SHARD
“Is he the father!?” Sylis’s voice rang through the night.
Lana stood numb, the cool summer air chilling her bones. Her mind raced for a distraction, a lie, something to take the piercing blue eyes off of her. The dark streets began to light up as Sylis’s shouts continued to punctuate through the night. All Lana wanted was to run, but Sylis held fast to her arm.
She shook her head in response, which did little to appease Sylis. “Is he a potential father!?” he pestered, his grip tightening.
“You’re hurting me!” Lana retorted. She wanted to fight him, to make him let go, but she suspected he’d fight back. Sylis continued to stare at her, waiting for Lana’s answer. Her heart thundered as fear strangled the truth in her throat. Don’t cry! she told herself as emotion bubbled to the surface, don’t cry...
Rin had come up in conversation as they walked the streets of Zilspar, Lana talking too fondly of him. By doing so, Sylis asked about the kiss the Halfling had given her at their farewell party. Lana tried to brush it off as Rin being drunk, but the Wizard saw through it. There was no more lying about it.
Just as her mouth prepared to spill the truth, a door slammed near them.
“You dare question her honor!?” Shard’s voice boomed, sword drawn. He marched toward them, his boots clunking along the cobblestone road. Lana maneuvered herself between him and Sylis.
“Don’t Shard,” she said weakly, not able to meet his gaze, as Sylis continued to hold her firmly. “He’s allowed to ask questions.” The lump in her throat swelled as she turned, dreading that both would know. Once her eyes met with Sylis’s, her face contorted as she nodded her head in answer.
The look the Wizard gave her was filled with disbelief and betrayal. His grip relaxed as he took a step back. His mouth groped for words, but when they didn’t come, Sylis turned on his heels and walked away.
Complete panic broke out in Lana’s mind. A cry ripped from her throat as she called after him. She would have clung to Sy’s arm, but her legs sunk to the ground as she tried to breathe. The Wizard made no attempt to acknowledge her pleas. He left her. He walked away. The abandonment felt similar to her father’s rejection. Let alone he knows too much about her, and in that moment, she didn’t trust him with her secrets.
What have I done!?
To add fuel to her torment, Lana couldn’t help but wish Rin was there.
Strong, gloved hands, gripped Lana’s shoulders. “Hey, stop these tears. Let him go blow some steam off. He’ll come around. You made a mistake. Lots of people make mistakes. You make them, you learn from them, and you move on,” Shard tried to console. As he lifted Lana up, she felt her strength give out again. The Warforge didn’t understand.
“B-but it wasn’t a-a mistake Shard,” she began as he wrapped her in his arms and took her inside, “I-I did it on purpose. I in-instigated!”
“Oh I’m sure whatever it was, you were just in the heat of the moment. It’s not like you love the guy-”
Another loud wail escaped from Lana. “But I do! I love them both Shard! And I-I thought that maybe Rin and Sylis would be friends and-and I’d be able to be happy with both of them!”
Shard sat Lana down on her bed, letting the girl continue to cry on his shoulder. He smoothed her hair a little and handed her a tissue.
“You done yet?” he asked bluntly. Lana blew her nose, her eyes taking in the details of the wooden floor. In a more gentle tone, Shard asked, “Does Rin know about Sylis?”
Lana nodded, sniffling.
“Doesn’t seem very fair that you left Sylis on the outside, but you’ve got a choice to make now. If not for your own sake, then for that of the baby.”
“I know,” Lana whispered, “It’s just... complicated.”
Shard let a defeated sigh escape him, his body creaking as he shook his head. He made to leave, but Lana grabbed his arm.
“Would you please stay...?” she asked. Shard gave her a look as if to say he didn’t want to get involved, but then Lana added, “I don’t want to be alone,” and his resolve disappeared.
Lana slept with her back to the Warforge. It wasn’t Sylis or Rin, but it was better than no one. Shard had come with Lana to be her guard, which she delighted in because he always doted upon her. Tonight was the first time he had been so serious though...
Part of her wanted to be mad at him for not sympathizing with her more, but at the same time, Shard was right. She had a choice to make. Rin or Sylis? Weeks ago, it would have been an easy decision, but now... who did she give up? The person who supports her at her worst, or the one who inspires her become someone better?
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