Closed Dinner with the Windchasers

[Fallan Windchaser]

83 Fall, 513AV

The day had been an interesting one for Fallan and would be one that remained long in his memory for it had marked a turning point in his relationship with the mother to be of his child. It had also been more than somewhat predictable that a change of that nature, the admission to her that she was indeed free and not his slave would carry consequences that had not yet all unfolded.

It had been a deceit of his from the beginning that she was his slave, though more in form than in truth for had he actually enslaved her then it was unlikely that any of the other Drykas would have done more than comment upon it. At least so long as she produced children for him in any case and he did not mistreat her beyond what was expected of slaves. However although he had toyed with the idea of slavery it had never become necessary once that first day was past and with every day that followed he had become more enchanted with her.

Now though the only thing that bound them was the promise of children and even then it was only for the birth and a little beyond. She however had made it clear that the transition from thinking that she was slave to being a free woman wasn’t going to be quite that simple, at least as far as he was concerned for there was a price to pay. He had bought her and she was not going to forget that. Her words to him still echoed in his mind, the reminder that buying her did not make her his and that she would not consider a relationship with him while that remained between them.

Then too there was the matter of the pregnancy which he intended to announce to the rest of the family in that short time when all who were not out with the herd came together to eat. The roots that they had gathered and the berries that he had not managed to spill from the makeshift basket had been safely delivered to the Pavilion and the horses had been cared for and released into the care of the clan.

Leaving Tay to whatever it was that she wished to do he had made his excuses and sought out his father for some advice, or not so much advice as a notification of what he intended to do so that he at least was not surprised, and at that he had an ulterior motive since he would need a favour from him. He found him inside the Pavilion near where his parents slept and where he could often be found when he had been travelling the webs.

His father waved him to a seat beside him and raised an enquiring eyebrow. ”You look troubled son.” he said softly, ”are you having problems with Taylani?” That he made the connection surprised Fallan for a moment but then he realised that it was perhaps an obvious conclusion seeing as his father had likely seen them arrive together and it was not normal for Fallan to come over for a casual conversation.

Fallan nodded and sighed. ”You have guessed it and I am need of your counsel for I am adrift.” He shifted his shoulders and considered, knowing that it was likely to all spurt out and he wanted to be precise in the words that he spoke. ”I have some things to say to the family this evening, though perhaps it would be more fair to say that I have some things to say to Taylani in front of the family for I wish that she understands the things that I have told her are true and not just spoken for her own ears.” He hesitated a little and smiled. ”I also wish to tell the family that she is now pregnant.”

His fathers expression had been open and curious as he had spoken but at the last he smiled and leaned forward to grasp Fallan by the shoulder. ”Kihalas blessing be on you both, this is good news, but I will allow you to share it.” He sat back, ”but I think this news is not what you wished advice about, so what is it that is troubling you?”

Fallan squirmed a little but shook his head. ”I’m not sure that you can help for now I face the consequences of my own actions, and this is something you warned me about when I asked you to tie her to the web. I have told her that she is free to choose what to do and that I have no say in it, subject only to our agreement that she should stay here long enough to give me children. I will admit that she has grown close to my heart and I do not wish her to leave, either from this place or even from this Pavilion. I gave my word when I agreed to take her that I would be responsible for her and that was easy when she thought that I controlled her, but now she knows the truth and I fear her rebellion against it. It was always a danger that I knew but it was always easier to leave it until the future once it had been done. Now I fear losing her and it cuts into my heart.”

His father smiled and shook his head softly. ”I can offer you no advice on this Fallan, even the Gods could not for you have meddled in her life and it is a matter for your heart and hers to resolve. I would caution you against rash words and speaking in anger because many things look different in the light of a new day. Follow your heart in this and give her time for her heart is wounded and you must know that women see things very differently to us.” He reached over and gave Fallans shoulder another squeeze, his eyes compassionate but they both knew that some of this was Fallans fault and he must pay the price of that.

[Taylani]

The ride back had been uneventful, though Taylani had much on her mind. Nervous about the evening dinner, nervous on how his family would really react to the news. She had always feared that they saw her as little more then Fallan's past time, for she couldn't quite wrap her mind around the idea of outsiders being brought in and considered one of their own. To her it was akin as bringing in a stranger to her parent's house and calling him brother. It just didn't seem appropriate. They had never once mistreated, or made her feel less then a person. If anything it was Fallan who had made her feel like less then a person, though that was in the past where it should stay.

Fortunately the pavilion was a little ways away from where the Amethyst clan kept their horses, so Taylani had time to walk out the stiffness that had settled into her thighs, back and hips. Today had opened her eyes to the need to acquaint herself to Freedom's back, particularly if she was going to be with the Horse clan's forever.

When they reached the Pavilion Fallan went in search of his father, and Taylani had to quell her stomach that had started to rise more from nerves then from the baby. While Fallan went to find Surdar, Taylani went to find Adelia. Adelia, Fallan's older sister, was in the part of the pavilion where she slept. She didn't speak much common, probably a little less then Fallan, but she had kind eyes and always a soft smile. With a little trepidation, Taylani asked Adelia to help with her hair.

After ward, Taylani and Adelia left her portion and went into the cooking area to offer help to Adetse in preparing the meal. Taylani's hair was braided in such a way that it was obvious to any who knew her that she had had no hand in it. It was not extremely intricate, but not a strand was left loose. Three small braids adorned each side of her head, tightly weaving together in the middle to hang in one long braid down to the middle of her shoulders. There were three amethyst colored beads that winked from within the woven strands, one at the crown of her head, one at the base of her neck, and one in between. Nothing extravagant or over-done, but it was certainly a Drykas fashion.

Taylani did not speak as she helped Adetse, cutting roots or herbs, stirring a pot occasionally. Instead she simply followed instructions, not quite meeting the eyes of the women of the Pavilion, but that was nothing unusual in and of itself. Though it was not a large area, the cooking area, it remained cool because the pavilion was vented here to allow the rising heat and smoke to escape.

The other women chattered on in Pavi around Taylani, and she listened though she didn't know much of what they were saying. Once dinner was finished cooking, Taylani slipped out from the cooking area with a bowl that was filled with chopped vegetables and roots, while Adetse carried the hot platter of meat, and Adelia brought with her the cooked orange roots in another bowl.

It took Taylani a little time to adjust over the season to not having 'real' furniture. Furniture that would be difficult to move every day, but now this late into fall she understood better. And while she sometimes still missed the sturdiness of a table to sit at, sitting on cushions around the meal almost picnic style was not as alien. So when the food was settled down, Taylani took her accustomed spot on a cushion next to where Fallan would sit.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Dinner approached far too quickly for Fallan, his mind still in some turmoil from the conversation with Surdar, who had both been reassuring and helpful, but also had been clear that some things were beyond his advice or aid. Neither did the quickly passing time do anything at all to resolve the tangle in his mind and he had yet to find the words that he needed. In his heart he knew that he needed to do something, but his heart was not forthcoming with the solution to the issues that he could only dimly understand.

He regretted telling Taylani that he would speak this evening to his family and tell them of the child that was on it’s way. Whilst he could tell her that he would delay to another day, he could not imagine a reason that he could give her to justify it. Instead he thought that it would raise questions in her mind that he did not want, for it would only serve to reinforce all of the negative things that she thought of him, and there were probably many.

Equally he wanted to tell them about the baby after he had told them of the conversation that he and Tay had had earlier. To do so after giving the news of the child would give the impression that the one followed the other and that was not strictly the case, even if there was an element of truth to it.

Tay seemed not quite her normal self when he came and sat next to her and he thought her perhaps a little nervous, but he was far too tied up in his own thoughts to give her more than a reassuring smile. He took little of the food that was offered to him and of that he picked at it with little appetite. There was a background hum of small talk as they ate but Fallan did not join in for instead his heart seemed to hammer in his chest and he dreaded the moment that was approaching for he still did not know what it was that he wanted to say.

Glancing up he caught Surdars eye who was watching him and flushed a little even as his father raised an eyebrow at him and smiled. It seemed to be a cue for at that his father raised his hand and the chatter fell away as peoples attention turned to him.

”Fallan asked me to speak for him,” his father said to Taylani, his Common considerably better than his sons, and now the attention shifted as people glanced over to Fallan and Taylani, curious as to what might be about to be said.

Fallan swallowed and wished that the ground might open up or a storm burst upon them or anything that might prevent this moment from happening, but nothing did and the silence stretched longer than his hesitation would bear. He looked around, meeting eyes before starting to speak, his words in Pavi, but as halting as his thoughts and his father translated softly into Common.

”You all know Taylani,” he said, needing to get words out, any words at all. ”But I have not spoken to you of her, or of me. You know that she was made captive and brought here against her will. You know why this was done and you know the need of our people.” Now he could not meet the eyes of the people around him, especially those of his mother who was staring at him narrowly.

”I do not speak of the rights or wrongs of this,” he said his hands shading meaning, ”and I do not make judgement of it.” The words dried in his mind and he struggled to find where they now hid.

”Forgive me if my words are slow, this is not easy to explain. I met Tay before the auction.” He smiled at the memory of it. ”I need not describe that she is beautiful, but I think you have not seen how her spirit burned like her hair in Synas light. She was not daunted by being here for all that she was angry. She took my breath away, though I did not know who she was.” Now he looked up once more for now he came to the difficult part, the part that he had not been able to find a path through before.

”But then there was the auction. I had no plans to take part, I had no intention of taking a woman. Yet she was there and the thought of another man taking her for his own was more than I could bear. I did not expect to win her, I was sure that I would be outbid. But there were no other bidders and I think that was the hand of the gods, though I have done nothing to deserve it.” Perhaps he thought this was the reason, not a reward but a price to be paid for his past and lack of attention to his family. To dangle her in front of him and then to have his own bungling take her away from him. It was a justice that was much of the gods.

”But then it was hard for I had agreed to take responsibility for her, to have children with her.” He laughed softly to himself, his eyes looking inward, ”I recall the scratch she put on my face when I laughed at her.” He distorted the facts a little but then his own memory of the events was coloured and he had run the memories and the fantasies of it so many times through his mind that he could no longer tell them apart.

”I took advantage of her, of her distress, of her loneliness, of her grief for the separation from her parents who she might never see again, of the loss of everything that she knew.” Now he met the eyes of his mother, not of Tay who perhaps of all of them he should be talking to, and he did not flinch from whatever judgement might be in her eyes. Then he looked at Tay, finally as his fathers translation caught up.

”I forced her into a bargain for her freedom, that she would bear me children. I did so because I was weak, because I feared to lose her and it seemed the easy way. I justified it because of the agreement that I had struck at the auction.”

“Today I told her some of the truth, that she was free and could make her own choices. But I avoided the truth of my cowardice, nor that I knew that my own actions had destroyed any chance that she might grow fond of me. She spoke to me from her heart, which saw to the truth of the matter, and she told me that she could never be the wife of a man who had bought her.” He ducked his head a little breaking eye contact with her and then breathed deeply in.

”So, now here I ask you all to bear witness. I relinquish all claim to Taylani, I will not hold her to the agreement that I forced upon her though I will not step back from my responsibilities to her.” Now he looked at his parents. ”I ask that you accept her into this Pavilion as a guest until such time as she might choose her path. I will pay the price for that.” Now he realised how it sounded, that he had waited until she was pregnant and had no choice, that he had waited for this point and he blanched. How the gods must be laughing now! He sighed and shook his head, looking back up at Taylani.

”This is the woman I love. She drew me to her the first time that I saw her, she drew me in tighter when she clawed my face for my presumption. When she fought me she took my heart. When she is gone, she will take my heart with her.”

[Taylani]

Taylani noted Fallan's unease at dinner, it made her own unease grow. Why was he feeling nervous if not that he thought that his family would not be as receptive of their news then he had said earlier? Perhaps when he assured her that his family would be happy that she was carrying his child it was simply to put her mind at ease, and not strictly the truth? The numbness that she layered around herself could not quell her beating heart, or her rising stomach. She couldn't bring herself to raise her eyes from her plate of mostly untouched food, so frightened that she would give something away in her expression and would have to see the contempt in his families eyes.

She didn't really know what to expect, didn't know how he was going to broach the topic so it was perhaps a good thing that he was so quiet during dinner. For everything he uttered in Pavi would have sent her wondering if he had told them, though surely reactions would have told her eventually if he had or not. It would have been even worse meal then it was already, if he had been chatting with his family.

Then Surdar spoke, in common, and Taylani looked up from her plate for perhaps the first time since the family sat down. Her brows showing her surprise and her blue eyes wide, looking from Fallan then back to Surdar as he began to speak. At first it was hard to decide who to look at, the man who was crafting the words but speaking in Pavi..or the man who was only the vessel that translated the words for her. She wanted to watch Fallan, to see his expression as he spoke, but it was easier to understand and pay attention when she focused on Surdar. In the end she went with her heart and looked at Fallan, watching him.

Why was he recalling their season together? Did his family not know that she had been his surrogate from the start? Was he simply trying to humiliate her? No it wasn't the later, for she didn't see the dark humor that had resided in his face during the first night of his ownership of her. He didn't want to humiliate her though, it did that a little. Her face began to burn as he spoke of their agreement, even though she had come to terms that his family knew exactly what they did behind that very thin partition, it was completely different to discuss the single most shameful thing she had ever done in front of his family.

Though amid the shame that she felt at the agreement, she saw something else. She saw his own regret, in his words she heard his own guilt, so even though her pale face flamed red with embarrassment she kept her chin up. When he spoke of taking advantage of her grief and sorrow she could not stop the crystalline tears that slipped from her eyes as his words pierced the numbness.

She didn't argue that she didn't claw his face because of his laughter, but because of the demeaning way he had leered at her. That was not such a huge point of contention that she was going to interrupt his speech. She almost forgot that he was suppose to be announcing her pregnancy, which spoke of the tumult of emotions that his words invoked that she would forget something that had weighed on her mind.

Yet when he renounced his claim on her, it was not joy that flooded her but hurt. Her lips part in surprise, at first the thought that he was casting her aside along with his rights filled her mind. That perhaps her willful refusal to accept him calling her his wife was one willfulness too much. Fortunately the punched in the gut feeling of being unable to breath lasted only a second that it took for him to finish.

She waited a moment before speaking, feeling their eyes turn to her. In a perfect world they could have had this conversation alone. However this was not a perfect world and this was perhaps the first time they could actually communicate without misinterpretations. This might be the very first chance she had to communicate with him.

"Will you..tell him in Pavi?" She asked softly of Surdar, the blush still reddening her face and not fading. After Surdar acquiesced Taylani nods and looks back down at her uneaten food. She couldn't say what she was going to while looking at any of his family, or him not if she wanted to get through it without leaking these stupid tears that kept coming from her eyes.

"You had a choice. You needn't demand I give you...what I had to give you the first night. That was something I had determined to give to the man I fell in love with. You could have waited, taken the time to get to know me...taken the time to help me rid myself of the anger and bitterness. But you didn't. We all make choices and that one was yours."

Taylani paused, not because she wanted to bring out the suspense or rub in the hurt but simply because she had to reign in her emotions. One hand raised to scrub across her face, trying to wipe away the tears that leaked until someone -perhaps Adelia perhaps someone else Taylani isn't sure- pressed a cloth in her hands. Once she dried her cheeks as best she could, she finally looked up once more, at Fallan.

"You also could have simply ..took what you wanted at night until my belly was full and left me to be alone truly out here. Instead, though your lips spoke of my slavery, your actions spoke something different. Instead of simply using me and then laying me aside until you were ready for me again, you endured my temper. You endured not being able to explain things to me..or to understand me."

She waited for Surdar to catch up, her throat constricting slightly, "I never said that I could never grow fond of you, nor that I could never love you. Just that I couldn't promise that I would. I don't know how I feel about you..I know that just now..when you relinquished your rights to me...my heart broke. Is that love? I don't know. Maybe? I have never been in love...and I have never felt like I do for you..for anyone else. It is ridiculous...because of what you did to me..but there it is."

She took a deep breath, almost having finished what she had to say while she had someone who could speak to Fallan in Pavi for her. While she would have liked to not have shown her ignorance to his entire family she still was grateful for the chance. "I also didn't say that I couldn't be the wife of the man who bought me. That can never be changed. I said I would only be your bought woman until you did something to change it. I don't know about how the Drykas do things, but where I come from we don't just up and decide we are married. There are vows in front of Cheva .... Marriage is important..those vows are important."

She looked at Surdar again, and nodded her thanks to him when he was finished. Her long response over, and the heat of her emotions spent. Leaving her feeling shaky and unsure of herself. Wondering if she managed to just propose speaking those vows in front of Cheva to Fallan.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Even as he watched her face, searching for the signs of rejection, of contempt and of scorn he wondered how he was ever going to give the news now of her pregnancy. As she spoke to Surdar so he realised that it would be hard to decide who to listen to for he could understand most of what she said and he was desperate for it as much as he feared the words that she spoke.

There was an odd sense of regret in his mind, but he had spent much of the day in preparation for this. With each glance at her so he had carefully stored the image away for when she was gone. He expected no less for the truth would free her, a bargain struck when one held all the cards and lied to boot was not a bargain that anyone could uphold in honour.

Some of his family had looked away as he’d spoken, unwilling participants in a private conversation but most appeared uncomfortable rather than shocked for they knew him and they had had chance to assess her. Doubtless too they had seen and heard the two of them together and had little doubts as to the overall nature of the relationship. Doubtless too all had heard the gossip of his purchase at the auction when he had chosen to take a foreign woman over a Drykas, just as they knew of his absence from the family of his birth. His mothers expression was cold and closed, that much he could see out of the corner of his eye even now and doubtless too he had just demonstrated the truth of everything that she had ever condemned him for.

There was only one woman in the room that mattered though and it wasn’t his mother. He endured her words regarding the first night. Every word was true and the guilt of them stabbed into his heart. Equally true was the fact that he wouldn’t have changed it. Were he back then with what he knew now, he would still have made the same choice to allow his lust to overcome his sense. He could see her now in his minds eye, the fragility in her face, the fear in eyes framed by that red hair. Most of the time he could control the lust but sometimes, ah sometimes it broke free and there had been too many triggers. Could he have done as she asked and left her a virgin whilst he won her over? He knew that the answer was no just as well as he knew it was why he did not deserve her. Still she had labelled him rapist in front of his family and it was just. He had not quite anticipated that exact point but it was one of the reasons that he had chosen this, that she would expose him in front of the only people that cared for him, to carve into his heart as he had done to hers.

Her voice had been calm, all things considered and he found a balance between listening to her tone and comparing it to the words that his father spoke, though they were flat and without meaning every time he glanced away and missed the gestures that accompanied them. She mitigated his offence with her words which was a kindness that he did not deserve but it served only to force the knife deeper that she would be kind at this point.

Now his brow furrowed in confusion for she did not go back on the attack and instead chose to explain what she had meant earlier. He had prepared himself for disaster and it didn’t come. The words entered his mind but made no sense, even when they were repeated in Pavi confirming that his ears had heard correctly the first time. He could only wait for when they arrived, waiting for the twist that would dash the hopes that he did not allow to be raised.

He was silent for a time and that silence was not confined to him. Even those that had looked away now waited for what he would say in response. She had shown herself to be his match and his better and he wasn’t sure that he had heard correctly. He remembered her smile as they collected berries, of the touch of her hand and of the hug. Could it be that she still felt something for him? He carefully locked away a little deeper that side which would take her now whilst the tears were still wet on her face and undermine the smallest hope that he would allow to grow in his heart.

”Marriage is not casual with the Drykas,” he answered at length, his voice soft. ”We take more than one wife because there are more women and it would not be fair to leave them without the love of a family of their own.” He avoided replying directly to the things that she had said and implied. ”Marriages are sacred here, we do not just decide that we are married.”

Had she said that she would consider marrying him? She still sat there, he had no new scars on his face. It was more than he could understand for he had built a cage of iron around his heart against this moment. He expected her to berate him, to have lulled him and yet nothing happened. Could it be true?

”I do not know if that is love,” he said eventually, ”you are no longer a bought woman, you are free to do as you will even if that were to return now to Syliras with all the consequences that brought.” His heart cramped even at the thought of it now that there was the slimmest glimmers of Synas light to warm the chilled lump in his chest.

”I have known many women but I loved none of them. I cannot claim to know what love is but my life would not be the same without you.”

[Taylani]

Everything was out there now, there was no misinterpretations, there was no language barrier any more. Taylani had what she wanted, she had her freedom and he knew what he had done to her was wrong. He didn't acknowledge that forcing women to come to Endrykas was wrong but then again hers was a complicated case for had the men who kidnapped her taken her no for an answer she might be dead.

She sneaked a glance at his mother, his father, and his siblings, embarrassed that her and Fallan's dirty laundry was being so aired so publicly but it was also something that needed to happen. So that there can be no question.

When he finishes speaking she turned on her cushion, and her hands remain in her lap for a moment longer as she regards him. Her breathing was slightly hiccuped but she was more or less composed. After a moment of looking at him she leans forward reaching out to lay her hand on arm, not trying to take his hand for she wasn't sure how he would take that.

He seemed to be certain that she wanted to run, and that was understandable, but she had already told him that she would not be returning to Syliras. But perhaps he needed to hear it now that he had released her from her bargain. She thought for a moment, what that meant. It would mean that she could go back as soon as Endrykas neared Sylira border again, it would mean that as soon this child was born she might have enough years left to dance. If she worked hard to regain what limberness and muscle tone was already lost, and continued to lose over the course of her pregnancy then she might be able to reach almost as high as she had dreamed.

But it was no longer as important to her. What fire she held for dance within her heart had sputtered out. It was replaced with the desire to see this child born healthy and raised happily, and she could not do that and still dance. Even still, a little part of her whispered that dance would no longer make her happy, would not take the place of him.

"I don't want to go back to Syliras.." She stopped herself, biting her lip before correcting, "Not to live. I need to go back and visit my mother..some how...I can't leave them like I did. But I don't want to go back to live." She took a breath, feeling a blush rise again but she shook her head, "My life is no longer with Syliras, or even Dance....I don't know if this is love but my life will always be here with you." She didn't comment on the multiple wives issue, she wasn't his wife and wasn't sure if she had the right to speak on that. It was not something she had ever considered and not sure how one even considered it.

[Fallan Windchaser]

Whilst it was going better than he had imagined it would go, still it was perhaps one of the worst times of his life, certainly he could not recall being under this much pressure and certainly he had never been quite in the spotlight of his families attention before, at least not for this sort of reason anyway.

He felt her grip on his arm and did not pull away, grateful for the touch and yet still not entirely sure if it was some sign of affection or the sort of thing that people do when they are about to tell them very bad news, so he tried to make no prejudgements. He had told her almost all of the things that would shock her, keeping back only those that she did not need to know, not the things that would turn her away from him forever.

Her words still confused him for he expected the stab in the back at the end, the petty but understandable retribution, but at this point there was nothing that she could do or say that he had not already considered worse.

Syrilas? He frowned, why would she not want to go back. Only now did it occur to him what her parents would make of her coming back with a barbarian child. Clearly they were people of some wealth for her to have been able to consider becoming a dancer instead of having to work but he had never quite thought this one through before. Would they be ashamed of her? Rage flared in his mind for a moment that they would dare and he almost lost track of the fact that she was still speaking.

He backtracked through his memory of her words and his frown deepened. Had she said what he thought that she had. He had to ask, to be sure, and this time his hands expressed his confusion where before they had been bold and to the point as a man might as he contemplated running his dagger into the base of his chin to atone for a loss of honour.

"You would stay?" His face showed the doubts that his mind entertained. "You would make a new life here with me? With my family?" Somehow he found it hard to encompass the possibility of it even though it was what he had wanted, had hoped for. He had done what he saw was necessary to save what little chance there was but somehow he'd never believed that it might happen.

[Taylani]

His expressions told Taylani more then his words did, as she was watching him so very intently. The set of his mouth, the crinkle of his brow, and the tension in his face told her one of two things. Either she was completely not getting the hint that he wanted her to go, or else he did not believe her when she said she would stay.

She thought it was the latter, for she could hardly believe that she would choose to stay as well. There was some worry that if she ever got to see her mother and father again there would be some disdain if they ever found out what lows she had brought herself to. But Taylani believed that to be simply more her own self worth showing through then what her parents would actually see in her.

No that was not the reason she was choosing to stay. Mostly yes it was the child, but she couldn't tell him that. Not yet, because she had told him that he would be the one to tell his family and because she didn't think he needed to hear that a large chunk was so that her child would have two parents and not just one. There was a part though, a small part but clearly there that wanted to remain here. Perhaps because it would be easier, to begin a new life here with him, then to try and begin a new life all the same in Syliras without him.

She withdrew her hand, and looked around the eating area her eyes landing on each of his family. They weren't her family, they weren't the ones that made her feel completely safe and loved, they were strangers really. But they were her child's family, and because her mother gave up finer things so that her daughter could be happy, so Taylani was more then willing to give up her own things so that her child could benefit. For what life could a child of a single mother with no skills have in Syliras?

"I have a new life already. I would rather it be here with you, and your family. Then alone some where else." It wasn't flowering declaration of love, but it was heartfelt. It wasn't poetry that the bards would sing for the ages, but it was the simple truth. "That is if you really want me to, considering I am still learning things that even your children have learned before they could walk."

[Fallan Windchaser]

He missed the touch of her hand as soon as it was withdrawn and longed to reach out for her, but he restrained just for the moment as he battled in his mind to allow the thought that she might stay, that she might want to stay with him to take a hold no matter how tenuous.

Were her words tentative, did she struggle even as he did? He had allowed himself to wallow in self pity behind the barriers he had erected against the hurt that he anticipated. Somewhere his plans had come to ruin, somehow they had been undermined and had fallen to dust. He still wasn't sure how it had happened or exactly how she had managed to create herself a place in his heart.

Still he could not ignore her questions, she deserved an answer and he could not now stand here whilst his family watched without giving her the answer.

"I want you to stay here with me more than I have ever wanted anything. I cannot tell you how or why that is the case, but there is something very precious about you Tay that has changed my life."

"It matters nothing that there are things that you need to learn, we can make that happen now that we are both understand where we stand."

The thing that had needed to be said was now done and the things that were left could be done between them, but there was still one more thing that had not been told and it was time that it was. He held out his hands to her, stepping forward to see if she would accept his arms around her.

Whether she would or not, now it was time that he spoke again to his family and it was his turn to look around him, meeting eyes, even those of his mother whose he kept for a moment wondering if he father had already shared the news or whether she had already guessed, consumate horse breeder that she was.

Now he spoke up, his hands stilled perhaps by the necessity of holding Tay. "I present to you Taylani, who holds my heart in her hands. She will be my partner if she will have me and will be the mother of my children."

Now he paused and raised his head, his eyes falling somehow back on those of his mother. "Lhex willing, our first child will be born in the Spring and may Tavasi give his blessing to it."

Now he was free to pull Tay closer into him, against her will or not and to kiss her softly but firmly.

[Taylani]

After he had spoke, and his father translated, Taylani gave him a small smile. Not one of trepidation, but simply one of reflection. For better or worse she had made her decision, and it occurred to her that perhaps it might not have been her decision after all. Perhaps Fallan had been right and it was the gods. For surely how else would everything that had to have happened for them to be thrust together, happen without some planning of some sort. It also seemed like something the gods would do, dally in mortal's lives no matter who they hurt.

However, perhaps this dalliance was not as hurtful as she had thought. His words lifted her heart, and while she was not quite ready to just lay it all out there and let her guard completely down, she had no problem with taking his hands and standing to step into his arms. With his arms steadying her, she was not quite so nervous about his next announcement. When he began to speak once more, so obviously to his family now and not to her, her hands crept up and curl into his shirt her body tensed just a little but she did not hide her face against him. Instead she lifts her chin, and met everyone's gaze directly be it good or bad reactions.

When his lips found hers though, his family melted from her mind and she tipped her chin up so that her lips met his. This was a fresh start, and even though it did nothing to erase the past hurts, it went a long way to healing them. And though her cheeks burned still with the blush of embarrassment she did nothing to try and stop the sign of affection he gave, and she returned for his family to witness. This was her choice, and only those who did not know of her stubborn recklessness would argue that she didn't have a choice between staying here with him to raise his child or face certain hardship raising his child alone.

Adelia sat with a neutral expression, surprised that Taylani had capitulated so easily but at Fallan's last announcement the reason was clear -at least to her. Her brother might not have others fooled, but for Adelia she saw the apparent planning behind this dinner. "Congratulations little Brother." She says in Pavi, her hands flashed that conveyed less congratulatory and more dry sarcasm. She understood the need for her own life, as Fallan had when he had ran off to Syliras. She understood his seeming carefree existence until he returned to Endrykas. Had she not wanted the same thing, but had not the courage to do so? Yet now suddenly Fallan, who had ran off and ignored his family's need for his own, has acquired a responsibility..that now came with additional burdens. She didn't know Taylani well, having left that mistake her brother had made to work itself out, but she didn't want to see the girl hurt or in trouble either. "How long will it be before this set of responsibilities weighs to heavily on you? You say you are not wanting to shirk the responsibilities but this is pretty big. She is not much better then a child out here herself, and now she is with child as well?" Her hands did not convey malice or even anger, simply moving to convey her thoughts and beliefs on his previous actions.