<But it must have been wrong. Musn’t it? You were so angry and they were both so upset and he was so hurt ... so hurt, Lio, I couldn’t bear that I had hurt him that much. No one hurt me, I hurt everyone. I tried and tried to convince him that I didn’t know, that I hadn’t known I was doing anything wrong, and he finally believed me, oh gods, finally. And before when you yelled at me and wouldn’t even touch me I thought you had gone mad but you were right, I don’t know why you’re apologizing to me, you were absolutely right, he’s angry at you and I don’t even understand why, I hurt him so terribly, I broke my word to you, and I didn’t even know it was important, I’m so stupid, I thought no one would care, I thought no one would care, you told me it would happen and I didn’t listen, I’m so stupid, I’m ...>
"Shhhh, it's ok. You didn't do anything terribly wrong." Lio holds you, rocking slightly in a very comforting and maternal way, mutters softly that it's going to be alright, that everything will work out. "I was angry because I was afraid. Not because you were doing anything wrong. I don't know why they were upset. Maybe if you can tell me what they said, I can try to sift through it. I only know humans are strange and sensitive in ways that make no sense. I know that Alaric has a problem with intimacy when it relates to me. I don't really understand why, but it seems to have something to do with the fact that I'm Melinda's great grandmother. I've talked to Shalelu about it, who is much wise and older than I am, and she too is unable to figure out what goes on in his mind. Maybe he was hurt by a lover in the past. Maybe he is bigoted against elves, but because he must preach freedom for all, he cannot admit that and finds some other reason to hate me. Maybe he doesn't like the color of my hair. Whatever it is, it means he gets upset when he thinks about me." She's still keeping you in a careful embrace, her words very soft and non-threatening.
Hrunndalf nods. "Where I come from, it is considered a blessing from the spirits of nature to be able to assume an animal shape."
Hrunndalf asks Miyaro, "So is the fox shape your true form?""Yes," she answers, somewhat warily.
Lio nods in rare solidarity with Hrunndalf. It is the same for her people.
She stays by Shalelu, putting her head against the much taller Elf's shoulder.
Only Shalelu and possibly Jorun catch the unspoken thought, Puppy, do not kick the puppy.... he is like a puppy. Yet under that thought, a bit darker, and where you come from the also tattoo the faces of children and make them slaves. Further, Luckily that sometimes you are not like the rest of your culture. For all your faults, at least you have that.
Various other people contribute useful supplies - including a large stack of diapers from Koya, a set of pacifiers and teething rings from from Spivey, a baby sling from Uksahkka, a chew toy from Attatoq, a pair of booties from Ulf, a sheaf of lullabies arranged for flute from Ameiko, a soft cap from Sandru, and a variety of other items.After thanking everyone, Melinda gives every person a tiny cloth wrapped gift. In explanation, "Alaric keeps reminding me that Milena will be a loud, squalling baby before long. I figured that having to hear her is more of our responsibility."
Lio smiles. Mel - kind and giving and wonderful, always giving presents away, even when she's supposed to be the one receiving them. Her thought is pretty easy to read on her face.
** spoiler omitted **
Around five hours after helping Mel into the truck, Alaric emerges with Zaiobe and Reta, looking exhausted and overjoyed. He stops dead in his tracks at Rags, then shrugs, and scratches the rhino behind the ear, then leads him away from the wagon. Once he's a reasonable distance away from the family wagon, he comes to the fire. "Mel and the baby are fine. They're sleeping now. When she's ready to have visitors, you can go in one at a time."
Lio looks relieved that everything went well, and happily surprised that it was over so quickly.
"Thank ye Alaric." She tells him, for his sharing of the good news. Her smile is genuine. She's excited to meet Milena when Mel was feeling up to visitors later. "Rhost made dinner, did ye all wont some?" Lio asks the three exhausted people. If people are hungry, Lio helps Rhost serve dinner, taking care not to give Myri anything that might easily break if it were to drop to the ground.
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Those up early enough in the morning find Kalimac assessing the horses that have been gifted to the caravan. He selects one and starts getting its saddle and tack on (probably with the aid of one of the drivers; he has the skills, but he is only three feet tall).
Riding Attatoq, he leads the horse off into the distance, away from the prying eyes of the caravan.
** spoiler omitted **
Lio goes off a ways with Jorun, bright and early, to conduct mysterious druidic rituals. When they are done, and the sun is rising, Lio approaches the area where Kalimac went.
"Thank ye Alaric." She tells him, for his sharing of the good news. Her smile is genuine. She's excited to meet Milena when Mel was feeling up to visitors later. "Rhost made dinner, did ye all wont some?" Lio asks the three exhausted people. If people are hungry, Lio helps Rhost serve dinner, taking care not to give Myri anything that might easily break if it were to drop to the ground.
Alaric collapses by the fireside. "Sure. Thanks, Rhost," he manages.
Her mental touch light, happy, <She's hungry.>
A few hours later, Alaric, who had dozed off with his empty plate on his chest, sits bolt upright.
There is a sudden sharpening of her mind, <Mom and Mother. oh, Davor.> A rush, <Love, when you prepare spells, will you please let them know that Milena got here safe and sound?>
Alaric scampers over to the cooling food, fixing up a plate, and nearly running headlong back into the family wagon. He pauses, turning to Ameiko and Koya. "Your presence has been requested. Give Mel a little time to eat and come on on."
Taking the plate, she moves so that he has a place to sit, eating absently as she watches father and daughter, delighted in the bonding.
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Lio goes off a ways with Jorun, bright and early, to conduct mysterious druidic rituals. When they are done, and the sun is rising, Lio approaches the area where Kalimac went.
"Hello," she says quietly.
"Good morning," Kalimac smiles. "I think this fine fellow," he says, indicating the saddled horse he brought along, "will do fine for teaching you how to ride. He seems the least stubborn. Although they're all well trained; there wasn't much to recommend one over the other. I probably could have picked by chance and got a good horse to teach with."
He smiles at the horse and pats its leg before continuing. "Now, since you know how to drive a wagon I won't have to teach you the commands. They're basically the same. So all you have to learn is how to move with the horse. And since you're just a bit more agile than Rhost or Alaric, and aren't wearing full plate armor, you should do fine."
"So, let's start with mounting the horse." He demonstrates with Attatoq. "Put your left foot in the stirrup like so, and swing yourself up."
Lio follows Kalimacs instructions. This was much easier when getting on a horse had to do with Shae's life in the balance. She remarks at her lack of skill.
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Lio follows Kalimac's instructions. "This was much easier when getting on a horse had to do with Shae's life in the balance." She remarks at her lack of skill.
"That sort of thing does tend to concentrate the mind, yes." Kalimac watches her progress with a practiced eye. "This horse knows how to be ridden, Lio. Listen to it. Feel how it's moving and move with it."
Kalimac hopes his instructions are more helpful than the sculptor who told him to just "chip away the stone that isn't the horse."
Kissing his shoulder, "Your daughter." One finger going down to linger on the baby's fist. She grins, "So, green slime aside, we did okay bringing her into the world, didn't we?"
Lio laughs. "I'm pretty sure it, is a him."
Ride check Apparently she is not a natural. That or she's laughing too hard.
Lio laughs. "I'm pretty sure it, is a him."
Apparently she is not a natural. That or she's laughing too hard.
"Indeed he is a stallion." Kalimac grimmaces at the normally lithe elf's ungainliness in the saddle. "But if you think riding a mare will be easier for you..." he teases.
He rides alongside her. "Watch me. See how I move with the rythm of Attatoq's stride?"
"So what you're saying is that I shouldn't hang on for dear life, but rather I should relax and move with the horse? This doesn't feel like driving a wagon at all... A pause and then she adds, "Only if your mare is shorter. Maybe it's because the ground is so far away and I have to rely on the horse and trust him. And as we both know, I have problems trusting others." Lio watches how you steer Attatoq. "There really isn't a comparison, you know. Attatoq is by far superior in every way, intelligent, and he's a wolf. This poor stallion, no matter how pretty, just cannot compete." She's amused by her lack of grace in the saddle and smiles as she speaks. Lio figures, she'll learn.
"Nii et mida sa räägid, et ma ei tohiks rippuda oma kalli elu, vaid ma puhata ja liikuda hobune? See ei tunne sõidu vaguni üldse ..." A pause and then she adds, "Ainult siis, kui teie mära on lühem. Võibolla sellepärast, et maa on nii kaugel ja ma ei pea sõltuma hobune ja teda usaldada. Ja nagu me mõlemad teame, on mul probleeme usaldav teised." Lio watches how you steer Attatoq. "Seal tõesti ei ole võrdlus, sa tead. Attatoq asub palju kõrgemal igati intelligentne, ja ta on hunt. See vaene täkk, ükskõik kui ilus, lihtsalt ei suuda konkureerida." She's amused by her lack of grace in the saddle and smiles as she speaks. Lio figures, she'll learn.
"Jah, lõõgastuda. Ja projekti usaldust, isegi kui sa ei tunne seda. See rahustab ta maha," he says, indicating the horse she's riding. "Peru rattur muudab peru hobune. See on tegelikult umbes usaldav hobune (kuigi see aitab). See on umbes usaldades ennast ja oma oskusi."
"Sa saad seal. Kui ma esimest õppinud sõitma, hakkasin poni. Et esimest korda ma ei suutnud isegi viibida sadul. Nii et sa teed paremini kui mina."
"Nagu Attatoq on hea, see on tõsi. Aga ärme lase tal saada paisutatud pea midagi. Olen näinud teisi rüütlid hobustega, mis on sama tark kui Attatoq, isegi kui nad ei kirjuta luulet. Ja nad on sama kindlalt ühendatud oma ratsu nagu Attatoq ja mina."
"You'll get there. When I first learned to ride, I started on a pony. That first time I couldn't even stay in the saddle. So you're doing better than I did."
"As for Attatoq being superior, it's true. But let's not let him get a swelled head about it. I've seen other cavaliers with horses that are just as smart as Attatoq, even if they don't write poetry. And they are just as firmly bonded to their knight as Attatoq and I."
Alaric emerges from the family wagon. "All right. Whoever wants to meet the baby can come in one at a time."
Myri, having just finished cleaning her plate perks up. She looks around, perhaps just a bit nervously begins to stand up then looks over at Lio, ducks her head, smiles and gestures towards the Family Wagon, and sits down again. "Ar ôl i chi. gallaf aros."
** spoiler omitted **
Around five hours after helping Mel into the truck, Alaric emerges with Zaiobe and Reta, looking exhausted and overjoyed. He stops dead in his tracks at Rags, then shrugs, and scratches the rhino behind the ear, then leads him away from the wagon. Once he's a reasonable distance away from the family wagon, he comes to the fire. "Mel and the baby are fine. They're sleeping now. When she's ready to have visitors, you can go in one at a time."
Lio looks relieved that everything went well, and happily surprised that it was over so quickly.
"Thank ye Alaric." She tells him, for his sharing of the good news. Her smile is genuine. She's excited to meet Milena when Mel was feeling up to visitors later. "Rhost made dinner, did ye all wont some?" Lio asks the three exhausted people. If people are hungry, Lio helps Rhost serve dinner, taking care not to give Myri anything that might easily break if it were to drop to the ground.
sense motive:
Myri's eyebrow raises briefly at Lio and her shoulders slump as she lets out a barely audible sigh, then she lets out a short breath through her nose and smiles with a bit of a twinkle in her eyes.
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Lio shrugs. "Ah kenn witches moight make use of et. Could use fur and feath'rs frum regular animals though, since we hunt so much fer dinner anyway." A pause, "juju?" She looks questioning at you.
Myri shrugs, "Just a description. Magic is all strange and foreign to me anyway. You guys are lucky to be able to make sense of it."
Lio was about to help Rhost, but quickly realizes he doesn't need any assistance. She smiles at the small man, and returns the respectful bow. Her gaze has a hard time leaving the trees. She keeps looking up at the forest, immensely happy to be here. Her glance goes to Shalelu, to see her reaction to the many trees.Shalelu looks openly delighted to have reached a forested region.
|What you seek here do?| the little man asks the group.
Myri smiles at both Lio and Shalelu. It is good to be near trees again...and very soon, to be among them.
|Also, we like trees,| Rhost helpfully adds.
Myri cocks her head slightly and nods successively in quick little jerks with raised eyebrows and a smile. Apparently in complete agreement.
Myri, having just finished cleaning her plate perks up. She looks around, perhaps just a bit nervously begins to stand up then looks over at Lio, ducks her head, smiles and gestures towards the Family Wagon, and sits down again. "Ar ôl i chi. gallaf aros."
"So that's how you say that in elven," Alaric mutters to himself.
Those up early enough in the morning find Kalimac assessing the horses that have been gifted to the caravan. He selects one and starts getting its saddle and tack on (probably with the aid of one of the drivers; he has the skills, but he is only three feet tall).
Riding Attatoq, he leads the horse off into the distance, away from the prying eyes of the caravan.
** spoiler omitted **
Myri watches them go, perhaps a little wistfully.
Myri, having just finished cleaning her plate perks up. She looks around, perhaps just a bit nervously begins to stand up then looks over at Lio, ducks her head, smiles and gestures towards the Family Wagon, and sits down again. "Ar ôl i chi. gallaf aros.""So that's how you say that in elven," Alaric mutters to himself.
Myri raises an eyebrow, questioningly. "How you say, 'after you, I think family should go first?'"
Lio smiles. Mel - kind and giving and wonderful, always giving presents away, even when she's supposed to be the one receiving them. Her thought is pretty easy to read on her face.
Myri smiles, "She is special, isn't she?"
Myri smiles, "She is special, isn't she?"
Mel, completely missing the point behind Myri's comment, smiles at the dark-haired dancer one hand protectively on her belly, "She really is." In her case, clearly referring to Milena.
Myri, having just finished cleaning her plate perks up. She looks around, perhaps just a bit nervously begins to stand up then looks over at Lio, ducks her head, smiles and gestures towards the Family Wagon, and sits down again. "Ar ôl i chi. gallaf aros."
** spoiler omitted **
Lio smiles at Myri, her expression full of wonder at the idea of getting to meet Milena.
Once Ameiko and Koya have come out of the wagon, Lio knocks very very softly, to announce herself, in case Mel might want some extra time before meeting anyone else.
Once she's cleared to come inside...
Lio enters, very quietly, so as not to disturb Milena. She smiles at Mel.
Myri smiles, "She is special, isn't she?"Mel, completely missing the point behind Myri's comment, smiles at the dark-haired dancer one hand protectively on her belly, "She really is." In her case, clearly referring to Milena.
Lio laughs softly. Yes, she too."
Mel's green gaze keeps returning to the small child on her lap, utterly fascinated by the little person that she helped bring into the world. Quietly to the child, "This is your great-great-grandmother Lio." One of her fingers held in the palm of the small baby, she waves the tiny fist.
Myri raises an eyebrow, questioningly. "How you say, 'after you, I think family should go first?'"
Alaric blinks. "Ohhh! Of course. Right. That's exactly what I thought you said."
Myri blinks back, obviously completely confused. "What did you think I said? ...or do I really not want to know?"
"Yes, relax. And project confidence, even if you'd don't feel it. It will calm him down. A skittish rider makes for a skittish mount. It's really not about trusting the horse (although that helps). It's about trusting yourself and your skills.""You'll get there. When I first learned to ride, I started on a pony. That first time I couldn't even stay in the saddle. So you're doing better than I did."
"As for Attatoq being superior, it's true. But let's not let him get a swelled head about it. I've seen other cavaliers with horses that are just as smart as Attatoq, even if they don't write poetry. And they are just as firmly bonded to their knight as Attatoq and I."
Lio laughs. "I think he knows by this point." Referring to Attatoq's keen intellect.
She attempts to relax, to project confidence. "I'm pretty sure I'm not a cavalier." She grins.
"So... besides giving us all riding lessons... what have you been up to?" Lio asks softly, as she works on relaxing in the saddle.
A soft "oh" of wonder comes from Lio. She approaches just as quietly as she entered. Waves back. Expression amazed. Speechless.
A very long moment later. She realizes she's probably towering over Mel, and kneels by her. Not sitting on the bunk so she doesn't disturb the baby, or Mel. "Hi." She says to Milena. Looks up at Mel, smiles. "You did good." Her words are very soft.
Myri blinks back, obviously completely confused. "What did you think I said? ...or do I really not want to know?"
"Age before... um... actually, doesn't really matter. Let's go look at a baby, shall we?" Alaric disappears back into the wagon.
"Age before... um... actually, doesn't really matter. Let's go look at a baby, shall we?" Alaric disappears back into the wagon.
"Oh, no, yes." Myri's expression turns to one of nervous anticipation. "Yes, lets." Myri follows Alaric into the Family Wagon, blinking as her eyes adjust to the light.
Lio laughs. "I think he knows by this point." Referring to Attatoq's keen intellect.
She attempts to relax, to project confidence. "I'm pretty sure I'm not a cavalier." She grins.
"So... besides giving us all riding lessons... what have you been up to?" Lio asks softly, as she works on relaxing in the saddle.
"Oh, I figured you weren't a cavalier," laughs Kalimac. "You don't have nearly enough lances or swords!"
"Let's see. You're the first to take me up on my riding lessons offer, but aside from training wooly rhinos and riding lessons I've been spending my time with Ameiko. And I've been relearning jewelry making. I stopped my apprenticeship really early when I figured my interests were more soldierly. But it's been a good way to while away the hours over the Crown. Haven't really made anything I think is worth showing yet, though."
Lio's comment surprises Mel a bit. Looking down at her child she shakes her head, "Not just me." She smiles over at Alaric, "I was most definitely not alone and we did well." Unable to help herself she grind down at her daughter, her fingers stroking the baby's full belly, "Especially this little one," her voice soft, adoring, "But you were just eager to see the world that we promised you, little leek?"
Lio looks up, her eyes leaving Mel and the baby, she smiles at Alaric, her expression showing how honestly happy she is for both Mel and Alaric.
"The three of you did very well." She agrees softly. A small smile as she says, "Fuzzy green hair, she's... just... adorable. And content." A very soft laugh as Mel strokes the baby's full belly.
"Oh, I figured you weren't a cavalier," laughs Kalimac. "You don't have nearly enough lances or swords!""Let's see. You're the first to take me up on my riding lessons offer, but aside from training wooly rhinos and riding lessons I've been spending my time with Ameiko. And I've been relearning jewelry making. I stopped my apprenticeship really early when I figured my interests were more soldierly. But it's been a good way to while away the hours over the Crown. Haven't really made anything I think is worth showing yet, though."
Ha! You're probably a better jeweler than I am a weaver, and I spent decades weaving." She grins, still hanging on for dear life, not entirely sure why it was so much easier to ride when she was coming to Shae's rescue. Not that she wants Shae in danger again, but still... it was certainly easier then.
"How go things... with Ameiko?" She asks tentatively, willing to drop the subject if Kalimac is uncomfortable. An eye to Attatoq, wondering how things were going between him and Myri's young wolf friend.
"If you're up for it later, maybe we can go hunting. I wouldn't mind running as a wolf again. That was definitely an awesome experience last time, even if Myri did get eaten by a frog." A small grin, happy anticipation.
"Ha! You're probably a better jeweler than I am a weaver, and I spent decades weaving." She grins, still hanging on for dear life, not entirely sure why it was so much easier to ride when she was coming to Shae's rescue. Not that she wants Shae in danger again, but still... it was certainly easier then.
"How go things... with Ameiko?" She asks tentatively, willing to drop the subject if Kalimac is uncomfortable. An eye to Attatoq, wondering how things were going between him and Myri's young wolf friend.
"If you're up for it later, maybe we can go hunting. I wouldn't mind running as a wolf again. That was definitely an awesome experience last time, even if Myri did get eaten by a frog." A small grin, happy anticipation.
"Oh, there are some things I can do fairly competently, but I'm not ready to give out gifts yet. I still think the stuff I've been able to create looks like something I did in Summer Camp Crafts Class!"
"Ameiko and I are doing well," says Kalimac honestly. "We decided from the outset that we were going to take it slow, keeping it light. Neither of us was really ready for anything really intense. There's not really drama for an epic tale, but we enjoy what we have."
"I'd like to go hunting again, but I think we need to work on our tactics. I mean, first I get mauled by a polar bear, then Myri gets eaten by a giant frog. Maybe I'm wrong, but normally I wouldn't expect so many casualties from a hunting expedition," he says with a wry smile.
However, since she seems to have that same reaction to the green-haired offspring, she really can't complain.
Alaric emerges from the family wagon. "All right. Whoever wants to meet the baby can come in one at a time."
Rhost ducks his head inside the Graff Family Wagon.