Unwelcome Reunions?
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 1:33 am
81st Zi'da 716
The Lightning Cathedral was more than beautiful, Faith thought, as they approached it, hand in hand. Despite the warmth which her Zuuda mark gave her, the winds were howling and Faith was well wrapped up against the cold. But underneath the coat that she wore, beneath the scarf which wrapped around her face, she wore a white dress. It was a colour she had never worn in slavery, but in freedom it had a strange significance to her. Moving closer to him, she slipped her arm into his and briefly lowered her head against his shoulder.
There was no doubting it. Faith was different here. She understood it herself, albeit slightly differently. No one here knew her, no one here saw her as 'that slave' and no one judged her for it. Here, she was a woman walking with her love, seeing sights and enjoying the vacation which must, inevitably, end. Whilst that was how she saw it, the reality was that she was more relaxed, more content and more entirely herself here than she had been. The individual Padraig saw in their small home, the woman who she was when she was there? That was who she was here, all the time. It meant that she was much more likely to stop, mid walk, pausing to admire the view or share a lingering kiss with him, which she had just moments before. It meant that she laughed more, too, was more teasing and was generally, and genuinely more relaxed. Faith didn't realise just how much of a persona she adopted on the streets of Andaris, but here on the streets of Rharne, it was obvious by it's lack.
"According to others at the Order", she explained, referring to where they were staying. "The Immortal Ilaren resides here. It is the home of the Thunder Priestesses, many of them are in the Order." She looked up at him and smiled a contented smile. "We aren't allowed in a lot of it, but it's supposed to be absolutely beautiful to behold. They say that during a storm, because of where it is, it's like the place is alight. I'd love to see that, wouldn't you? Can you think of anything more beautiful?" Her enthusiasm, at least, was not in doubt.
So, they made their way and the beautiful building was there. As they entered the prayer chamber, they were greeted by a Priestess. This one was obviously pregnant, heavily so and as the Thunder Priestess held out the small glass of wine, two things happened simultaneously. The glass of wine tumbled out of the Priestess' hands and Faith tensed.
"Lady Venora? Zvezdana Venora?" Faith sounded, because she felt, utterly shocked. The woman who was married to Velijorn Burhan was here, right in front of them. Pregnant, oh by Famula's blessed light, the woman was pregnant and Faith took an involuntary half step forward. "Lady.. Lady Venora?" Her hand moved out in a gesture of comfort, to take the Lady's arm, even as Faith thought something which she had thought so many times before.
Is freedom always this complicated?!
There was no doubting it. Faith was different here. She understood it herself, albeit slightly differently. No one here knew her, no one here saw her as 'that slave' and no one judged her for it. Here, she was a woman walking with her love, seeing sights and enjoying the vacation which must, inevitably, end. Whilst that was how she saw it, the reality was that she was more relaxed, more content and more entirely herself here than she had been. The individual Padraig saw in their small home, the woman who she was when she was there? That was who she was here, all the time. It meant that she was much more likely to stop, mid walk, pausing to admire the view or share a lingering kiss with him, which she had just moments before. It meant that she laughed more, too, was more teasing and was generally, and genuinely more relaxed. Faith didn't realise just how much of a persona she adopted on the streets of Andaris, but here on the streets of Rharne, it was obvious by it's lack.
"According to others at the Order", she explained, referring to where they were staying. "The Immortal Ilaren resides here. It is the home of the Thunder Priestesses, many of them are in the Order." She looked up at him and smiled a contented smile. "We aren't allowed in a lot of it, but it's supposed to be absolutely beautiful to behold. They say that during a storm, because of where it is, it's like the place is alight. I'd love to see that, wouldn't you? Can you think of anything more beautiful?" Her enthusiasm, at least, was not in doubt.
So, they made their way and the beautiful building was there. As they entered the prayer chamber, they were greeted by a Priestess. This one was obviously pregnant, heavily so and as the Thunder Priestess held out the small glass of wine, two things happened simultaneously. The glass of wine tumbled out of the Priestess' hands and Faith tensed.
"Lady Venora? Zvezdana Venora?" Faith sounded, because she felt, utterly shocked. The woman who was married to Velijorn Burhan was here, right in front of them. Pregnant, oh by Famula's blessed light, the woman was pregnant and Faith took an involuntary half step forward. "Lady.. Lady Venora?" Her hand moved out in a gesture of comfort, to take the Lady's arm, even as Faith thought something which she had thought so many times before.
Is freedom always this complicated?!