"I am ... a runaway." Roen shook her head. "My home is not here."
All eyes were on her. Dennthota leaned against the wall, her massively muscled arms crossed, her expression dark. She had stayed to listen to her story, despite the fact that her disapproval of Natalie’s methods were clear and she still held her belief that some secrets need not be told.
Perhaps Denn was right. But as Roen looked to the rest of the faces that were staring back at her, Siben, Stanzie, Remi, C’Kayah, Kage and Natalie, she could not see any other choice.
"The people who took my ... adoptive parents. They were working for my real father." She sighed, her gaze going to her balled hands on her lap. "Their condition for my step father's safe return was for me to return home."
“Which would be where exactly?†Siben asked.
Roen felt that constriction around her chest tighten. She forced out her next word. "...Garlemald."
Silence fell across the room. “Oh, gods… that would be it.†Stanzie finally sighed.
Then suddenly Natalie began to laugh out loud. It grew in volume maniacally, and the miqo’te nearly doubled over in her seat.
“Natalie…†Siben began worriedly.
“Roen…†Natalie sighed loudly, wiping a tear from her eye, a strange smile lingering. Roen stared at her oddly, not knowing what to make of the bewildered look that the miqo’te wore. “Is that really all it was?†Â
When Roen sat there stunned still, Natalie continued, sitting up. “I was tempered by a Primal for godsake, Roen. And you didn’t abandon me then. Do you think I would abandon you over something so little as your blood?†She shook her head chidingly.
Roen stared at her still, blinking. She was still trying to believe the words that were spoken. Was… Natalie accepting her heritage? Without anger? Or hatred?
“I have to agree with Natalie.†Kage piped up as well, relief clear in his demeanor. “You thought  that would make things worse?â€
Remi shrugged nonchalantly. “So you're from Garlemald. It's not like you're charging at Limsa on a magitek walker screaming Death to Eorzeans!".
"We don't judge you on 'what' you are, but on 'who' you are." Stanzie added softly, laying her hand on top of Roen’s.
Roen glanced from one face to another. They were all offering her words of acceptance. She was struggling to believe her ears. "I... I joined the Garlean forces, Nael van Darnus' army at Carteneau." she heard herself say, once she admitted to one truth, the rest seemed to come easier.
"And are you still with them?" Natalie tapped her jaw.
“Does it matter?†Dennthota shot the Sultansworn a look. “I mean, you said the bond of "sisters in arms" was strong. It shouldn’t matter.â€
"I ran away from the war,†Roen shook her head.
Siben gave a pointed look to Denn. "It could matter, though at least half of us here have no moral high ground to stand on in that regard."
Natalie rose from her seat, and came to kneel in front of Roen. Her hands wrapped around the hyur’s and squeezed lightly. “Roen, everything you told me in our time together… your goals, your hopes and dreams, your desire to help. Was that all true?"
"I did not lie. Not about any of that." Roen met Natalie’s gaze steadily. "I only did not speak of my past."
Kage chuckled, grinning from ear to ear, as he looked to Kayah. “Thank the Twelve. Because I bet my oath, my sword and my shield on everything Roen saying to be the truth."
Natalie nodded to Roen then stood. “Applicant Deneith!†She shouted, her words crisp. “Front and center!â€
Roen bolted to a stand, her back rigid.
Natalie curled a small smile. "You will report tomorrow for your normal duties, in preparation for your oath swearing. Is that understood?â€
Roen blinked. “I am… reinstated?â€
Natalie pulled out a folded document from her pocket and extended it her way. "Your leave was approved after all.†She rolled her shoulders in a shrug, her grin lingering. "It's understandable you'd want to visit your family before the ceremony.â€
"Aye. I - I will.†Roen nodded quickly. “I will return to my normal duties in the morn."
Natalie smiled at her warmly for a moment longer before returning to Kayah’s side to whisper something in his ear. Roen stood there for a few more minutes, glancing about the room. She watched as the rest of the Night Blades who had heard her story simply went about their business as if nothing had happened. They did not care that she was Garlean. There were no strange stares at her way, no air of suspicion that hung after her admission. Stanzie was exchanging some business details with Siben, and Remi and Dennthota were leaning close to each other exchanging quiet words.
Roen inhaled. She felt lighter somehow. She stood in silence as she continue to watch everyone, as a slow grin lifted her lips. As the room was beginning to clear as the rest went about their tasks, Natalie approached her again, coughing into her hand.
"I won't say I regret doing that,†Natalie looked a bit sheepish. It was a look Roen had never seen before. But under that veneer, there was still that hint of stubborn mischief. â€But do you think you can ever forgive me for it?"
"There is nothing to forgive." Roen smiled.
Natalie blinked, her brows raised. “I… I don't deserve that.†She curled a sheepish grin. "But thanks."
"Reckless. Unpredictable." Roen chuckled. "That is your way." She eyed the miqo’te, holding her gaze. “I still trust you."
"It always makes sense in my head..." Natalie muttered before nodding to Roen. “And I you.†She extended a hand. “And let it never fade."
Roen took her hand and shook it with a firm grip. "Aye. Shield to shield.â€
All eyes were on her. Dennthota leaned against the wall, her massively muscled arms crossed, her expression dark. She had stayed to listen to her story, despite the fact that her disapproval of Natalie’s methods were clear and she still held her belief that some secrets need not be told.
Perhaps Denn was right. But as Roen looked to the rest of the faces that were staring back at her, Siben, Stanzie, Remi, C’Kayah, Kage and Natalie, she could not see any other choice.
"The people who took my ... adoptive parents. They were working for my real father." She sighed, her gaze going to her balled hands on her lap. "Their condition for my step father's safe return was for me to return home."
“Which would be where exactly?†Siben asked.
Roen felt that constriction around her chest tighten. She forced out her next word. "...Garlemald."
Silence fell across the room. “Oh, gods… that would be it.†Stanzie finally sighed.
Then suddenly Natalie began to laugh out loud. It grew in volume maniacally, and the miqo’te nearly doubled over in her seat.
“Natalie…†Siben began worriedly.
“Roen…†Natalie sighed loudly, wiping a tear from her eye, a strange smile lingering. Roen stared at her oddly, not knowing what to make of the bewildered look that the miqo’te wore. “Is that really all it was?†Â
When Roen sat there stunned still, Natalie continued, sitting up. “I was tempered by a Primal for godsake, Roen. And you didn’t abandon me then. Do you think I would abandon you over something so little as your blood?†She shook her head chidingly.
Roen stared at her still, blinking. She was still trying to believe the words that were spoken. Was… Natalie accepting her heritage? Without anger? Or hatred?
“I have to agree with Natalie.†Kage piped up as well, relief clear in his demeanor. “You thought  that would make things worse?â€
Remi shrugged nonchalantly. “So you're from Garlemald. It's not like you're charging at Limsa on a magitek walker screaming Death to Eorzeans!".
"We don't judge you on 'what' you are, but on 'who' you are." Stanzie added softly, laying her hand on top of Roen’s.
Roen glanced from one face to another. They were all offering her words of acceptance. She was struggling to believe her ears. "I... I joined the Garlean forces, Nael van Darnus' army at Carteneau." she heard herself say, once she admitted to one truth, the rest seemed to come easier.
"And are you still with them?" Natalie tapped her jaw.
“Does it matter?†Dennthota shot the Sultansworn a look. “I mean, you said the bond of "sisters in arms" was strong. It shouldn’t matter.â€
"I ran away from the war,†Roen shook her head.
Siben gave a pointed look to Denn. "It could matter, though at least half of us here have no moral high ground to stand on in that regard."
Natalie rose from her seat, and came to kneel in front of Roen. Her hands wrapped around the hyur’s and squeezed lightly. “Roen, everything you told me in our time together… your goals, your hopes and dreams, your desire to help. Was that all true?"
"I did not lie. Not about any of that." Roen met Natalie’s gaze steadily. "I only did not speak of my past."
Kage chuckled, grinning from ear to ear, as he looked to Kayah. “Thank the Twelve. Because I bet my oath, my sword and my shield on everything Roen saying to be the truth."
Natalie nodded to Roen then stood. “Applicant Deneith!†She shouted, her words crisp. “Front and center!â€
Roen bolted to a stand, her back rigid.
Natalie curled a small smile. "You will report tomorrow for your normal duties, in preparation for your oath swearing. Is that understood?â€
Roen blinked. “I am… reinstated?â€
Natalie pulled out a folded document from her pocket and extended it her way. "Your leave was approved after all.†She rolled her shoulders in a shrug, her grin lingering. "It's understandable you'd want to visit your family before the ceremony.â€
"Aye. I - I will.†Roen nodded quickly. “I will return to my normal duties in the morn."
Natalie smiled at her warmly for a moment longer before returning to Kayah’s side to whisper something in his ear. Roen stood there for a few more minutes, glancing about the room. She watched as the rest of the Night Blades who had heard her story simply went about their business as if nothing had happened. They did not care that she was Garlean. There were no strange stares at her way, no air of suspicion that hung after her admission. Stanzie was exchanging some business details with Siben, and Remi and Dennthota were leaning close to each other exchanging quiet words.
Roen inhaled. She felt lighter somehow. She stood in silence as she continue to watch everyone, as a slow grin lifted her lips. As the room was beginning to clear as the rest went about their tasks, Natalie approached her again, coughing into her hand.
"I won't say I regret doing that,†Natalie looked a bit sheepish. It was a look Roen had never seen before. But under that veneer, there was still that hint of stubborn mischief. â€But do you think you can ever forgive me for it?"
"There is nothing to forgive." Roen smiled.
Natalie blinked, her brows raised. “I… I don't deserve that.†She curled a sheepish grin. "But thanks."
"Reckless. Unpredictable." Roen chuckled. "That is your way." She eyed the miqo’te, holding her gaze. “I still trust you."
"It always makes sense in my head..." Natalie muttered before nodding to Roen. “And I you.†She extended a hand. “And let it never fade."
Roen took her hand and shook it with a firm grip. "Aye. Shield to shield.â€
