Post by sparkomatic on Sept 2, 2006 23:33:57 GMT -5
Shi'Ana grunted with the effort of lifting the huge sword. It took a few minutes, but she was able to lift it into the ready position. the sound of her brothers' laughter made her pointed ears burn as she grunted with the effort.
"You will never be able to wield that in battle." said Tir'Athiel, her oldest brother.
"Except maybe for squashing insects." piped up her next oldest brother Talaanus.
Lorenthalas just laughed as hard as he could.
"If you three can use it, then I can use it! growled Shi'Ana back at them.
"You are too small, and a girl as well!" all three of them said at the same time. "Go practice needlepoint instead." they chimed.
Shi'Ana threw the great-sword down onto the ground, angry tears blurring her vision. She then turned and walked away from her laughing brothers.
Shi'Ana knew that her father had other plans for her. She took the required training all elves must face with the longbow. However, during every spare moment away from her brothers and her father from then on, Shi'Ana picked up that large blade and practiced fighting moves with it as she had seen her brothers do. Gradually, bit by bit, the sword became easier for her to wield. In the meantime, she also studied her other lessons, ones that every elven female undertook in preparation to become a good mate and mother. Lessons such as how to run a household, etc.
Not long after she became of age, her father came to her.
"Shi'Ana. It is time you underwent the binding ceremony...what the humans call 'marriage'."
"But Father. There is no male I am interested in at the moment, let alone love. I have not yet met the right one that I wish to be bound with."
"Love?" father smiled. "The binding ceremony is not about love. It is about raising one's status in our community."
"But Father. Did Mother and you not love each other when you underwent the binding ceremony?"
"Yes, child. That was a fortunate coincidence. However, the binding of your mother and I also enabled me to purchase a small textiles business. With you as our only daughter and your mother dead these long years, we have a chance to raise our family even higher in the business community. You are to be bound with Faerius Tir'Alaian. You know that his family is very wealthy and a union with him will provide many more resources for our family."
Shi'Ana's face took on an expression of horror. "Father! He is so....ugly and boring!"
"Hush Shi'Ana. The ceremony has already been arranged. It will be performed under the next quarter moon, in less than a tenday. You will do this for me, for us." her father politely, but firmly stated. "Think of the status you will achieve."
Her father walked off, leaving Shi'Ana's head spinning with horrified thoughts of being married to Faerius. After all, he is a short, fat, fragile looking male with a very prominent nose that seemed to care more about eating and foppish clothes than anything else. Shi'Ana was repulsed by the thought of him even touching her, let alone being bound to him for almost a millennia. Thoughts of what to do raced through her head.
Later when it was very dark and SHi'Ana was sure that everyone in the house was asleep, she tossed together what little possessions she had. As she walked past the greatsword laying among the other weapons in the weapon rack, she impulsively grabbed it and quickly ran out of the house as quietly as she could.
"Father, forgive me. I cannot do this thing you ask of me." Tears streamed down her face as she hefted the large blade and turned her back on her house as she started off in the direction of Isinhold.
"You will never be able to wield that in battle." said Tir'Athiel, her oldest brother.
"Except maybe for squashing insects." piped up her next oldest brother Talaanus.
Lorenthalas just laughed as hard as he could.
"If you three can use it, then I can use it! growled Shi'Ana back at them.
"You are too small, and a girl as well!" all three of them said at the same time. "Go practice needlepoint instead." they chimed.
Shi'Ana threw the great-sword down onto the ground, angry tears blurring her vision. She then turned and walked away from her laughing brothers.
Shi'Ana knew that her father had other plans for her. She took the required training all elves must face with the longbow. However, during every spare moment away from her brothers and her father from then on, Shi'Ana picked up that large blade and practiced fighting moves with it as she had seen her brothers do. Gradually, bit by bit, the sword became easier for her to wield. In the meantime, she also studied her other lessons, ones that every elven female undertook in preparation to become a good mate and mother. Lessons such as how to run a household, etc.
Not long after she became of age, her father came to her.
"Shi'Ana. It is time you underwent the binding ceremony...what the humans call 'marriage'."
"But Father. There is no male I am interested in at the moment, let alone love. I have not yet met the right one that I wish to be bound with."
"Love?" father smiled. "The binding ceremony is not about love. It is about raising one's status in our community."
"But Father. Did Mother and you not love each other when you underwent the binding ceremony?"
"Yes, child. That was a fortunate coincidence. However, the binding of your mother and I also enabled me to purchase a small textiles business. With you as our only daughter and your mother dead these long years, we have a chance to raise our family even higher in the business community. You are to be bound with Faerius Tir'Alaian. You know that his family is very wealthy and a union with him will provide many more resources for our family."
Shi'Ana's face took on an expression of horror. "Father! He is so....ugly and boring!"
"Hush Shi'Ana. The ceremony has already been arranged. It will be performed under the next quarter moon, in less than a tenday. You will do this for me, for us." her father politely, but firmly stated. "Think of the status you will achieve."
Her father walked off, leaving Shi'Ana's head spinning with horrified thoughts of being married to Faerius. After all, he is a short, fat, fragile looking male with a very prominent nose that seemed to care more about eating and foppish clothes than anything else. Shi'Ana was repulsed by the thought of him even touching her, let alone being bound to him for almost a millennia. Thoughts of what to do raced through her head.
Later when it was very dark and SHi'Ana was sure that everyone in the house was asleep, she tossed together what little possessions she had. As she walked past the greatsword laying among the other weapons in the weapon rack, she impulsively grabbed it and quickly ran out of the house as quietly as she could.
"Father, forgive me. I cannot do this thing you ask of me." Tears streamed down her face as she hefted the large blade and turned her back on her house as she started off in the direction of Isinhold.