“I want to see a changed Lagoon because I have changed.”

Tyr’s deep voice from somewhere back in her memory of that day they’d first met face-to-face came floating back somewhere in her mind.

“I am no longer the stallion that washed up from the mainland set to conquer the world.”

Oswin had been able to set Tyr’s past sins in a distance that never touched her because she had never been touched by his wrongdoings. As she watched the Peak General retell the story of her mother, Oswin was struck with a chill down through her chest. The only reason she fought with such vigor for the freedom of the powerless on the isles was because of her mother. Because Dock had never been a fighter and the evil of the islands had taken advantage of that. Even now, all these years later, if she came face-to-face with the stallion that’d caused it all… could she be so forgiving?

A frown crossed her features as Róisín mentioned interrupting Tyr just recently as he led a mare away from the Commons. He had promised Oswin the unhappy would not be forced to remain among the Lagoon and that no souls would be tortured there, but the Peak General was starting to put a trickle of doubt in Oswin’s mind. Not that she automatically assumed Tyr was bringing the mare to the Lagoon as some means of torment, but… Róisín was right. Why not bring the mare here?

Was he so lonely for womanly company among his men that he’d try to convince a woman to live among the sea brine and mud… willingly? Jealousy crept through her and Oswin chewed the air as she suppressed it and paid it little mind.

“I see.” Oswin said the words quietly when Róisín finished. There was a piece of her raging with indignance inside at the accusation that was inferred, but her mind was racing in a million different directions. She chose to pay it little mind.

“When I met him, he had told me of his past and admitted he used to do wrong alongside Cullen. He told me that wasn’t what he wanted any more, that he had sons and wanted to provide better for them. That he had voted for Rade to overtake Cullen.” Did it make it worse for Róisín, knowing the Prime Minister heard from the source that wrongs had been done in his past and still let down her guard to be intimate with him? “I believed him, though maybe that’s because I’d change the whole world for my own children.” Not, she expected, that Róisín cared what Oswin had heard from Tyr. At this point it was clear the dun mare had made up her mind about him and decided he was only full of pretty words hiding their true enemy. Despite hearing this story from Róisín, Oswin still believed what Tyr had said.

It seemed whatever issues lie between her and her General went much, much deeper than could be healed with one conversation. Oswin felt the only thing she could do was speak to Tyr but, as heavy in foal as she was, there would be no traveling to the Lagoon for some time. It was frustrating to feel this reach a place of stagnance, but she wasn’t sure what else she could do.

“I am not a love-struck filly, Róisín.” Her voice was collected when she spoke, straightening her posture (as much as she could with such a swollen belly) and letting her blue eyes rest more firmly on the young General. “I see Tyr for what he is, regardless of what you’ve come to believe.”

At this point the pair would only go in verbal circles and Oswin knew it. “I am sorry for what happened to your mother. To you, too.” Even if Róisín believed the words to be empty, the Prime Minister still offered them after a small sigh. It must’ve been frightening as a young mare to be driven from Atlantis to the Lagoon, separated from her family after seeing her dam in such a state. Oswin couldn’t say she wouldn’t hold a grudge against the one who’d caused the trauma.

oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.