Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Elves of All Kinds (1x1)

Saelhil took a deep breath, bring her hand to his cheek for a moment. He chuckled softly. "Perhaps this is just a way to make us appreciate our family more, mm? We've already been through quite a bit... This should be no problem." He leaned up to kiss her lips with a faint smile, still holding her hand, his free hand resting gently on his leg. Whenever they parted, he would say to her softly, "I love you so much more than you could ever know."

Raeliel stroked his cheek with her fingertips, chuckling softly. "Yes...you're right. I think you're very right, Saelhil." She kissed him back, smiling as he murmured those special words to her. They had come such a long way, it was true. They hated each other at first. She was bitter at him for being an uneducated natural elf, and he saw her as stuck-up and pretentious. "Come on, let's get breakfast for the kids. I doubt they've eaten anything since...yesterday." She almost mentioned the death, but figured it would probably be too soon. She kissed his cheek and stood up, feeling less dizzy now. The last thing she wanted to do was cause Saelhil worry about HER health now.

"Mm." Saelhil nodded quietly and stood, grasping her hand as they began making breakfast. He turned a bit quiet, mind preoccupied with all the events over the past few days. He still had to announce his father's death officially to the village (though most probably knew already), and many ceremonies would come in the next week or so, including his father's funeral, a celebration of Belle's birth, and of course naming Saelhil chieftain... His stomach ached at the thought, but he pushed it aside and tried to just focus on what was happening right now.

Raeliel knewtheir life was about to get very complicated. That was how things went. But for just a couple moments, she wanted peace. Naturally, no peace came. Halfway through breakfast, at least the making of it, one of the ladies came downstairs with a crying baby. Raeliel sighed and took Belle from her, sitting down to feed the babe while Saelhil finished breakfast.sigh . motherhood.

Saelhil glanced back at Raeliel for just a moment, a quiet sigh and a flicker of a smile on his countenance. He finished making breakfast by himself (good thing for the kids that he learned how to cook properly from Raeliel), and soon everything was ready to eat. He went to Raeliel and kissed her forehead. "I'll go call them in," he said, moving towards the door to retrieve the children. He wondered vaguely how the village would be for a while, changing chieftains so abruptly when Thortharion was looking like he had high chances of regaining full strength. It also occured to Saelhil to inform Raeliel's father; a lot had happened that he needed to be informed about.

Raeliel smiled softly as he kissed her head. "Alright." She stretched a little after Belle was full and burped the baby gently, then settled the child in her lap. The baby cooed and looked up at her mother, just gazing around lazily. Raeliel smiled down at her baby, then looked up whenever Saelhil brought the kids in. She felt better. Just looking at Belle made her feel better. She was glad that Thortharion had been able to hold the child in his last moments. She knew that must have meant a lot to him.

Valenthion was leading Talainna along as they came back inside. They seemed to have been having some conversation or another, because she kept glancing ath im unsurely.

"Ready to eat, everyone?" Saelhil asked, smiling softly at his little family as he beckoned them to the dining room. He noticed the children's disposition, but brushed it off as just being nervous after everything that happened the day previous.

Raeliel smiled softly at her family. "Welcome back, everyone. Did you enjoy your time outside?" She helped them sit down, then sat down herself and settled the baby in her arms. "How's the weather outside, you two? Are you hungry?" She wanted to have at least an attempt at conversation. They were still a family, no matter what happened. She looked at Saelhil and smiled, trying to lift his spirits as well.

As everyone sat down, Talainna glanced over at Raeliel. "It looks like rain... But it's nice outside, for now." She smiled weakly, and Saelhil began serving everyone.

"It smells like rain, too," Valenthion added with a slight nod. "The wind's picking up pretty fast." He sniffed slightly, and rubbed his nose with the back of his wrist. "Belle's alright, isn't she?" he asked, looking to where he heard Raeliel. If there was one thing he didn't want, it was his new little sister getting sick, or worse. Everyone was already upset, and although he didn't share the same intensity of feelings, he was still worried.

Raeliel smiled. "Rain is good, though. It will help the flowers to bloom more beautifully. Yes, Valenthion, Belle is just fine. She's resting right now. She already had her breakfast." She chuckled and looked at the little baby who was half-asleep in her arms. She was so tiny compared to them all. "If it's going to rain, we'll have to think up some things to do inside to take up our time. Any suggestions, you two?"

"Oh, can we tell stories, Sael? Like Mama used to do?" Talainna suddenly looked up to her big brother, a hopeful look in her eyes. The elf paused, then smiled a bit and gently patted her head before sitting down himself, next to Raeliel.

"Of course, little raven. What else is there to do on rainy days but sing songs and tell stories? It's only tradition, after all." Saelhil smoothed back his hair, glanced at Raeliel, then looked back to the children. "Maybe we can even make--"

"Some of Mama's Rainy Tea?" Talainna interrupted, suddenly looking quite excited. Saelhil chuckled softly.

"Mm. Rainy Tea... Do you remember how to make it?" he asked, taking a small bite of his food.

Talainna nodded eagerly. "Mmhm!" She looked at Raeliel. "Mama used to make us tea, when storms were real bad," she explained. "It's real sweet and makes you kinda sleepy. Then we would all get under a blanket in front of the fireplace, and Mama would sing me and Sael to sleep." Her bright smile softened slightly, as she seemed to suddenly remember those times of her younger years, but she seemed content with just memories.

Raeliel listened to them go back and forth and she smiled happily. "That sounds wonderful. Would you be sure to light a fire when it rains, Saelhil? I would love to take part in this tradition. I'm sure we all have stories to share, and little Belle needs to hear her family's voices after all." She started eating, smiling at her family. "I think cuddling under a blanket and drinking tea and telling stories sounds wonderful."

She paused, and looked to Saelhil. "What do you think, Saelhil? Is it something you would like to do?"

{Do you mean Valenthion?}

(Yes I do my bad )

{Okay just making sure xD}

Valenthion glanced up from his food. He paused, then shook his head. "That sounds fun." He smiled weakly, then looked back down at his food, picking at it a bit.

Raeliel easily noticed her son's change in behavior. "...Valenthion? At you okay? You're not yourself." Well, nobody was today, but Valenthion especially. He out of all of them had the least reason to be upset, but he seemed even more affected than Saelhil or Talainna. She was worried about him. She shifted Belle in her arms and put a hand on her son's shoulder.

Valenthion looked up at her, albeit a bit reluctantly. He shrugged slightly. "Just tired, I guess." Honestly, the boy had a lot on his mind. Sure, he would have been in the village for over half a year soon, but... He suddenly felt very outcast once more. His grandfather whom he barely knew had died, not soon after finding out his baby sister could also die any day. Besides that, his father would soon become chieftain, and that would mean that either he or Talainna would be chieftain after Saelhil, and Talainna had told Valenthion that she wouldn't become chieftain (Would she be a chieftess? he wondered) for anything in the world, so he realized that the responsibility would befall him... But would he even live that long? What if he grew old like his birth father, and died before Belle could even remember him properly?! He would never know what his parents look like, or his sister and aunt/cousin. Sure, Saelhil had explained Raeliel's appearance to him, but he wanted to see them, to see the other villagers, the village itself, even. Talainna told him that the forest and river and meadow around the village were the prettiest she knew of... He would never know the land or the village like his new family knew it.

Raeliel looked at him for a few moments, then handed Belle gently over to Saelhil. She moved a little closer to her son and touched his cheek. "...come now, Valenthion. Weariness does not make such a forlorn face. What's wrong?" She looked at him carefully, then kissed his head. "We're your family, Valenthion. You can tell us, I promise. We're here for you, we'll help you." She put her arm around him, kissing his head again. "Please, honey. You can tell me what's got you so upset." She knew it wasn't just being tired. It was definitely not that. She knew what tired looked like, and Valenthion wasn't tired.

Valenthion leaned against her but looked away. After a few moments of silence, he sighed heavily and began reluctantly retelling his fears to her, his wariness for what was to come. His words made Saelhil concerned, but the man remained silent, just holding his daughter as he listened. When Valenthion finished, Saelhil looked at Raeliel, unsure of exactly how to comfort the boy, since they were all legitimate worries. But after half-a moment Saelhil cleared his throat quietly.

"It's scary, I know," he said gently, "but it's not so scary when you realize that we are all here for you. You'll never be alone if and when these things happen.

Raeliel listened to her son intently, letting Saelhil speak before she did. "Let tomorrow worry about itself, Valenthion. Simply enjoy today. But, since I know that is not so easy, please...don't worry about being chieftain. Depending on when that time comes, Belle might be ready to take the responsibility instead, maybe with a husband. Also, I will make sure that Belle remembers you. Just like I'll make sure she knows about her grandfather."

She wrapped her arms around him and held him. "We can't do anything about your sight, sweetheart. And I'm so, so sorry. But just know this; always, always, always remember that you are not alone in the dark. We are always here for you. We are your family, and you will ALWAYS be part of this family, no matter what happens. You are a Nhaethdal, Valenthion. And nothing will ever change that. You are always going to be our son. I promise. We will never, ever stop loving you."