Post by Jillene nó Valerian (I) on Sept 7, 2007 2:35:51 GMT -5
I remember the day my father told me I would be fostered at the night court; it's a day I'll never forget.
I knew that my father was once an adept of the Night Court, particularly of Valerian House, and that he had lived there as a young man, finishing his marque as any other adept would and finding love in the arms of his most treasured patron.
I was about nine years old and I had just broken my arm falling off my horse, a rather interesting accident in and of itself, but that was when I finally found out what Valerian was all about. I remember the Chirurgeon setting my arm, the sharp pain of it bringing tears to my eyes but I never cried out. I had almost swooned from the overwhelming emotions that fought for my attention as the the bone was set but I held onto my father's arm tightly and breathlessly waited it out.
After it was all over and I'd had a bit of time to think over a few things I spoke with my father. I asked him why was it that I wanted my arm to be broken again just so I could feel the touch of pain that came with it, and I asked him if it was because I was his daughter and I got it from him.
After looking at me with a somewhat surprised expression on his face for a few moments, he answered me. 'Ah, my dear, it's not just that you come from me, you come from your mother also. But more importantly you come from Kushiel's line, both from my side and from your mother's. The bloodline isn't so strong that His gifts manifest in every one of us but every so often it comes to bear in full bloom in one of our children. So it's not only that you are like me, it's more that you are like all of us, you just happen to be special enough to call on his bloodline more so than the half dozen others we have in our family.' He told me, a strange mix of pride and sorrow in his eyes.
It was then that he told me I was to attend the same house that he had, that I was to be fostered at Valerian house when my arm was healed.
When he told me I suddenly had too many questions for him to answer, so many things I wanted to know. I begged my mother to tell me more about the Night Court and she did, telling me all that I wanted to know, and more, and I eagerly devoured each tidbit of knowledge she had to offer.
I found myself rapt with amazement and anticipation, and quite literally begging for my arm to heal quickly so I could discover the Night Court, and myself. It took a lot of effort to patiently wait out that summer, the days and weeks and months that it took for my arm to heal driving me crazy with the desire I had to explore my new awareness.
The day finally came after I'd been free of my brace and sling and my arm had almost fully recovered when I was finally allowed to pack my bags for the journey to the City.
~~~
"Mother!" I called, still hunting for my favorite dress, the red one I'd worn for my name-day celebration just last season, "I still can't find it!" I told her, my voice pitched to carry throughout the entire house. I had torn apart my entire room looking for the gown, to no avail.
"Jillene, how in the world can one little girl such as yourself make such a mess!" She exclaimed, pulling open my bedroom door and seeing the disaster I had made of my belongings. "Oh, never mind, I'll have Celia clean it up later. What are you doing!" She demanded of me, her hands on her hips in that 'I'm in charge' look of hers.
"I can't find the dress I want to bring. Its not here, and it should be." I said, turning to face her and gesturing at the wild array of gowns and dresses strewn around my room. "I wanted to bring the gown you got me for my name-day."
She rolled her eyes at me, "Did you even think to ask one of the maids where it has gotten to? They do clean them, you know, that's probably where it is."
"No, I was just looking for it myself." I told her, rubbing my arm from where I'd carelessly hit it against the door of my wardrobe in my wild attempt to locate my dress.
My mother assured me that my dress was simply in a place I had not looked and that It would be alright to leave everything to the staff and that they would know exactly were to find it. I gave in and let her take me to her rooms where we enjoyed lunch while my things were packed and my dress was found.
I was just so excited that I could finally go, it was all I could do to sit idly by and let things be. I would miss my parents, yes, but I'd see them again, they promised to have me visit so I wasn't worried, just jittery with nerves and so excited I thought I'd jump out of my skin. After all the waiting and endless counting of the days and weeks that had passed I was more than ready to leave.
~~~
It was with a light heart and a happy smile that I said my goodbyes that afternoon, giving hugs to my parents and the staff members who had taken such good care of me. I don't remember looking back after waving goodbye to my family, but I know that they kept waving long after I was out of sight. I didn't even think of them for much longer than it took to make the main road in front of our house, all I could think about was the fact that the Waiting was finally over and that the next place I would sleep at would be Valerian house.
I knew that my father was once an adept of the Night Court, particularly of Valerian House, and that he had lived there as a young man, finishing his marque as any other adept would and finding love in the arms of his most treasured patron.
I was about nine years old and I had just broken my arm falling off my horse, a rather interesting accident in and of itself, but that was when I finally found out what Valerian was all about. I remember the Chirurgeon setting my arm, the sharp pain of it bringing tears to my eyes but I never cried out. I had almost swooned from the overwhelming emotions that fought for my attention as the the bone was set but I held onto my father's arm tightly and breathlessly waited it out.
After it was all over and I'd had a bit of time to think over a few things I spoke with my father. I asked him why was it that I wanted my arm to be broken again just so I could feel the touch of pain that came with it, and I asked him if it was because I was his daughter and I got it from him.
After looking at me with a somewhat surprised expression on his face for a few moments, he answered me. 'Ah, my dear, it's not just that you come from me, you come from your mother also. But more importantly you come from Kushiel's line, both from my side and from your mother's. The bloodline isn't so strong that His gifts manifest in every one of us but every so often it comes to bear in full bloom in one of our children. So it's not only that you are like me, it's more that you are like all of us, you just happen to be special enough to call on his bloodline more so than the half dozen others we have in our family.' He told me, a strange mix of pride and sorrow in his eyes.
It was then that he told me I was to attend the same house that he had, that I was to be fostered at Valerian house when my arm was healed.
When he told me I suddenly had too many questions for him to answer, so many things I wanted to know. I begged my mother to tell me more about the Night Court and she did, telling me all that I wanted to know, and more, and I eagerly devoured each tidbit of knowledge she had to offer.
I found myself rapt with amazement and anticipation, and quite literally begging for my arm to heal quickly so I could discover the Night Court, and myself. It took a lot of effort to patiently wait out that summer, the days and weeks and months that it took for my arm to heal driving me crazy with the desire I had to explore my new awareness.
The day finally came after I'd been free of my brace and sling and my arm had almost fully recovered when I was finally allowed to pack my bags for the journey to the City.
~~~
"Mother!" I called, still hunting for my favorite dress, the red one I'd worn for my name-day celebration just last season, "I still can't find it!" I told her, my voice pitched to carry throughout the entire house. I had torn apart my entire room looking for the gown, to no avail.
"Jillene, how in the world can one little girl such as yourself make such a mess!" She exclaimed, pulling open my bedroom door and seeing the disaster I had made of my belongings. "Oh, never mind, I'll have Celia clean it up later. What are you doing!" She demanded of me, her hands on her hips in that 'I'm in charge' look of hers.
"I can't find the dress I want to bring. Its not here, and it should be." I said, turning to face her and gesturing at the wild array of gowns and dresses strewn around my room. "I wanted to bring the gown you got me for my name-day."
She rolled her eyes at me, "Did you even think to ask one of the maids where it has gotten to? They do clean them, you know, that's probably where it is."
"No, I was just looking for it myself." I told her, rubbing my arm from where I'd carelessly hit it against the door of my wardrobe in my wild attempt to locate my dress.
My mother assured me that my dress was simply in a place I had not looked and that It would be alright to leave everything to the staff and that they would know exactly were to find it. I gave in and let her take me to her rooms where we enjoyed lunch while my things were packed and my dress was found.
I was just so excited that I could finally go, it was all I could do to sit idly by and let things be. I would miss my parents, yes, but I'd see them again, they promised to have me visit so I wasn't worried, just jittery with nerves and so excited I thought I'd jump out of my skin. After all the waiting and endless counting of the days and weeks that had passed I was more than ready to leave.
~~~
It was with a light heart and a happy smile that I said my goodbyes that afternoon, giving hugs to my parents and the staff members who had taken such good care of me. I don't remember looking back after waving goodbye to my family, but I know that they kept waving long after I was out of sight. I didn't even think of them for much longer than it took to make the main road in front of our house, all I could think about was the fact that the Waiting was finally over and that the next place I would sleep at would be Valerian house.