VIII - Strength đŽ
ă Inner strength, courage, bravery, confidence, compassion, taming, control, overcoming self-doubt ă
Hers were hands that could deliver oblivion. Her shield was not wrought from metal and bough, but from experiences writ in flesh. Broken bones, gnashing wounds, bruises, scrapes, and burns; countless moons hosting agonies seen and unseen. A litany of mistakes and lessons learned late - and almost always the hard way. And each lesson tightened her grip on axe and sword. Every wound silvering with age or prickling at season's turn, a teacher. Reminders that, all too often, the only way forward was through. So through she went - and in so doing, fostered endurance and might. But might was not strength. Strength was not in the way she wielded instruments of death. It was in the tenderness with which she held the fragile living. In the growing of gardens and husbandry of bees. The hours spent baking to nourish not only body but soul. The bells wiled away in quiet tones when the burdens of another became hers to share. And the drying of tears with lullabies to chase away the shades that caused them - even if it was all for naught.
Strength was being a monster, capable of great and terrible things.. but choosing to do - and to be - the opposite. As often as life allowed.
