#rescuemiriam

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"I've never taken an axe to someone's face for being honest, Frank. A fist once, but I was younger then. Go ahead."

Brekke looks curiously to Frank.

"That word. 'Bleyðablud.' I think it reinforces some bad blood. I don't think it sounds right in your voice. How would this place change if no one used it anymore?"

"Hmm." A raised brow, considering.

'Aw , you're a Mountain, aren't you? Power in Words, Vegard would say" A look to Frank, "It's robbing them of their power we hope to do, and they were cowards and traitors, Frank, or sided with them and left all. Shouldn't we call things what they are? or at least call them out for what they did?"

Brekke almost speaks, but stops herself, presses her lips together, and listens.

Frank nods. "I am. Taught by Vegard, in fact." He wipes his mouth, sips, sets his things aside. "Yes, we should all be held accountable for our actions. -Our- actions. That which we have done; not what other trolls have done; you are not to be held accountable for -my- actions, although we are both trolls."

"I've had my own share of Sidhe-hating and actions ...." A pause. "Actions that, in some cases, I would never change and in some cases, I wish with all my heart I could. I've known battle against them."

"When do we stop living in the past?"

"When do we live for the future?"

Her brow furrowed, Brekke listens, her eyes focused on the tabletop.

"They took our heritage, Frank. Then, having 'subdued us', having promised to provide for us in exchange for loyalty, they ran.... and not just a few, what, one hand a half houses maybe stayed? That means that all them that are falling back into bodies, at some time, were part of that great betrayal, each one. Add to that the night of iron knives that some of them took part in and more had to know about... damn, Frank. I can't see how we can afford to ignore the past. Maybe I'm old and set in my ways. Thyle has been a respite for me, a second home where the war wasn't lost and troll dreams weren't something you had to slide under the radar." Torth says// There's a look from one fellow who, is not attractive, and is older than the new hearth, who says "point of order?" /The Headman turns, "Eaves Dropping is rude, Jaksa. But what?" /The young man says "Clearly some sidhe don't have a problem with lodges or your own brother wouldn't have been tending to a lodge. Our ways continue, even in the Fallen lands. Maybe even sidhe can learn?"//"This is Jaska, wise ass mountain in training who seems to have to much of the blood that makes you take opposing sides for the hell of it. He doesn't hate Sidhe"//"How can I hate them? I've never met one. The thralls? They dont' even know who they are?" Jaska says "How can we complain about their wiping away our old ways wwhen we do it here to them? Shouldn't we have higher standards?"//"This is why no one else wanted you in their lodge, Jaska. I'm a Storm, I just want to punch things and protect my own. May drink a little." //Jaska sighs "That's an evasion. What's the counter point?"//"Kid's not a troll, he's a damn vulcan." Grumble

Frank wipes his mouth again, covering a small smile.

"Believe me, Torth, I have felt... and sometimes still feel... the same way. Every Sidhe that returns, baring a very few, usurps a mortal that might be a Dreamer, might add, in their own way, to the Dreaming and I... I cannot abide that."

"I don't' propose we ignore the past. Yes, absolutely, we should learn from it. But live in it?"

In a low tone, she says, "It is complicated. But...I have known loyal sidhe."

The crowd quiets, as perhaps the fickle da'an choose that moment to create a lull in the celebration, and while not everyone heard Brekke, more than one did.

"I would learn," Jaska says plainly.

She looks up at that sudden quiet, surprised to be the center of attention.

Others are leaning in now

Frank nods to Brekke, quietly encouraging.

Horok refills Brekke's drink

Looking to the Mountain-in-training, she says, "There is no question that many of them are foul, and have done...great crimes." A glance to Frank before she continues. "But when I woke in Concordia in this life, I woke with an oath from ancient times, and oath to a sidhe lord. I had no memory of it for...well, decades...but I served him still, and he held me well, respecting our mutual bonds. And now, in this journey, old memories have awakened...of how he found me, and protected me, and healed me when I had suffered great injury." A slight grin. "I will say here that he can be an insensitive man at times, but Hemlock Autumnsbane of House Gwydion is one of true honor."

She accepts the drink with a nod of thanks. "I have known others, sidhe, whom I have counted as friends, and at whose side I would gladly fight against a common foe, and whom I would trust without question."

She drinks, apparently done.

Not good enough for the crowd , as young wilders and childlings burst with questions"But then if he's honorable why did he run?" "Why did any of them run?" "Who re the others you trust?" "Does it...hurt to be sworn to one of them? " "How long have you known sidhe? " "is it true they have taken over eeverything in the fallen lands?" "Is it true that if a commoner has a hold, they just come in and lounge around and tae all your drinks ans suck up balefire?" "is there anyway to NOT notice how gorgeous they are? It's really unfair."

The onslaught of questions makes her blink in surprise.

Frank looks at Torth. "Seems your people need more to make an informed choice."

"Things have changed, and are changing, out there, folks." Louder, and to the crowd.

Yes, frank, oathbroken or not, also stirs interest.

She frowns. "I cannot answer why they did what they did. And some sidhe do, in fact, act the ways you've been told, and abuse all who are considered commoner. I do not want you to think better of them than they are."

"They are as varied and individual as trolls, or as any other kith...which in Concordia is a broader range than here, I think."

Frank looks to Brekke and mutters. "Next time, we bring Sparrow."

A wry look to Frank in return.

Returned.

"Then inform them," Torth says to Frank, "I'm a simple man, but not so simple that a different opinion is going to scare me." He looks to them, "Ask our guests what you like, but when they tell you enough is enough, leave them be."

Frank sighs, a deep breath. "Does anyone here have memories of the Sundering? I do not."

"I remember..." the one called Drakna says "I remember holding up a wall made of dreams...to let others get to ... safety. And the trods above us had a great train of shininng figures, but we could not join them." A frown, "Mostly in dreams."

Frank nods, listening. He gives others the opportunity to speak.

Horok frowns, "I remember a dream where I ...nevermind. I don't remember."

Brekke may raise a brow at that. The newest Hearth lied!

Brekke listens carefully.

A blink. "You remember, Hearth."

"I .." Horok frowns, then turns to the others, "Sometimes I dream of the great retreat...only, I'm not trying to get on the trod. I'm...keeping others from rushing it. Like, trying to stem crowds because a lifeboat can only..." He lowers his head, "I hope it's just a nightmare and not a memory."

"Even if it is a memory you are not who you were," Torth says firmly.

"And one deed in an old life is not all that you are" He adds just as firm.

A slow nod at the wilder's admission.

"Then that must hold true for the Sidhe as well, Torth."

"He has a point" Jaska agrees with Frank.