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 Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:11 pm
 This would be his third attempt. What did they say? Something about the third time being the...charm? Whatever that meant.
It wasn't that he'd had this hard a time finding her cottage. No, he'd found it on his first attempt...a few hours in, at least. He hadn't really realized just how much the Isle had re-arranged itself in the fall until he'd tried to find his parents' old house and suddenly came face-to-face with the fact that it wasn't where he'd last remembered it. Nor was the river for that matter. His old childhood home, once nestled comfortably on the banks of the Chai'en River, now perched on the top of the chasm that ran through the forest, the river washing through at a stronger pace than he remembered far below in the canyon. He realized now how little time he'd spent in the forest as a whole since the fall. Other than coming and going from his small, former forest home, he'd spent far more time in the HQ or out on the beach by either the lake or the ocean since, away from the trees that seemed to crowd in too-close around him. Out where it felt more open and spacious.
Also, they reminded him too much of her.
There was a different woman on his mind today. One that he feared he may have hurt deeply. And what hurt him the most was that it had taken him this long to realize he may have done so. Was he so wrapped up in his own concerns and issues that he'd forgotten the woman who had raised him? For a time, it seemed he had. He only hoped she would allow him to make up in some small part for that without him having to acknowledge his shameful sin aloud.
At the moment, he stood before the door of her home...once his as well, though he could see that some repairs and renovations had been done since he'd last seen it. He had been mulling over what to say, and he was no closer to an answer than he had been the last time he was here, unable to go further. What was he supposed to say? 'Sorry I ran away from home all those years ago and never came back. I sorta' forgot until now. So, how's things, Mom?'
Yeah, no, he couldn't picture the conversation sounding anything like that.
If he didn't man up and do something soon, he'd probably just leave like he had the last time.
The thought echoing uncomfortably across his mind, the male Faery's expression set in a frown and he shook his head, silken strands of hair rippling slightly in the dappled sunlight. 'Grow up, Cabel, you coward,' he reprimanded himself, reaching up to tap the end of his staff lightly against the door. The waiting that followed seemed to stretch into infinity, every second feeling like a minute...an hour...a day...
When the door finally opened, he found that he'd forgotten whatever it was he'd finally decided to say. The sight of the figure before him brought his brain to a screeching halt. Even after all these years, it was as if he'd just seen her face yesterday, so warm, so familiar. Now, there was puzzlement...realization...shock. It was jarring enough to shake him into trying to say something, anything. He took a deep breath, still not sure what he was going to say, but he had to say something, didn't he?
Instead, he staggered back in surprise as the angel threw herself at him, her weight enough to send him a couple of steps backwards to compensate without falling down. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. She didn't say anything, just held on, as if needing to prove that he was there, that he was real. Cabel had stood in shock for a moment, then recovered enough to frown down at her and return the embrace. Maybe words weren't what had been so important afterall. He'd been stalling for no good reason. Still, he knew of a few words that couldn't hurt. He held her tight, noting that she seemed so small, compared to what he remembered, and yet still just as comforting, and he whispered:
"I'm sorry, Mom."
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Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:13 pm
 The kitchen was filled with sweet smells and pleasant warmth, as the angel had spent the day coaxing tasty baked goods from her wood-burning oven. The last batch of cookies was removed and set out to cool, and finally she started to clean up the mess from the day's work. She'd thought that a basket of fresh cookies might be well appreciated over at Texas's home, considering all the boys running about that place these days. Always hard to keep growing boys fed, she knew well.
Only when the kitchen was clean and the oven cooled, Takeko paused to return a few loose strands to her braid. Perhaps she should take it down? Let her hair down and relax for a bit. She could wait and put her feet up for a bit before setting out to deliver her gift. She deserved a moment to herself, right?
The knocking at her door answered her unspoken question with 'apparently not,' she thought with a wry smile, shaking her head. No rest for the weary. She headed for her door, thinking it might be some poor soul needing a remedy or two. Well, she could use some more baking supplies herself, if anyone could provide...
She opened the door and felt her heart stop for a moment. Though she'd never seen the adult Fae that stood on her doorstep before, she'd have known him anywhere in a heartbeat. Warm colors like the sunshine, long, silken locks, and those soft blue-grey eyes, kind eyes...
She couldn't have stopped herself if she'd tried. She threw herself at him, clinging to him as if for dear life. Was he real? Was she dreaming? No, he had to be real...he was here, with her...back home again. Her precious son. His soft-spoken apology was all it took to free the tears welling in her eyes. She just held him in silence for a few minutes, unable to speak or think anything beyond the relief she felt in knowing that he was alive and safe.
Finally, she pulled back, having to look up as she placed a hand on his cheek. "Cabel," she whispered, relief evident in her voice. "My sweet boy. I've been so worried about you."The serenity of the moment seemed to waver and crack, Cabel's gaze turning down towards the floor and away from her hand in guilt. That's exactly what he'd feared. "I...I'm really sorry, Mom. I didn't want that; I guess...I just didn't think--""Hush," she chided in a quiet voice that somehow implied that there would be no arguing with her. "I'm just happy to know that you're safe." Her mind was racing, wanting to know where he'd been, what he'd been doing for all these years...but she knew there was time enough to ask all that. She just wanted to enjoy the moment, the relief and joy that came from having her lost son return home. "Come inside, dear. I know it's been a while, but you don't have to stand out here on the porch like a stranger," she teased gently, coaxing a smile from the Fae who followed her inside.
She hurried forward, unable to help glancing back at her son. So many years...he'd grown up into such a tall, handsome adult. The last she'd seen him, he was but a boy, only starting to grow more independent. But, then her own twins had been born, and when Saffron and Mei Lien had entered their lives, she'd always assumed that the boys had felt 'crowded' out of the small house. It made sense for Kane to feel that way, she had thought, but not so much Cabel. She'd always hoped that the boys had left and taken care of each other, soon to return as they got a little older...but it hadn't been so. Surprisingly, it had been Kane, the wilder and more distant of the two, whom she had been reunited with first. Even more surprising that he was the one who had come back willingly to visit and even made frequent stops in with his daughter and their new charge. For such a social, loving child, it had been alarming that she had not seen Cabel since he was but a boy. It had frightened her to think that something may have happened to him, but...it had made the most sense as time passed. Wouldn't he have come to visit her before if he could?
She didn't like having to accept what her head said over her heart.
But now, she pushed it all aside, too happy to see him again to worry about the amount of time that had passed. Crossing to the sofa, she took a seat at one end and gestured for him to join her.
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Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:16 pm
Cabel glanced around once inside, taking in the changes since he'd last been here. Home. There were some changes, that was for sure. He didn't recognize most of the furniture, simple for the most part, but inviting. A few new decorations. "You've done some redecorating," he commented idly, taking a seat at the other end of the sofa, setting his staff against the side.
"Oh, the years have taken their toll, that's for sure," Takeko answered, only for a moment thinking of the storms that had passed over the Isle, the other changes that had come through and been weathered. "So, some repairs were done, some new decorations on the surface, but...underneath it all, it's still the same old home," she smiled.
Cabel mulled this over for a moment, wondering if she was still talking about the house. She could be like that, he remembered, though at the time, as a child, he hadn't always grasped the subtle nuances of her speech. Only in reflection had he realized how clever his mother could be, saying one thing, while saying something else beneath the surface. He picked up a few clues from his gazes that told him that even though the house was quiet at the moment, it wasn't always so quiet here. A tossed pillow in the corner. Footprints at the doorway before he'd entered, various sizes, some mud scraped at the step before tracking in. A couple of small, black and white feathers on the floor at the other end of the couch near his mother's foot. Wait...who did those belong to? They certainly hadn't come from his mother's green and golden wings.
He shook the wandering thoughts aside, nodding to her. "I suppose it is," he agreed, looking down at his hands in his lap.
Takeko watched, frowning slightly as awkwardness started to descend on the room. Oh no, she wasn't having any of that! Not when her son had finally come home. She stood suddenly, reaching to pat his shoulder. "How about some tea? I'll get us some tea." Before he could object, she had hurried off to the kitchen to put some water on to boil and start gathering a few things for a pleasant afternoon tea. From the kitchen, she called, "I've got fresh-baked cookies as well! How about a few of those?" Granted, they'd been originally for Texas and his boys, but...she'd baked enough for a small army. Hopefully, a few wouldn't go amiss, she thought. Taking what sounded like resigned acceptance from the other room, she set up a small tray with some cookies, two cups, the pot of steaming water, and a small tin of fresh tea leaves before returning to the living room.
Cabel knew better than to try to argue with his mother if she was offering food. It was an offer for manners' sake only. You were getting food whether you liked it or not, so he figured he might as well go along with it willingly. Still, he couldn't help but smile when she re-entered the room with the tray. He'd thought something had smelled good when he'd entered. She must have been baking again this afternoon. Well, he wasn't going to pass that up, even if he wasn't all that hungry. As she set about making their tea, Cabel picked up one of the cookies and studied it before taking a bite. "Mmm...you always did make the best cranberry cookies."
The angel chuckled, shaking her head. "Even now, I still say you're biased, dear, but thank you." She smiled, handing him a cup before settling back with her own. "Now, how about you tell me what you've been doing with yourself? You look well," she noted, meaning physically at least. He seemed healthy, yes. But she'd noted the pain in his eyes when she'd reached for his cheek before. She noted how he'd seated himself at the other end of the sofa and kept looking around the room in a distracted manner. This was not the same loving, clinging, carefree child she'd last known. Of course...perhaps that was to be expected. She'd sheltered him so much as a child; she should have realized what it would be like when he journeyed out into the rest of the world on his own. She'd just...never expected it to happen as abruptly as it had. While his eyes still held kindness as they had before, they also held pain. Innocence given way to experience. But just what was it that hung so heavily on her son's heart?
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Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:17 pm
"Oh, this and that," Cabel responded vaguely. Geez, what had he expected from this? Of course she'd want to know what he'd been doing. What else were they going to talk about? What had he been doing? At least, that he felt comfortable talking about with her? "I've got a little place down on the beach now, by the lake. New place, and it's not much yet, but you know, it's enough." He kept it simple. No need to go into why he'd moved to the beach, or his estranged new family in the lake. "Lots of sun and surf, and plenty of fish or fruit, depending on if you favor the water or the woods."
Smiling, Takeko nodded, sipping her tea before continuing. "It sounds lovely. There's nothing wrong with a simple life, of course, if it's what you want. The simple pleasures really can be some of the most rewarding, after all." She set her cup down and leaned forward to pick up a cookie.
"So...is there someone special in your life? Or is this one of those infamous bachelor huts" Takeko teased lightly, leaning in with a grin. It was her job as his mother to embarrass him once in a while, after all, and she had a lot of time to make up for. Besides, she really was curious. Cabel had always been such a sweet boy as a child. She couldn't imagine that would have changed as he grew; surely there was some lucky lady out there who shared his favor.
Cabel felt his cheeks heat up, but he didn't answer at first. Not for the reason his mother might have believed. It wasn't some adolescent embarrassment about not wanting to discuss a crush with one's mother or anything like that. It was just...the situation was complicated. And he wasn't exactly looking forward to discussing it. He'd sort of hoped to avoid the issue today if possible. "Err...not...exactly," he answered finally, even though it felt like a lie by itself. He added, "I mean, not now, not exactly...there was...but then...and uh....it's complicated," he finished lamely, looking honestly distraught. He shook it off, considering how long they'd been sitting here and how quiet it still was. "Hey uh...so where's Dad anyway? He off at Grandma Ivy's or what? I mean, I would have liked to see him too."
Now it was Takeko's turn to falter. She winced visibly, but only for a moment before dropping her head to hide her face. Her tea was suddenly quite fascinating. "I..." Her voice faltered and she swallowed hard before murmuring, "So would I actually."
Concern immediately crossed the Fae's face and he leaned in, placing a hand on the angel's shoulder while asking, "Mom? I don't understand...what...?"
Takeko shook her head, long braid falling forward to further obscure her face. "...he's gone," she said in a flat tone, as if it pained her to admit out loud. "Aspen's gone," she repeated, turning to meet her son's eyes. "I haven't seen him since the last big storm over a year ago."
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:51 pm
Cabel's heart fell; despair that the man he'd known his whole life as his father could be gone...and the sight of what it had done to his mother combining as a massive weight, dragging him down. "I--oh, mom...I'm sorry..." he sighed, wrapping a comforting arm around the angel's shoulders. She leaned into him gratefully, taking the chance to let the tears flow silently as they shared a moment of grief without words. Some minutes passed before Cabel resumed speaking quietly. "I lost someone too." The Fae's eyes were fixed on something across the room when Takeko looked up in surprise as he spoke. "...you'd have liked her, Mom. I'm sure of it."
As the story came unprompted, Takeko held her silence and let him continue, but she couldn't help but offer him a look of shared sympathy. This was why he hadn't wanted to answer her teasing. She felt guilt pressing on her heart, though her head kept arguing that there was no way she could have known. It didn't stop her from regretting her words. She reached over, taking his hand in hers, and simply listened.
"Her name was Nienna," Cabel murmured, still staring off as if lost in memories and only partially aware that his hand had been taken, though he returned the gentle squeeze on reflex. "She was just as beautiful as her name...and I don't just mean what she looked like. She had the deepest, most caring, open soul. I wondered sometimes what she ever saw in me," he muttered with a sad smile, shaking his head. He met Takeko's gaze for a moment. "I fell for her, mom. Head over heels and hard. Maybe it was just the foolishness of youth, but...I thought that what we had would last forever."
Tears pricked at his eyes as memories began flooding his mind, fresh and vivid, though he'd tried to push them away for some time now. "You know, in a way...she reminded me of you, mom. So caring, so gracious. She used to speak of the Guardians often. As if she spoke to them on a regular basis. She always acted as if she had some greater purpose that she couldn't tell me about. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of her, but...after a while, I think I accepted it as truth, whatever it was. And that she'd tell me more in her own time. Her faith was so strong, I think I just started to accept it as my own," he murmured, chest aching at the flood of tender memories. His voice had grown rough with emotion, but he continued, "No matter what happened, the Guardians would take care of us. They'd protect us. The Isle. That's what she always said."
There was a long pause, and Takeko frowned, daring finally to say something. "It's true, dear. They've always watched over us. They listen to our troubles and send us aid when we need it. I can't count the blessings I--"
"No, it's not." The interruption was sharp, touched with just a hint of barely contained rage. The Fae's hands had balled into fists, and the anger he thought he'd learned to cope with had come back in a rush. He'd never have dared interrupt his mother before, nor contradict her so blatantly, but...life had taught him a few things the hard way. "It's all a bunch of crap. And you know why? You know why? Because, for all she did for them, for all her loyalty and devotion, when it came down to it and she needed them most, they didn't do s**t for her!" His tone raised with fury, his fists shaking, though he held them at his sides. "If they won't lift a finger for one of their most devoted servants, then they're either a bunch of narcissistic bastards...or they don't exist at all." He'd seemed nearly ready to leap from the sofa and hit something, but with his last statement, he seemed to regain control over himself, growing sullen and resigned instead. His fists relaxed, instead he crossed his arms over his chest in a huff and fell back against the cushions, slouching.
Takeko's eyes had gone wide with alarm at the sudden shift towards anger and she'd pulled back in reflex. She'd never seen such fury from Cabel before; he'd always been such a sweet, happy child. Kane had been more prone to such rages and lashing out. He still was, she supposed, but...this display seemed more than just a rare occurrence. It seemed more like...a long-held hatred, boiling just beneath the surface. And it saddened her. "Oh, honey..." she finally murmured, reaching for one of his hands.
Cabel resisted at first, then sighed with resignation and uncrossed his arms, letting her have one of his hands. He shook his head, looking away for some time before speaking again. "There was apparently a lot going on at the time. But...all I cared about was looking after her. I don't even know why she did it. But she ran off, something about danger to the Isle and forces being unbalanced...I didn't understand. She wouldn't explain any more. She just...ran off. I followed her...all the way to Dragnid. We were attacked. Or, I guess I should say, she was attacked. By the time I caught up with her..." His tone had gone flat, but his face was turned away so there was no obvious sign of the tears now running silently down his cheeks. "I thought it was the end. I think I lost my mind for a moment, because I've never been a fighter. Not like Kane was," his thoughts passing to his adopted brother for the first time in seasons. "I charged in to save her like some idiot knight in a fairy tale. Didn't quite go so well, but all I cared was that she escaped. She got away, and we were separated. I don't know why, but apparently I was less interesting, because I really should have been killed that day," he murmured. It was a haunting question that still burned in his mind. Why hadn't he died that day...instead of her? "We were separated, and the beasts did the same to pursue us. I...I never saw her again. I thought, if we'd been separated, it was fine, we'd get away, get out of that cursed forest, meet up back home later. But..." His breath hitched and he gave up trying to speak, falling silent and closing his eyes as if he could block out the horrible memories of that day.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:51 pm
The angel was at a loss; there was little she could say that would help and she knew it. The Guardians' ways were mysterious. Perhaps they didn't give Pae everything they ever asked for, but they gave them what they needed. Sometimes...bad things happened. It was a part of life. Yet...to be separated so suddenly, so violently...on some level, perhaps she could understand where some of her son's anger came from. It wasn't like her and Aspen, who had seemed to slowly drift apart over the seasons, seeing less and less of her mate at times...leading up to the storm when he'd simply not come home again. It was tragic as well, but perhaps without quite the sharpness of Cabel's loss, as she'd had more time to cope with just...not knowing, that acted as a buffer against the pain. And she'd still had her children...
The horrible thought crossed her mind, and she was afraid to ask at first. Instead, she drew her son close, wrapping her arms around him; two widowers, huddled together on the couch and sharing their misery. She didn't say anything about the tears or acknowledge them, trying instead of figure out how best to phrase the question that wouldn't leave her alone anymore. He hadn't mentioned it, but...had they had any children together? If they were that close, and had spent that long together...
"You poor dear," she muttered, shaking her head slightly. "I'm so sorry, honey. I...I don't know what to say, really. Just...you know, you didn't need to deal with this all alone. I hope you didn't. I mean, I don't know if there was anyone else to help, but if not, you could have come home. I don't know when all this happened, but...my home is always open, you know that."
Swallowing against the lump that had formed in his throat, Cabel reached up with his free hand to wipe the wetness from his face, then shook his head. "No, it wasn't just me." His voice cracked slightly, and he cleared his throat before trying again. "I...wasn't the only one having to cope. We had a little girl," he acknowledged. "Adopted her not long after I'd moved in to Nienna's home in the forest. She sorta' found her way to us, so we figured, we were meant to raise her. Eudora is her name. It was just me and her for a long time, learning to cope without Nienna." He shook his head now. "I think she coped better than I did, in the long run."
Taking a deep breath, he leaned back to relax against the back of the couch, trying to regain some sense of composure. "She's taken the old home as her own now; promised to take care of it for me. Not that I think I'll be going back anymore. Even after all this time...you know? I...thought a change would be good. I've always liked the beach." Nevermind his other reasons for moving closer to the lake. He couldn't follow up the last revelation with another big one, about how he'd evidently moved on from his true love to have a drunken fling, resulting in kids of his own. And half-Naiad children at that. No, enough major revelations for now. He hadn't meant to do any of this today anyway. He'd just wanted to check in on his mother again.
Should have known she'd get all this out of him somehow.
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Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:13 pm
Fortunately, Cabel managed to slowly steer the conversation away from himself and more sensitive topics and back to general small talk about how Takeko had been lately, the weather, her latest cookie recipe, etc. With time, he started to relax again, almost forgetting the tension stirred up earlier from his earlier admissions, as well as the discoveries from his mother. Though it was different than he remembered, this had almost started to feel like home again. But, dare he let himself get so comfortable?Sipping her tea and glancing over the top of her cup, Takeko noted that Cabel had fallen silent in thought during the lapse in the conversation. They had been talking for some time, discussing much more mundane subjects than before, and yet the time had seemed to fly by. The hour was getting late, she knew, and yet, she hesitated to draw attention to it for the irrational fear that it might spur her son to leave, taking him away from her again for another untold amount of time. That was silly...right?
Yet, she should say something, if only because she needed to make some decision about dinner. One couldn't live on tea and cookies. She glanced towards the window, the sun sinking low on the horizon. "I'll need to light the lanturns soon," she commented softly.Blinking, Cabel seemed startled from his thoughts, his eyes turning towards the window. "Oh my...I hadn't realized it'd gotten so late. I should go," he started to say automatically, though...what exactly was it that he was rushing home to? Or was it away from?Takeko reached out to lay her hand on his arm before he could stand. "Cabel." She met his questioning gaze with a smile. "Must you rush away? I mean...I need to fix supper, but...couldn't you stay to eat? Humor your mother and keep her company for just a bit longer?" she added in what seemed to be an innocent tone.Cabel hesitated. He remembered that tone. She always got her way when she used that tone. A hint of a smile touching his lips, he shook his head and settled back into a relaxed posture on the couch. Manipulative woman. How he loved her so. "Alright, Mom, but only because you asked," he answered in a faux weary tone...as if she were keeping him here rather than some important business elsewhere, privately knowing that 'business' consisted of sitting at home alone with only his thoughts for company.
The pair shared an understanding smile before the Fae stood, offering the Angel his hand to help her to her feet. There was dinner to prepare.*****
[FIN]
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