Time had only made things stranger and more complex for Artanis. It was one thing to arrive in a strange place; it was quite another to discover a child you have not yet borne. She needed to think and when she needed to think she needed to move. So she found herself wandering through the streets of Exsilium with no real destination in mind, going wherever her feet took her.
Until she ran into Elissa. Not literally, of course. Even distracted as she is, she's far too observant for that. But the sight of her was enough to stop Artanis in her tracks, though not for the reasons most would think.
It was familiar. Dreadfully familiar. The finery caked with blood and ash, the tangled hair. Is that how she had looked when...? Unconsciously, she reached up to her own cheek to wipe away a blood stain that was no longer there.
That hadn't been there for months. A shake of her head drew her back to the present. How long had she been staring, wrapped up in her own thoughts? It was shameful. She stood straighter, trying desperately to appear as her father's daughter should appear- regal, commanding, in control. Then she approached, stopping a short distance away. She knew that if any had approached her suddenly after the Kinslaying, she might have lashed out from pure instinct. A woman who looked like that had to have adrenaline coursing through her veins. A nod in greeting came easily enough. Words were more difficult. What would she have wished said to her?
"You look in need of rest. And perhaps a hot meal."
Well, first things first, she supposed. Maybe she'd think of something comforting later. If only Melien were here instead of her; she'd know exactly what to say.
IDK sometime while Elissa's still messy, somewhere around the market?
Until she ran into Elissa. Not literally, of course. Even distracted as she is, she's far too observant for that. But the sight of her was enough to stop Artanis in her tracks, though not for the reasons most would think.
It was familiar. Dreadfully familiar. The finery caked with blood and ash, the tangled hair. Is that how she had looked when...? Unconsciously, she reached up to her own cheek to wipe away a blood stain that was no longer there.
That hadn't been there for months. A shake of her head drew her back to the present. How long had she been staring, wrapped up in her own thoughts? It was shameful. She stood straighter, trying desperately to appear as her father's daughter should appear- regal, commanding, in control. Then she approached, stopping a short distance away. She knew that if any had approached her suddenly after the Kinslaying, she might have lashed out from pure instinct. A woman who looked like that had to have adrenaline coursing through her veins. A nod in greeting came easily enough. Words were more difficult. What would she have wished said to her?
"You look in need of rest. And perhaps a hot meal."
Well, first things first, she supposed. Maybe she'd think of something comforting later. If only Melien were here instead of her; she'd know exactly what to say.