A Soul Rekindled

[rukio 8924]

 

   

Spoiler

 

 

 

       “Lay down your weapons, bandits.” 

 

        “Kill the child, take the soldiers hostage.”

 

        “Stay close you two.” 

 

        The world had seemed to lull to a standstill, time was almost in slow motion as alliance members surrounded Marlow, Louisa, and Baerin. Flemius, the only one Marlow recognized, stood in front of the group of Orenians, demanding their weapons. The other two blocked the road below, preventing escape. 

 

        “I’m not a bandit...am I?” The child, wise and strong for her years, asked Marlow. A tinge of fear could be heard in her voice.

 

        My fate is sealed.

 

        “No, child, you are just on one side of a war, not a bandit.” Was Marlow’s reply as her hand gripped the hilt of her sword tighter, a wave of anxiety and dread barely held back from fully consuming her.

 

        “Last warning, Orenians, weapons down.” Flemius’ voice was stern, commanding. The alliance members each took a step forward.

 

        A glance behind, down the road towards Helena, a clear path for someone fast enough to outrun the foot-soldiers. Eyes closed, Marlow realized there was no way for all three to escape, they would no doubt be caught should they run. Her shoulders shook, a memory of when she had tried to save Aedan, of when Haense was too cowardly to save one of their own. Imperials wouldn’t risk their lives for a Haense boy, she had been told, though she had tried, but then, she was never truly Imperial. Gripping her sword tighter, she pulled it from its sheath. 

 

        “Take Louisa and run, I’ll hold the line.” She whispered to Baerin, staring down the three members of the alliance, some of whom could have once been friends. Friendships did not matter in war, Titus’ words rang in her ears. I do not feel bad for killing murderers, and they are murderers. 

 

        The fight was a blur, where time had slowed earlier it now sped up. Louisa and Baerin ran, Marlow charged the one closest to them, slowing the pursuit of her superior and the child she thought so highly of. Both of whom she had always viewed as friends. She held off Flemius, landing a useless blow against his armor with her sword. His warhammer cracked against her ribs, a fist of unknown origin was brought down upon the girl’s head, rendering her unconscious. It’s over. Her last thoughts were with Baerin, who had helped her many times when she was learning, someone she held in high respect and viewed as a dear friend. She then thought of Louisa, who was so brave and fierce, yet kind and too young to be forced into such a war. 

 

        A bucket of water woke her, searing pain gripped her rib cage and pained her to the core. A familiar agony, an unwanted memory. She held herself tightly within the binds of rope they’d secured her in, each breath was agony. It felt cold, she wondered if she was hallucinating as a familiar sensation of the fateful roof she had once fallen on came to her. Augustus’ voice drew her from long buried memories, things she had tried for so long to forget. It was all a blur, she couldn’t quite understand either man as they spoke. She drifted, history finally catching up to her.

 

        “Wake up, Marlow. You’re not in a happy place.” Flemius had said, stirring her to the modern day once more.  

 

        “No, I imagine I’m not.” She’d responded with a weak smile, clutching her rib cage in pain.

 

        They spoke for an hour, Flemius reminding Marlow of when he had saved her, guilt shaking her to the core. There’s no coming back from this. A vague memory of her beloved book returning to her. Of how war comes from the anger of leaders, jealous of what the other has, and how their people pay the price. She wept, a meek and timid voice rising from her “I’m sorry” she whispered in genuine sorrow. I never wanted to see anyone hurt again. On either side. She thought to herself, frail frame shaking from fear and regret. 

 

        “All-Father help them.” She murmured as Flemius said he didn’t know what fate had befallen Baerin and Louisa.

 

        “What would your Canonist friends say of your pagan religion?” He reminded her.

 

        Memories of Orenians speaking of killing pagans, of Haensemen speaking of killing pagans, rushed back. She trembled more. Even the boy she had tried to save once had a vendetta against the very people she had been born into. None had known, she herself had even tried terribly to forget. It was futile, the attempts to escape her family history, to escape the memories of betrayal and pain she had felt for so long from such a young age. With those memories of pain came memories of love and genuine acceptance. Not of Marlow, but of who she was. Who she is and would always be. But now it’s too late and I have wandered too far. She reminded herself. 

 

        Why do you smell of grapes?

 

        Because we grow them here.

 

        Can you teach me?

 

        Someday.

 

        Why do you hide here?

 

        Those from the outside don’t like us, they would have me killed. 

 

        Are you a murderer?

 

        No.

 

        Well, I don’t think you’re so bad.

 

        Thank you, child. If only everyone thought that way.

 

        She held herself tighter as she recalled the conversation, regret gnawing at her as she wondered why she had opted to give up those simple, peaceful times for the hardship and cold reality of the human realm.

 

        Augustus, still burdened by a hatred from years prior from a comment she had made with no knowledge of the gravity it would bear, spoke.

 

        “You await death once more, little girl. Make your peace now, as you did before.” A smile on his face. “This one is personal to me.” He’d said, holding his knife. 

 

        Silence. 

 

        Not thought, not spoken word. Not even a cricket to ease the painful silence in her mind as she drifted once more, mind wandering to an empty nothingness.

 

        Then words. A hope. A chance at redemption. 

 

        “Well, Marlow. The choice is up to you- Serve Augustus or die by his hand.” 

 

        “If you offer me that mercy then I take it with gratitude.” She responded, voice barely above a whisper, meek.

 

        The papers were signed, she was sent to Morsgrad with orders to burn her uniform. She buried it, weeping for the friends she had made and loved, but who ultimately would never be able to return that feeling had they known who she truly was. A Lotharian knight had offered her a chance to escape, to return to Oren, with a promise of speaking to Augustus. In her days of gate duty she had never treated him ill, nor any other, so perhaps it was a sign of no ill-will, for her own kindness. 

 

        “My word is my honor. I cannot be free until Augustus consents” She had said, dismounting the horse he had given her, and he had accepted the words with a strange look before riding off himself. When he was gone, she fell to the road and wept.  

 

        “Did you know a Baerin? He spoke of you, before I killed him.” Septimus had said upon finding her. They exchanged words, leaving Marlow bitter and resentful. “I have accepted my place in the war, why can’t you do the same?” He had responded to her hate, and left her to her thoughts.

 

        She wandered from the town, mind clouded. Her feet led her to Rubern. She watched two Haensemen be burned alive. Where she once would have wept, she merely stood by, watching with disinterest. Her feet then took her to Haense, into their gatehouse. She offered Aedan a half hearted nod of greeting, unable to meet Charles’ eyes. Her face studied the floor as she said she was Marlow, that she was visiting.

 

        “Allegiance?” Charles had asked her, she found herself unable to answer, unable to look at either of them, for she herself did not know. 

 

        “I know her, let her in.” Aedan had said, and Charles opened the gate.

 

        You don’t know me, you wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if you did.

 

        The thought held her tightly as she exited the gate and found her way to Tybis, asking him of things that had plagued her mind. 

 

        “Marlow what’s wrong?” 

 

        “Did they kill Baerin?” 

 

        “Aye, he will be dearly missed.” 

 

        “Baerin killed? ******* pagans.” The voice belonged to the same boy who had claimed to know her only moments prior, his tone hateful and full of resentment.

 

        If only they knew… She thought.

 

        Tybis and Marlow spoke at length, of vows and hard decisions. 

 

        “Follow your heart, Marlow.” Was the only answer he could give her at the end. And so she did, with a silent goodbye as she left the city for the final time as Marlow. 

 

        I will miss them all dearly, but I cannot return.

 

        She returned to the city of Morsgrad, memories plaguing her. It was different, this time she welcomed them. The memories of Annie shoving her sent dread through her mind, but the memories of Godric and Solvi tending to her wounds cast away the dread that had haunted her for so long. This. This is who I am. 

 

        Godric found her, as fear gripped her heart as she stared up at the roof she had once been shoved onto, where she had lain for hours before Solvi had found her.

 

        “Sister.  Hello child.” Before correcting himself. “Though, I suppose you’re not much of a child anymore. Where have you been?” 

 

        “No, nearly grown.” Marlow agreed. “Many places the All-Father would not approve of.” She’d said, unable to meet his eyes. 

 

        “Have you returned to serve your people? Or will you be associating with the Rurics of Doran.” 

 

        I cannot outrun who I am. I cannot save everyone. Why had I chosen the house that would see my brothers and sister dead?

 

        “Aye, I am true to vows taken. My life is signed to the house of Vilac, I have no reason to fight alongside the Rurics of Doran.”

 

        “Why are you oathed to the Vilacs?” 

 

        “I was captured while ensuring the escape of my superior and of a small child. I was arranged into servitude.” She finally looked up, into the same eyes she had seen every time she had glanced into the lake. “I had forgotten my place in the world. Does my mother still live?” 

 

        “Aye, she has departed on pilgrimage.” 

 

        Memories swept over Marlow like waves of the ocean. “Forgive me.” She said, falling to her knees. 

 

        “We do not kneel. Stand.” 

 

        And so Edyth stood, the fire which had once been smothered by grief and guilt had at last been brought back to life by forgiveness and love.

 

Spoiler

 I could have been happy.

 

Happiness is nothing.

 

 

@LaviniaTheRider I just...rly like the edit IM SORRY. 

 

 

[Narthok 10416]

“My sister has returned” Godric would murmur to Reiner and Septimus, the two officers flanking him as he’d stride the walls “A good omen from the Father no doubt” he’d grunt before gazing out into the snow laden gale of the Northmarch night.

[LaviniaTheRider 60]

Solvi grunts, face hidden behind her porcelain mask, “I am glad the little one has returned to us. I feared for her safety.” Though her face is obscured, her voice clearly betrays the love she has for the small girl.

[Aquaquean 80]

Far from the icebound plains and wintered fields of Morsgrad stood a woman, silver now tangled amongst her dark hair. Her brow creased heavily as she looked to the north and for just a moment she allowed her thoughts to stray back to days long passed and faces long lost.

 

“For so long I prayed to forget, yet... it would seem it is a mother’s burden to remember,” she murmured, though the wind swallowed her words no sooner than she had spoken them. ”May the Father guide you child, and aid you where he failed me."