"Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it; but while I drink, I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains."
- Henry David Thoreau US Transcendentalist author (1817 - 1862)

The Barrister led the sorrel down the path that led to the Yearling Brook. A long sack was strapped across the top of another large sack, which was all secured the saddle, along with his violin case. Lucien led the mare down the road in an easy gait, a watchful eye turned to the sky.

The sun struggled to break past the cloud cover overhead. More and more, Lucien has been wishing for rain to fall. However, on this particular day, he bade the sun stay the rains for a time, for a time without storms or battles or mysteries and simply shine upon his planned endeavor.

Heavy and burdensome thoughts were pushed aside with each stride of the mare. More of his melancholy was stayed with each stretch of the wooded trail. And subtle and weighty game of position and move were left behind. Today was a time for a different manner of chess. Lucien slowed the sorrel to a stop as he reached the gates of the Yearling Brook and dismounted off the mare. He greeted the young guards at their post with a cant of his head. "Good day. I'm here to see the Baron, please."

Lucien walked beside Geoff with the sorrel in tow, making no notice of their restrained surprise at his request. His easy grin bloomed to a full smile as he watched the young Baron go about his lessons...until he was spotted. A well timed run of his hand over his bearded chin masked his amused grin and bought him time to temper his outright humor and offer an apologetic bow of his head to the Baron's instructor.

The Barrister's restraint was short-lived as he watched the young boy make his way between the fencing. Lucien squatted down, keeping his hold on the sorrel's reigns to greet his nephew. He patiently listened to young Baron's recount of his siblings, then glanced over his shoulder with a chuckle at his query.

"Well, I was thinking of taking a short day trip," Lucien began, glancing back at Cian. "But I really didn't want to go it alone. You don't suppose perhaps your mother would be up to go on a family outing of sort?"

Lucien took hold of Cian's hand and handed the reigns of the sorrel to the groom with a quiet word of thanks. He grinned as the young lad led him to the house. "I will let you know all in due time," he offered to the young Baron. This visit was solely to visit with the children and Sylvia. However, the decision as to the outing would be solely Sylvia's the make and Lucien was not about to give Cian any early information for the young lad to try and use to his advantage.

Sylvia's greeting blended into Cian's pre-emptory plea, mixed in with Aidan's interjection and the boy's pull on his free arm. Lucien murmured a greeting the young boy and flexed his arm to draw Aidan off his feet a few inches off the ground, letting the young boy climb upon him. The voices blended into a joyous cacophony and the Barrister was hard pressed to try and restrain his bemusement as Sylvia efficiently re-established order.

"Hello, Sylvia," he called with a grin. "And a good day, M'Lady," he added in greeting to Beata, chuckling outright. "I was tired of being cooped up under a mountain of work, and the day beckoned, so I thought a day trip and outing was in order," Lucien began his explanation. He knelt down between the two boys, an arm around each of them and smiled at Sylvia, not quite willing to reveal all the details of his plans quite yet. "I was hoping that you would be inclined to join me, as I really don't want to be going alone."

As he was bombarded with questions, Lucien stole a gaze toward the sky to check the weather, silently bidding the sun to stay out a while longer. He ran through a mental checklist of what he'd brought and loaded on his mare, chuckling all the while. "Yes, M'Lady," he began answering Sylvia's initial query with a grin. "You and the Lady Beata will need to be more suitable dressed, especially for such an adventure we are to embark on." The emphasis on the latter half was entirely for the boys' benefit.

"Yes, yes, yes, no and yes," Lucien then fired off his replies to the boys' queries, laughing easily. "Yes, Cian. You will need you sword, fishing pole and dagger. No, we are not hunting bears, "he then replied, peering over his shoulder at the younger boy. "I like bears too," he added for Aidan's benefit. "And yes, Lucky can come along," the Barrister explained his last reply, reaching back to grab a secure hold of the young boy under his arms. In one motion, Lucien ducked his head and lifted the boy up over his bowed head and flipped Aidan around and set the young boy on his feet. "Now young Masters. Go and get yourselves prepared and meet me back here!"

Behind the whoop and hollar of the boys racing off to gather their things, Lucien moved to Sylvia's side with a grin, opening his arms for Beata. "I appreciate you consenting to accompany me on my trip. I've been planning this visit home for a while," he smiled, offering just a small clue. "It is normally a half day's ride, but barely a quarter turn through the portal," Lucien went on to explain so that all preparations that Sylvia felt necessary could be made.

A gentle kiss was brushed upon the little girl's crown as she rested her head upon his shoulder. At Sylvia's bidding, Lucien followed her in the house. "This is a long time coming," he offered in assent with a smile. He watched her start up the stairs and chuckled quietly as he heard the boys tearing through their room, even as she spoke of the state of their room. "We'll will save that adventure for another day, right?" he answered quietly, replying to Sylvia, but smiling at the little girl in his arms.

As the rest of the family made their preparations for the outing upstairs, Lucien began moving around the hall with the child in his arms as they waited. So, I'll dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms.... he sang softly to the little girl, his feet moving lithely in a gentle, sweeping waltz. Oh, I will dance with Cinderella, I don't want to miss even one song...he continued in quiet melody to Beata as he led her around the hall in their dance. If others heard his song or witnessed their waltz,...because all too soon the clock will strike midnight...the Barrister didn't notice.

"Uncle Lucky!"

The boys' thunderous descent and urgent queries, followed immediately by their large puppy's arrival, however, easily broke through the reverie. Lucien chuckled and answered each of their queries. An amused grin showed plainly at Sylvia as the General intervened, saving him from further queries and bringing the troops back in line once more. Lucien brushed a kiss to Beata's brow, then handed the young girl back to Sylvia as they left the house. He scooped up Aidan first, then Cian and marched ahead of the women toward the stables with a squirming and giggling lad under each arm.

The grooms had the horses prepared and packed before long. And soon they was mounted, Beata with Sylvia, Aidan with the Barrister and the young Baron upon his own mount, and heading down the trail that Lucien led them along.

(Author's note: The song lyrics are from "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman)

Lucien smiled as he listened to the children consider what it was that he would have packed, adjusting his arm around Aidan as he tried to reach and look around him. The sun peered through small breaks in the clouds, raining streams of light down upon the family as they rode along the tree lined path toward the portal. Golden hues colored their way in a warm palette, that held promise of peace. It was against that unspoken promise, he drew a deep and quiet breath as he lead the small band toward the portal.

"I didn't think to bring my favorite book," he replied, his smile tugging to an amused grin. "However, I packed several of my favorite toys." Lucien stole a glance to Sylvia and gave her a light nod toward a coppice a few yards ahead identifying the portal gateway. "Now, let me think now, what did I bring with me?" he temporized, with a glance to make sure the brigand hound was with them, before turning into, then through the portal.

"I am certain I've packed my fishing pole..." Lucien began rattling off his list things as the sylvan landscape shimmered faintly around them. "My violin...now that I am certain I've packed. And something to eat. After all, we can not embark on an adventure on empty stomachs. And, there is one other thing..." Wooded landscape opened to a lush green clearing that was bordered by a stream framed by gnarled oaks along its northern edge, and a spine of low hills to the west, before the Barrister finished his musings.

A light breezed greeted the family's arrival upon the grounds and he turned a grin to the Baroness. "I remember now. I've brought wings."

"I'm glad you invited us, Uncle. This is very lovely country."

Amused astonishment was expertly masked behind an easy smile, even though it was betrayed in his eyes. The Barrister bowed his head to the young Baron, catching Sylvia's glance in his periphery. "Thank you, Cian. I am very glad you were able to join me."

Lucien's smile tugged to a grin as he brought the sorrel to a stop, keeping secure hold of the squirming boy in his saddle, careful not to get clocked in the chin by the lad's bouncing. He dismounted and set Aidan down on his feet, then took hold of the reigns of Cian's mount letting the young Baron dismount. "Now, young Masters. Why don't you go find us a good spot with good shade and to rest our horses and use as a base for our adventure?" he charged them with a nod toward the brigarra hound who had a good head start to the stream.

The boys' enthusiastic whoops rang out over the field as they raced after their not-so-little pup. Lucien held onto the reigns of his sorrel and Cian's mount in one hand and reached up with the other to take hold of the reigns of Sylvia's mount, should she want to dismount and give Beata some license, without looking. Instead his attention remained fixed over the field of his youth...and his past...and the youthful exuberance that once again echoed through it.

Melancholy tempered his smile briefly, before it was offered in a wistful breath upon the arms of the warm breeze that playfully swirled around them. His smile bloomed wider with another deep breath, and that smile was offered to Sylvia as he started walking the horses down toward a shaded spot the boys had chosen near the stream.

"Do you think I should tell the boys there maybe buried ''treasure' out there?" he queried with a grin.

"There really is treasure buried out here," Lucien offered in a stage whisper, a wry grin evident as he tethered the horses.

Narrowing eyes on him as she untied one of the laces of the packs, Sylvia shook her head. "I am warning you. You let them know and it will be dusk tomorrow before you are free of convincing them otherwise." From the shape and weight of the pack she removed, she felt it likely this was the treasure of food that had been mentioned.

Cian and Aidan were quite intent upon the frog who continued to debate the safest route of escape from the giant pale creatures, and with a deft spring and hop, splashed into the stream. Aidan had tried to catch it mid spring, but missed entirely. Cian just watched with intense eyes the movements and the water where the tiny amphibious enemy escaped.

He couldn't help but laugh at Sylvia's warning. It came freely and easily, without burdensome temperance. "I am duly warned," he offered, although mischief played behind appropriately assenting gaze. He reached around and removed the other packs and began to set out a place under the shade of the willow tree.

Lucien stole a glance to the boys by the stream, as he spread out a large blanket and set rocks to hold down the ends. His gaze drifted back to Sylvia and regarded her for a moment.

It was not that she was unaccustomed to being studied in general, days at court, early days with Kieran, her youth, all those moments she had been studied for some reason or another. No, it was just odd for it to come from her heart brother. In this, her making sure the food had not been upset by the journey was halted. One raven brow rose with a silent question as to what was on his mind. After a moment she gave a verbal prodding, "Yes?"

It'd been years they had known each other. Years behind the bar slinging drinks together. Years of banter and teasing and trials. "Nothing," he replied with a smile. "I was thinking that my little sister has grown up," he added, his smile tugging into a grin.

He pushed himself to his feet then removed the long sacks that were still tethered to the saddle and began unwrapping one of them. A couple long poles were lifted from the sack and set aside. "And I was thinking how old I've grown."

"Oh-ho!" Sylvia laughed a merry chorus of notes that were echoed in a high, girlish giggle of Beata. The little girl got up from her curling with Lucky-puppy to follow her Uncle Lucky. Her little fingers bent about some cloth of his pants. "Grown up, have I?? Sylvia teased, ?And who says you were not old before, hm?"

Aidan saw the poles and exclaimed, "Fishing! One of those mine?" Cian was fast on his younger brother's heels, and by the look in his eyes, he was looking for a fishing pole to use as well.

Easy laughter rang out over the open field at Sylvia's remark. "Okay, how much older, I've grown," he amended with a chuckle. He had just secured the line to the reel of the first pole when he felt little fingers grasping at his pant leg. He shifted his stance and set the little girl upon his knee.

"Yes, young Master, one of these is yours and the other is for your brother. However, before we can start fishing, we need to find some good bait." Amused blues slid over to Sylvia with the last. He reached over for a small pail that was tied to the sack, one arm securely around Beata to keep her upon his knee and held it out to Aidan. "Do you think you and Cian can dig up some nice fat worms we can use as bait? I am sure there are plenty right along the bank there," he nodded to a muddy patch just on the other side of the tree.

"I know just how to find them. Master Hudson showed me." Cian announced with pride. "He showed me, too." Aidan called, but was already on his way to the bank to try and find more than his older brother, completely forgetting the pail that was offered to him.

Beata was perfectly content to make Lucien's preparation of the fishing rods difficult. She reached for lines, ends of poles, the hooks, anything that looked different from some other previously investigated part.

"Yes, older would be more appropriate, but you are not old, brother. Actually, just how old are you? If I did not have such a skewed perspective on fathers, perhaps that would be more to the age difference." Wildness to the violet eyes could not be doubted that she teased still.

"I have seen more than forty winters, my dear Sister," he replied in a put upon older-brother tone as he shifted his stance and sat on the ground with Beata on his knee. He worked around the little girl's exploration of the fishing pole and gear, not at all trying to stop her, even though it meant reeling the line took longer than it would have normally.

There was no Barrister on duty this afternoon, no Mallorek, or anything else. This afternoon, he was just a man.

Lucien looked over Aidan's shoulder at the line and smiled. "You are both well practiced at this, aren't you? Now there used to be this wily, monster sized trout we named Old Grumpy when I used fish here as a boy. I bet Old Grumpy is still grumping around here somewhere."

Well, the very idea of an "Old Grumpy" to find just gave the boys big smiles and they started searching the waters as well as their lines, hoping to be the one to finally catch the fish.

Another matter had been troubling Sylvia, and with the boys occupied with their fishing task, she felt a little more ease in asking after it. "Do you anticipate no word from Alysia?"

Lucien rose to his feet and wiped his hands on his pant leg, leaving the boys to their search through the water's surface and their imaginations. He moved to the pack and removed another fishing pole and began to reel a line through it. "No," his answer came finally on a hushed breath. "She has...gone," there was a strained finality in his reply.

Sylvia wanted to say she was sorry. She wanted to say something that might give comfort, but it was not like Alysia had died. Or, perhaps, in a fashion it was. Still, she was left bereft of a suitable reply except the very thing that felt weak and insufficient. "I am sorry, Lucien."

Beata looked up her uncle and her glance alone made his smile, stealing the melancholy from his features briefly. Lucien's attention rose to the child's mother and a resigned grin remained tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It's alright," he offered quietly.

He drew a deep breath and turned his gaze out over the field that stretched to the rolling hills. "I grew up in a house just past that second hill. Used to come out here near every day after school and just dream about all the things I would do."

Following his lead to hopefully easier thoughts, hopeful times, she grinned. "What wonderful adventures you must have imagined, and have they come true?" She asked as she released Beata to play with the dog a little further away from the stream. The boys were still, miraculously quiet and intent upon their mission.

He set the fishing pole aside, watched the children play as others had before. "I dreamed of being many things...let's see....a brave adventurer, a ruthless pirate, a noble knight....among the countless dreams." He chuckled, looking back to Sylvia. "I never dreamed of being a barrister."

A smile tickled at the corners of her mouth. "I thought a barrister was all those things."

Easy laughter sounded. "Really now? I never knew that." He laid back, propping himself up on his arms. "I'm also looking at expanding the shipyard. Into Alain DeMeur's barony."

Brows rose with that news and a broadening smile. "What a great advance for the shipyard. I had no idea that the business had grown so. I would have had Gaerwyn commission a ship from you." She glanced around, as ever keeping attention to the children, their proximity to danger. "Alain. I know him but little, though of what I hear is quite divergent. He seems a very prosperous and well connected if a bit brazen." With an afterthought she added, "Yes, you two must get along very well."

He nodded, attention also drifting to the children and the hound. "We do get along..." he offered in concurrence, the weight of things unsaid was left hanging between for a breath. "We also have a few things in common....including...." lips twisted into a frown, "Howe."

Her own frown appeared. She said nothing more, but her gaze was hard upon him. There was much she wished he would say, but she did not ask at that moment. Instead, she let the sounds of the stream and wind in the trees whisper to one another their own speculation. Patience prevailed to allow Lucien direct his own thoughts, his own needs to speak or not, and if he did not provide she might then turn her hand to the endeavor of learning what ate away inside her brother, what troubles lurked in shadows of his thoughts.

He turned his attention back to Sylvia to catch her frown and her gaze upon him. A humorless grin ghosted at the corner of his mouth. "You look as if you want to ask me all manner of things. Ask and I'll answer what I can."

A snicker at her own troubling thoughts, not his open ended offer to answer. "They cannot be killed evidently." She based this on limited knowledge, her hapless shrug revealed that much. "What is it you hope to achieve in the eternal chess match? Or, perhaps I should be asking what is it you fear they will achieve that you and Alain and others continually act as fire breaks between them and this other? I fear for you most of all, Lucien. Sid has her undeniable and unfathomable abilities, Alain, I do not know what skills his possesses, but he did manage to somehow survive their employ. I understand that Alysia once held some ability of protection," again, the words fall short, the vague and likely incorrect understanding weakened the certainty. "What is do you do in this? I hate to sit idly by while friends of mine fight something I do not understand."

He sat up at Sylvia's query, gaze drifting back to the boys and the little girl. He watched their carefree ease and joy in their play, engrossed in their imagination and discovery.

Against the idyllic image of innocence, her question resurrected a topic of discussion that came up between Alysia and himself. "The DCH are not the only enemies I have, Sylvia. But they tried to kill me," his tone quieting, "and killed a dear friend of mine. They've done nothing but caused pain and trouble for those I care for." There was a hard edge in his voice.

His lips pressed to a thin line, a furrow marking his brow as he seemed to weigh matters. "I don't understand all of it either," he confessed upon breaking his silence. "Sid showed me a...vision of a sort. This is some epic battle...but I don't understand all of it. All I know is - I would kill Howe, should the opportunity arise."

It was so near and yet distant with the series of things that had happened in the past years. The event that drew her back to Rhydin so long ago, his losses, her losses, and yet through all of it, those that had claimed the life of one dear to him continued on seemingly unscathed. She could not deny him his purpose or his intent, even if she feared for him over it. "And just how do you hope to achieve this where others have failed? What can I tell my children of their Uncle Lucky when they fear to have you fall to your enemies like others close to them have?"

As much as Beata wanted to go to her Uncle Lucky and give him warming hugs, Sylvia restrained her. What she did not restrain was her laugh, and the boys chimed in with it as they were given the release to see the humor in the situation. "Aidan, be a good lad and see if you cannot find something to aid your Uncle in drying off and warming up."

Aidan went hunting for something blankety that was not covered in horse hair. "Do you think we should set up a fire to help you dry off or just want to lay in the sun and hope you do not catch a chill?" Sylvia asked with trickles of laughter still slipping out.

He stood near the bank of the stream and wrung out his shirt, with a crooked grin tugging at the corner of his mouth at Sylvia and the boys. He reached down and gave the hound a scritch behind the ears. "I think a fire is a good idea. I'll take the boys and we men will search for some firewood. Let's go young Masters," he beckoned and started walking along the banks with Cian and Aidan trailing a few steps after tossing a blanket haphazardly down near the food.

"The men, is it?" She grinned after the taller adult and his miniature shadows. A wrinkle of her nose to Beata, she murmured, "We should prepare the place to have the fire. Time to find some rocks, Bea." Beata had a particular fondness for rocks...moving them especially. So, with delight in seeing her mother moving some rocks from here and there to form a circle, she helped with a sing-songy glee though her placement of the rocks required Sylvia's adjustments into that circle.

"Yes Men," he called back at Sylvia with a chuckle. They were soon collecting dried branched and twigs that had fallen from the trees. The water continued to drip off the end of his chin, but the sun on his back did warm him.

He smiled as he watched Cian's meticulous selection against Aidan's enthusiastic sweeping scoop of twigs and branches. Before long, the three of them had good armful of firewood and they started back, the hound loping along beside them.

"Ah, the hunter-gatherers have returned and your mission is a success, I see. So, now, did your uncle bring something along to light said fire or is he going to be entirely rustic and try crashing rocks together." She smiled as she sat back on the blanket once more, and tried to distract her rock collecting daughter with another slice of apple. It was an easy choice -- the apple won out.

Lucien knelt down where Sylvia and Beata had prepared a place for the fire and deposited the wood there. Cian and Aidan followed suit and knelt down as well. He grinned at Sylvia's remark then turned to Cian. "Would you look in my saddle bag, please? There should be a box about this size," he explained, holding out his two fingers about 8" apart."

As Cian hopped to his feet to fetch the tinder box, Lucien turned to Aidan next, starting to collect a few larger branches and preparing the firewood. "If you would hand me the best ones so we can get a good fire going, that would help me greatly."

Sylvia watched as her sons aided Lucien in the fire making. Aidan would hold up a branch with brows raised in hopeful consideration for his selection. Swift in his own task, Cian returned with the tinder box only to join in the choosing of the branches. "I'm supposed to help Uncle Lucky select the branches," Aidan frowned.

"I can help, too." Cian retorted and kept up his aid.

Sylvia opened her mouth to intervene, but then decided to wait to see if the boys would work it out, let it go, or if Lucky would take the matter in hand.

"Thank you, Cian," he offered, taking the tinderbox from the young Baron. He set it aside and made to busy himself with the contents of the box watching the boys in his periphery. "We need to make a big fire, so the more hands the better," he remarked casually, stealing a glance over at Sylvia.

She finished the apple sharing with her daughter, but kept an eye on Aidan and Cian who were now trying to outdo one another with finding the best branch, then finding them faster than the other. "So," she started out slowly, "you may be dry by the time the fire is even built the way the boys are heating up over there." Beata and Lucky-puppy were taking a stroll around and around the tree, playing a combination of peek-a-boo, hide and seek, and chase.

"Built many fires out of doors of late, or is this another secret talent of yours from your youth?"

He chuckled quietly, patiently taking the ones that both Cian and Aidan have selected and preparing the fire. "My dear Sister. I am full of secret...talents," a wry grin tugged at the corner of his mouth accompanying his reply. Lucien stole glanced over at Beata and the hound playing around the tree, then grinned, looking back over at Sylvia. "And speaking of secret talents, since I was responsible for chasing away our lunch, the least I can do is cook up a proper meal for the lot of us."

In the meanwhile, the stack of firewood was completed, in large part to the boys' drive to outpace his sibling. "Thank you very much, Gentlemen. That is perfect. Should dry me out in no time." He turned his gaze to the sky, then leaned down to light a spark and start the fire.

With the boys both praised and looking proud of themselves, they cheered the idea of food and Aidan hastily asked. "What are we having?"

"Probably whatever his secret talents can cook up, Aidan-love." Sylvia smirked. "Go along and play unless you plan on assisting in the cooking, not just badgering your uncle." That did not serve to aid Lucien at all, for both boys nodded and looked to Lucien for instruction on what they should do next.

However, Sylvia was curious as to the other secret talents. While Lucien had the boys in hand and Beata was in visual range, she lay back, arms folding beneath her head, and gave it a great deal of thought. She had to consider it was likely there was much indeed she did not know of Lucien. While she was plain and predictable in her skills, Lucien had never failed to be able to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat in some very dire circumstances. She wondered just what she had missed in learning about him being so often and so long away.

He couldn't help but smile at their eager glances. With the fire burning, he rose to his feet. "Aidan, would you go into the sack there and get me some bread, an apple and some cheese, please. I think I put an onion in there too," he instructed as he started for the sorrel. "Cian," he nodded to another pack beside his violin case, "I need the small pan and the plates please."

He reached under the saddle of the sorrel and removed a wrapped pack and from a pouch off the saddle bag, removed a long pouch. Lucien returned and knelt down by the fire, setting the items aside the blanket, waiting for the boys with a grin.

While the boys set off to their tasks, Beata aerial attacked her mother, coming in head first to Sylvia's unguarded stomach, then rolling. "Oof!" Sylvia grunted against the impact that filtered into laughter as her daughter rolled about with a big smile. She rolled with her and then released, laying back down again waiting for the next attack, knowing from the spark in the little green eyes, that it would be coming. "Sounds like an interesting meal we're having. Onion and apple." She teased then coughed out again as Beata made her next attack run.

"Sweet and a little tart with a bite," he explained, chuckling as he watched mother and daughter at play. Lucien drew a deep and quiet breath, grin to a smile as the boys brought the items over to him. "Thank you very much, Gentlemen."

Lucien then reached over and picked up one of the sticks they did not use for the fire and handed it over to Cian. He nodded over the hound, who was still sniffing around the tree, then looked quite seriously at both boys. "Now, I have a real important task for both of you. And you must work together for this to work." He waited until they both nodded, looking at him expectantly.

"I need you both to keep Lucky-puppy occupied while I'm making lunch. You can play fetch or run about together in the field, but it is important that you keep his attention away from here until it is all done, alright?"

Cian was quite serious in his nod, but Aidan barely gave an "Okay!" before he was off and running with Lucky-puppy through the field and Cian was catching up behind him.

"Mommy hates snakes." Aidan grinned. "I never bring a snake in the house, but I've brought frogs and crickets. I ate a cricket, too."

"Yes, I think he knows that, Aidan. You need not boast of it to everyone." Sylvia lightly chastised, more for the sake of having to spare herself from reliving that particular moment every time he mentioned it.

"I bet he's still out there," Cian concluded. "He shouldn't be called Old Grumpy though for living that long. He should be called Old Lucky!" And finding that one of the most hilarious things he could think of, just laughed and laughed. Aidan added his laughter and so did Beata in softer breaths of giggles. Beata was tiring fast, no doubt a lingering effect of her recent bout with illness.

He's laughter joined the children's chorus. A dog, a rooster and now a fabled trout...what more could a man ask for? It was good to see the young Baron be just a boy, even in those fleeting moments, without the heavy burdens of his position and title.

Both the fire and the time cooking under the sun did well to dry him from his earlier spill into the stream for the most part. He washed down the last mouthful of his lunch with another drink from the canteen, then stole another glance to the afternoon, sky, before glancing over at Sylvia to see how they were doing with time.

Beata had shifted to laying down on the blanket, her lamb curled up close, and the eye lids drooped as she fought sleeping. Trying to encourage the rest, Sylvia caressed the dark curls and rubbed gently at the tiny back.

Cian and Aidan made quick and enthusiastic work of their lunch, and as automatic as breathing, they took care of their dishes and then set back to their mission of catching Ole Grumpy Lucky the wily trout. Aidan was delegated to catching crickets, while Cian recovered the fishing pole that survived the stream dunking episode.

"We should do this more often, Lucky. Maybe get some color back into those cheeks of yours and life in those eyes. Your work," she used the term very liberally, "drains you."

He began quietly cleaning up their plates and the pan, using the towel he had and the remaining water from his canteen. "This was a long time coming. Thank you for joining me on this trip."

She assisted in the cleaning up, and spoke softly but earnestly. "I am so very glad you invited us," then she narrowed her eyes and gave a teasing grin, "even if you have only taunted me with things you must tell me at other times. I shall be holding you to that as well. Perhaps a visit to the Teas 'n' Tomes where I can add something to your tea to induce you to talk openly." A soft laugh as it was only the slightly threat.

He nodded toward the rolling hills as he stacked the plates. "I lived just on the other side of that hill. I bought this entire stretch of land after my parents had passed," he remarked quietly when she neared to help with the clean up. "The children seem to enjoy the place," he offered in quiet observation, glancing to Sylvia for her assessment, no reply to her teasing and lightly veiled threat, for the moment.

"Yes, so they do." She nodded. "You promised an adventure and delivered. Without the bother of servants, they can run and play and be." A soft sigh, it was hard to find such places in safety. None, in fact, she could think of since the attack at Yearling Brook stole away its serenity.

"I'm very glad to hear that," he replied in the same quiet, as he began to put the plates and pan in the sack. "Because I am leaving this place, along with another, to the children."