Haleth can hear some of what is being left out, and guess at more, and it pains her. She closes her eyes for a moment. "But you, at least, were able to escape it." That is no small thing to Haleth, and she knows how much it would have meant to Caranthir also.
She does not need to ask why Canien did not remain with the Haladin. She knows what she would have chosen had she been granted this future, this daughter, a child with a heritage and fate ever divided in two. The Haladin need a leader who can devote themself entirely to their service and rulership. Haleth knows her nephew Haldan remained heir even after Canien was born. From what she has seen of Canien she suspects the girl is grateful rather than resentful that such was the choice--and knows too how it would have healed her own heart to gift such a freedom to her daughter.
It still does not explain how that daughter was born at all. For Haleth also knows herself to be barren, and has since she was a girl herself, during events that she never told Caranthir the full tale of. And what does her daughter know of those? What could heal such damage? It has never occurred to Haleth to wonder if it could be healed, for such a thing is entirely beyond the abilites of the Secondborn.
But not, it seems, beyond the Firstborn.
Haleth's hand shakes a little as she ladles a bowlful of stew out for her guest. She forces herself to calm, and hands the bowl over with a steady hand before pouring a second for herself. "How old are you?"
no subject
She does not need to ask why Canien did not remain with the Haladin. She knows what she would have chosen had she been granted this future, this daughter, a child with a heritage and fate ever divided in two. The Haladin need a leader who can devote themself entirely to their service and rulership. Haleth knows her nephew Haldan remained heir even after Canien was born. From what she has seen of Canien she suspects the girl is grateful rather than resentful that such was the choice--and knows too how it would have healed her own heart to gift such a freedom to her daughter.
It still does not explain how that daughter was born at all. For Haleth also knows herself to be barren, and has since she was a girl herself, during events that she never told Caranthir the full tale of. And what does her daughter know of those? What could heal such damage? It has never occurred to Haleth to wonder if it could be healed, for such a thing is entirely beyond the abilites of the Secondborn.
But not, it seems, beyond the Firstborn.
Haleth's hand shakes a little as she ladles a bowlful of stew out for her guest. She forces herself to calm, and hands the bowl over with a steady hand before pouring a second for herself. "How old are you?"