Clashing Past and Present

[Northen Light36]

Though the King and Queen are back in Maelstrom, it's clear that Shadow's still deep in grief. The King's interrest in the running of the kingdom is pratically non-existant and he spends most of the time roaming the gardens or sitting in his room, remembering.

To add to the unsocial behaviour, the only topic Shadow seems to want to talk about is Damien... and Kara. And it seems like everything in the mansion has SOME connection to Damien and Kara, giving Shadow ample triggers to turn almost any conversation to his departed friends.

[Kender Bard]

Lya, growing more and more wilted in heart and patience, approaches Shadow to see if perhaps this day he would be willing to assist her in the running of the Kingdom. She holds some simple forms, nothing that requires more than a quick perusal and a signature.

"Shadow?" she speaks softly, clutching the papers. "Are you busy?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow looks away from the painting of his father that he'd been looking at and gives his wife a sad smile. "No, not busy," he replies, then looks back at the painting. "You know, this was the second copy of this painting. The first was ruinned when Damien decided I should learn to use a spear." He chuckles at the memory. "Kara kept telling us we should go outside, but it was raining and what did a little girl know compared to us all knowledgeable boys?"

Shadow sighes and runs a hand over the frame of the painting. "We destroyed half the room, naturally, and the noise brought our fathers running. By that time Kara had disarmed Dami and me and was well into a lecture."

[Kender Bard]

Kara, Kara, Kara.

Lya could feel her teeth grinding. Carefully, very carefully, she set the papers down so she wouldn't rip them.

Yesterday she'd found her half prepared suitcase for the trip to Talen'sul that had never come. She had waited patiently all through the autumn, figuring that there was a good reason for the delay. Then Damien had died. She had felt bad, and felt worse for her husband's grief. But he still hadn't gotten over it. When her own father had been murdered, Lya had only a week to mourn. After two, she had personally gotten over her sadness enough to function normally and let her life go on.

While she did feel bad for Shadow, she could feel her nerves fraying from all that had happened and the daily stress of simply ruling. She needed a break, badly. She had needed one for a while. But now she wondered it if it would ever be in coming.

Well that would change. Clearing her throat, she murmured, "I think there is some things in Talen'sul that require my attention. I plan to leave in two days for there."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow blinks, turning to look at Lya in surprise. "What things?" he asks. "I wasn't aware we'd heard anything from Saph and Laura?" Well, at least he's gotten two sentances out without mentioning Kara or Damien.

[Kender Bard]

"Personal things," she sighed. She swallows and murmurs in a sad, begging voice, "Please, Shadow. I need to go for a little while. I need to go back to Talen'sul and be with my people, my culture." Whispering, she added, "You promised."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow blinks, then curses softly. "Oh Lya, I'm sorry... I... Between the attack on Lumi, Flash's stress and then losing Dami... I completely forgot." He reaches out to hug her. "Lya, can't it wait until Spring though? I'm not up to a trip yet. And I'd like to keep an eye on Naurorod, at least until Ann's settled in. She might need some support if anyone gets any ideas."

[Kender Bard]

Lya bristles underneath him, her feathers sticking out as her patience evaporates. "I can go myself," she says with quiet, but heated determination. "I understand that a lot has been happening. That's why I've been silent on the issue. But I cannot wait any longer. I will go myself and I want you to stay here."

[Northen Light36]

"You want me to stay here..." Shadow says flatly, a sure sign he's hurt. "Very well, Lya. I'll leave you to pack or whatever else you wish. I think Luminous could use some fresh air. If you wish to say goodbye, we'll be in the garden."

Coldly, Shadow turns and strides out of the room to go fetch his daughter.

[Kender Bard]

For a moment, Lya feels guilt... then she wonders why. What did she do to deserve that treatment? She asked to go home, that's all. And if she wanted to be alone, then who was he to disagree? How many times had Shadow run off to Naurorod and left her alone? Yes, it was to go see Damien while he still could. But how different is that to her own need?

She could only be alone when it was convenient for him?

Her anger built and built until she felt that she could scream. She ran back to her room and threw her things into her pack. Most of what she had wanted to take was in there already. She had to only commandeer the essentials.

Brimming with anger, she doesn't even say goodbye. She simply gets on her horse and goes.

Maybe he could find out what it was like, for once.