[Orual]

Big family, twin brother...Eru ainu, it was almost unreal how much like Rie this child was. Rie whistled low and shook her head.

"Don't shake your head at me," Don snapped. Rie bit back a grin and looked at Nuru.

"Don't give her that look either! I know it's about me!" Don shouted. Rie gave a little exasperated noise.

"It's not all about you," Rie said, giving Don a "you're about to catch it" look. An older sister always knew that look, and since Don was an older sister she understood quite well.

"It's not all about you, either," Don retorted. Apparently though she understood it, she didn't care.

Rie ran both hands through her hair. "Give me patience," she prayed under her breath.

"If you can't handle talking to me, you could just be quiet," suggested Don sweetly. Rie glared at her.

"We could reverse that, darling," Rie said, just as sweetly.

"Don't call me darling," Don said.

"I'll call you darling if I want, darling," Rie replied with a smile.

"I'll call you what I want, then."

"Oh, fire away, darling." Rie sighed and leaned against the wall. "I am sorry about your twin, though," she said, and meant it.

"You don't have to be sorry," Don snapped.

"Well, I am," Rie retorted. "I have a twin too, you know."

"So?" Don asked.

"So, I know what it's like to lose a twin. Talômi and I were--are--very close. It was hard to leave him."

"Try being forced to leave him," Don snapped.

Rie made a face. "Be difficult, then!"

"I will, thank you."

"Augh!" Rie threw her arms into the air. "Nuru, she's too much like me. What can we do with two Talmériës?" She shot her friend a helpless look, but her eyes were sparkling. A challenge!