Topic: Driven memories

Taliah · Date: 2008-06-22 13:29 EST

Run; she had to run faster, harder, and longer. There was no stopping her as she tore through the path through the glen, even ignoring whatever memories were left from the previous night of the ice cream festivities. All Taliah needed to do was run, to have her legs and arms pumping, to feel her heart pound in her chest and her lungs grasp at what air they could as she inhaled and exhaled.

"Taliah, I'm tired," whined Davani, though older than her sister by a year, she was very much a whiner for being forced to continue at the rapid running pace of her sister. Davani had neither the heart nor will to continue as Taliah did, though she was well capable of keeping up. "The others are not even caught up yet since you left Tiana to the back of the pack."

The whine caused Taliah to slow several long feet ahead of her older sibling until she eventually stopped and turned to look over at Davani and the trail of dirt they left behind in their wake. Her hands slid down to rest on her slim hips, she was still fresh faced and young, much younger than when she had finally arrived in Rhydin. "Father trained all of us, how is it I can make it longer than the rest of you?" She asked with a bit of disdain at having to wait for the rest of her sisters, who were straggling closer in a group of five.

"You always had more of the drive to keep going; besides, Tiana is too young to keep up the stamina that you have," so said the eldest sister, Ines, with a frown of reproach at Taliah's look. "Just because you have something on your mind, doesn't mean you should take it out on us, little sister."

Taliah wiped sweat from her forehead as she eyed the other sisters, seven in total; they looked like they were going to gang up on her again over another trivial issue. She turned to face them completely, standing with her legs shoulder width apart and her hands on her hips as if bracing herself for the verbal assault. "What?" That was all that needed to be said to invite the onslaught.

"Did something happen between you and Jesse," Damaris, the second oldest, asked first as she was growing impatient with the whole attitude that was exuding from Taliah. The other sisters, for once, remained oddly silent.

"Jesse is a jerk," Taliah said simply. "Look, if you do not want to run any further then go home now. I, however, am not done, so keep up or stay out of my way." Taliah did not wait for a reply as she turned back to the path leading far away from their home and took off at a light jog, which eventually turned back into her blood pumping speed.

Somehow, through the brief memory that flashed in her mind, Taliah ran through yet another path in the glen. She was running up the hills to push herself harder, she needed this, she wanted this, and she would not stop until she had it. That was one thing her sisters always said, she had the drive to continue and push. Besides, why let up when her goal was almost in sight' Eventually, though, she did stop her run. Taliah began to slow when she neared the lake in the glen and once at the waters edge, she bent over with her hands on her exposed knees from the short shorts she wore. Her chest heaved and her breaths were labored. Gods above, she wanted to vomit from the over exertion, but she would not let her body have that satisfaction.

Taliah swallowed the lump in her throat and wiped at her face with her hands then her hands on the back of her shorts. She straightened from her bent over position and breathed in the air deep into her lungs as she began to regain control of her breathing. Her shoulder still ached and she glanced at the redness of it through the thin strap of her tank top. After a grimace, she rubbed her fingers into the muscle. "Note to self, wear padding for dueling." Though, most likely, she would not follow the directions of that note.

Her hand lowered from her aching muscle and she took in another breath of air. It was time to begin again, and she still needed to go to the marketplace to get the groceries for her employer as well as clean herself up to be presentable for him. She started off at a jog then in moments began the push once again as her mind told her to run hard and fast and her body screamed no.

Taliah · Date: 2008-06-22 15:55 EST

The run had been exhausting and it had trailed from the glen through the town proper and the marketplace, where Taliah had ended up picking up the preordered groceries for her employer. She had just left the marketplace and was making her way home when her thoughts began to wander to her younger years.

She was just a child, no older than six years of age, when she had gone to her first market with her mother, Audrey. They held hands, her mother frequently squeezing the delicate fingers of her daughter to ensure that she was still with her, light blue eyes scanned the area for any signs of possible danger. Each corner was taken with a cautious glance and quick step.

"Remember, Taliah, like your sisters you are a female and more susceptible to dangers, but you are also able to deceive more as most of the men will think you are weaker than what you seem so use that to an advantage," Audrey told her young daughter quietly. "This, however, does not mean you can forget caution, so with every corner look and move quickly. Do not let anyone have a chance to catch you unaware. Keep your personal belongings close and your back to the wall; do not let anyone have an opening except for you."

Taliah's lagoon blue eyes rolled up to stare at her mother as she listened. The words were foreign since her mind was not yet ready to comprehend that the world could be a dangerous place, but she nodded just the same as if she understood completely; her own words quiet as she repeated, "Back to the wall."

"I do not say this to scare you, Taliah, but to prepare you." They had reached the market and her mother paused to purchase some fruit from a vendor, though her daughter's hand was placed to hold onto the sash at her mother's waist as the fruit was put gently into a basket. She would not let her daughter wander as most of the children were allowed to do. Once they were away from the vendor her mother spoke again, though the conversation seemed as if it had changed topics, "When buying fruit you must look it over carefully, smell it, and feel the firmness. You do not want fruit that is too ripe or too far from ripeness, but just right; you want it to fit your needs and nourish, not sicken, you; that is also want you want from a friend or lover."

Taliah merely listened as she held tightly onto her mother's sash. Again, she did not fully understand why her mother would tell this to her, but she would listen until the running of the other children drew her attention and she longed to be one of those that were free to do as they wished. They had moved on to a vegetable vendor and her mother made another purchase before she watched her daughter stare at the other children.

"One day, Taliah, you will have an opportunity to be away from me and our family. We will not be there to guide or protect you, so for now you must listen and prepare yourself for the world. We help you learn in different ways, but it is for your future safety that we think of, darling," Audrey said as her fingers were soft and gentle as she caressed Taliah's cheek to draw her attention away from the playing children. "When you return to school, you will make friends again, but for now let us pay attention to corners and vendors with overly priced items." Her mother smiled and bent to brush a kiss along the brow of her young daughter before she shuffled them both through more stalls.

Taliah unlocked her front and set the groceries onto the counter in her routine. She remembered that from that day forward her mother always took her, and only her, on the market that particular day and they always had the same talk, despite Taliah's attempts to curb it. Her mother was relentless in making her daughters stronger and capable. Taliah went to the window in her kitchen and opened it to let fresh air in then she drifted to her bedroom, stripping shorts, tank top, and unmentionables from her body. Her hair was released from its band and shook loose before she turned on the water of her shower and stepped inside for a much needed wash and cleansing.

Taliah · Date: 2008-06-22 18:12 EST

The shower had washed away sense of Taliah losing herself; it had been just what she needed after a hard run. She was not completely dressed yet as she stood before her closet and surveyed what she should wear. This was not her typical work day as she was only supposed to drop off the groceries for her employer's cook, but he needed her to fulfill an extra need of his, so she needed to dress the part.

She ran a hand over her bare shoulder, which still had a hint of redness, and would be considered a blemish to her employer, so something without sleeves was out of the question. For this type of favor she had to look presentable, so jeans and t-shirt were also out of the options. Her lips pursed and she stepped forward to pull out a casual chiffon dress. The floral print was enough to add color with its pinks and pale yellows, while the satin black at the waist and hem gave it a touch of refinement, and there was enough length to arms to cover her shoulder just enough.

Once dressed, Taliah went to pin her hair back at the sides with simple black pins. She had no need to look overly fancy and if she planned to go out after then she could remove them without being concerned if they got lost. She carefully placed her black heels on and rose to look at her full length mirror. Her hands slid down to smooth the dress out over her curves, knees still exposed as the length of the dress stopped short several inches.

Hands came around her from behind and a man kissed her neck lovingly, "You look beautiful, Tali. I know why I love you."

Taliah smiled as she slid her hands over his arms as she said, "Is it because I allow you to be near me once again?"

He laughed low and nipped at her ear. "It's nice to not have to fight you."

"You know you would lose."

He gave her squeeze then turned her, his hands upon her waist, as he stared down into her eyes. "We would battle, yes, but I don't think I would lose. You put up a good fight, but I know what makes you tick, Tali."

Her voice became dangerously low, "And you know, Jesse, not to push my buttons. I've not fully accepted you back yet."

"You will. You always do and I know just what would make you?" his voice trailed off as he drew her away from the full length mirror.

Taliah turned to face an empty room and her gaze drifted toward her empty bed; a bed not used by the man in her memory. She would never allow him that satisfaction even if he came to find her now. She shook her head as she left her room to pick up the groceries and make her house call for the day.

Her walk was brisk, her gait quick and hurried for once as she made her way to her employer's house. She used her key to enter through the kitchen and set the bag of groceries on the counter, Taliah did not call out to announce her arrival for she was expected at this time and she knew the cook would take care of the rest, so she sauntered to the office door that awaited her.

She closed her hand into a fist and knocked on the door three times as she said, "Sir, I've come." Taliah, then, made her way inside the office. After a couple of minutes, really, she stepped back out and waited until an elderly gentleman was shown inside the house. Taliah smiled charmingly at the man, who looked her up and down appraisingly as he always did.

"How much," the man asked her. Taliah wanted to sigh as this happened every single time he came calling for her employer. This was the sole purpose of her coming in on her day off; this one man thought he was special enough for her and she only gave in for the extra money and the guilt that no other could come in earlier to grant an old man a satisfying sight of a lovely lady in a dress.

"He will see you in his office," She merely responded politely and stepped to the door to open it for him and see her employer's companion inside. Once that was done, she did not need to wait as another caretaker stepped in and grinned at Taliah. Her role was now taken over by another and she hurriedly slipped out of the house. She needed a drink and some company.