(A/n: Yes the name Atreyu is the same name as the kid from The Never Ending Story. That would be how you pronounce it. If you have never seen that movie, frankly, your childhood was ruined and I'm sorry so just sound out the name...A-tray-you)

(A/n...again: If you haven't finished the song of the lioness...don't read the first entry...it will ruin the end kinda...can't say I didn't warn ya)

Chapter Nine

Children

Well. That's pretty much all that happened. Atreyu has offered to help me if I was ever in need of anything. But other then that, work was pretty quiet. It figures for the middle of the week when everyone is working. There were only passing through travelers and a few of the ' regulars' in the Dove. When something happens, though, you'll be the first to know. I promise.
But I was thinking today to myself a little bit. I've come up with the rule that I can't tell George or Elenni or anyone else about their future. I figured that if I tell them, they will not put forth the work to make it come true and by them not doing that, it won't come true. Do you know what I mean?
Probably not. Ok, here is an example. If I tell George that Alanna will end up falling in love with him and marrying him, he will just assume that it will happen and he won't put all the effort to woo her as he did in the book. Get it now. Thought so.
Until next time.

Well, right after I put this book down, Elenni walked through my doorway announcing Laura was here and they wanted me to watch the children while they went shopping. I told her I would.
When I walked to the living room, not only did I see two filthy children with mud all over their cloths and bodies, but a wet and muddy dog with then. It could only have been Rex, the sheep dog.
"I'm terribly sorry to bring them so dirty like this, but they chased Rex out into a mud hole. Do you mind cleaning them up?" Did I mind? Of course not, and I told her so. The only reason I didn't mind was because it would give us a reason to play in water. You see, it was an awflly hot day today and getting wet would be, well, cool.
We three and Rex walked them out and saw them off. When they were around a corner, I turned around and looked at the children like I was going to guilt them on what they did.
"And what do you think you where doing chasing that dog in to the mud, hum?" I crossed my arm. There was no answer. The children and the dog looked down at the grass.
"Do you know what this means?" I asked. They shook their heads at me. "You'll see what it means." I took them to the garden and made them stand there. I told them to close their eyes.
I reached for the watering can Elenni kept back there and poured water all over them. They looked at me confused. I started to laugh, and they both figured out that I was joking and we started to play in the water.
I got them cleaned before we started on rex. That wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had because I ended up cleaning them again. Rex was just having too much fun shaking water off of his muddy fur and on to us.
When we finished, we were all hungry. I decided to make us something to eat. Only a little something because it's really hard to make food here. ( No microwaves or refrigerator, or gas or electric stoves.) I made a fire in the kitchen hearth and boiled a pot of water. I made potatoes and gave them some of the sweets that were left over from the night before.

When they were done, I told them a few stories. One was Cinderella and the other was Peter Pan. They, too, told me a story of a knight who was betrayed by another knight. It was a good story though, because the good knight won. Don't they always?
They fell asleep while I was telling them the story of Snow White ( I can't blame them, I don't much like that story either) so I put them to sleep in my bed. But it was still light out and Rex was still awake, so I took him out to play fetch.
We were playing for about twenty or thirty minutes before Elenni and Laura came back.
"How were they? They didn't trouble you much, did they?" Laura asked.
"No, they were angels," Laura looked at me funny. (Stupid, stupid, stupid! They don't know what angels are!)
"Saying they were angels means they were really good. In fact, we had fun together. We got washed up and cleaned Rex, as you can tell. They I made them something to eat and we told each other stories. They're sleeping in my room right now."
"That's odd," Laura said. "I've never gotten this good of a report from a sitter. They must really like you. Usually there monsters."
"Well, I really like them." I thought for a moment. "In fact, I wouldn't mind watching them again sometime. If you ever need a sitter, I would be happy to do it."
Laura looked astonished, "Well, If that's what you would like, I would love to get out of the house every once and a while. What do you say to Friday? Would you mind?"
"Not at all. But can I watch them at your house. I'm sure there's much more to do there. I could come after work. It would be around Three o' clock when I get there. Do you mind?"
"No, no, not at all. That would be great." She turned to Elenni. " We must be off. I'll get my children and leave." She walked in the house with Elenni. I stayed with Rex. She came out holding a sleeping Colby over her shoulder and a drowsy Christine by the hand. She called Rex and they all walked off and away.

Elenni looked at me. " So, what do you say you and I work on trimming some of those falling vines that are hanging down from the rafters?" She asked it like she was a father trying to do something with his teenage son.

" That would be great. I've been wanting to do that for a long time."

" Great. Me too," She paused for a moment, and then said, " So I talked to George today in the market."

" Yea..." I knew what she was going to say.

" So I've finally got a girl of my own. And he said you did very good yesterday. He didn't have to tell me what you did for me to know. So what did you steal?"

" Just an apron," I said very shyly. Then I used what George had said, " Besides, it was over priced for an apron."

Elenni laughed. " I might as well should have known you'd end up like him. Just don't get caught. It'll be your head and the king don't like rouges." She laughed again and we went inside to cut down the amazon in the living room.

Yea, short and stupid. i know. just a plot builder and give a girl a break...it's late and i'm tired ill get the next one out with in a few days. That one will be a little more interesting...promise