Apologies

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 25th February 2006

Characters: Larken, Ojisan
Description: Larken apologizes to Ojisan for acting the way she did
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows: "If You Were Sober"

Shards and shells...her head felt like it was made of stone. Her eyes cracked open a bit, and she moaned into the pillow as the light seared her vision, nearly blinding her.

It hurt. It hurt so much.

And it was then when the events of last night rushed back to her, and everything hurt all the more. Larken forced herself to lay quiet and still as she waited for the throbbing in her head to subside enough so she could sit up. After a moment, one hand reached out, tentatively seeking the spot beside her.

The sheets were cold.

She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. He hadn't come back.

Her husband had, however left a pitcher of water and a glass next to their bed with a note that said "Drink this. You need water in your body." The sound of him strumming his guitar could be heard through the closed door to their sleeping room.

After she'd managed to make her eyes focus on reading the note, she put it aside and sat up slowly before pouring a glass of water. Wincing against the light in the room, she took a sip, and then another. Her headache wasn't as unbearable as it had been, but...

Her eyes flickered towards the door, and she bit her lip. Guilt crept into her thoughts. She couldn't exactly remember what she'd said to him, but she knew it'd been terrible. Absolutely terrible, and there was nothing she could do to take those words back.

Larken knew she couldn't hide in bed forever. Shivering, she rose and wrapped herself tightly in a robe before approaching the door. There she stopped, listening for a moment to the song he was playing. She remembered it, and it was a pretty tune, but at the moment, it made the pulsing in her temples worse. Steeling herself - for she knew she was stalling - her fingers wrapped around the knob and she pushed the door open.

Ojisan looked up from his guitar at the sound of the door opening. "There's breakfast on the table," he said by way of greeting before going back to lightly strumming the strings.

Not feeling as though she could stomach anything more than water at the moment, she slipped into the bathing chamber instead and leaned back against the wall, trying to gather her bearings.

They'd never really fought before. Not like this. Shells...she felt so terrible.

Ashamed, she stepped out of her clothes and into the water. Rubbing sweetsand into her hands, she then lathered her long hair and body, scrubbing away the grime and the faint scent of wine that still lingered.

Shells...what could she say to him?

Ojisan didn't like the tension between them. He thought about following her into the bathing chamber and setting things right between them. But no. She had to see the error of her own actions. Larken needed to think about how drunk she had been, and what it had made her do and say. Perhaps then she could understand what he had been trying to protect her from. He went back to strumming his guitar with a sigh. Practing held no joy for him this morning.

Perhaps Larken had stayed soaking in the pool longer than was necessary, but she had needed time to gather her courage to talk to him. It's never easy to admit your wrong, and this time was no exception for the harper's young wife.

Reluctantly she rose and toweled herself off, trying to think of how she could phrase what she needed to say as she did so. Slipping into her robe, Larken took in a deep breath and came out, pausing in the doorway, watching him.

He looked up to meet her eyes. Stopping his strumming he set his guitar aside and patted the couch beside him.

She haltingly made her way over to him, tentatively perching on the edge of the cushion. After a brief moment of hesitation, she glanced over at him.

They sat in silence a few moments before Ojisan finally asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing...better. The water you set out for me helped."

"And your stomach? You didn't eat anything."

"I'm not sure if I can yet," she murmured, her hands clasping together in her lap.

"Well, you should try," her husband sighed. Things weren't any easier, it seemed.

She hesitated. "Ojisan... I... I'm sorry. I said some terrible things last night, things I never should've said." Larken wanted to say more, but her throat closed.

He took her hand gently in his. "Those are the kinds of things that happen when you drink too much, Larken. You say and do things that you don't normally do. Things that you may regret later."

She nodded, tears of shame forming under her lashes. "I hurt you."

"A bit," he nodded. His eyes flickered up to hers. "But, I still love you, Larken. Very much."

She blinked, and the tears tricked down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her fingers tightening around his.

"I want you to have fun, my dear," he said as he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. "But I also don't like to see you hurt like you are now. I just want to protect you."

Feeling so very young, she nodded, dabbing her eyes. "I know..."

"I have experienced much more of life than you have, and I want to protect you from making the same mistakes I have made. I do wish you would trust me." He sighed as he searched her reddened eyes. "But I am not your father, Larken."

She lowered her gaze. "I know you're not."

"Please, let's not do this again," he said giving her hand a slight squeeze. "I very much missed enjoying this Hatching with you."

Larken smiled softly, placing her other hand over his. "Perhaps...perhaps you and I still have time to enjoy it..."

He gently wiped away a tear with his thumb. "You really should take care of yourself first. Aren't you hungry?"

"Mmm..." she glanced over at the table where her breakfast was cooling. "I suppose it would be better if I tried to eat something, wouldn't it?"

"I think so," he nodded, though he certainly wanted to celebrate with her the way he had missed the night before, and his eyes told her as much.

Larken met his eyes, knowing and understanding the expression in them. "Then I will."

He leaned over and kissed her gently before standing up, her hand still in his. "Then let's have some breakfast."

Last updated on the February 26th 2006

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