Home at last|Naurorod

[Northen Light36]

Aideen grins and puts Libre down. "The Queen is almost as great as Uncle Damien," Ann comments, sitting down on some cusions with Lumi. "Isn't she, Elder Tres?" Tree chuckles, looking fondly over the children.

"I've never really met her, Ann," she reminds the young Heir. "Vortai, since I have no intention of sending you off into the night, and I doubt you want to stay here among the children, we'll find you somewhere to stay. Aideen, I hope you don't mind, but there isn't really room so..."

"I'll take a guest hut, Aunt Tres. It's all right," Aideen assures her aunt. "Come on Vortai, I'll show you where the guest huts are. You can take your pick."

[adris]

Vortai nods at Ann's comment about the queen, proud to be associated with her right about now. His charge may be Lumi but his orders come from Lya until the princess can make them herself. Like Tres, he scans the room with a bright smile on his face, everything working out so nicely was a great relief to him.

"I don't mind where you keep me, really, the hospitality you have shown is enough."

He said that to assure Tres, but he wasn't about to turn Aideen down when she offered to show him the guest huts.

"Sure Aideen, I'll be right behind you. See you all later."

Vortai moved ahead to hold clear the path for Aideen as best as he could, trying to make a good impression on everyone, including her. Once they got outside he slowed his pace, walking slightly behind her so she could guide the two of them easily enough.

[Northen Light36]

Aideen's practically skipping as she leads Vortai through the clan, occassionally stopping to introduce Vortai to people. It's clear Aideen's very comfortable and happy here among the Fires. Arriving at the two guest huts, Aideen looks at Vortai. "Take your pick." She grins. "As you can see, there's identical hut one and identical hut two. No clan has a lot of guest huts, since they don't get many outsiders visiting and each hut is an extra burden when moving."

[adris]

Vortai chuckles a little at her wit, he didn't expect anything particularly spectacular about his living quarters. He simply shrugged, not taking much time to think it over. He decided to just go with the hand he was strongest in.

"I guess I will go with the one on the left, then. You will be next door then? I mean I... don't know if Tres can find you a better place to rest or anything."

He initially wanted to say he didn't mind company, but immediately caught himself thinking that be too crass, then cursing how out of character that was. He also was concerned for her, he kind of didn't want Aideen sleeping on a mat if she could help it.

[Northen Light36]

Aideen laughs, but she's slightly touched. "Yep, I'll be next door," she tells him, then looks apologetic. "I know this isn't what you're used to, but the huts are a lot more comfortable then they look, I promise."

[adris]

Vortai smiles back softly for her concern now, he wasn't about to tell her that he was used to sleeping in the streets. She probably assumes he has lived a life like he has with his brother his entire life, which is fine. He will tell her the truth if she ever asks about it.

"Trust me Aideen, I'll be fine. Be sure to come over and grab me whenever something is happening to. Or... you know... if you want company or something, you are always welcome."

It normally wouldn't be so awkward but it felt like he was inviting her over to his house for some reason. That made it all the more difficult to say, but at least he said what he meant to without some terrible slip of the tongue.

[Northen Light36]

Aideen smiles. "Well if you're not too tired, we could go inside and get some privacy to get to know each other a bit more." Aideen grins. "You've found out all about my huge family, but you haven't told me anything about yours. That's not fair you know."

[adris]

Vortai physically perked up at the idea of them getting a small bit of private time. Not that he expected anything to happen but it has kind of been what he has been looking for. He wasn't tired at all, and Damien fixed the problem he had with thirst, so he was good for talking for a little while.

"Sure, lets head inside, and it is fair if I want to hear what you want to tell me you know. I'll tell you all you want to know though, until you start getting bored of me that is."

He said that jokingly, for some reason he believed that Aideen really was interested. He made his way to the hut he chose, again holding the passageway open for Aideen to make her way inside.

"Let's see... where should I start. My living family, that I know of and actually associate with is my brother Amaro and my sister Acqua. My adoptive parents were nice people, really looked out for me when I was growing up. I wish I had a chance to know my real mother. My real father, well, he was just a bad person in general."

[Northen Light36]

"Well if he's such a jerk, you could always just pretend you're not related to him," Aideen suggests. "What are your brother and sister like?" Aideen looks a little wistful. "I've always wished I had brothers or sisters."

[adris]

Vortai nodded, he has for the longest time not mentioned the name of Philip to anybody. Even between him and his brother the name was always just implied, never spoken. He couldn't wish that part of him away, but he could always live in spite of it.

"I have been, but I wasn't going to lie to you or anything Aideen, I trust you to know. My brother is a mercenary, very gruff with a personality of stone and a heart that dosn't match that at all," he grins knowingly to Aideen, "Best man with a sword I have seen with my life, and I think I say that even without the bias of being related to him. My sister is a little bundle of energy, also can be playfully snarky and quick witted when she wants to be. Don't let it fool you though that means she likes you, love them both to death."

He sunk into a little bit of self reflecting on his brother and sister, hoping to see them sooner rather then later. He didn't know when his tenure in Maelstrom would be over though and he kind of wanted to spend some time looking after Luminous as well. After a moment he smiled at Aideen and pat her shoulder softly.

"I'm sure you'd make a wonderful sibling Aideen. I've already seen how you are able to handle the little ones in your family."

[Northen Light36]

"Thank you," Aideen replies with a smile. "Hopefully, with the Minds' dragon's blessing, Mum and Dad will be able to have more kids... Though I don't want them to take after my grandma. Four kids and three of them the same age!" Aideen shudders lightly at the thought, but she's grinning and happily chats with Vortai until it's late enough that she simply has to go to bed.

The next morning, Tres herself piles both teenagers with supplies for the trip and just generally fusses over them. "Ashra, you take care of them now," she instructs their escort.

"Of course Elder," the merc replies, giving Vortai a quick wink. "Ready to go?" Aideen adjusts her hold on Luminous slightly and nods.

[adris]

Vortai takes everything that is handed to him, trying to tell Tres every once and a while that so much isn't necessary. His recessive voice over the whole situation probably just falls into the background though. Ashra's wink caught him by surprise, not knowing exactly what the mercenary means by it. He did know it was friendly though, and that was all that was necessary.

"I'm ready as soon as you all are, and don't worry I won't let anything happen. Not with Luminous and Aideen around."

He smiled seeing the princess in Aideen's arms. Part of him wanted to carry Lumi part of the way, but that can happen if his friend ever got tired. Right now he had to simply worry about his load, and keeping himself hydrated. Extra water skins were something he didn't mind taking with no resistance.

[Northen Light36]

"Well let's go then," Ashra laughs. "Before Elder Tres piles the whole clan on us." Tres laughs and lightly smacks Ashra over the head.

"That's no way to speak of your elder," she jokes. Ashra just laughs and starts leading the group to Maelstorm.

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