S E N J A ' S . T A L E
Growth Quest :: New Revelations
words: 1553
Quote:
Senja finds out her husband isn't as accepting as she is of all the races. They talk about it and she comes to terms with his dislike for a large part of the Matorians. She realizes that he is his own person and has managed to come to terms with his views and managed to live without lettign his dislike rule him. She realizes she can't force him to follow her belief's and that it would be wrong to do so; instead she comes to terms with it and accepts that his dislike is just a part of who he is; he's still the man she fell in love with just with new depths. .
(had so many issues with this so hopefully it works... If it needs more introspection I can do so.)
Senja had run into the second biggest road block to her quest of collecting music from all the tribes. The first had been getting pregnant on the road and it had set her back a year. This might do the same. She had forgotten (how she didn’t know) that Matorians did not like Obans… and yet here she was with her Oban husband in their land.
Why did ZImbasi not talk to me about this? She thought in frustrations as she stalked back towards their inn. I can’t believe I just forgot all about it! Of course they aren’t going to be as forgiving as other tribes… they were enslaved for decades while we only had some wars! She didn’t want to ask her husband to return to Oba and wait for her there; Matori was not a land she wanted to wander without protection. But how else would she even get them to talk to her? They saw her family and clammed up. There would simply be no way of being taught their music so long as they associated her with Obans. Annoying bigoted idiots! She grumbled to herself as she entered their room. They ought to at least give the fire earthlings a chance! Those in Neued had… why can’t they?
She knew why, she just felt like complaining. Her husband’s amused knowing look didn’t make her any happier either. Those who had traveled to Neued knew that there would be Obans and had accepted that.. those that had stayed or gone to Matori were ones who probably wanted nothing to do with their past masters
.
“Stop smirking.” She pouted at her husband as she picked up her young son. “You knew this would happen didn’t you?”
“I figured.” Zimbasi drawled. “Was wondering what you’d do about it.”
She slouched down onto the small room’s bed and bounced her toddler on her knee while she glared at him. “You might have mentioned it! I’m used to Neued where people at least hide their hate! Or try to…” She sighed. “How do you stand it? The stares and muttering?”
“I ignore em. They aren’t worth the effort of anger trying to make nice.” The broad smith said in a flat cold tone of voice. Senja cocked her head curiously. He’d always gotten along with the water tribe in Neued so this was... new.
“What do you mean? You never seemed to have an issue back home.”
“Back home was filed with Matorians that did something. They wanted a better life and strove towards it. Most of them were past slaves that fought back or at least never gave up hope or lost their spirit. Them I can admire for standing up. These? These stopped fighting back for the most part. Slavers used to come and pick what they watned before heading back. I have no respect for anyone who just lets slavers walk all over them.”
Her eyes widened. “Surely that’s not true!”
“Maybe it isn’t… but if they truly hated me they’d have at least done more than growl in my direction. All I hear is a bunch of people who’ve been beaten down and have no more teeth. Maybe the next generation of Matorians born here will be stronger and be worthy or respect.”
She looked at him with wide eyes; she hadn’t realized her husband had some of the more traditional oban views. You live and learn, she thought as she turned this new information over.
“What if they did fight back and you never heard of it since the soldiers or slavers wanted to show they were in control?”
“The lack of scarring on many of them says otherwise.” Was the wry response before Zimbasi sighed at her confused expression. “Any slave who fought back would have scars of the beatings that followed or scars from fighting. So those old enough with no scarring either had a rich master who liked his slaves undamaged, a kind master, or never fought back.”
“Or they were never captured!”
“Which means they were left behind.. and don’t you think someone wold fight a slaver come to take their family?”
“Well.. yeah…”
“Then they’d show signs of a fight right?”
“But it’s been years since they were freed!”
“And scars last a long time love.” He sighed. “I know you think Matorians as brave strong souls that never gave up or stopped fighting us but for many waterlings that’s not true. We enslaved them for like.. two hundred years. They were broken and stepped on and many stopped fighting. Not all of course or they’d still be slaves but think; it took Tendajians to truly free them… you think if they were all strong willed freedom fighters they’d have broken free sooner right?”
Senja looked sadly at her husband who looked away with a sigh. “Come on love- you were captured so you know what it might have been like to be one of them right? You broke free though! They… didn’t.”
“So you… don’t like Matorians?”
“It’s not a like or not like. It’s more of a … respect for strength. Those that did fight back I can respect; those that didn’t?” He shook his head. “I don’t like those that roll over easily and let others do what they want. Especially when its their children or family that suffer their lack of a backbone.”
“I was captured and I didn’t fight back…” She said hesitantly only to be interrupted by a shake of his head.
“You escaped. Strength isn’t all in the body, love. It’s in the mind and the soul. You didn’t break, you didn’t give in. You were helped but in the end you made the choice to help them escape, you didn’t just sit there and say ‘it’s useless.’ I saw some slaves do that. They didn’t help their fellow escape cause they just knew that the escaped slave would be captured so why bother? That attitude I despise. That lack of backbone or will. Sure my people did break them but…” He ran a hand through his hair. “This going to be a problem Senja? I know you are open minded and accepting of others so…” There was worry in his eyes; it was one reason he hadn’t wanted to go on this trip; what if it drove her from him like her last husband’s over protection and clinging had?
She was silent for a bit, thinking on what had been said. She didn’t like it, no. Everyone ought to be given a chance to prove themselves! But she also knew people were different in values, views, and thinking and to require everyone to follow her belief was stupid and arrogant. And it wasn’t like he hated all Matorians just because of their tribe… he disapproved of some of them because they didn’t fight back, because they lacked strength of mind, soul, or body. That was.. harsh but she could understand it.
“If it was say... a shifter that was too weak to defend themselves what would you think?”
“Did they try? Did they speak out? Or did they simply accept the beating and then not do anything afterwards? Did they try to run?”
She opened her mouth then closed it. Hmmm… this could get tricky…
“It’s the people that do nothing. The ones that are apathetic and useless. The ones that don’t defend themselves, don’t try to find help. Those that don’t put in an effort and try. Doesn’t matter their race…” Was his response to her silence.
That… made sense. She sighed and looked at her young son who grinned up at her. “I can see it... I may not like it but you aren’t treating them like trash or hurting them. You just ignore them for the most part.”
“And?”
“And you are your own person. I know we aren’t going to agree on everything and I won’t demand you change to suit my views or needs. I didn’t change to suit Rastian so I’m not going to insist you do it for me!” She smiled slightly. “But we do have an issue.. I need to learn their music!”
He relaxed a bit. He was certain she’d have more to talk to him later when she’d thought more on it… but for now things were okay. “How are you going to do that?”
“I think it would be best if we went to a new village and I entered alone. It seems the fastest way since I doubt I will be able to heal wounds this old and make them accept you.” She wished she could but she knew it would take someone with more time on their hands and willing to spend the time. She honestly … wasn’t. She had her own life and dreams to follow and found she just didn’t want to deal with the hate on either side.
“We can discuss ..this;” She waved a hand towards the window and him to indicate their earlier topic, “later. I will need time to think on it and fully come to terms but you are sill the man I love just with.. new depths I hadn’t considered.”
He smiled and nodded, she was a smart woman; she’d be able to think it out and come to term with it in time.
Reply
