Backstory: Ari & Mai: Velvet Over Steel

[Grace Ouilet]

Dated a couple weeks before the first fight of the war.

The days were long, the nights too short. I was worked enough that, coupled with my pregnancy, I was exhausted by the time I was given leave to curl up on my pallet, and given the stories I heard through the other women who had been captured with me, I was only thankful that Falki hadn't come to claim me for his. Not yet, anyway.

Midmorning found me seated on a stump, sewing a patch in a pair of Falki's ungodly ugly pants, and watching at the same time a cluster of his nine children. The sun shone, the birds called, and had I been anywhere but here, I'd have called it a nice day. Now, though, it was only one more day, and while I watched his children, I grieved and ached over the loss of my own, left behind in the raid that had stolen me here.

[Arianna Corelli]

The day was fair, fairer than most of the ones I'd experienced in this hell hole. I walked outside, having just fed the horses given that lout Eyvind a sound cuff on the ears for his vulgar efforts at wooing. It was a risk, behaving so, but it fended them off without any major punishment on my part.

There was a woman, sitting on a stump, watching the children of one of the men. Her eyes were shadowed and she seemed tired. I wasn't easily inclined to pity, but nevertheless something drew me to her. As I came closer I saw that she was doing some mending, and silently berated our captors. The woman was with child, she was overworked with these barbarians.

"Do you want me to do that?" I asked. I wasn't expecting a warm reaction, the D'Angeline women had noted and resented my difference quickly, wondering why a Caerdicci woman was spared the brutalities they were subjected to nightly. I supposed I wasn't pretty enough for them but that didn't bother me.

[Grace Ouilet]

The day droned on. Pretty weather, but it was all the same, and it wasn't right. Miryelle wasn't playing nearby, I couldn't hear her laughter, feel her hugs, kiss her hair, sing her to sleep, hold her though the night... I had no idea if she was even still alive, or if she was well, if she hurt or cried, if anyone was feeding her or holding her when she was sad... My lower lip trembled and I struggled against it, and was saved the embarrassment of crying in front of these harsh Skaldi women again by a voice whose accent held not the lilt of my own lands, but neither the gruffness of Skaldia.

I blinked against the line of moisture in my eyes as I looked up, the sun illuminating the figure of a woman before me. "No, that's alright," I responded, flickering a smile at her as I shifted so the sun was directly behind her head. She was built more.. solidly? No, not the right term. More crudely, mayhap, than the fine features of my homeland, but after bearing the thicker Skaldi women here, she was as beautiful as a sprite to me. "I think she may cut up more just to make me mend them if I allow anyone else to do this," I added, giving a lame attempt at a laugh.

[Arianna Corelli]

She had been crying, or was close to it. I didn't blame her, it was horrible here. I sat down beside her, tucking my gown beneath me. "I don't think anyone will notice," I held out my hand, "or mind, just as long as it gets done." Even if she wouldn't relent I decided to sit by her, not entirely at ease with thought of her sitting alone.

[Grace Ouilet]

"Marta would," I muttered softly as she settled herself. I was surprised by it, and shifted slightly, nervous that a Skaldi would come up and blame us both for her taking time to sit about here.

"Won't anyone come look for you?" I asked, soft, my gaze darting from the pants to her and up again, looking for anyone who might have a mind to cuff her and I both upside the head.

[Arianna Corelli]

I shrugged. "No one really takes notice of me, just as long as the children are fed and the horses are calm. I am too plain to draw their attention." Gazing around, I dropped my voice. "If I were more familiar with the country, I would have tried to escape by now."

[Grace Ouilet]

I started at her last comment, given discretely, but almost in an off-handed fashion. "You'd have escaped?" I queried, whisper-soft as I continued with my mending, not daring to take my eyes up from the garment to look at her. "I've heard stories of others who tried to escape and were brought back..."

Wouldn't I, though? For Miryelle, everything for my daughter. I had to worry about the babe in my stomach, but too I had to get back to Miryelle. Somehow, I had to do it.

[Arianna Corelli]

I nodded slightly. "Wouldn't you? If you had a fair chance at it. Surely you've thought about it too?"

Kai came to mind, with his quietly stern appearance. "There's someone I think, who might turn a blind eye. But for the fact that I know I would not be able to get to the border, I would try it."

[Grace Ouilet]

"I've thought about it," I said softly and slowly. Part of me was half afraid that she was a spy of sorts for the Skaldi, set apart to work with the horses rather than doing womens work with the rest of us. Or did she win that position by being forced to perform other 'favors'? Poor girl, if so.

"Do you know how far the border is?" I asked, my voice ever pitched quietly. I hadn't a clue, though unless they drove in circles while I slept in the wagon, it waas a long ways off.

[Arianna Corelli]

I'd been too scared and angry to pay attention to the surroundings when they'd taken me, I wish now that I'd been more observant.

"I'm not sure," I whispered. "Not so far on horseback, I think. I don't really remember."

[Grace Ouilet]

I nodded and bit my lower lip, holding that expression for a long moment before abruptly realizing what I was doing. Gods, the prospect of having Miryelle in my arms was too much to bear, and I nearly began crying again. Another long moment passed while I collected myself, and I looked up to the girl again, my gaze misty, but my expression harder than it had been before, more determined. Stronger.

"My little girl," I said softly. "They took me from her.. I need to get out of here, but I'm pregnant, and I'm terrified too that something will happen to this baby if I go. If.." I swallowed, then continued on, "If you get out and I'm unable to, can you look for her? Please, please.. She's but two, too little.. Elua I knew no one in the village. I'm so scared," I whispered, my eyes dropping away again.

[Arianna Corelli]

Oh Asherat, I hadn't meant to distress her further. I laid a hand briefly on hers, a clumsy attempt at comfort.

"I will get out of here, and so will you," the words came out like a vow and I meant them. "What is the name of your daughter? And yours, for that matter?"