The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Haliel Lightsong]

And with that, the loneliness and resignation vanish, flooded away by a wave of compassion. "Let me help. Please. You don't have to be alone.*

[Marian Hawke]

You don't have to be alone. Marian lets out a strangled whimper, tugging Lightsong inside so she can rest her head against the woman's breastbone, sobbing into her shirt. "I-- I g-got a l-letter from h-home--"

[Haliel Lightsong]

That paladin has a second or two to mentally flail at being grabbed, another second to wish she had worn her vestments instead of her armour (but going outside the temple always means armour) and then she's cradling Marian close. ''There there... there there... Let's... have a sit and... I have fixings for tea. Tea is nice and soothing, right?''

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes," she whispers. "Y-yes, tea."

By the time the tea's ready, she's gotten ahold of herself, sitting on the sofa with a handkerchief monogrammed 'HD'. She takes the mug, taking a deep inhale of steam and fragrance as Lightsong sits. 

"My uncle's passed on," she whispers, swallowing hard. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

''I... can't imagine how that feels,'' Lightsong admits, kneeling in front of Marian without seeming to be bothered by her armour. ''I can only offer my hopes and prayers that he has gone to somewhere joyous and kind.''

[Marian Hawke]

"He wasn't... Thank you but... He wasn't kind to me. Or my sisters. He was.. He loved my mother, at least. She must be devastated. Losing my father, losing the twins' father, and now her twin, I can't imagine..."

[Haliel Lightsong]

That was was.. a lot of people. Twins and other twins and at least two fathers I think? ''I... see? That does sound very... hard to feel your way through. It is very hard to feel compassion for someone that hurt you. It speaks well of you that you are trying. That you can think of your mother and feel grief for her sake.''

[Marian Hawke]

"Not that Mother was kind either," she says, dabbing at her eyes. "But she is my mother. Oh, I'm being unfair. I'm sorry. The twins, they must be... it seems Carol is engaged, to be wed just after she turns seventeen, and Bethany is... Gods. I just miss them so much."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Twins are Bethany and Carol. At least some of the twins, I think. Wait, yes. Because the Mother is one of the other twins, with the now deceased Uncle. ''How long has it been since...'' Dust, that was a terrible question. Why would you remind her of how long she's been away from her family?

[Marian Hawke]

"Not since I was just eight." Just old enough to be sent away to boarding school. "Half my life."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Eight. That's... a little less than half of her entire maturity. That... ''My parents sent me to study at Mercy's Last Hope when I was... twenty-five. Twenty-six? We spent a lot of time traveling and didn't always keep track of time or ages. I know they wanted me to... fulfill my potential. I know they have... great hopes for me. But...'' Her voice lowers, becoming guilty. ''But I will also have some... feelings of... disappointment.'' No, don't lie to her. Not if you want to be her friend. ''Feelings of resentment for being left behind. For not being able to look after my baby brother anymore.''

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods. "I was always... I'm a bastard," she admits. "My mother ran off with an elf shortly, returned home when he passed, with me in tow. But I love my sisters. Bethany and Carol are wonderful. I tried to, to be a good big sister to them, but when they were old enough I might embarass them, I was sent away. And now... they're grown, nearly grown, and I don't even know them anymore."

[Haliel Lightsong]

''My brother is the same. He...'' Lightsong lowers her eyes a little. ''Mother and Father... they are heros. Legends and beacons of Light, Hope and Good. But... but they are... perhaps not very good parents? My brother is human. They were... they were confused. Much of his raising was left to me and... and then I was left here. It hurts. To be... put aside, no matter the reason. I... I am lucky in that at least my reason is noble, if not exactly kind.'' Reaching out, she tries to take Marian's hand.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian takes Lightsong's hand. "She told me not to come back," she whispers. "She wrote, 'don't trouble yourself to return. We have no need of you here. When your education is complete, you shall be free to make our own way in the world.' As if I were... as if I were dreading a return instead of..."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong winces, squeezing Marian's hand tightly. ''That was deeply unkind of her. Even if you were not close, you are still family. You should still be allowed to come together with them and grieve.''