708, 16th of Saun
The first time she saw it, it was terrifying.
Terrifying but beautiful and it's beauty consumed everything around it, leaving nothing but husks in it's wake. The bards in the taverns she flitted around for compliments and free coin always sang poetic songs of beauty that could ruin entire civilizations or of Faldruns evil love that destroyed all it touched. Yet none of it had done the flames that consumed the two houses any justice. The fire that started so quickly, consuming all around it like a greedy mouth to be fed, was a blaze that would put any hearth to shame. Though before she had only spared the stoves and such a passing glance, she was unable to tear her gaze away from it.
The flames were a beacon in the evening, stark and brighter than any sun could ever hope to be. They warmed her in the depths of her soul and winked at her in the brightest, whitest parts of their flames. The young girl had stood enraptured with it until it had grown so much that the crowd watching was pushed back while those being useful attempted to put it out. And there was something inherently heart rending in the watching of the dying flame. Like watching everything in life being snuffed out. Her chest was tight, her eyes watering from more than just smoke as the final embers dwindled and only Emelia was left watching the ruins.
All that remained of the once glorious blaze were ashes.
With no one to care to stop her the young teen rushed in, soothing the ache building inside her with the sting of ashes on her hands. A stain that reminded her of the charcoal her mother covered her eyes with. It stung but she rubbed the soot without a second thought, smearing it around her eyes like that of a raccoon, the warmth and remembrance of the flames easing the prickling sensation under her skin. It wasn't until a hand rested on her shoulder that she realized she still sat there with the cooling shell of the houses. Many had gone and now only looters, or those helping the families salvage belongings remained. Their torches flickering pathetically against the night air as if they had any right to burn where such a great blaze had once been.
"Lass, you've helped enough here, it's late." With wide eyes she glanced at the man, his uniform catching her eye and prompting the nod. He shook his head warily at the soot that covered her, though his eyes were far from accusing, more sympathetic. The look people gave her when she stated without a care that she had no father, "Nothing left to do now so get on home."
In the silence that followed between them the girl debated staying. There was something comforting here that reminded her, in a strange way, of home. It gave her almost the same, sharp want that she felt whenever someone patted her head or complimented her. She wanted to hold onto it for as long as she could but the more sensible part of her knew she wouldn't be allowed to stay, not even her mother would give into her pleading for something like this.
"Of course, sir." Brushing the dust off as she finally stood, a sharp pinch in the back of her throat, the sudden fierce urge to cry almost overwhelming her before she bobbed something like a nod and took off around the corner with her heart in her stomach. If only she'd gotten there sooner to see the beginnings of it, maybe that would have quenched the fire that was now reflected in her heart. It was a pale comparison to the brilliance she recalled in her own mind, her heart thundering not from the running but from the memory itself. It was a soft and warm, like the freshest sweet bread and her lips could not decide if they want to pout from the loss of it or grin from the finding of something so addicting. Over and over the scene played in her head, an endless loop until the very edges of her own house crept into her vision, the soot now prickling at her eyes enough to make her rub roughly at them and smear it more firmly into her skin. Only when the taste invaded her mouth, her free hand on the door knob of her home, did the memory finally settle along with the butterflies in her stomach.
The first time she saw it, it was terrifying.
Terrifying but beautiful and it's beauty consumed everything around it, leaving nothing but husks in it's wake. The bards in the taverns she flitted around for compliments and free coin always sang poetic songs of beauty that could ruin entire civilizations or of Faldruns evil love that destroyed all it touched. Yet none of it had done the flames that consumed the two houses any justice. The fire that started so quickly, consuming all around it like a greedy mouth to be fed, was a blaze that would put any hearth to shame. Though before she had only spared the stoves and such a passing glance, she was unable to tear her gaze away from it.
The flames were a beacon in the evening, stark and brighter than any sun could ever hope to be. They warmed her in the depths of her soul and winked at her in the brightest, whitest parts of their flames. The young girl had stood enraptured with it until it had grown so much that the crowd watching was pushed back while those being useful attempted to put it out. And there was something inherently heart rending in the watching of the dying flame. Like watching everything in life being snuffed out. Her chest was tight, her eyes watering from more than just smoke as the final embers dwindled and only Emelia was left watching the ruins.
All that remained of the once glorious blaze were ashes.
With no one to care to stop her the young teen rushed in, soothing the ache building inside her with the sting of ashes on her hands. A stain that reminded her of the charcoal her mother covered her eyes with. It stung but she rubbed the soot without a second thought, smearing it around her eyes like that of a raccoon, the warmth and remembrance of the flames easing the prickling sensation under her skin. It wasn't until a hand rested on her shoulder that she realized she still sat there with the cooling shell of the houses. Many had gone and now only looters, or those helping the families salvage belongings remained. Their torches flickering pathetically against the night air as if they had any right to burn where such a great blaze had once been.
"Lass, you've helped enough here, it's late." With wide eyes she glanced at the man, his uniform catching her eye and prompting the nod. He shook his head warily at the soot that covered her, though his eyes were far from accusing, more sympathetic. The look people gave her when she stated without a care that she had no father, "Nothing left to do now so get on home."
In the silence that followed between them the girl debated staying. There was something comforting here that reminded her, in a strange way, of home. It gave her almost the same, sharp want that she felt whenever someone patted her head or complimented her. She wanted to hold onto it for as long as she could but the more sensible part of her knew she wouldn't be allowed to stay, not even her mother would give into her pleading for something like this.
"Of course, sir." Brushing the dust off as she finally stood, a sharp pinch in the back of her throat, the sudden fierce urge to cry almost overwhelming her before she bobbed something like a nod and took off around the corner with her heart in her stomach. If only she'd gotten there sooner to see the beginnings of it, maybe that would have quenched the fire that was now reflected in her heart. It was a pale comparison to the brilliance she recalled in her own mind, her heart thundering not from the running but from the memory itself. It was a soft and warm, like the freshest sweet bread and her lips could not decide if they want to pout from the loss of it or grin from the finding of something so addicting. Over and over the scene played in her head, an endless loop until the very edges of her own house crept into her vision, the soot now prickling at her eyes enough to make her rub roughly at them and smear it more firmly into her skin. Only when the taste invaded her mouth, her free hand on the door knob of her home, did the memory finally settle along with the butterflies in her stomach.
