Treading Lightly

[Elyna]

17th Zi'da 716

It was an early start. The captains meeting on the fifth break had seen her standing very still and trying her hardest not to yawn. She was alert enough, anticipation and nervous energy for her first command keeping her on her feet at the Immortals-cursed hour Malcolm had chosen for the briefing. Her natural inclination was to shuffle, or fidget with her hands. Checking the hundreds of tiny plates of Xiur armour to ensure they were in place, clean, oiled and presentable. She’d quickly learnt as an Airman though, that a restless nature had to be curbed in sight of superior officers. They did not appreciate her shifting her weight form foot to foot, or the dozen other ticks the woman had developed so that her mind remained clear enough to concentrate, whilst her body worked off some of the nervous energy. So, absolute stillness it was. The energy poured into rigidity and made her appear as responsive as the marble statue Tristan had carved. Until the briefing had ended. Elyna had given her thoughts when they were requested, but she thought much better away from the tent without the pressure to come up with an immediate answer. She’d bowed her head in deference, along with the other Captains and slipped beyond the canvas walls.

Out into the frozen air of Cylus. The woman pulled her hood up. Her cloak of Burhan blue was still wrapped up and put away. The hood was made of a deep brown leather and lined with wool. The rest of the skyriders in her party had hoods and cloaks of similar dark, natural colours that would blend in with the Volareon they rode and make them less obvious. With her hood up and features cast into shadows she felt stealthier as she stalked back to the where her Sergeants were reading the flying mounts.

Elyna picked her way through the trees and the thin layer of fresh snow that had fallen over night. She spotted a familiar shape between trunks and approached Faith who was stood with a horse that she didn’t recognise. Steadying her breathing she trod light over the snow, pressing her heels into the surface and rocking her foot forward to avoid the loud crunch that the element was prone to give off. Satisfied that she’d snuk up on her friend, Elyna smiled and touched the girl on the shoulder, “Faith?” she pushed the hood back. “Can I look at your horse?” She offered, holding a newly gloved hand out to the animal, palm down.

[Faith Augustin]

They had arrived back to the camp, probably later than they should. She should have been there just a break earlier, she though, but it was all fine. The supplies were organised, the meals put into a roster and everything that could be prepared ahead of time? Well, it had been. They said, so she was told, that an army marched on its stomach and if this was the service that she could give to this cause, then in Famula's name the devout young woman would serve to her best and this army would march like none before them. So, they had returned to camp and Faith had made her way to the cooking area, where she made sure that she had worked to her absolute utmost to pack everything away. But one of the things that she had left there the trial before, she needed to put in her saddlebag and so, she had gone back to the horse.

In truth, Faith was completely distracted and, as she was doing up the saddlebag she was standing with a sappy look on her face and a wide smile. She might not have noticed Lady Elyna had the noble lady been doing the box step and singing, in all honesty. When the woman put her hand on Faith's shoulder, the former slave jumped, physically lifting off the ground, and turned around with shock on her face. Quickly, that turned to delight and she could not help but let out a laugh. "Oh, Lady Elyna! I was miles away! Oh. I am so sorry, did you call me?" She looked at her friend with earnest silver eyes and then realised that she had been, well and truly, caught out. "You are a wicked woman. But yes, this is our horse. Her name is Nitelight", she stroked the neck of the mare in question, revealing what appeared to be a new tattoo on her right wrist, intricate and delicate. The mare that she stroked looked to be a stable horse, with a calm look in her eyes in spite of them being a startling pale blue. She had a dark brown coat, a white snip on her nose and a shining black mane and tail.

Faith looked at Lady Elyna and smiled, watching the woman who was so very at ease around the animal who, in turn, seemed to sense that this was the case. "How are you, Lady Elyna?" She asked, as she did everything really, with an earnest gaze and focus. There was no doubting that Faith was in a bit of a daze at the moment, not only from the new relationship that she was in but also from the sheer number of massive events which she had experienced one after another. But more than anything, she was loyal; to this woman more than almost anyone. "Are you well?"

[Elyna]

"I am well," Elyna agreed with a smile. She was tired after a restless night and facing an even longer day. Adrenaline was enough to provide her with energy however and she approached the horse. Once the animal was more comfortable with her scent she started to run her hands over the creature. Neck to belly then middle to back end, checking each of the four legs and lifting the creatures feet to inspect. Satisfied she set the last hoof down and patted Nightlite, who had turned, tail swishing and searching her hands for a treat. From somewhere, the Skyrider provided a tiny collection of mint and sugar which was licked from her fingers. "I just wanted to make sure you had a sound mount," she explained. Practised fingers smoothed over the girth strap and then beneath it. With a hand on the horses neck the woman pulled the strap tighter and re-fastened it.

"They take a lungful of air when you first do it up," she explained with a smile. Watching over the horses back, she could the happiness on her friends face. The sheer delighted bliss. The knot of jealousy returned and Elyna finished her thorough examination of the horse and its equipment. Faith had obviously had a better night then she... The skyrider let out a slow breath. This was a hard conversation to start, and so she remained hidden behind the horse. She cleared her throat.

"Faith... Do you... How do - you and Tristan and Pad-" she peeked over the saddle before ducking once more. She pushed dusty fingers through her fringe. Faiths tattoo had not gone unnoticed but Elyna knew she had to get this question out quick or she never would. She was a Captain for sevens sake. A proper adult with responsibilities and a child and anything. She peered at Faith from beneath her fringe. "Faith, how are you preventing pregnancy?" She inquired, the words tumbling out in her most determined attempt to be grownup. Whatever that was.

Heat stained her cheeks, "I mean I believed you and Tristan were sleeping together and now you and Padraig seem... Very much in love...so what are you taking?"

[Faith Augustin]

"I appreciate it. Neither of us are very experienced, so your expertise is doubly appreciated, in fact." She lowered her head and watched as Lady Elyna tightened the saddle, raising and eyebrow in surprise. "I had no idea. That is very useful. That could have been uncomfortable for Nitelight and dangerous for us, too. Thank you so much. I will remember that." It struck Faith, again, just how much Lady Elyna knew about things, and so many things. She smiled at her across the horse and then got back to putting the saddle bags securely away.

Then, when Lady Elyna spoke, she spoke of her and Tristan and Padraig? Had Tristan spoken to Lady Elyna about the meeting between the two men? They were friends and it was absolutely his right to do so if he wished to, but Faith firmly believed that Lady Elyna would hear her side of the story before making any judgements. So, she steeled herself for answering questions about that morning. It hadn't gone well at all and, at one point she had been concerned that one of them was going to thump the other. She knew that she was full of opinions on the situation, and not giving absolute facts, but she was quite prepared to be as clear as she could be.

And then. Well, then it was nothing whatsoever to do with that morning that the three of them had sat around Tristan's table and instead Lady Elyna asked her a most unexpected question.

Which she continued to ask with a spot of clarification.

Faith was naturally fair of skin but she blushed crimson at those words, at that question. But equally, she knew that it wasn't something that Lady Elyna would want to say any more than Faith wanted to hear it. But for the first time that trial, she looked utterly miserable. Because there was one thing that she had to deal with immediately. "Please don't think badly of me, Lady Elyna. Jamal told me that I had to offer myself to him, so I did. I didn't want to, but he owned me. I was afraid. But he was kind and very sweet and gentle, always. He never once hurt me or beat me or raised his hand to me and I think... he's just so very young in his heart, Lady Elyna, it was what he wanted and so he assumed it was what I did. But I didn't take anything." She had never felt so ashamed in her life as she did in that moment; what would Lady Elyna think of her? "I didn't know anything about how to prevent it, I didn't know you could. The women at the House of Roses, he sent me there for training, they told me to come back to them if I found myself pregnant. I thought that was the only option at the time." She studied the ground as though willing it to open up and swallow her "But by the time I knew there was an option, I'd been there a long time and it wasn't my place to raise the point with him. He knew what could happen. Maybe I should have, but I was afraid that he would say no, that he wanted a child and then I'd have to want it too."

She ran a hand through her hair, examining the pattern of light on the snow, twinkling and looking like it had no cares in the world. How dare it, Faith thought, lay there all pretty and sparkling. "I've been in love with Padraig since before I was freed. I had no idea he felt the same way and had for a long time. But last night was the first time we.. that is. I wasn't ready before. Last night was the first time." Feeling the heat on her cheeks, she forced herself to look at Lady Elyna. Please don't think badly of me, she thought and realised how selfish that thought was; Tristan was her friend, after all. Besides, she'd known about it and not thought badly of Faith at the time. "I only know about taking Moseke's Mist, and I learnt that can be poisonous. I hadn't thought of it" It had all been so sudden and so many things had happened. Faith looked at Elyna and looked quite lost.

"I don't know what to do" she said, her voice soft and her expression apologetic. But she was pragmatic and solutions-focused as an individual "I could try and see if I can find any growing here. I believe the poison is a slow build, it makes you lethargic, not kill you unless you're very vulnerable anyhow. I should do that, and sort out something different when we get home. Thank you, Lady Elyna. I'm sorry, I truly am. "

[Elyna]

Elyna found herself smiling when the horse was mentioned, “it’s just a trick they do, to make sure the strap is loose, but you’re right it is dangerous.” She double checked the buckle once more, smoothing her hand over the fur of the beast as she did so. The mare looked around at her, one ear back and the woman raised a brow at the animal as though daring it to try and bite. The mare let out a snort and returned to whatever it was she’d been doing before and ignored the skyrider.

She woman hardly dared to look at Faith. It seemed as though her friend was just as embarrassed, was that a good thing? She felt heat burning two bright spots on her cheeks and hid behind the horses’ neck. The heat stemmed from sheer embarrassment before it dissolved with anger. She forced herself to keep looking down, hiding her expression. Tristan had…and he’d sent her to the House of Roses. The woman closed her eyes, Faith must have been so afraid…and for the first time? Her breath caught in her throat as she felt a swell of pity and then fury. Her thoughts towards her friend, the Venora were conflicted. He’d been so careless and yet he’d merely been treating Faith as his slave. The thought made her feel sick, stomach cramping to reject her breakfast. She inhaled through her nose and steadied her expression before giving a small nod, without judgement. It was not her life to judge, not her mistake to punish or undo. She exhaled, gave another nod, as though to confirm to herself that she truly had control of her features and straightened.
Elyna realised Faith was trying to meet her gaze and she looked over at the girl and offered as much of a smile as she could muster. She opened a pouch attached to her belt and pulled out a smaller pouch of seeds. A quick examination later and she tipped half back into the larger back and sealed it up. She offered the small packet to Faith, no bigger than the palm of her hand. Inside was a collection of dried black seeds. She studied the blanket of fresh snow as it melted around her ankles and clung to her boots. Poisonous?

“I don’t know about poisonous, I’ve always used Moseke’s mist, only the seed though,” she frowned, trying to remember what she’d been told about the plant. “The root I know is strongest, I know the root can…cause serious harm if too much is taken. Also though, if there’s a baby in your belly that you don’t want, the root will see that it never takes breath, if you take enough.” She lifted her shoulders in a shrug as the packet was taken from her hands.
“I never meant to fall pregnant with Elsie, it just…happened. It was a mistake, but I suppose a wonderful one,” a smile ghosted her features as she considered the gift of joy her baby bought to the world. “If you ground four or five of the seeds and eat them, then you should be safe for thirty or so trials. There’s enough seeds to last you until the start of Cylus...I’d…just in case maybe take some today, as soon as you can. They taste…well they’re disgusting,” another half-smile.

“You and Padraig, seem truly happy,” she explained, “that is a gift. Treasure that happiness and don’t…don’t let the world get in the way and tarnish it,” her expression fell as did her gaze, “don’t let the past ruin the future.”

[Faith Augustin]

Lady Elyna nodded. Just the once and it was a curt one. Faith didn't know what that meant, whether Lady Elyna was cross at her, disgusted at her and her behaviour or thought it entirely appropriate for how an owner and slave should be. Faith didn't want to think it, but Lady Elyna looked like she was about to be sick and why should she not? Her own doubts and insecurities flew into her mind and she dropped her gaze down to the ground. "I know I shouldn't have been afraid. I tried not to show him." But what more could she say? She had done her best, served her best. What more could she do? She lifted her eyes to her friend, forcing herself to do so.

But then, Lady Elyna smiled at her and Faith looked at her, hope shining clearly in her expression. She couldn't bear it if Lady Elyna, of all the people, should look at her with disappointment in her eyes. Faith watched her as the noble woman took a small bag and separated out it's contents, some to her and the rest back in her bag. "Lady Elyna I...", she closed her hand over the pouch, her fingers curling around it, folding in on themselves. "I'm sorry if I let you down. I would never do that knowingly, please believe that. Thank you, for your kindness." Ever earnest, never moreso than right now the young woman stood and looked her friend in the eyes; a rareity for them both to be able to do that, she suspected.

She listened to what Lady Elyna had to say about baby Elsie and Faith smiled, a genuine one at the thought of the beautiful little girl. The seeds might taste disgusting, but she held on to them tightly. When Lady Elyna spoke about Padraig, though, and the past and the future, Faith spoke in reply, trying to make it clear, although she knew it was a very complex thing. "I think that's the thing, Lady Elyna. He sees the past, I've laid it all bare to him. The scars, the training, the brands. Every bit of me that's scarred inside and out. He sees it. He doesn't deny it or pretend it isn't there, but that doesn't stop him loving me. It makes him love me more, I think. He went to Tristan's house with me, sat with Tristan. He..", she lowered her head and she couldn't hide the blush but then she raised her gaze back to Elyna "Everything has been in my time, on my terms. Everything."

She looked then, though, and realised something. Her friend looked sad. More than that, she thought. She looked as though she had lost all hope. "Lady Elyna?" her voice, as ever, was quiet and her hand on Elyna's arm was gentle "Is everything alright?" She would have told her that she would always be there for her friend. She might have said that Lady Elyna could always talk, she would always listen. But the noble lady knew those things and that would have been Faith talking more. She thought right now that she had another job. So she kept quiet and listened

[Elyna]

Faith was breaking her heart and the woman was forced to put aside her own foolish embarrassment. She ducked beneath the neck of the horse and wrapped her arms around her friend. Holding her tight for just a moment before she withdrew. “Faith, please don’t be sorry, don’t apologize. You’ve nothing to be sorry for!” Hands resting on the younger woman’s shoulders she gave a quick squeeze before they dropped to her sides. She searched the startling pale eyes for understanding before giving a quick shake of her head. The skyrider hadn’t intended to Faith to feel guilty or ashamed. Of course she should have been afraid, what had happened to her was appalling. Yet the words stuck in her throat.

“Padraig is a good man,” Elyna couldn’t help but smile, hands dropping to her sides once more. “I don’t think that I could wish for a finer partner for you,” she agreed. Faith was so brave, the skyrider couldn’t help but marvel at the resilience of the young woman before her. How old was Faith? Less than twenty arcs, she could guess. At twenty, Elyna wasn’t sure could have dealt with the depth of pain and scarring a live of slavery had wrought upon her. She’d barely survived the loss of a lover and approaching her twenty-sixth arc she barely cope with her own life. Faith always dismissed any claim of bravery, but the skyrider couldn’t help but watch with admiration.

The hand on her arm was gently, but she twisted took peer through the trees. Really she should be joining the skyrider’s and making the final checks before they set off for the day of flight through frozen air. Her throat felt tight and too thick. This wasn’t the time or the place, but the kindness was enough to cause a wash of sadness to seize her. Elyna gulped, she should make her excuses and leave. She was a Captain, she needed to be strong.

“It’s the little things,” she said eventually, only once she was certain that the words would not undo her. “I love Malcolm and I need him, Faith. I need him like I need air and sunlight and warmth. I’d do anything to save him, have done,” only too recently she’d been holding his neck whilst Faith stitched up wound, warm blood over both of their hands, “that’s all...big things though. He knows what happened with Marcus and I’m finding my way back to him,” the woman wasn’t sure if she was making much sense but she just wanted to words to get out of her chest, “he’d do anything for me. I know that too. He’d give his last breath for Elsie…and yet,” she looked down, hands wrung together, “I don't make him happy.” The words were hard to admit and harder to hear out loud.

[Faith Augustin]

When Lady Elyna squezed her shoulders, Faith looked at her with unashamed gratitude in her eyes. The kindness that Lady Elyna had shown her from the moment they met in that awful place, surrounded by those awful people who had hurt her so much had overwhelmed the then-slave to the point that she could not explain just how much the noble lady meant to her. There was no doubting it in Faith's mind, Elyna was the bravest and kindest person she had ever met. When she spoke her approval of Padraig, Faith smiled in delight. It was important to her, that approval. Padraig was her choice, and she chose him no matter what, but if Lady Elyna approved of him liked him even, then it was so much easier all around and made Faith happy at a fundamental level.

The quiet between them stretched for a moment, after she had asked if everything was alright. Faith didn't speak or fidget during that time, she was quiet and just waited to see what, if anything Lady Elyna would say. When she spoke, Faith was silent, just listening to what the noble woman spoke. She loved and needed him, he loved and needed her. They would give their last breaths for each other. But Lady Elyna didn't make him happy? Faith looked at her friend and her heart went out to her. Whether it was true or not of Lord Krome's feelings, that Lady Elyna felt it was a dreadful thing and that was the simple truth.

She looked at Lady Elyna and replied with concern in her voice "I think you're wrong, Lady Elyna. I think after everything that has happened to the two of you, since I've known you" Immortals, Faith thought, they might start thinking she was a curse. "You have both been somewhere very dark and had to deal with your own things. Now, you are finding your way back to each other, because it is not until you are back there, together, that you can be happy. That's what I think. He's finding his way back to you, too because his happiness is bound inexorably to yours and while you hurt, he hurts. Made worse by being unable to fix it." But she couldn't leave the conversation on that, couldn't take them down this road because Lady Elyna had a duty and Faith was here to support her, not make it harder, so she smiled a slight smile at the woman. "But if I'm wrong, and you're right?" She smiled slightly "Then he's a very silly man. But I don't think he is you know. Not for a single trill."She hoped though, that her suggestion of the serious Lord Krome as being a 'very silly man' might make the lady smile.

[Elyna]

The joke bought the intended smile and even a soft bite of laughter. Silly, frivolous. Words that hardly described the man Faith thought of as Lord Krome. Yet, he could be. Sometimes he could be foolish or as silly as a green youth. He could be playful and the woman missed the lighter side of his smile. She missed the way he’d looked at her before, before life had grown so complicated. The joyful way that he laughed that she’d felt was reserved for her, and her alone. She rubbed her hand down the side of her face. Anxiety made her toes shift in the snow, time was wearing on as it would. Never prepared to stand still. Another precipice, another moment in time when she felt close to solving something. To unlocking a mystery and stepping into a brighter future.

The sykrider swallowed the lump in her throat and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Faith didn’t know after all. No one else did. No one knew that she’d stood atop the Widow’s Point and wrestled with the decision to throw herself into hungry water beneath. The woman before her didn’t realise just how dark it had gotten. Elyna would be eminently grateful that she’d never encountered Faith when under Vri’s curse. Her heart almost stopped to think what could have been said! Not telling her, even now, seemed like a potent omission and as soon a she’d considered opening her mouth to explain, the idea wouldn’t fade. This was not the time though. Definitely not; not in the name of any of the Immortals.

“I hurt, so he hurts, so I hurt and it goes round and round,” she murmured and straightened. The snow was starting to fall thicker around them. Laying in soft powder over her shoulders, “I wonder if sometimes we don’t know how to hurting anymore. We never really…had much together before I found out I was pregnant,” and even then it hadn’t been easy. Where was the foundation they were seeking together? It was so small, buried so deep. What if they never found it? What was the point at which they’d stop searching?

"I'd better go," she patted Nightlite one last time and forced a smile, "I'm supposed to be an adult, or something..." the smile turned to a grin and she turned, glancing back over her shoulder as she made her way towards the volareon, "we'll talk!" she promised Faith, "don't forget the seeds."

[Kingdom]

Elyna

Knowledge:
Stealth: Blue for skyriders
Animal Husbandry: Checking a horse’s feet in cold weather for issues
Animal Husbandry: How to saddle a horse
Storytelling: Intimacy if difficult to talk about
Faith: Always did as she was told without question
Faith: Was trained by the house of roses
Faith: Has been in love with Padraig for some time
Faith: Knows when something isn’t right with you
Herbalism, Moseke Mist: The root is the most potent

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Fame: +1 Kind Deed
Devotion: N/A

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Faith

Knowledge:
Animal Husbandry: How to saddle a horse
Elyna: Recognises your love to Padraig
Elyna: Explained how to keep from falling pregnant
Elyna: Shared Moseke Mist seeds with you
Elyna: Believes she no longer makes Malcolm happy
Elyna: Thinks Padraig is a good man
Storytelling: Intimacy if difficult to talk about
Herbalism, Moseke Mist: The root is the most potent
Elsie: Was a mistake

Loot: Moseke Mist Seeds
Injuries: N/A
Fame: N/A
Devotion: N/A

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Comment: Awkward, but you know what? I loved it hahah. Sometimes that stuff that’s tricky to write makes for the best stories. Elyna is quite mothering, I don’t think she realises it though, and Faith is such a sweetheart. Great story you two.