Post by Leyna de Somerville on Sept 30, 2005 1:09:21 GMT -5
I was kneeling in a stall in the barn checking on a ewe who was close to birthing when I heard the familiar sound of my father approaching. I stroked the ewe's side, feeling the position of the lamb within her. It would still be a few days yet. I stood up, not even bothering to brush the straw from my skirt, and peeked over the stall to catch sight of my father. A wide smile curved my lips as I saw him start slightly as I popped up, then he laughed.
"I knew you'd be in here. I honestly don't know if you are ever in your own rooms," he said, shaking his head.
I opened the stall door and Shylah bounded out and ran toward my father. Just before she bowled into him, she slid to a halt and stood with her feathery tail wagging swiftly. No one had ever had to tell Shylah that my father couldn't handle the force of her body against his without losing his balance, she just knew. She was always so careful not to get in the way of his cane or be a bother to him. He reached out to scratch her ears just the way he knew she loved. Shylah's tail sped up and I could see her lean her head into his hand. I secured the stall door and went to where they stood.
With a last scratch, he turned his attention from Shylah to me. He took my arm with his free one and we walked outside. The day was amazingly clear, the sky almost too blue to be real. I smiled at my father, I could tell he wanted to talk about something, but I also knew it was best to just let him come to it in his own time.
We finally settled on a bench beneath a large apple tree that my father had planted the day I was born. He released my arm, but still held my hand.
"Leyna, your mother and I love you more than either of us ever imagined was possible. As much as we would prefer to keep you close, we both know it's time for you to see more of Terra d'Ange. " He took a breath and smiled softly. "Ever since you turned nineteen we have had people in the City of Elua preparing our house there for you. It will be ready in a fortnight, and that will be when it is time for you to go."
I opened my mouth to ask one of the thousand questions going through my mind, but my father squeezed my hand gently and I stayed silent.
"Your mother and I will be staying here. We believe it's time for you to start finding your way as an adult, but we will be here whenever you need us." He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. "I am so proud of you, my sweet gift from Elua. I know you will bring joy to everyone you meet there just as you do here."
A lump rose in my throat and I wrapped my arms around my father. "I love you," I told him. There was nothing more I could say to express my feelings. He returned my embrace before slowly rising.
He looked down on me with a smile, "You had best go find your mother. She is waiting to help you pack your things." With that he turned and walked away. As I watched him go, Shylah put her head in my lap and I stroked her forehead.
When my father had gone inside I looked down at the sweet brown eyes of my best friend. "Well, well, well. Seems we are in for a change of scenery," I told her. Her tail swept the ground like a great furry broom. Laughing I stood up and headed down the same path my father had taken, Shylah right by my side.
"I knew you'd be in here. I honestly don't know if you are ever in your own rooms," he said, shaking his head.
I opened the stall door and Shylah bounded out and ran toward my father. Just before she bowled into him, she slid to a halt and stood with her feathery tail wagging swiftly. No one had ever had to tell Shylah that my father couldn't handle the force of her body against his without losing his balance, she just knew. She was always so careful not to get in the way of his cane or be a bother to him. He reached out to scratch her ears just the way he knew she loved. Shylah's tail sped up and I could see her lean her head into his hand. I secured the stall door and went to where they stood.
With a last scratch, he turned his attention from Shylah to me. He took my arm with his free one and we walked outside. The day was amazingly clear, the sky almost too blue to be real. I smiled at my father, I could tell he wanted to talk about something, but I also knew it was best to just let him come to it in his own time.
We finally settled on a bench beneath a large apple tree that my father had planted the day I was born. He released my arm, but still held my hand.
"Leyna, your mother and I love you more than either of us ever imagined was possible. As much as we would prefer to keep you close, we both know it's time for you to see more of Terra d'Ange. " He took a breath and smiled softly. "Ever since you turned nineteen we have had people in the City of Elua preparing our house there for you. It will be ready in a fortnight, and that will be when it is time for you to go."
I opened my mouth to ask one of the thousand questions going through my mind, but my father squeezed my hand gently and I stayed silent.
"Your mother and I will be staying here. We believe it's time for you to start finding your way as an adult, but we will be here whenever you need us." He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. "I am so proud of you, my sweet gift from Elua. I know you will bring joy to everyone you meet there just as you do here."
A lump rose in my throat and I wrapped my arms around my father. "I love you," I told him. There was nothing more I could say to express my feelings. He returned my embrace before slowly rising.
He looked down on me with a smile, "You had best go find your mother. She is waiting to help you pack your things." With that he turned and walked away. As I watched him go, Shylah put her head in my lap and I stroked her forehead.
When my father had gone inside I looked down at the sweet brown eyes of my best friend. "Well, well, well. Seems we are in for a change of scenery," I told her. Her tail swept the ground like a great furry broom. Laughing I stood up and headed down the same path my father had taken, Shylah right by my side.