Ea
08-27-2016, 12:46 PM
now you're staring at a queen.
It’s not unusual that Ea has not spent very much time with Tiphon. She has never been one to seek out those she doesn’t know -- a weakness, perhaps, for a queen, but she wasn’t easily changed. She remembers him from when she was a child -- making trades of children for allegiance and power. She remembers Dalton, too, but vaguely: a weak, quiet boy, so unlike Lagertha and Tiphon. He didn’t have it in him to be a king. Joscelin, though, was like her father: strong, a hard worker. It had been years since she had seen either one of them; how long had it been since Ramiel had seen his sister? He had held an attachment to her that Ea had never had with her siblings. He had been her protector as children, but now he had others to protect -- Sela, Kha, Sabrael. And even Ea herself.
Tiphon has always been a quiet threat; every kingdom knew how strong he was -- how strong the Dale was -- but neither was particularly flashy or bold. Ea hoped her reputation was similar. They were a quiet kingdom, but truthfully, she didn’t mind it. They didn’t have to fight or raid other kingdoms to prove it. The Dale was a safe place for those who needed it. She only hoped they -- including herself -- didn’t grow too complacent.
The kingdom is so sparse, Tiphon has no problem finding her. He is easy, warm. She imagines he made a wonderful king -- open and kind. Ramiel had this in him as well, though as of late he had been distant from the kingdom. “Tiphon,” she says, with a thin smile. He asks how she is, and she hesitates for a moment to answer. “Well, what a question,” she replies, evasive. “I’m sorry the children aren’t around -- they like to wander. Have you met any of them yet? I’m sure Ram would love you to -- wherever he is --”
And then he mentions her mother. Scorch would be proud, she knew. She’d raised her to be queen, trained her practically since birth. Ea was only disappointed that she had been crowned too late. “Thank you, it means a lot,” she says, quietly. “She was quite a woman. Quite a queen.”
Tiphon has always been a quiet threat; every kingdom knew how strong he was -- how strong the Dale was -- but neither was particularly flashy or bold. Ea hoped her reputation was similar. They were a quiet kingdom, but truthfully, she didn’t mind it. They didn’t have to fight or raid other kingdoms to prove it. The Dale was a safe place for those who needed it. She only hoped they -- including herself -- didn’t grow too complacent.
The kingdom is so sparse, Tiphon has no problem finding her. He is easy, warm. She imagines he made a wonderful king -- open and kind. Ramiel had this in him as well, though as of late he had been distant from the kingdom. “Tiphon,” she says, with a thin smile. He asks how she is, and she hesitates for a moment to answer. “Well, what a question,” she replies, evasive. “I’m sorry the children aren’t around -- they like to wander. Have you met any of them yet? I’m sure Ram would love you to -- wherever he is --”
And then he mentions her mother. Scorch would be proud, she knew. She’d raised her to be queen, trained her practically since birth. Ea was only disappointed that she had been crowned too late. “Thank you, it means a lot,” she says, quietly. “She was quite a woman. Quite a queen.”