so a few months after the family separates, Barbara runs away from the Church and turns up at the gates of the

so a few months after the family separates, Barbara runs away from the Church and turns up at the gates of the Gunnhildr estate

and on her mother’s orders, nobody is to let her in: this was supposed to be a clean break; Barbara and her father are no longer Gunnhildrs

and for half a day she sits at the gate, wailing, the grounds staff all unwilling to meet her eye

and then Jean comes out, and through the gate she clasps her hand and says, “I’m sorry Barbara but you can’t be here”

and Barbara begs, begs to be let in, to see her mother

and Jean, tears in her eyes, tells Barbara that their mother doesn’t want to see her, that there’s nothing for her here

“Just… go, Barbara,” Jean whispers, “go.”

(@dandelion-wings have a flashfic!, you’re welcome)