A True Disney Princess Moment (Niffy/Durion),
Apr 4, 2018 10:45:49 GMT -5
Post by Gwaedholon on Apr 4, 2018 10:45:49 GMT -5
The anticipatory excitement which usually animated Gwaedholon’s pale face was somewhat shadowed, as she reached for her hooded cloak. Venturing out of the house, which also served as work room and shop front to her uncle’s tailoring business, had always been something she looked forward to. Even quick trips to the market to buy onions for her aunt, or running down the street to fetch some newly crafted fabric from her grandparents might present an unlooked for opportunity to…to…well, who knew what might happen along the way? Usually it turned out that nothing new or exciting occurred. But she was ever hopeful, and occasionally she would catch a glimpse of a handsome face or a bold eye.
Of course, this never lead to anything more. Her aunt and uncle had been ever careful to heed her father’s vexing words of constraint. Really! Gwaedholon sometimes felt like a prisoner more than a member of the family! This, of course, was mostly just her over active imagination at work. In truth, she was well loved and her voluntary guardians-surrogate parents kept a watchful eye on all their girls. At least, they tried to. There was one who had proven far more adept than Gwae at escaping her parents’ often work-distracted eyes. In any case, their niece’s restlessness stemmed as much from her perceived restrictions as from any real constraints placed upon her. Unfortunately for her, Gwaedholon tended to be an obedient child, and had grown to be a dutiful young woman, regardless of how that duty sometimes chafed.
Recent occurrences had made the likelihood of escaping those perceived shackles even more remote. Her dear, dear aunt – ever a mother to her since her own had died when Gwae was four – had passed a little more than two months previously. As shocking and heart breaking as Lairiel's death had been, layered on top of that tragic loss was the fact that Gwae’s eldest cousin, Niphredel, had been left deaf in the wake of the same illness which had taken her mother. The two girls had always been close, like true sisters. To see her uncle and cousins grieving over their loss, and to feel what must have been the same level of pain herself, was more than enough. But to see her cousin struggling to come to terms with her own personal loss was heart wrenching.
The house had filled with sadness, even to the very corners and cracks. Yet Gwae’s nimble fingers, keen eye and pleasant manner was needed now more than ever before. Her uncle relied more heavily upon her help, with his wife now gone. Just as her cousins needed her emotional support, especially Niffy. The bulk of the work-a-day labors fell to Lathron, Gwae, and her next oldest cousin, Haleth. Niffy had been bent on being a harpist, and her parents and sisters, and cousin, had always encouraged her in that pursuit. She was not so handy with a needle and thread, and of course, her ability to serve customers was now severely limited. The two younger daughters were of younger years and not as much to be relied upon – Eruli least of all for she was more interested in weaving than sewing – and other things as well – and was most often down to their grandparents’ home to help them with such craft. Rovain was sweet and dutiful, but young still, being only ten. So with her aunt’s passing, and Niffy’s loss of hearing, Gwae felt that much more weighted with responsibility that she might wish she could pass off to some other pair of shoulders.
It wasn’t that she was lazy, or flighty. She had ever been a girl to dream – inspired by all the most romantic tales and songs of love. That was all she wished for – to find a handsome, valiant man to sweep her off her feet and carry her off. Not to a castle, but to a home of her own, where she could be a woman grown, an adult, the mistress of her own house. She wanted children and independence. Such was her naivete that she did not see how the one really precluded the other. But that is the way with girls and young women. They almost always believe a husband will be far better than a father and mother.
So, as Gwae tied the strings of her cloak and hood, she did not feel quite as she would have several months ago. She turned to Niffy, making sure she had her cousin’s attention before she spoke. ”Are you ready?” Gwae tried not to speak more loudly, though there was a natural inclination to do so, even knowing that no matter how loud she was, Niffy would not hear her. She also tried to put some emphasis on the movements of her lips, though not overmuch, for that would distort them out of recognition. She only tried to speak clearly, and firmly, keeping her eyes on Niffy’s face, while her cousin would keep her eyes on Gwae’s mouth.
She smiled and reached for Niffy’s hand, and they moved towards the door of the shop, to go in search of another spool of lace.
Niphredil
Of course, this never lead to anything more. Her aunt and uncle had been ever careful to heed her father’s vexing words of constraint. Really! Gwaedholon sometimes felt like a prisoner more than a member of the family! This, of course, was mostly just her over active imagination at work. In truth, she was well loved and her voluntary guardians-surrogate parents kept a watchful eye on all their girls. At least, they tried to. There was one who had proven far more adept than Gwae at escaping her parents’ often work-distracted eyes. In any case, their niece’s restlessness stemmed as much from her perceived restrictions as from any real constraints placed upon her. Unfortunately for her, Gwaedholon tended to be an obedient child, and had grown to be a dutiful young woman, regardless of how that duty sometimes chafed.
Recent occurrences had made the likelihood of escaping those perceived shackles even more remote. Her dear, dear aunt – ever a mother to her since her own had died when Gwae was four – had passed a little more than two months previously. As shocking and heart breaking as Lairiel's death had been, layered on top of that tragic loss was the fact that Gwae’s eldest cousin, Niphredel, had been left deaf in the wake of the same illness which had taken her mother. The two girls had always been close, like true sisters. To see her uncle and cousins grieving over their loss, and to feel what must have been the same level of pain herself, was more than enough. But to see her cousin struggling to come to terms with her own personal loss was heart wrenching.
The house had filled with sadness, even to the very corners and cracks. Yet Gwae’s nimble fingers, keen eye and pleasant manner was needed now more than ever before. Her uncle relied more heavily upon her help, with his wife now gone. Just as her cousins needed her emotional support, especially Niffy. The bulk of the work-a-day labors fell to Lathron, Gwae, and her next oldest cousin, Haleth. Niffy had been bent on being a harpist, and her parents and sisters, and cousin, had always encouraged her in that pursuit. She was not so handy with a needle and thread, and of course, her ability to serve customers was now severely limited. The two younger daughters were of younger years and not as much to be relied upon – Eruli least of all for she was more interested in weaving than sewing – and other things as well – and was most often down to their grandparents’ home to help them with such craft. Rovain was sweet and dutiful, but young still, being only ten. So with her aunt’s passing, and Niffy’s loss of hearing, Gwae felt that much more weighted with responsibility that she might wish she could pass off to some other pair of shoulders.
It wasn’t that she was lazy, or flighty. She had ever been a girl to dream – inspired by all the most romantic tales and songs of love. That was all she wished for – to find a handsome, valiant man to sweep her off her feet and carry her off. Not to a castle, but to a home of her own, where she could be a woman grown, an adult, the mistress of her own house. She wanted children and independence. Such was her naivete that she did not see how the one really precluded the other. But that is the way with girls and young women. They almost always believe a husband will be far better than a father and mother.
So, as Gwae tied the strings of her cloak and hood, she did not feel quite as she would have several months ago. She turned to Niffy, making sure she had her cousin’s attention before she spoke. ”Are you ready?” Gwae tried not to speak more loudly, though there was a natural inclination to do so, even knowing that no matter how loud she was, Niffy would not hear her. She also tried to put some emphasis on the movements of her lips, though not overmuch, for that would distort them out of recognition. She only tried to speak clearly, and firmly, keeping her eyes on Niffy’s face, while her cousin would keep her eyes on Gwae’s mouth.
She smiled and reached for Niffy’s hand, and they moved towards the door of the shop, to go in search of another spool of lace.
Niphredil
