AN: I love the Gerudo, if that's not obvious :)
Chapter Ten: Good Night, My Daughter
"What does she want?" Usa snapped, tearing another clump of wool apart from the pile.
"She's here to see Fin," Lycus replied, "accept she called you 'Rae Lawen' for some reason. Do you know what she meant by that?" Loraefin knew if Tiamra had spoken of her using her Gerudo name, the purpose of her visit must be of some interest indeed. Usa left her work and accompanied the two back to Loraefin's house where Lycus said Tiamra and the other Gerudo guards were waiting. Loraefin was still shaken by Link's speech and it made all of the bitter emotions and hollow feeling come swarming back into her, the feelings she had tried so hard to repress. Fire, my face was in the fire…Lycus watched her with a weary eye as they walked. Whatever Link had done had shaken his poor cousin to her very core.
"Link sure left in a hurry, I didn't get to ask him how he was," Lycus stepped around the conversation very carefully, afraid that Loraefin would recoil and fall into silence.
"He had to go," Loraefin mumbled and hugged her arms tighter around her in the breeze. Lycus nodded and watched Usa walk ahead of them, purposely staying just within earshot. Loraefin stopped as the wind sent another cold shiver up her spine, but she already felt she could never feel warm again. "He wanted me to forgive him…I didn't want to at first, but it wasn't his fault…" If I did not die of my attack, what was it that the vision showed me? She sighed shakily, but no sign of tears appeared in her eyes. Lycus knew she remembered so little about what happened after her attack, he did not doubt she did not know what Link had done when they found her. He stepped closer and Loraefin still stood rigid and cold despite the soft, gentle look of her eyes that was never lost.
"You don't remember what happened afterwards do you?" He said softly, his eyes staring directly into her own.
"No, I've told you that," Loraefin hissed irritated. She had felt too close to death to remember much of anything that happened, only the pain, and only the heat that enveloped her. A pyre! A funeral pyre with my body! Lycus shrugged and brushed the ruddy red hair the wind had blown out of his eyes.
"Then you don't remember how Link was when he saw you," Lycus pinched his lips and crossed his arms defensively too. "He was as angry that night as the rest of us Fin, there was fire in his eyes that I didn't know someone as patient as he could have," he was cut off by Usa, bristled like a protective she-cat over her kitten.
"Enough Lycus!" She snapped, "she doesn't need to hear this!"
"I think she does," he turned to face her and Loraefin had not heard the tone of voice he used before. He sounded no longer like the boy she had known; he sounded like for the first time the man he had grown to be. Usa angrily gave into him because she knew her grandchild would have to learn of that night, but she wasn't sure she was ready yet. Lycus turned back to Loraefin who was standing thin-lipped and firm behind him. "He was so angry that night Fin, he practically flew to your side while the rest of us were still in shock. You were," Lycus shut his eyes tightly and tried to forget the image, "you were so pale. Fin I can't put into words the panic I felt, the fear, the anger, so I can imagine Link felt the same." The blood and scent of scorched flesh and feces couldn't be pushed from his mind. Loraefin's soft gray stare brought tears to Lycus's eyes, knowing how close he had come to loosing them. "Link was the one who helped me hold the man who raped you up when your father slit his throat. Actually, he was the one who pulled his head back to give Greysir a clear target."
Loraefin stood stock still, the expression frozen on her face. Her bottom lip trembled slightly; she had never guessed what her father and cousins were capable of that night, or Link. Least of all she could picture Link doing such things, and he had done those things for her. She didn't give Lycus a response but walked faster toward her house with Usa beside her. When they came in the front door Loraefin saw Tiamra standing in front of the fire with several other Gerudo guards and Pameia and Mattue as well. She was as strong and commanding as Loraefin remembered her and her power emanated throughout the room. Tiamra nodded as they entered and waited for Loraefin to come to her.
"Rae Lawen," she said calmly, eyes flickering over the girl, "I've heard about your misfortune, I was sorry to hear it." Loraefin's jaw tightened and her fists clenched. I am not so happy about it either thought Loraefin grimly.
"What do you want Tiamra?" Usa grumbled as she sat haughtily down on a wooden chair nearby. "What business do you have with our Loraefin?" Tiamra smiled and sauntered to the girl who was standing stone silent in the middle of the room.
"Where is your crest Rae Lawen? Why do you not wear it?"
"Tiamra," the young woman of nineteen years spoke with a lowered voice, trying to find the right mix of respect and self-confidence in words. "We are," she gulped, "honored by your visit, but why have you come to call on us?" Tiamra raised her eyebrows in surprise but did not lose the smile in her eyes though it had disappeared from her lips.
"Well if you are so quick to know, I've come to give you an offer," she replied simply and folded her arms. Ah, the girl is just as I thought she would be…what I have to offer her is all the more greater then!
"No Tiamra! No offers, no deals, whatever you've come for we'll not be taking it!" Re'ale snapped, "we'll not be having anymore to do with the outside! Not after what they did to our Loraefin!"
"Re'ale, hush!" Pamiea stepped in, cutting Re'ale off. Reluctantly Pamiea bowed her head for Tiamra to continue. Whatever she was to offer Loraefin at least had the right to hear it. Tiamra nodded back and turned once again to Loraefin who had not budged yet. The silver and amber crest she wore glistened in the firelight as did her cropped red hair that was not so much as tousled by the wind and ride. She had not even gotten so far as to remove her riding cloak for she expected a speedy departure.
"I can help you with the pain you know," Tiamra began slowly, circling the young woman, "if you come with us, finish your training that you left unfinished since the Ground." Loraefin stared at her and her lips parted in amazement. Usa was about to lift herself out of her chair in protest, but Greysir's firm hands held her in place. He was strong and silent throughout the entire thing, if there was any chance to relieve his daughter's pain he would not speak one word against it, even if that did mean her leaving them again. "There is a rite that can help, but I only offer it if you come with us."
"Oh, damn you Tiamra!" Usa shouted, "I should have known you'd have come only for your own good! How dare you patronize my grandchild with your hollow promises!"
"My promise is far from hollow!" Tiamra snapped back with eyes ablaze. "Rae Lawen has potential! Don't you want your grandchild to know the power of the Goddesses and Their strength? I only offer this to her for her benefit!"
Loraefin didn't say a word during the entire argument. Instead she sat down in between her father and Joshuan and thought very seriously to what Tiamra offered her. If she went she thought, she could help bridge the gap between their two people. But the next moment she shoved that idea away and knew if she was to do this, she was doing this only for herself. Damn everyone else. She questioned it, denied it, and considered it all in the same moment. She knew it felt right. In a calm manner, she took both her father's and brother's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. It was the first time she had touched them since that night and Greysir and Joshuan felt the weight of her decision before she even spoke it aloud.
They rode out that evening after Loraefin was able to gather the few things she needed and make her good-byes to her family. This would be one journey she made without them. She gave each of her dogs a good rub behind the ears too before she mounted Balius and rode quietly off, unknowingly with Laelaps tagging along at Balius's hooves. Laelaps would not let her pack sister go unprotected and no amount of commands would tell her otherwise. Loraefin would be grateful for their company in the month's ahead while she was apart from her family. As they rode out across the field, a small tremor shook the ground, small enough to give the horses a start. Loraefin pulled her cloak tighter around her as a deep pang of worry struck her core. She shivered, but not from cold. Something was coming.
AN: More of my foreshadowing!!!!! *laughs maniacally until someone smacks her* And that concludes this story…I'll put the next one up soon, The Half Moon where Fin goes back with the Gerudo and there's more about the Sages…but I think I may have to start pacing myself with these updates…I'll run out of chapter surplus soon and I'm still on my writers block!