Lirssa had made a vow. She had made it to herself mostly, but the seasons had turned on her without her being much aware of it until suddenly it was Autumn. Even after all that had happened in the past months, she remembered too clearly those months before. It berated her, scolded her, and left whispers of threats in her mind. However, she had promised she was going to set what she had done wrong during that time as right as she could. Some things were not to happen, but of one thing she could do, she could make it up to the Smiths.
So, on a cool, sunny day not terribly long past the lunch hour and certainly before high tea time, she went to the Silver Lark, starting her search there for a member of the Smith family and to visit with the little ones as she said she would. The weather found her in long, cotton pants of brown, soft camel boots, and a long tunic of dark green with leaves embroidered on the cuffs. An unbound scarf hung about her neck, and her hair left free to spring and bounce at its curly position between chin and shoulders. There was a comfort in dressing her old way that she could not rightly explain, and she was glad that no one had really asked her about it.
The busy Marketplace gave over to the street just beyond, a turn down an alley to avoid the greater rush of the moving crowds, and she made her way back to the roadside facing the mercantile side of the Smith property. She peeked through the windows of the Silver Lark first, just to see if anyone was inside.
The shop was dark, as it just so happened that Johnny and Val had driven another delivery of statuary and art to The Hope Creative. The Lark was mainly now just for jewelry and other metalworks. However, the door from the shop into the house was opened wide. Caitir was returning her harp to the safety of the studio.
Seeing the shop closed up, Lirssa was just about to move on to the house when she sighted Caitir through the angle of the doorway. She debated a moment. Was it wiser to knock and go in or head around to the house? In the end, she decided Caitir looked like a little girl on a careful mission. Every step was one step closer to getting her legs back to what they had been, so Lirssa went on to the house and around to knock on the door. With the rat-a-tat-tat to the wood made, she set hands to the side, stood up straight and waited. Her right foot might have been tapping, but it was a revived habit, not a lack of patience.
The house exploded with noise with the knock at the door. Inquisitive dog barks, squeals, clapping and laughter all were the underlying foundation. It grew steadily louder as footsteps approached. "Mama, mama!" Caitir's voice swelled like a siren and then the knob twisted. When the door opened, Caoimhe and Branan darted out of the house to circle and sniff around Lirssa's legs. The young girl followed stepping out onto the porch and giving Lirssa a large, earnest hug. The sort a child of seven was wont to give to those she likes. And there, standing at the threshold was Sianna, Meggie and Evan in her arms and Ian clutching to her skirts in an attempt to balance himself.
She could feel the energy filling her up and about ready to meet activity with bluster of activity from herself, but then the picture of seeing Mrs. Sianna there holding two babies with one clinging to her, and Lirssa just gaped. "Aww, Mrs. Sianna, you need help." First on the ticket was to hug Caitir in return and give her a wink. A hand down to the dogs who did not get pettings until they sat, and then Lirssa smiled at the babies. "I don't reckon this is a good time or is it? Thought I'd come by and see if the little ones were okay with me before I came to stay with 'em so you and Mr. Johnny can have a night out. I used the door this time." The last visit to the house and alarm of the dogs had been a creeping climb to an upperstory window in the deep of night. Lirssa was not quite sure if that had not been a better choice considering the ruckus this daytime call had caused.
Sianna grinned broadly, shifting Meggie a bit so that she was not as capable of inspecting -- or tugging -- Evan's curls. "Aye, he told me of th' verra sweet gesture ye made, Lirssa dear. Come on in, if th' menagerie dinna trip ye on th' way." Ian let go of Sianna's skirts and started toddling down the hall. At the movement, the two dogs took off in his wake.
Lirssa shrugged the nervousness with a bounce of shoulders. "They all wake up early from nap or it bein' a chore to get 'em down?" She made sure the door was closed properly. Children, animals, and the unknown were all magnets to portals left unattended. She knew that all too well. Her arm went to link with Caitir's, giving the girl another grin. So many of the High Spires kids kept her at a distance, uncertainty clipping their friendliness into discomfort. Lirssa felt a spoonful of her anxiety pour away that Caitir did not hate her.
Meggie kicked her feet, eager to join the parade, and Sianna put her down, and transferred Evan to her other hip. Bringing up the rear, she chuckled at the comment. "Actually, we finished lunch and then had a story, and now will be a bit of play time before th' wee ones go down for their n - a - p - s." Caitir's lower lip stuck out, not liking the thought of having a very special friend over and having to take a nap. She was a big girl.
With a rub to Caitir's back, Lirssa tried to comfort the young girl. She saw that lip stick out, but there was really no way to be of help. Lirssa never recalled having naps except when she was ill, though she must have, and as she considered it, she offered a suggestion. "It's good of Caitir to set such a good example so everyone gets their rest." And then she stepped a little closer to smile to Evan. She did not get up in his face, but close enough to get his attention and claim it, "Hello, Evan. I'm Lirssa."
The girl puffed up at that, lips curling into a proud smile. "I'm a great sample..." The twins were settling themselves back on the carpet, playing with their blocks. Caitir hovered by Lirssa's side. Sianna grinned at her and nodded. "Aye, Lirssa has th' right of it. Ye set a verra grand example." All the while, Evan laughed and chattered at Lirssa, sturdy infant arms reaching for her curls and then Sianna's as they were closer.
"May I?" Lirssa offered up hands in the general motion of wanting to hold Evan, since so far he was not shying away from her. "Did you know Fionna had her baby?" It was a slow look to Mrs. Sianna. She wondered how much Mrs. Sianna knew of lots of things, but it was the easiest and safest question to start. Particularly with Caitir so close.
So, on a cool, sunny day not terribly long past the lunch hour and certainly before high tea time, she went to the Silver Lark, starting her search there for a member of the Smith family and to visit with the little ones as she said she would. The weather found her in long, cotton pants of brown, soft camel boots, and a long tunic of dark green with leaves embroidered on the cuffs. An unbound scarf hung about her neck, and her hair left free to spring and bounce at its curly position between chin and shoulders. There was a comfort in dressing her old way that she could not rightly explain, and she was glad that no one had really asked her about it.
The busy Marketplace gave over to the street just beyond, a turn down an alley to avoid the greater rush of the moving crowds, and she made her way back to the roadside facing the mercantile side of the Smith property. She peeked through the windows of the Silver Lark first, just to see if anyone was inside.
The shop was dark, as it just so happened that Johnny and Val had driven another delivery of statuary and art to The Hope Creative. The Lark was mainly now just for jewelry and other metalworks. However, the door from the shop into the house was opened wide. Caitir was returning her harp to the safety of the studio.
Seeing the shop closed up, Lirssa was just about to move on to the house when she sighted Caitir through the angle of the doorway. She debated a moment. Was it wiser to knock and go in or head around to the house? In the end, she decided Caitir looked like a little girl on a careful mission. Every step was one step closer to getting her legs back to what they had been, so Lirssa went on to the house and around to knock on the door. With the rat-a-tat-tat to the wood made, she set hands to the side, stood up straight and waited. Her right foot might have been tapping, but it was a revived habit, not a lack of patience.
The house exploded with noise with the knock at the door. Inquisitive dog barks, squeals, clapping and laughter all were the underlying foundation. It grew steadily louder as footsteps approached. "Mama, mama!" Caitir's voice swelled like a siren and then the knob twisted. When the door opened, Caoimhe and Branan darted out of the house to circle and sniff around Lirssa's legs. The young girl followed stepping out onto the porch and giving Lirssa a large, earnest hug. The sort a child of seven was wont to give to those she likes. And there, standing at the threshold was Sianna, Meggie and Evan in her arms and Ian clutching to her skirts in an attempt to balance himself.
She could feel the energy filling her up and about ready to meet activity with bluster of activity from herself, but then the picture of seeing Mrs. Sianna there holding two babies with one clinging to her, and Lirssa just gaped. "Aww, Mrs. Sianna, you need help." First on the ticket was to hug Caitir in return and give her a wink. A hand down to the dogs who did not get pettings until they sat, and then Lirssa smiled at the babies. "I don't reckon this is a good time or is it? Thought I'd come by and see if the little ones were okay with me before I came to stay with 'em so you and Mr. Johnny can have a night out. I used the door this time." The last visit to the house and alarm of the dogs had been a creeping climb to an upperstory window in the deep of night. Lirssa was not quite sure if that had not been a better choice considering the ruckus this daytime call had caused.
Sianna grinned broadly, shifting Meggie a bit so that she was not as capable of inspecting -- or tugging -- Evan's curls. "Aye, he told me of th' verra sweet gesture ye made, Lirssa dear. Come on in, if th' menagerie dinna trip ye on th' way." Ian let go of Sianna's skirts and started toddling down the hall. At the movement, the two dogs took off in his wake.
Lirssa shrugged the nervousness with a bounce of shoulders. "They all wake up early from nap or it bein' a chore to get 'em down?" She made sure the door was closed properly. Children, animals, and the unknown were all magnets to portals left unattended. She knew that all too well. Her arm went to link with Caitir's, giving the girl another grin. So many of the High Spires kids kept her at a distance, uncertainty clipping their friendliness into discomfort. Lirssa felt a spoonful of her anxiety pour away that Caitir did not hate her.
Meggie kicked her feet, eager to join the parade, and Sianna put her down, and transferred Evan to her other hip. Bringing up the rear, she chuckled at the comment. "Actually, we finished lunch and then had a story, and now will be a bit of play time before th' wee ones go down for their n - a - p - s." Caitir's lower lip stuck out, not liking the thought of having a very special friend over and having to take a nap. She was a big girl.
With a rub to Caitir's back, Lirssa tried to comfort the young girl. She saw that lip stick out, but there was really no way to be of help. Lirssa never recalled having naps except when she was ill, though she must have, and as she considered it, she offered a suggestion. "It's good of Caitir to set such a good example so everyone gets their rest." And then she stepped a little closer to smile to Evan. She did not get up in his face, but close enough to get his attention and claim it, "Hello, Evan. I'm Lirssa."
The girl puffed up at that, lips curling into a proud smile. "I'm a great sample..." The twins were settling themselves back on the carpet, playing with their blocks. Caitir hovered by Lirssa's side. Sianna grinned at her and nodded. "Aye, Lirssa has th' right of it. Ye set a verra grand example." All the while, Evan laughed and chattered at Lirssa, sturdy infant arms reaching for her curls and then Sianna's as they were closer.
"May I?" Lirssa offered up hands in the general motion of wanting to hold Evan, since so far he was not shying away from her. "Did you know Fionna had her baby?" It was a slow look to Mrs. Sianna. She wondered how much Mrs. Sianna knew of lots of things, but it was the easiest and safest question to start. Particularly with Caitir so close.