080 Why?
Title: Why?
Fandom: Abhorsen Trilogy
Characters: Lirael, Kirrith
Prompt: 080 Why?
Word Count: 486
Rating: G
Summary: Why is a question that has always dominated Lirael and Kirrith's relationship
Table link: http://airelement.livejournal.com/4194.html
Lirael packed her things slowly, imprinting her last visit to the Glacier firmly into her memory. She concentrated hard on everything she saw, she savoured the smell of baking wafting from the kitchens, and she listened to all the small sounds that she could only hear if she tried to - the sound of the Chief shouting, the occasional mouse skittering around behind the wall, and the sounds of graceful women in soft shoes walking along the corridor.
Kirrith sat on Lirael’s bed, watching her niece pack. Lirael was leaving for the last time, to live in Belisaere with her other family, and there was so much Kirrith wanted to say. She wanted to tell Lirael all about her mother, she wanted to ask about all the things Lirael had done in her time away from the Glacier, and most of all she wanted to apologise and tell Lirael how much she loved her.
The two talked about nothing at all, the normal inane conversation used by people who have something to say and no idea how to say it. Kirrith inwardly marvelled at the change in her niece, who would have responded with single words or gestures before she left, but now was comfortable holding conversations.
There was so much Lirael wanted to say to her, so many questions she wanted to ask. She wanted to know why Kirrith had paid so little attention to her, she wanted to scream and shout and yell about the unfairness of her childhood, but most of all she wanted her aunt to hug her and tell her she was loved. But as always, Lirael was reticent, and never steered the mindless conversation in the direction of what she really wanted to say.
Lirael stood up and closed her trunk.
“I’m done, Auntie,” she said quietly. Kirrith nodded, wanting to speak up, but didn’t. Lirael surveyed her, wanting to say something, anything, but couldn’t find the words. “Goodbye.” She turned to leave, but was stopped from an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
“Why, Lirael?” Kirrith asked, her voice cracking. “Why are you leaving me? Do you not love me?” Lirael stared at her.
“Of course I do! I’m leaving because my other family loves me, and you don’t! You never loved me, you never took time to see why I was so upset! Why, Auntie, why didn’t you care?” Lirael asked, tears running down her cheeks. She had always wanted to ask why she wasn’t loved, and had finally found the words.
“I did!” Kirrith exclaimed. “I do, Lirael, I do. I’m going to miss you,” she said sadly, walking over to Lirael and pulling her into a tight hug.
“I’ll miss you too, Auntie,” Lirael whispered, and smiled back as she left. They never met again, but they were both happy to know that they did love each other, and the questions that had plagued them for years had been answered.
Fandom: Abhorsen Trilogy
Characters: Lirael, Kirrith
Prompt: 080 Why?
Word Count: 486
Rating: G
Summary: Why is a question that has always dominated Lirael and Kirrith's relationship
Table link: http://airelement.livejournal.com/4194.html
Lirael packed her things slowly, imprinting her last visit to the Glacier firmly into her memory. She concentrated hard on everything she saw, she savoured the smell of baking wafting from the kitchens, and she listened to all the small sounds that she could only hear if she tried to - the sound of the Chief shouting, the occasional mouse skittering around behind the wall, and the sounds of graceful women in soft shoes walking along the corridor.
Kirrith sat on Lirael’s bed, watching her niece pack. Lirael was leaving for the last time, to live in Belisaere with her other family, and there was so much Kirrith wanted to say. She wanted to tell Lirael all about her mother, she wanted to ask about all the things Lirael had done in her time away from the Glacier, and most of all she wanted to apologise and tell Lirael how much she loved her.
The two talked about nothing at all, the normal inane conversation used by people who have something to say and no idea how to say it. Kirrith inwardly marvelled at the change in her niece, who would have responded with single words or gestures before she left, but now was comfortable holding conversations.
There was so much Lirael wanted to say to her, so many questions she wanted to ask. She wanted to know why Kirrith had paid so little attention to her, she wanted to scream and shout and yell about the unfairness of her childhood, but most of all she wanted her aunt to hug her and tell her she was loved. But as always, Lirael was reticent, and never steered the mindless conversation in the direction of what she really wanted to say.
Lirael stood up and closed her trunk.
“I’m done, Auntie,” she said quietly. Kirrith nodded, wanting to speak up, but didn’t. Lirael surveyed her, wanting to say something, anything, but couldn’t find the words. “Goodbye.” She turned to leave, but was stopped from an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
“Why, Lirael?” Kirrith asked, her voice cracking. “Why are you leaving me? Do you not love me?” Lirael stared at her.
“Of course I do! I’m leaving because my other family loves me, and you don’t! You never loved me, you never took time to see why I was so upset! Why, Auntie, why didn’t you care?” Lirael asked, tears running down her cheeks. She had always wanted to ask why she wasn’t loved, and had finally found the words.
“I did!” Kirrith exclaimed. “I do, Lirael, I do. I’m going to miss you,” she said sadly, walking over to Lirael and pulling her into a tight hug.
“I’ll miss you too, Auntie,” Lirael whispered, and smiled back as she left. They never met again, but they were both happy to know that they did love each other, and the questions that had plagued them for years had been answered.