The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Pippin Pondlily · 08-08-2004, 12:31 PM

Esmerelda woke with a start to the shivering timbers of the Millwind's house and the shouts of Elanor. "Mother, Father, Aunt Esmerelda, everone up! We have to leave! That horrible creature is back!"

Esmerelda wrapped her blanket about her shoulders and woke Willow. "The dragon's back in Dale. We're going to want to get going." Willow nodded and closed her eyes momentarily. She was nervous for her son; Esmerelda's heart went out to her. She hugged her close. "It will be alright," she whispered. She feared for Rhysdan too.

As she was walking out the room she got a look at herself in the mirror propped up over the dresser in the bedroom. Her face was dirty and her fine blond hair was tangled. She hadn't bothered to take off her dress before she fell asleep and it was now mussed and wrinkled with tears in the skirt from yesterday's difficult activity. She did her best to straighten her chemise sleeves and bodies and smooth the creases out of her skirt. Willow joined her at the glass. "Oh my," she said lightly, and smiled wearily, tucking a strand of curly hair behind her ear.

Esmerelda poured a placid stream of water from the pitcher into the washbowl and wet her hands and splashed her face, rubbing the darker patches of dirt with a towel. She dried her face quickly. A brush was lying next to the bowl and she grabbed it just as the house gave a second shudder. It was part of Esmerelda's upbringing to be as presentable as possible and the image of strength and inner beauty for her children. Now above all times was when her children would need her comforting presence the most and she did not want to look mussed or harried. There was also something strangely calming about looking nice and feeling clean.

The two families gathered in the kitchen, quiet at first, watching Arinn who tracked the avian dragon with his eyes.

"It makes broad circles in the sky, dipping and breathing his fire without pattern," he said. Then he turned back to the room. Elanor and Willow were stashing food into small bags and slipping ropes through the flaps so they could be carried easily.

"Daisy," said Esmerelda, beckoning to her daughter. "Let me re-braid your hair, dear." The little girl walked over to her mother, running her fingers through the messy braid as it came undone over her shoulder. Esmerelda took the brush and began to pull it gently through her daughter's beautiful brown hair.

Elian began to ladle bowls of porridge for everyone and Willow encouraged everyone to eat it slow so as not to upset their stomachs. Arinn took his bowl of breakfast standing up but didn't seem to show much interest in it. Esmerelda finished Daisy's hair and sent her to her own. She stood and set the brush on a small table pushed up against a wall next to her small bag of medicinal herbs and bandage strips that she had brought from her house. She set her hand on its smooth leather exterior and then tied the strap to the sash about her waist.

"We should get going soon," said Arinn, maintaining a firm paternal energy that gave confidence to his family.

"With the dragon about?" asked Elian, offering his opinion. Esmerelda had always been very proud of her son and his display of maturity in his father's absence made her glow. But he had provided an interesting detail: Would it be wise for such a large party to search for Eric and Rhysdan in the blaring morning sun? They would draw attention to themselves from the wyrm and in doing so inflict a greater danger. But they couldn't possibly just sit at the house and wait. What if either Rhysdan or Eric was trapped somewhere amidst the dragon's destruction or hurt and unable to move?

Suddenly Esmerelda was inspired to act, to take control, but she said little, knowing to leave to Arinn his duty. "We can't all go," she said. "It will draw far too much attention." Oh! how she wanted desperately to go out and help search for her husband. "Some of us will have to stay here with Daisy and Eli. We cannot present too large of a group."

Daisy looked up at her mother. "But--" she began; Esmerelda shook her head, cutting her off. "I'm sorry dear but the danger is far too great."

"And we've got to be quick," added Elian, looking sympathetically at his sister. "I know you want to help, Daisy, but father would be much more pleased if he knew you were safe here instead of out under the dragon's sky, and in harm's way." Daisy dropped her shoulders but nodded understandingly. Her brother was right.

Esmerelda rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders and looked to Arinn. "Well what should we do?"

08-08-2004, 12:31 PM	#30
Pippin Pondlily Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Savannah Posts: 41	Esmerelda Esmerelda woke with a start to the shivering timbers of the Millwind's house and the shouts of Elanor. "Mother, Father, Aunt Esmerelda, everone up! We have to leave! That horrible creature is back!" Esmerelda wrapped her blanket about her shoulders and woke Willow. "The dragon's back in Dale. We're going to want to get going." Willow nodded and closed her eyes momentarily. She was nervous for her son; Esmerelda's heart went out to her. She hugged her close. "It will be alright," she whispered. She feared for Rhysdan too. As she was walking out the room she got a look at herself in the mirror propped up over the dresser in the bedroom. Her face was dirty and her fine blond hair was tangled. She hadn't bothered to take off her dress before she fell asleep and it was now mussed and wrinkled with tears in the skirt from yesterday's difficult activity. She did her best to straighten her chemise sleeves and bodies and smooth the creases out of her skirt. Willow joined her at the glass. "Oh my," she said lightly, and smiled wearily, tucking a strand of curly hair behind her ear. Esmerelda poured a placid stream of water from the pitcher into the washbowl and wet her hands and splashed her face, rubbing the darker patches of dirt with a towel. She dried her face quickly. A brush was lying next to the bowl and she grabbed it just as the house gave a second shudder. It was part of Esmerelda's upbringing to be as presentable as possible and the image of strength and inner beauty for her children. Now above all times was when her children would need her comforting presence the most and she did not want to look mussed or harried. There was also something strangely calming about looking nice and feeling clean. The two families gathered in the kitchen, quiet at first, watching Arinn who tracked the avian dragon with his eyes. "It makes broad circles in the sky, dipping and breathing his fire without pattern," he said. Then he turned back to the room. Elanor and Willow were stashing food into small bags and slipping ropes through the flaps so they could be carried easily. "Daisy," said Esmerelda, beckoning to her daughter. "Let me re-braid your hair, dear." The little girl walked over to her mother, running her fingers through the messy braid as it came undone over her shoulder. Esmerelda took the brush and began to pull it gently through her daughter's beautiful brown hair. Elian began to ladle bowls of porridge for everyone and Willow encouraged everyone to eat it slow so as not to upset their stomachs. Arinn took his bowl of breakfast standing up but didn't seem to show much interest in it. Esmerelda finished Daisy's hair and sent her to her own. She stood and set the brush on a small table pushed up against a wall next to her small bag of medicinal herbs and bandage strips that she had brought from her house. She set her hand on its smooth leather exterior and then tied the strap to the sash about her waist. "We should get going soon," said Arinn, maintaining a firm paternal energy that gave confidence to his family. "With the dragon about?" asked Elian, offering his opinion. Esmerelda had always been very proud of her son and his display of maturity in his father's absence made her glow. But he had provided an interesting detail: Would it be wise for such a large party to search for Eric and Rhysdan in the blaring morning sun? They would draw attention to themselves from the wyrm and in doing so inflict a greater danger. But they couldn't possibly just sit at the house and wait. What if either Rhysdan or Eric was trapped somewhere amidst the dragon's destruction or hurt and unable to move? Suddenly Esmerelda was inspired to act, to take control, but she said little, knowing to leave to Arinn his duty. "We can't all go," she said. "It will draw far too much attention." Oh! how she wanted desperately to go out and help search for her husband. "Some of us will have to stay here with Daisy and Eli. We cannot present too large of a group." Daisy looked up at her mother. "But--" she began; Esmerelda shook her head, cutting her off. "I'm sorry dear but the danger is far too great." "And we've got to be quick," added Elian, looking sympathetically at his sister. "I know you want to help, Daisy, but father would be much more pleased if he knew you were safe here instead of out under the dragon's sky, and in harm's way." Daisy dropped her shoulders but nodded understandingly. Her brother was right. Esmerelda rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders and looked to Arinn. "Well what should we do?"