[Flashback] A mother's will [Solo]

[Lavia]

Location: Ravok, Egari's home Time Stamp: 506 AV, 1st day of Fall "Would'ya think Summer would come to an end so soon?" the voice in the distance questioned, dry as any desert. The room was dark, almost inconceivably lit by the struggling flutter of a dim light. A small candle soon to be down to its last bit of stable wax laid on an end table, just near the bed of a woman clothed in white. The home smelt of clammy wood and cold metal. Of course, that was the only way anyone knew how to describe its scent. Tattered and stained fabric draped alongside the window frames, the color of blood. Abused and dull white paint was chipping from the walls. The hard wood floors creaked with every bit of movement while pipes rattled and thumped beneath them. Meaningless ornaments and trinkets lined the shelves of old book cases, collecting dust with each passing day. But it was not the stained curtains, clutter of dust or the squeaking pipes that reminded all this was not a home. It was the cages, suspended from the ceiling. Empty, but still suspended. A hackling noise filled the room as the old woman fished for a glob of saliva to coat her anhydrous throat, while entering the dark bedroom. She was a petite woman, along in years and aged. She walked with a slump and heavy feet, and although she appeared to be as unkempt and scraggly as her son Egari, it was her eyes that told the truth about this woman's intentions. Idane was her name. A shaken smile pulled at the corners of her lips, as the tired grey eyes looked down to the woman lying on the bed. "Here this'll help with'a pain." Idane insisted, holding out the small cup with a careful and steady hand. The woman resting on the bed was dressed in a loose white gown. Though, the fabric of her gown was now clinging to her moist and sticky skin. She was sweating uncontrollably and her breathing was slowly becoming shallow gasps. Her chapped lips parted for words, and a wheeze could be heard. Idane shook her head and leaned in closer. "Sh-sh, Eawan. Just drink this." Idane said as she reached for Eawans hand. Eawan held on to the mug as tightly as she could with the old woman's help, slowly bringing it to her lips. As she did so, Eawans hand began to tremble and the brown, thin liquid began to flow over the rim of the cup. Idane used her other hand to help Eawan lift her head as she drank and once she saw the nearly lifeless woman could drink no more, she laid her head back down to rest and removed the cup from her hand. There was a gentle sigh of satisfaction, though frowned eyebrows did not leave the expression of the pale womans face. She rested her head back on to the pillow and with a struggle, Eawan opened her eyes.

[Lavia]

Weary, enervated green eyes have lost their color. Lost their glisten and gleam. Lost their life. The young woman that laid before Idane appeared to be scantily holding on. But what Idane knew was much deeper than what her eyes could see. Eawan had a fight within her. She was not going to give up so easily. As Eawan's eyes had opened, they fell on Idane and remained there until she found strength to speak. "The child.. h-how much longer?" she asked, forcing each word through her arid gullet. Idane pursed her lips in to an assuring smile, hoping that it would bring comfort to the anxious Kelvic. With a nod, she replied, "Soon, ma'dear. Very soon." The old woman set the half full cup on the night stand next to the lit candle, before moving that hand to the belly of the woman. There, with every shaking breath Eawan took, her abdomen did move with. "It sure did come quickly did'nit? Just like the change in season. Have you gotta' name for 'em?" Idane asked, removing her hand and turning on her heels to move to the corner of the room. There was a thick silence between them, until Idane's nervous chuckle lingered in the room, "I have forgotten you Kelvics live without names. Well then, we will just have'ta summon some sort'a nickname for the tot." she said, looking over her shoulder and back down to the wooden bucket filled with water. As she tried to strike a warming conversation with Eawan, Idane reached in to the bucket, the luke warm water swallowing her wrinkled, liver spotted arm as she soaked the white cloth. Eawan sighed heavily and closed her eyes, grazing her hands along the sheets and pulling them to her stomach. The palms of her hands rested against the bulging stomach, her eyes opening to follow the old woman across the room. "He must hate me a great deal.. giving me all this trouble." Eawan said lowly, sarcasm trimming her words as she rubbed her palms along her stomach. "Ah, a boy'nah? Hm, with your condition I'm sensin' she's a rough lil' lady like ya'self, Eawan." Idane responded, wringing out the rag in her hands and turning back to approach Eawan's bedside. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head as she began to gently pat the moist rag on Eawan's forehead, "-and if it's hating anyone it must be poor 'ol me. I'm the one havin'ta slave around these parts." she teased, continuing to pat the rag against Eawan's skin. Idanes humor, even in the most tragic of times, brought comfort to the young Kelvic. It might have been that very humor that lead to their forbidden friendship. For inevitably, Idanes son was the man who enslaved Eawan. Bound her with chains to be kept away for his selfish purposes. To help with the breeding of other Kelvics. To be sold. To be tortured. To be used for his own satisfaction. The Kelvic woman was scared and alone; Idane did what any mother knew to do. She nurtured, taught and cared for Eawan. If anyone was to know of their friendship, they might ask why Idane simply did not help find a way to release Eawan? There are many reasons, but the biggest one was: Eawan refused to let Idane suffer the consequences of her own freedom. She would rather suffer here, than be free knowing another was being afflicted because of her actions. It might have been because of the Kelvics loyal tendencies, but Eawan knew the reason for her decision to stay was deeper than just being in her nature. She did care a great deal for the old woman, and would rather her suffer under Edgari's hand, than Idane. Eawan had given a spurious smile, and Idane could not ignore the pain in her eyes. She frowned, pulling the rag away from her forehead and reaching down to place a hand over Eawan's. She cupped her hand in hers, the silence filling the room until all that was heard was the gentle whistling of the night. And there, just in the corner of Idane's eye, was a tear. She shook her head furiously as she dropped the rag on to the floor and reached to touch the binding metal contraption around Eawans neck. "P-please Eawan just-" Idane insisted, her voice choking on tears. Eawan closed her eyes, her lips beginning to tremble. And uncontrollably the tears began to find their way through closed eyelids, falling and trailing to her earlobes. Sniffles, gasps and grunts could now be heard, the Kelvic holding on to the old womans hand as she winced in pain. She turned her head in effort to pull her neck away, and in doing so she let her long locks of brown hair fall over her face. "Idane, no." she groaned, turning back to face the woman. Idane pulled away in disappointment and bit down on to her lip. "What good would it be? Tell me.. if I leave here to birth this child on my own? We will both be forgotten with time." she strained, a dry cough following after. Her body jerked with each harsh cough, Idane reaching over her frail body to grab a pillow. Propping Eawan upright, she began to then pull the loose tendrils of hair away from her clammy skin. Eawans coughing eased, and as she laid her head back on to the pillow, her eyes did open once again. She would have given the old woman another glance, but she was soon captivated by the gleaming stars painted just outside of their window. As dark as the room was, and as dark as the night was, it made the view all the more beautiful. As her coughing ceased, her wheezing followed after with each breath she took. Idane, was only silent. She moved away from Eawans side to fetch a chair, and as she did so, Eawan smiled. "They watch us."