ea;

[Tiphon]

BUT HOW COULD YOU KNOW THE SWEETEST SUFFERING
OF MOVING ON

Quiet. That is often what the Dale is known for. Without the loud voices of a busy kingdom Tiphon can better hear the songs of the birds, the whispers of the wind, and the gurgling of the stream. There is a peacefulness found here that resides nowhere else, but it can also be perceived as a weakness, a fault of the kingdom. Their allies look down on them from raised noses and enemies peer over with greed burning in their eyes. Tiphon trembles for a hearts breadth. It isn’t fear for himself, but for the kingdom. What is keeping invaders from their walls again (he still remembers when they took over, when they thought the Dale could be controlled). They are so few and yet they are powerful. Maybe that is their saving grace? Their strength, but will it be enough again?

In the sunlight Tiphon shifts restlessly. The grassy meadows surround him and while he is secure in his place there is still a steady stream of worry that courses slowly into his thoughts. He didn’t expect – or want, really – to see his son resign his crown, but he is well aware of the heavy burdens. The wellbeing of a kingdom is heavy and cumbersome. Even the most powerful can suffer underneath its weight and trials. There is so much – too much – for anyone to handle alone and now that is Ea’s sole responsibility with Ramiel having stepped down. He looks for her with solemn eyes and it doesn’t take long at all until she is within his vision and then within his reach.

He materializes slowly in front of her and offers a small grin. ”Ea,” he tastes her name for the first time and regards her delicately, ”How are you?” Although he is unaware of their blood relation Tiphon at least realizes the bond that ties them together. She is his son’s love and the mother of his grandchildren. She is his Queen. When he looks at her he is reminded of the barter with the Jungle and of Lagertha and Scorch. Inwardly, he chuckles. It’s funny how the Amazon princess now stands on the Dalean throne. ”Your mother would be proud,” because he knows how confident Scorch was in her children and her decisions.

TIPHON

STARLACE AND INFECTION

[Ea]

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]

BUT HOW COULD YOU KNOW THE SWEETEST SUFFERING
OF MOVING ON

He notes her elusive tone and how her eyes find him only to flicker away toward the distant hills. She mentions her children – those with Ramiel – and despite her vague replies he cannot help but grin and nod. ”I haven’t yet met them,” he says this painfully, more ashamed in himself when he admits this sorrow truth. His presence here has been fickle since descending the throne as though he assumed himself worthless from that point. For a while he had lost sight of what he had, what he loved. Talulah and Elysteria searched for him but he would visit them sporadically, enough to enlarge their family, before disappearing again. They thought him having left forever, but he never truly does. The gentle winds tousling their locks was his warmth breath, the kiss of the seasons his show of adoration, and the warmth of the sun his loving embrace. Not once would he – could he – truly leave the Dale. It’s where his family was, his children and grandchildren, but he wasn’t present in the way they needed him to be. Much to his dismay, Tiphon played horribly as a father and grandfather.

The smile on his lips wavers at the thought of this and his eyes, after having fallen to the ground, lift to find the Queen’s again. ”I look forward to the day I do finally met them instead of simply watching them play on the grassy hills,” they must be wonderful, he muses quietly, as his shoulders roll thoughtfully. Who would they take most after? Or do they have their own unique personalities to set them apart? His thoughts and ideas linger, but he can’t spare to dwell on them for very long.

”That sly woman probably knew you’d end up Queen,” an airy chuckle tumbles from him, ”she won the bargain.” Scorch bred her children to be strong and incited in them the importance of pushing themselves and gaining power. It’s what would make them stand above the others and to have their names written in the history tales of Beqanna. ”We are lucky to have you here,” he pauses as a lopsided, paternal grin breaks his stony expression, ”so maybe the Dale actually won in the end.” His ear swivels as he glances over his shoulder toward the beaten path leading south to the Jungle. Joscelin, he assumes, is still there. His heart aches for his child, but he hasn’t yet gotten the nerve to look. ”I hope the burden of the crown doesn’t weigh too heavily on you now that Ramiel stepped down.” The meeting was a surprise to Tiphon. He remembers his startle at having heard his son resign. ”Did you know he was planning that?” He has never been great at holding his tongue when curiosity got the best of him.

TIPHON

STARLACE AND INFECTION