Definition

Tawaiciya is the Lakota word for freedom.

I was asked to write a monologue in which I could show my seductive side, as that is what the character needed to show. I decide I would write a piece that on the surface seemed one thing, but if you dug deeper and discovered what the name meant, it could become a whole different story. And being that the film was a tale of a highly decorated Lakota Indian, I chose ot go the route of weaving a tale from Native American history. A history that the books do not teach. A history that is mine. Although not Lakota. Actually through this research on my character, coincidently I received information on my family ancestry, which included Algonquin Indian. So this piece had all new meaning to me after I wrote it. And I have since continued my research, even though the film bellied up before auditions.

Vanelle 

Tawaiciya

I watch you as you stand alone in the garden beneath the full moon's light. Beautiful warrior, you stand waiting, but know not what for. Silently I step from the shadows and you feel my presence and turn. I am familiar to you yet you cannot remember from what time or place. So I remain in my silence knowing that soon you will remember.

A moment and it happens, like an eclipse behind your eyes. You remember. You remember very well that I am the one from your dreams.

I am the one who comes to you in the night, clothed only in the pureness of my love.

Your spirit reaches out for me and you feel the heat of my soul drawing you closer. There is no fear. No hesitation. For so long you have craved what is sweet and I have brought you the honeycomb.

Yes, I am the one who comes to you in the night. The one who makes you dread the day. The one you cling to until dawn's first dusty gray light chases me back into the shadows of your subconscience.

In my love will you find the nectar that is reserved for you, my beautiful warrior. Only you. You move into my embrace and are transformed into a god and I have become the heavens. In your eyes I can see deep into the shadows of your mind. I see a desire, a want, a need. I see it make its way from that shadowy place looking for the lightness of your breathe to float upon until it can find its way to your lips. Until it can BE.

You know me, though only the night has known my name...the day would not dare utter it before. But if you speak it, if you even whisper my name right now, I will be your reality. I will bring your nights into your days. I will give you visions that never end, that leave you breathless and filled with light. I will be the fire that quenches your thirst. You will hunger but never will you starve. Just speak my name now so that I can show you all that is real and all that is but a dream.

I listen. Your heart beats my name. Your lungs breathe my name. Your mouth holds my name, as if it were something too rich to share. You fear that if you allow my name to escape your lips the skies above will shatter like glass and I will be gone. The sweetness of my name moves around your tongue. My name is your desire, your want, your need. Do not chase me back into the shadows. Let me BE. Only you can give me existence, with but a whisper.

I feel your warrior power building as you take of my strength. Your lips part and I see the mist of your breath. Upon that mist floats my name, first as a whisper, then a chant, then a war cry. I hear it, and the sky does shatter like glass and fall around us. But I do not disappear. I am still here. I was always here. You only needed to speak my name. You only needed to believe that I am real. You only needed to let me escape from your shadow dreams and join me in the sacredness of our love. The garden, this garden, where I found you standing alone in the moonlight. But you are alone no more. You remembered. And everything I have promised, I will give. All because you whispered my name. All because you chanted my name. All because you cried out...Tawaiciya!