Chapter 1:
"Wake up!" Carrea heard called in her ear. "Wake up, wake up!" It came again with a finger prodding at her face.
"No. I'm asleep."
"No! It's time to get up!" Again the prodding came, this time harder and faster. Smiling, Carrea turned over and grabbed the person in the process, smothering them in a hug.
"Noooo! I've been caught! Save me Adryan!"
"Rawwwr! I'm a scary limek."
"Saaave meee-" Thump. A pillow crash landed on both of them. Muffled cries came from under it and legs waved about trying to get free. Moving the pillow, she sat up angrily. "Why did you do that for?"
"Because I am a scary limek!" He grinned. Wriggling out from Carrea's grip she chased Adryan round the room.
"No you're not, your a little ceryni and I am a mullook. I'm going to get you!"
"Ahhh, get off me Annia." Adryan cried out, jumping onto the bed and climbing under the quilt. "You can't get me now." He grinned, poking his head out.
"No, but I can." Carrea whispered behind him and wrapped her arms around him. He let out a high pitched squeal which erupted in giggling and flailing. Annia leapt onto the bed after them and scrambled on top of them both.
"I've got you now Mummy!"
"Oh no!" She laughed. "Now what are you going to do miss scary mullook?"
"Eat you up."
"Not if I eat you first!"
"Noooo!" Annia shrieked and ran off.
"And what about you, shall I eat you too little limek?"
"Don't be silly." He giggled, climbed out of bed and ran out of the room. Smiling Carrea stretched and got out of bed. Dressing, she heard the twins running round the guestroom shouting at each other. After a few minutes they went quiet and she could hear them whispering.
"What do we do now? Quick hide it before she sees!"
"See what?" Carrea asked suspiciously, poking her head round the corner.
"Nothing." Adryan said innocently and putting his hands behind his back.
"What's in your hands?"
"Nothing."
"Open them up." Reluctantly he held out his hands, which were empty. Walking towards him she asked, "where is it? I know you broke something." Sighing he turned around and picked up a small object.
"How did that happen?" She frowned, taking the object from him. "Were you being too rough again?"
"I was only playing. It just broke."
"Adryan, you need to be more careful."
"I'm sorry mummy."
"What am I going to do with you." Carrea grinned and pulled him in for a hug. "Now play nicely." Returning to her room, she finished dressing whilst listening out for her children's antics. They had ran into their room to play and Carrea sighed thankfully. Grabbing a book from the bookshelf, she slumped down in a chair and began to read. A light knock rapped on the door and Jenia poked her head round the door.
"Aha there you are."
"Where else would I be?" She yawned. Walking inside, Jenia made herself comfortable in the chair opposite.
"I thought you were working this morning."
"Nope. I've got today all to myself, well almost."
"Oh, this is for you." Jenia said reaching into her robes. Pulling out an envelope, she passed it over to Carrea. Taking it, she pulled out a letter and grimaced.
"Oh dear."
"What is it?"
Carrea looked at her, faced drained of colour. "I've been summoned to my family home. My father is very ill."
"Do you want me to look after the twins?"
"No, thank you. They want me to bring them." She sighed. "Not that they'll like it one bit..."
"I'm sure they'll have lots of fun." Jenia said sarcastically. "I'll see you later then."
"Yes, I'll be back sometime later, I think. I'll come find you when I'm back."
"Have fun." She smiled and left. Standing up, Carrea walked into the playroom. Adryan was sat at a table playing with wooden blocks whilst Annia sat playing with dolls.
"We have to go out, we are going to my family home."
"Why can't we stay here, Mummy?" Annia asked with a pout.
"Because they want to see you both too. Now come on, time to get ready." Wandering into their bedroom she pulled out some shoes and clothes. "Come on you two, you need to get changed." Running into the bedroom, Annia clambered onto her bed and hid under the quilt. Adryan looked at the clothes she had picked out and scowled.
"Do I have to wear this?"
"Yes you do. You have to look good for the family. Now hurry up because we need to go." Sitting down on Annia's bed she pulled the blanket off her. "And you too." Climbing back out, Annia sulked and started to get changed. Grabbing Adryan she helped him with his clothes and brushed down the creases. "Good. Now you put your shoes on."
A little while later they all sat in a carriage heading for Carrea's family home. Jumping out of the carriage, Carrea turned round to help the twins out.
"Best behaviour please." She warned and let them into the house.
"Carrea, good to see you once again." Her mother greeted her coldly. "It's been far too long."
"The Guild keeps me very busy," smiling, she added, "and of course these two little rascals."
"Yes, well I'll take care of them, while you see to your father. He is upstairs in his bedroom."
"Very well. I will return shortly." Leaving the guestroom, Carrea ascended the stairs of the family mansion. The dark blue walls enclosed the stairway, shadowing the stairs in a gloom. Servants milled about on the top floor rushing in and out of a pair of grand doors. As Carrea approached, they looked at her warily. Knocking slightly on the door, she heard her father call her in. The room was sickly warm and her father was wrapped tightly in thick blankets. "What happened?" She asked frowning as she came closer.
"Nothing, I just have a small fever. You shouldn't have come."
"Mother sent for me, she wouldn't have if it were a small fever." She looked at him critically and gently rested her hands on his arm.
"Get off." He hissed and threw her hands away.
"I can Heal you, Father." She replied behind gritted teeth. "That is why I am here."
"Then it is a wasted journey. Go back to your precious Guild."
"I will." Striding out the door, she heard him curse at her. Servants rushed around him as he vomited into a nearby container.
"Carrea!" Turning back she found a servant looking at her worriedly. "There is blood." Rushing back to her father, she found him sat up wiping his mouth with a bloody cloth.
"Do you still wish to turn me away?"
"Leave me alone." He shouted at her, which ended with him coughing hoarsely.
"Very well." She replied and strode away back downstairs. An unfamiliar accented voice rang up down the hall, sending chills down Carrea's spine. Entering the guestroom, she saw her children's eyes light up as they sat in the corner quietly. Smiling at them, she turned to her mother. "He will not let me go anywhere near him. He will not accept any Healing from me."
"Stubborn fool. I will talk with him. Now let me introduce you, this is Sorin, your elder brother. He moved to Elyne when you were young."
Sorin smiled at her, "ah Carrea it is nice to see you again." She heard her mother slink off down the hall.
"I am sorry, but I do not remember you, so I cannot return the gesture." Taking a seat next to her children, she looked back to Sorin. "Have you been back in Kyralia long?"
"Only a week or so. I have moved back here from Elyne, for good."
"How very convenient."
Ignoring her comment, he nodded towards the twins. "Are those yours? They are lovely little children."
"Yes they are." She smiled proudly.
"I would have thought that the summons would have included the father, if he is around, of course."
"My husband," she emphasised, "is currently unavailable, that is why he is not here."
"Of course." He nodded. "I was just wondering where he was."
Servants bustled through the door, arms laden with boxes and bags. Following them came two young women dressed extravagantly and giggling to themselves. Looking into the guestroom, they stopped.
"Where is Mother?" One asked.
"I am here." Came a response from the stairway. "Come into the dining room when you are ready, a meal will follow shortly." Walking towards Carrea she smiled grimly. "He is delirious, but when he wakes up he has promised to see you again."
"Thank you. Although I could go now."
"No. A meal will be ready shortly." Signalling to the dining room, she walked off, followed by Sorin. Carrea sighed heavily and turned to her children who were sat bored.
"Hungry?" She smiled.
"I'm booored." Annia sulked. "I want to go home."
"I know, you can soon. Your father will be here in a little while, for now lets have something to eat."
Carrea stifled a yawn. Dinner had dragged on tediously and the evening had crept along. They had retired to an informal guestroom, sat drinking wine and entertaining a polite conversation. Her father had not yet awoken, and Carrea was stuck trying to avoid Sorin's questions about her husband.
"With a man so busy, I am surprise your marriage has lasted so long." He smirked. Carrea glared at him, but stopped when she saw her Mother watching carefully. The main door clicked open, and a servant entered. Sorin's smile faltered slightly as Dorrien's name and title were announced, and he entered with a swish of green robes. Carrea tried not to look smug as she greeted him. Sorin watched them interested and formally introduced himself.
"I had the wonderful experience of meeting your children earlier, I have never seen such well behaved quiet children."
"I can assure you that they are not always like that." He smiled widely.
"Especially when their father is around." Carrea added quietly.
-I heard that. She felt him say amused.
-Heard what? I said nothing. She responded innocently.
"Nevertheless, it seems that the Guild teaches more manners to children than those of the Houses." Sorin carried on. "Although being so busy, I can't see how this could be so."
-Is that so? How interesting..
"I am not usually so busy, it all depends on what is going on at the Healer's Quarters. For example, today we had a few complications."
"Sounds very interesting," Sorin nodded. "Do your children also have magical talent?"
"They will be tested at the same age as all other children." Carrea interrupted sharply.
"It was merely a question, dear sister, no need to snap." He responded coolly.
-What's that about? Dorrien asked her tentatively.
-I would rather discuss it later.
"Would anyone care for more wine." Her mother interjected quickly and called for a servant.
"No, it is ok Mother. I am going to retire to bed now, it has been a long day. Goodnight." Sorin stood up slowly and smiled at them all, then left. Carrea sighed audibly and relaxed somewhat. In the corner of her eye she saw Dorrien frown at her, but it was replaced with a smile as she looked up at him.
"I am also retiring to bed. A servant will wake you if your Father should become worse, and I will be staying in another room so you won't have to worry about waking me." Smiling tiredly, she too bid them goodnight and left. Carrea slumped back in the chair with a groan and wiped her face with her hands.
"Had a fun day, have we?"
"Very much so." She replied dryly. "It's been absolutely awful. Especially with Sorin."
"What was with all that?" Looking around cautiously, she quickly put up a sound barrier in case of eavesdroppers.
"He keeps saying and asking weird things. I'd be wary of him, because I think he is up to something."
"I think you are being a bit too paranoid." He smiled, "you look exhausted."
Humming annoyed, she let the comment pass. "For the first time in a while, it is not because of the twins."
"I bet they have loved being here as much as you."
"Of course, at one point Adryan even told me he would walk home on his own instead of waiting for you."
Dorrien burst out laughing, "I would have loved to see that."
"Yes, well knowing them, they are probably still awake waiting for you."
"Or fast asleep in your bed after trying so hard to stay awake."
"If so, I hope they've left room this time." Yawning again, she made her way to her bedroom with Dorrien following closely behind. Opening the door a crack, she saw two small figures sprawled out on the bed, with the quilt wrapped all over them. "Maybe we should just steal their beds, but they are a bit small..." Smiling Dorrien entered and walked over to the bed.
-Don't wake them, or they'll never get back to sleep.
-It'll be fine. And if that happens I'll stay up with them. I wouldn't want sleep deprived Carrea after me.
Leaning down, he moved the quilt to unveil the first child. The movement caused both to stir, and soon their sleepy heads popped out. "Daddy!" They cried and went to jump all over him. Quickly disrobing, Carrea slipped into the warm bed before they decided to take it back.
"I wanna sleep in your bed Mummy." Annia said cuddling up to Carrea. "I want to stay with you and Daddy."
"But you should stay in your bed-"
"You promised." She whined upset and snuggled in closer to her.
"Go on then." Carrea said giving up. After a few wriggles, Annia slid under the covers and snuggled back into her. "And what about you Adryan? Are you staying too?"
"No, I am going back to my own bed." He said with a yawn, and wandered out the door. Carrea frowned slightly at him, then turned back to Annia.
"More room for us then." She chuckled, then said goodnight and closed her eyes.