Heron did not like fighting with his father. But he also refused to back down. Elswyth was his friend, and there was not really a problem with her that he would understand his father being wary of.
He did feel a bit ashamed sometimes after fighting with his father, as sometimes he got a bit too heated. His father didn't deserve everything he said during these fights, and Heron was genuinely surprised how much he snapped when Elswyth was being put down. He hated hearing someone he cared about putting her down, and perhaps he snapped more because it was someone he was close to. And he felt very strongly about wanting them to get along.
But he often found himself regretting losing his temper at his father. Not that he regretted defending Elswyth. He just regretted losing his cool and saying things he didn't particularly mean.
He didn't know why he lost his cool so easily in these arguments. He tended to be fairly level headed but for some reason he just couldn't seem to keep ahold of himself.
And today was worse than usual. His father and him had started having little snippets at breakfast and it slowly boiled into a full on argument.
It always shocked Heron afterwards that he had yelled at his father, but during the moment he didn't really care.
But he really didn't mean it when he snapped at his father, saying something to the effect of accusing his father of not caring enough. He knew that wasn't true. And even as he said it he regretted it.
His father told him to get out. Heron knew it was so they both could cool their heads and so he left without complaint.
He felt uneasy inside, wondering if they would ever be able to stop fighting over this. If they would be able to come to terms. Hopefully he could get his father to understand. But he really needed to stop loosing control of his temper like that. It was counter-productive. And was only entrenching his father further.
He didn't really know where he was going. His mind was such a jumble of thoughts. It really was uncomfortable. Fighting with the only parent he had ever had felt terrible.
Especially when it was so drawn out. He really wanted to make up with his father.
His feet took him outside the palace as he deeply thought on how to convince and make up with his father. The problem was he had no idea how to appeal to his father in this instance. Oh, he knew some things his father loved, there was just no way to really use them in this case.
He went into the garden. While it wasn't as beautiful as the gardens in Jarenkul it was still peaceful, and he had always had a tendency to come here when perturbed in spirit.
He was deep in thought when he heard footsteps. Startled he turned to look, and wasn't too surprised to see had come to walk with him.
He nodded to her and turned away, not really feeling like talking.
Elswyth came to walk next to him, but didn't say a word. She did pat his arm though, in a comforting manner.
Neither of them spoke for the longest time.
After a while though Heron broke the silence, "I don't know what to do."
"I'm sorry. I feel responsible for this. You two wouldn't be fighting if it wasn't for me." Even though she sounded sad though, and her eyebrows were crinkled, a soft smile was on her lips. "I'm not sure how to win him over either. I do want your father to get along with me."
"It's not your fault. Amriel is a very traditional place, and you don't fit the standards for women. And it just rubs my father the wrong way."
"I know." She smiled at him and patted his arm. "I'm very much a woman from Jarenkul. And I'm not a prim and proper lady. Which is fine back home, but here, its not so much seen as okay."
"I personally like your attitude." Heron laughed, "Its different. But I think its good. Being prim and proper and all is okay, and there isn't anything wrong with it. But it's the heart that's really important. And you have a good one."
"Thanks," Elswyth smiled and then leaned over and kissed his cheek, "You're very sweet."
Heron had no clue how to react to that. So he didn't. He just responded to her words and nodded.
Silence fell between them again. But now Heron wasn't thinking depressing thoughts, and felt more hopeful. Elswyth really did cheer him up.