"Somewhere after midnight,
In my wildest fantasy,
Somewhere just beyond my reach,
There's someone reaching back for me.
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat,
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet."
- Holding out for a Hero; Frou Frou
Things had never been easy for Aleda. But then, part of that was her inclination to not try.
From birth she was incredibly fragile. Her bones snapped so easily, from the smallest fall, or even bumping into someone. As a result, she grew to travel from the safety of her home less and less, relying on Ajani when she was forced to. He became both her protector, and her jailer, in a way. His constant presence was stifling, even as she welcomed it.
One of the few times she ventured from the home on her own, she was unlucky, stumbling on a patch of ice and shattering her ankle. And unluckier still was who discovered her. One of the few packs of wrongdoers in Wep'keer. They assaulted her, brutal and uncaring. Ajani arrived too late to stop them, though one boy lost his life to her brother's vengeful jaws.
For the first time in her life, she was unable to talk to anyone. Even Ajani. The fear of child haunted her day and night, and when it came to be true, she attempted to take her own life. She was saved, but it took her a very long time to recover, mentally.
Mere months later, she was kidnapped when two Lunaris broke into the shrine where those unable to fight were hiding during a battle. Jude, one of the pair, spotted her, and on a whim, carried her off with the intention of 'providing her a better life'. She was angered by this, and attempted to kill him on a daily basis, while in his large home in the Lunar Realm. He offered her a deal; That if she wanted to go back after a year's time, she could. For a great portion of the time she spent there, it seemed as though she wanted nothing more then to leave.
One day, however, Nere broke into Jude's home, wishing to abuse Aleda. She nearly got this wish, but at the last moment, Jude returned and stopped her. After this event, Aleda's attitude toward the man changed, and she became incredibly affectionate. First to reward him, and then... because she a strong desire as well.
Still, when the year had passed, and it was time for Aleda to make her decision, she chose to return to her home.
Unbeknownst to all involved, she carried Jude's children back with her.