Boredom, Friendship and Accidental Mischief

[Northen Light36]

Aly giggled and nodded, kneeling beside her brother and starting to stack blocks. "Oh no, oh brave knight. Help us build a tower to save the prince and I from the fearsome baby dragon."

Dami, also giggling, reached out to tickle Shade and make the baby squeal. "Listen to it's mighty roar!"

[Kender Bard]

Nox giggled at that as well. "Never fear princess, I'll help with the heavy load." He picked up a block, making a face and exaggerated grunt of exertion as he lifted into place. "Our tower will be made of the heaviest stone!"

[Northen Light36]

"I will help too," Dami agreed, lifing a block onto the tower and copying Nox' anitics. "I will also gather the army to help sir Knight defend the fair princess." He scrambled to his feet and gathered up an armful of toys, dumping them on the floor beside the blocks. "Oh no, the dragon is eating one of our soliders," he shouted as Shade snatched up a teddy bear and began sucking on it's ear."

[Kender Bard]

"I'll save you Sir Bear!" Nox declared. "Watch as I ride my horse and stab the dragon with my lance!" He reached out and poked Shade in the belly. "Take that!"

[Northen Light36]

Shade squealed with laughter again and dropped the bear. Eying the tower Alyssa and Dami were hastily building, he clapped then slapped it down and giggled happily.

"Oh no! Our tower!" Alyssa laughed and started picking up the blocks again as Flash peaked into the nursery.

"I was wondering what all the noise was about," he remarked with a smile. "Dami, Aly, I see you've found a new friend."

[Kender Bard]

Nox smiled at Flash, not recognizing him. "Hello," he greeted. "My name is Nox Penrose. We're playing knight, princess, prince, and baby dragon. The dragon just knocked down our castle, though." He picked up a brick and looked at their building thoughtfully, then started to make a wall.

[Northen Light36]

"And he tried to eat Sir bear, but Nox saved him," Dami told Flash.

"Well that was very brave," Flash replied with a grin. "Good job, sir knight. Princess Aly, I thought you were going to be with the Queen this morning. Does she know you left the audience?"

Alyssa squirmed. "I forgot."

Flash smiled. "No harm done. I'll make sure the Queen is warned there is a terrible battle against a dragon being bravely fought in the nursey. Have fun you four." He waved and walked off to see Lya. She would be thrilled to know that Dami was finally settling down and making friends.

"I like Flash," Alyssa remarked as she and Dami set to work rebuilding the 'castle'. "He gives me and Dami sweets a lot."

[Kender Bard]

Flash. That name seemed vaguely familiar. "Does he work in the palace?" Nox asked Aly curiously, his hand hovering in the air with a block.

[Northen Light36]

"Mmm-hmm," Alyssa replied, putting another block on the castle.

"He works for Daddy," Dami said.

"He gives advice or something to uncle Shadow," Alyssa added. She paused, considering if she should of said that. She knew calling Shadow 'grandfather' was only for when they were completely alone. But her mother called Shadow 'uncle' sometimes, even when other people were around... So it should be all right.

[Kender Bard]

That surprised Nox a bit, as did Alyssa's comment. "You're part of the royal family?" he asked, staring. "B-but you said you're from Naurorod..."

[Northen Light36]

Alyssa and Dami both giggled at that. "I am. My mummy's the Honoured Leader of Naurorod and I'm the Heir," Alyssa said. "King Shadow isn't actually my uncle, but he said I could call him that sometimes. My real uncle, well great-uncle, died before I was born."

"He was best friends with my daddy, almost like real brothers," Dami added. "That's why I'm Dami. His name was Damien, so I'm Dami." The little boy's face was bright with pride, having grown up on stories of Shadow and Damien's adventures. "If he was alive, he'd be my almost-uncle, like Daddy is Aly's almost-uncle. And when I'm big, I'm going to be just like him and Daddy and have adventures like they used to. Aly too, and Shade when he's not a baby."

He looked consideringly at Nox and in a rare moment of generousity offerred, "You can come with us too and be a knight. Knights have lots of adventures."

[Kender Bard]

Nox at first had listened and watched with an almost sad look of longing on his face. These people were all very close friends, and although he was a noble's son, he realized that after today he likely wouldn't get to play with them anymore.

But at Dami's sudden offer, his expression changed to one of surprise. "Do you really mean it?" he asked cautiously.

[Northen Light36]

Dami glanced at Alyssa, who smiled and nodded in agreement, then looked back at Nox with a grin. "Yep," he promised. "Then I'll have as many friends on my adventures as Daddy had."

"But only one girl," Alyssa sighed.

[Kender Bard]

It was around this time that Noel, having been escorted by a member of the palace staff, approached the nursery. "Time to go home, Nox," he said.

Nox pouted at his father. "Do I have to?" he sighed. He was having so much fun! "I don't want to go home!"

Noel strode carefully into the room and picked Nox up. "Yes, son, we have to. Say goodbye to your friends. You'll see them another time, I suspect."

Nox brightened at that--so he really would see them again! "Bye everyone!" he said, waiving from his father's arms.

[Northen Light36]

Alyssa pouted and Dami looked sulky, but at least he didn't throw a fit. Both children waved and Alyssa replied, "Come play with us again soon!"