Babysit|Skyheort | Talen'sul

[Kender Bard]

Laura looked despairingly at the list of petitions that had piled up on her desk. Everyday she tackled it, and everyday it did not seem to diminish. Oh Lya, I really do understand now.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Though it was stressful, Laura was a woman of resources; mothers are good at wrestling the impossible into the possible. But, still... Sometimes one had to be a good citizen before they could be a good leader. She finished covering the pot of dinner up and called, "Rain! Tear! Can you come here a moment?"

[Northen Light36]

The two twins come running into the kitchen from different parts of the house. "Is dinner ready?" Raindrop asks.

"Is something wrong Mum?" Teardrop asks at the same time.

"I didn't do it!" Raindrop adds quickly.

[Kender Bard]

"Nothing is wrong," she said soothingly, holding out the wrapped dinner. "And our dinner will be ready soon. But I would appreciate it if you two girls took this over to Mrs. Veatherfall. Poor thing is struggling on her own, and with a new baby too." Almost by rote, she added, "We of Talen'sul watch out for one another. Also, it'd be nice if you offered to help look after the little ones..."

[Northen Light36]

Raindrop pulls a face at the last request. "Do we have to?" she sighes. "I hate babies. They're smelly and they cry."

Teardrop rolls her eyes. For awhile now Raindrop has been more then a little hard to live with. While Teardrop's helpful and obediant, Raindrop seems to enjoy pushing the limits of her new parents.

"Oh grow up, Rain," she sighes. "I'll do it Mum. I don't mind being helpful."

[Kender Bard]

"I know you don't, dear," Laura said gently, with motherly patient. "And Rain is helpful in her own way too, aren't you Rain? Like.. Oh.." She frowned, as though having trouble recalling. "Like.. hmm.." She hoped the girl would subtly get the hint. "Ah, well, off you two go."

[Northen Light36]

Raindrop pulls a face, but she follows Teardrop out the door without any other fuss and the twins quickly begin a cheerful race as they head towards the Veatherfall house.

Taking a moment to catch her breath and smooth down her dress and hair, Teardrop knocks lightly on the door, wary of possibly waking a sleeping baby. Raindrop doesn't bother to tidy up, she doesn't care how scruffy she looks.

[Kender Bard]

The door opened after a long pause. Alethia looked out, tired but looking hopeful. She hesitated, her smile slipped, but then it was there again. "Hello girls," she greeted them. "Is Lady Calder doing well? Come in, out of the cold." She opened the door wider.

[Northen Light36]

The two girls step inside, glad to be in the warmth, and Teardrop holds out the food parcal. "Mum's doing very well, Mrs Veatherful," she replies politely. "Though she misses daddy. We brought you some dinner and came to see if you'd like some help with the babies."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh." She accepted the food, gratefully. It was hard to keep up sometimes. Setting it down, she said, "I should like that very much. Crentha's sleeping right now, and Spice is-"

"Here!" the boy announced. He'd somehow managed to sneak under the table when Alethia wasn't looking. She smiled and sighed. "What happened to Lord Calder?"

[Northen Light36]

"Oh, he had to go help someone, I don't remember who," Teardrop replies. She smiles at Spice and kneels down to be closer to his level. "Why are you under the table, silly?" she asks, giggling.

Raindrop stands around awkwardly, not certain what she should do.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia checked the dinner and smiled. "Your mother has gone out of her way. I give her my thanks. Did you two want to stay for dinner?"

Spice giggled at Teardrop, "Sneaky sneaking. I'm Spice!" He stuck out a hand in a friendly gesture, mimicking his father. "I'm man of the house!"

[Northen Light36]

"Man of the house?" Teardrop repeats, deliberately sounding doubtful. "I don't know, Mr Spice... I don't think the man of the house usually sneeks around. A man of the house is usually helpful and does things like help his wife, or mother, set the table."

Raindrop hesitates for a minute, unsure if she should accept or hurry home. Then she smiles at Alethia and replies, "Well, only if you're sure it won't be a bother to have us."

[Kender Bard]

"No, of course not," she said hurriedly. "I enjoy the company. Spice is such a chatter, but you know..." She did not want to hurt her son's feelings and so trailed off with a knowing look while setting the table.

"Oh!" Spice hastily got out from under the table, picking up the silverware and putting it back down where Alethia set it. "Helping!"

[Northen Light36]

"That's much better," Teardrop tells him as she and Raindrop help out by serving the food. "Will Mr. Veatherfall be home soon?" she asks Alethia, simply to start conversation. Frankly, Teardrop's rather glad that Acqua seems to have disappeared, since Raindrop and Acqua have had a few run ins since the three girls had all settled in Talen'sul.

[Kender Bard]

"I hope so," she murmured. "Mister Hawk brought a letter from him." She wasn't sure how much to reveal to the girls. "He is in Ronduin right now... For... A very long time unless something lucky happens. I miss him terribly. Acqua and Amaro are there too. I'm considering asking Vortai to come home for a while if I don't hear from them again."

"Daddy's on a ad-ven-toor," Spice said carefully. "I hope he brings sweets!"