From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Two pairs of eyes, both warm, both soft with understanding, watched the youth as he sat up. The embarrassment was overlooked, unimportant if endearing, and his gratitude was met with almost identical wry smiles.
Standing up when the kettle began to rattle, Aino ruffled his hair as she passed and busied herself with mugs and tea leaves, bread loaves and toppings. When she returned, it was with a tray of steaming mugs, heaping sandwiches and a bowl of little round honey-colored sweets.
Popping one of them into a mug, she handed it over to Sah, and otherwise rearranged chairs and tables so they could all sit together and eat.
"Try this," she encouraged. "It's bitter at first, but the longer you let it steep, the sweeter it will become."
Whether she meant the tea or his feelings towards family - lost and found - was hard to tell. Ilma nodded sagely; "That's what I always say." She gave her daughter a slightly salty look for stealing the phrase - but as usual Aino ignored it. She seemed to be very practiced at that.
For the good times that we share, and the bad times that we'll have
Sah made a small grumble as Aino ruffled his hair, but there was a small smile on his face at the affection. Sah perked up as Aino brought in tea and snacks. The sweets in particular caught his eye, the Outlander having developed a sweet tooth since coming to Caido. He popped one into his mouth before Aino even had the chance to hand him his tea. Taking the mug, with a "Thanks," Sah cupped it in his hands as he waited for it to steep a little. He'd try it while it was bitter but he'd likely wait it out.
The double meaning of the words wasn't lost on him. It brought a melancholy look to his face. A look that quickly turned into amusement Ilma's indignation towards her daughter. "I see. And how many of your phrases are stolen?" He asked Ilma with a teasing smirk.
"All of them," the fierce old lady lamented. "It is the fate of all who possess wit and intelligence - don't you laugh at me, girl!" She jabbed a threatening finger at Aino, who had indeed begun to snicker where she sat.
"Bluster and bullshit is more like it," the blonde woman countered, sharp tongued with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "You'll learn this soon enough, Sah, but this woman is so full of hot air that she would drift to the moon if we didn't tie her down at night."
Wiggling her eyebrows at Sah, she took a big bite out of her snack and smirked at her mother.
"Well, I have never," Ilma gasped, placing a hand over her heart in mock outrage. "Ungrateful children the likes of mine have never been raised in Snowcloak. Are you hearing this, laddie? What is a poor old woman to do."
For the good times that we share, and the bad times that we'll have
Sah attempted to hide a chuckle behind taking a sip of his tea. He failed spectacularly, lips twitching into a smirk as he watched the interaction. Aino and Ilma were pretty similar, one was just far older and had no filter. "You two are far too similar for anyone's safety." He noted with a barely suppressed snicker.
Sah grinned teasingly, one brow raised questioningly. "Is bluster and bullshit hereditary in Halo?" A small cackle left him. "It certainly seems to be from where I'm sitting. Or it's contagious and I'm already doomed." He said the last part with a small shrug, reaching for another treat eagerly. If allowed, he would eat them all.
"It runs in the family," Aino informed him sourly, "so you're going to fit right in." Without batting an eye she scooted the bowl of sweets closer to Sah so he wouldn't have to stretch for them. Ilma watched the gesture but said nothing; her slow, contented smile needed no words.
"So? You're a wolf and a hunter and a mage to boot," Aino summarized, leaning back with her teacup to gaze at Sah all anew, like she had never seen him before. "Anything else you care to share? Where's the pup of yours, by the way." Looking around, she seemed to register for the first time that there was no miniature wolf lolling about on the floor and raised a brow at the young man. "Where do you live? If it's not too far, you could bring it over. It's no good leaving younglings alone."
"Aino used to have a dog," Ilma told Sah, foregoing sharpness and jest for fond reflection in one of her usual shifts in mood. "White little menace it was, but loyal like no other. No companion mind, just a regular sledding dog she was given by her pa."
"She became thirteen years old," Aino smiled, expression softening at the reminder. "I was never so happy as when I held her the first time..." Nor had she cried so much as when the dog had died. At the worst possible time, when she needed that emotional support the most. But Aino did not mention this, and for once Ilma kept quiet too; with a glance towards Sah, it might be out of respect for his fresh grief. Or her daughters. Perhaps both.
For the good times that we share, and the bad times that we'll have
Sah accepted the bowl with a chuckle. "Clearly." He popped another treat into his mouth but paused afterwards. His eyes met Aino's. "You believe me about the whole wolf thing?" Sah had thought that she still thought that a joke. Ilma too looked at her daughter analytically. "What changed your mind?"
When asked about Lilly, Sah took the offered distraction. Standing up he went to the front door. Opening it slightly, he let out a gruff vocalization not meant for humans. Nonetheless there was a muffled yip heard from next door. After a moment, the sound of paws reached the house and a small sliver wolf pup barreled in, leaping into Sah's arms. The Outlander chuckled and carried Lilly back to the couch, sitting the pup on his lap. He ran a hand over her ears, making her wag. "This is Lilly. She's about three months old."
Sah came in just in time to hear Ilma's recollection of Aino's dog. "Thirteen? Wow." Even in his world, that was a respectable lifespan for a domestic dog. Sah did notice the slight change in atmosphere but didn't comment on it, feeling that it was probably a sore spot. "What was the dog's name?" He asked curiously, arms wrapped around Lilly, who was sniffing the food curiously. Thankfully she obeyed enough to not reach for any of it.
Pale gaze met with amber eyes, and then Aino winked.
"Didn't say I believe it," she replied lazily, looking casual and mildly indifferent under her mother's scrutiny. "But you believe it - " she pointed at Sah " - which is good enough for me. Who or what you were before is not going to change the you that's sitting here right now." And this Sah was the one she was curious about. Now that she was supposed to be his sister and all that.
Lilly was greeted with exuberant coos and fussing by Ilma, while Aino's reaction was more practical. Rising, she went to rummage in a cupboard and returned with a strip of unsalted, dried meat for the cub to chew on.
"I called her Softpaw," she replied, hunching down next to Sah and the wolf cub, with a hand offered to sniff - the one without the food, at first. "Used to sneak up on rats in the sheds, like a cat; they wouldn't hear 'er comin', and then she pounced." Sitting back on her heels, Aino looked Lilly over with some curiosity; there was a difference between her domestic dog and this wolf, not to mention the Halo variant was usually white in the fur, to better blend into the landscape. Silver was not a color she had seen before.
"Just bring your flower in with you next time, boy. Shouldn't have your soul stray too far from your side," Ilma cautioned.
"Baaad things happen to those who lose their bonded; pieces of themselves go missing, they say. Worse than any heartache you can imagine." Stern eyes under wrinkled lids pinned the youngster to ensure that he was listening.
For the good times that we share, and the bad times that we'll have
Sah gave a nod towards Aino. That made more sense, and although it didn't satisfy him, it was enough for now. "Understood. Thank you." Was all he said on the matter as Lilly's exuberance distracted them. The pup accepted all of the attention happily. She sniffed Aino's hand when offered, giving a tail wag and a little lick. Meanwhile Sah listened to Softpaw's story with a gentle smile. "Sounds like a fitting name. And she sounds like she was a great friend."
Sah listened to Ilma's warning carefully, making note of it. "I will. I'll keep her close from now on." He gave the pup a ruffle of the ears. "And safe." His statement came out almost like an oath. Sah had lost one pack to an unpreventable tragedy. He would not lose another. Not to anything or anyone.
"That she was," Aino agreed. Smiling faintly she stroked soft ears and offered the puppy the treat. Standing up, she devoured the rest of her sandwich in two bites, washed down the tea and went back to the waiting dishes.
Ilma wiled away another hour with idle talk. Only when the old woman's face began to pale and look drawn did the visit come to an end. But Sah was told repeatedly to come back whenever he wished, and was packed with bread and other foodstuffs - including more of the sweets - before he was allowed to leave.
- FIN
For the good times that we share, and the bad times that we'll have
