Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Dec 19, 2005 8:12:27 GMT -5
Anthine straightened her shoulders, inhaled a deep, calming breath, and prepared herself to enter Dahlia House's main hall. Her eyes cast back and forth taking a mental accounting of her appearance- the fine, threadbare gown that was the best she could afford, the tight, worn expression on her face that only faded when she smiled, and her fine auburn hair, now shot through with grey. Finally, she closed her eyes and, when she opened them, she was once again a dignified Daughter, with a heritage just as fine as any nobility.
Allisande, only six, had no worries or doubts of self-consciousness; she had been told what was about to happen, about her progenitors and her mother's disgrace, and understood that this was the purpose to which herself, and many before her, had been born. Even at her tender age, she understood that there was a nobility and strength involved in following the path that Fate set for you, and it gave her comfort.
"No matter how lonely or scared you are," her mother had said that morning, "Remember the task which you have been born into, and make your ancestors proud. When you are lonely, they will be your comfort; when you are scared, their sacrifice to make you what you are today will give you strength of will. And I will be there with you, as well, even if it's only in dreams and memories."
Together they entered the hall, the banished Adept and the proud, beautiful child- one aurburn and fair, the other a curly, deep brunette with her mother's skin; the mother's green eyes downcast, the child's hazel looking about frankly, appraising her surroundings. When Anthine had finally reached the end of the hall, she knelt abeyante before the Dowayne, motioning her daughter into a similar pose.
The Dowayne looked down at them both; looking scornfully at the mother, and appraisingly at the daughter. Finally, he said, "Rise, Allisande- I want to get the measure of you."
Allisande stood, and though her best dress was chafing her back and her shoes itched, she showed no discomfort. She stepped foreward when he beckoned her foreward, looking into his cool green eyes and never looking away or showing unease.
The Dowayne leaned forward. "Do you know why you are here, little kestrel?"
Allisande nodded. "Yes sir; I'm here to reclaim my family's honor and serve Namaah. "
"And does that please you?"
The girl thought on her words for a moment. "It pleases me to bring honor back to my family and to serve my purpose."
The Dowayne smiled. "You are a precocious girl. But what if I were to deny your mother's request? What would become of your honor then?"
Anthine stiffened in her pose. Calmly, regally, Allisande quietly replied, "Then I will live my life the best I am able, for I know I have something to offer to this world, and to Elua, just by doing what I know to be right."
The Dowayne's smile widened- did she see approval there?- and he motioned for Anthine to stand. "You have raised your daughter very well, even with your limited means. Dahlia House accepts."
Anthine's proud gaze fell on her daughter, and she said, "Thank you. She is my only daughter, and while it pains me to see her go, she will become something great, if given the chance." Then, to Allisande, she said, "I will keep the Dowayne informed should we move, so that once you are an Adept, you may come and see me. I do this for love of Namaah..and you." She pushed Allisande's hair back from her face, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and strode proudly from the hall.
Allisande watched her mother leave, confusion evident on her face. An Adept who had stepped forward to take her to the dorms asked, "Why such a look? What puzzles you?"
The girl looked up at her. "My mother didn't cry. Is she not sad that she won't see me?"
The adept looked at her sympathically. "She was so proud of the way you carried yourself and so sure of your love for her-and hers for you- that she knows you will meet again, even if it's in the next life. She doesn't worry for you; she knows that she will always be with you."
Still unsure, but willing to accept, Allisande followed the woman to the dorms, head still held high, and still shedding no tears of her own.
Allisande, only six, had no worries or doubts of self-consciousness; she had been told what was about to happen, about her progenitors and her mother's disgrace, and understood that this was the purpose to which herself, and many before her, had been born. Even at her tender age, she understood that there was a nobility and strength involved in following the path that Fate set for you, and it gave her comfort.
"No matter how lonely or scared you are," her mother had said that morning, "Remember the task which you have been born into, and make your ancestors proud. When you are lonely, they will be your comfort; when you are scared, their sacrifice to make you what you are today will give you strength of will. And I will be there with you, as well, even if it's only in dreams and memories."
Together they entered the hall, the banished Adept and the proud, beautiful child- one aurburn and fair, the other a curly, deep brunette with her mother's skin; the mother's green eyes downcast, the child's hazel looking about frankly, appraising her surroundings. When Anthine had finally reached the end of the hall, she knelt abeyante before the Dowayne, motioning her daughter into a similar pose.
The Dowayne looked down at them both; looking scornfully at the mother, and appraisingly at the daughter. Finally, he said, "Rise, Allisande- I want to get the measure of you."
Allisande stood, and though her best dress was chafing her back and her shoes itched, she showed no discomfort. She stepped foreward when he beckoned her foreward, looking into his cool green eyes and never looking away or showing unease.
The Dowayne leaned forward. "Do you know why you are here, little kestrel?"
Allisande nodded. "Yes sir; I'm here to reclaim my family's honor and serve Namaah. "
"And does that please you?"
The girl thought on her words for a moment. "It pleases me to bring honor back to my family and to serve my purpose."
The Dowayne smiled. "You are a precocious girl. But what if I were to deny your mother's request? What would become of your honor then?"
Anthine stiffened in her pose. Calmly, regally, Allisande quietly replied, "Then I will live my life the best I am able, for I know I have something to offer to this world, and to Elua, just by doing what I know to be right."
The Dowayne's smile widened- did she see approval there?- and he motioned for Anthine to stand. "You have raised your daughter very well, even with your limited means. Dahlia House accepts."
Anthine's proud gaze fell on her daughter, and she said, "Thank you. She is my only daughter, and while it pains me to see her go, she will become something great, if given the chance." Then, to Allisande, she said, "I will keep the Dowayne informed should we move, so that once you are an Adept, you may come and see me. I do this for love of Namaah..and you." She pushed Allisande's hair back from her face, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and strode proudly from the hall.
Allisande watched her mother leave, confusion evident on her face. An Adept who had stepped forward to take her to the dorms asked, "Why such a look? What puzzles you?"
The girl looked up at her. "My mother didn't cry. Is she not sad that she won't see me?"
The adept looked at her sympathically. "She was so proud of the way you carried yourself and so sure of your love for her-and hers for you- that she knows you will meet again, even if it's in the next life. She doesn't worry for you; she knows that she will always be with you."
Still unsure, but willing to accept, Allisande followed the woman to the dorms, head still held high, and still shedding no tears of her own.