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 Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:42 pm
What Comes After Happily Ever After?RP with Fianna, Dae'Ruil, Garret,    Sabin's Teepee
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:43 pm
Fianna didn't know how she could have gotten so lucky. She felt like she didn't desere it - foals that loved her... and her very own knight in shining armor... one she had rescued from an evil witch. Ignoring the fact that the foals weren't her love's...
This time a year ago, she was battling depression. Dae'Ruil was there, he was helping her raise young colts, but there was a wedge between them. Who would have thought that nearly losing him would have made her appreciate just how much she honestly loved him... to let herself forgive herself for her tryst with Einarr.
Cayden and Garret had been so happy to see Fianna emerge from the swampy woods with Dae'ruil. Garret listened raptly to the story that Dae'Ruil told about the witch of the woods, her evil magic... and the mask. A pang of regret hit the foal when he realized that Dae'Ruil's mask was gone. He was more fun when he wore it - told adventurous stories and would play more with him when he wore it. But, as time passed, he realized that since he was "rescued" (and Dae'Ruil made no secret of the fact that it was Fianna that had rescued him, he was more fun. Braver... took him and taught him things. And Garret set about memorizing the story that he had told, adding it to a building repetoire.
But Garret and Cayden were growing by the day. The days melt quickly into weeks... and into months... and one day, Cayden spread his wings and flew away - off to find his own adventures the likes of which his parents told.
And Garret, he found himself wandering further and further, eager to meet other faces, to tell stories he had learned from Dae'Ruil and Fianna.... putting his own spins on them, testing out his silvered tongue. He learned how to convince other people to give him gifts, or found things to trade at the trading posts. He had an eye for the finery -he wanted to be every bit as glamorous and dashing as Dae'ruil... and had a very discerning eye for quality.
Fianna knew it was only a matter of time until both her little "colts" were gone. And a part of her hated herself for the sadness she was feeling. She had never wanted foals to begin with - not here, not now. She had been on an adventure - one that ended abruptly with these foals - it was entirely jarring. But now that they were leaving, it was equally so.
And it seemed to promise to bring up the dreaded question: What now?
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:44 pm
And then, one day it happened. Garret, too, came to his mom and Dae'Ruil with a strange smile and said that he wanted to see more of the world. To learn more stories, make his way of it. There was no convincing him otherwise - he was always stubborn.... just as stubborn as his mother.
He teased her, that if she ever wanted to, she would know how to find him - she was good at that. She'd found her dad... rescued Dae'Ruil. And he expected her to find him some day... with siblings! He threw as a final joke/retort back to her with a wink toards her and Dae'Ruil. It was obvious, even to the young stallion, that his mom and "her friend" cared deeply for each other.
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:45 pm
Fianna tried not to cry. Stubbornly, she held them back until she could no longer see the vibrant orange of Garret's tail, and then, in a rare show of weakness, she collapsed against Dae'Ruil's side and spent the evening just.... with him.
It wasn't until after she had woken up long past noon the next day she spoke again.
"Now what...?"
"My lady?" Dae'Ruil inquired, confused and surprised at the sudden words from his mate.
"Now what?" Fianna repeated, some of the bravado back in her voice as she got to her hooves and looked Dae'Ruil in the eyes. "They're grown up... flown the next. Spirits know that I could barely be restrained back in mom's herd once I learned to fly lest they had clipped my wings. There's... there's no reason to be sad. It's natural."
Dae'ruil smiled softly, recognizing Fianna's preemptive defensiveness and justification to herself why she shouldn't be upset. "Of course, Lady Fianna... They were wonderful foals... but now they are stallions. And they will make their own stories. I do not think the spirits themselves could have held them back much longer."
"Right! Exactly.." She smirked, "And don't call me lady Fianna" She added with a rueful eyeroll. "So... what now? I found my father.... I rescued you... but ... Now what? We were off on these adventures before we got sidetracked. But I don't know what to do now. We... had our lives on hold raising these foals. And we did everything we could for them. But these lands... they aren't our home. We haven't even made it our home."
Dae'ruil understood what Fianna was implying and he frowned, averting her eyes for just a moment. He had been happy to follow her, participate and aide this mare in her quest - she had been his inspiration, his wings... his reason. But in all their time together, Dae'Ruil had been most frightened by one thing - telling her about his past. And she seemed to have noticed it was a sore subject - she never pried... and admittedly, part of her charm was listening to her talk about her past, her thoughts and feelings.
".. I mean... I guess I could go back home... WE I mean... WE could go back home.... could meet my mom, my sisters. But... " She shrugged, "What am I supposed to say? That I found Dad and he's a loser? A foal in a stallion's body?" She scuffed her hoof. She didn't have any better ideas. She had never expected to be in this position - she thought when she found her father things would fall into place for her. He'd give her a purpose.
"I... had a home one..." Dae'ruil's voice was soft, hardly more than a whisper.
"Deirdre will probably just say "I told you so." She huffed, "She was right - she didn't think dad was anything but a loser from the start and.... what...? What did you say, Dae?" She blinked, surprised. She had never heard Dae'Ruil talk about his home or his family. Just ambiguous stories of knights and heroics.
"I... never told you," He took a breath, "It is not that I was ashamed of myself... but.." He shook his head, "Well... I suppose that those words are not quite the truth. I ... did not live up to whom I was supposed to be. I did not want that part of my life to follow me.."
Fianna smirked, "Come on, Dae' - spit it out! You haven't been this shy since before Drusevere!"
"I was a prince!" He blurted out.
Fianna couldn't help herself. She blurted out laughing."What!?" Da'e... I think you've been telling too many stories-"
"No, my lady... on my honor it is the truth. I was a prince in my kingdom - of fluttercorns... all of our noble line bore wings of dragonflies. The crest of the dragon was on our heraldry.... "
Fianna's hysterics faded into skepticism and concern. A prince? really? A prince had followed her around, waiting on her wing and hoof? Princes were the things of fairy tales to BEGIN with... but Dae? HER Dae...? But she could see the earnestness in his eyes. In his voice. The way he spoke, the storie she told.... and not to mention the finery he wore and how she virtually had to TEACH him to get his hooves diry.... She swallowed, but listened. "Why.... why didn't you ever tell me?"
Dae'ruil was quiet for a moment. "I was ashamed. I ... had fled from our kingdom. I was not the crown prince, not by a large margin. I had a number of older brothers who were constantly bickering and squabbling. I was the subject of their jokes, their pressure. And... they were right - I was weak, scared... pampered. I was just a foal compared to them, and I was so lost by their politicking. And then one night, I went to this masquearde representing my kingdom and I got that mask. Everyone there was put under a spell - we forgot who we were. We ... we became someone else. I turned into this confident, charming stallion. I mean... it was terrible, not knowing who you were... but after the spell was broken, I had this memory of confidence - of.... of who I COULD be... who I SHOULD be. And.... well... I did not have the nerve to do it. I kept the mask... it helped me... helped me remember. And I set off not long after that to try to ... well... I suppose find my nerve. And it is thanks to you, my lady, that I did find it."
Fianna listened, to her credit, not interrputing. It was overwhelming - the implications. "Do.... you want to go back...?" She asked quietly, and then, finally, she spoke up - the other question. "If you did... would I even be ... I dunno... allowed to go with you?"
Dae'Ruil blinked, not even having considered that. "Of... of course. I could not wish it any other way. My older brothers - those in line for the crown... they must be very choosy with their mates, but I... well... I do not care what they think. I love you, and I would be honored to have you by my side."
Fianna's long, skinny tail swished behind her. Her? In a court? Like... with princes and princesses and nobles and all? Wouldn't they all laugh at her? this rough-hewn mare with a face full of freckles and a skinny, hairless tail? What if they hated her, what if she hated it there? If Dae went home and she didn't like it there, could they leave? Her mind was frought with questions, and Dae'Ruil must have noticed the stunned expression on her face.
"You do not need to decide today, Fianna," He spoke up, snapping her back to the present.
"Wait... you mean it's my decision??" Fianna asked with a voice three octaves higher.
Dae'Ruil flinched. "It... is not that I wish to put such a burdon on your shoulders... but I do not wish to go anywhere without you. And... when I left my kingdom, it was with the intention to never return. And... I am willing to follow through on that intent. But I have been unfair in keeping the truth from you, my love. And Your opinion means the world to me... we are not a you and I... but an US. And I wish for us to move forward together.... And... I would be honored to meet your mother if that is your decision instead... or even before."
Fianna nodded... for once with a loss of words. THe implications swirled in her head - the weight of the decision. Two massively contrasting possible futures.
Finally, she found her voice and gave Dae'Ruil a soft nuzzle. "Thank you... for telling me.. Prince Dae'Ruil." She said with a lilting smile in her voice. "I... will give this serious thought.... but whatever WE decide... we will be together."
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