Councillor Ehen Tenar
Santa-Eluira, Agcron
275 Orange Era
Co-written by Ovesa
Ehen approached the yellow rosebush timidly, her footsteps almost silent due to her leafwrap sandals. She was careful to keep her breath slow, quiet, as she swept her eyes across her surroundings. She could make out a figure on the other side of the bush; naively, she assumed it was Amarynth, for who else would have slipped her that note?
When she rounded the corner, she braced herself. What if it wasn’t Amarynth but an impostor? Was she in grave danger?
The relief that came with the sight of her elusive cousin made her feel like crying. This was actually happening. It wasn’t some trick of her imagination or an enemy trap.
"Sorry for such short notice. I hope it wasn't too much trouble getting out of there.” Amarynth was speaking in a slightly hushed tone. Certainly, she was aware of the risks Ehen was taking by sneaking away. "So, how are things back home?"
“Uuuh…” Ehen trailed off. Her eyes flitted toward the ground. “The same, I guess.” She shrugged. “Rischar and Mabadan ignore me because I’m just a child...and I say whatever I’m told to say. But whenever it’s just the three of us, people think that I should have all the answers.”
“Is that all?” Amarynth pressed. “Tell me what’s really on your mind.”
“What’s on my...what do you want me to say?” She knitted her eyebrows together. “That I’m just...a tool they can use because they don’t want the responsibilities? They don’t...want to take the blame for things. And they think I will be in power for awhile, which means they...can control me. For a long time. Possibly forever.” Inhaling shakily, she continued, “I have no friends, Amarynth. I’m behind in my studies. I can’t...I can’t--”
Ehen buried the heels of her hands into her eyes. Shaky breaths passed in and out of her lungs as she resisted the urge to sob.
"Hey, these are difficult times. Don't be so hard on yourself.” Amarynth put an arm around Ehen’s shoulders; Ehen leaned into her cousin, quivering. “ I know there's a bunch of pressure, and it feels like everyone's always looking to you for answers, but you're not alone. You're basically the leader of Aumen: you have dozens of people willing to help you in any way they can, people who won't leave you hanging during a crisis. I know you feel trapped, and isolated, and that you don't have any voice of your own, but you're not alone."
“Yes I am,” Ehen wailed. “I’m all alone, and they--they control m-me. They control everything I say and do because I’m just a...I’m not an Elf to them. I’m their puppe….” The tears were practically unstoppable. But she couldn’t let herself cry. Even alone in the “facilities,” she wasn’t allowed to cry, because that would show that she was overwhelmed and scared. She had to hold them back.
"This is probably the hardest thing to say, but you can't let anyone push you around and blame you for their mistakes. You're not their puppet; in the eyes of the law, you're a Councillor. You have just as much of a say in things as everyone else, if not, more. You don't have to confront them or anything, but setting boundaries is a quick way to let them know you're not gonna let them push you around.”
“How do I do that? They’ll never listen if I...speak. I don’t--I don’t know how to talk to them. All they do is--.” She didn’t know what the proper phrase was. She should know, but she lacked a full education for someone her age. “--push me around.”
"I know too well how awful things can get in your kind of life. There's no way to sugarcoat it, it just sucks. If things ever go south, or if life gets too intense, you can lay low in Cadenhia at my place. It's a nice suite near the Tiger's Eye, and as long as folks know you're with me, they won't ask too many questions."
“Cadenhia? L-Leslen’s kingdom?” Ehen wiped her eyes. “What’s the Tiger’s Eye?”