What Makes A Netherbright?

[Erelle Netherbright]

Mk, I'm tired and not exactly creative right now, so it sucks, but I wanted to write something about Ere's past, even if it is really rough. So don't say anything mean! Or I'll demote you >





"Ere, its rude to eavesdrop you know."

A thin red headed girl stood with her arms folded over her chest, eyeing her wilder twin reproachfully.
The other girl shook her head, her bright blonde hair falling into her face as she made a shushing motion with her hands.
"They're arguing again, Oni. I think its about us."

Oni's forehead creased with worry and her arms dropped to her sides, she bit down on her lower lip and frowned.
"Us?"

Ere nodded and shifted her position. She leaned against the doorframe casually, looking for all the world like she belonged there.
"Listen." She held a finger to her lips for silence and raised voices soon echoed throughout the house.

"Damnit Eliysse, they're not children, they're not dolls. They're smart, they're strong. How can you tell me that starting their military training now would be a mistake?"

"Because Lyd, they're not soldiers! They're our daughters, our girls! How can you want to send them away? This isn't right, their place is here with me, here in the city! We don't need anymore soldiers! We need people to change things Lyd, make a difference!"

"You're so stupid sometimes Eli, so wrapped in your damn formalities. You think you're better than me! That you're above me! Well you're not. You don't know anything at all. You're just so stupid."

The sound of skin hitting skin rang out and Ere's posture stiffened, her hand hovering over the door knob. She stared at it, as though it stood between her and something she needed. With wide eyes she watched as it started to turn and as the door swung open, both girls darted away, catching a glimpse of their enraged father as he stormed through the house, slamming doors and knocking things over.
The girls knew better than to get in his way when one of his moods took him. They waited patiently until he had locked himself in another room and tip toed past, making their way cautiously through the house and stopping in the doorway of their mothers room.

They watched silently as she picked herself up from the floor and patted her blonde hair back into place, a dark circle already beginning to show around her eye. Oni opened her mouth to speak but the words died on her lips and she closed her mouth quickly, her gaze locked on her mother.
The woman was tall and graceful, and was beautiful in spite of the rainbow of fading bruises that adorned her face and arms.

With a forced smile to her daughters, she kissed them each on the head once and closed her door gently with a quiet click.
She preferred to do her crying where her children couldn't hear.

________________

Ere sat with her head resting on her knees outside the gates of the city, the wind picking up and stirring her hair, the knuckles on her right hand bleeding and raw.
She slammed her fist into the ground again and gritted her teeth, exhaling slowly, a murmur falling from her lips.
"I'm not strong enough yet, mom. Not yet."

[Erelle Netherbright]

A multi-colored assortment of leaves swirled around the training ground, dancing almost playfully around the three people gathered there.

"Erelle! Not good enough. Come at me again. This time, keep your right fist lowered just a bit and hit me fast, not so hard. A flurry of lighter blows will hurt worse than a couple of hard ones."
A tall, well muscled man stood in the middle of the scuffed ground in a fighting stance with an impatient look on his face.
He beckoned her with his left hand, almost condescendingly and she clenched her teeth, the muscle in her jaw tightening.
She rolled her shoulders and tugged the ponytail holding her hair a little tighter.

With a sigh, she crossed the training ground and eyed the man in front of her. She assumed the stance she had been taught and suffered quietly through the smacks he rained down on her until he was satisfied with her position.

As the spar started, they circled each other, the young woman moving with apparent ease. The circle tightened and the man sent a fist flying for her head. She ducked back and danced out of reach easily, this was how all their little "training" sessions went. The man attempting to hit her and her staying just of out arms distance.

Without warning, he kicked her feet out from underneath her and she landed squarely on her back. She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her and she rolled out of the way quickly as his foot nearly connected with her side. She glared and spit off to the side.

Ducking close, she weaved and dodged through the punches he sent, tears springing to her eyes as his fist impacted her sternum.
Moving quickly, she slammed her elbow down into his face.

The man sprawled out on the ground, both hands flying to his now profusely bleeding nose. He scowled up at her through his hands and rose to his feet.


"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

She shrugged and stared at him defiantly.

"Sparring, sir."

The disrespect in her voice could not have been more aparent.

He snarled and spat blood out on the ground.

"Go home. I'm done with you."

[Erelle Netherbright]

Erelle stomped up the smoothly paved road to her house, grumbling angrily to herself.

The front door swung open easily, as though it had only been half shut.

Hmmm. Now that's odd.

An acrid burning smell greeted her as she stepped across the thresh hold into her home and she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

That's even odder. Mum never lets dinner burn. She knows it will just upset him. Gods. Does she hate him as much as I do?

"Mum?" Erelle went from room to room in the large house, calling out for her mother.

Beginning to get slightly worried, Erelle quickened her step, noticing her mother's door at the end of the hall was slightly ajar.

Please be ok, please be ok, please be ok. She chanted this over and over again in her head, willing her mother to open the door the rest of the way and greet her with a warm smile.

"Mum?" Erelle broke into a full run down the hall and burst into the room.

It was dark, only a light burning by the bed.

Erelle scanned the room quickly and noticed her mother sleeping on the bed. Breathing a sigh of relief, she trotted over to the bed, laughing quietly to herself.

"Mum you had me scared there for a seco-" Her vocal cords constricted and she couldn't speak as her mother came into focus.

Those half lidded eyes, the unnatural way her limbs were splayed about, her mouth open slightly.

Nonononononononono

Erelle panicked. She climbed into bed with her mother and wrapped her arms around her, shaking her gently, half sobbing hysterically.

"This isn't funny you know."
This isn't a joke.

"Wake up please."
She's not going to.

"Please. Wake up. Please.
She's gone.

Erelle collapsed against her mother, her fists bunched up in Ely's yellow silk dress, her favorite one. Inhuman, animalistic wails tore at Erelle's vocal cords as she sobbed against the cooling body of her mother.

She cried and cried, taking no notice at first of the note that sat by the burning lights.




My girls,
Forgive me for the burden I have left you.
[/b]

[Erelle Netherbright]

Present Time

She knelt and gently brushed the leaves away, her fingertips tracing the groove of the engraved words, etched permanently in stone.

She was grown now, the time had passed as if in slow motion.

Debris slowly disappeared from sight as she worked in silent diligence, going about her task with her head down. The years had not been kind to this place, a lack of care had lent weeds ample opportunity to choke out the flowers that had been planted here, and moss rendered the words engraved on the stone nearly unreadable.

How had she let it fall into such disarray?

Head lowered in shame, she continued her work, clearing the moss slowly and carefully from the weathered marble. The sun was setting, the clouds aflame with brilliant shades of orange and pink and a dusky red color streaked the sky. The woman had a breathtaking view from her vantage point, but the wonderment of nature's beauty was lost on her as the moss was cleared away, the first few letters of a name appeared, the remnants of what could possibly be a date. The figure rose to her feet solemnly, her silent task complete.

'Elyisse Netherbright'

She had never visited the grave, it was a wonder she had been able to remember her way here, the funeral was years ago. The trees whispered above her and she turned her face towards the sky with closed eyes. Her hair was lifted from her shoulders as a light breeze slipped through the area and danced around her briefly before continuing on.

She knelt, and with trembling hands traced the smooth shape of Elyisse's name, etched so coldly into the worn and weathered stone. Funny that this was all that was left of such a strong woman. In death, we are all the same. Elyisse is Sibilya is Mesoni is Mikel. Is this what everyone is reduced to? A silent and forgotten monument of stone. After your friends move on, you remain the same, slowly turning to dust.

She placed her fingertips to her lips and then pressed them against the engraved name.

Reluctantly she stood and gazed at the stone for a few moments longer before gathering her things and making her way to the overgrown walkway. Twigs cracked underfoot as the woman headed home. She paused at a curve in the path and cast one last look over her shoulder.

Erelle shook her head and continued ahead, leaving the lonely grave of her beloved mother behind her once again.

The trees above the grave creaked again as another breeze blew through the now abandoned area.

Her mother left her a note once, asking for forgiveness.

The wind picked up, and a piece of paper unfolded, catching slightly on an updraft before settling down, lying face up on the grave.

My Elyisse, Ely. My mother and my beloved teacher,
Forgive my lack of strength. I miss you. I want to hold your hand again and hear you laugh. I want to wait eagerly for the sweets to be done cooking so I can sneak one while you pretend not to see me.
My beloved, my mother...
You are forgiven.