Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Jun 10, 2009 23:14:19 GMT -6
Summers in Skye where nothing compared to Egypt where the sun was a constant companion. So much had happened between home and here. So many memories that to try and visit them all would take the full of a lifetime all over again. There was no way to describe the feeling when she awoke each morning wrapped around her husband, the sounds of a full household underway, the kids giggling, plating clinking, Nora cooing to Ra who was likewise trying to mimic words with no success. Birds chirping outside the wind, workers all ready singing in the fields they had brought to life.
Each country had their own sounds, while some could argue it was all the same, people talked in other lands, birds chirped in other lands, the sound was always different somewhere else. Life had come full circle and for a moment, it made Ealora pause....She was her mother. It made her grin. For a woman who had long denied herself love and the hope of children, she was truly, happy.
Mornings were always a whirlwind around the Asad-Aziem household, the kids awoke before their parents but always their giggles and playing awoke the pair. Baby Ra babbled to join in on the fun and breakfast was served. The day never went the same as the next, sometimes Eppie tended her garden or played with her grandpa, Issa tended the fields with the men or helped with the houses still being put up. Ra spent the day with his mother or father, sometimes with Nora when Ealora and Maahes had things they needed to do. Every day treated as a new adventure but today, Ealora took pause to spend time with the family she hardly saw anymore, Eli. Her brother and her had always been close up until she had left Alexandria and even now when he had come to Red Wall with their father. The kids were spending the day with Nora and their grandfather to give Eli a break and to give Ealora time with her brother.
They walked for a long time in silence, enjoying the solitude of the forest, the river not far off babbling its presence when finally Ealora reached out to take her brothers hand.
"Eli.."She started in a slow voice and sighed, giving a moments pause to center her thoughts.
Eli squeezed her hand and smiled making Ealora smile in return before his hand fell from hers only to wrap around her shoulder, the long sleeve of his tan robes swaying with the movement.
"You could always talk to me Ealora, Why are you so afraid to now?" Eli replied when she continued to smile silently.
Ealora realized then she missed the tone of her brothers voice, it was not a deep baritone as most men could claim. It had a peacefulness to it, a serene quality that could put even the most ill of ease person to rest. She let out a huff of a laugh as her body leaned into his faltering their steps till they found a stride that matched him holding some of her weight.
"Are you happy here? Happy with your life?" She asked quietly as they moved through the path and turned towards the river path rather then the hills.
"Yes, I am content, and happy. Why do you ask?" The bearded face of her brother flexed and rolled in confusion and wonder. His sister had always been in part a tom boy, hard to display emotions, except with him, but even this, was surprising for him to hear her ask.
"My life has come full circle, or at least as much as I ever thought it would. I've become mother, you've no idea how much it baffles me, even if I've been doing it for a while now. Each day its still a shock, I fear waking up to find it all a dream. I've always chased my dreams, first aware from the nightmare of an arranged marriage that I wouldn't have, then as a pirate...content to believe my life would be filled with blood and death, never hoping I would have this, but silently, always silently praying for it. I have it and its only now, quite guilty, I realize in chasing my dreams, I forced you to a role you might not of wanted."
Eli was silent for a long time, his face drawn in the serious manner Ealora didn't see much in him. He was always there with a ready smile or comfort in the darkest times. She slightly feared he would become cross with her. Big bad brother...but Eli had never been that. Caleb had.
"Eli..my actions...Caleb's actions...forced fathers mind to break and forced you to assume the role of head of the family and take care of him. You wanted to be a priest, well after that...woman..broke your heart. I fear you've given up on life to easily, but I also fear, I've brought it upon you..."
Eli arm tightened around her shoulders and he paused, turning to her and pulling her into a tight hug, his short little sister, his chin resting on the top of her head. If he had it his way, he would take the guilt she felt upon himself, he only wanted to see her happy.
"Ealora...stop..."He rasped with a sigh. "I gladly accepted each role, what is God's will...it is not for me to deny." He paused to take a small step back and lift her chin so she looked at him. How many times could he remember her being there to raise him up from the ground and protect him. The roles reversed for so long, she seemed the big sister and he the little brother even though he was born before her. Now he had a chance to reverse it back, even if only for a few minutes. Like his sister, he was silent for a while, gathering his thoughts before he spoke again. "If my fight for life was lost, I wouldn't be a priest. I may of left the order Ealora, but my heart and devotion has been given to God and family. You want to know what my biggest fear has been all these years?" He did not wait for her answer as he continued. "Caleb's path has always been dark..I always knew it would lead to his ruin, and for the longest time, when we had no word of you and then rumors of what you were doing, I feared you were headed down the same path. I always knew you wouldn't be a perfect little wife and in most ways sister, your not, but in others, you are. You are very beloved by everyone you care for as family, you are beloved by your husband more then I've ever seen a man to his wife. You've taken the role of our mother, putting your family above your own desires and I have in essence, taken the role of father, doing everything in my power to see the family happy and healthy above my own wants. Yes little Elly.." He grinned, he knew she hated that nickname, were it anyone else calling her that. "I have my own wants but I am content for now, to put your family, our family above them. God will see my time come and if he does not, I do not hold it against him. Gods will is above my wants, he will see me provided for in the way he see's fit."
"Eli..you amaze me" Ealora hummed with a laugh as she leaned forward to bury her face briefly in her brothers chest before shoving back and lightly shoving him"Stop getting me all sentimental.." She spoke with another laugh before she continued on.
"I've got some news for you big brother, though I am not sure how you're going to react" She continued after several more minutes of silence. Celadon eyes slid over to find Eli looking at her, she read no comment on his face and so tried to find the best way to continue. "Atlas is dead Eli, I will not mourn the mans death, nor Maahes part to play in it. He did what he had to do and he would not be who he is otherwise. Atlas had a very large estate, everything in his estate is left to...me.." She paused again to slide her eyes to Eli, his face was priceless, shocked but otherwise still confused and waiting for what she was getting at. "I've all ready signed papers in return, all his slaves as per my wishes, have been freed and given the option to stay on as paid employees of the new owner or may leave to do as they wish. I have also signed over all rights to the land, property and money to you..when father passes away, you can maintain your land from here or you can return to Alexandria. Whatever you decide, I will support you, give the money to the needy, turn that dark manor into a church, it is yours to do with as you wish. This is my gift to you Eli, whether you think I have a right to it or not. Someone had to do something, I merely assumed the responsibilities whether mine or not." She clasped her hands behind her back as she finished and again turned her eyes to her brother.
Eli lips were pressed into a thin line. He was angry yes, for the duration of a whole second before his shoulders slumped in defeat. Maahes knew his sister better then Eli ever would but there would always be a part of Ealora that Maahes could not touch and that was the part of sister. "Does Maahes know? Was the first thing out of his mouth and even Ealora joined him as he began to laugh over it. His hand rose to cup his sisters shoulder, he knew his sister well enough to know when her voice spoke that her mind was made up. "Thank you Ealora..God works in mysterious ways, I must believe that this is one of them. What that dark and sinister man has created, God will undo..with my hands, when the time is right."
Ealora couldn't help but grin. Eli would never argue with her, he never had. She had always been the one to give him a shove to follow a path. He made that path what it needed to be. Eli was a man of faith, that ones path was all ready laid at their feet, and while Ealora was inclined to believe it to a point, she also believed that people got lost on that path, she was merely the shove he needed when he was lost. She had needed to give him something to look for when their father was gone, though neither of them wanted to fathom a time when their father was no longer with them. She wanted him to have a future, one all his own.
Each country had their own sounds, while some could argue it was all the same, people talked in other lands, birds chirped in other lands, the sound was always different somewhere else. Life had come full circle and for a moment, it made Ealora pause....She was her mother. It made her grin. For a woman who had long denied herself love and the hope of children, she was truly, happy.
Mornings were always a whirlwind around the Asad-Aziem household, the kids awoke before their parents but always their giggles and playing awoke the pair. Baby Ra babbled to join in on the fun and breakfast was served. The day never went the same as the next, sometimes Eppie tended her garden or played with her grandpa, Issa tended the fields with the men or helped with the houses still being put up. Ra spent the day with his mother or father, sometimes with Nora when Ealora and Maahes had things they needed to do. Every day treated as a new adventure but today, Ealora took pause to spend time with the family she hardly saw anymore, Eli. Her brother and her had always been close up until she had left Alexandria and even now when he had come to Red Wall with their father. The kids were spending the day with Nora and their grandfather to give Eli a break and to give Ealora time with her brother.
They walked for a long time in silence, enjoying the solitude of the forest, the river not far off babbling its presence when finally Ealora reached out to take her brothers hand.
"Eli.."She started in a slow voice and sighed, giving a moments pause to center her thoughts.
Eli squeezed her hand and smiled making Ealora smile in return before his hand fell from hers only to wrap around her shoulder, the long sleeve of his tan robes swaying with the movement.
"You could always talk to me Ealora, Why are you so afraid to now?" Eli replied when she continued to smile silently.
Ealora realized then she missed the tone of her brothers voice, it was not a deep baritone as most men could claim. It had a peacefulness to it, a serene quality that could put even the most ill of ease person to rest. She let out a huff of a laugh as her body leaned into his faltering their steps till they found a stride that matched him holding some of her weight.
"Are you happy here? Happy with your life?" She asked quietly as they moved through the path and turned towards the river path rather then the hills.
"Yes, I am content, and happy. Why do you ask?" The bearded face of her brother flexed and rolled in confusion and wonder. His sister had always been in part a tom boy, hard to display emotions, except with him, but even this, was surprising for him to hear her ask.
"My life has come full circle, or at least as much as I ever thought it would. I've become mother, you've no idea how much it baffles me, even if I've been doing it for a while now. Each day its still a shock, I fear waking up to find it all a dream. I've always chased my dreams, first aware from the nightmare of an arranged marriage that I wouldn't have, then as a pirate...content to believe my life would be filled with blood and death, never hoping I would have this, but silently, always silently praying for it. I have it and its only now, quite guilty, I realize in chasing my dreams, I forced you to a role you might not of wanted."
Eli was silent for a long time, his face drawn in the serious manner Ealora didn't see much in him. He was always there with a ready smile or comfort in the darkest times. She slightly feared he would become cross with her. Big bad brother...but Eli had never been that. Caleb had.
"Eli..my actions...Caleb's actions...forced fathers mind to break and forced you to assume the role of head of the family and take care of him. You wanted to be a priest, well after that...woman..broke your heart. I fear you've given up on life to easily, but I also fear, I've brought it upon you..."
Eli arm tightened around her shoulders and he paused, turning to her and pulling her into a tight hug, his short little sister, his chin resting on the top of her head. If he had it his way, he would take the guilt she felt upon himself, he only wanted to see her happy.
"Ealora...stop..."He rasped with a sigh. "I gladly accepted each role, what is God's will...it is not for me to deny." He paused to take a small step back and lift her chin so she looked at him. How many times could he remember her being there to raise him up from the ground and protect him. The roles reversed for so long, she seemed the big sister and he the little brother even though he was born before her. Now he had a chance to reverse it back, even if only for a few minutes. Like his sister, he was silent for a while, gathering his thoughts before he spoke again. "If my fight for life was lost, I wouldn't be a priest. I may of left the order Ealora, but my heart and devotion has been given to God and family. You want to know what my biggest fear has been all these years?" He did not wait for her answer as he continued. "Caleb's path has always been dark..I always knew it would lead to his ruin, and for the longest time, when we had no word of you and then rumors of what you were doing, I feared you were headed down the same path. I always knew you wouldn't be a perfect little wife and in most ways sister, your not, but in others, you are. You are very beloved by everyone you care for as family, you are beloved by your husband more then I've ever seen a man to his wife. You've taken the role of our mother, putting your family above your own desires and I have in essence, taken the role of father, doing everything in my power to see the family happy and healthy above my own wants. Yes little Elly.." He grinned, he knew she hated that nickname, were it anyone else calling her that. "I have my own wants but I am content for now, to put your family, our family above them. God will see my time come and if he does not, I do not hold it against him. Gods will is above my wants, he will see me provided for in the way he see's fit."
"Eli..you amaze me" Ealora hummed with a laugh as she leaned forward to bury her face briefly in her brothers chest before shoving back and lightly shoving him"Stop getting me all sentimental.." She spoke with another laugh before she continued on.
"I've got some news for you big brother, though I am not sure how you're going to react" She continued after several more minutes of silence. Celadon eyes slid over to find Eli looking at her, she read no comment on his face and so tried to find the best way to continue. "Atlas is dead Eli, I will not mourn the mans death, nor Maahes part to play in it. He did what he had to do and he would not be who he is otherwise. Atlas had a very large estate, everything in his estate is left to...me.." She paused again to slide her eyes to Eli, his face was priceless, shocked but otherwise still confused and waiting for what she was getting at. "I've all ready signed papers in return, all his slaves as per my wishes, have been freed and given the option to stay on as paid employees of the new owner or may leave to do as they wish. I have also signed over all rights to the land, property and money to you..when father passes away, you can maintain your land from here or you can return to Alexandria. Whatever you decide, I will support you, give the money to the needy, turn that dark manor into a church, it is yours to do with as you wish. This is my gift to you Eli, whether you think I have a right to it or not. Someone had to do something, I merely assumed the responsibilities whether mine or not." She clasped her hands behind her back as she finished and again turned her eyes to her brother.
Eli lips were pressed into a thin line. He was angry yes, for the duration of a whole second before his shoulders slumped in defeat. Maahes knew his sister better then Eli ever would but there would always be a part of Ealora that Maahes could not touch and that was the part of sister. "Does Maahes know? Was the first thing out of his mouth and even Ealora joined him as he began to laugh over it. His hand rose to cup his sisters shoulder, he knew his sister well enough to know when her voice spoke that her mind was made up. "Thank you Ealora..God works in mysterious ways, I must believe that this is one of them. What that dark and sinister man has created, God will undo..with my hands, when the time is right."
Ealora couldn't help but grin. Eli would never argue with her, he never had. She had always been the one to give him a shove to follow a path. He made that path what it needed to be. Eli was a man of faith, that ones path was all ready laid at their feet, and while Ealora was inclined to believe it to a point, she also believed that people got lost on that path, she was merely the shove he needed when he was lost. She had needed to give him something to look for when their father was gone, though neither of them wanted to fathom a time when their father was no longer with them. She wanted him to have a future, one all his own.