*Tarja’s POV*

I meticulously re-rolled the scroll, so I could show it to Trent. I had decided already that no one aside from my husband would see its full contents. Something about the news was catalyzing a change in me, something I had avoided, but could no longer resist.

I had always resisted change. Constantly wanted to fit in among the other Fae, and, of course, I had failed, as this very message demonstrated. Here I was, being summoned in event of war. And, indeed, I couldn’t really argue with it. I was probably as strong as an orc. Perhaps an entirely new perspective was warranted.

Our Elder was a fool, with a harlot for a wife. Now I could see clearly what had really happened, all those years ago, to my brother, Henry, that the Elder had caught him with her. He had been exiled, not for acting out, but for being victimized by an older woman.

The news from Lemmy that Henry was nowhere to be found was not surprising, but it still hurt. Somehow, I had always hoped to see him again. But Lemmy was a persistent curmudgeon, and there wasn’t a chance he would have come after me if Henry had been findable. So, it seemed, my brother was truly lost to me after all.

That Lemmy was expecting me to respond to a call to arms didn’t bother me. I’d shunned battle all my life, but his fear was only logical. If the Soul was taken, and Lemmy had some last, desperate hope, of course I would do all I could to help. All of us would die horribly if this 'last hope' failed. I just didn’t imagine any assistance I could provide would be worth a whole lot. I’d have to talk to Trent about learning how to use weapons.

What really caught my interest was the small note Lemmy had added, cleverly masked as an afterthought. He had told me that the recent exile had assimilated well. That he was personally convinced she was innocent of any wrongdoing based on her deeds and carriage alone, though he had no proof. I knew he was correct. Though I, too, had no hard evidence.

The note had been a shrewd way to let me know my daughter was doing well. I had been worried sick.

Against my will, I was brought back to that Night. Eliza and I had argued; I had gone out looking for her. I had found her struggling with the Elder’s son, Artan, which didn’t make sense! She should have been able to overpower him with ease!

I had no weapons, I was afraid! But I had to do something! I threw pebbles at Artan’s head to distract him, but then I saw Eliza kill him! Terrified, I had run home and told no one, not until later, when I had told Trent. I had never seen so much blood!

The images, the sounds swam vividly before me again, haunting me. I remembered crouching in the alley, not comprehending anything. I remembered wondering if Eliza truly was the killer everyone was looking for. I had decided I would say nothing, to protect her. I had been such a fool.

The Elder ran Eliza’s trial quickly, filled my head full of convincing lies. I was so easily swayed. I had thought that she was safer, if she was a killer, being exiled, rather than staying in Merry Willows… I was so confused, and it had been over so fast.

Long after Eliza was exiled, Trent had been the one to pick everything apart. Artan’s remarkable strength, matched with the deeds of the killer. Then, his age… He had pieced together that Artan had to be Henry’s son. That Artan was the killer, that the Elder had just manipulated me into exiling our daughter rather than admit he had raised a bastard and a monster.

I had been a terrible daughter, and an even worse mother. But I decided, in that moment, that I would seek vengeance for the wrongs against my family. For Henry and for Eliza, the Elder and his wife were going to die. I just needed to figure out how.

Notes

---

so i recently got to see Black Sabbath when they played at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater in Ridgefield, WA as part of The End Tour on 9/13/16. it was totally awesome! i took a few videos, if anyone is interested (please note these are not professional-quality videos and just for fun):

Black Sabbath play 'Into the Void'
Geezer Butler's bass solo
Black Sabbath play 'Hand of Doom'
Black Sabbath play 'Iron Man'
intro to 'Paranoid'