Missrecalled Memories
May. 9th, 2023 04:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mist_the_pointA little boy with gray skin and scruffy white hair sat at a table in with looked like the kitchen of a small house built of stone, speaking to a tall, slim woman as dappled sunlight filters in through a nearby window. Her skin and hair were the same colors as his, though her hair was much longer and sleeker, woven into a single long braid that hung down her back. Their clothing, like the furniture and other items in the room- and indeed the room itself-, are simple; a bit rough and somewhat worn from long use, but clearly sturdy and reasonably well made.
The woman was unpacking some vegetables and other food items from a large market basket as the boy spoke up angrily. "Why did you let those men say such things, mother?", he asked.
A faint, sad smile crossed her lips, and she answered without turning away from her unpacking. "You'll understand when you're older, darling," she said.
The boy was undeterred. "But they were lying! You and I both knew they were. You didn't steal anything! You paid for all the food we bought with good coin; I watched you do it! And I'd bet some of them did too. There were lots of other people at the market, but they didn't call any of them thieves. And they called you names too; 'ashkin' and 'nightcrawler' and some bad words you've told me I should never use. Why didn't you stand up to them? And why didn't you let me stand up to them?"
The woman paused, sighing softly. She was looking down at the bundle of carrots in her hands, though it was fairly obvious she wasn't really seeing them. After a moment, she replied, "Because it wouldn't have made a difference. And because I didn't want you to be hurt."
"Why would they hurt me?", the boy asked, sitting up straight in the chair, all righteous defiance. "I didn't do anything wrong. And all I would have done was tell them the truth. Told them that you're a good mother, that you'd never steal anything, and that they shouldn't call people names."
The woman put the carrots down on the counter and at last turned to face her son, getting down on one knee to be at eye level with him. She gently brushed a stray wisp of hair back into place behind one of his pointed ears. "Foulques," she said, equally gently, that same small, sad smile on her face, "there are people in this world who hate and fear those who are different from them without any good reason. Sometimes, their hate and fear will grow strong enough that they'll even harm others if they believe they can get away with doing so. And much of the time, it isn't safe for Duskwights like us to stand up to such people here. Do you understand, little one?"
"But... it isn't right...", he said, his shoulders slumping a bit, and his frown taking on a distinct pout.
"No it isn't. If the gods are kind, perhaps it won't always be so, but for now we must live in the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. And in any case, no harm was done today, nor are all people like those I spoke of; the shopkeep spoke for me, after all, and that was the end of it, so best not to worry yourself overmuch." Her smile became somewhat brighter and more genuine, though the hint of sadness remained. "Especially since you have more pressing things to concern yourself with. How about you recite for me the poem you were told to memorize? The priest will want to hear it from you on Darksday, and you don't want him to think you've been neglecting your lessons, do you?"
Young Foulques' frown deepened for a moment; he was clearly aware he was being deflected and didn't like it one bit, but relented and nodded, beginning his recitation as his mother turned back to the counter to finish putting away the food.
Halone, Fury, with spear in hand
Stands proudly over Ishgard land
'Gainst flame and claw she bears her shield
Her power do their soldiers wield
Menphina, Lover, with skillet round
Like greater moon above the ground
Beams down at us with loving rays
Guides turning of the nights and days
Thaliak, Scholar, with staff and scroll
Ever on his rivers roll
Holds wisdom in his guiding hand
And pours out water for the land
Nymeia, Spinner, upon her wheel
The seasons turn and fates are sealed
Dons silken veil 'gainst velvet night
Among the stars with glittering light
Llymlaen, Navigator, upon her wave
Ride many sailors strong and brave
Guides them to ports both far and near
So they never new horizons fear
Oschon, Wanderer, on mountains stands
Guides all those who walk the lands
With walking stick and smiling eye
Home anywhere beneath the sky
Byregot, Builder, the crafter's friend
Guards all those who build and mend
Ever does his hammer ring
Makes stone and metal both to sing
Rhalger, Destroyer, with fist of might
Sent shooting star to light the night
With staff of bronze, breaks what he must
That new life may grow among the dust
Azeyma, Warden, with fiery rays
Shines light on many truths and ways
With golden fan and radiant sun
Gives life and truth to everyone
Nald'thal, Traders, two in one,
With scales and cowry is his work done
Nald keeps the living and Thal the dead
He many merchants owe their bread
Nophica, Matron, with emerald leaves
Brings fruit in bushels, grain in sheaves
With scythe in hand and joyful song
Keeps lands fertile all year long
Althyk, Keeper, with axe and glass,
Makes space to stand and time to pass
Ever forward we find our ways
As his grains of said mark out the days
Thus ever does the epoch turn
And water flow and fire burn
Earth does rumble, ice does crack
And light and dark stand back to back
Levin to spark and wind to blow
And ever sea of aether flow
May Twelve watch over one and all
And guard all creatures great and small
His mother turned back to face him, her smile- having lost its hint of sadness- now glowed warm and bright. "Well done, darling," she said. "I'm sure the priest will be even more impressed than I am, though not half as proud, I suspect." Little Foulques, smiled at that, his young mind much more easily turned from darker thoughts, and his mother continued. "Now, be a good boy and fetch the big pot from in the low cupboard there, would you? Your father will be home soon and we must needs get the soup started if we're all to have dinner together."
Little Foulques nodded, hopping down from the chair to do as instructed as the memory began to fade. "You think he'll bring some meat home? The rabbit from last se'en night was yummy, but...."
The woman was unpacking some vegetables and other food items from a large market basket as the boy spoke up angrily. "Why did you let those men say such things, mother?", he asked.
A faint, sad smile crossed her lips, and she answered without turning away from her unpacking. "You'll understand when you're older, darling," she said.
The boy was undeterred. "But they were lying! You and I both knew they were. You didn't steal anything! You paid for all the food we bought with good coin; I watched you do it! And I'd bet some of them did too. There were lots of other people at the market, but they didn't call any of them thieves. And they called you names too; 'ashkin' and 'nightcrawler' and some bad words you've told me I should never use. Why didn't you stand up to them? And why didn't you let me stand up to them?"
The woman paused, sighing softly. She was looking down at the bundle of carrots in her hands, though it was fairly obvious she wasn't really seeing them. After a moment, she replied, "Because it wouldn't have made a difference. And because I didn't want you to be hurt."
"Why would they hurt me?", the boy asked, sitting up straight in the chair, all righteous defiance. "I didn't do anything wrong. And all I would have done was tell them the truth. Told them that you're a good mother, that you'd never steal anything, and that they shouldn't call people names."
The woman put the carrots down on the counter and at last turned to face her son, getting down on one knee to be at eye level with him. She gently brushed a stray wisp of hair back into place behind one of his pointed ears. "Foulques," she said, equally gently, that same small, sad smile on her face, "there are people in this world who hate and fear those who are different from them without any good reason. Sometimes, their hate and fear will grow strong enough that they'll even harm others if they believe they can get away with doing so. And much of the time, it isn't safe for Duskwights like us to stand up to such people here. Do you understand, little one?"
"But... it isn't right...", he said, his shoulders slumping a bit, and his frown taking on a distinct pout.
"No it isn't. If the gods are kind, perhaps it won't always be so, but for now we must live in the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. And in any case, no harm was done today, nor are all people like those I spoke of; the shopkeep spoke for me, after all, and that was the end of it, so best not to worry yourself overmuch." Her smile became somewhat brighter and more genuine, though the hint of sadness remained. "Especially since you have more pressing things to concern yourself with. How about you recite for me the poem you were told to memorize? The priest will want to hear it from you on Darksday, and you don't want him to think you've been neglecting your lessons, do you?"
Young Foulques' frown deepened for a moment; he was clearly aware he was being deflected and didn't like it one bit, but relented and nodded, beginning his recitation as his mother turned back to the counter to finish putting away the food.
Halone, Fury, with spear in hand
Stands proudly over Ishgard land
'Gainst flame and claw she bears her shield
Her power do their soldiers wield
Menphina, Lover, with skillet round
Like greater moon above the ground
Beams down at us with loving rays
Guides turning of the nights and days
Thaliak, Scholar, with staff and scroll
Ever on his rivers roll
Holds wisdom in his guiding hand
And pours out water for the land
Nymeia, Spinner, upon her wheel
The seasons turn and fates are sealed
Dons silken veil 'gainst velvet night
Among the stars with glittering light
Llymlaen, Navigator, upon her wave
Ride many sailors strong and brave
Guides them to ports both far and near
So they never new horizons fear
Oschon, Wanderer, on mountains stands
Guides all those who walk the lands
With walking stick and smiling eye
Home anywhere beneath the sky
Byregot, Builder, the crafter's friend
Guards all those who build and mend
Ever does his hammer ring
Makes stone and metal both to sing
Rhalger, Destroyer, with fist of might
Sent shooting star to light the night
With staff of bronze, breaks what he must
That new life may grow among the dust
Azeyma, Warden, with fiery rays
Shines light on many truths and ways
With golden fan and radiant sun
Gives life and truth to everyone
Nald'thal, Traders, two in one,
With scales and cowry is his work done
Nald keeps the living and Thal the dead
He many merchants owe their bread
Nophica, Matron, with emerald leaves
Brings fruit in bushels, grain in sheaves
With scythe in hand and joyful song
Keeps lands fertile all year long
Althyk, Keeper, with axe and glass,
Makes space to stand and time to pass
Ever forward we find our ways
As his grains of said mark out the days
Thus ever does the epoch turn
And water flow and fire burn
Earth does rumble, ice does crack
And light and dark stand back to back
Levin to spark and wind to blow
And ever sea of aether flow
May Twelve watch over one and all
And guard all creatures great and small
His mother turned back to face him, her smile- having lost its hint of sadness- now glowed warm and bright. "Well done, darling," she said. "I'm sure the priest will be even more impressed than I am, though not half as proud, I suspect." Little Foulques, smiled at that, his young mind much more easily turned from darker thoughts, and his mother continued. "Now, be a good boy and fetch the big pot from in the low cupboard there, would you? Your father will be home soon and we must needs get the soup started if we're all to have dinner together."
Little Foulques nodded, hopping down from the chair to do as instructed as the memory began to fade. "You think he'll bring some meat home? The rabbit from last se'en night was yummy, but...."
