Aine's Reconciliation chap fifteen

Aine knew what she had to do and she was going to do it; not just because it might help her in becoming one of the Guard as a new trainee, she knew it felt right inside that not to reconcile with her folks would be a thing she would regret the rest of her life. With it being about two days later after her incident and arrival at the Healers hall, she hoped that things would have simmered down a little.

The sun was setting now, painting the sky with shades of crimson with the clouds appearing as fantastic silhouettes in the distance. Aine drew up to the stables and put Obsidian inside to feed on the hay and to get a drink. She petted his mane. "Obsidian, if things turn out like I hope they will, you and I will join the Guard and help fight for Valdemar. We have to do our best, ok?." The horse continued munching on hay, nodding as if he understood. She looked back at Obsidian as she walked up the path back to her parents house.

Feeling more than a little apprehensive, she walked around the manse and then followed the path to the front door. She took in a deep breath and knocked. It seemed an eternity to her before the door opened. It was her Dad who peeked around the door. He looked at her as if appraising her.

"Constance," he yelled, turning his head back inside, "Aine has come back, perhaps she wants a hand in the family business after all!" Aines hackles rose a bit and her heart sunk. She thought that maybe, just maybe her Dad would have changed just a little. Gerald peered back out at her, raising his eyebrows. "Well come on in Aine," her Dad opened the door and motioned her inside. Before Aine could brace herself Constance came running from the kitchen and smothered her daughter with a few hugs, and was crying profusely. "See what you have done to your mother. You"--

"Oh shutup Gerald!" Constance shouted. Her face of crying turned to one of anger. She put her hands on her hips. "I think its about time we own up to our end of things too...to single out Aine as the sole cause of family trouble is being unfair to her and her feelings...which is something you seem to have little of lately!"

Both Aine and her father were temporarily cowed by this outburst.

"You don't know the efforts I go through or how hard I work to sustain this family!" he said defensively.

"Enough from both of you!" Aine shouted. This was the type of scene she so desparately wanted to avoid. What good did it do to blame and shout at each other? "Come on mom, dad. Let's go into the kitchen. I have some things I want to say." They went into the dining room and sat at the table, not looking at each other for a moment.

"Mom and Dad, what I did, I later to came to realize was not very considerate of me at all. In fact, it was downright selfish." She looked down at the table.

Before their daughter could say more, Constance said, "We had no idea what might have happened to you, Aine. Of course the Guards told us a little about it later on and that you were safely in Haven, being given some attention from the Healers there; but that was much later the next morning. With the emotional state you left in we had no idea if you would ever come back, or talk to us again. In fact, we were sure you wouldn't..."

Gerald lit his pipe, taking it all in so far, not saying anything.

Aine was beginning to feel somehow smaller, reduced down to the bare minimum, with all her faults being exposed. She hung her head a little and continued staring down at her feet.

"Why did you feel you couldn't come back to eat at least? They said you were weak with hunger and exhaustion. You know you can always come back to us, for whatever reason, no matter what the circumstances are." Her gaze softened a little now as she looked at Aine and continued. "The worst of it all was not knowing where you were, or if you were alright. The feelings caused by that were tearing us apart inside; yes, even your Father."

Gerald blew smoke rings up in the air and watched them as they drifted and settled...still saying nothing.

Aine stood up and looked out the kitchen window as if to look out there would help her to focus her thoughts. "The reason I didn't want to come back at first was my own anger. I felt as if you weren't listening to what I wanted to do. As I was riding out across the countryside I began to feel not very good about myself." She brushed some crumbs off of the kitchen shelving. "It's almost funny but, I wasn't listening to you both either during that awful argument." I didn't want to come back because I didn't think I could face you after the things I said and did that evening. I acted rashly, without thinking about my welfare, or yours. I wanted to impress you and have you to be proud of me." She turned around facing her parents, looking them a little more in the eye now. "That's why I thought about going to the Collegium. I wanted you to be really proud of me. It was beginning to occur to me though, that with the way I acted, you probably wouldn't even want me to help with the leather business here." Aine was struggling to keep in her emotions. "That is not the way to get anywhere, and certainly not the way to be accepted at the Collegium. Mom, Dad, I...I am very sorry for what I did and I hope you will forgive me for acting rashly and thinking about what only I wanted. I did not think about how you two would feel. So if you wish me to stay in the family business for another year, of course I would do so." Aine 's eyes had moistened a little now.

Gerald raised his eyebrows. Constance was quite amazed by the depth of her insight in all this. Her daughter was learning fast about the ways of the world. She stared a little at her daughter, thinking of how even more beautiful she would be, inside and out, as time went on..

All three of them were silent for a brief period of time.

Finaly, Constance broke the silence, "Of course your apology is accepted dear. Your Father and I did not act exactly the way mature adults should either. And for that we are sorry. It would seem to me, Aine, that you are ready to move on. You should go to the Collegium if that is your heart's desire. The Guard acts with honor and consideration for others while at the same time being brave and ready to fight or do whatever they can to help this country." Constance found it difficult to contain her emotions too. "Would you have any objections to this Gerald?"

Gerald stirred a little uneasily in his chair. It was a little more difficult for him to be conciliatory. He tapped the ashes out of his pipe. He looked up at Aine and said, "I want you to go to the Collegium to. You have proved you have what it takes. We will manage here just fine." Aine's father stood up and patted her on the back rather roughly. "Besides, the Guards told me how you roughed up Simon Dewwart and his gang. You have my vote," he said laughing. "I've always hated him and his little clan of troublemakers and his Dad was worse if you can believe that. It serves the little bastard right what you did to him and his friends!"

Aine could not believe her ears. She was in a temporary state of disbelief. "I really don't know what to say..."

"Then say nothing my dear," Constance said smiling, "You have said enough."

"Go pack your bags Aine," her father said. "It is time to move on." He walked over to her daughter and did a rare thing, he hugged her. "Take care of yourself though, the world is rough out there. You will be tested and challenged no doubt, but I have quite the strong feeling that you will meet these challenges head on, and survive them."

Aine looked at her dad, she couldn't help it...she began to cry a little. "Thank you Dad, you don't know how much this all means to me."

"Oh I think we do Aine," said Constance. She walked over to her and hugged her daughter too.

She looked at her daughter proudly, overcome with emotion. "Your father is right, my dear, it is time. We want you to go. Know that we have always been proud of you, though perhaps we didn't say it often enough. You will be fine."

"If there is anything more you want me to do here before I go..." Aine offered.

"It would only be to go with our blessing," Constance said, "that is more than enough."

Aine turned and packed her bag.. Sshe really didn't need much because the Collegium would provide. If Rowland accepts me that is...she thought.

Aine gave her parents one more hug and they said their goodbyes. They watched as their daughter went on to face a new world.

Aine felt relieved yet at the same time saddened, now she would be venturing into unknown territory, she would face new dangers. Her parents had let her go...

Aine went out the door and the moonlight was breathtaking this evening. The night air was cool. She began to walk around the house again to go get Obsidian. She thought she heard an unfamiliar neighing. She was in the back of the Manse now and something drew her attention away from getting Obsidian. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a white luminous blur. It startled her and she looked out in the direction of the grazing fields. Out there in the moonlight was the most beautiful white stallion she had ever seen. In the dark and the moonlight the horse looked almost spectral, like something out of a dream. The horse turned to look at her with luminous blue eyes, exhaling steam. She felt an unearthly chill as a tingling sensation went up her spine and into her head. She was mesmerized and walked a little closer to this fantastic apparition. She rubbed her eyes, surely this had to be a dream.

:This is no dream, Aine. I am Xirthan, and I Choose you. From here on out your life will be full of peril, excitement and adventure. You will become a Herald of Valdemar:

Aine realized that this beautiful creature was speaking to her in her mind somehow. Her jaw dropped. "Are you...talking to me?"

: I don't choose lightly. I am well aware of your potential, even if you aren't. You will be invaluable to the cause of Valdemar. You will reach heights that you thought of as never before possible. I have chosen well, Aine Myst. Let us go now. We shall ride on to Haven and then to the Collegium:

She made her first attempt at mindspeaking. :First, I must say goodbye to Obsidian:

Xirthan came as close to laughing as a Companion could. :I would have expected no less from you, Chosen:

Aine walked over to the stables where Obsidian still was, still dumbfounded. She came up to her beloved horse and petted him on his mane again. "It is time for me to go on, my faithful horse. I will never forget you and you will always have a place in my heart." Aine began to cry, just a little. "Goodbye, good friend." Aine could have sworn the horse just winked at her. She turned around to go.

She mounted Xirthan. It was time...the old life would become the new. She would age and mature, and see much over the next few years. They rode off in the direction of Haven with the Moon and the stars as their guide. They rode like the wind, onward to a new realm of existence, ripping up the past as they went.