Just a heads up, this will contain very minor spoilers about Raelyn in my Edmund Pevensie story. If you don't want to know any of it then I would suggest skipping over this one. Nothing major just interesting tidbits I plan to bring to light very soon in my other story. Enjoy!
...
Aleisa quickly made her way to the door, little Adara snuggled against her shoulder. Opening it up she beamed, spotting Edmund and, his now official girlfriend, Raelyn on the other side.
"Ed, Raelyn! I'm so glad you two could make it." Aleisa gushed warmly, hugging the two as they stepped into the doorway. Aleisa and Peter had suggested a small family dinner at their house as a way to catch up with the family. Everyone except for Aleisa's father had been able to make it over. As the two younger teens entered, Aleisa spotted a new figure standing nervously behind them.
"And who is this?" she asked politely.
"This is my older brother Magnus. I hope it's not too much of an inconvenience but he stopped to surprise me earlier today and Edmund mentioned that you wouldn't mind having one extra? If not its fine we can come another time…" Aleisa quickly cut off Raelyn's nervous rambling.
"Edmund was right, I don't mind at all. You are more than welcome to join us Magnus." She greeted, extending her extra hand the tall man in the back.
"Thank ya ma'am. Sorry to butt in like this." he nodded in thanks, his Irish accent evident.
"Thanks Aleisa, I knew Raelyn wanted to come tonight and she wouldn't have left her brother hanging." Edmund quietly thanked as he helped hand up their coats just inside the door. Aleisa smiled, placing a hand on his arm.
"Well now that everyone is here, lets get the meal started shall we? Pete, mind grabbing an extra chair?" Aleisa announced, leading the trio farther into the house where everyone else was.
...
Later that evening everyone had settled into the living room, just having conversation with tea and coffee.
"I want to thank you again for allowing me to barge in like this. The meal and the company was grand." Magnus spoke up with a soft grin.
"It's no problem at all, glad we got to meet you." Peter assured, his arm wrapped around his wife, all the while keeping a keen eye on his children who were now in the arms of Edmund and Adara.
"So Magnus, what would you be doing right about now if it was just you and Raelyn?" Lucy inquired. The two siblings glanced at one another thoughtfully.
"I suppose I would have brought the guitar out by now and we'd be having a few tunes." He mused with a grin.
"You play guitar?" Lucy asked with interest, everyone else looking over at the man.
"It's like a family tradition. Every O'Brien has a musical tendency. Even Raelyn here can carry a tune quite nicely. Whenever a few of us get together we end up singing at some point or another." Magnus explained fondly. At that mention everyone whipped their heads over to Raelyn who ducked sheepishly.
"Do you have your guitar now? We would love to hear something." Aleisa suggested politely.
"Aye, just out in the car. I'll go grab it." Magnus nodded, making his way outside.
"Raelyn how come you never mentioned you could sing?" Lucy inquired. Raelyn shrugged.
"It never came up." She gave as an answer before Magnus came back in with his guitar in hand.
"Would you mind singing for us?" Peter inquired, not wanting to pressure her. The red head nodded.
"I think I have a good one in mind, but not the whole thing, it goes for quite a while." Raelyn informed, looking over to Magnus who nodded as he tuned his guitar. The Pevensie family made themselves comfortable as the siblings prepped themselves. Edmund placed himself next to her on the couch, John eagerly hopping up onto his lap to be closer. Raelyn sighed nervously, clearing her throat as she situated Adara on her lap. Magnus started strumming a folksy upbeat tune on his guitar, looking to his younger sister to start the song.
...
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o
Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o
...
Well in the bog there was a hole,
A rare hole a rattlin' hole,
And the hole in the bog,
and the bog down in the valley-o
...
The Pevensies all listened with growing grins as the siblings continue on through the chorus, Raelyn bouncing little Adara to the beat of the song. The little girl was giggling in her lap, causing Raelyn to grin wider as she continued, her confidence growing.
...
Well in that hole there was a tree,
A rare tree a rattlin' tree,
And the tree in the hole, and the hole in the bog, and the bog down in the valley-o
...
This time around Aleisa and Edmund joined the siblings in the chorus, giving it a more lively feeling.
...
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o
Real Bog, the rattlin' bod,
The bod down in the valley-o
...
And on that tree there was a branch,
A rare branch a rattlin' branch
And the branch on the tree, and the tree in the hole, and the hole in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-o.
...
As the list got longer, Raelyn got faster which in turn caused Adara and John to giggle in delight from the bouncing and the tune. This time around Raelyn managed to get just about everyone in on the chorus with John proving to be the loudest and most enthusiastic in joining.
...
And on that branch there was a limb,
A rare limb a rattlin' limb,
And the limb on the branch, and the branch on the tree, and the tree in the hole and the hole in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o
...
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o,
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o!
...
And on that limb there was a nest,
A rare nest a rattlin' nest,
And the nest on the limb, and the limb on the branch, and the branch on the tree, and the tree in the hole, and the hole in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o
...
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o,
Real bog, the rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-o!
...
Everyone cheered as the song ended, grins across their faces.
"Oh that was just lovely! I didn't know you could sing so well." Mrs. Pevensie praised, causing Raelyn to blush. Edmund chuckled, wrapping an arm around the shy girl.
"She's got the family gift for sure, just a bit shy this one." Magnus teased, nudging his sister with his elbow.
"Well I hope that shyness is gone around, because I know my two little ones are going to want you to sing all the time now." Aleisa added kindly, looking over at John who was happily placed next to the redhead while Adara was cooing in Raelyn's lap.