Sasori Estate: Morning of Vague Notions

[kahl]

Roa's entire world began to slow like cold molasses. Although Lukwe was not his own blood, he was in Roa's eyes, his son. "The baby...what about the baby? Luke is he--"

The expressions on their faces told him all he need know for now. Turning he bolted up the stairs, two and three at a time. To his surprise, Aspen had followed. Be it the reaction of a concerned family member (though unlikely) or that of a trained soldier rushing to those in need, Roa did not care. That Aspen was there, alone, was enough for him.

Opening the door, Roa spotted Vincente and Jadiera sitting hand in hand by the balcony, then he saw Oneida unconscious on the bed. Thinking she must be harmed as she couldn't possibly be asleep if Lukwe was...injured--Roa rushed to her side and cupped her face.

"Oni....Oni it's Roa..." he pleaded for response. The woman's eyes opened sluggishly, but they did open.

"She's been sedated, Roa. The discovery was simply too much for her," Vincente informed him.

"Discovery?" Aspen murmured.

Jadiera bobbed her head and whispered, "of the baby..." She pointed timidly at the window beside the basinet. "...in the shrubbery..."

Horror registered on Aspen and Soleil's faces. "Someone threw her baby out the window?" Aspen gaped. He had long despised Oneida but even he would never think to cause such harm--and to a baby?!

"Not threw," Vincente corrected with no lack of acid in his tone, knowing full well who Aspen was. "It was...unintended. She dropped him...but the trauma of it has taken her memory...and for a time, her mind."

Turning to regard the woman in Roa's arms, Aspen was speachless. She was obviously distraught. He couldn't imagine--as little as he thought of her-- that she had done this deliberately.

As Oneida grew more consciously aware, she tried to crawl away from Roa in shame. The man gently but firmly caught her hips and drew her back to him, cradling her in spite of her protests and sobs. Aspen watched the struggle with sorrow. There was no denying the image of a woman in mourning.

"The scars on her arm..." he muttered thoughtfully, although Vincente took it as a question.

Regarding the soldier with disdain, Vincente growled, "surely you recall her misery at losing the child's father...? For whatever you think of her, Oneida is not with heart or soul."

Shamed by the younger man's assesment, Aspen lowered his head and turned to Soleil, gently ushering her toward the door. "Perhaps we shouldn't be here..."

- - - -

Downstairs Irena and Yon emerged from the study and sought out Cirineo, unaware that Roa or Aspen had even arrived. As they related the information, Cirineo paled.

"Can you imagine anyone who might want to cause her this type of misery?" Irena asked. "Someone has taken her child, Cirineo. This...this changeling was meant to distract her--to...prevent her from searching for Lukwe."

"There was a monk..." Lav interjected. "An Iolite monk."

[Melara]

Soleil balked, giving Aspen's hand a squeeze. Her own eyes were bright with tears at the goings-on as she looked at Vincente. "Aspen came to ask forgiveness," she told him. "To apologize to Oneida for his behavior, and to offer his support. That hasn't changed. Whatever we can do...anything...please, let us know."

[kahl]

Vincente's jaw tightened but he conceded to Soleil's word. She was a woman of good character. "Understandable...and accepted. I do, however, think we all need to leave Roa and Oneida in peace. They need...time."

Firmly escorting all of them to the door, the young man directed them down the stairs. "I'm sure Dr. Ammerton has finished his examination by now."

As they descended the stairs, Aspen's brow knit with added concern to see the guardsmen through the window. Not waiting for them to knock he jogged ahead of Soleil and opened the door. "Darturo, Reman, what brings you here?"

Darturo, the senior ranking stepped forward. "Sir, there is disturbing news from the Temple of the Lady. It appears a monk named Daedalus has not only assaulted the High Priestess Tyera, but the Priest Jjohns insists that the man has also disappeared with the Sasori infant. I assume your presence means they have, in fact, reported the child missing?"

"Not...exactly," Aspen grimaced. "Come in."

Escorting the two guards into the sitting room to join the Ammertons, and the others, Aspen eyed Yon. "Roa is with Oneida grieving....but I think you should hear this--"

"That the infant in the study is not Lukwe Sasori? Yes, I determined as much." Yon nodded with a stern scowl. "I was about to explain to you all my findings."

"So the reports from the Temple are true," Aspen pursed his lips. "This Daedalus has abducted Oneida's child."

"What...?" Vincente squared his shoulders. "I thought Daedalus died...in the palace no less."

"Perhaps it is another by the same name," Darturo suggested.

Aspen looked to Yon, "this dead child that Oneida found--that she thinks is Lucas--"

"Lukwe."

"Lukwe," the man repeated with a grateful nod to Vincente, in spite of the other man's terse correction. "Where did it come from? Why would someone kill one child to replace another?"

Yon shook his head, "no one murdered it. The boy was premature, died of organ failure...but he was born nearly a week ago, and dead more than a day."

Aspen covered his mouth in thought. "We must tell Roa immediately."

"ROA, but not Oneida. Not yet," Yon agreed sternly. "Unless her own child is found, the additional emotional strain may be too much for Oneida right now."

"You'd rather she believe she was responsible for her own son's death, than knowing the blame lies elsewhere??" even Aspen was appalled at this prospect. "No, we tell Roa and let him decide. He is, after all, to be her husband."

Looking to Soleil, Aspen murmured, "do you think you and Jadiera, perhaps could keep an eye on Oneida while we infrm Roa of this news?"

[Melara]

“Of course,” Soleil replied, her breath soft both with her horror of the situation and the needed discretion. Leaning up she kissed his cheek softly, all her affection and pride in what he was doing showing in that simple gesture.

[kahl]

Accepting her silent appraisal, Aspen's eyes closed at her tender kiss. After she and Jadiera departed to send Roa down, he turned to face Yon.

"I will send the appropriate orders with Darturo to begin the search for this...Daedalus. Can anyone describe him?" Aspen looked about the room.

"An acolyte at the Temple provided a rather thorough description, sir," Darturo nodded.

With a polite bow to the others, Aspen excused himself. "I will be but a moment with my men."

As the trio of Guard left the house, Vincente regarded his brother. "I greatly dislike that this 'monk' is involved. I worry that...well that Jorge's people may have returned."

- - - -

Holding Oneida on his lap as one would cradle a weeping child, Roa clutched her closely, murmuring reassurances that she was not to blame. Accidents did happen, and although the circumstances surrounding this one made little sense to him, he did not question her, nor accept her guilt.

What would drive Oneida to have leaned far enough out the window to drop Lukwe?
In truth, what human would withstand the burn of a candle long enough to cause such a nasty burn?
Why not just blow the candle out before reaching past it?
How could Oneida not remember such a terrible thing? Of all her past traumas, memory loss never factored in.

Things simply did not add up.

At the soft knock on the door, he lifted his head and nodded to Jadiera and Soleil as they slipped in. Oneida was still weeping heavily against his chest. His own eyes were red and swollen from tears.

"She is no better," he confessed. "Weak with exhaustion...but no less distraught."

[kahl]

Soleil delicately phrased Aspen's request. "There is a matter downstairs that requires your attention, Roa."

"More important than this?" he scoffed quietly.

Gently touching his shoulder she nodded toward the weeping Oneida, "I think it's important you speak with Dr. Ammerton. It all concerns Lukwe."

Although reluctant to leave Oneida, Roa caught on to the woman's urging that whatever needed to be said could not be said in front of the child's grieving mother. Relenquishing the weeping woman to Soleil's embrace, he murmured, "keep a keen eye on her. Call if she...attempts anything unpleasant."

Soleil nodded in understanding, and as Roa passed out the door, Jadiera lightly brushed his arm in comfort.

Descending the steps, Roa followed the sound of voices into the sitting room. Aspen was not present, but the brothers, Elenore, the Ammertons and the two young boys were all sitting about with sullen faces. Not just sullen, confused and distraught.

"What is it?" Roa demanded. "Where is Aspen?"

"Here, friend." Aspen approached from the foyer and entered the room. "I am here."

"None of what I have been told makes any sense. This...this accident or what have you is completely absurd. Oneida would never do something like that. It's illogical. Who leans over a flame rather than snuffing it out?" Roa's frustration and grief escalated in his voice causing Vincente to step forward and gesture calmingly with his hands.

"No one, brother. No one. That is why Yon wishes to speak with you." Vincente lifted his brows. "Men from the guard have just come and confirmed what Dr. Ammerton suspects."

"Which is?" Roa scowled at them.

"That a man, a monk named Daedalus has kidnapped Lukwe and...and staged a horrendous death with a false child," Aspen took it upon himself to break the news. "I already have the guard sweeping all of Melhane to find him. Jjohns from the Temple reported the kidnapping. Daedalus, apparently, came to them. Jjohns and Tyera both saw the child themselves, alive and well. But it seems that Daedalus, not only assaulted Tyera, but has now disappeared with the child."

Roa gaped at his friend. "He...what?"

"It is true," Yon confessed. "I have examined and autopsied this baby. It is impossible for it to be Lukwe. This baby is older, died much earlier than the scene would have us believe...and he did not die of the trauma a fall would cause. He died of liver failure. There is no possibility that this infant is Oneida's child."

"Then we must tell her!" Roa gestured at the stairs. "I fear to leave her alone for but a minute after the toll that Jorge's death took on her!"

Vincente stepped forward, "Dr. Ammerton is afraid that to give her hope...if Lukwe is not recovered...then she will have to 'lose' him again. Grieve again. It may be too much for her." He looked between the others then back to Roa. "But...you are her intended groom, so...ultimately the decision is yours."

Covering his face, Roa sank onto a chair. Eyes filled with a mercurial storm of pain, rage and fear, he lifted them to first Irena and then to Elenore. "As women...what would you want to be told?"

[Melara]

"Yes," Elenore told him, her eyes intent. "For many reasons. Firstly, if he were recovered and I found out that I was lead to believe my child was dead when he was not...that would be a betrayal and a devestation to my heart. Secondly, even kidnapped I would know my child was alive...and there would always be hope that he would be found. I would never stop looking but that hope would be a powerful thing."

"I agree," Irena added. "While an ultimately false hope over time can be devestating as well, I would never get over the sense of betrayal if someone allowed me to think that my child was dead when it was not. At least knowing it was alive, I would feel I could do something. Death leaves nothing but grief."

[kahl]

The anger and grief weighing on Roa showed in his eyes, bowed his posture. "I understand," he murmured.

Looking to Aspen he inquired, "the search is begun?"

"The moment we knew. Yes." He confirmed.

Roa nodded and rose to his feet. "Then I should...I should tell her."

Returning his gaze to Aspen, Roa lifted his brows. "If you truly mean to make ammends, perhaps assuring her that you are heading up the search will go far to smooth past abrasions."

In agreement, Aspen gestured to the door indicating Roa should lead. Vincente stepped in front of Aspen.

"I will remind you...there will be no immunity from our wrath if you do more harm than good. Everyone deserves a chance to pay penance-- be sure that you hold to your conviction, sir." The man was no younger than Aspen, of a stature and their eyes were level. In Vincente, Aspen did not see Malice, merely the protective fire of a brotherly figure.

With a careful nod he reassured him. "I am only of a mind to...move forward in peace."

"Does anyone else want to...to come aid in this unpleasantness?" Roa looked primarily to the women.

[Melara]

“I’ll go,” Irena volunteered. Out of everyone she was the least attached to Oneida (not that she didn’t feel immensely for the poor woman), and in her years being Yon’s assistant she had learned how to deal with the emotionally distraught.

[kahl]

Nodding in appreciation, Roa led them out of the sitting room and back up the stairs to the Master suite. Rapping lightly to signal his arrival, Roa pushed open the door. Jadiera was quietly collecting any traces of Lukwe, blankets and toys or diapers not yet used. Piling them into the bassinet, she looke dup at Roa then dipped her chin sullenly.

"I thought...it might help if she didn't have reminders..." she whispered.

Roa nodded appreciatively and lightly squeezed her shoulder. "Come over. We have something to tell all of you, especially Oneida."

Hearing Roa's voice, Oneida lifted her head from the pillows and peered over her shoulder. Fear and suspicion crossed her face as she spied Aspen following him in. "Have you come to gloat?" she moaned timidly, unaware that he'd previously been in the room. She was unaware of so much in her grief.

"No," Aspen gasped quietly, horrified in the revelation that this was the pain he'd caused that she could think he would be that cruel. "No...I had come to make ammends. To congratulate you on your son."

Oneida shriveled into the cushions with a renewed sob.

"Oni..." Roa hushed, circling the bed to take Soleil's place at his fiance's side. "Oni...listen. We have something to tell you...something that won't be easy to hear but..." He glanced at Irena for reassurance. "It may bring some relief, some...hope."

"Hope? What hope?" she sobbed.

Drawing her up in his embrace, Roa held her close. "Maybe Irena can explain best what Dr. Ammerton has found..." he looked to the woman with a desperation. This was all so much harder than he'd thought it would be, than it should be.

[Melara]

As Irena moved up to Roa's side, Soleil slipped back and took Aspen's hand.

Irena touched Roa's shoulder, but kept her eyes on Oneida. "Yon examined the baby," she said gently. "With what he found, he is certain that the infant is not Lukwe. It is older, and died from liver failure, not a fall. Oneida, your son is alive. You did not drop him."

[kahl]

The information was confusing. Oneida looked between Irena and Roa, then over her shoulder at the othes who only timidly nodded in reassurance.

"Wh-what do you mean...not Lukwe?" she paled and blinked at Roa.

"We believe that...someone took Lukwe and left this other baby here in a fashion to lead you to think that Lukwe was dead." Roa's heart twisted in his chest as he spoke.

Still quaking with grieve, Oneida suddenly began to grow still and unnaturally silent. Her eyes grew distant and she suddenly whispered, "Daedalus."

"Yes," Aspen nodded. "That was the name the Temple monks gave."

Not opening her eyes, Oneida sagged. "He came to me while I was pregnant...said someone was coming for Lukwe. I remember now. He came again and told me no one was going to take my baby. He swore it. That Lukwe as safe. Then...I remember pain in my chest...and then nothing. I woke and Luk--...the baby was..."

Oneida opened her eyes and peered down at her breast, peeling away the bandage. The flesh was burned.

Curling forward she covered her face. Roa embraced her and whispered, "Oni...we're already looking. Aspen had a search party out before we even got upstairs to tell you. We're going to find the bastard."

"No..." she shook her head as she sat up, new tears on her face. These were not tears of grief, they were those of anger, of hatred. "No you won't. Lukwe is their 'Two-Way One'. Their prophesied child. Daedalus is probably halfway across all of Rhye by now."

"This..." she said, touching the burn on her chest. "This was a warning...from one soul-eater to another."

Swiping at her eyes she growled, "next time we meet...one of us dies."

Lifting her eyes to Aspen she pleaded, "for however much you hate me...please, Aspen, help me find my child." Her quivering lip set firmly again as she added, "and forgive me what I do to those who have him."