Minute By Minute
Posted on Thu Sep 24th, 2020 @ 12:04pm by Lwazanda Ral Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed
1,056 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Episode 107 – Recovery
Location: Loneel Valley, Betazed
Four Years. That was how long Lwazanda Ral had been gallivanting around the quadrant 'finding herself' and yet, the Betazoid woman couldn't have felt more lost. It took waking up in a one star resort on Risa for Lwazanda to take a look at what she was doing to herself and make the trip back to Betazed to be with her family.
The grounds of the Ral family's estate Valleygarden, in the Loneel Valley area of Betazed, were expansive. Lwazanda had spent the short weeks since she arrived on her homeworld doing little more than walking the manicured gardens.
Valleygarden was the permanent home of Lwazanda's eldest son Reittan and his husband Liam, both of whom were retired Starfleet officers. Lwazanda couldn't help but feel like an imposition on the younger couple. Or maybe it was that Betazed no longer felt completely like home to the elder Ral. Either way, Lwazanda was eager to figure out how to make herself happy again.
"Lwazanda!" Called Liam from the white marbled stone terrace. "Come inside for dinner!" The Human was always very loving and patient with Lwazanda, and had been a good friend to her since she came to stay with the couple.
Warm wind blew through the valley in the evenings. Today was no exception. The wind caught the loose drapes of Lwazanda's dress and caused them to billow behind her as she made her way back towards the manor home.
Liam smiled warmly as Lwazanda approached him on the terrace. "Hello you. How was the Valley today?" He asked sincerely, extended an arm to guide her into the house.
"Quiet." Lwazanda responded, taking his arm and grasping it securely. "Is Reittan home yet? She asked after her son.
"The Council was in session today, but he will be home any minute." Liam always spoke of his husband with an immense love and affection.
As the human led the way through the 12 foot tall glass doors into the manor's Drawing Room a crimson clad footman approached the pair with a tray of drinks. The two flutes of a pale pink liquid were taken up quickly by Liam and Lwazanda.
"Thank you Qudo." Lwazanda nodded to the footman and took a seat on a nearby sofa.
Liam nodded to the man as well before taking a seat next to his mother in law.
"I suppose you'll want me out of your hair soon." Lwazanda said, bringing her glass to her lips and sipping her drink.
Liam looked confused. "Of course not. You're always welcome here. For as long as you want."
"Not sure Reittan feels the same." she said finishing off her glass as quickly as she started.
"Of course he does." Liam set his flute aside and turned in towards Lwazanda.
A door set in a bookcase opened and Lwazanda's son entered. He was dressed in a very traditional Betazoid costume. "Sorry I'm late." He said, hurrying in. Reittan crossed to where they were seated and kissed his husband and then his mother.
"You're not late Imzadi. We were just about to go in." Liam spoke with an unparalleled patience as he stood. He held out a hand to help Lwazanda up from the lush sofa.
The three made their way through into the dining room. It was a well appointed room. Centred was a large ovular table made of the finest Tulgey wood on Betazed. The room was done in all gold tones, decorated in a traditional Betazoid fashion. Reittan and Liam sat across from each other and allowed Lwazanda to take the head of the table. The trio only occupied half of the table, so only that half was set.
Crimson clad footman brought in dishes of food and soon the meal was well underway.
"What are they discussing in Council these days?" Lwazanda asked of her son. She was genuinely interested, having spent a good deal of her own life enveloped in politics.
Reittan swallowed his last bite. "There are some agricultural reforms being proposed by the Ninth House. "
Lwazanda nodded. "Yes, well the Ninth House should have the authority on that."
Reittan sighed. "Deities, you need to buck up Mother."
Lwazanda's mouth hung open at the outburst.
"You need to stop moping around and get on with your life. Whether that's here or wherever. " Reittan sounded sincere and concerned for his Mother's well being. "You divorced Kon. You did. And you rejected Stannis. So what? You need to be happy for you! Not because of someone else!" The younger Ral said.
Liam watched, eyes wide, as Reittan gave Lwazanda a wake up call that was well needed.
"Yes but.." Lwazanda began.
"No buts. It has been four years since it all happened. You're dwelling on it and it's ruining your life." Reittan was clearly concerned for his mother. "What can we do to help you? No more tip-toeing around the issue."
"I...erm... I think I need to resume my life." Lwazanda was beginning to sound how she use to, a sadness had left her voice. "I should go back to Starbase 400, catch up with Janice and keep my life going." It was as if a plan donned on her. "Yes that's it. I need to go home." It was an epiphany for Lwazanda, realising that Starbase 400 was what she considered her home now.
Late that evening, Lwazanda paced in the room where she'd spent many summers as a child. It had since been redecorated to suite her maturing taste level , but still retained a certain childlike charm. The Betazoid woman mulled over her plan and approached the desk she had acquired at an Orion market. she sat an activated her computer console. "Open a channel to Janice Bremer, Federation Starbase 400." She commanded.
The console chirped in response and after a beat it said. "Unable to establish connection." The standard Betazoid computer voice was soft and almost sing-song compared to the stark Starfleet automaton.
"Hmmm." Lwazanda pondered, but resolved to pack instead of inquiring further. Her arrival could be a surprise to Janice. That would be fun. She stepped into the cavernous closet and looked around. "Liam darling!"She called out to the depths of the house. "Tomorrow we need to shop." She said, exuberantly. It seemed that minute by minute, Lwazanda was returning to her old self.
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