Thinking about Mila and how I don’t really see a lot about her own sacrifices made in the grand scheme of things. Andy Robinson gives us a bit of it, you can see it in how she reacts and guides her sleg in the little ways she can. But that also shows how unseen and understood she is, when she is a mother with a child we don’t know was ever planned (of course not) or even wanted yet she protected all those years the moment she saw her baby’s eyes open.
Having a child with one of, if not the most feared people on her planet, knowing him to be a cruel leader of the unseen masters of said planet, and very aware he could take their bastard child away to either be rid of or ship off to somewhere that wouldn’t understand him, and Mila herself too. Mila held no big chips in the game from what we are told about her and seen of her, and even if she were powerful in some way, it would not be enough to keep little Garak safe against Tain and his sharp plannings.
So you have to really see the genius and bravery Mila Garak has — the power a mother owns to protect her child, mixed with her with her own power she’s always had that brought interest from Tain — and how she was matching Tain in his own game, even if it was in sacrifice. She ensured Garak’s and her own safety by surrendering the truths and binding them all to Tain’s shadows, secrets that would protect even Tain’s reputation or else he’d lose power and in the end make Garak a giant target (Mila’s own Achilles heel rather than Tain’s). She is kept close to Tain in the only way that Tain can keep his eye on her without needing to cause questions in his ranks as to why he is so interested in keeping tabs on this woman and child. She has to watch Garak enjoy his youth while also knowing it won’t last as long as it should, because despite the safety, Tain also will one day test and take hold of Garak to be put to use and molded as a weapon — perhaps even for Tain to feel proud of himself for having created such a powerful person of his own flesh of blood. Tain’s manor is the Garaks’ cage.
Mila gives up her life so Garak cannot only live (even if it’s only good for a few years before he is put in major danger), but hopefully survive in time, which also is a big gamble to even dare hope for.
And she has to watch her brother surrender his life as well for HER and his nephew, right by her side in that basement. But Tolan’s sacrifices and power is another thing too.
