Meetings and Partings|Widor, New Anarlina

[Darastrix]

Wintersong manor was still and quiet, most of its inhabitants sound asleep. Zira was one of the few still awake; he knelt on the floor of his study, holding a dark metal circlet to his chest. An obsidian pendant carved into Taed's symbol hung from a plain cord around his neck.

"I'll never see him again," he murmured, "Not this Spirit Night. Not any Spirit Night. Yet I see him every day. The same soul, but not the same person. I love him. Then and now, he is my son. But I can't see with your eyes, and I still--" His voice cracked and he drew a shuddering breath. "I still miss him," Zira whispered. "I still mourn him. And you are death, you are merciful, and you are needed. Lord Taed, help me lay this grief to rest."

A shadow seemed to waver just in the edge of his vision, and he gave a small start, then shook his head when looking straight at it revealed nothing. Wishful thinking, he surmised, and returned to his prayers.

The shadow passed through the locked study door, unseen, and made his way down the hall. He couldn't interrupt Zira, not like this and not when he was already working through grief of some sort. But he could visit someone else.

He stepped into Shyamal's room, his "body" gaining shape, if not substance. Dark blue eyes scanned the room as he glided silently toward the bed. He still had doubts over showing himself to him, but he didn't want to let things rest without taking the chance to have some form conversation with him. It was that, or wait four years.

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal was actually awake, gazing up towards the ceiling. Idly, the boy's finger also traced the covers in Taed's sign as well, though he was not mournful. Simply wistful.

Taed, I would very much appreciate getting to see my baby sister or my mother. I never knew them. It would be nice to say hello and say that I'm sorry they died before we got to know one another.

He blinked as he, too, thought he saw something. And when the shape became more like a body, he sat bolt straight upright.

It can't be!

"M-mother?" he hazarded in a whisper.

[Darastrix]

"No, child," a quiet and distinctly male voice replied. "Not your mother." The shade stopped at the foot of Shyamal's bed, now fully manifested. He was tall, though an inch or two below Zira's height, and his silver hair was cut short. He looked toward Autumn's bed for a moment and sighed; she was fast asleep and he hadn't the heart to wake her.

He turned back to Shyamal and murmured, "By my doing, and to my regret, we were never able to really meet, you and I."

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal's eyes widened. Who was this? He looked vaguely familiar, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Mindful of his sister, he kept his voice low and quiet as well. "Who are you...? I feel like I've seen you but you say we haven't."

[Darastrix]

"My name is William Fell," the spectre replied. "Your father is my son. Some years ago, I pushed him into choosing happiness above family duty. I knew he wouldn't take the steps to take what he wanted, so I forced his hand." He sighed again and shook his head. "In doing so, I estranged myself to him and the family he's built here."

[Kender Bard]

"So you're my grandfather," Shyamal reasoned. He'd be more elated at the news if William didn't seem so somber over the whole thing. He didn't really understand the situation as described. He grasped enough of it though. "Why did you do that?"

[Darastrix]

"I didn't know how else to do it," William admitted. "I'm an--I was an excellent businessman. I wasn't as good a father. Thuoth knows I love him, but I'm afraid I never got that across to Zira very well." He smiled at Shyamal then, the softer expression emphasizing his resemblance to his son. "Somehow, I doubt he has that problem with you and Autumn. How has it been here, living with him and Zack?"

[Kender Bard]

"Zira's the best father I've ever had," Shyamal admitted. Not that it was hard to beat out his first one of course... He tried not to think about it. "And so's Zack. They're both... Well, perfect." He tried to figure out how better to explain it. "When I'm sad, Zack cheers me up. When I need advice, Zira always knows what to say. I never, ever feel like I need to do something to make them love me... because I always feel loved." He smiled brightly. "I wouldn't want anyone else for a Father or a Daddy."

[Darastrix]

Thank the Forces Zira wasn't repeating his mistakes. Though he'd always taken so much after Jane, William hadn't been overly concerned about that.

"I'm glad," he said, smiling back, and reached out to run his hand over Shyamal's hair, though he couldn't really touch it. "In Talen'sul, what your parents have together isn't usual or even really approved of, but they really are perfect together. They have been ever since Zira was only a few years older than you."

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal appreciated the gesture for what it was and reached up to 'clasp' the man's hand, his own hovering around the ghostly image. He smiled back. "Sometimes I hear stories about when they were younger. I didn't know they've known each other for that long though. Did they love each other even back then?"

[Darastrix]

"Since Zira was still so young and Zack so popular with the young women, I doubt they did like they do now. But they were always the best of friends. I was surprised at that," William recalled. "Zira was so shy, but it turned out Zack had a gift for winning people over. He was the best thing that could have happened to Zira. I never saw him happier than when they were together."

[Kender Bard]

"Autumn's just like Daddy Zack," Shyamal explained with a glance towards his sister. "And they say I'm like Zira. I really hope so." He grinned brightly. "I want to be just like Father when I'm older."

[Darastrix]

"Then you'll be a fine young man," William told him. He paused for a moment, thinking. "Zira is in prayer to Taed tonight. I've no wish to disturb him, and I'm not sure he should find out this way. Will you give him a message for me, after he gets the news?"

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal nodded and sat up straighter in bed to listen. "Okay," he agrees. He smiles with shy pride. "I'm really good at remembering things; I won't forget a word you tell me."

Not to mention this night was likely one he'd never forget regardless.

[Darastrix]

"Tell him I'm sorry," William said. "For pushing him so hard when he was my heir and for how I twisted his arm to get him to leave and pursue a life here. His courtship wouldn't have been well-received in Talen'sul, and I didn't want him to make himself miserable by trying to lead two lives and keep up appearances. I thought if I were to be kind, he'd choose what he didn't want, so I was cruel. I sought to anger and upset him, to have his heart overrule his head, and I hurt him in the process. It was wrong of me, regardless of how well things have turned out for him."

"I love him," he added quietly. "He is my son, and I've never thought him otherwise. I could not be more proud of him and the man he's grown to be."