Post by Lavandul on May 4, 2022 5:36:21 GMT
CW: Child abuse, content hidden in Spoiler
They dreamed of drowning. Upon waking, the wet on their face had come from multiple sources, either from the stark fear that gripped them or the frigid sweat. Their small hands pawed at their father's currently wrapped around their throat, gasping in the silence as they blinked the tears dripping onto their face. Pawing turned to alarmed scratching, the child's bronze complexion turning red as they didn't understand why this was happening, but hoped it would end very soon and he would be back.
Father was in pain, crying and desperately whispering something in a language they hadn't learned yet. To him it was another ghost.
The autumn nymph vanished in an afterimage as they flashed to the other side of the room, swallowing hiccups as they hurried to their familial alter. The door was gently closed and locked behind them in a motion that was thoroughly practiced, shuddering out a hum as they recited a hymn to soothe themselves.
They sung it properly with a raw throat as the cautious knock eventually came, lighting the bundle of sage as they smudged the area and kept keenly focused on their task. The single tap at the door was not followed up on, but they heard the adult body slowly slide against the wood as a shadow blocked the crack beneath the door. They ignored the elf, knowing that wasn't their father, and continued to be diligent with the ritual the priest had taught them. A fevered plea, muffled by the elf's head in his hands as he tentatively called out from the other side.
"...I'm sorry...."
The whole devotion took the rest of the evening, where only the light through the carved mosaic to the open sky indicated they were permitted to stop. Lavender carefully cracked the door open to the sleeping form of their parent still leaning against the wall, and they crawled on all fours away to dart towards the foyer and out into the morning street.
"Where are your sandals, precious?" their neighbour called out, a disapproving frown on her face as she watched the door for the eladrin's father. She clearly hoped the man had heard her; the fact that his progeny was running around with bare feet and braids starting to feather caused her some embarrassment on his behalf.
The child offered a wobbly smile as they shrugged, walking backwards a few steps to not deign anything alarming while they properly greeted her. She didn't smile back, asking where Yesanith was.
"On a trip. The Grove called him," they explained, gesturing that they were indeed going to the temple — as per expectation. The doctor's child was independent and responsible, though prone to passions evocative of the fey as the Wild swept through them. Their neighbour seemed pleased with this development, and would offer a tithe to the Ladies in hopes of maybe a second child were to eventually bless their community. She returned Lavender's smile with a proper grin this time, offering to bring them some honeycomb later.
As Lavender vaulted over the final step of the black stone temple, the priest caught their arm before they tracked dirt into the polished marble of the Respite.
"Where is your father?" he asked patiently, bending to pick one of the red leaves loosely dangling over their eye.
"He's sick agai-"
The eladrin's shoulder hitched at the stern, flat expression the priest offered, squeezing a little tighter in silent admonishment — they weren't to bring shame. "He's on a trip," they repeated breathlessly, like a charm to make it all better again. It did. The warmth returned as the priest let go and welcomed them to breakfast with the other laymen, instructing them with a familiar routine as he stepped back towards Lavender's house to take care of everything for the following weeks.
Lavender breathed. Their dad would eventually come back.
Things would be fine again.