Sesha I - An Abandoned Concept, Part 2
"For the last time, no." Elanoen said, voice soft but carrying that terse tone that it only did when he was becoming frustrated. Cherasesha knew when to be careful, knew from long experience just how far he could push his Father before it was to far. He had given his Father a myriad of good reasons so far as to why he should be allowed to go with him to the Weyr, but nothing seemed to move the man and he was running out of options and time.
"Please..." He gently pleaded once more, following his Father as he moved about the infirmary. Elanoen had been working when he son had come to him. The boy had been bothering him about this for nearly a week now, and so far, he had yet to give in. He knew how much his son wanted to travel with him to the Weyr, but he knew so very well what his wife would say to that. She would have both their hides and it was that danger he tried to get his son to understand. Cherasesha, however, hadn't been deterred and Elanoen was loosing his resolve. Unlike many families, theirs was based upon the strength of will. Between the four of them, whoever was the strongest usually got their way.
But none of them could stand up to Audra.
Elanoen hadn't quite known what he was getting himself into when he had married the woman. But she had been the daughter of the Hall leader, how could he have turned her down? And she had been so very beautiful. She still was, despite her iron fist. He had had so many plans for himself, nearly all of which had never come to fruition after his marriage. He was no longer the man he was, and he hardly ever noticed anymore.
"Papa please..." Cherasesha's voice pulled him back to the present and he looked over. Hazel eyes met hazel eyes and he couldn't help but feel pity for his son. Though he did not hate his life, it was not everything he had wanted it to be, everything that it should have been... And he knew, that would be his sons fate as well. Audra was already searching through the promising young girls in the Hall, looking for one with the same temperament as her own, to join Cherasesha with. He knew very well his son's personality was soft, like his own, and he would be left with nothing.
Cherasesha had taken his Fathers arm, holding himself close to the man in the same way he had done when he was little and had wanted attention or to be picked up. Things were different now though, and he and his Father had grown slightly apart. He had never wanted that to happen, but it seemed he had so little control over things anymore. And he wanted this so very badly. Just one more chance, just one to see the dragons again and then he would be content. He swore to himself that he would never ask for anything else ever again. His eyes shone, speaking much of what his heart was feeling inside and he could read the emotion emanating from his Fathers as well. In so many ways, they were the same. He truly was his Fathers son.
Cherasesha was about to speak again when Elanoen very gently placed two fingers over his sons lips, silencing him in the same way he used to do when the boy had been younger. He was silent a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts. He truly did want to give Cherasesha this chance. It was what he felt in his heart was right, but so many years of being in the iron grip of his wife had worn away his resolve.
"I know how much you want this Sesha, and I want to be able to give this opportunity to you, but your Mother..." He sighed.
Cherasesha very gently took his Father's wrist and moved his hand away so he could speak. Normally, he never would have dared, but this was different. His voice remained soft, hardly more than a whisper.
"I promise Papa, I'll never ask you for anything ever again. Just this once, just once before my next birthday. I'll have new duties then and I'll never have a chance to leave. Please..." He was in total earnest, and the despair he was feeling must have been quite clear in his eyes as his Father's own took on a pained look. Cherasesha held his breath, just waiting for his Father to tell him no.
The answer he got took him totally by surprise.
"I'll think about it."
The boys eyes widened and he threw his arms around his Fathers neck, giving the man a squeeze the likes of which he hadn't done since he was much younger. Cherasesha knew his Father, and an 'I'll think about it' was far better than anything he could have hoped for. There was still a chance, and a good one now, that he would be journeying to the Weyr.
And he could hardly wait.
"Please..." He gently pleaded once more, following his Father as he moved about the infirmary. Elanoen had been working when he son had come to him. The boy had been bothering him about this for nearly a week now, and so far, he had yet to give in. He knew how much his son wanted to travel with him to the Weyr, but he knew so very well what his wife would say to that. She would have both their hides and it was that danger he tried to get his son to understand. Cherasesha, however, hadn't been deterred and Elanoen was loosing his resolve. Unlike many families, theirs was based upon the strength of will. Between the four of them, whoever was the strongest usually got their way.
But none of them could stand up to Audra.
Elanoen hadn't quite known what he was getting himself into when he had married the woman. But she had been the daughter of the Hall leader, how could he have turned her down? And she had been so very beautiful. She still was, despite her iron fist. He had had so many plans for himself, nearly all of which had never come to fruition after his marriage. He was no longer the man he was, and he hardly ever noticed anymore.
"Papa please..." Cherasesha's voice pulled him back to the present and he looked over. Hazel eyes met hazel eyes and he couldn't help but feel pity for his son. Though he did not hate his life, it was not everything he had wanted it to be, everything that it should have been... And he knew, that would be his sons fate as well. Audra was already searching through the promising young girls in the Hall, looking for one with the same temperament as her own, to join Cherasesha with. He knew very well his son's personality was soft, like his own, and he would be left with nothing.
Cherasesha had taken his Fathers arm, holding himself close to the man in the same way he had done when he was little and had wanted attention or to be picked up. Things were different now though, and he and his Father had grown slightly apart. He had never wanted that to happen, but it seemed he had so little control over things anymore. And he wanted this so very badly. Just one more chance, just one to see the dragons again and then he would be content. He swore to himself that he would never ask for anything else ever again. His eyes shone, speaking much of what his heart was feeling inside and he could read the emotion emanating from his Fathers as well. In so many ways, they were the same. He truly was his Fathers son.
Cherasesha was about to speak again when Elanoen very gently placed two fingers over his sons lips, silencing him in the same way he used to do when the boy had been younger. He was silent a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts. He truly did want to give Cherasesha this chance. It was what he felt in his heart was right, but so many years of being in the iron grip of his wife had worn away his resolve.
"I know how much you want this Sesha, and I want to be able to give this opportunity to you, but your Mother..." He sighed.
Cherasesha very gently took his Father's wrist and moved his hand away so he could speak. Normally, he never would have dared, but this was different. His voice remained soft, hardly more than a whisper.
"I promise Papa, I'll never ask you for anything ever again. Just this once, just once before my next birthday. I'll have new duties then and I'll never have a chance to leave. Please..." He was in total earnest, and the despair he was feeling must have been quite clear in his eyes as his Father's own took on a pained look. Cherasesha held his breath, just waiting for his Father to tell him no.
The answer he got took him totally by surprise.
"I'll think about it."
The boys eyes widened and he threw his arms around his Fathers neck, giving the man a squeeze the likes of which he hadn't done since he was much younger. Cherasesha knew his Father, and an 'I'll think about it' was far better than anything he could have hoped for. There was still a chance, and a good one now, that he would be journeying to the Weyr.
And he could hardly wait.
posted by Gabriel | 3:50 PM
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