Would You Consider... (2/3)

Writers: Chelle, Eimi
Date Posted: 28th May 2010

Characters: Parale, Ioven, Venrys, Syren
Description: Ioven asks Parale to take part in a nightly ritual
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 9, day 18 of Turn 5
Notes: Part 2 of 2

Ioven had stopped by the kitchens and brought dinner for the four of
them back up to his rooms as Parale couldn't really return to the
dining hall after he had 'rescued' her from Rishki. Dinner had been
pleasant enough as he listened to his girls chat away with Parale,
listening to the sound of their laughter and their eager little faces to
be the one to tell her one story or another.

She was still wondering what had possessed him to get her, but she
put that to the back of her mind as the girls took all her attention.
When they had insisted on a game of marbles, she'd agreed.

The smith had just perched up on the arm of the sofa to watch the three
of them playing, lost in the question of what to do about this happy
trio. His girls, he knew, loved Parale as much as they had any woman
since their mother's death. And she had such a way with them. She
didn't let Venrys trounce her little sister, as his competitive older
daughter was known to do if not watched. Nor did she let Syren resort
to tears and whining, which she knew usually got a very sympathetic
response out of him. It was like these girls had been born to her.

But they hadn't. They had been born to his Narys, and she was at the
fore of his thoughts as well. His girls might very well look at Parale
as a mother, but something deep inside was screaming that it wasn't
fair. It wasn't fair that their real mother hadn't been able to share
these moments with them. It wasn't fair that he should have to marry
again, when all he wanted was to keep Narys' memory locked up, sacred
for all eternity in his own heart. But he had made her a promise, and
marrying this woman would fulfill it.

"It's time for bed, girls," he said softly after Syren finally won the
game, much to her older sister's vexation.

Parale leaned back, allowing Ioven to put them to bed himself.
"Good night." She hugged them both and then let them go.

Ioven took the girls back into their room, made sure their teeth were
brushed, faces scrubbed, and nightgowns on before ducking his head out
the door. "Parale, why don't we tuck them in together?"

She smiled and shook her head. "It's your time. Take it."

"Please," he said, his tone rather serious. "I would really like you
to. Please."

She watched him for a moment, the way she always did then
she got up and followed him. "Thank you for earlier."

He smiled slightly in response, opening the door wider for her. Ioven
wasn't sure yet if it had been the right thing to do or not. "Sit
down," he motioned to the bed on Syren's side. Hitching his leg up, he
sat down on the edge next to Venrys.

"Are you going to listen to the story, too?" the younger asked Parale, a
smile spreading across her face.

She took her seat. "Mmm, now shhh..." In actuality, she was quite sleepy
herself. After the whole ordeal she'd been through, she was trying
valiantly to keep her eyes open.

"Every night, before the girls go to bed, I tell them a story, and
usually it's a story about their mother," he explained for Parale's
benefit, as he stroked his older daughter's hand softly. "I thought
tonight, maybe Venrys could tell us about one of her memories of her
mother."

"Oh yes," her face brightened, excited by the thought of sharing
something new with Parale. "Can I tell you a story?"

"Go on Venling," she nodded, wondering what their mother was like
as well.

"Something _you_ remember," Ioven said with an encouraging nod.

Venrys' face screwed up a little as she tried her best to think of
something. She didn't have many memories, really. Just little
snippets, not full stories. "Well, I remember she used to sing when she
cleaned the kitchen. But if she saw me, she would talk to me. So
sometimes I would hide behind the chair so I could listen to her
singing."

"And she had yellow hair, like me!" Syren interjected, wanting to
contribute something.

"You don't remember that," her older sister said, rolling her eyes.

"But it's true," the younger said, pouting slightly.

"It is true. And she had dimples like you, too," Ioven assured her with
a gentle smile. "Tell us something else you remember, Venrys."

"Well..." She was silent a moment. "I remember she would sleep a lot on
the sofa. And when she slept, I wasn't allowed to play in the living
room. And I had to keep Syren quiet in the other room."

Parale realized then why that was. And she looked to Ioven first,
then the girls. "What kind of songs did she sing?"

"It was a song about a little gold flit who was hiding her eggs in the
Sand," Venrys said and began to sing the song.

"I know the song too!" Syren interrupted again and began to sing but was
shushed by her sister.

"Why don't you both sing it for her," Ioven said, turning to Parale to
explain. "Syren doesn't have any memories of her mother, but I taught
them both the song. We sing it together sometimes, don't we? Go on
now."

As Parale sat there, the little scene broke her heart. She understood
Ioven's need to keep his wife alive, but at the same time she wondered
if this was the best way to do that. At some point, one had to let go.
When it was over, she nodded. "Very nice girls."

"It was, very beautiful girls," their father smiled, touching each one
on the cheek in turn. "And now I think it's time to say goodnight."

"Good night, Daddy," Venrys smiled, sitting up to wrap her arms around
his neck and kissing him on his cheek.

Syren reached for the foster mother. "Good night."

Parale embraced her and nodded. "Night, Renling. See you soon."

Ioven turned the glow down low and followed Parale out of the room,
shutting the door behind them. Taking a deep breath he turned to face
her. "Would you sit down? There's something I would like to discuss
with you."

She turned, surprised, but curious. It was a moment before she sat down,
though, since she had to adjust her skirts. "Okay.."

Last updated on the May 28th 2010

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Would You Consider... (2/3)