The Happy Family
General Gawain fell in love with a woman named Elena. The day they had been married had been a happy day for all who knew them. Elena was the most beautiful bride she could possibly be. Like many newlyweds, Gawain and Elena were very happy to spend time in each other's company; and in less than a year, they had given birth to a son. He had his father's jaw and his mother's eyes. Only time would tell that he would have her hair as well.
"He's beautiful," Gawain muttered to Elena.
"I know," she said, "What do you think we should name him?" The baby let out a boisterous giggle. "What a laugh…I think we should call him Isaac."
"An Ike, eh?" Gawain asked, "Yeah, I can deal with that." He put the baby on his knee. "Yep, that's right, Ike. When you get big and strong, you'll take over for me." Once again the baby laughed, and the father hugged him to his chest.
"He really likes you," Elena said.
"I know," Gawain said, beaming. "He really likes you too."
Ever since he was born, Ike was a brave boy—some would even say careless. More than once, Elena and Gawain had to physically stop him from walking off of some high shelf that he had climbed unto.
"Ike, no!" Gawain would say, holding out his arms so that the baby would fall nicely into them. And every time, Ike would laugh.
Elena and Gawain took Ike to go visit the king of Gallia. The king was amused and pleased to see the young one.
"You two must be very proud," he had said.
"We are," Gawain said, picking Ike out of Elena's arms.
"May I hold the baby?" he asked.
"We'll have to check with him," Elena said, looking into Ike's eyes, "Do you want the king to hold you, Ike, dear?"
Ike responded with a small chuckle. The king picked up Ike and said, "He looks like both of you."
"I know he does," Elena said.
"Yes," Gawain said. He took Ike out to the west balcony. "You see this great forest? This is the place that we call home. One day, hopefully, you and the laguz will grow up to be good friends." A small blue kitten scampered across the room. He wasn't a baby, but he wasn't fully mature either.
"Hey, Ranulf!" the king called, "Your mother would hate to see you running around like that."
"Meoooooooooooooow," he whined.
"I know you want to say hi to the baby, but that's no way to go about doing that," he said.
"Ike," Gawain said, "Would you like to make a friend?" He knelt down and showed Ike to the kitten. The kitten transformed into a little boy. Elena was worried that Ike would panic at this, but instead, Ike touched the nose of the boy. He laughed. Ranulf laughed as well.
Elena smiled at how naturally her son adapted to seeing a laguz transform; she could never have hoped in her wildest dreams that he would be so open-minded naturally. She assumed he would have to be taught about those transformations and that until that point he would be scared.
"Yes," Gawain said, "I'm sure that Ike will become a great leader when he grows up."