Mommy Dearest Redux: Exile
Oct. 31st, 2006 01:34 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsKurt finds out what he was called home for.
He'd seen this done before, if only a few times - had even been in the circle, once or twice, after it was decided he was old enough. He'd never thought he'd be on this end of it, though, except maybe in his nightmares.
It was real now, though, and Kurt Wagner knelt in the middle of a circle of his family and friends, and tried to feel nothing as he listened.
"~You are here to bear witness,~" Margali intoned, voice heavy with the weight of ritual and responsibility. This wasn't how she'd wanted it, but it was how it must be. Looking almost imperiously around the assembled Clan, she took in the expressions of grief, of shock, of confusion. "~One of us has strayed from the way, has chosen another path and thus can no longer be Szardos.~" Beside her, Jimaine let out a small hiccuping gulp as she swallowed a sudden sob, and from one of the caravans came the faint howls of Meggan.
Stefan's jaw twitched from the strain of keeping it closed but he allowed himself to brush a hand against Jimaine's back, to offer some type of comfort at least. If he had known earlier what was to happen when he brought Kurt home, he never would have gone over there in the first place. If tradition hadn't demanded it, he would have ignored his mother's demands that he be there and gone to seek solace elsewhere. But his hands were tied.
Kurt didn't move, didn't look up at his brother, or his sister, or in the direction of Meggan's caravan. He just stayed, head down, and waited for it all to be over.
"~Kurt Wagner, you are cast out. Let you find no shelter with us, nor comfort, nor friendship. You are no longer one of us, and the clan no longer sees you .~" Margali made the pronouncement with all the weight of a death sentence. "~You are no longer Szardos.~"
Anger, pain and loyalty waged war within Stefan but he would not allow that to come through. While he disagreed with his mother's decision—both as Kurt's brother and as the next leader—he had no choice but to follow tradition. This left just as bad a taste in his mouth as had Amanda's banishment.
You are no longer Szardos. The moment those words were spoken, it was done. And he knew better than to hope Margali would ever think better of it.
There was nothing left to say.
Kurt got to his feet, silently, and spared a last glance at Jimaine and Stefan. No blame, no recrimination, not for them. Just one last piece of the ritual to go.
Margali looked Kurt squarely in the face, dark eyes remote and cold, almost those of a stranger. Then with great deliberation, she turned her back on him. One by one, the rest of the clan followed, with varying degrees of reluctance. Jimaine paused, giving Kurt an anguished look, but loyalty to their mother demanded she follow suit.
At last, only Stefan remained.
Stefan gazed at his brother sadly, letting his emotions show through his eyes. He would not breach the conduct so badly with spoken words but they had grown up closely. A bond like that didn't need words. He would do what he could, in the future, to ease the rift. And if he could not in their mother's remaining years, then he would personally see to it after. A silent promise and then a nod, as he turned around and followed his family.
Kurt didn't look away until the last moment... until they had all turned from him, by choice or not. And then there was nothing for him to do but turn the other way... and go.
He'd seen this done before, if only a few times - had even been in the circle, once or twice, after it was decided he was old enough. He'd never thought he'd be on this end of it, though, except maybe in his nightmares.
It was real now, though, and Kurt Wagner knelt in the middle of a circle of his family and friends, and tried to feel nothing as he listened.
"~You are here to bear witness,~" Margali intoned, voice heavy with the weight of ritual and responsibility. This wasn't how she'd wanted it, but it was how it must be. Looking almost imperiously around the assembled Clan, she took in the expressions of grief, of shock, of confusion. "~One of us has strayed from the way, has chosen another path and thus can no longer be Szardos.~" Beside her, Jimaine let out a small hiccuping gulp as she swallowed a sudden sob, and from one of the caravans came the faint howls of Meggan.
Stefan's jaw twitched from the strain of keeping it closed but he allowed himself to brush a hand against Jimaine's back, to offer some type of comfort at least. If he had known earlier what was to happen when he brought Kurt home, he never would have gone over there in the first place. If tradition hadn't demanded it, he would have ignored his mother's demands that he be there and gone to seek solace elsewhere. But his hands were tied.
Kurt didn't move, didn't look up at his brother, or his sister, or in the direction of Meggan's caravan. He just stayed, head down, and waited for it all to be over.
"~Kurt Wagner, you are cast out. Let you find no shelter with us, nor comfort, nor friendship. You are no longer one of us, and the clan no longer sees you .~" Margali made the pronouncement with all the weight of a death sentence. "~You are no longer Szardos.~"
Anger, pain and loyalty waged war within Stefan but he would not allow that to come through. While he disagreed with his mother's decision—both as Kurt's brother and as the next leader—he had no choice but to follow tradition. This left just as bad a taste in his mouth as had Amanda's banishment.
You are no longer Szardos. The moment those words were spoken, it was done. And he knew better than to hope Margali would ever think better of it.
There was nothing left to say.
Kurt got to his feet, silently, and spared a last glance at Jimaine and Stefan. No blame, no recrimination, not for them. Just one last piece of the ritual to go.
Margali looked Kurt squarely in the face, dark eyes remote and cold, almost those of a stranger. Then with great deliberation, she turned her back on him. One by one, the rest of the clan followed, with varying degrees of reluctance. Jimaine paused, giving Kurt an anguished look, but loyalty to their mother demanded she follow suit.
At last, only Stefan remained.
Stefan gazed at his brother sadly, letting his emotions show through his eyes. He would not breach the conduct so badly with spoken words but they had grown up closely. A bond like that didn't need words. He would do what he could, in the future, to ease the rift. And if he could not in their mother's remaining years, then he would personally see to it after. A silent promise and then a nod, as he turned around and followed his family.
Kurt didn't look away until the last moment... until they had all turned from him, by choice or not. And then there was nothing for him to do but turn the other way... and go.
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