In Another Life

Riorsons

This is a oneshot based of the series of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. This has a LOT of spoilers so do not continue unless you're up to date with the Empyrean series. Also, there are likely a few inaccuracies. I haven't read it for a while so please bear with me. Essentially, Xaden has a sister but she had a different lifestyle than her brother...

He knew something was going on. It was obvious, even he could tell as a kid. His dad wouldn't tell him anything but as he looked up at his mom from the little cradle... he could see it. Something wasn't right. He didn't like it. 

He looked over to the cradle and watched as those little arms and legs started twitching. Those eyes he had looked into when he first held her... they weren't open right now but he knew they matched his. 

He was a brother. A big brother now. His dad had told him for so long it was his job to protect her. He finally understood. Whatever was going on with his mom, he would protect her. He promised himself right there that he would. 

The next day, their mother was gone. 

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"NO!" she yelled. "Please, please! I don't wanna go! Daddy pleease!" 

"It'll be okay," Fen promised. He held her closer as her little hands gripped his shirt. "It's just for a little while, okay? Then I'll come get you. This is just to keep you safe." 

"Why can't Xaden come?" she begged. She pushed away from him, snot and tears running down her face. "Dad, please. I don't wanna be alone." 

He crouched down in front of her. "You won't be alone," he promised her. "There are gonna be so many other people there. There's even a girl around Xaden's age. You'll like her. But you still have to be careful, okay? There are gonna be people there that will want to hurt you because you're my daughter." Fen pulled something from his back pocket. It was a necklace, the cord leather and wire holding a pendant in place with a design she hadn't seen before. 

"This is called a rune," he explained. He leaned forward and put it over her head. "It's going to keep you safe when I can't. Promise me you'll wear it." 

She nodded and closed her fist around the stone. "Promise." 

He smiled, tears in his own eyes. He pulled her into his arms again. His daughter. His little girl. So strong. So brave. He kissed her head. If a tear slipped from his eye into her hair, well that was his little secret. 

"Go pack," Fen told her. "The flier isn't going to wait forever." 

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Xaden was in the courtyard when she stepped out. He didn't look happy. She stopped and looked up at her dad. He nodded. She gripped her bag and walked over to her brother. He looked down at her and she could see some of his anger crumble. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know you need to be safe too. I wanna be here with you-" 

"Stop," Xaden said. He sighed and then opened his arms. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his middle. He was always so big. She held on tighter. 

"You're gonna be okay," he told her. He held her by her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "I know you're strong. You show them they can't mess with you. Got it?" 

She straightened her shoulders and bit back the tears. She nodded. "I can do that." 

A small smile tugged his lips. "I know you will." 

Xaden was thrown off a little when she hugged him again. Before he could react she whispered, "tha gaol agam ort." I love you. He had never heard that before. Not from Cat. Not even from their father. It made his chest hurt.