Tis the season of giving, and all through the house, nothing is happening,
so I'm writing another chappie! I know, doesn't rhyme, but do I care?
CHAPTER 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emma broke into a huge grin as she looked up at Maura greeting the king and queen. Realizing how silly she must look, she tried to bite her cheek, think sad thoughts, but that only made her look even *more* ridiculous. As she scanned the crowd for those she knew, she could just make out Tate, in the crowds to the side. Over to the left were her friends among the ogres, like Iakoju (sp?) and Shelmat. Emma glanced at Daine and almost laughed out loud, if doing so wouldn't be rude. The wildmage was covered with various bats, cats, hunting dogs, birds, and squirrels. A group of wolves sat politely at her feet, and a marmot was chirping indignantly at her. Daine just gave a sigh as she worked from animal to animal, prying them off her arms and head. Seeing this comical scene did not help Emma's predicament however, so she decided to pass some of the time talking to Alfred, he at least should be sensible at a time like this.
*what do you make of this mess?* she asked him.
*Well, there's a lot of not-trees, and People. Especially a lot of people on that not-tree over there.* he observed in his trying-to-sound-smart voice.
Emma just HAD to giggle at this. After all, it's hard not to laugh when a mini tree is trying to sound overly intelligent. Getting a hold of herself, she mocked a teacherly and stern tone, *now how many times have we been over this Alfred? Not-trees are called humans. And that particular human is called Daine.*
*sorry. anyways! There are a lot of heeuuummmaaanns around. And there's trees too! Lots of trees. Do you think we'll get to meet those trees too?* Alfred asked.
*of course, in fact, some of those trees I know already. They're my friends, and I'm sure they'll like you.* she answered with a smile, Alfred was just plain silly sometimes.
*that's good, that birch back there was mean, mean, mean.* Alfred added.
"Emma, it's time to get our tents set up. Or will you stay with Tate?" Daine woke up Emma from her little talk with Alfred.
"I don't know, it all depends on whether Tate will want me to stay with him or not." Emma replied.
"Of course I'll let you stay with me! And don't you dare think I'll let you spend the night out here instead of with me youngster! And that includes you and Numair, Daine. Come here you little!." Tate had apparently came up behind Emma also, she soon found herself swept up in a big hug.
Tears threatened to come to Emma's eyes as she hugged Tate back. 'I forgot how much I missed being home.' She thought to herself.
"Now don't start any of that now." Tate half-scolded her. "Come, lets go back to our house." He set her down and they said goodbye to Daine. Emma introduced Alfred to Tate, and Tate seemed to take Alfred seriously, which meant a great deal to Emma, not that she had known he would do less. Taking her bags she raced up the steps into the well built cottage. Small green vines stretched up the length of the cobble stone walls. The thatched roof had patches of bright moss here and there, while the windows glinted in the sun. No, the cottage hadn't changed at all. Once inside she hopped up the wooden stairs she walked into her room. It really was the ideal model of a cottage bedroom. The bed had a carved wooden frame, and quilts covered the cotton sheets. The window let in light that was filtered through the leaves of trees just outside. A chest sat at the foot of the bed, carved with flowers and birds. A wardrobe contained all she needed in the way of clothes. On the hardwood floor a rug protected bare feet from cold wood on chilly mornings. Normally, a house like this wasn't inhabited by a humble hunter, but Maura had awarded it to Tate after the battle against Ozorne's followers.
Emma plopped down onto her bed, feeling as if she were right where she ought to be.
CHAPTER 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emma broke into a huge grin as she looked up at Maura greeting the king and queen. Realizing how silly she must look, she tried to bite her cheek, think sad thoughts, but that only made her look even *more* ridiculous. As she scanned the crowd for those she knew, she could just make out Tate, in the crowds to the side. Over to the left were her friends among the ogres, like Iakoju (sp?) and Shelmat. Emma glanced at Daine and almost laughed out loud, if doing so wouldn't be rude. The wildmage was covered with various bats, cats, hunting dogs, birds, and squirrels. A group of wolves sat politely at her feet, and a marmot was chirping indignantly at her. Daine just gave a sigh as she worked from animal to animal, prying them off her arms and head. Seeing this comical scene did not help Emma's predicament however, so she decided to pass some of the time talking to Alfred, he at least should be sensible at a time like this.
*what do you make of this mess?* she asked him.
*Well, there's a lot of not-trees, and People. Especially a lot of people on that not-tree over there.* he observed in his trying-to-sound-smart voice.
Emma just HAD to giggle at this. After all, it's hard not to laugh when a mini tree is trying to sound overly intelligent. Getting a hold of herself, she mocked a teacherly and stern tone, *now how many times have we been over this Alfred? Not-trees are called humans. And that particular human is called Daine.*
*sorry. anyways! There are a lot of heeuuummmaaanns around. And there's trees too! Lots of trees. Do you think we'll get to meet those trees too?* Alfred asked.
*of course, in fact, some of those trees I know already. They're my friends, and I'm sure they'll like you.* she answered with a smile, Alfred was just plain silly sometimes.
*that's good, that birch back there was mean, mean, mean.* Alfred added.
"Emma, it's time to get our tents set up. Or will you stay with Tate?" Daine woke up Emma from her little talk with Alfred.
"I don't know, it all depends on whether Tate will want me to stay with him or not." Emma replied.
"Of course I'll let you stay with me! And don't you dare think I'll let you spend the night out here instead of with me youngster! And that includes you and Numair, Daine. Come here you little!." Tate had apparently came up behind Emma also, she soon found herself swept up in a big hug.
Tears threatened to come to Emma's eyes as she hugged Tate back. 'I forgot how much I missed being home.' She thought to herself.
"Now don't start any of that now." Tate half-scolded her. "Come, lets go back to our house." He set her down and they said goodbye to Daine. Emma introduced Alfred to Tate, and Tate seemed to take Alfred seriously, which meant a great deal to Emma, not that she had known he would do less. Taking her bags she raced up the steps into the well built cottage. Small green vines stretched up the length of the cobble stone walls. The thatched roof had patches of bright moss here and there, while the windows glinted in the sun. No, the cottage hadn't changed at all. Once inside she hopped up the wooden stairs she walked into her room. It really was the ideal model of a cottage bedroom. The bed had a carved wooden frame, and quilts covered the cotton sheets. The window let in light that was filtered through the leaves of trees just outside. A chest sat at the foot of the bed, carved with flowers and birds. A wardrobe contained all she needed in the way of clothes. On the hardwood floor a rug protected bare feet from cold wood on chilly mornings. Normally, a house like this wasn't inhabited by a humble hunter, but Maura had awarded it to Tate after the battle against Ozorne's followers.
Emma plopped down onto her bed, feeling as if she were right where she ought to be.