New Life's Eve

Posted on Tue Nov 25th, 2025 @ 4:23am by Tessa di'Orion & Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman

Mission: A Princess Of Tial
Location: Tessa's Rooms

Sera had risen early. It was a momentous day. Their new Federation allies were departing, necessitating a busy schedule of exchanges of gifts and a rapid discussion between the ship's engineers and her own to continue the work they'd begun. The speed at which their people had adapted and improved Tialan technology astounded Sera, and she had no doubt she would have weeks of enjoyment going through it all.

With the ship departing soon, she assumed Tessa would wish to see them off. She walked to her daughter's door and knocked. "Essie? Are you available?"

The day had passed quickly, the third since she'd returned home. The Captain had passed a message along to her and her mother that she was going to have to cut their visit short after a message from Starfleet requesting they investigate something else. That meant that her friends were leaving in the next few hours, that...he was leaving. Then came the knock on the door and the familiar voice that she couldn't deny entry to, not that she would. "Yes, Mutra, I'm here, come in it's not locked."

Sera opened the door and stepped inside, gesturing for the guards to leave them alone. Once it was just her and her daughter, she approached, hands clasped, studying her daughter's face. "Tessa," she said. "Tell me what's weighing so heavily on you?"

Tessa looked up into her mother's face and then looked away again, back out towards the sky where somewhere the Chimera was in orbit, not quite directly above them. "I've only been home for three days, Mutra, and my new friends must leave. I know Lady Skyie received a message, and so they must, but I'm going to miss them." There was much more to it than that. "I'm happy to be home, though," she managed a smile as she turned back to her mother, reaching out with one hand to her, "and to be with you and Temer again, he's grown so much since I left!"

Sera smiled and reached out, taking Tessa's hand. "Indeed, he has," she said. "And as he grows, I have had quite a time instilling virtues in him. Honor, courage, integrity....honesty." She gave Tessa a pointed look. "I know your expressions, my darling; they are too similar to mine to fool me." She sat down on a small sofa and patted the space next to her. "Come. Tell me the truth, so that I can help make it better."

Tessa hesitated briefly, but sat next to Sera on the sofa and sighed, demurring again. "There's so much more I can learn from them, that we can all learn. I haven't been able to look over what the engineering team was able to do in the cavern, but one of the escorts was telling me about what they observed. And Lady Kellerman was only able to put me through so many exercises before we arrived. But I'm needed here, Father made that very well known when he visited with me yesterday."

Sera nodded. "True, your Father does value your contribution. And there is much you could do here." She looked at Tessa. "Is that what you want?"

Tessa swallowed as she nodded. "Yes, Mother," she confirmed, putting as much feeling into it as she steeled her spine in order to get the words out. "I want to be here for our people. With everything I've learned, can learn from the texts that the Federationers are leaving us, I can even teach our other Urdians the proper techniques. And it's only proper that I pair with Kosac'e'Varam to ensure the continuity of our line." She gave a smile that she thought was real, but the words she'd just spoken caused a quiver in it as she lied as convincingly as possible. "I was remiss when I didn't have an heir before I left and I must rectify that."

Sera reached over and took Tessa's face in her hand, turning her to look her mother in the eyes, not gently and lovingly, but sternly, as one would a misbehaving child. "Tessa'e'Sera," she said, sternly, "I did not raise you to obfuscate, nor did I raise you to lie. You may lie to yourself, but you will not lie to me. I asked you to speak from your heart, not your duty." Her expression softened and her hand went to press against Tessa's cheek. "What does your heart desire, Essie?"

The girl shook her head. "What I want is impossible, mother, completely and utterly impossible. It would cause too many problems for us here at home if I even tried." She pulled back from her mom reluctantly, her voice grew duller. "I'm the Heir to Light's End. I have my duties to Tial and I cannot do anything to jeopardize that, not matter how I feel for someone. It cannot happen."

Sera smiled at her daughter and kissed her forehead. "Henry must be an exceptional young man to have won your heart so completely," she said, smiling.

"He-" Tessa cut herself off. "I didn't mention it was Henry, Mother. I- I- How could you possible know?"

Sera laughed. "My child, did you really think I couldn't tell? Your face gives everything away when you speak of him." She stroked Tessa's hair gently. "And if you had this wish, if you were with him, living with the Federationers, learning their ways, this would make you happiest?"

Tessa nodded slowly. "But I can't, Mutra, I have my duty to Light's End and to our people." She changed to shaking her head. "I have to follow our tradition, I can't turn my back on everyone that counts on us."

"Well, you are correct. A daughter of Light's End has no place turning her back on her people." She got a devilish glint in her eyes. "But a Baroness has much more authority, and to forge such an alliance with the Federation would put her in quite a position of strength, even if she did so by leading with her heart."

"But I'm not a Baroness, Mother, not until you die." Bluntness was one of the trademarks of their people. "And even if it came down to it, I don't care if you make Temer your heir, he would be a good leader when he grows older. I would be happy just being Tessa'e'Sera, Priestess of Urd."

Sera smiled. "Well, there are other ways of being a Baroness," Sera said, the wheels in her head turning. "As I recall, there is a modest island just off the western coast. It would have room for a modest citadel and some surrounding rocky lands and trees. Not an expansive barony, but a good place to start." She eyed Tessa. "Especially for a young woman who has decided to pair with a new off-world ally and will require some place to return to. Your formal investiture will have to wait until you come back to visit, of course, but you will be the Baroness, with a home to come to whenever you so wish it." Sera smiled fondly, reaching out to wipe the tears away from her daughter's face.

“Wait, what?” Tessa blinked rapidly, “You mean, you would let me go with the Federation? With Henry? What about the alliance with the Northern Lord?”

"Your father will have it sorted out," Sera said. "I will simply explain that his daughter is now allied with a power far greater than the Northern Watch, and if he has any hope of a enjoying a peaceful life in my presence, he will direct the Northern Lord to accept the situation, and given your father's reputation and power, I have no doubt the Northern Lord will accept...graciously." She smiled at Tessa, her hand on her daughter's cheek. "And you may go live your life as you want. The only question that would remain would be what you would call your new dominion."

The permission gave Tessa the need to pause for several long seconds. It was unheard of; there was no precedent, no tradition that this followed, but the warmth of her mother’s hand on her cheek was undeniable. “Heart’s Forge,” she decided.

Sera nodded. "Heart's Forge it is, then. I will handle all the details, and oversee its development."

Tessa nestled into her mothers arms as she hugged her tightly, then her eyes opened and flicked the the sun already starting to dive towards the open water. “The ship!” she gasped. “It’s going to leave any time!”

"Guards!" Sera shouted without hesitation, standing up quickly. As the two guards rushed in she stepped forward. "Whomever is the faster runner, make haste to our new communications station. Contact Lady Skyie of the Chimera. Tell her she must send her shuttlecraft back to the surface as we have essential biomedical supplies to give her, and she cannot leave without them. Stress it is a matter of life and death that she receive them.

The two men nodded and one of them immediately spun around and took off at full speed. Sera looked to the other man. "Gather every able-bodied man, woman and child you can find and bring them here to assist me. I have a list of things that must be gathered together as quickly as possible."

The other guard nodded and took off as well.

Sera turned back to Tessa. "I will go make arrangements for your departure. Pack your things for an extended trip. She smiled and kissed Tessa's cheek. "But remember that you are expected to return home to visit, and the occasional message at the least. Your Barony will need you now and again. And please, remember me to your beloved."

“I’m sure he will be properly terrified and appreciative,” Tessa commented, overcome with all of the emotions. “I don’t want to go, too, because I’m going to miss you, Mutra, you and Temer, Father and my new sibling as well. Are you sure it will be all right without me?”

"It will be an adjustment," Sera acknowledged. "We have made adjustments before, and now we shall again. However, this time it shall be far easier for me to make the adjustment, knowing that you are out there safe, loved and protected, not missing and in danger."

"And I'll make sure that I remain safe, I promise," Tessa said, then remembered something else, reaching up and carefully undoing the chain that held the ruby around her neck, "I need you to do something for me... Can you give this back to father? It's called the 'Blood of Tial' and I don't deserve it if I'm leaving."

Sera took the jewel and looked at it appreciatively. "I will see if he wishes to keep it, or hold it for you," she said.

Tessa stated firmly as her smile wavered and threatened to break into tears again, "who's going to tell Cass that we're going back to the ship?"

Sera nodded, thoughtfully, toying with the gold chain in her hand. "Cass will remain with me," she said after a moment. "I think it is time to assign you a new protector."

Tessa's eyes widened. Cass'e'Indira had been her constant shadow her entire life, the one who'd trained her in what fighting she knew how to do. This would be like losing an arm, or something of the like. Instantly her mind flitted through those who'd been watching over her in Cass's absence the last couple of days. "Who will be replacing her?"

Sera smiled at her. "I believe there's a young man who recently qualified for the position. A young Sentar who currently resides on your new starship." She gave Tessa a look and a knowing smile.

If it were possible, Tessa's eyes would have widened just a little bit more. "You mean Henry, don't you?" Her voice was full of wonder. "But what about the need for-" She cut herself off before she dug herself into a hole she couldn't get out of; maybe some of the diplomatic lessons had actually sunk in. "I think you may be correct, Your Grace," she said with that twinkle in her eye, that smile growing on her face.

Sera smiled back and kissed her daughter and hugged her tight. "I love you, my darling. Now, off you go. Collect your things and prepare."