79 Ymiden 717
Edalene curled up on the couch, three blankets thrown haphazardly over her cold legs, and she sipped at a glass of red wine, smiling slightly. Her brother had gone to the trouble of finding out about the bootlegged alcohol in the city, and risked his own safety to procure some for her. Two things were well known in this household: first, Edalene was always nicer when plied with wine. Second, Aeodan would do anything to make his sister happy. This time, the two had mixed together nicely.
Edalene had been tired, lately, more docile since they had moved to Viden. There were so many reasons - things she could not name or think of, lest the nightmares wake her up in the night. Aeodan and Duncan, too, becoming closer sometimes made her feel left out, and she shifted on the couch at the thought. She knew it wasn't on purpose, but it still had that effect. And Narav... she missed him. Every day she hoped to see him at the door, and every day she was disappointed.
But Aeodan had risen to the occasion. A fond smile as she thought of her brother rested on her lips, as it always did. Everything had changed, and Edalene thought it was for the best. Tonight, she was tired from a long day of research, and Aeodan had insisted on pampering her. Duncan was away on a mission, and it was just the twins. She missed Duncan, of course, but it was still nice to have time to just the two of them. She was not going to complain. She sat on the couch, drinking her wine, and waited for Aeodan to be finished.
"Please," she called to where he was cooking dinner. "Not too much pork fat this time, my love? I know you love it, but it makes me a little queasy - especially as we have it every day." She curled further into the blankets and leaned her head against the couch, closing her eyes, holding the wine, content to wait for her brother to come join her. This ... this was home. Words came unbidden to her mind, like a song she had heard long ago...
Home is where I want to be, but I guess I'm already there. I come home; she lifted up her wings, I guess that this must be the place.
Yes, here, with her brother close by, and Duncan in her thoughts... this was home. This was the place, even when the rest of the world was dark and frightening. This would always be her place.
Edalene curled up on the couch, three blankets thrown haphazardly over her cold legs, and she sipped at a glass of red wine, smiling slightly. Her brother had gone to the trouble of finding out about the bootlegged alcohol in the city, and risked his own safety to procure some for her. Two things were well known in this household: first, Edalene was always nicer when plied with wine. Second, Aeodan would do anything to make his sister happy. This time, the two had mixed together nicely.
Edalene had been tired, lately, more docile since they had moved to Viden. There were so many reasons - things she could not name or think of, lest the nightmares wake her up in the night. Aeodan and Duncan, too, becoming closer sometimes made her feel left out, and she shifted on the couch at the thought. She knew it wasn't on purpose, but it still had that effect. And Narav... she missed him. Every day she hoped to see him at the door, and every day she was disappointed.
But Aeodan had risen to the occasion. A fond smile as she thought of her brother rested on her lips, as it always did. Everything had changed, and Edalene thought it was for the best. Tonight, she was tired from a long day of research, and Aeodan had insisted on pampering her. Duncan was away on a mission, and it was just the twins. She missed Duncan, of course, but it was still nice to have time to just the two of them. She was not going to complain. She sat on the couch, drinking her wine, and waited for Aeodan to be finished.
"Please," she called to where he was cooking dinner. "Not too much pork fat this time, my love? I know you love it, but it makes me a little queasy - especially as we have it every day." She curled further into the blankets and leaned her head against the couch, closing her eyes, holding the wine, content to wait for her brother to come join her. This ... this was home. Words came unbidden to her mind, like a song she had heard long ago...
Home is where I want to be, but I guess I'm already there. I come home; she lifted up her wings, I guess that this must be the place.
Yes, here, with her brother close by, and Duncan in her thoughts... this was home. This was the place, even when the rest of the world was dark and frightening. This would always be her place.