You Don't Have To Choose
"Don't make me choose, Soren, not again!"
Soren looks at Claudia. His baby sister, all grown up.
She needs to make this decision for herself. But no choice is still a choice: the choice to stay with their father.
Soren looks over at Viren, maniacal grin in place as he transforms the armies of Katolis and Neolandia into monsters. Claudia's change won't be as apparent, but Viren will turn her into a monster just the same, if she stays.
For a moment, all Soren can see is the white streak in his sister's dark hair. He's aware of his working body, and he knows his sister gave up something of herself to make him work again. What would she give up for her father?
This is a decision Claudia should make for herself. She's sixteen. Soren is only two years older. Who's to say he knows better?
But Mom said, "Look after your sister, Soren. Don't let her turn into your father," when she left.
Soren didn't understand then. He thinks he does now.
"I won't, then," Soren says firmly. "Come with me, Clauds."
"No!" she cries. "No, I can't choose! No! No! No!"
"I'm not making you choose," Soren interrupts gently. "I'm telling you. You're coming with me, Clauds." He takes her hand, and she doesn't resist, sobbing quietly as he helps her onto a horse. He doesn't want to risk her leaving, so he takes her horse's reins and ponies it the entire way to the mountain.
I left a review on another story that got me wondering, what if Soren had made his sister come with him to the Storm Spire? What might have happened? This is the result. The first one, anyway.
For anyone wondering, 'ponying' a horse is when Soren is riding his horse and leading Claudia's horse at the same time. It's difficult to get the hang of, though not too hard once you've been doing it awhile (still hard, just not almost impossible. Depends on the horses, too). As a Crownguard, Soren should have had practice doing this, in case someone got hurt on a mission or something.
Ponying is not exclusive to ponies. I don't know why it's called that, but you can pony any kind of horse. My ponying practice? Half-drafts and, yes, ponies.
I'm up for writing more chapters if anyone wants to see them; otherwise this is all.