Telwen’s Extraneous Tales: A Different Path
One of the defining moments in the character, Telwen’s, life is her mother falling ill. In the main story line, her family goes against her mother’s wishes and seeks medical attention, saving her life. This is a musing on what might have been had her mother not survived.
Telwen ran a hand carefully over the white silk of her gown, her fingers catching slightly on the small seed pearls that swirled over the fabric in elaborate patterns. Her long copper hair was caught at the nape of her neck in an elegant chignon, more of the opalescent gems floating like stars throughout. Someone cleared their throat outside the wagon and without taking her gaze from the girl reflected in the mirror Tel murmured a response. Light footsteps danced up the short steps and the heavy door swung wide to reveal a tall man dressed in bright silks from the top of his sandy head to his booted feet. His cornflower eyes softened as he looked her over.
“Ah my Sweetpea is all grown up,” there was a catch in his voice as he claimed one of her hands in his, “I am so proud, I-”
Tears sparkled in her eyes as she hugged her father to her. “Oh Da, I’m not going anywhere. Ethelred has already joined the troupe and we will travel with you. Not much will change.”
Leaning back, her father gazed at her with such seriousness that she felt a weight press down upon her chest. “Are you sure this is what you want Sweetpea? I know that you had other dreams before…well before.”
Telwen’s pewter gaze dropped to the gold buttons dotting his vest as her breath struggled around the knot in her chest. Before her mother had died. There had been so many dreams. To go out on her own into this wide world, to see the places they sang of, to perform the heroic deeds that she had acted out on their little stage since she was a child. But those dreams had died with her mother. Her father needed her and Ethelred was a good man, strong and caring. She allowed herself one last wistful look in the mirror before turning a bright smile to her father.
“I am sure Da.” Tugging the veil across her face, she clasped his hand in hers to still the shaking. “Let’s not keep my husband waiting.”
