Post by Lursa the Orc on Mar 3, 2005 0:03:12 GMT -5
Tatsumi sat by the fire with a large tome in her hand. The evening sun peaked over the mountains behind her home, it’s last rays casting long shadows over the living room floor. Once again she dipped her pen in the ink well and set the last words down on paper…
Her reflexes were no longer as fast as they once were. Taming the wilderness, she began to realize, was now a game for someone much younger. Her mind wandered back to the day she first set foot in Vesper…rag tag…in leather armor that was a fourth generation hand me down, and a rusty sword that would be lucky if it could cut through hot butter.
There was a time when she looked back on those days as the “good old days.” She was distracted by a little laugh coming from a basket next to her chair. She looked down, and there smiling up at her was a tiny baby. She smiled back at the small child. Setting down the pen and picking up the child in her arms…suddenly she realized.
These were the ‘good old days.’
A noise that sounded like it was made by the feet of a small heard of ravenous mongbats grew louder behind her. Tatsumi turned around. There was the same beaming face, that once smiled up at her from the basket. Now much older.
“Watcha doin’ mommy?”
“Well little one, Tatsumi answered, I am finishing up that book you asked me to write about my life, and the world you grew up in.”
“For me?!”
Tatsumi spread some sand on the last page and blew it off. She closed the cumbersome volume and handed it to her daughter with one hand. The book was even more of a burden for one so small, and the child took the book in both arms.
“Thank you so much mommy.”
The child set her precious treasure down on a nearby table…ever so gently…as if it would break if she dropped it too hard. No sooner had the book hit the surface of the table then she spun around, laughing gleefully, she ran to her mother and jumped into her arms…confident that she could trust mommy to keep catch her and keep her safe… ‘Just like always…’
The little girl plopped down in Tatsumi’s lap. She looked up and noticed one small tear slowly making it’s way down her mother’s left cheek.
“Why are you sad mommy?”
“I’m not sad at all little one.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because, little Helia, these are tears of joy. I have fought many battles, long and hard, for treasure….gold, jewels…and I suddenly realized…that YOU…little one…are the GREATEST treasure of all….my ‘pearl of great price.’ I would give up everything for you.”
“But you don’t have to give up anything for me, mommy,’ said little Helia, “I’m right here”
“…THAT my little love, is why I am crying…THESE are my ‘good old days.’”
Mother and child sat there watching the fire as the last rays of sunlight disappeared over the mountains.
As the years flew by, Helia grew into a tall strong woman. Her mother, Tatsumi, grew in love for her new life, as she grew older. Eventually, her days dwindled down to a precious few. The day finally came when Tatsumi set out on life’s greatest adventure….the after life. ‘Death is but a doorway’ she used to say.
When that day finally came, Helia sat on her horse staring back at the stone keep, now empty, for the last time. She turned her horse and rode off to the waiting ship at the sea shore.
Helia set off for a new land…some place called “porch of maidens.’
The keep dwindled away, as had its former owner, Tatsumi. The day came when both keep and owner were nothing but cold bones in frozen ground. But one thing never dwindled…one thing NEVER died…the love of mother and daughter.
Rest in Peace, Tatsumi, Lady of the Snows.
Her reflexes were no longer as fast as they once were. Taming the wilderness, she began to realize, was now a game for someone much younger. Her mind wandered back to the day she first set foot in Vesper…rag tag…in leather armor that was a fourth generation hand me down, and a rusty sword that would be lucky if it could cut through hot butter.
There was a time when she looked back on those days as the “good old days.” She was distracted by a little laugh coming from a basket next to her chair. She looked down, and there smiling up at her was a tiny baby. She smiled back at the small child. Setting down the pen and picking up the child in her arms…suddenly she realized.
These were the ‘good old days.’
A noise that sounded like it was made by the feet of a small heard of ravenous mongbats grew louder behind her. Tatsumi turned around. There was the same beaming face, that once smiled up at her from the basket. Now much older.
“Watcha doin’ mommy?”
“Well little one, Tatsumi answered, I am finishing up that book you asked me to write about my life, and the world you grew up in.”
“For me?!”
Tatsumi spread some sand on the last page and blew it off. She closed the cumbersome volume and handed it to her daughter with one hand. The book was even more of a burden for one so small, and the child took the book in both arms.
“Thank you so much mommy.”
The child set her precious treasure down on a nearby table…ever so gently…as if it would break if she dropped it too hard. No sooner had the book hit the surface of the table then she spun around, laughing gleefully, she ran to her mother and jumped into her arms…confident that she could trust mommy to keep catch her and keep her safe… ‘Just like always…’
The little girl plopped down in Tatsumi’s lap. She looked up and noticed one small tear slowly making it’s way down her mother’s left cheek.
“Why are you sad mommy?”
“I’m not sad at all little one.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because, little Helia, these are tears of joy. I have fought many battles, long and hard, for treasure….gold, jewels…and I suddenly realized…that YOU…little one…are the GREATEST treasure of all….my ‘pearl of great price.’ I would give up everything for you.”
“But you don’t have to give up anything for me, mommy,’ said little Helia, “I’m right here”
“…THAT my little love, is why I am crying…THESE are my ‘good old days.’”
Mother and child sat there watching the fire as the last rays of sunlight disappeared over the mountains.
As the years flew by, Helia grew into a tall strong woman. Her mother, Tatsumi, grew in love for her new life, as she grew older. Eventually, her days dwindled down to a precious few. The day finally came when Tatsumi set out on life’s greatest adventure….the after life. ‘Death is but a doorway’ she used to say.
When that day finally came, Helia sat on her horse staring back at the stone keep, now empty, for the last time. She turned her horse and rode off to the waiting ship at the sea shore.
Helia set off for a new land…some place called “porch of maidens.’
The keep dwindled away, as had its former owner, Tatsumi. The day came when both keep and owner were nothing but cold bones in frozen ground. But one thing never dwindled…one thing NEVER died…the love of mother and daughter.
Rest in Peace, Tatsumi, Lady of the Snows.