Torn Up

{For Kaladin}

Phoebe had run until she couldn’t anymore after her run-in with Frey and the others. She didn’t really pay attention to where she was going smart or how she got there extra-smart but when she finally stopped and cleared her eyes of tears she was in what seemed a new world entirely. It was a beautiful oasis, with a reflective pond. It reminded her of the garden in the jungle a little bit. She stood and stared at it, gasping for air as her lungs burned from the exertion of the run. But her wonder didn’t last long. Memories came rushing back and the tears welled up again.

The blonde hugged herself, sniffling as she looked around, unsure of where she was. She didn’t believe this beauty was harmless. She had seen for herself not long before just how dangerous this world really was. Anger and shame mixed as she looked at the beautiful vista. Distraction, that was what she needed. It seemed there would be plenty of that in this pretty little part of this new place.

He wasn't sure what kept drawing him back to the glade. Was it that the memories of time spent in similar forests with friends and lovers that brought him to the picturesque grove? He doubted it, all of those memories held now were reminders of dead loved ones. Could it be the need for interaction with his fellow man? Not likely, he did his best to keep his distance from others, if you didn't have friends or family to begin with then you never had to worry about losing them, nor did you have to mourn when you eventually did.

Still, his soul seemed drawn to this place like a moth to a flame and it wasn't long before he was trotting silently between the trees, eyes flicking warily from side to side, nerves tensed despite the idyllic surroundings. He wore his he guessed now signature garb despite the warmer temperature. Others might have found themselves sweating underneath the heavy cloak, yet Kaladin felt perfectly comfortable. Perhaps his blood really had run cold with his new demeanor.

He heard the sniffling before he saw the young woman, a sheet of golden hair slightly disheveled, probably from some sort of exertion. She wasn't crying exactly but Kaladin could hear it trying to bubble up from her chest. It did't appear as if she had seen him yet and he had begun to walk away slowly. It was none of his business as to what was wrong with the girl, not his business nor his problem. Yet, as he slowly made his way away from the spot that Phoebe stood at, he seemed to hear the faint tut of Violet's voice. He closed his eyes hoping to chase the phantom away but in his minds eye he only saw the disapproving stare of Cailain, stare so intense it seemed as though she was actually yelling at him to go and see what was wrong with the girl. "It isn't my problem, I don't even know her." he muttered to her and the look got impossibly more disapproving and Violet's light airy voice started to chastise him. "The Kaladin we knew wouldn't have left a poor girl crying in the middle of the woods."

"The Kaladin you knew is dead, he died when that bitch took you away from me, took you both away. Took the chance at seeing my children grow up. I'm not that man anymore Vi." he growled, his voice low and raw with pain. The tutting came again and Cailain continued to stare at him. He groaned in frustration "Fine!" he snapped and the two phantoms dissipated as he made his way back to Phoebe. "Young women shouldn't be out in the forests alone, even the pretty ones hold a lot of danger." his voice was gruff, and probably much to harsh. His multicolored eyes glinted like flint underneath his tricorn hat. "You should head back to one of those settlements before something happens to you." Cailains slightly huskier voice tickled in his ear and he sighed again. " I can escort you back if you'd like."

Phoebe jumped near out of her skin at the sudden masculine voice behind her. She whirled around, hands clutched and held against her chest. Her eyes were wide and blood-shot from crying, the stains of her tears on her cheeks. Fear – that much was obviously written across her face. She was scared of him, scared of a lot of things, and his gruff manner was doing nothing to assure her that she was safe with him now present. Any other time she would have assumed him to be harmless and well-meaning; but not after what had just happened.

Her reaction was a bit over-dramatic given how on edge she was already. Phoebe’s eyes welled up with tears at his tone, lips trembling as she fought back more tears. “I-I-I’m sorry.” She stuttered, her voice breaking slightly. “I just wanted to look at the pretty things and forget.” A few tears fell against her will and she quickly wiped at her cheeks to dry them.

Kaladin

He sighed as the girl whipped around, big doe eyes welling with tears. "Gods" he muttered under his breath then cursed himself for evoking those monstrosities in anyway. She seemed rather hysterical as she muttered something about wanting to look at pretty things while forgetting other, most likely less pretty, things. This was going to be difficult.

"Yes, there are some pretty things in the forest aren't there. There are also some dangerous things in here as well i'm sure. Best we leave before the less pretty things come and find us." he said slowly, giving his best attempt at sounding comforting though he was sure that he was failing miserably. "Where are you staying? Do you have family? Friends? A husband? Who is taking care of you?"

He knew how ridiculous it must have looked, a strange man walking up in the forest and telling a lost girl to come with him so he could get her to safety. He almost snorted in amusement at the thought. Still, he could feel the presence of those two phantoms, spirits willing him to be the better person and well, she did seem rather upset.

"I'm Kaladin, whats your name?"

Phoebe roughly wiped at her eyes, feeling very stupid as he explained that bad things could be out here too. Of course there could be. She wasn't stupid, in fact she was pretty darn clever. "Nothing can be as bad as what was in that sanctuary." She whispered, voice shakey. Monsters, living, breathing, fanged, clawed monsters - those were things she could fathom. Frey was in a class all its own. Terrifying. Almighty. Who ever would think gods like that were safe to interact with.

"My sister in law Roana is here but.. I take care of myself." She said quietly with a little sniffle as she tried to collect herself. No husband. No friends really. Just a sister in law that had her hands full with triplet boys and trying to help keep everything else afloat in this new place. "I don't really know anyone...I had just gotten to Northaven." Alone. In a world more terrifying than her nightmares.

"I'm Phoebe." She said quietly. "It's good to meet you. I'm sorry I'm ridiculous...It's been a very bad day." She said, trying to shove her emotions down.

Kaladin

Kaladin raised an eyebrow at the young girl quizzically. "What sanctuary? and why would you go there alone if it was dangerous?" his voice came across harsher then it probably should have but it seemed like common sense not to go wondering around, especially if you were an ill equipped young woman. He eyed her up and down, noting the lack of any definitive muscle definition in her frame. She most certainly had the build of a proper young noblewoman, though after hearing the last name any thoughts of nobility were dashed away.

"Steadman huh?" he asked after a moment. "I've trained with Roana a couple of times, never did meet her husband though. He gave a dry chuckle at the memory. Roana had thrashed him on every one of those occasions. Kal had worshiped her ancestor Byard, who had been a living legend. He remembered stealing history books from his father's study as a child, all just so he could read up on the man.

You'd think that Roana would have kept a better eye on her sister-in-law Kaladin thought, watching as the girl attempted to compose herself. Who was he to judge though, disembodied voices were the only reason he was really helping her. At least Roana wasn't crazy. "Well Phoebe, why were you wondering alone in the glade?"

Phoebe winced at the harshness of his tone. She felt stupid already the added guilt trip was unnecessary. "I didn't know it was dangerous I didn't even know gods existed." she said quietly, staring at the ground. If she had known this would happen you could bet she would have stayed as far away from it as possible. But apparently she could be blamed for things she walked into innocently. "Steadman, huh?" Whether there was a tone or not the phrase made her bristle. How many times had she heard something similar at finishing school amongst the noble girls? Steadman was as good a name as having no name at all, because she was common folk. Phoebe frowned and gripped her skirt. "Yes. Steadman." she said as proudly as she could muster. There was nothing wrong with being common. That was how she was raised. "Well he isn't here so I guess it doesn't matter does it. she mumbled. Phoebe loved her brother and didn't want to think about the possibility of ever seeing him again. But it was easy enough to pretend he was just away at war. That was how she had spent most of her childhood after all. He asked why she was there and she glanced up at him. "I just came here to get away from the sanctuary and try to forget it." she said quietly Phoebe In a gentle way, you can shake the world

She didn't know that it was dangerous? How could she think anything about this strange new world of theirs was safe? Had she learned nothing about how the world worked in her time in Northwind or Northhaven? "Piece of advice for you, always assume there is some sort of danger afoot, no matter the place. Livestock can still kill you if you're careful." It was clear that Phoebe was distraught about her encounter and Kaladin very much doubted his words were much of a comfort. Still, his time of coddling people were long gone and the young woman look like she needed a dose of reality.

To someone who had not been trained to fight and protect their entire life the quick bristling of the pretty blonde may have gone unnoticed. To Kal however it would have been no more obvious had she just slapped him. The way she tensed her muscles, how she puffed herself up to try an appear bigger then she was. Her fingers twisting the fabric of her skirt in annoyance. The proud way she claimed the name. No doubt she had been given grief over her lineage, though from whom and why was still a mystery to Kaladin. "I haven't met any of your kin but Roana was a good judge of character if I remember right, if the Steadman's were good enough for her then they're good enough for everyone else."

He motioned for the young woman to follow him and began to trek back towards the settlement. "So why are you trying to get away from everyone? What are you trying to forget?" he asked giving his best attempt at sounding gentle.