I will be your reaper...

Forgiveness is earned

Relfyrsin's POV

I messed up. I made a huge mistake...

I don't know what came over me. One minute I was just lying in the grass, relaxing. The next, I heard Elara - Ovion's apprentice - Ask Erebus about Aradia. My ears perked up and Erebus happily answered her "Dia is the best! She's so pretty and smart and acts like an adult sometimes but she promised to protect me and always has. She always shares with me, reads me stories and even protects me while we sleep! She's the bestest sister ever!" He was happy talking about his sister. I don't know what came over me but it enraged me. I got up and made my way over, looking down at him "And why the hell does she protect you? You should be the one protecting her!" I yelled at him, drawing the attention of a lot of people while Erebus flinched and fiddled with his fingers, no doubt in anxiety. "Well...I know I'm weak...I can't protect Dia, especially when she's so much stronger than me..." He looked down at the grass and I lost it. I pounced on him, punching him over and over again. I didn't even know why I was so angry at him for being weak and having to be protected by Dia. "You don't deserve Dia! You don't deserve to be protected by her! She should be the one that is cared for and protected, not you! I hate you and I hate that you're so damn weak!" I continued to pummel him for what felt like forever until I felt a sharpness graze my cheek. I touched it and frowned when I saw blood on my fingers. I turned behind me and saw an arrow of moonlight lodged into the ground. I looked up and Aradia was standing there, bow in hand. Her silver-white eyes changed back to turquoise and she dropped the bow, staring at me with unfiltered rage in her eyes. Before I knew it, her hands roughly grabbed my hair and she dragged me off the boy, sitting on my chest and pinning my arms with her legs so I was completely defenceless. I was confused and shocked. What the hell was happening? All I could do was lay there and get pummeled into the ground beneath me.

My face hurt so bad...Aradia's hands were covered in my blood and Noros covered her eyes, calming her. Dia got up and approached her brother, healing and comforting him while I remained shocked and confused. Erebus spilt while crying, but I couldn't be angry. I literally just got a taste of his exact pain. My father was in hysterics and it was embarrassing, my face hot. Dia came back over to ask my side and I told her the truth...But what she said next made me feel like absolute scum of the Earth. She was right...She didn't need protecting, she wasn't a damsel in distress. She was a warrior, a vicious one. I knew nothing, so why did I get angry? I watched her turn away and I wanted to reach out, but held my hand back. She kneeled for her brother but I watched as he hesitated. Probably because of me and what I said. God, I was an i***t. They love each other a lot and Dad has always said to protect the weak. He never mentioned gender. That's exactly what Dia was doing. Protecting her weak brother who couldn't protect himself. She was admirable, but I truly knew nothing about them...

They walked toward the trees, everyone else following them but not without looking at me first. The emotions in their eyes dejected me further. I listened to Diagda and then Gulvdan...It became obvious to me that Aradia could have very well killed me and right now, I felt I deserved it heavily. The twin's mother sat in front of me and my body tensed, I feared she was about to chew me up and spit me out. Instead, she placed a gentle, warm hand on my head. The woman, instead of yelling at me or being angry, the woman smiled and advised me. My affection for her daughter was now in the open and it was embarrassing for me, but I now realised why I was so angry. I was jealous and I wanted to be the one to protect Aradia. I fell in love with her at first sight during the conference. My attention was all over her, drowning out anything else that the adults were talking about. Lily helped me to my feet and ushered me toward Diagda who healed my face. The pain was gone, as if it never happened. Thinking about the entire situation, my eyes welled up. My father placed his hand on my shoulder and I looked up at him. I understood what he was saying and I didn't blame him for being a bystander. He was right. I'd let what my grandpa whispered in my ear get to me. I watched him walk away and then looked toward the vines.

I began to make my way over, sitting on the grass outside of the vines. I was determined to wait here for them to either come out or the vines to let me in and then...I'd apologise. I will mean it sincerely. Minutes passed by...I checked my phone and an hour had gone by. I put it away and waited. The vines creaked, opening a space. No one came out so I stood, cautiously walking inside. Everyone was sitting chatting. They turned to look at me when the vines closed behind me and silence fell. I anxiously approached Erebus who had golden eyes filled with anxiety and Aradia looked as though she'd punch me at any second, her fists balled beside her. I lowered myself onto my knees beside Erebus who flinched lightly and I could feel the sadness flash in my eyes. "I-I'm sorry, Erebus. I was wrong, I shouldn't have hurt you. Please allow me to explain my feelings..." There was hesitance. I was expecting him to say no. But instead, he turned to me with a small smile and nodded. I smiled widely and shuffled closer to him. This time he didn't flinch, his own smile remaining. "I really am sorry. Truthfully...I really like your sister. My mother was an amazing warrior, she was kind and loved her people too. She saved many lives and protected the weak fiercely. I loved her a lot. She died in battle when I was five. Ever since my grandpa began whispering in my ear that women needed men more than men needed women. They were weak and only good for birthing and raising children. He told me about how my grandma was weak and that she was too needy, so after she birthed my father, my grandfather killed my grandma. It's not an excuse, but I now realise I've been heavily influenced by my grandpa. I was so sure that Dia needed to be protected and I wanted to be the one to do it. When I saw how Dia coddled you, a male, and heard how you spoke about Dia protecting you...I was so jealous and angry. Because I was sure that you, as a male, should be the one to protect her instead. Your mother and my father advised me and after being beaten up by Dia too, I now see that I was wrong. I'm truly sorry. I don't expect your forgiveness, I just wish for you to accept my apology if that's okay..." I began to sniffle. Stupid emotions, why am I crying?

Erebus reached up and touched my face, wiping my tears with his thumb "I accept your apology and I forgive you. I'm really sorry about your Mummy and Grandma...and your grandpa doesn't sound like a nice man...Your father sounds nice though. I think you need good influence in your life, so let's all be friends and help each other in the future, okay?" I started to blubber and sniffle. He didn't have to accept my apology nor give me forgiveness, and yet he did. How could I be so stupid? This boy, who is two years younger than me, was so kind and gentle. I knew I needed to learn from him. He offered me a tissue and I took it with a thank you, sorting myself out. He held my hand while I calmed down and when I was good, I stood and kneeled next to Dia who had heard the whole conversation prior. "Aradia, I apologise...I shouldn't have assumed and I shouldn't have hurt your brother. I'm really sorry." The girl looked me up and down and I lowered my head in shame. "Alright, I accept your apology. But...You do not have my forgiveness. I believe forgiveness is earned." I lifted my head swiftly and nodded "Of course! Is there something you'd like from me to prove my sincerity?" The girl thought for a second "Erebus said we should all be friends. So let's start there, I suppose."

I nodded and shifted onto my bottom, crossing my legs to join the circle. Danisla spoke up "Anyway, what we were talking about was our favourite items. We were just about to go in a circle and talk about them. Would you like to join in, Relf?" I nodded happily. They started with Celia, her red eyes batting. "My favourite item is a locket! Or rather, the pictures inside." She leaned forward and opened the locket around her neck for us all to see. Inside was a picture of her mother and father. "My parents are lovely people who do a lot for our Kingdom, its people and me. I'm very thankful to have the parents I was born to and so I honour them by carrying them with me in my locket every day!" She was genuinely happy and we all clapped with a smile "That was really nice, Celia. I'm really glad you have such kind parents" Noros spoke up, touching her hand. Next was Mulon. He looked like a carbon copy of Onelya - Purple eyes and hair, eyes tilted upward very slightly in a cat-eye manner. "My favourite item is...Hmm..I'd have to say the blue bear that my mother handmade for me before I was born. She says it's a tradition in our family for us to make bears for our children. So one day, I'll hand-stitch a bear for my children too" Mulon scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile and Erebus' eyes sparkled as we clapped "That's so sweet! What a lovely tradition. If you don't mind, can you show me how to stitch?" Mulon nodded happily at Erebus "Yes, of course! I'd love to teach you. My friends back home think it's a useless skill and a stupid tradition...So thank you." We all smiled at Mulon, reassuring him. His sister was next. Cheth was more her father with his orange hair, orange eyes and caramel skin. She was quite shy, much more timid than Erebus and had a stutter most of her life. "I-I uhm...M-My favourite is t-the floral b-bookmark that my gra-grandma gave to m-me before she died.." Cheth blushed and we all clapped. Mulon patted her head with a smile, telling her she did a great job. "Your speech has improved a lot, Cheth! We can all tell you've been working really hard, well done." I stated with a gentle smile, wanting to encourage her. She gleamed and clung to her brother happily, asking if he heard my words. Mulon nodded and mouthed a thank you to me. But it was the truth. Two years ago, it took Cheth more than ten minutes to form a short sentence. She really has worked hard. Noros clapped her hands together with a grin, pulling a coin from her pocket. We were a little confused until she spoke "It's my lucky coin. My absolute favourite item. For a Dragon, we attract wealth, but this was the first coin I earned myself. I've had it with me since I was seven." we all clapped yet again, some leaning in to take a closer look at the coin as Noros showed it off with pride.

Elara showed a pair of knitted gloves with a small smile "As most of you know, I am an orphan taken in by Lord Ovion and Lady Lysia. When they found me, they found me clutching these gloves tightly. Inside the left says 'To Elara' and the right says 'Love from Mum'. So, although I have no memories, I know that my mother lovingly knitted these for me. They're my favourite item and the only thing I have of my mother." Dia reached over and stroked Elara's leg. Being thirteen, Elara was the oldest of us all. But she was still a child and her favourite item was lovely. Elara beamed at us all as we clapped and complimented her mother's skill. Danisla and Moriel both spoke at the same time "Our favourite item are these" They both pulled coloured stones from their pockets. They were a beautiful yellow and were obviously naturally formed rather than manmade. Danisla spoke up with a grin "They're called blessing stones. Fae are gifted these when they're born and they accompany us through our lives. Our parents venture into the forbidden Fae forest - a dangerous place - and they spend a week fighting evil creatures while looking for the perfect stone to gift their child. In our case, our parents were gone for two weeks to collect two perfect stones. They hold a mixture of our parent's powers and when we're eighteen, we'll add our own powers to the stone and turn it into jewellery by hand. I plan to make a necklace, Moriel wants to make earrings!" A beautiful tradition yet again. This one involved the Fae race, however. We clapped and the girls squealed excitedly. Erebus was next. "Well...My favourite item is the butterfly that Dia made for me for our birthday. She learned how to carve wood from Grandpa Elias just so she could make it for me. I'm very fond of butterflies, so a butterfly from my big sister is the best gift." Erebus blushed and Dia poked his cheek with a smile as we clapped. Their relationship was truly a cute one. Dia cleared her throat and put her hands up in surrender "I don't currently have a favourite item. I'm still looking for one, I guess" Elara nodded at Dia "Yeah, if I didn't have my gloves, I don't think I would have one either. A favourite item isn't an important thing in the big picture, but it's nice to have an attachment to something. We're all happy to help you look for one" Dia nodded with a smile and said thank you, everyone clapped and then looked at me.

The sudden eyes on me caused me to flush red a little, the tips of my ears wriggling. "I do uhh have a favourite item. It was my mothers" I reached behind me a pulled a dagger from its holster on the back of my cargos. It had a black hilt that had slight scuffs in places, showing how used it had been. The blade was double-edged and sturdy silver, shaped into a crescent moon. There were initials carved just under the hilt on the top of the blade. They read 'V' for Vangradal - My mother. and 'K' for Kavasin - father. There were newer initials carved next to them that were 'R' for Relfyrsin. "This dagger is actually a pair, but my father has the other. My mother took very good care of these daggers and they were her main weapon. She was a fantastic fighter and father says that whenever he saw her on the battlefield, he was mesmerised because it looked as though she were dancing. I'm currently learning how to wield daggers just like my mother, but I'll probably take up more weapons too." Everyone began to clap and my eyes wandered to my side to see Aradia smiling at me. If I wasn't a tomato before, I was now. Noros shot up like a lightning bolt "I just realised, we haven't given the twins their birthday gifts yet". We all got up too, following Noros out of the vines and back to the hall where our parents would no doubt be.