[ P ] mother knows best

The draft was over, or so he had heard from the whisperings around the vineyard. It was one less thing to worry about looming over his head but he still had to be careful given the fact that he'd technically escaped jail. He didn't want to run into the guard and get carted back if he could help it but he also had work to do. Gwydion didn't even know where to begin but he'd decided to start with someone he knew and trusted... his mother. He'd sent a bird to her, requesting that she meet him here on the outskirts of his current hiding place now that she was a free woman again. He wondered what that might feel like, for he still felt like a prisoner here among the workers Aurora had left him with. It was hard not to feel that way given his restless, wayward nature. He hadn't seen her in a while and hope that she had not gotten found out to be his rescuer. She had done well to hide him so far so he wasn't that worried he just figured she was too busy to visit him every single day. It was good she wasn't here, anyway, she would likely have scolded him for beckoning his mother here but he knew he could trust her more than most. Plus, he had to admit he missed her and the rest of his family.

He missed his sister and mother perhaps more than his brother and father, but more than that he missed the way things used to be when they hadn't been so fractured and when they'd all been together. As much of a pain in the ass as Arran could be, he hadn't been all bad when they were younger but now? It was like he was a brainwashed obedient little soldier and Gwydion couldn't see the brother he'd grown up with any longer. He didn't know what his parents knew in terms of the protests or what Arran had done or even the whereabouts of Orliath or himself but today he hoped to calm his mothers probably frayed nerves somewhat and maybe get some advice on where his path should take him next.

As he settled among the vines, he looked around and realized nobody else was here. It was early in the morning and no workers were out yet. He just hoped they'd not come bothering him when his mother arrived.

"Gwydion Speaking."

art from raven

SORCHA She had cried with relief upon receiving Gwydion's raven. He hadn’t given much information, just that he had been hiding out in a large vineyard in Edinburgh - and a time to meet, if she could. She didn’t think twice of telling Baelfire her intention to leave - their son was safe! And she set out for the lowland city that night. As such, it was early morning when she arrived at the vineyard. It was a large expanse of property - an expensive expanse of property - Sorcha found herself wondering who exactly was helping her son, and if he was really safe here. The draft might be over, but Gwydion was still a wanted “criminal” for escaping, and she hoped he hadn’t gotten involved with a loan shark, or worse, to earn his freedom. Her thoughts were interrupted as her son’s foxy visage, a mirror of her own, came into view and Sorcha couldn’t help herself as she barrelled into a run, pulling him into a crushing hug when their bodies met. “o, mo bhalach.” was murmured against his fur, “I couldn’t protect you, I’m sorry.” She pulled away to study his features, searching for any sign of injury, healed or otherwise. A million questions threatened to tumble from her maw, ‘why were you at the protest? Were you hurt? How did you escape the prison? Have you been here all this time? Where is your sister, have you heard from her?’. She settled on one, knowing he would answer the rest in time. “Are you safe here?” "someone speaking" "speaking"

table by rae - image by kit

Gwydion waited nervously on the outskirts of the vineyard, wondering if his mother would show. It had been some time since they'd seen one another and he feared she would be angry with him for his involvement in the protests and getting subsequently arrested. Maybe even mad enough to stop speaking to him. You're jumping to conclusions, he thought to himself before a sigh escaped him. It was in that moment he heard swift paw steps approaching and soon he was wrapped in his mothers arm as if nothing had ever happened. Tears began to well in his blue eyes as she spoke, apologizing for not being able to protect him. He would try his best not to cry in front of her. "Tha mi ceart gu leòr, màthair." (I'm alright, mother) he whispered, as if speaking any louder would cause his voice to break with emotion. He hadn't spoken Gaelic in so long the words sounded clumsy and odd upon his tongue but he still knew them, for she was he one who had taught him.

"I should be the one saying sorry. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble and I'm sorry for worrying you and dad..." he said as he buried his face in her fur. She smelled of pine and felt like home; oh, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until now. "And yes, I'm safe here... for now. I just wanted you and dad to know that." He paused a moment, sniffling softly as he finally pulled away and lifted his paw to wipe his eyes. "Orlaith is safe too, though though I don't know where she is exactly. A mutual friend claims her safety," he said, hoping this would be enough for his mother.

"Gwydion Speaking."

art from raven

SORCHA Her chest tightened as Gwydion buried his face into her fur, apologies tumbling from his lips and although he stood taller than her, Sorcha tucked him under her chin the best she could - her son might be older now, but he would always be her little boy. All her children would, no matter how old, how tall, how far from home they would go. No matter what messes they found themselves in, she would find a way to fix it. With a soft sniffle, he pulled out of her embrace to wipe his eyes. "And yes, I'm safe here... for now. I just wanted you and dad to know that. Orlaith is safe too, though I don't know where she is exactly. A mutual friend claims her safety," “Orlaith isn’t with you?” Sorcha felt her stomach drop. She had hoped, prayed, that her two vagabond children had managed to escape together, and were hiding together, but they had been separated in their escape, and Sorcha was still none the wiser to her youngest’s location. They had word that she was safe, but she couldn’t believe that until she saw the girl with her own eyes, and could cradle her in her arms once again. But that wasn’t Gwydion’s fault, and she was thankful that her son was - somewhat, through a third party - still in communication with his sister, to know that she at least hadn’t ended up back in a jail cell. Knowing that he didn’t have any more answers for her regarding his sister, she turned to her next pressing question. She looked around them, taking in the sights of the vineyard, before settling her attention back on Gwydion. “How… Did you end up here?” "someone speaking" "speaking"

table by rae - image by kit

"No, she's not..." he said a little forlornly. He had hoped to find Orlaith soon but had idea where she was hiding out. All he knew was that Aurora's friend was keeping her safe. He puffed a little at the thought, thinking that her family should be the one keeping her safe and not some stranger.

At least they weren't in jail anymore, he just had to tell himself that. They were both better off, or so he hoped.

His ears flicked as his mother asked him how he'd end up here. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and then decided to be honest. He trusted his mother. "I'm friends with a girl whose family owns this place. She helped get me out of the dungeons." He chose not to name her just for her own safety, in case anyone overheard. "Are you... safe? Okay?" he asked as he looked at her.

He knew since the protests their family had gone through a lot and he wanted to make sure she was alright."Have you spoken to Arran? I haven't seen him since the protests. I saw him there and he... he attacked Orlaith. I don't know what's gotten into him," Gwydion said, shaking his head. "Since he joined the Army he's become insufferable." he added.

Did his mother know what was becoming of her son? He knew she was not keen on him being in the Army at all but it had always been a dream of Arran's. Now it had changed him in ways Gwydion couldn't have fathomed.

"Gwydion Speaking."

art from raven

She sighed softly, but nodded. “We’ll find her. She knows she’ll be safest in the Highlands, I’m sure she’ll work her way back home eventually.” She was reassuring herself as much as she was Gwydion - but her daughter was smart, and she could only hope that her friend was keeping her safe, wherever they were in Rionnach "I'm friends with a girl whose family owns this place. She helped get me out of the dungeons." She gave a small, relieved nod at his words, knowing that if she wanted more information in regards to this ‘friend’, she would need to speak to her son in a more private manner. More workers were quickly appearing as their work day started, and Sorcha knew that they would have to be careful in what information they passed to one another, not wanting the wrong wolf to hear. “If I don’t get the chance to myself, give her my thanks, for looking after you.” she gave Gwydion a small grin, and his cheek an affectionate kiss, not caring if he would protest the motherly display. “Lord knows someone has to.” "Are you... safe? Okay?" he asked as he looked at her. “I’ve been back home once I got out of the dungeon - managed to dodge the draft. I’m safe.” "Have you spoken to Arran? I haven't seen him since the protests. I saw him there and he... he attacked Orlaith. I don't know what's gotten into him," Sorcha felt her blood run cold at his words, and sank back into a sitting position, regarding her son with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Arran… Attacked her?” Her voice was quiet, almost fearful as the reality of Gwydion’s statement sank in. She shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since before the protests… Your Dad hasn’t mentioned anything, either, I don’t think he knows.” Her relationship with her oldest had grown increasingly distant since he had joined the army with his father - and Arran had always been closer to Baelfire, even as a pup. She regretted it, not trying to bond more with him as a child, but she trusted her husband to keep Arran on the straight and narrow. But Sorcha feared that something insidious had worked its way into Arran’s heart, if attacking his own family was how he worked to defend the crown. "Speak"

Manip & Code by Kit. Stock from Khalliysgraphy

His mother's words were reassuring; he just hoped Orlaith found her way home sooner rather than later. It was dangerous out here and the idea of her being jailed again was stressful.

He offered his mother a smile and a small laugh at her next words and nodded his head.

"You know, I can watch out for myself too!" he said matter-o-factly. Though he hadn't been doing a very good job of that lately, which was obvious by the fact that he'd been jailed. He supposed it had been good for him in the long run as he was no longer interested in the life of crime. He could not say he was scared straight into joining the Army, though. He had a certain disdain for them given what they'd turned his brother into. At least his mother had been safe at home.

Though that would not save her from the horror of what Arran had done and as she sank into a seated position and questioned him, Gwydion nodded solemnly. "I don't think he knows either, we didn't see him at the protests. But yeah, he had her down while I was fighting another guard. I would have helped but I couldn't get to her. I have never wanted to pummel him more," he said, trailing off a bit with a shake of his head. He had been there and he still couldn't believe the way Arran had acted, as if duty went above family. But apparently to him, it did.

"I'm sorry, I failed at keeping Orlaith safe..." even from their own family. He had tried his best. It was his job to take care of her as her brother and he felt like he'd done horribly at that so far. She had been jailed and now she hid away like he did when they both should be home.

"Gwydion Speaking."

art from raven

Her expression was grim as Gwydion explained the details of the fight that went down between her children during the protest, how Arran had pinned his sister like any other violent criminal while Gwydion was fighting with another Imperial guard. Truthfully, she rarely saw Arran nowadays, but he spent so much time with his father that Sorcha could never have imagined her son turning on his own family due to some misguided sense of duty. She knew that Baelfire would never do such a thing… So what had corrupted her oldest to do so? "I'm sorry, I failed at keeping Orlaith safe..." Gwydion finished, quietly, and Sorcha felt her heart break. She rose back onto her paws, and drew him into a hug, pressing her cheek against his. “Gwydion, you didn’t fail. You stayed with her as long as you could, and we know that she is somewhere safe, at the very least.” If anyone had failed, it was her. She was their mother, it was her duty to keep them safe. And she hadn’t, and now her family was suffering for it. “The Highlands are the safest place for us to be - Orlaith knows this. Once she can, she’ll make her way back home. We’ll all be okay.” "Speak"

Manip & Code by Kit. Stock from Khalliysgraphy

As his mother drew him into another hug, he breathed in her scent and exhaled a steadier breath. It was comforting to him to be here, like he was but a child again and could do no wrong. That was not the case anymore but sometimes he liked to pretend. “Gwydion, you didn’t fail. You stayed with her as long as you could, and we know that she is somewhere safe, at the very least.” she reasoned. It made him feel a bit better, but he still couldn't help but feel like a failure because Orlaith was not here with him. “The Highlands are the safest place for us to be - Orlaith knows this. Once she can, she’ll make her way back home. We’ll all be okay.” she added. Gwydion pulled away and nodded his head. His mother was right, Orlaith would find her way home and so should he... but he couldn't leave without speaking with Aurora first.

"Once it's safer, I'll head home too, mom..." he promised. "We will be okay..." he echoed with a faint smile. With that he noticed the workers coming closer and closer and decided it was probably time they separated before someone asked them what was going on. "You should go for now, there are too many eyes and ears around." he said softly. Gwydion leaned forward and placed a kiss upon his mothers cheek, his tail thumping behind him a couple times as he did so. He pushed his forehead into her neck and then backed away, waiting only until she made to leave before doing the same and heading back into hiding.

[ exit gwydion ]
"Gwydion Speaking."

art from raven

"You should go for now, there are too many eyes and ears around." She was about to protest, to tell Gwydion that she was not going to leave without him - that they would head home together. There was no way she would leave him again. Her son he may be, but Gwydion was an adult, and he still had business to care to here. His friend, for one, who had saved him and sheltered him. He would have to thank her, and let her know where he was going. Sorcha sighed, and brushed her cheek against his. “Okay. Just… Be as quick as you can, okay? I won’t be able to truly rest easy until I have you all back safe.” She rose back onto her paws, and cast one final look about the vineyard - Gwydion was right, it was getting busy now. Too dangerous for them to be speaking like this in the open. She gave her son one final smile. “I’ll see you soon.” before turning and disappearing back the way she came. [Exit Sorcha] "Speak"

Manip & Code by Kit. Stock from Khalliysgraphy