Not now. The whisper seemed pained, even to Kahlua, and the concern showed on the queen’s face. Her friend’s welfare was of the utmost importance to her and she couldn’t even imagine the sort of struggle that Alysanne was going through. For a moment, Kahlua drifted back to her own history. There were no sons to speak of, though their might have been. What had she been thinking? That day she went to Nachtfang’s door, head held high on arched neck, tail flagged, smelling of a woman and speaking of favors in return for favors… What had her life back then taught her, except that power was important and that she should take it any way she could? How much had she changed since the fire, since that long trip alone across Loorien, since her time here in Helovia? Yes, Kahlua understand just perfectly why Aly did not want to speak of her own trials and tribulations. If Kahlua could never speak of her own sordid past, it would not be too soon. “Only when you’re ready,” she insisted as Aly tried to explain- there was no need.

And as much as Aly loved Kahlua for change the conversation, Kahlua loved her just as much for accepting her addled way of jumping from topic to topic. From Res to love, the moon doctor hung with her and indulged her every whim. “I don’t know,” was her response, smiled turned to a frown for a moment. She had been so sure when she had proclaimed her love to Kaj, so steadfast and resolute, but now she didn’t know. She had asked so many what love was to them, and none of the definitions seemed to fit what she felt for the golden king, and she was so afraid to let herself go so fully to another… that was a part of her past that would not fully leave her. The idea that love only brought pain and stole freedom had been ingrained in her at so young an age it was hard to let it dissipate, even as others only spoke of love as something that gave wings.

At least the arrival of Brisa’s child was a welcome distraction that let a gentle smile return to the mare’s face. And surely it was Brisa’s child, for who else could it be with a body of slate and wings of rose and gold? A moment later, her thought was confirmed by Aly’s welcome to the child. “Hello,” she cooed in response to him, trying not to let thoughts of chains and prisons weigh her down. These feelings, she thought, were something that Aly would not quite understand. Even now, it was evident that Aly was chained to her son, returning to see him when she could. Kahlua had enough anchors holding her steady; why did she need one more? But while Kahlua was struggling with an inner monologue on the complexities of children, Khan flew back to the mares for a moment as if demonstrating the ability to flight (and perhaps also keeping an eye on the small owlet that he would really like to devour) before disappearing once more to flap about in the trees. “Where are your brother and mother off to today?” she asked then of the child as she walked around a tree in her path.

With the garden just off in the distance, perhaps Aly would be able to teach both of them something of gardening.

@[Alysanne] @[Aeolus]

Kahlua