Topic: Stories to Remember

Storm Divine

Date: 2008-03-07 18:28 EST
*And.. and tell him that I miss him.* Avery repeated for the third time as he listed the things he wanted Storm to write in their letter to Ewan. *And to say hi to grandma for me, and..*

The quill paused, and Storm just watched his requests roll off his fingers and gestures. Where he learned to ramble she was not sure, ?I think your father will do all those things and more, little one. Now go and get ready for bed.? At his pleading look, she tickled the quill?s softness against his cheek, ?Shall I tell your father that you are being stubborn as well??

*No!* He laughed silently before bounding down the hall to get ready for slumber. Chuckling softly, Storm wiggled in her chair before dipping the quill into the ink. It was not obvious to anyone except her, but her pants were no longer comfortable. It was not yet time to toss them aside, but the slightest changes of her adapting body made favored clothing irritating.

Her response to Ewan?s letter was very simple. Storm had taken several days to stay inside and adjust back to RhyDin. While her morning sickness was little in Yransea, it came back in full force upon her return home. It was under control now, if even that could be said. The only news she had for her far off husband was the meeting with the Guardians and the midwife within the next upcoming days. Signing her name and folding it with care, she stood to check on Avery?s progress.

?Ready, little one?? She peaked her head into his room, and was more than pleased to see him changed, washed, and already in bed. She sat on the side of his bed, and brushed away a few blond strands that covered his forehead.

*Tell me a story, mom.*

?I do not know many stories that can be properly told from memory.? This was true as she continued the gentle stroking motion. Storm was never a good storyteller.

*Then make one up.*

She was about to object, before her hand paused in its motion. What story did she know better than her own? ?All right, how about we make up a story? We have to have a Prince in the story. What shall his name be??

Surprised that Storm was going to make up a story, Avery?s tired eyes widened, *Rupert. Prince Rupert.? Rupert being the name of one of his several toys.

?Prince Rupert it is then. We need someone magical, perhaps a nymph? What shall we call her??

Avery relaxed his head onto his pillow, *Sage.*

She watched his eyes grow heavy, and she gently smiled, ?Now, Prince Rupert and the King have beautiful kingdom named?? but when Avery did not fill in the break, she continued on, ?Anyra. And every day the Prince Rupert would walk through the great forest and break his fast among the trees. He went and sat by the same tree at the same time come rain or shine.?

When she noticed the slow rise and fall of Avery?s breathing, she leaned down and kissed his forehead with a whisper, ?Sweet dreams.?

Storm Divine

Date: 2008-03-09 15:53 EST
*Did Prince Rupert really go every day?* Avery sat propped up against his pillows in his bed. Since last night?s story telling, Storm did not have to encourage the boy to go to bed. She wished that she would have thought to make up a story long ago.

?Every day, ever since the King allowed him to go out by himself. Now, this day was just as any other day, and the Prince went out to break his fast, when there was a new tree right in his spot. It was not a young nor old, and the oak tree was the most beautiful one that he had ever seen. Curious, Prince Rupert began to eat under this new tree.?

*How does a tree just.. appear?*

?If we knew how all magic worked, then it would not be magic any more, would it?? She smiled though, ?After a week of eating under the new tree, the Prince arrived as he always did. And there, sitting in his new spot, was a woman. Her skin was as dark as the tree, and her eyes were as green as a new leaf. She said to him that she was the nymph of the oak tree, and that she had been moved from her old forest.?

?Prince Rupert had never met a nymph, but he said that he was glad that her tree had been moved, for it provided the best shade he had ever had.? Storm watched as Avery tried to fight the sleep that was drawing over him, ?Since the Prince had yet to harm her tree, the nymph began to keep him company every morning. She told him about her people, and he told her about his. It did not take long for their friendship to grow and flourish.?

Rather than continue on the story during his slumber, she tucked him into bed and kissed his forehead. As Storm exited the room, her mind traveled back to the afternoons spent with her husband, and she yearned.

Storm Divine

Date: 2008-03-10 18:24 EST
*We were at the part where they become friends.* Avery reminded Storm, just in case she had forgotten where they left off in the story.

She laughed lightly, and lifted the covers up for him to place his legs under, ?Yes son, I know.? Resting her hands in her lap, she continued weaving the tale that seemed to entertain him, ?Prince Rupert and the nymph, whom he learned was named Sage, became close friends. They shared jokes that only they knew, and each began to anticipate seeing each other upon waking.? She grinned, at least that is how Storm began to feel over a year ago.

?Then one morning, the Prince took his usual stroll in the forest towards Sage?s tree, when it was suddenly gone. All that was left was burnt ashes. For you see, when a nymph?s tree dies, so does the nymph.?

*She died?* Avery?s face instantly turned sad and melancholy.

?For almost two weeks,? she continued without answering his question, ?The Prince continued to go to the forest every morning, and hope that Sage would appear. He worried for his friend that he cared for. Then one morning as he sat and waited, the nymph appeared from a nearby tree. He knew it was Sage, but she looked different. More human. Her skin resembled flesh and her hair silk, and she was ashamed to look so differently. But Prince Rupert found her to be as beautiful as ever.?

*Why did she not like the way she looked?*

?What kind of wood nymph would she be, if she did not look like her own kind?? As Avery thought upon that, she continued, ?Sage told the Prince that she was the nymph of the forest now, and not just a tree, and that if he ever needed her for anything, she would be there. It was not long before she revealing her liking for him, and the Prince returned her affections.?

*Did he love her?*

?He might have then, he might not have, but either way he did not say.? Storm did not know the answer to his question, but she would remember to ask Ewan when he came home. The thought of his current absence brought a sad smile to her face, and she no longer felt the desire to tell her story, ?Time for sleep, now.? Tucking him in, Storm embraced her warm memories to keep her spirits level in her solitude.

Storm Divine

Date: 2008-03-10 18:36 EST
Storm crossed her eyes as the scribbled letters blurred together on the parchment. Papers spread across the table, she as attempting to catch up in her paperwork that recorded the things she missed while staying at home. Most of the news was normal and rather uninteresting. Weariness beginning to settle in, the sound of rustling paper broke the silence, and Storm lifted a hand to her mouth to cover her yawn. Perhaps the reports too so long to read because her mind was still contemplating all the questions Avery had for her story.

Ewan had seen to the reports and news he needed to with as much haste as prudence allowed. When he arrived at the house, he was already smiling in anticipation of being home. Some lights were still on, so that meant at least one person was awake. Pack was drawn off from over his shoulder as he opened the door and stepped inside, not even stopping to draw off his cloak for the peg on the wall before going to find his wife. "Storm?"

Practically half asleep in her seat, her mind did not register that someone had stepped through her shields until the door was already opening. Blinking rapidly, the footsteps were familiar and she broke out into a grin. Even as he called her name, her energy was momentarily restored as she moved from her chair to meet him. "Ewan." She said his name softly, and her pace quickened to give him a fierce embrace.

He hugged her close and kissed her neck. "Mmm, you feel good," he breathed out. Then he pulled his head back a bit to look her over. "How are you feeling?"

She laughed softly against him, breathing in his comforting scent. She made no move to lessen her hold on him. "Tired. And tight." She blinked, chuckled, and further explained, "My pants are becoming tight." She pulled away then to show her lopsided grin.

He could not keep from laughing. "I guess we will be seeing you get some new clothing, beloved." He leaned over to kiss her belly as greeting to the baby, then rose again to kiss her. "If you are tired, you should get some rest. No good running yourself into the ground. Besides," he said with a cheeky grin, "I know how much you do not like being underground."

With warm laughter, her eyes followed his descent as he kissed her middle. A rosy flush came to her cheeks, and she lifted a hand to run through his hair once. The kiss she returned was full of love, "No, I do not." She smiled, and then motioned over her shoulder, "I was not going to stay up much later, just trying to catch up with things." She studied him, then. "How are you?"

"Well, thank you. Mother sends her love to you, the baby, and Avery," he said as he kept as close to her as possible. "She has some more strength in her, so that is good."

Relief in his news was apparent by the way her muscles relaxed fully against him, "I am so very glad to hear that. Are Sianna and Hudson still with her?" With great reluctance, she pulled away just so that she could arrange her papers in an orderly manner before retiring.

He let her go to her papers, and nodded. "When I left they were, though my understanding is they were leaving not long after. Tonight or the next day. The Path making such things much more convenient." He looked around, and then back to her. "After all that travel, I really need to clean up before I join you to sleep." He kissed her cheek. "I will see you there."

"Yes, I have no desire for you to drag bits of Seansloe into bed with us." She called over her shoulder and grinned. Once her papers were settled, she walked through the hall to their bedroom, changing into her sleepwear while covering another yawn. As he came to join her, she could not help but think how appropriate it was for Rupert to be a Prince. She could never consider her husband anything less, and he was hers.

Storm Divine

Date: 2008-03-16 01:27 EST
*Are you going to tell me more of the story, Mom?* Avery?s eyes were hopeful as Storm tucked the blankets are his small body.

Her tired eyes moved up to him, and s`he smiled, ?It?s mom?s bed time too, son. The story will be ready for you tomorrow eve.?

He scooted forward on his bed, and patted behind him, *Come lay down with me and tell me more of the story. You can rest your eyes until dad is ready for bed, too.* When Storm was caught napping, she normally told Avery that she was ?resting her eyes.?

With a gentle sigh, Storm moved to lay on the bed with his back curled to her front. With her legs bent slightly, she was able to fit on his smaller bed. ?I will only tell a little of the story, and then you must go to sleep.?Though she was yawning as her hand came up to play with his hair, ?The Prince Rupert continued to go to the forest every morning, and with any spare opportunity he had. He brought her books, and read her stories of his land, and she of hers. Their affection continued to grow with each passing of the sun.?

Her eyes fluttered close, but her hand continued to run through his hair, ?But the Prince had responsibilities to his kingdom. He was called to be away for a time, and would not be able to visit the forest for weeks. Sage understood, having her own things to tend to within the forest. It did not lessen her worry or yearning. She even gave him a gift, a scarf as soft as fresh moss to give him comfort when he was away.?

Her hand slowly stopped in the movement, and though she could not see, Avery was fighting the sleep just as she was, ?For the time that he was gone, she thought of him often. And the morning he returned, she was overjoyed to see that he came with only stitches to his cheek instead of something worse.?

Storm yawned again, and opened her mouth to continue. Instead, sleep claimed both of them, each dreaming of their own version of the story.

Storm Divine

Date: 2008-03-31 02:26 EST
*Tell me more of the story!* Avery pouted and crossed his arms in defiance as Storm tried to put him in bed. Whisper, the new puppy, plopped down next to Avery feet and whimpered as he was neglected.

?Not if you behave such as that. Only good little boys can hear the story of the Prince and Sage. Now, get in bed before I have your father tuck you in bed instead.? While he tried to apologize for his rude behavior, Storm kept her eyes away from his hands, and bent over to pick up the puppy. He was still small enough to fit in the curve of her arm, but she knew from seeing the parents that he would not be so small for long. Tired and finding her warmth a comfort, Whisper nuzzled her gradually thickening middle. The slow changes of her pregnancy were not noticeable to many yet, but it was to her.

?Are we in bed?? Storm acted as if Avery had not tried to obtain her attention at all. Seeing that he was already under the covers and behaving, She positioned the puppy in front of her face, and secretly loved his blue eyes and the twitch of his grey brow, ?Time for bed for you too, Whisper.? When she received a pink tongue on her chin in response, she promptly remembered why the dog did not sleep with her, and placed him on the foot of Avery?s bed.

?Do I need to have your father come and tuck you in?? When Avery shook his head vigorously, Storm chuckled, ?Well, might as well tell you so more of the story before you fall to slumber.?

*Whisper, too.*

?Yes, Whisper too.? She glance down the bed at the small grey mass that was curled near Avery?s feet. ?Do you remember where we ended??

*Prince Rupert came home and had stitches on his cheek.* That had seemed to be Avery?s favorite part of the story by far.

?Oh, yes. He returned to Sage with the worst of stitches. The first few days he was home, he came on the break of morning just as before, and he spoke of them visiting unseen lands, lush with gardens. It saddened Sage, because being the nymph of the forest, she could never leave, and could never spend that time with him.?

*Was she sad?* Avery straightened his legs and settled fully into his bed, and disrupted Whisper in the process. Almost tripping over his own paws, the puppy relocated into Storm?s lap.

With a resigned sigh, she stroked the soft fur that rested on her lap, ?Of course she was. The Prince wanted to go and see things that she never could.? Storm recalled what her felt when Ewan took their teasing of spending a week away to heart, and sighed happily. ?But would you like to know what he did?? When he slowly nodded, she continued, ?He set up a tent, and camped in the forest for an entire week, just so that he could spend time of her. That was nice, no?? She asked as she watched the process of sleep slowly claim her son.

When he did not lift a hand, she hid a smile and pressed the usual nightly kiss to his cheek. The moment was interrupted with a close nose pressed against her own cheek, followed by a long, warm lick. ?Ridiculous puppy.? Chuckling, she pressed a kiss to the top of Whisper?s head also before leaving the boy?s to their slumber.