Post by opalgirl on Jul 2, 2011 7:46:54 GMT 10
Title: The Ones Left Behind
Rating: PG
Couple/Character: Kalasin jian Wilima.
Event: 400 word dash
Words: 400
Summary: “He is your father. If he brings this palace down around his foolish head, I would not wish for you to be here.”
--
Thayet stands in front of her, in all her youth and glory. Kalasin feels fortunate that she got to see her grow up to be the strong-willed young woman that she is.
“Mother,” she says, reaching out with both hands. “You could travel with us.”
With her will comes a kind heart, and with the education Adigun provided for, a sharp-honed intelligence. Kalasin shakes her head slowly, taking her only girl’s hands. “I’m too old for the roads, my heart. I would slow you down and you need to go, to leave this place. I cannot protect you.”
Thayet sighs. “What about you?”
“Sssh.” She raises their joined hands, kisses her daughter’s knuckles. “Don’t trouble yourself about me. Your father—“
“—Don’t call him that.” The anger and rebellion of youth flash in Thayet’s eyes a moment. She is angry with Adigun, furious, and with good reason. “Don’t.”
“He is your father. If he brings this palace down around his foolish head, I would not wish for you to be here.”
Her daughter closes her eyes and sighs again. “I’ll go, Mother.”
“Buriram will look after you.” She kisses her daughter and murmurs a prayer. “Go, now. While you can.”
--
Kalasin cups his face in both hands and kisses Pathom’s forehead. There is nothing else she can say to this son of her oldest friend who is prepared to die for her. He is young, too young, scarcely older than Thayet and born into a disaster he had no hand in, but he and his mother are all she has left.
Pakhona smiles sadly. “You needn’t go through with this, my heart.”
She shakes her head. “I have to.”
“I know. My Buri will look after Thayet.” Pahkona nods resolutely. “She is safe, as you wanted.”
“And I never doubted it.” Kalasin turned toward the stairs of the tower. “My daughter was born blameless for this and she is safe as she can be. I owe our people for what this man has done.” She can hear the rumble of the assembled crowd below, knows they’re awaiting her, and straightens her back.
“Find peace in the winds, my heart,” she hears her old friend say as she starts the climb.
“Find peace in the winds, my lady,” Pathom murmurs, and the ringing sounds of blades unsheathing are the last she hears, as her death chant fills her ears.
Rating: PG
Couple/Character: Kalasin jian Wilima.
Event: 400 word dash
Words: 400
Summary: “He is your father. If he brings this palace down around his foolish head, I would not wish for you to be here.”
--
Thayet stands in front of her, in all her youth and glory. Kalasin feels fortunate that she got to see her grow up to be the strong-willed young woman that she is.
“Mother,” she says, reaching out with both hands. “You could travel with us.”
With her will comes a kind heart, and with the education Adigun provided for, a sharp-honed intelligence. Kalasin shakes her head slowly, taking her only girl’s hands. “I’m too old for the roads, my heart. I would slow you down and you need to go, to leave this place. I cannot protect you.”
Thayet sighs. “What about you?”
“Sssh.” She raises their joined hands, kisses her daughter’s knuckles. “Don’t trouble yourself about me. Your father—“
“—Don’t call him that.” The anger and rebellion of youth flash in Thayet’s eyes a moment. She is angry with Adigun, furious, and with good reason. “Don’t.”
“He is your father. If he brings this palace down around his foolish head, I would not wish for you to be here.”
Her daughter closes her eyes and sighs again. “I’ll go, Mother.”
“Buriram will look after you.” She kisses her daughter and murmurs a prayer. “Go, now. While you can.”
--
Kalasin cups his face in both hands and kisses Pathom’s forehead. There is nothing else she can say to this son of her oldest friend who is prepared to die for her. He is young, too young, scarcely older than Thayet and born into a disaster he had no hand in, but he and his mother are all she has left.
Pakhona smiles sadly. “You needn’t go through with this, my heart.”
She shakes her head. “I have to.”
“I know. My Buri will look after Thayet.” Pahkona nods resolutely. “She is safe, as you wanted.”
“And I never doubted it.” Kalasin turned toward the stairs of the tower. “My daughter was born blameless for this and she is safe as she can be. I owe our people for what this man has done.” She can hear the rumble of the assembled crowd below, knows they’re awaiting her, and straightens her back.
“Find peace in the winds, my heart,” she hears her old friend say as she starts the climb.
“Find peace in the winds, my lady,” Pathom murmurs, and the ringing sounds of blades unsheathing are the last she hears, as her death chant fills her ears.