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Post by Tismri on Apr 29, 2009 21:52:00 GMT -5
Tenel Ka listened to Daedalus's sad story with quiet understanding. She knew what it was like to be accused of things you had never done, and she also knew what it was like to watch a friend go through that. She remembered the time when her best friend had accidentally cut off her left arm during a duel. She had forgiven him, but the royal family had ordered him out of the city for what he had done. She had seen him only a few times since then.
"I understand," she told him gently. "Perhap you shall someday find another way to redeem him without bloodshed."
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Post by balthazar on Apr 29, 2009 21:55:14 GMT -5
"That would be the greatest thing for me, but now I am fighting for Intrepidus as well."
Intrepidus nodded, having decided it was best not to talk right now during this tense moment.
"You see, the last time I met with Balthazar he nearly cut of my friends tail. I can't let that go unpunished and I can't kill him. I just don't know what to do, and worse then that, I don't know how to know what to do."
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Post by Tismri on Apr 29, 2009 21:58:01 GMT -5
Tenel Ka heard what Daedalus told her, and glanced at his dragon's tail.
"There is cause for forgivness sometimes, you know," she told him. She raised the half of her left arm that remained, looking him dead in the eye.
"My best friend did this to me," she told him.
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Post by balthazar on Apr 29, 2009 22:03:07 GMT -5
Again Daedalus was angry, but this time he controlled himself. He knew that she had at least some understanding of what he was feeling but not a complete grasp of it.
"I would rather have that done to me then see it done to Intrepidus. You know of what it feels like to have a part of yourself removed and that means you have some understanding of the pain I felt on that day. I could have forgiven Balthazar had he removed a limb from my own body but when he tried to do it to Intrepidus...that is unforgivable. You are a rider, so tell me, what would you do if an enemy took the tail or a leg from your dragon. Would you still speak of forgiving them?"
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Post by Tismri on Apr 30, 2009 12:22:01 GMT -5
Tenel Ka listened, not saying anything as he spoke.
"If Balthazar or his dragon had removed a limb from your own body, would Intrepidus forgive them?" she asked quietly, "I am certain that if Caedus had hatched for me at the time my accident happened, he would have found it as hard to forgive my friend as my family found it. They had him cast out of the city for what he did to me, and I have seen him only rarely since then." She sighed, thinking of her frustration over her family, the obsession they had over her because she was the princess and next in line for the throne. They had a belief that the Queen Mother must be lovely beyond comparision, flawless, a sparkling gem of beauty. When Tenel Ka had lost her arm, there was such a disruption in the palace, her friend may very well have killed her.
The princess looked Daedalus in the eyes again, her gray eyes holding stern conviction.
"If you are willing to hear advice, then listen well, both you and your dragon. Fight if you must, to protect each other. Do not seek revenge, for that will only lead to corruption and death. When opportunity permits, forgive without restraint. If all went after vengence for wrongs done to them, everyone in the world would kill each other...even family would destroy itself." This last part was true for her more than nearly anyone else, for she knew it was happening to her whole family whether she wanted it to or not.
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Post by balthazar on May 2, 2009 0:48:25 GMT -5
Daedalus stood and jumped onto Intrepidus, landing perfectly in the saddle.
"If that is the path that I must walk then I will. But know that I do not seek to kill him out of vengeance...but justice. He has taken the lives of many others since he joined Galbatorix and I will stop him."
Intrepidus then spread his wings and took off, flying away from the two riders.
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Post by Tismri on May 2, 2009 12:17:13 GMT -5
Tenel Ka watched as he took flight, shaking her head sadly.
Just hold true to that motive, she thought, Or else you may find yourself just like him one day...or even worse... The princess sighed and walked back to her mentor. Tismri put a gentle hand on her arm.
"He has chosen his path," the ancient one said quietly, "No one can make him choose differently." She looked into Tenel Ka's eyes seriously. "And you yourself will have to make such choices someday, and yours will not only affect you and those close to you, but they will affect an entire country."
"That is one burden I would be happy to live without," the princess replied with a sigh.
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