Luneshale Pass fifty-first

Toula swept in, once more made resplendent by her fellahin. Joy in her heart, joy in her bones. She would join the feast a little later, the sweetness of anticipation being sang to her by @Eset. Toula smiled at the idea of this, thinking of the waiting eyes that would soon find her.
And find her they would, emerging now in the glow of the light and seeing Melody bowed now before her. Delight, first, in her gaze to see @Makono before her! And Toula might have married her sister then, for the joy of it—
except for that this was Ashikaga, who she had also loved but who had always been more distant. And then she had gone. Toula had never blamed Ashikaga for leaving, too—but the words that then came from her lips had all the warmth move to something not even Toula herself could define. but again, Toula softens as she considers the face before her. considers too the shared blood. Toula might have felt offended, or insulted, if she were not more confident in her own place here. 
I can see that you are tired, Toula speaks, her words slow and clear so that Ashikaga, and any other listening ear, could understand: I welcome you home again to us, Amiirad. 
for Ashikaga had far more work to do than speak it. Makono had known it then; Toula knew it now. and that Ashikaga did not... well, it said all that she herself needed to know. soft, for Ashikaga—she did not mean or hope to shame her—she speaks again, please, join me during the feast! get to know our people—you have been much missed, perhaps most of all by me. you have been gone so long! ah, and I know you must need to rest... your own place for sleeping is already being arranged, a flick of an ear toward a watching fellahin who would hear that much.
Toula stood tall before her sister, taller than Ashikaga would surely remember her!, but in posture was entirely welcoming. she beamed to Melody and said, thank you for bringing my sister home to us, she breathed.
and soon her own eyes would hopefully be for the princes—but she provided this moment the respect it was due, perhaps also out of the love she would always carry for Ashikaga... even if she was alone in that.