Willow

Upon entering the home, Willow had intended to stalk to her room, still hurt at their lack of support and definitely not ready for a discussion. However, she paused on the threshold, taking note of the room.

Richard, Esther, Siobhan, and Nianti were gathered in a loose circle in the lounge room, a large pot of tea sat on the table between them amongst a set of stained cups, strewn across the table. For all intents and purposes, it appeared to Willow that they'd had a meeting in her absence. Obviously, she had been deliberately excluded from a discussion, she presumed, had been about her potential fate. They could discuss the fear attached to the prophecy amongst themselves, but apparently couldn't find the time to reassure her and her fears! How did they think she was feeling!?

Turning away, feeling unwelcome, she made to go to her room but turned back when Esther called her name. She waved a hand at the only remaining armchair, asking her to join them and reluctantly Willow moved further into the room and sat in the lone armchair in one corner, feeling intentionally separated and alone.

Willow studied her family from her post. Esther and Richard looked like the world weighed on their shoulders. Esther had been crying. Willow wondered at that: she hadn't been that upset the night before when the news had been broken, although more concerned with Willow's physical well-being, Willow conceded.

Siobhan looked almost rueful in Willows opinion; an expression Willow was unused to seeing on her face. Ordinarily, she was too busy sneering at Willow and her opinions and perceived complacency to show any other emotion. This, more than anything, concerned Willow. If Siobhan was apologetic about the conversation that was to happen, what were they planning to discuss?

Nianti stood to the side a little, contemplative, but silent as she observed Willow's every movement. Willow wondered what her part in all of this was. What possible topic could they cover that would necessitate discussion with a stranger before her, an actual part of the family, and the topic of conversation to boot!

For a moment all was silent. Willow refused to break it; she had not called this meeting. If they wanted to discuss things now, after nearly a full day of fear then they would have to be the ones to start the fiasco.

Finally, Esther shifted uncomfortably and began gently, almost as if she was speaking to a wild animal. Willow closed her eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. This was going to be a long, uncomfortable discussion clearly.

“I know you are still processing the information from last night, Willow. But I need you to listen to what I have to say with an open mind and try to understand that we only have your best interests at heart.” Esther took a moment to collect her thoughts. Willow didn't like the sound of this, what in the world were they planning!?

Esther looked to Richard, who continued the conversation. “We’ll start with us,” he decided. He looked Willow dead in the eye. “I'm sure you've suspected we are not just the good farmer and his wife. We are members of the Resistance, as your brother was. Siobhan and Nianti too. Our whole purpose is to bring the King down. And fundamental to that success is finding the Bearers. But,” he held up a finger, glaring until Willow closed her mouth. “There is only one way to find the Bearers; its not something easily identified if the person themselves doesn’t know.”

Richard nodded toward her throat where the compass still sat benignly. “That.”

Willow tentatively touched the charm, a small compass which swung wildly on its axis. “This? What can it possibly do? It’s a charm.”

Nianti shook her head, taking up where Richard left off. “The thing is, we’re not entirely sure. It’s been so long that much information has been lost. We know that it is fundamental to finding the Bearers, that it will direct you to them. It should also react to them, although we’re not sure how that part works.” Nianti looked back to Richard.

“Now that it has been found, plans need to be made to relocate you. The Kings presence in the city is extreme and you present a significant danger to all those around you. “You are the only one who can bring the Bearers together and save us from the King. And now is the best time. We believe that this is the correct path to keep you safe.”

The dam of emotion Willow had desperately been holding back burst. “Safe? Safe!?” Willow threw her hands up above her head, finding herself on her feet with no clear recollection of doing so. “How could you possibly think that sending me on a fool's errand across forbidden country could be safer than being here at home!? What if the King finds me? What he could do to me is far worse than death!”

“Nianti is certain that you have the artifact needed to complete our greatest goal,” Richard responded, angrily. Richard took a deep breath to calm himself. “I have begun the preparations for your departure. I've arranged to get you over the border to the Southern Resistance near Steinvald...”

Crossing the border? Southern City!? Willow's head spun. Only the Betrayer's had been permitted to cross the borders since the King had risen. How could they think that this was the safer option? There was far more danger in crossing the King than in a flimsy future! Did they even have any proof that the elf's assumptions were accurate!?

Richard continued to ramble, explaining their reasoning, the plans that had been put in place, everything that had been done to ensure her safety on this journey while taking no notice of Willow's growing horror and rage.

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“I will not go,” Willow found her voice, stopping Richard in his tracks.

“But Willow... You will be no safer here,” Esther interjected, eyes pleading.

“I will die if I go,” Willow exclaimed, throwing her hands up again, frustrated that no one seemed to see that. “Do you remember what happened to the last poor sod who tried to cross the border? Drawn and quartered! Would you really offer me up for that sort of torture!? Besides! I have a life here! I am to be married in less than four seasons! What will you tell Jay-jay? You know he will not stop until he finds me. You may choose to risk all our lives for the Resistance, but I never signed up for this! I am not a member of the Resistance!”

The shock in the room was heavy. Never had Willow refused her parents in such a way. But then, Willow reflected, they have never tried to force me to offer up my own life based on a foolish myth.

“Willow. You don't have to like it, but you are the only hope this world has for bringing back the Bearers and overthrowing The King. And if it keeps you safe...” Esther attempted to explain, seeing their argument was not winning the young woman over.

Willow, however, was having none of it. “I never signed up for this,” she repeated. 'I will not offer my life up for a children's story. We have no proof the Bearers even existed! Nothing but whispered family stories, which we all know are not reliable at the best of times! No one has heard even a whisper of the Bearers in decades! If they ever existed, where have they been the last however many generations!? What proof do we have that they ever actually existed in the first place!?”

“Enough Willow! Yes, the Resistance needs you because of that necklace. Sending you away, no matter how much you despise the idea, will ensure the survival of generations to come! In time you will see that this was the correct path. This world needs its Bearers, and you can give it to them. I expect you up early tomorrow to prepare yourself.” Richard made to turn away, assuming the conversation over.

Willow shot him an incredulous look, ignoring Esther's placating hand.

Esther and Willow had been close since Brendan's death, but now... now Willow didn't even recognise her. Shoving Esther's hand from her person harshly with a withering glare the likes of which she had never aimed at her mother, she continued her defence.

“I have told you I will not be leaving this city.” Willow advanced on Richard wishing for once that she had the physical presence to be intimidating, prepared to finish this conversation and dispel this illusion. “Nothing you have said has convinced me that your reasons are sound, and I see little reason to participate in this cobbled-together, harebrained plan. It sounds to me as if you care for your cause more than you do your daughter. How long have you been looking for a reason to toss me aside!? A few weeks!? My whole life!? Were you simply looking for any convenient excuse to explain it away to me? What part of my character led you to believe that I would be so easily ordered to go through with this? Do you even see me as your daughter, or am I just a tool?”

Willow took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger and end the tirade. “I will visit Jay-Jay tomorrow and arranged to have the wedding moved forward as soon as possible. I want no part in this. Hang for all I care if that's what you want to do. I refuse to get involved with child murderers desperately trying to succeed where far better people have failed.” Willow stepped around Richard's shocked form, needing to put distance between herself and them.

“How do you know of that incident!?” Esther demanded, sharing a worried glance with Richard.

Willow half turned. “Everyone knows about the 'Ligada Incident'. Take a couple of children with magical abilities, it'll be easy right? We don't need any safeguards in case of magical outbursts, right?” Willow accused; eyes boring into Esther's.

“What about the Mount Nifune fiasco? So desperate to defeat the King we'll sacrifice children to get it done? Did you honestly think you are the only people in contact with the other Realms? People were terrified that their children would be next! Even the Betrayer's weren't even talking about it, I presume because of you and your lot paying them off! Why would I want anything to do with an organisation like that!?” Willow tossed all this, viciously, over her shoulder, eyes burning, pinning Richard and Esther with her anger and betrayal.

“This was not what Brendan wanted for me and I'll be damned if I break a promise to him!” Willow stalked away, her outraged and shocked parents frozen. Siobhan and Nianti had slipped away when the conversation had gone south.

Willow closed her door with a forceful, angry snap that shook the house, vibrating of the wood panelling, shouting for all to hear her displeasure. Turning, she collapsed onto her bed, fighting angry tears. She almost wanted to go back out for a sleeping draught, the nausea she'd been feeling rising up to make an awful situation abominable. But she refused to show just how affected the conversation had left her. Besides, further arguments would only exacerbate the situation and in all honesty that was all that awaited her outside her door, with tempers flared so high. Weakness would only let them think they could push harder to get what they wanted. Willow refused to even give them the opportunity.

Turning, she began to pace, mind racing. What were they thinking? How could this be the safer option!? Nianti had even said the vision wasn't set; it could change at any moment. And where would she be when they worked that out? Exactly where they wanted her. It seemed all too convenient Willow decided as she plucked at the ties holding her dress on. This had been the plan; they had admitted as much. They had even voted on her fate without her knowledge or consent!

Besides... her future was her own dammit! Whatever happened, it was her life! Her fate was crafted by her own choices, not the visions of others!

Willow's mind refocused on her parents and her fury rose. She took a moment to resettle herself, no need for a magical storm like a toddler. Her mind wouldn't leave it alone though and she found herself right back where she started. How dare they assume she would just do as told as if their vote mattered to her? She was not a Resistance member; she was not theirs to command like a puppet!

She ignored the hurt hidden beneath the rage at how blatantly her wishes had been ignored in favour of others’ opinions.

With a deep sigh, Willow rose to change in earnest, using every tiny action as a distraction. But as she climbed into bed all she could think was am I only a convenient tool for their beloved Resistance?

Her anger simmered long into the night, so she turned her mind to planning out how she was going to address this conversation with Jay-Jay the following day. Even then, Willow lay awake for a long time; long after she had heard the other inhabitants retire for the evening.