Mother dearest|Rivenway, Ronduin

[adris]

River decided he wouldn't end up wasting any more time sitting around twiddling his thumbs. He has hit that point where he didn't need to be in Ronduin anymore, and the entertainment of the city was beginning to run dry. There was one thing left to do and that was to see his mother. He knocked on the door lightly, the one he remembered from last he saw her.

"Mother, are you home? It's River come to see you."

He still had Bel at his arm, albeit he didn't have any say in where Gale was at any point in time. He was home, and happy to be here even if it was only a distraction.

[Kender Bard]

The house was very unique; it was rounded, shaped like an upturned bowl and bore all signs of Humontis carpentry with only small adornments in the Ronduin style. All sorts of plants that thrived in the watery environment surrounded the house, making it a large patch of green amidst the water.

The door opened after a few moments and a willowy, grey-haired woman peered out. "River!" Deedlit cried delightedly, embracing her son. "Oh how I've missed you so. You look right handsome, you do. What are you doing in Ronduin? And during such troublesome times?"

[adris]

River hugged his mother back, a loving smile was on his face. It has been a while that he has seen her and while her words would be slightly embarassing he enjoyed the attention from her as always.

"I missed you too mother. I traveled when times were not so troubling, I didn't know all this would happen so I got stuck here. I am actually on tour promoting my idea of a united Naruta. Mother Cascata took it very well, I was most certainly pleased."

He felt humbled around his mother, as he always had during his life he thinks. He has quite a bit of respect for the woman and what she had to put up with when raising him. He is just happy he can look her in the eyes and honestly say she did a good job. Part of his pride of being the leader of Humontis was being able to do that.

[Kender Bard]

Deedlit drew him in further and beckoned to Bel, then motioned for them both to sit. She fell back into her large, softly padded chair, daintily taking the cup of tea she was enjoying from a vine that hands it to her. "A united Naruta? That sounds wonderful dear. Are you going to be the leader? You were born to lead people, I always said that."

Deedlit didn't always used to ramble a little when she talked, but old age and a solitary lifestyle can cause those sorts of changes.

[adris]

River sits and lets his mother complete her thought, to tell the truth he enjoyed just hearing her talk sometimes. It always gave him that warm feeling that everything was all right when he simply sits and listens, allow him to relax. He even goes far enough to stop clouding his mind from a mind types sight.

"Well, I doubt the other leaders would like me to take charge of all the buisiness of Naruta. Although, as always mother you're confidence in me is held higher then all others. What my vision is, is to create a groung where all nations are equal and thus problems can be nipped in the bud, rather then chain events leading to war."

He tried to not get too far into politics when his mother was involved. She didn't deserve to hear about his work, what he has to strain through, much less the things that made him want to avoid being a leader at all.

[Kender Bard]

Deedlit looked thoughtful, then smiled radiantly at her son. She giggled, "That may be so. You national leaders are all like children sometimes; making friends, sharing secrets, telling those secrets, getting in little squabbles. The Earth Mother must shake her head and smile in exasperation at times. Especially with you!" She shot River an impish grin. "Are you still as much of a troublemaker as you were as a child?"

[adris]

River blushed a little at his mother's question, mostly because he remembered that Bel was around. He even gave her a small look that simply screamed 'maaaaaaa!!!' at his moment of embarrassment. It was funny that he could keep his cool around demons but Deedlit could always bring out the worst in him.

"Yes yes, you can call politicians better then we can call ourselves. As far as trouble, you know I get into it, age will never stop me. I just know now never to get into more then I know I can handle. How have you been since I last saw you?"

He was going to leave off the clear and the demon for now. There is no need to give his mother a heart attack during what was supposed to be a happy visit.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh, I've been well enough," she stated, looking a touch uncomfortable. She hastily changed the subject, "Who's this sweet young lady you have with you?"

[adris]

He may have let his guard down but this action didn't go unnoticed by his eyes. But, he decided there was some reason or another she was shoving the focus away, he would come back to it later when things were more private.

"Of course, how rude of me. This lovely lady here is Bel, one of my travelling companions for this journey. A good girl, someone I can simply enjoy being around."

He knew his mother would pick up on what he left out. He got his skills from somewhere and she was as much a credit as anyone else. He just hopes she wouldn't cut too deep into dissecting them, he wouldn't lie to her but he would hate making Bel uncomfortable.

[aivea]

"Hello," Bel says to River's mother with a little wave. "Good to meet you!"

[Kender Bard]

"What a sweetie you are," Deedlit remarked, smiling at Bel. To River she remarked, "Did I ever tell you that I ran away from home with your father? That's how we fell in love. It was so romantic! Going wherever the wind blew us..." She got a wistful look.

[adris]

River smiled, both at her little story and her approval of Bel. Things were off to a great start and they seemed like they were going to stay that way during this visit.

"Yes mother, it is always such lovely stories you told of you're youth. You know it is hardly running away when somebody is talking about Humontis. It's not like they bar people from going anywhere unless you are a monk."

He thought of all the stories, running them through his head like it was only yesterday that his mother recounted them. Even if some were exagerrations he never cared enough to question them.

[Kender Bard]

Deedlit grinned impishly at River. "Okay, I admit it wasn't exactly running away from home. But I was so jealous of my sister; she'd just gotten married to a handsome young Beast, who I had a crush on might I remind you. Mother and Father were doting over her, gushing over her, and I just felt so lonely. And then came Tahl, who swept me up and ran off with me. It was like a fairy tale."

She laughed, "So my little lotus, have you stolen this young lady?"

[adris]

River laughed politely when his mother asked the question about Bel to him. He remembered all about her youth, how he could have ended up half beast if one thing or another went differently. A load that he never believed, he knew she counted her blessings for being able to meet his father.

"Actually mother, she found me. For some reason she got it in her head to reward me for my work, and since then has given me quite a bit more. So in a way she is stealing me, not that other ladies were clamering to the chamber doors or anything, but I am happy this way."

He gives Bel a light squeeze on the shoulder and flashes her an uncharacteristically contented smile. The way he acted with Deedlit around is vastly different then in any other setting. Here he can still be a boy, the man his mother took such care in raising.

[Kender Bard]

Deedlit grinned at Bel and waggled a finger at her. "You take care of my River, okay? Promise me, young lady, since he's all the family I have now."