By the stream, by Silver Streams .. [Mysa]

[Théodred Heavenshield]

By the stream I dream in calm delight, and watch as in a glass.​

How the clouds like crowds of snowy-hue and white-robed​

maidens pass.​

And the water into ripples breaks and sparkles as it spreads.​

Like a host of armored knights with silver helmets on their heads.​

And I deem the stream an emblem fit of human life may go.​

For I find a mind may sparkle much and yet but shallows show.​

And a soul may glow with myriad lights and wondrous mysteries.​

When it only lies a dormant thing and mirrors what it sees.​

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~Paul Laurence Dunbar.​

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~oOOo~​

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Outside the Dawnbringer Temple is a beautiful stream fed from the snow capped mountain in which the Temple is cradled. A roaring fall of water spills over the rocks before it makes it way down into the valley far below to fill the lake. The same lake his mother and father had found, frozen that day but full of life and the living force. This place so sacrosanct to them all, family and friends alike but more so for those that are blood and kin to the man after which this place was named.

Theo waits sitting on a rock by the fall, watching the splash and mist rise swirling across the side of the mountain and licking at his face. The air so crisp and clear, so pure, it fills the lungs and cleanses the body of any corruption. His long black hair is damp and sits lank around his face, the fur holding droplets but will never pass through it to his skin, he sits with one leg propped, the other stretched and in his hand he plays with a small craved figure, Ear.

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

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[Lief]

Things had changed dramatically in the weeks following the Wedding.

While life in the greater Galaxy was constantly busy and hectic, down here on her own little piece of winter paradise Mysa knew that she could find at least a moderate amount of respite from the day to day rush.

Peace came easy here. In part. Truly it depended on where she was. The Gates of Thainbroek remained harrowing, even the forests on the edge of the City held some small amount of grief for the young Snowstrider.

If we hadn't gone to the Vhaanir, would he still be alive? Could we have done anything to help? She knew she had to stop thinking that train of thought, but it was so very difficult. Everywhere she looked were haunting reminders of their loss, reminders that she hadn't even said goodbye.

Perhaps that was why she had been avoiding this world?

But for the most part? Midvinter was home. Midvinter was tranquility and security, regardless of the pain.

The closest thing she had to a graveside to remember him by was the Temple. Since her return to Midvinter and the union between her parents Mysa had spent more and more time up here, just sitting and listening to the world drift slowly by. It didn't make her feel whole again, but it certainly helped to fill the void.

Today was different. Today she knew that she was not alone up there. Two steps from the Temple doors indicated that she was correct. A presence she missed most dearly, one she barely saw these days, was nearby.

Yet trepidation rose within her. She had seen him only when others were around. The Wedding, the Masquerade... But alone? Not since he left.

So for a moment she simply stood and watched him. She didn't try to hide her presence, though, but she wasn't ready to rush headlong toward her brother.

Who are you kidding, Mysa? You want nothing more than to be sat there with him.

And yet she held back all the same. Because what if he didn't want to see her? What if he blamed her for the loss of the Sun God as much as she blamed herself?

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

The presence of the woman, he could feeling instantly. Yes, Mysa is a woman as he is a man now, by years and because of life experience. Yet, as his head turned to find her standing close by, he could see the young girl that he had grown up with not only on Midvinter but Tabaqui.

So much had changed for them both, from the day Mysa and Theo lost their innocent childhood, the day Thrand was killed. A smile crept across his lips, not a word passed them however, but his hand patted the rock beside him inviting her to join him and sit for a while.

Theo placed his back to the rock to rest as his eyes found the streaming water once more and as the Sun passed by a cloud to light the day sky a beautiful rainbow formed in the droplets of the spray, shimmering with so many colours as sharp as a knife.

"I made you a promise .. and now I shall keep it". He finally spoke to her. "Come join me by the water's edge sister, I have something for you".

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[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

He looked at her. Mysa looked back...

And without even a moments hesitation she was walking toward the rock face, toward her brother with the fishbrain.

Screw feeling insecure and uncertain. Théo was her brother, and even if he did blame her well... They could sort that out, right? The way he looked at her though showed no ill will.

And boy was that a relief.

Her gaze followed his down to the babbling brook, and serenity washed over her as naught save the rush of water interrupted her thoughts. She wondered what it would be like to float downstream, to join it on its journey.

Probably painful...

"A promise, brother?" She asked, breaking her own spell. They had probably made a billion promises during their lives together, and at this moment in time she could not even begin to deduce which it was he was hearkening to.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He smiled as she sat beside him, and he reached for her hand. For a moment, he just held it feeling the warmth of it in his own before turning her hand and curling back her fingers and with his others, he lay Ear gently on her palm. He knew just how much that little figurine meant to her and over the time he had been away, it formed a connection to Mysa in the times of great sadness. But those sad days are gone, with time he had learned to cope with the loss of their grandpapa, but time will never allow you to forget, it doesn't heal the pain of loss not when you truly love someone.

He curled her fingers around the small wooden figurine and leaned close to her face and kissed her cheek. "Ear is back home". Yet, he sat looking at her face after the kiss. He had sensed her trepidation on coming to see him, how could he not? they are close, not just as brother and sister, but kindred spirits, a relationship that had been forged through their childhood.

"What is the matter sister, why are you so scared?", he asked her with all his caring for her. His arms lifted and settled around her shoulders, gently pulling her close so she could rest against him while they both gaze deep down into the valley below, the water of the falls, in constant motion before them. They would keep each other warm, but so too the Sun that glided across the sky shining down on them and Midvinter.

Deep down in his heart of hearts, he knew. "If we had been there, at the gates", his gaze lifted to the sky toward the Sun, "We would never had had the chance to save the lives that he served to protect all his life as King. He did this willingly, without a thought for his own life and died not only serving his people, but us as well".

He turned and looked deep into her eyes, "But regardless of this, there was nothing we could have done to save him. In fact, had we been next to him, others would have died as well. Trying to protect us, our family would not have allowed it, and we would have been selfish to have put their lives at risk and I for one would never want that. But don't think for one moment that I have not gone through this, this pain of what if .. ".

"Let it go Mysa, let go of the pain, of the guilt and do our grandpapa justice and make him proud by living a wonderful and full life. That is what he died for, and I will honour him by doing just that".

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[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​