Jess couldn’t help but let a smile full of glee spread on her face. Some of the children were so small! Some of them tugged on the hem of Jesslyn’s grey tunic, while others jumped up and down at the sight of Elves. The group stopped at the village center, and was bombarded with people. Men offered places to sleep, women offered their skill with baking and cooking, and children just huddled around the group with joy plastered on their faces.
“Look at them all, Cartil! They all look so sweet!” Jesslyn cried, tousling the hair on one little boy. Cartil looked like he was about to go crazy as little girls ‘ooh-ed’ and ‘ah-ed’ when he walked by. Boys nagged at him to let them ride Sparrow, and he came close to ripping a chunk of his hair out when one girl nearly brought him tumbling down after grabbing onto the end of his bow.
“Oh yes, so sweet.” Cartil grumbled and shook off several put-down children.
“Mandos save the woman who marries you, Cartil.” Jesslyn shot back, and picked up a boy who looked to be about six or seven years old. She swung him around carefully, then gently set him down back on the ground.
“It is settled. The group heading to see Lady Taralphiel leave as soon as Lady Annanoldowen are done. Who is to accompany me?” Laurel’s voice rose above the slight chaos of the village gathering.
“We’re going with her,” Cartil commented passively, but Jesslyn shook her head.
“No! I think I’ll stay here and help keep this place safe…” Jesslyn spoke decidedly as she danced with two little boys and their sister.
“Jess, you’re coming with me to see Lady Taralphiel, and that’s that.” Cartil argued, however calmly as he shooed a teenage boy who had been interested in his sword.
“Come now, Cartil. You’re the one with the message to deliver, not me. Besides, your not my mother, and you can’t tell me what to do!”
“Well I’m your older brother and I expect you to treat me with respect. I also would appreciate it if you’d listen to me once in a while, and do as I say. I am only trying to do what’s best for you, for me, and for Swan Wood.”
“Cartil, it is folly for us to be arguing over something so stupid. Go where you want but I am staying here,” Jesslyn finished, and the fight stopped there. Cartil glared angrily at his sister, who casually blew upwards to get a stray lock of messy black hair out of her face.
“Fine!” with that, Cartil stormed off to find some peace and quiet from the villagers before he would have to leave to go and meet Lady Taralphiel.
"Fine!" Jess mumbled in a mockingly high voice, and turned back to her dance with the three children. "Don't bother that man over there, he is a very grumpy old dog!"
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...Come down now, they'll say. But everything looks perfect from far away - Come down now! But we'll stay.
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