In the Dead of Night- Part I

Writers: Stasha
Date Posted: 7th March 2008

Characters: Murasha, Alasha
Description: Murasha comes to the realization that unless she does something she will lose Alasha
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 4

Murasha was quiet as she closed her door, not wanting the lock to snap when it closed shut. Her mind wavered from one event to another. Too much had happened that night, but beyond everything one thought haunted her the most: She was going to lose her daughter.

Her hand attempted to catch the tight cries that escaped her. She could not hold back any longer. She failed her, she had failed Alasha.
Murasha clung to her mouth as wales released. It was too much for her to bare, to watch it end like this. "No, no, no, no, no," she whispered. This could not be happening. She wanted to deny it all, but her tears and fresh memories brought her back to the cold reality.

No, she could not let this happen, she would not allow it. She swollowed her tears, forcing herself to become composed again. Time was too short to weep over things that had yet to pass, especially if she still had a mark of hope to alter her daughter's future.

********

Alasha laid in bed, her eyes gazing at the faint light that glowed through the slit under the door. She could only wait for the outcome, but her soul feared the conclusion. Would she be sold into slavery, to bid to Bortalis's beck and call. She feared what they would have her do. She had heard the tales of what servants and "mistresses" had to succumb to. And a slave? Alasha could only hope it did not come to that. And again she found herself yearning to escape it all, and flee for the weyr. But what of her mother? Her mind recoiled, as she mulled over what Desamin would do to her if Alasha ran away. His threatening words were burned into her memories, and shackled her to her fate with Bortalis. If she left... but no, she would not. She would not cower.
She would be strong, she would...

The faint light under the door shifted as some one passed by, distracting Alasha from her thoughts. When the shadow did not depart Alasha began to feel her chest throb. The shadow hovered outside her door, and then the knock rapped at her door.

She held her breath and did not answer. Was it her mother? Soneya?
Perhaps it was Desamin, or Bortalis...

"Alasha," a voice whispered on the other side.

Was it? Alasha lifted her head from the pillow as Zephyr trilled curiously. It _was_ her mother.

"Alasha, my love, please open the door."

The girl dashed for the door and opened it just enough for her mother to enter. "What happened?" Did she succeed? Were the men swayed from their decision? She attempted to read her mother's emotions, but her movement was stealthy, and did not hint at the feelings that she hid from her daughter.

Murasha did not answer her. "Pack only what you must," Murasha hurried her.

"But," Did that mean he had won? Alasha found herself at loss of words, and then Desamin's turn old words came back to her. "No, I can't leave-"

"Alasha there is no time to argue." Now was not a time for the girl's stubborn loyalty to ring through.

"But I can't leave. If he finds out he'll hurt you," or even worse.

Murasha quickly embraced her daughter, holding her as if life itself would escape the girl if she let go. "I'm coming with you," Murasha looked back down at Alasha, combing the strands of black hair from her face. "I'm coming with you, and we will leave for Dragonsfall tonight."

Alasha studied her mother's face in the dimly lit room. "You're coming?"

Murasha knew Alasha would not have left on her own, and after a lot of thought, Murasha realized she could never leave her youngest. Still, she admitted it would also be difficult leaving her other children, and she found herself thinking of the pain it would cause her to leave them. But they had Desamin, who was someone Alasha did not have. What would they think of her? Abandoning them in the dead of night without so much of a good-bye? Murasha knew she would miss Nelaso and Hedona the most. "Yes, I'm coming."

"But-"

"No, buts. I'm coming." She would make the sacrifice, but Murasha could see the hesitation in Alasha's eyes. "Do you want to go with Bortalis and Ranillis?"

Of course not. Alasha's face contorted in disgust "No." How could she even suggest such a thing?

"Then unless we leave tonight, you will. No more questions, no more hesitations." And she would not watch her own daughter make her own mistake.

Alasha could not argue with her, and the idea of escaping was more than enough reason for Alasha to follow her mother away from the cothold. She gave her mother a final embrace, before her mother departed.

"Meet me in the stables within the candlemark," Murasha whispered her last command to her daughter before she closed the door behind her.

They would leave tonight.

Last updated on the March 9th 2008

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In the Dead of Night- Part I