasn't sure how they'd managed it, what with the return of a member of House Rashai bloodied and unconscious. It had to have stirred memories of Fenr's final return to Sidona twelve years ago. Natasia had been a child then (more of a child, she added, with only a hint of bitterness) but the oppressive silence felt the same now as it had then.
Unlike Fenr, Taivin Rashai would live. He had, in fact, been well enough on their arrival thanks to Aes Sedai healing. He was resting peacefully now, not far from where Natasia and the others waited. That bit of good news did not hold as much comfort as it might have, tangled as it was with the complicated feelings of the past few weeks.
She was in a sitting room off of Taivin's bedchamber, leaning against the windowsill and looking out on the grounds of House Rashai's manor. Her aunt, Aletheia, was asleep on a chair nearby, chin on her chest. Aunt Theia had no doubt suffered the worst scare of them all. Perhaps, she thought with just a hint of a smile, Taivin would have to contend with overprotective parents of his own for awhile.
The only other woman in the room was the Aes Sedai responsible for saving Taivin. Ishara Trakand, Daughter-Heir of Andor, was yet another in the increasingly long line of stunningly beautiful women who were actually, shockingly, Aes Sedai. By Natasia's last count she was at three, including Elaira Taravin, who was in another room to keep watch over the man who'd nearly killed Natasia's cousin.
The events of the past few weeks were blurry and confused, a string of violence, heartbreak, and relief. She'd never expected her adventures to lead her to the presumed-dead First Prince of Andor, nor to her direct involvement in his capture-or rescue, as Ishara, Elaira, and Taivin had insisted. And those events had even brought her home. Natasia had always expected to return to Sidona eventually, but she never could have predicted the circumstances. Her mother and father had already been by the main house, partially to check on Taivin though likely more to check on her. The visit was mercifully short. There was hurt there, she knew, from her decision to disappear on Winternight. She hadn't been able to apologize and still didn't know what to say, so it was lucky that they'd not wanted to intrude on the Aes Sedai. The problem was, no matter how sorry she might feel, Natasia was not ready to return home for good, certainly not under the restrictions her parents would insist on.
"Light, this is going to be a mess."
Her head was full near to spinning with thoughts of past, present, and future, and Natasia couldn't bear the stillness and silence a moment more. She kept her voice pitched low to avoid waking her aunt, but still turned to look at the other woman in the room. Natasia hadn't a clue how to feel about Ishara Trakand either. She had bonded Natasia's cousin and confessed her love to him. Taivin obviously loved her back, Natasia had always been able to read her cousin and that may as well have been written on his face for all to see. She knew how to treat an Aes Sedai, but how did one treat an Aes Sedai who was in a relationship with the closest person she'd ever had to a sibling?
"I never expected that this would be how'd I'd come back, you know."
She said it with a grin, but her eyes to the door to Taivin's room involuntarily.
"I was hoping I'd come back with some grand stories and trophies. Kid's stuff, really, but it was always either that or getting dragged back by my ear by some Saldaean soldiers."
She leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms, shaking her head.
"Still, it could be worse. Everyone made it back safe and sound...though Tai might regret that when the lectures start tomorrow."
