Heirs and Princesses|Clan Fira, Naurorod

[Northen Light36]

Shadow smiles to himself as he rests in the shade beside a hut. It's late afternoon in Naurorod and while the weather is starting to cool in preperation for nightfall, it's still reasonably warm. Perfect weather for children to play in and many of Fira's youngsters are taking advantage of that as their parents light campfires, cook dinner and otherwise prepare for the night. Of course Shadow only has eyes for two of the children - his own baby daughter, Luminous, and the small ten-year-old girl, the daughter of his first love, who's on her knees, holding Luminous' hands and shuffling backwards and trying to convince Luminous to take a step.

"Come on Lumi," Ann tells the baby. "You're a big girl, you can do it. Come on. Just move your foot. Don't worry, I've got you. You won't fall."

As the two Heirs play, Tres walks over with a couple of bowls. "Thought you might be hungry," she tells Shadow, passing him a bowl and sitting next to him.

"Thank you, Tres," Shadow replies, still watching the children. Tres follows his gaze and smiles.

"Those two will be as close as you and Damien when your daughter is older. Ann already adores Luminous."

"As close as Damien and I? I'm rather hoping they'll be closer," Shadow replies with a smile. The adults chuckle as the ever stubborn Fire Heir continues to try teaching Luminous to walk.

"Come on Lumi. If you take two steps I'll get my doll and we can play with that."

[Kender Bard]

Luminous whimpered and whined. She was standing with Ann's help, yes, but it was still shaky on her legs and didn't much care to be in the current position she was. Equally as stubborn, Luminous kept trying to sit back down.

Young Libre walked out from Tres's hut, shadowing his stepmother closely and looking at the other children with detatched fascination. Though Libre wasn't antisocial, or even shy, he was reluctant to engage with other youths his age just yet. Thelon had said it was likely because he had never seen so many children in one spot before. For now, he was content to plop down on the ground near Shadow and observe Ann and Luminous, pointing at the baby and asking, "Who is that?"

[Northen Light36]

"This must be Libre?" Shadow half asked, half stated. Tres nodded, rubbing her stepson's back gently.

"That's Princess Luminous, Libre," she told the little boy. "She's Shadow's little girl. Ann!" she added, "Give Luminous a rest. She's still a little too young, I think." Ann sighed, but nodded and let Luminous sit down again. Finishing in a pocket, she pulled out a handful of sweetmeats she'd begged off an adult earlier and offers one to Luminous.

"Libre! Come play!" she calls to the little boy. While Ann doesn't mind playing with the other Fira children, given the choice she'll always rather play with the two babies then those her own age.

[Kender Bard]

Libre smiles and gets up, dusting himself off and coming over to join the two. "Hello Loo-min-us," he says in his most stately voice. "I'm Libre."

Luminous stared at Libre then stuck the candy in her mouth and sucked intently, turning her attention back to Ann.

"She is little," Libre mused, poking Luminous gently in an arm. "And pudgy." He giggled. "Do all babies look like that?"

[Northen Light36]

"Yep!" Ann annouces, trying to look knowing. "You looked like that too once." She holds out a piece of candy. "Want some Libre?"

[Kender Bard]

Libre accepts it and smiles. "Thank you," he says, popping the candy into his mouth. Muffled, he murmurs, "Did I? Iunno.. she's kinda.. lumpy."

Luminous, as if she understood this statement, stuck out her lower lip in a great pout and blew a raspberry at Libre, who wrinkled his nose at her.

[Northen Light36]

Ann giggles at the babies, reaching out to tickle Luminous. "She'll stop being lumpy when she gets bigger Libre. My mama use to say that the lumps on babies are like loose clothes, there to grow into." With a mischivious grin, Ann adds, "You've still got lumps too Libre," before reaching out to tickle him as well.

[Kender Bard]

Libre gave a little squeal, giggling and falling onto his back in an attempt to wriggle away. "No I-hahaha-don't-hahaha! Stoooop! Mamaaa!!"

Luminous giggled and clapped, crawling over enough to pat Libre's foot in mimicry of Ann's tickling the boy.

[Northen Light36]

Ann's own giggles are added to Libre's as she continues to tickle and torment the little boy. "No! Gotta tell me I'm the greatest leader ever first."

Shadow and Tres laugh as they watch the children playing. "Should we save the little ones?" Shadow chuckles.

"Let's see how Libre handles it on his own first," Tres grins.

[Kender Bard]

"Never!" Libre gasps. He is getting weary of being tickled, however, and so screws his eyes tightly in concentration. It doesn't work, though; Ann's tickling is keeping him from holding a thought in his head long enough to do anything with his powers. Squirming he gasps, "Stooop! Pleeeease!"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow and Tres exchange nods. Time to step in and settle the children down. "all right, that's enough," Shadow calls as he gets up and walks over to pick up Luminous. "Ann, Libre, why don't you both get ready for bed and then come back out here? While you're eating dinner, I'll tell a story."

"What about?"

"Hmm... How about a story from when Damien, your mother and I were your ages?" Shadow offers.

[Kender Bard]

Libre isn't quite sure who Shadow was referring to, but he does love a good story. Getting up, he dusts himself off and goes to do as asked. Luminous cooed and snuggled into Shadow's arms. "Dada."

[Northen Light36]

Ann's eyes light up in delight and she nods, running off to get changed. While the older children do as they were asked, Shadow tends to his daughter's needs while Tres dishes out dinner in preparation for when the children return.

Ann takes next to no time to return and settle down for the story. Shadow waits until Libre returns before he starts though. "Now, let's see... What story shall I tell? Hmm... Ann, did Damein ever tell you the story of how he and I met?" Ann shakes her head. "Well then, that seems like a good story to start with. I wasn't much older then you are, Libre, and I was the sort of little boy who was always reading or following my father around the mansion. Well one day my father was listening to audiences and in walks this wild looking, tall and oddly dressed man."

"Uncle Damien?" Ann askes. Shadow laughs.

"Damien wasn't so tall at this time Ann," he replies. "No, this was Efrit, your grandfather Ann. He wanted to speak to my father about something, I don't remember what, but it was important enough for my father to call an end to the day's audiences. What interrested me at the time was that following Efrit was a young boy and a little girl. When my father took Efrit into a private chamber for their meeting, I was left outside with the other children.

"Who are you?" I asked. "And why are you dressed funny?"

"I'm Damien Efritson, Heir of Naurorod," the boy replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "And we don't dress funny. You're the one who dresses funny."

"Dami, that's not nice," the little girl whispered, hiding behind the boy.

[Devon]

Xavier appears abruptly near the door of the hut and immediately holds his hands up since he didn't know what type of situation he would be teleporting into. "Lady Tres, I have to speak with you right now."

[Northen Light36]

"Children, we'll have to finish the story tomorrow," Tres says hastily. "Off to bed now."

"Aww, Elder Tres..." sighes Ann, but she gets up and, taking Libre's hand, leads him to Tres' hut.

"What's the matter... Xavier isn't it?" Tres asks. "Is Thelon all right?"