[ P ] Hey Soul Sister

I.E.S
Let’em Wonder..

Illaria watched her friend’s face fall, like all joy had been ripped from her soul. It was strange, she’d never see Willow like that before but it was her next statement that made her far more stunned. She hadn’t seen any imperial soldiers jumping anyone. ”closer to the castle, it was the protesters jumping soldiers two on one. I interviewed and used non damaging tactics to prevent injuries” she spoke softly.

Confusion now rolled Over her frame when Willow spit his name out like she knew him. But that couldn’t be true. How would Willow have met him? She didn’t know what to say to her right away. She just stood there in disbelief.

”I met him back when I was a student and you were small. I was volunteering to patch up soldiers, do you remember that? I used to patch him up a lot back then. We reconnected when I patched him up after the protest. Two women jumped him , like I said to you. It was protesters attacking soldiers..” her temper began to bubble, like it had when she found out merrin had attacked him.

But it was Willow backing up from Illaria that sent pain through her heart. She felt the emotional smack it left, the rip in her chest and the obvious rejection of their bond. And then anything familiarity with Willow was wiped from her as her heart picked up it’s pace at the blasphemy spewing from her mouth.

”No one has decieved me Willow. I perused him, I see him. The real him. The parts of him no one sees” she spat at her. She wouldn’t let anyone speak of him like that to her. She’d burn all her bridges for him. She was his, wholly.

And then a dark warning snarled reverberated in her throat. Her eyes narrowed at her sister. ”You think you know him. You don’t. He is not a monster. He’s kind. He raised three children on his own. If he were ever to be a monster it would be because of circumstances and thus I reiterate that YOU DONT KNOW HIM” her voice held a threat. That if Willow continued down this path it wouldn’t end well for them. Illaria would show her how “deceived” one could be.

”speech here”
@Willow

How we got this Far

code by claerie

It

was all so absurd, so stupidly random, that Willow wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to cry in response. ”Is that what he told you? He was taken down by two women?” A dark lip curled back in a growl as she remembered how the scene had unfolded. Blood and chaos. Blind fury. She shook her head to clear the images from her mind. ”He is a liar! I know because… I was there, Illaria, I was there! I saw it! He attacked them – he attacked ME.”

Illaria’s expression changed. It was like staring into the eyes of a stranger, and it stung to see that the other would trust this monster more than even Willow. ”Illaria, no. This – this isn’t you. You’re so much better than being with a soldier like him. He’s putting on an act for you. The real Nalik – the real, true Nalik… I met him in the dungeon. He was cruel. I couldn’t – I couldn’t believe how cruel… I know, I am certain he doesn’t care about others, even if he has children he was forced to raise. How could he care about you? He is LYING to you.”

Perhaps it was simply too much for Illaria to consider that she had been fooled by this beast. But Willow was convinced. Ignoring the anger in Illaria's voice, the snarl, Willow just shook her head in disbelief. ”What – what’s happened to you? You deserve better, Illaria. You don’t need someone – someone like him to ruin your life.” Warm tears trickled down her cheeks as she regarded her – a sister, and that was Illaria’s own words. Was she truly ready to give up her sister for the sake of someone with demonstrated capacity to do truly horrible things?


@Illaria

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

I.E.S
Let’em Wonder..

Illaria paused at that. Not the accusations her sister was slinging at Nalik about lying. But the fact that she had been at the protest to begin with. She hadn’t said anything about planning to attend the protest when Illaria had sat there attempting to soothe her fears of Illaria going to the protest. And yet she wanted to accuse Nalik of being the ultimate deceiver. ”I’m sorry that you had to see the fighting. You should’ve gone back to exploring. But I’m not sorry that he did his job. I’m not okay with you having been hurt. But he was doing his job…”

All the soldiers there had been doing their jobs. Did the protesters expect them to not defend themselves or the castle they are sworn to die for if needed ? That logic just doesn’t add up. And Willow, Willow was bias. She had a hatred for all soldiers no matter what. Maybe it was she who was blinded.

”And there is it. ‘A soldier like him’. The real reason you’re upset. Because I love a soldier. Because if I had said he was a scholar. Like me, like Khepri. This conversation wouldn’t be happening. You’re biased and spiteful towards them and you have been for a long time.” she bit out at her

”how can he care for me? Maybe because I see the man behind the pain, behind the anger, behind the stress of his job. Because I believe in him and want him to succeed and be happy. Because I don’t turn my pretty little nose up at a soldier simply for the job they have” she flattened her ears against her skull. It was a low blow. But she didn’t care.

”What if it was a Soldiers wife who needed help with birth. Or even a female soldier. What then Willow?” she shook her head at her sister. She loved her. She truly did. While they weren’t blood related she’d watched her grow up. She was a huge part of her life. But she could barely recognize this Willow.

She began to laugh. Willow was absurd. Nalik didn’t ruin anything. If anything he gave her the opportunity to feel desire. ”him ruin my life? And yet it’s not me who was banished from Eòlas. Cause I’m still capable of going home. I will always love you. But I can’t do this. You don’t have to like him. Hell you don’t have to see him.” she turned away from Willow now. She couldn’t keep having this conversation. She had to go home now.

”I won’t tell him or anyone else that you’re hiding away up here. I will protect your secret. But don’t ever talk to me about him again. If you’re making me choose him or you. It’ll be him…” her anger had simmered down slowly as she let it all out. But now it was replaced with a deep sadness that Willow was being this way. That she’d have to lose Willow to be happy or lose him for Willow to be happy. But if that was how Willow wanted it. A choice. It was already decided.


”speech here”
@Willow

How we got this Far

code by claerie

”H

ow dare you make accusations – someone you have known for years – for someone that you are now infatuated with. I took an oath to heal anyone, to heal everyone who needs my service.” The anger was easier to feel for now, and for once in her life, a growl rippled in her throat as she looked at the deceived woman. She felt sympathy for her, but the way Illaria defended soldiers and the like… it disgusted Willow to the core. Her eyes were narrowed as she regarded Illaria, that familiar coat and the unusual eyes. ”No one healed me or anyone else after the fight. So kind of you to give all your care and attention to him. Guess that makes you a great, unbiased healer, too, doesn’t it?”


It took all of her self-control not to lash out or simply leave as Illaria ranted. She didn't get it. ”I don’t hate soldiers. I feel SORRY for them. They’re wasting their lives fighting for a king who doesn’t give two shits about them. What I have seen, that isn’t keeping the peace. It’s keeping the power, for Adamh, AND for themselves. If their job is to hurt others, because they’ve been ordered to, then...” Her shoulders rolled in a half-hearted shrug. ”That’s just sad. It’s pathetic. But for him, I saw it in his eyes, Illaria. It’s more than just doing his “job.” He enjoys it. He relishes his cruelty.”


Illaria’s words felt as if she was speaking from far away, and Willow turned so she didn’t have to look at the other woman any longer. ”The choice is already made. By you, you just said it yourself. You pick him. You will always love a cruel man. What happens when the cruelty turns on you?” Her eyes narrowed. She was disappointed that Illaria could think and feel this way, but she was furious, in a way that Willow seldom experienced.

“If you want to go off and be Mrs. Monster, that’s your choice. Why not make a bunch of baby monsters? Then they can grow up to be horrible, just like your love and his older daughter,” she said in scathing tones, nodding in indication of Illaria’s newly acquired scars. ”Yeah, he sounds like a real prize. Dad of the year,” she hissed.


Inside, Willow felt like a wounded child. She was worried about Illaria. But she was a grown up, capable of making her own decisions. Even if they were earth shattering. Even if they were terrible decisions. Willow had no say in the matter, and if Illaria was going to cling so tightly to her delusion, then the conversation was over. And so was their friendship. Gone were the innocent days of picnics, flowers, and giggles in Melrose.


Naturally, Willow didn’t believe a word that the other spoke now. She didn’t trust her to keep her secret, and already, Willow’s mind was racing with what she would need to do next to avoid Illaria and her so-called lover. What if she told Nalik where Willow had been hiding? She had no reason, no reason at all now, to put any faith in Illaria or her word. Thank the gods she doesn’t know about Rowan…


Willow had heard enough. With an ironic laugh and the shake of her head, she would turn to leave, hurrying to put as much distance as possible between her and the woman who was now just a stranger to her. No, not a stranger – an enemy. Before she left, she called out over her shoulder, ”Ask Nalik who Willow is. He’ll remember.” Of course he would only lie about it, but Willow hoped that he would at least reveal that it was Willow herself who had laid him out flat at the protest. She had been the one to conquer him, at least for one battle. And as she walked further away, she felt all the more proud to have done so, to humble this monster who had claimed someone who had once been kind.


Goodbye, Illaria. Goodbye, Sister



[exit]



@Illaria

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

I.E.S
Let’em Wonder..

Illaria just shook her head. Every word just rolled off her back, because what Willow didn’t know, was that Illaria had spent most of the day with Ramses finding and healing the innocent bystanders that both sides had hurt. That she hadn’t sought Nalik out to swoon over him. She hadn’t known he was even there until she bumped into him. And it was Illaria who had stayed in Rionna, helping the sick. And now volunteered her time at a local medical shop. While Willow had gotten herself banished, and brought dishonor to herself the college and her family.

”there will always be a power imbalance. To believe otherwise is childish Willow. There will forever be injustices” her tone was flat. No matter which side won the war. People would be hurt, toes stepped on infighting continued. The world wasn’t full of rainbows and love. It was cruel and unfair. And it was time Willow realized that. Maybe she would now with her disgrace.

”Yes. The choice is made. Because you made it a choice. You had to draw the line. You couldn’t just be happy for me her tone was low. Full of pain. Illaria had always supported Willow. And now, when Willow had a chance to do the same thing. She was turning away. Taking the love Illaria found, and running it through the mud.

”and Maybe I will. And when I do. I will tell them about their aunt Willow. Because regardless you’re my family. Even if you spew hatred as you accuse others of being Monsters” she just watched Willow. Disappointment radiating off her frame.

She was getting really tired of women lately. Especially those who we’re trying to wedge her away from him. And then Ryker came to mind. And Illaria wondered if that was how she felt. The apple of daddy’s eye. The only girl in his life for years till now. And she finally understood her anger. And she would need to talk with her about how she wasn’t taking her father from her. Only joining her in his life to give him things that were left unfulfilled by merrin.

She remained silent as she watched Willow moving away from her. She didn’t know how they got this far. But it didn’t matter anymore. Willow had made it clear. Illaria would be leaving the north without a sister again. And after all these years she felt the breaking of her heart. But she was steadfast in her decision. She wasn’t about to live for anyone else again. She was an adult. And she would love whom she wanted. If that made her a monster so be it. But what did that make Willow?

”I would. But I don’t even know who Willow is anymore. I doubt Willow remembers who she is anymore, why would he?” she called out before she too turned away from the girl she used to know. A shadow of her past. And began to walk away.

-Exit-

”speech here”
@Willow

How we got this Far

code by claerie