i'm done denying the truth to anyone
Cause I'm alive
Cause I'm alive
T
here is something different to the way the fire flickers within the lanterns of the markets. Normally it's as alive as Morrighan's soul, but tonight it's almost as if there is a sense of calm. The flames are steadily burning and the glow that washes over Morr makes up for the absence of the moon above the sky. If she were to look close, she'd see the slightest sliver among the stars, but it's not enough to shine any moonlight down on the world. The fire is all she has now (maybe it's all she's ever known and felt close to).Denocte seems to sense the difference too. It's in the way the breeze comes through and tousels her mane, it's the way the noise of the markets rise and fall like music notes. Morrighan feels it and can sense all the changes, but she isn't sure if she believes it yet. It all still feels like a dream and she's walking on clouds instead of cobblestone.
Some bow as she passes and she nods to them. Others greet her as "queen" and it still leaves a weird feeling as she continues on. She is not a queen, but she will gladly lead them and protect them all for as long as she possibly can. The title itself she'll have to get used to hearing.
Morr has reached the part of the markets that still bring about memories that sting. Even just watching the dancers reminds her of Al'Zahra. The curve of their hips, the way they move their bodies naturally to the music (or the music in their own head) and the way their smile brightens the closer others get. There had been that brightness, but there had been danger too in Al'Zahra's gaze.
But Al'Zahra is not here tonight. Instead, who she sees dancing is Isra's daughter, Avesta. Something about this doesn't look right, but maybe Morrighan just isn't used to the twins being so grown up now. Maybe she never will and will keep seeing them as the two kids she had to chase through the haunted maze. Just as she will always see Maeve as her precious flower child with a heart of gold.
"Avesta," she says, coming up to the girl's side but does not join in the dancing (she's not sure if she can again). "You've changed."
And perhaps, so has Morrighan.
{ @Avesta "speaks" notes: text }
