A Light In The Dark
Varian and Quirin were still adjusting to Vivienne's passing. Quirin kept waking in the night, expecting to find his wife slumbering next to him. And it just about broke his heart to hear Varian toddle from room to room asking "where ma ma?"
Eventually, Quirin had sat Varian down and explained as gently as he could that mommy had to live in the sky now, and it wasn't anyone's fault, but she couldn't come back. Varian had cried for hours and Quirin was at a loss for what to do next. The house held so many memories, perhaps what they both needed was a change of scenery.
So Quirin had borrowed Lorrie's horse and together he and Varian had rode to Corona. It was a busy day for travelers as it was the day of the lantern festival, the lost princess' birthday. For the first time, Quirin understood how deeply the King and Queen must be grieving.
"Look, Varian." Quirin pointed to one of the vendors. "Here's a man selling the paper lanterns. Everyone in town is going to release them into the sky soon, to honor the lost princess."
"Sky?" Varian's interest was piqued. "How?" he asked. (How was one of his favorite words.)
"The flame from the candle heats the air inside the lantern, causing it to fly." the vendor replied.
"Would you like one of the lanterns?" Quirin asked.
Varian nodded and Quirin paid for the lantern. "Don't touch the candle." Quirin instructed. The candle wasn't lit yet, but he figured it would be good to keep Varian from poking at it anyway.
"Pretty." Varian said, touching the wax paper.
"It is, isn't it?" Quirin mused. "Okay Varian. The festival is about to start. Time to light the candle." Quirin struck a match, and the lantern began to float.
Varian watched, mesmerized. "Da da." he said.
"What is it?" Quirin asked.
"... ma ma see lan-tun?" Varian wanted to know.
"She sees everything you do," Quirin assured him "and she's very proud of you."
THE END
It's Varian's fandom birthday and I'm giving him the gift of angst. Ouch.