-----"Oh Mom, I wish I could stay like this forever...but I have to be going within a couple of days. There are orc slavers in Ravenhold and I have to do all I can to stop them....I." She smiled. "I am sorry I should not have bought it up. I just wanted to let you know...I know we will have plenty of time before then to talk about our family. Maybe we could have dinner with Zepharon and Veil and the four of us could talk about everything? After we spend some time alone of course." Sarah said as she continued to hold her mother tight and rest her head on Evalyn's shoulder.
-----Sarah feels a shudder go through her mother. "Oh no, no!" Evalyn says with a shocked expression. "No, this I cannot allow!"
-----Evalyn looks at Sarah with huge frightened eyes. "No, I will not lose you again! You are home now! Our family will stay here and our knights and warriors will ride forth! They will kill the filthy orcs!"
-----Evalyn now rises and though she does not threaten Sarah, a strange look comes into her eyes, partly anger and partly desperation. "Those of us of noble blood must stay here for our people! You must never give those damn dirty orcs another thought! NEVER another thought! Those bastards are the one who killed . . ." Here Lady Evalyn stops herself and claps her hands over her mouth. She looks at Sarah with a pleading apologetic look. She then closes her eyes and nearly swoons.
-----"Noble blood...but I'm not...well I suppose I..." Sarah is rather confused. "No! I'm not." Sarah decides. She further decides to spare her feelings on the inherent immorality of an aristocracy for the time being. Perhaps when her mother is better rested she can broach the subject.
-----"I would appreciate any support you would lend me with your soldiers. But I must go myself. I have a responsibility to the people of the world to save them from enslavement and harm. To me that is more 'noble' than sitting in a castle and staying safe." Sarah says with great conviction in her voice. "Besides, I'm no good at sitting around doing nothing."
-----"And if the orcs are at fault for any personal grievance of our family it will only strengthen my desire to see them driven off." Sarah states firmly, her arms still tight around her mother.
-----"I know I was a baby when you last saw me. But I am not a child anymore." Sarah says.
-----"No, Sarah," Evalyn says gaining some control over herself, "do you not see? You are the heir of the Ryn-Volquist family. You are of noble blood!"
-----"Being of noble blood is of itself being responsible to our people. We must remain here . . . for our people. If we leave, no one is here to make the decisions for our people's survival. We have the responsibility to stay here and govern."
-----Evalyn then takes Sarah's shoulders and says excitedly, "Oh, my darling, there is so much I could show and teach you here! You will see! It is not hiding in a castle at all. In fact, what we do here is more important than running out on a battlefield."
-----"People can make decisions for themselves." Sarah says quietly. "Our blood is no different than theirs." Sarah decides she has to just come out and say what she means. "If you feel the need to stay and govern that is your choice. But I must go to Ravenhold." Sarah places her hand over her mother's. "And when I have time I would love to learn everything you can teach me."
-----Evalyn places her hand on Sarah's cheek. "I look at you and I still see that little one that used to love to run and hide in the meadows just as the spring flowers were blooming," she says with proud eyes glistening with tears.
-----With as much pride, she adds, "I hear your words and they remind me so much of what your father would say. That was his way of being noble and always so gallant."
-----With a sigh, she hints at relenting for the moment. "You are right, you are nearly a woman. The thing is you are still my daughter and I'm not ready to just let you go again."
-----"Oh mother I don't wish to leave you either." Sarah says plaintively and convincingly. "And I won't for at least a day or so. But I have waited too long as it is! Let us enjoy the time we have and not worry about what has to come."
-----Just then the conversation is interrupted by angry voices in the waiting chamber where Sarah had left Zepharon and Veil with the Lord Marshall. One voice belongs to the Lord Marshall, while it is quickly answered by one that sounds like Sol Herron!
-----"Sol?" Sarah says aloud. "Excuse me." She says to her mother and runs as fast as her fancy dress allows to the doors and throws them open.
-----As Sarah throws the doors open, a pair of guards are just on the other side with their backs to her. The portals' opening behind them quickly startles both guards. One of them turns slightly toward her and utters, "My Lady!" misidentifying her.