Chapter Text
Beginning Backstory
Al Ghul Island when Talia was 6
The kitchen was filled with noise as chefs and servants started their days as the golden light peaked through the openings of the curtains. The chef was peacefully making the young ladies food as a smile crept on her face once she heard small footsteps running through the halls of the villa, suddenly a small girl comes crashing into the kitchen, quickly grabbing her portion of Labneh (strained yogurt, with a piece of bread) bowing her head in thanks and rushing out the side door.
This young girl’s name was Talia, and who could blame her for rushing her breakfast, she was bursting with energy. She was to meet her best friend Ravi by the Whispering Crown Tree, so the two could explore the wonders the island had to offer deep within its forest and fields. Al Ghul Island wasn’t like any other Island, it had secrets, mysteries, and beauty only a fool wouldn’t appreciate.
Talia kept running till she saw the top of the tree in the distance. The leaves danced in the wind, music bouncing off every time the vines swayed. It is said the Whispering Crown’s branches carry the voices of the past. It was truly something of childhood wonder which excited Talia even more. She began to run faster till she reached its shade.
She saw her friend lying beneath its shade whistling the tune of the wind waiting for her to show. With her footsteps closing in he opened his eyes and gave a warm smile in greeting. His face formed a smirk of trouble “It is finally time you showed, did someone keep you” he playfully asked. Talia just rolled her eyes and calmly replied “Some of us don’t live right next to the Ghābat al-Sirr (غابة السر – Forest of Secrets) Ravi”. He scoffed in return and motioned for her to follow.
Ravi was only 2 years ahead of her, but he was one of two friends she had on the island. There weren’t many kids their age, and the ones that were made fun of her for living in the palace on the upper side of the island. They met when she was 4, exploring the Island herself for the first time. It ended with her getting lost in the forest and hearing the soft humming of a voice in the distance. She crept closer to the holder of the voice till she found a young boy drawing in a book. His face was filled with concentration as he drew, not noticing the appearance of another. After a few seconds she composed herself to speak,” umm… hi” she nervously spoke fiddling with her hands. With that he was startled back into reality, blinking at her unsure of what was going on, he looked around realising it was just the two of them, he responded “uhhh…yeah?” “Can I help you with something?” he nervously chuckled. After the awkwardness faded they would later get to talking and enjoying each other's company till they had to go home. He would show her the way out of the forest, exiting in front of a beautiful lush tree and the two would promise to meet at the tree the next day. The two have been as thick as thieves since.
As they walked deeper into the forest a comfortable silence grew between the two. Suddenly Ravi broke the silence, “you know whispers say that every tree holds the memory of a soul that once sought refuge here” he intriguingly muttered. Talia raised an eyebrow while she stopped and looked at him with a face screaming “oh really”. He softly chuckled and replied "Yeah” while moving a branch out of his face as he continued his story, ”They say the trunk's natural carvings are like a script, which some believe to be the names of the forgotten”. He turned to her with a weighed smile to say the last piece of the lore, “That is why this is both a place of sanctuary and remembrance, my mother told me when I was younger that it is why our island was once protected by the Al-Hafidh, since he passed the village has been waiting for someone with a worthy heart to protect our people and knowledge”. His eyes glistened with the unknown “I hope to live long enough to see the new Hafidh, but who knows; it's just a story right”. He brushed past her as he continued walking, a slight frown formed on her face not knowing how to respond, until she grabbed his hand and shined a bright smile shrugging while saying “ who knows, one day right” as she took off running. A distant “Hey!” coming from behind her, made her laugh even more.
After wandering for hours they eventually reached a peaceful clearing, Talia running to the center and laying down to look at the sky, Ravi plopping down beside her. Silence laid comfortably around them, just the sound of nature mixed with the music of the wind carried by the trees could be heard. Ravi shut his eyes peacefully dosing off. Talia being too burdened with news to rest, after some time passed she quietly spoke,”My father wrote” voice barely an octave. Ravi opened his eyes while he turned his head and hummed. She turned her head as well and met his eyes, anxiety seeping through every inch of herself as she fiddled with her hands. “He wants me to visit him at his compound in Nanda Parbat” she shuttered tears forming in her eyes. “He never writes unless it's about my studies, and that’s mostly about not disappointing my heritage” her voice trembling. “Something is going to happen, before my Ummi died she said the island will protect me until I leave it” she started to sob. His eyes filled with remorse and understanding, with a soft smile he held her hand and said “you’ll come back, it won't be forever, it's just a visit. Ok? You’re going to be safe and sound before you know it” he squeezed her hand in comfort. “ When does he expect you to leave? We can make the most of our days before you go!” he spoke, trying to cheer her up. Her sobs slowed as she tried to calm down, she looked to the sky as she painfully replied “tonight”.
Talia wasn’t ignorant, she knew what was ahead of her thanks to her mother’s warnings. Her father couldn’t reach her on the shores of Al Ghul Island. The island was built upon the idea of a second chance, it was for refugees, advisers, and the ones tired of being a part of senseless wars seeking safe passage to peace. Once she leaves the safety of her home she’ll be thrusted into the life of blood and violence her father’s legacy was forged in. She knows she’ll survive, because of her blood, but how much of herself will she lose. The only thing she should be worrying about at her age is whether or not she’ll make it home in time before dark. Not crying on the shoulder of her closest friend, knowing her impending doom is starting soon.