A/N: I know Lief seems a little young, but he's always been a bit of a late developer in my mind, so that's how I wrote him. He's pretty grumpy in this one. :D
Disclaimer: Still not mine. I'll tell you when it is.
Preteen Outbursts
Endon and Sharn looked up from their books, startled, when Lief stormed noisily into the room. A scowl was marring his face, and his fists were clenched.
"Why did you name me 'Lief'?" he demanded, coming to a halt in front of his parents.
"Because it is a nice name, sweetheart. Why?" Sharn asked calmly. She was more used to dealing with the twelve year old's outbursts than Endon was.
"People make fun of me for it! It can be pronounced three different ways, and they always pronounce it in one of the other ways just to mock me!" he fumed, stomping his foot.
"Lief is a good name, son. Ignore them," Endon said quietly. The name did suit him. After all, it could mean either 'beloved' or 'heir', and he was both.
"It is a stupid name," Lief muttered, though he did drop the topic. He threw himself down onto one of the armchairs and sat there, staring moodily into the fire. Endon and Sharn both resumed reading. It was best to just let him calm down, and then talk to him. He had been far more aggressive recently, and they reasoned it was hormones. The boy was rather behind on growing; maybe he would be catching up to his friends soon.
"Why is my growth spurt so late?" Lief asked, having calmed down a little.
"People grow at their own rate," Sharn answered, having been asked the question many times.
"But everyone is taller than me! It is not fair! How do I get taller faster?" the boy said. He was very sensitive about his height, as his parents and friends had learned. He was obviously embarrassed that all his friends loomed over him.
"Eat your vegetables and get a lot of sleep," Sharn smiled. Lief's face scrunched up at the mention of vegetables and he crossed his arms, pouting.
"Vegetables are gross," he muttered.
"But they are good for you," Endon said. How many times had they had this conversation? Five, six? Did Lief ever absorb anything they said?
"They still taste bad," Lief mumbled. He stared into the fire, still pouting slightly, though he would deny it vehemently if anyone ever pointed out that he did so. His parents shared a warm glance, and then went back to their reading.
After a while, Lief spoke again. "William and Beatrice are really confusing."
Sharn put down her book and looked up at him again, happy to listen to her 'darling little angel'. Endon personally thought Lief was a little old and a bit too hot tempered to be called an angel any more, but he never said anything. Both he and Sharn cherished the boy. He was their only child, and they could have lost him many times in the years of the Shadow Lord's reign. He was Deltora's only hope, and they feared the hardships he would have to face. Lief was very adventurous, and would do anything to rid the land of the tyrant, even if it cost him his life.
"How are they confusing, possum?" Sharn asked, watching Lief twitch slightly at the pet name. A possum was a small, cuddly animal. Once again, that made him think of his height… or lack thereof.
Concluding that she had not been trying to insult him, Lief continued, "One minute they are fighting, the next they are… you know…"
"I am afraid that I do not know. What are they?" the lady asked.
"They are," Lief glanced around the room, as though looking for intruders, and continued in a horrified whisper, "kissing."
Endon began to chuckle at his son's obvious distaste. William and Beatrice were two fifteen year olds that Lief and his friends were acquainted with. It had probably never occurred to Lief that they were romantically interested in one another.
"You will understand when you are older, son," he said, grinning. Lief was currently going through the 'girls carry diseases' phase.
"Bah, that is what you always say. Kissing is so gross! You share mouth germs! And girls are yucky, anyway," Lief exclaimed, his nose crinkling.
"Your mother is female, does that make her yucky?" Endon asked, an amused twinkle in his eyes.
"No, of course not! She is my mother," Lief said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"The baker is also female. Is she yucky?" Endon said.
"No, she is a lady. I am talking about girls, father," Lief explained.
"I see…" Endon trailed off, somewhat confused. He was probably like that at Lief's age though, he reasoned.
"Well, I have to go and start dinner," Sharn piped up. "Lief, go and get firewood from outside, please, the fire is getting low. Endon, I will need some fresh leeks from the garden, thank you."
Endon stood stiffly. His leg could be very problematic when he had been sitting too long, and he stretched it out.
"All right, mother," Lief sighed, getting up from his comfortable chair and going outside, his father limping after him.
Sharn shook her head at them both fondly and went into the kitchen to begin her cooking. When Lief began to get interested in girls… well, she and Endon were in for some somewhat strange conversations. Hopefully though, they would have their girl-rejecting, rather short son for a little while longer.