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Lachesis had never felt more alone. Her brother, her son, her friends, they were all gone. All she had left was Finn, and by extension his ward Leif. Finn was the one who would calm her down when she woke up terrified, he would gently remind her that Belhalla was in the past all while he stroked her hair.
“You’re safe now.” He would whisper to her. “I’m here to protect you.”
Finn was the only person in the world Lachesis trusted right now. He too had experienced great loss, but he stayed strong for her and Lief. Lachesis could tell how much he loved the infant prince, but she could also see Finn’s pain. Leif was all Finn had left of Quan, and though raising his son was a great honor, it also reminded Finn of his failure to protect his lord.
Lachesis loved Lief with all her heart, giving him all the motherly affection she could not give her own son. Diarmuid had been handed off to Shannen before Belhalla because Lachesis hadn’t planned on leaving the battlefield alive. All she knew was that he was somewhere in Isaach, but she couldn’t go look for him. He would remind her of his father Beowulf, who she had held in her arms in his final moments. She had been desperately trying to use her heal staff to help him, but it had been too late. Lachesis couldn’t face her son, she couldn’t ever let him know that his father’s death was her fault. If only she had been better with her staff, if she were better trained....
Lachesis tried to focus on what she was doing rather than all the thoughts in her head. She had arrived at the market in Leonster, where she was supposed to buy supplies for the week. Gathering the food was quick work, and Lachesis was ready for her walk back when she spotted a little blonde boy playing with a stick in front of an orphanage. There were plenty of other children, but this toddler was the spitting image of Eldigan. Could it be? Not her brother, but maybe his son? She wanted to pick him up and take him away forever, but being arrested for kidnapping was certainly a way for Travant to find her and Finn. Instead she went over to the little boy who seemed so familiar.
“Hello little one,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Ares.” His shy smile gleamed up at her, and Lachesis felt a tear run down her cheek.
“Do you live here?” She asked, pointing at the orphanage.
“Mmhmm.” He nodded. “My mommy said she had to go away for a while but that she’s coming back for me.” His eyes lit up when he mentioned his mother. Lachesis knew that his mother was almost certainly not coming back, but that the Thracian government had probably executed her. Ares was paying attention to his stick again, which left Lachesis with a choice. She could take this last bit of Eldigen with her and Finn. They could be a family.
Lachesis stepped back. Everyone she loves dies, a cruel curse that the gods had given her. She would leave her nephew here no matter how much she wanted to take care of him. This way he would have a chance at a normal life, something she would never have again. Without saying goodbye, she left Ares to a fate unknown.