Solo [Ioan Skellig's Residence] A Pretense of Normalcy

[Hadyn Skellig]

2nd of Winter
Morning
514 AV

"I tell you, I've never seen such blue eyes!" Cylene exclaimed followed by an exaggerated gasp on the baby's account. The brunette cast a wry glance at her sister-in-law from where she stood scrubbing a stain from a small gown, a grin pulling at the corners of her lips. For his part Liam soaked up the enamored attention of his aunt as he sat on her lap, his smile displaying burgeoning teeth. Tiny fingers grasped her hands, sitting up right as he basked in her adoration.

"His father's accountable on that one," Hadyn replied as she hung the small dress on the wire. It was faded, clearly having seen better days but the mystery stain was gone. Emily would be pleased. A clean canvas to dirty again. Wiping her hands on a rag the weaponsmith leaned against the counter in the narrow kitchen, watching her sister-in-law continue her interactions with Liam. They were no longer one sided, the boy now able to vocalize short words and attend to the speaker with intrigue.

"Is he Vantha?" Cylene asked distractedly before inflating her cheeks for Liam's amusement.

"Wouldn't he like that." Being that it was a non-rhetorical question Ioan's wife ignored the comment, instead speaking directly to the baby as she scrunched her nose up.

"You're going to be a heartbreaker, I wager. With those eyes and that smile. Following in your papa's footsteps I'll have no doubt."

Liam chirped an unintelligible response back responding in a glittery laugh from his delicate aunt. Hadyn turned to look out the window to the narrow ribbon of wood that served as a garden behind the house. Out there sat Emily playing with a new doll - a gift from Ioan and Cylene. The girl was talking to herself as she danced the small figure across the wooden platform. Setting the rag down the weaponsmith turned to her sister-in-law.

"I'm going to check on Emily. I don't suppose you mind keepin' Liam busy."

"Not at all," the redhead replied without taking her eyes off the baby.

Departing through the creaking back door Hadyn stepped into the sunlight, closing the door behind her. The blonde child sat with her back to the woman, humming to herself as she stretched her legs out on the platform. The space, as Ioan explained, was meant to be a porch of sorts, the canal just feet away. But only two adults could reasonably fit and it made Hadyn feel nauseous just to look at it.

Gathering her wits and ignoring the urge to return to the house where the world didn't tilt with the tide the brunette sat down leaving enough distance as could be managed in the narrow space between herself and the girl. Leaning her back against the wooden wall of the home Hadyn watched Emily a moment before speaking.

[Hadyn Skellig]

"Will you be eating dinner tonight?"

The blonde girl looked up momentarily from the complicated business of adjusting the doll's gown. Hadyn folded her hands in her lap, crossing one outstreched leg over the other at the ankle. The girl appeared to consider the question, for she was known to be picky about her meals. Hadyn caught Emily's gaze before the child dropped her eyes to the toy once more, taking her time to respond.

"Only if Auntie Cylene cooks."

"Emily, she is not your aunt."

"She's Uncle Ioan's wife. And he's your brother," she explained matter-of-factly, her words spoken slowly as if talking to a halfwit.

"Yes but I'm not your mother."

"You're Liam's mama, and he's Daddy's son."

Hadyn rolled her eyes in response to this logic, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. It was no great offense Emily didn't care for the weaponsmith's attempts at cooking. Hadyn barely cared for it herself. But ever since they'd arrived in Ravok Cylene was enamored of both children. To Hadyn's relief the feeling was mutual. Emily proclaimed on more than one occasion they ought to live on the floating city forever and wait for Orion. But it was the girl's insistent that Ioan and Cylene be addressed as family members that concerned the brunette.

Emily appeared stirred by Hadyn's silent relent, her doll momentarily put on hold. Sitting back on her heels the child stared at the weaponsmith with what might be considered concern.

"He'll meet us here. Auntie said it'd be so."

"Did she?" dark brows rose as Hadyn regarded the girl. She'd been careful not to make promises she couldn't keep regarding Orion. Though the woman was certain he lived she couldn't tell Emily he would come to Ravok. It would ruin the girl if it never came to pass.

Over the last season and a half the two had formed a tenuous relationship. At the first it was held together by Hadyn's ability to keep a roof over Emily's head and food in her mouth. The weaponsmith's authority was absolute but considering she allowed Emily to play and gain moments of independence, their truce worked for a time. Now that they were settled in Ravok and not traveling the world like vagrants Hadyn noticed a change in the girl's demeanor. She was warming to the woman, allowing her tidbits of her fears and feelings beyond the general self-centered thoughts of five year olds. And Emily was thankfully fond of Liam, which made the whole ordeal slightly easier.

"Miss Rosie misses Daddy."

Hadyn looked up, shaken from her thoughts by the child's quiet almost tentative voice. She was holding the doll by one arm, it's tawny hair catching the breeze sweeping through the canal. Emily's eyes locked on Hadyn's and for a moment the brunette could've sworn to any god paying attention she was staring at Orion. Reaching over to adjust the doll's cerulean dress across her floppy body the weaponsmith forced a smile.

"Rosie hasn't met your father yet. Can y'miss someone you haven't met?"

"Yes."

Again the girl employed a tone of certainty, her expression suggesting she questioned Hadyn's common sense. This was not the brunette's forte, understanding the inner workings of children. It seemed Emily was trying to say something without actually saying it. That kind of thinking was as foreign to Hadyn as cooking. After a tick the blonde resumed speaking directly to the doll, dismissing the weaponsmith by default.