08-14-2010, 10:15 PM
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Like his mother, Gabriel was past the point of change. He had grown up with war and with conflict and been shaped out of it. Chaos and order were equal parts of his being. Gabriel could slaughter with indifference just as he could reasonably sympathize with an opponent. Yet before all things he was a warrior. It was his duty to defend those who could not defend themselves. He had failed, and he had failed many times over, yet his victories were great.
Gabriel had once hated his parents. He had hated them because he was a boy who was lost, who was only a few miles from his home, and he was starving in fresh air. They had not come for him. Yet as he had matured he had grown to understand why. His father had spoken to him many times since he had become a man. This was when Gabriel had realized he was mad. Ahren was sick long before the disease took him. Despite this, Ahren had dedicated himself to his son’s cause, offered him everything in those last days, and Gabriel had accepted this. It was his father’s unspoken display of love. He could never be the father Gabriel needed.
Kaena had always loved him, and Gabriel knew this even when she rose a hand against him. She alone was given that right. No one had ever struck him without retribution, not even a child. This alone was proof of his love. The fact he wore her sign and carried his father’s name was further proof of his love for them. They spoke only a little longer, and then sat in silence together. They were comfortable in the silence. Several long moments passed—maybe half an hour, maybe an hour—before they parted ways.
Gabriel had once hated his parents. He had hated them because he was a boy who was lost, who was only a few miles from his home, and he was starving in fresh air. They had not come for him. Yet as he had matured he had grown to understand why. His father had spoken to him many times since he had become a man. This was when Gabriel had realized he was mad. Ahren was sick long before the disease took him. Despite this, Ahren had dedicated himself to his son’s cause, offered him everything in those last days, and Gabriel had accepted this. It was his father’s unspoken display of love. He could never be the father Gabriel needed.
Kaena had always loved him, and Gabriel knew this even when she rose a hand against him. She alone was given that right. No one had ever struck him without retribution, not even a child. This alone was proof of his love. The fact he wore her sign and carried his father’s name was further proof of his love for them. They spoke only a little longer, and then sat in silence together. They were comfortable in the silence. Several long moments passed—maybe half an hour, maybe an hour—before they parted ways.