In the Dead of Night- Part II

Writers: Stasha
Date Posted: 7th March 2008

Characters: Murasha, Alasha
Description: Murasha and Alasha run away from the cothold, but they are not the only ones
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 4

Alasha fumbled with the buttons of her coat as she fastened it closed.
Everything was happening so fast, she thought as she tied her pack shut and slung it over her shoulder. Would they survive the journey to Dragonsfall? It was still winter, thread still fell, and what about the felines? Alasha had heard the tales of the wild beasts attacking, but she also knew felines were the least of their worries.

No, she could not back down now. If she remained in the cothold she would be gone by morning and she would be at the mercy of Bortalis and Ranillis. She would be no man's servant. "Zephyr?" she whispered to her flit.

She did not need to do anything more. The little bronze glided to her shoulder and curled against the curve of her neck.

Before Alasha left she glanced at her room one last time. She would miss the cothold, but she knew she was leaving for a better place, and she would finally be free of it all.

She crept silently down the hallway, passed Desamin's room. She was assured that he did not stir when she heard him soundly sleeping on the other side of the door. It seemed like a long trek down the hallway, but she made it down the corridor without a sound, or so she thought.

"Ash?"

The sound of her name made her freeze in her steps. She cast a glance over her shoulder and quickly recognized the lean towering figure of her brother Nelaso.

"Alasha," he called her more formally now. He came forward into the light of the faint covered glow, which reflected off his wide face, protruding eyes, and pointed nose. "Where are you going?"

She did not know what to say. If she told him the truth, she knew he would go to Desamin.

But Nelaso was no fool. He quickly spotted the pack and the weyrhide coat that she was bundled in. "You're running away, aren't you?" He replied almost accusingly.

"He's going to sell me as a servant to Bortalis and Ranillis." She took a step to him, her tone more desperate now. Her only hope was that Nelaso would understand.

Nelaso studied his sister. "How do you kn-"

"They came to an agreement tonight. Desamin's going to send me with them tomorrow, but," she could feel the tears swelling in her eyes. "I can't do it Nelaso. I can't..." It took a lot of self control to keep herself from breaking down in the hallway.

"No, you can't," and he did not expect her to. "Where will you go?"

"The Weyr," she replied.

"Dragonsfall?" But the journey there was so far.

Alasha nodded. "Mama's getting-"

"Mother?" She was leaving too? It was hard enough for him to swallow Alasha's departure, but his mother?

Oh no. Alasha kicked herself for speaking so soon. "I'm sorry." She should have held her tongue.

Nelaso turned away from her, trying to make sense of it all. He could not just leave them to their own to fend for themselves in the wilderness. He shuttered when he imagined what would happen if a band of renegades found them defenseless. And he certainly could not tell Desamin. Nelaso could not bare the thought of what those two men would have her do. In the end, he was left with only one choice. "I'm coming with you."

"You're what?" She could hardly believe what he was saying.

"I said I'm coming," and that was that. "Look, you and Mama won't survive a day alone out there. If I come at least you'll have a chance."

Who was she to argue with him? Besides, he was just as stubborn as she was, and she knew once he made the decision he could not be swayed. It was that undieing loyalty that ran through their veins, just like their mother. "Okay," she could only agree to allow him to come.

"I'm coming too!" another voice whispered out.

It was Hedona! And she was already packed and ready to go. She must have over heard them in the hallway.

"When are we leaving?" Hedona stood eagerly, ready to go.

"Hedona, do you know what you're saying?" And what about Edana? She knew it would be hard on both twins to be separated like that.

"Yes," she nodded eagerly. "I don't want to stay here forever, Alasha.
I want to see all of Pern." And she certainly could not do that in the cothold.

"But what about Edana?" Nelaso asked the obvious question on both their minds.

Hedona cast her eyes down before she turned back to her siblings.
"Edana's in love with this life. She would never understand. But I'll see her again someday, and I can live with this choice, knowing that."

Hedona was normally such a soft spoken person. Never had Alasha heard her speak with such conviction. She really did want to leave.

It took a moment of hesitation before Nelaso and Alasha said yes.
Hedona only grinned back as her excitement radiated off of her.

***********

"Alasha, what is this?" Murasha was furious when she saw Nelaso and Hedona by Alasha's side.

"It isn't her fault," Nelaso stepped forward. "She had no choice, besides, it's not like I could leave you two to fend for yourselves.
You'd never make it."

"And Hedona?"

"I asked to come, Mama," Hedona answered quickly.

Murasha eyed her three children sternly, but inside she felt nothing but relief. It meant so much to her to be able to have them there with her. "Very well, but we must leave now."

It was not long before the runnerbeasts were strapped with saddles and the very little gear that they had. Before the sun ever even rose, the four of them were off, away from the cothold and the life that it would have bared upon them. For the first time in Alasha's life she finally felt the light of freedom, and it was just as marvelous as she had imagined. Nothing could hold her back any longer; she would finally pursue the dream that she had always wanted.

Once again she could feel her soul lift high into the clouds. She flew far and free on Jezith's back. With the wind in her hair and the cot not far behind her, she soared towards the horizon to the new path that now laid before her.

Last updated on the March 9th 2008

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In the Dead of Night- Part II