"He feels safe in the assumption that his line will endure." Iselinn drawls softly with a tone she has picked up from her father.

Darcy glances at her eldest daughter while balancing Melek on her knee. Her youngest daughter is closer in looks to the children's father, while Iselinn is more of a combination between her parents. Melek smiles angelically at Darcy who is one step away from loosing her patience with Iselinn. "And you lack conviction." the older woman argues with a tired voice. "Have a little faith."

Shahla, who is two years Melek's senior, keeps her eyes on her book. Her remarkably dark orbs steer clear of the spat between mother and daughter. However she can't resist making a quip, "Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother." Her voice is clear and strong yet deeper than most girls' at her age. Pointy features lit by the fire promise to become handsome some day.

As if her sister's words had not reached her ears Iselinn paced the floor. "It is not about faith. I have faith. A lot of it. The problem lies in the fact that he refuses to see this from another perspective. Mine."

"Honey," Darcy says, this time a little more than annoyed, "I understand you feel frustrated but there will come a time when you will wish for things to be as they are now."

Iselinn sighs. If any of her brothers were home they would gang up with her mother for sure. There is truth in Darcy's words, yet she is a young woman constricted by her father's exaggerated care. "It's not that, mother. I just want a little freedom. I want to be like any other young girl-"

"But you're not just anyone." Darcy rebukes sternly. Melek pouts at her oldest sister and Shahla takes a moment to throw her a disproving glance. Iselinn glares at both in turn. "Listen to me young lady; you are your father's daughter. You are a princess of Asgard. There is no place here for being spoiled."

"I never asked to be born into this!" Iselinn protests, blue-green eyes widening in distress.

"Neither did I or any of your sisters. This is your fate." her mother concludes sharply but not without kindness in her voice.

"Father will be returning soon." Shahla offers when the tension becomes unbearable. Even Melek seems put out and jumps down from her mother's lap.

Outside the wind blows harshly. This is the reality of who they are. Some things cannot be changed no matter how hard one tries. Iselinn sits herself on a chair and looks into the fire. "There is nothing more to be said then."

"No, there isn't." is the reply she gets.

The agreement falls like a brick onto her. Iselinn leans back, almost slouching. Nobody said she had to be perfect in this little role of hers. She smiles secretly, thinking of all the trouble and mischief she may get into.

Note on names:

Iselinn – of Nordic origin, it means dream, vision; it is also a rare variant of Iselin, name of a city

Melek – Turkish name with the meaning of angel

Shahla – a Persian given name, which means a dark eyed woman

Quote: Shahla quotes Khalil Gibran