The Unexpected Confrontation

Writers: Cymiri, Jelena
Date Posted: 18th March 2016

Characters: Daimhin, Genna
Description: A stand-off in the hallways of Amber Hills Hold.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 7 of Turn 8

Genna

Genna had come to the Hold unannounced, not wanting to give her mother time to prepare for the conversation to come, so Sinla couldn't strategize on ways to manipulate Genna into agreeing with her. But it had been so long ago since she'd been at Amber Hills, that she realised she hadn't prepared herself enough. Lissath had landed a bit away from the Hold, but Genna should have known there was no way a visiting gold dragon could not attract attention. As soon as she stepped into the once so familiar hallways, she heard the news of her arrival buzzing around.

Genna spent so much time 'catching up' with 'old friends' as she made her way to her family's quarters, she was sure her mother knew she was coming way in advance. Finally, she found herself a quiet hallway, one she used to go to as a child when she wanted to be alone, and she could finally hurry along like she wanted to. But when she turned a corner, another familiar face awaited her. And not one she had counted on seeing. "You." she almost snarled as she came face to face with Daihmin.

Daihmin stepped back without seeing, pressing his back to the corridor wall to let the other person past. The action was automatic by now. The snarl penetrated his thoughts before anything else, and his hand brushed the hilt of his weapon. Then she herself registered.

The sight of her was almost painful, so like and yet so very unlike her mother, such anger on her face.But none of it showed as he swept a half bow and said quietly.

"My Lady."

"Don't you call me that," Genna almost hissed, suddenly feeling herself flooding with anger. She had come to confront her mother, but walking into Daihmin like this changed her mind instantly. He was just as much to blame as her mother. "Don't you dare call anyone a lady when you treat women the way you do."

The inner parts of the man seethed at being addressed so by what was- in the end- a snotty child, but he was mature enough to understand both why and his fault in it, and his face remained calm and voice quiet.

"As you wish, Goldrider."

His jaw tightened at her implication, but he kept it under control.

" I mistreat no one. Man or woman. You may think of me how you wish, but that is nothing but a lie."

"So you think ruining a woman's reputation and that of her children isn't mistreatment?" Genna bit harshly.

"I think you are young and still full of life and opportunities enough to think reputation is all that matters."

It was said incredibly sadly, although he expected no sympathy from this source.

"It is not all that matters, but to my younger siblings it is pretty important right now," Genna shook her head in disbelief. How could this man still think he wasn't in the wrong? "If you really do love her, why are you so intent on destroying her?"

He physically flinched. It wouldn't have been his choice to let her see it, but she'd managed to hit the nerve of guilt and pain he carried. Which may have been why the answer, though quiet and controlled, was more candid and lashed out more then he would ordinarily have allowed himself to -at a woman and at someone younger then him.

"Your family has managed that already, Goldrider. A man so blinded by glitter he does not value the only precious thing he'll ever have, and a girl who's raging sense of self drove her mother to foolishly cling to all that was left. Do you want to call me weak, Goldrider? Do it. Wicked? Contemptible? There's nothing you can find words for that will beat the ones I think to myself daily. What do you imagine your hate can do to a man who can't even meet his own eyes in the mirror each morning? But no matter my own crimes, I'm not the one who took a vibrant living *precious* creature and locked it in a tiny box to beat it's wings against the walls until they broke with despair and still will never care so long as it continues to chirp prettily on command. And even then, your wonderful, precious mother held her faith and would have held it 'til it killed her, if her treasured daughter hadn't looked on that despair and seen fit to offer nothing but judgment and contempt for her strength and her pain..."

He bit the edge of his lip and looked away. He should not have said it, though he'd thought it more then once.

"I'm guilty. Do you want me to say that? But I am not responsible for the cruelty in your mother's life. Look at me, Goldrider. Do you seriously imagine a woman like Sinla would even *glance* at me if she had *anything* else? But people can only stare into the sucking empty void of life alone so long before it feels like there's nothing left in the world and *that's* when you will cling to anything that promises you connection- and you find a justification for it whatever it costs you..."

He held her eyes a moment, then looked away again. His voice was more level and the emotion was gone from it and his face

"I doubt... I hope, actually, in one so young... that you have no conception of that pain or how it eats you from the inside, Genna, and I even hope you never learn it now your life is going to be so very different. May that big gold beast of yours give you company and comfort forever so you never learn how it feels to be utterly alone. But if you're here to swing those pretty shiny knots around as I rather suspect you are, by Faranth's eggs take your spite out on me and leave your mother alone. Or, if you're half the daughter your mother deserves, go tell her you love her and she matters to you instead and achieve with kindness what you think can only be done with cruelty. But whatever you want with me, do it quickly because I am actually on duty- and when you're done, I suspect I'll have nothing left but that. *If* you're feeling generous. Goldrider."

Genna shook her head in disbelief. "Tell yourself whatever you want to justify what you did. Tell yourself you tried to save my mother from a life of despair. Maybe she was unhappy, yes, but maybe she was just ungrateful. And maybe you were a nice new toy to dispell her boredom for a while. Have you ever thought of that?" Genna shook her head once more. "I will leave you to your duties then. And I do hope you will have more than your duties one day, with someone who is actually suitable for you. Someone who can actually make you happy and love you, instead of just using you as you are using her. I may be young and foolish to believe in such a thing, but I do hope it does exist. For all of us."

"I justify nothing. I pity your ingratitude."

Had she ever thought that her teenage arrogance knew nothing of the real world? It broke his heart to hear such arrogant unkindness aimed at a woman who didn't merit it. Her mother deserved a better daughter. But Daihmin was too broken to put words to that.

"For the sake of all that is, little queenrider, make your blind and blinkered father see the treasure in what he has. Your unkind judgments are as worthless as his fake platitudes. Don't let death be the first time you see it. Death comes all too unexpected, sometimes."

She received a curt brisk bow before he turned his back on her to walk away, unwilling to let her see tears.

Genna blinked at his mention of death, for a moment wondering if he was threatening her. But no, this sad little man would do no such thing. As he turned to leave, she let him go, feeling there was nothing she could say that would make him see how corrupted his view on things really was. She'd put an end to this madness another way.

Last updated on the April 1st 2016

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The Unexpected Confrontation