LadyAnnaLee

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin paused to think about what Ridahne had said. She raised a good point. It wasn’t like Ridahne should be allowed to wander about unpunished after murdering someone. That wasn’t what Darin had been trying to say at all. Though that still left Darin with a question; a question she had asked before but didn’t receive a proper answer to. She slowly stood from where she was kneeling. She thought she might ask the question again. This Ridahne might just have to answer this time.

Darin slowly moved back to the table with her fiddle on it, “You’re right. Murder cannot go unpunished. So, I’ll ask again. Were you due to be executed for the innocents or the liar? If the answer was the innocents or both than I owe you an apology. I judged the Sols too quickly. But if you if the only answer you can honestly give is the liar, then perhaps you do not know the Sols as well as you might wish you did.” She carefully locked the case, “Then again, I’m sure there is more to this story than more than either of us know; more than anyone but the Sols know.” She turned to smile at the Elf over her shoulder, “You’ll have to forgive me though. I tend to be possessive of what, or rather, who, I consider to belong to me.” She shrugged, “I also tend to not like people who hurt my people.”

From the corner her eye Darin spotted the shattered cup. It felt so good at the time. Now it just felt childish and stupid. Well, Mama did say she needed to learn to clean up her own messes. Darin moved from the table to bend down and start picking up pieces of the broken cup. She waved away the hands of the Worker that came to help her. The Workers were still staring at her in shock. She wasn’t surprised. She was beginning to think that the Workers had built her up to be some sort of idol. Now that she had proven that she wasn’t they didn’t know what to make of her. She was okay with that. She wasn’t sure what to make of most people. Then again, she wasn’t sure people were meant to be understood. At least she hoped that people weren’t meant to make sense. It made her feel better to think that.

As she picked up pieces she spoke, “Life is hard Ridahne. I’m only nineteen and I already know that. Life isn’t meant to be easy. I sincerely doubt your life was any easier than mine, and I doubt my life was any easier than yours; just a bunch of different hardships. I’m not sure I could live the life you’ve lived or make the choices you’ve had to make. Then again, could you say you could make the choices I’ve had to make?” She sighed, “I had a point.” She smiled lightly, “See? I do it too; ramble and hope that something makes sense sooner or later.”

She finished picking up the pieces she could get with her bare hands. She managed to cut herself a few times, but Darin paid no attention to that. It wasn’t the first time she had suffered such minor injuries to her hands from picking things up that she shouldn’t really pick up. She doubted it would be the last. She supposed that there was a metaphor in there somewhere about making choice you knew what hurt you, but she was honestly far too tired to think of them at the moment. She was far too tired in general right now. Her crazed descent down the hill, her interaction with The Tree, the dancing, the fiddle, and now this conversation with Ridahne; they were all exhausting in their own way. Perhaps Ravi was right. Maybe she should have gone to bed. She walked back over to Ridahne with her cupped hands.

She spoke simply, “Though, like it or not, we are in this honorless task, and I do promise that it is a task without honor, together now. If we do not learn how to at least not end every night without a fight we are in for a very long tip that might just end up with one or both of us dead and Astra doomed. So, for the sake of both our sanity, I promise not to insult, scoff at, belittle, or imply I don’t like, the Sols. I will do my best to not make light of the things that are important to you, and to take the things you take seriously, seriously. In return I need you to think about the fact that I told you I needed you to treat me like Darin and, at least from my point of view, you treat me as incapable, a child, or some sort of royalty. I may not know how to survive on the road, but I do know how to take care of myself. I may not be an adult, but I stopped being a child long ago. I maybe the Seed-Bearer, but I will always be a farmer; not a queen, not a princess, a farmer, and by The Tree, a stubborn one.” She smiled lightly, “Maybe that’s why it really bothered me; not me thinking they are dishonorable, which may or may not be true, I do not know for sure. But because I am not a ruler. I will never be a ruler. Even The Gardener was not a ruler.” She moved back to the table and let the shards fall on the table, “At this point I have nothing left to say. Do you?”

Darin didn’t think there was anything more to say. She desperately just wanted to sleep. She might sneak away from the table to go sleep with Talbot. She couldn’t do that yet though. She needed to give Ridahne a chance to answer what she had to say. Communication had to go both ways. Darin had done her best to express her points of view clearly. Now she had to listen carefully. If she didn’t, she might miss something, and that was the last thing she wanted. They had to figure out how to live together. If things went the way they were supposed to they would be living together for a very, very long time.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Hello! I read your post (Loved it BTW) and my mind immediately went in a million different directions. I have to think about what direction to go in because I want to write Darin a a growing source of wisdom and as a petty teenage girl because, at this point in her life, she is both. If that makes sense. Unfortunately finding the right balance is proving harder than I thought. In addition, because my lying boss (Not really my boss. He's filling in while my boss is out on medical leave. My real boss is awesome.) is a liar who lies, I have to work tonight which I never planned to do and usually NEVER have to do. So, I'm not sure when I'll get you a post. The earliest will be Saturday night. The latest will be super early Monday morning. I'm kindly asking for your forgiveness for this delay. I love this story and don't want to stop. Just FYI.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Suddenly, without warning, Darin slammed the lid of her case closed. In an effort to remain calm she took several deep breathes. The human was unsuccessful. Suddenly, without warning, Darin had grabbed a cup of something and sent it hurling across the room. Thankfully the girl was uncoordinated, had terrible aim, and wasn’t really aiming at anyone in particular to begin with. Everybody in the way managed to get out of the say to have the cup bounce off the floor to chatter as it hit the way. There were pieces of ceramic everywhere. The Workers all stared at The Seed Bearer in pure shock; alarmed that she could even get that angry.

Ravi started, “Well, you girls, have had a long couple of days, perhaps,”

Darin’s voice was cold, “No.” Her voice was not elevated, just cold and relentless, “This time I don’t run. This time we settle this.” She turned to look Ridahne dead in the eye, “I can recall saying I know you meant me no insult. Do you recall that?” It was rhetorical and the human continued without waiting for an answer, “As for one person damaging the word, I count five!” Her hand was up to count. Her thumb went up, “One who abused her power for selfish and evil reasons, and.” The rest of her fingers came up, “Four who would have killed you for doing the right thing simply because it was dishonorable! And the fact that you were willing to die for doing it is more telling than you know! It means a whole culture chooses honor over what’s right.” She was earnest, “There was evil in Azurei, and The Tree.”

Ravi tried to cut in, “Darin you shouldn’t.”

For the first time Darin yelled as her head snapped around to glare at the Overseer, “NO!” Her voice returned to being cold, “I made a mistake. I Chained Ridahne to The Seed and that was a mistake; a mistake I cannot undo! So, I will tell her this truth, even if I never tell her what else I have learned today!”

Darin turned her gaze back to Ridahne. In a few swift steps she was in front of where the Elf was sitting. In another movement she was kneeling to look up to make eye contact with eh warrior. Her hands reached up to take her companion’s. Her voice went from cold to earnest.

Darin spoke and everyone somehow knew it was true, “There was evil in Azurei. The Tree, The Tree cannot actively fight against evil. It never could. The Tree can only encourage good thoughts and send inspiration to encourage righteous choices. Its influence is lessening as it dies, but that’s all it could ever do. No one in power was listening to The Tree’s subtle suggestions. No one, that is, except you. Your power was limited. Who would listen to you when it was your word against a Sol’s? So, you did what you could, and successfully got rid of the evil. Then, instead of admitting there was a stain in their courts, they took the easy route, and sentenced you to die; citing dishonor. Four of them came together to uphold the honor of a dead evil. So, The Tree sent you to me. And while we don’t really get along, I am so glad it’s someone who understands that honor means nothing when compared to doing what’s right. Because I swear to you now; this task never was and never will be about honor. So, please, I beg you Ridahne Torzinei Seed-Chained, do not seek to honor me when I know for fact that you value doing what is right more than honor.” She paused and shook her head once, “And please, do not be afraid to speak you mind. Just because I don’t agree with you doesn’t mean what you have to say is wrong.” She looked down as her hands slowly started to fall, “I make mistakes as well.”

Darin fell silent. She was unaware that the Workers were frozen in place; unsure if they should leave or not. Against Darin’s thigh The Seed burned. In the distance The Tree rustled contrary to the wind. If the human had been paying attention, she might have felt a sense of amused pride coming from The Seed. As it was, she was silent; waiting for Ridahne to speak her mind. They were never going to make it anywhere if they kept fighting with each other or remained silent in fear they offended the other. They were stuck with each other for a long time; longer if Darin truly succeeded. They needed to learn to talk with each other. The sooner the better.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Thanks for letting me know there will be a delay. I look forward to your post. (In a non-pressuring type way.)

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin stared at Ridahne with wide eyes. Her first instinct was to protest; to scream and run as she had the other times she had disagreed with the Azurei warrior. She couldn’t do that now. Darin wanted to move passed the screaming and the yelling. Darin forced herself to take a few deep breathes as she smiled weakly and let Ridahne’s hand fall from hers. Slowly, Darin turned make to her way back to the table with the case and fiddle on it. Carefully she put the bow away, made sure the fiddle was properly detuned, and closed the case.

She surprised herself by speaking in a calm low voice, “Do not call me that again. I am not a Sol. I have no desire to be a woman who values honor above what’s right.” She kept her eyes firmly on the table, “I know you mean no insult, and I have no desire to insult you. But still, this isn’t a journey or honor’s sake, or even a journey for power. This is to do what is right; for all the people of Astra. A such I refused to be compared to a group of women, who as far as I can see, value honor above what is right.” Darin closed her eyes as she slowly shook her head, “If you must use a title to refer to me use the one I already have. I am Seed-Bearer Darin, and quite honestly that is enough. It is more than enough.”

Darin’s eyes were still firmly closed as her fists slowly clenched on top of the table. She wasn’t sure she meant to say that out loud, but she was glad she said it. Even better she didn’t yell so that was a big plus. She was afraid of how Ridahne might react. She knew the Elf had mean no harm, but Ridahne did have a temper. Darin didn’t even think Ridahne could deny that. Darin didn’t mind admitting, at least to herself, that she was worried about how the next part of the conversation went. It’s just she couldn’t be a Sol. She couldn’t be compared to those women that had banished an Agent of The Tree, the only person in all of Azurei capable of listening and acting that listened and acted, simply because of honor. There had been evil in that land. Darin had learned that today. There had been evil, Ridahne had stopped it, she should not have suffered for that. So no, Darin refused to be a Sol.

Darin didn’t mention playing for Ridahne on the road. This piece of the conversation was far to important. Besides, the fiddle had been her father’s Darin didn’t really like to touch it unless her mother asked her to play. Ravi wasn’t going to take no for an answer, but Darin wasn’t sure she could play as often as her traveling companion might request. She didn’t want to make promises that she simply couldn’t keep. Darin was well aware of most of her shortcomings. Her inability to think of her father without wanting to throttle the man was one of them, She supposed that if she was going to one day be Gardener, the very symbol of wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, she might want to get over that sooner rather than later. She had been trying for years. It didn’t look like it was going to happen anytime soon.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Thank you for letting me know! Anyways I'm due to go to the beach tomorrow. I am so excited! I will get you a post when I get home tomorrow. For now I'm off to bed.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin does not have a high opinion of Sols. And while she's not insulted that Ridahne called her Sol she really rather make it perfectly clear that she never ever be equated to them again. If Darin calmly told Ridahne that she gets why she called her Darin-Sol and explains why she should never do that again will Ridahne get upset? And if so how upset would she get?

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin wasn’t sure what she was playing or even when she should stop. She recognized Ridahne’s voice even if the human didn’t understand the Azurien words. The song they created together was hauntingly beautiful and majestically simple. Darin began to sway about the same time Ridahne began to dance. They were telling a story. They were telling Astra’s story, but Darin thought Ravi was the only other person that knew that. The human ended on a hopeful note. Astra was more than the land. Darin had to believe that or else she might lose all hope. That was just the way it was.

Darin opened her eyes as she finished her song. The first thing she saw was Ridahne; looking like she wanted to melt into the wall and disappear. The human placed her fiddle gently in it case before walking over to her companion and holding out her hand. Darin was painfully aware of the fact that every set of eyes were on her and Ridahne. She shouldn’t be surprised by that fact. They held the hope of all of Astra in their hands. Darin was obvious. The Seed was pleasantly burning against her thigh. She didn’t know if Ridahne realized how much pressure was on her. Darin may have been The Seed-Bearer, but she was the guardian. Keeping Darin from falling off of cliffs and down gorges was a feat in and of itself.

Darin spoke, “Stand Ridahne. Please. Please stand with me.”

Of all the truths that Darin had learned today the truth about what The Tree actually had the power to do had been the easiest to understand. Darin finally had an answer for whether or not her Tree would do the same thing as The Tree, but she wasn’t sure she should tell Ridahne that or not. It would open a lot of questions that Darin wasn’t sure she could answer or not. Right now, she just knew that she needed Ridahne on her side. What’s more she wanted Ridahne on her side.

Darin continued, “Get up Ridahne Torzinei. Do not hide what you are; at least not here. And please, never from me.”

Darin hoped that last request wouldn’t backfired. The last time Ridahne had decided to “reveal” herself to Darin they wound up yelling at each other. Yet, the human knew there was so much more than what Ridahne was showing her. The Tree was adamant that Ridahne needed to be on this journey. Darin wasn’t sure that Chaining her to The Seed had been the way to ensure that would happen, but happened it had. Now the young Seed-Bearer had to do her best to ensure that Ridahne wanted to be here. Darin had a vague idea of how the journey was going to go, but she had a fairly good idea of how Ridahne would react to what would most likely happen in Azurei. The Human couldn’t wait to see the look on the Elf’s face, but that would only happen if Ridahne learned to take pride in the direction of her life. Which meant, Darin supposed, she should learn to do the same as well.

Darin was pretty sure that she was babbling now, and the bow of her instrument was tapping against her leg nervously, “We have no need to hide from people we trust. I am The Seed-Bearer, and you are my Guardian. So,” Darin licked her suddenly dry lips, “Let’s be that; together.”

Behind Darin everyone in the room was watching. Ravi was idlily tracing patterns in the water drops on the table. One long leg was crossed over the other. He alone had a fairly good idea of what was happening. He learned a little bit about Azurei from Tax and the other Azurein workers. They tended to let things go and move on once the yelling was done. Humans let things fester until there was communication to deal with the feelings that had caused the yelling in first place. Darin had been worrying about the fact that the two of them had yelled at each other twice now since it had happened. Ridahne was trying to move on from it. That would not happen until Darin received her closure. Hopefully, what was happening her would help. Darin needed to know that there would be no more talk of abandoning her. Whether or not the Elf realized it or not, whether or not The Seed-Chained agreed with it or not, Darin had seen a repeat of her father when Ridahne had spoken of finding the human another guide. Darin hadn’t realized it yet. She was so desperate to move past her father that she buried the trauma until it reared its head in ugly ways. Ravi slowly looked up to look Ridahne in the eye. Slowly he tapped his own face and then his heart. The only choice in the room right now was Ridahne’s. This would be the only time the Guadian got to take such a burden from The Seed-Bearer. The girl with so much passion needed to think just once or any chance for her might just be lost.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin tried tapping the cup to the table as Ridahne did only to sing up with a hand cover in the drink. She licked the liquid from her fingers. It was strange and different, but Darin loved it. She found more of it and this time didn’t tap so hard. She wanted to learn about all the things Ridahne wanted to know. Besides the more she learned about other cultures the easy her job would be. The Gardener had got his Seed at the last possible moment. The Gardener before him had wanted to give their people the best possible chance to survive. The Gardener that had interacted with Darin wanted Darin to have the best possible chance of saving the people. There was no right and wrong answer in that regard. Every Gardener had simply done the very best they could.

Still Darin had no time to think of that now. She let out a laugh as she led Ridahne through the paces of the dance she had rarely danced before. She laughed as Ridahne led her though the dance of the Azurei people. Darin was one move behind the entire time, but no one seemed to care. When that was done Darin didn’t sit down. Instead she kept dancing. A Siren woman let the human copy the movements of a graceful fluid dance that Darin was honestly too jerky for. An Elf that didn’t look like Ravi or Ridahne tossed her about in a radically different dance. Darin was far to clumsy to ever become proficient at that one. The human jig was a little better. No matter how well or not well Darin danced she danced every dance anyone was willing to help her with. She laughed the entire time. Finally, she had to beg off the next dance just because she needed to breath. She fell into the closest chair as she started to clap in tune with the songs.

Then a strange hush fell over the air. Darin knew at once what was happening. She pulled her knees up under her shin as her eyes locked on to where the musicians were. The music slowly shifted from encouraging dancing to a tune more suited to listening too. Many dancers just collapsed where they were to kneel or sit cross legged. The evening was winding down. Ravi came to sit next to her. He pushed a cup of hot tea into her hands. In fact, many people were being given or retrieving hot drinks. The music wasn’t necessarily somber, but it wasn’t dancing music. Darin closed her eyes to let the pure story sweep over her. She paused when the music stopped longer than what was required to change songs. She almost fell out of her chair when she saw every pair of eyes on her.

Ravi quietly asked, “Do you play Seed-Bearer?”

Darin smiled tightly, “Not as well as anyone here.” She was hoping she wouldn’t have to, “Not as well as anyone else I know.”

Ravi shook his head once, “That is not what I asked Seed-Bearer.”

He waited as Darin squirmed. Then she broke, “It’s in my bag. I would have to get it and I don’t want.”

She didn’t get to finish as Ravi bent to pick up something beside his chair. It was the case for her instrument. She sighed as she stood up. It appeared that the Overseer wouldn’t let her ger out of this. She briefly wondered if she could ask Ridahne to rescue her, but she didn’t think that was fair. She reached for and received the case. The case was placed on the table, and then opened. Darin pulled out the only thing that belong to her father that was left behind. She would have liked to burn it. Her mother insisted she use it. Darin stood slightly away from the table as she tucked the fiddle that was sized for travel, under her skin. Then after carefully tuning it and a quick look to see if Ridahne would heard this, the Seed-Bearer began.

She had been correct. All the over musicians in the room had both more talent and more practice than she did. She still played as best she could. She had no song in mind and as such played in such a manner that could only be called, “from the heart.” The result was a slow, almost haunting melody, with moments of lighter bounce. Darin closed her eyes as she continued. Other than her instrument the room was silent. Darin almost wished someone would start singing or playing something else. She wasn’t sure she could ask though.

Then Ravi’s whisper almost caused her to lose her place, “I know you sing Ridahne. So, sing for us now. Sing as The Seed-Bearer plays. Sing us your heart.”

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

As Darin approached the main Farmhouse Talbot practically bucked her off. She laughed at the horse. On of the Workers came to take Talbot away to be taken care of. Darin herself was led to a hot bath. Darin let out a sigh as she finally got the chance to clean up three and half months of grime. She felt so much better when it was done. There was even a Worker there who cut her hair. The young Seed-Bear was given a set of clothes that were just a tad to big for her. She smiled down at the practical uniform of the Workers. The knees of the pants were reinforced and the whole thing was made of light colors. She put her own boots on and followed the sound of cheerful voices to the location of the feast. As she entered the room all the voices stopped as their owners turned to look at her. She waved, unsure if that was the right course of action.

Ravi stood from his place at the front table, “Darin Seed-Bearer, come.” He indicated a seat next to him, “sit here.” As she did so, he told the crowd, “Tonight we celebrate the life of the Gardener and celebrate the arrival of Darin. Tonight is, bittersweet yes, but also joyous. So, we celebrate!”

A giant cheer filled the air and then the celebration began. Darin watched for a minute. It reminded her of the celebrations she had been a part of back home. People chattered to each other as they ate simple foods made in a Farmhouse kitchen. Darin looked over the food laid out to recognize some of her favorites. She did not recognize others. Despite the fact that she was the guest of honor this feast felt like home. She took some of her favorites as Ravi smiled at her. She smiled back as started to eat. She was starting to relax for the first time on this trip. No one talked to her, but if that was similar to home as well. The only thing missing was the dancing, but she figured that would come later.

Ridahne finally came in and Darin found herself smiling widely at the Elf, “Sit down!” Darin pressed a plate into the Elf’s hand, “Have something to eat! I tried some new things. I’m not sure what they are, but they taste fabulous. I don’t really feel uncomfortable because this is more like home. It is odd that people aren’t talking with me because I’m the guest of honor rather than the outcast, but it’s not much different.”

Ravi looked over at the one nervous girl and the one girl who look more at home than ever, “This isn’t like feasts you have in the courts of the Sols young Ridahne. This may be The Farm, but it is still just a farm.”

Darin laughed, “So there’s nothing to worry about! If you feel uncomfortable, we can change that! There’s food Ravi says come from Azurei. It wasn’t bad, but it was a little spicy. My mouth still feels hot. I’m hoping there’s dancing.”

Darin actually felt a little tipsy as giggled. She wasn’t sure that was in her cup, but she was willing to bet it wasn’t juice like she thought it was. It probably had some alcohol in it. At least she thought it had alcohol. It was making her giggly, and that was a new experience for her. She reached for her cup only to find that it was missing. She scowled up at Ravi who only smiled back at her.

The Overseer spoke simply, “That is enough for you my dear Darin.” He handed her a cup of something else, “Let’s see if we can get you sober again.”

Darin didn’t say anything, but she did nod. There was plenty of food, so she ate whatever looked interesting. In fact, she was probably eating far too much, but it seemed like a such a waste to just let the food go to waste. She people watched, waved at people who turned to look at her, and kept putting things on Ridahne’s plate that she had liked and thought the Elf should try. After the last few months, and after today’s revelations, Darin was glad for the chance to not have to worry about anything. Then the music started. She listened and watched the dancers with a cheerfully smile and laugh. Then the music changed. Darin knew this song! And she knew how to dance to it, sort of. She stood suddenly.

She exclaimed loud enough for all to hear her, “Yes!” Then she turned to hold out a hand to Ridahne, “Come dance with me! This one needs a partner!”