#rivervale_lodge

Frank rises quietly and takes up his boots, heading into the kitchen and out that door.

"Mom, I can see he's struggling, but I don't understand with what. I feel like he's angry at me for .. I don't know, supporting the escheat? Getting a job done that had to be done? No one seems willing to tell what i did wrong and ... I feel like I'm being punished by him"

Frank passes Kerri on the way. "Mountain...?"

He doesn't respond, just goes outside in his socks to put on his boots.

Brekke sighs. "Siv...it has been a long time since I have seen him like this. He feels hurt...and I do not think he completely understands the hurt. He cannot tell you until he understands it. I will tell you that I do not think you did anything wrong. I do not like what you did, but that it because I wish to protect you. That is no longer my role in your life. But I wish to do it, even so."

At the kitchen door, Kerri says, "Mountain...the Chieftain will be concerned if you leave. What can I tell her?"

"It's not like I'm skipping with a cold iron rope" Siv says "I'm worried he's going unseelie.. all savage and... trying to.. I don't know. He'd never willing hurt us, but like shutting us out, ignoring words AND sense. I know that sounds harsh. But I'm worried he's putting himself at risk and it's hard not to feel responsible AND angry at beign madee to feel responsible at that."

"I've gone to work."

And he walks away.

Kerri calls after, "Will you be back today?"

"No." From the distance.

Brekke nods to Siv, troubled. "He is closer to unseelie than I have seen him in...a long time."

"Other than October, I mean."

"Great. I don't know what I did, how to FIX what I did, all I know is it could get him killed."

An eyebrow. "I think you begin to understand his feeling."

"What? Mom.. Iwas never in any danger on the road. that makes no sense"

She sighs. "Siv...did you wear his form?"

Siv gets taht look, the one you get where you're convinced everyone on the planet is out to destroy your sanity, then she takes a breath "AYe. As I have mentioned afore. It was required. "

"It was. I understand this. I understand why you did it. Do you understand...that your father has enemies? Old enemies? Do you understand that, each time he takes a job, he is at risk of being attacked by those old enemies?"

"Wait, is that why he's..." She stiffens "Damn it, he's still trying to coddle me on the off chance I MIGHT run into one of his foes?"

"He is trying to protect you. No more than he would try to protect me if I were in a similar position. And now think...twice in a week, he has suffered a bad defeat. Twice in front of the balefire without being able to claim victory. Put yourself there."

"Defeat? He was unarmed, unarmored, or armed with jsut some sapling at best, and took on a fully armed and armored Balor lord and his sluagh henchmen! He defeated a dozen thallian before you came in, and kept Dagmar from murder in a rage! He saved a mortal child like a good Liam would. How can he see a failure when his 'defeats' are things that no one else would live through? "

She looks incredulous!

"Mm. I may not be correct in that part. I do not know. But I know that he is angry that he cannot protect you...and angry that he is being told to stop trying."

"I am not saying he is right," she adds. "I am saying this is how it is."

"How's he supposed to protect me when he's in a venom induced coma... that's bonkers! He's got to let us help him back now and then. He cannot lament and moan how he can't always help those he loves, and then deny us the same right... I will fight for who I love. I will help them when they need help, and I will cheer them on when they don't need the help. I will not.. no.. he's balmy. It doesn't work that way. I can't stay an infant for his succor, and I won't be cut off by anyone from doing what I know to be right and honorable and .. no. " A pause "Oh god. I'm going to have to challenge him to a duel"

A blink. A pause. "Well...that is one approach Jessica never tried, it is true."

"It's what you did when someone , not naming names, tried to swaddle you. Mom, I'm not going to let him turn me into Jessica. Closed off, afraid to get close to anyone ...." A mutter of something "cranky in the morning"

"Do not assume you know all sides of your sister. As for duelling your father...not today, please. He needs time."

"And somehow it's my fault again" She puts fingers to her brow, unaware how much like her mother she might look like in that gesture, or is it her father? "I don't know her all sides, mom, but I know mistakes were made and that they're in danger of repeating with father and me.. and I will not allow it to happen. " A sigh "You're right about the duel, of course. Insult to injury."

A blink. "Siv...I did not say, nor did I mean to say, that anything was your fault." She frowns.

Siv reviews then frowns "I must stop doing that. Sorry, mother. that was unfair of me. You did not say it was my fault, and to think, I've bitched Adam out for putting words in my mouth, and here I've done it to you. I apologize. Work in progress"

Brekke nods. "Thank you. And yes...your father and I made mistakes that drove Jessica off. I cannot say that will not happen again. But we can keep trying to repair the bridges we have damaged, rather than burn them."

"I'm fighting for those bridges... and neither of you is rid of me easy" A hug to her mother "Fine. How can I help make things easier for you?"

She returns the hug. "For now...give him space, but not for too long. If you have not heard from him in a week, check in. Otherwise..." She cups her daughter's cheek briefly. "Learn well."

"Is i magen, eh?" She asks wryly, Ice in the stomach, a saying that basically means 'Play it cool. stay in control'

A dubious look from her mother. "That does not sound very Fiona to me."

"Fiona aren't the ones known for a temper" Lofty brow,then a smile "Won't be easy but I'll try. Love you" And she waves to her mom as she steps onto the trod.

Leaving Brekke to wish her daughter well

"Jeg elsker deg. Gode ​​reiser." She bids her daughter farewell at the foot of the trod, then returns to the Lodge.

...where she receives word that the Mountain has gone working and said he will not return that night.

...and she sits heavily by the Balefire.

(End Scene)

*****************************
At the Lodge, the phone rings.

Usually, it takes three or four rings for somebody to answer the phone. This time, it's picked up on the second ring. "Hello?" It is Brekke.

"Brekke." Quietly.

A small hesitation before she says, "Frank. I did not think I would hear from you. Kerri said..." She stops. "Are you safe?"

"I am. I told Kerri I would be going to work tonight."

"I call from the road, when I am working. Nightly."

"I did not hear the truck leave. You are on the road, then." A nod.