Breath of Heaven
*edited because I'm a doofus who forgot my own characters name*
Myshuno Prompt: Climbing a Tree silverbelle1220
Characters: Moria and Betta Norrington
Notes: Inevitable Spoilers
Word Count: 708
Betta watched the group of mourners from her perch, a blank expression on her freckled face. She knew her mother would be cross with her for not standing with the family but she couldn't care less about that right now. The mound of dirt looked smaller from here, less foreboding, less... final from this distance. She thought of her grinning grandfather and his unruly red hair, quite like her own. He would chuckle at the idea of being 'laid to rest'. In his ailing years he was forever telling his worried wife that he could rest when he was dead.
The sound of sobbing reached her ears above the preacher's droning. Betta narrowed her eyes; her grandfather had little love for the church. Too many lashings and cruelty from God fearing folk in the workhouse had cured him of any belief in heavenly intervention. Yet he never belittled Grand-mama her devotion and it was she in charge of his burial. Betta couldn't help but think her grandfather would have preferred her father Asher organize his send off. Grand-papa was fun and bright. Her father wouldn't have insisted on all this awful black taffeta and somberness. No tears or sickly smelly lilies. Only laughter and stories and hugs. Looking down at the sad mass of family below, Betta had to wonder if her grandfather had taken all those wonderful things with him.
She watched the proceedings until the crowd retreated to the house in small groups of threes and fours. Her parents led her grandmother's sobbing form away. Grand-mama seemed diminished somehow without her boisterous husband on her arm. Soon only one figure stood alone at the grave. Betta stared at her older sister in curiosity. Why wasn't Moria inside helping Mama like the perfect angel she was?
As though aware of Betta's thoughts Moria looked up into the tree. “Will you come down now?” She asked quietly.
“No.” was Betta's obstinate reply.
With a nod Moria started to awkwardly climb the tree. Betta's eyes bulged. “What are you doing? You're not allowed to climb. You'll scuff your shoes and tear your dress.” Moria didn't answer as she slowly approached her sister's perch. “You'll over exert yourself and I'll be to blame. I can hear you breathing from here, get down!” Moria continued to pant as she ascended. Betta gave one last desperate shout. “This is my tree and I won't have you in it, you hear me?!” When Moria was an arms length away, her dark face nearly maroon from exertion, Betta reached out and pulled her up to the thick branch on which she sat. “Have you gone mad?! What are you thinking climbing up here?”
Moria's breathing was greatly labored as she tried to give her sister a weak smile. “Y-you wouldn't c-c-come down...”
Betta rolled her eyes to cover up her worry. “Well you'll never make it down now. Papa will have to rescue you and it will be me going to bed without supper.”
“S-sorry.”
Patting the hand she realized she was still gripping, Betta shrugged. “No matter.” she glanced at her panting sister with concern. “Are you alright?”
Moria managed a nod. “Yes.” She pointed at the setting sun. “You can s-see heaven from... from here.”
Betta sighed sadly. “Grand-papa didn't believe in heaven.”
“Where... where do you s-suppose he... is?”
Before Betta could respond a strong summer wind rustled the tree, rocking the girls on their perch and making the leaves sing in harmony. She caught the scent of grass, pond water and something impossible familiar with a bewildered smile. “Do you smell that?”
Moria inhaled, finding it suddenly easier to breathe and turned incredulous eyes on her sister.“Licorice,” She whispered.
“Grand-papa” They said in unison.
With a sudden lump in her tight throat Betta smiled tremulously at her sister. She had no words but that was alright for Moria too seemed robbed of speech and her dark eyes were suspiciously shiny. Instead they welcomed the comfort of each other, their heads pressed together in a tangle of red and brown. They could worry about the impending descent and inevitable punishments later. For now they watched the sun dip below the horizon taking the presence of their beloved grandfather with it.