Hehehehe, now I can actually get somewhere. And thanks to SAMMY for helping me make whole bunches of descisions... even if she doesn't know it. xD
Thalia watches the boys -and Kit- play, smiling faintly. She would much prefer to relax, as evidenced by the fact that she's lounging on the shore of Crystalmir lake, reading... although she is secretly fancying being rescued by whatever foes the boys are fighting. Suddenly a donkey plods up the road, and the boys attack. Thalia stifles a giggle and picks herself up to go over. She finds Sturm making everyone go away -not surprising, he's the oldest other than Kit- and then apologizing to the rider of the donkey.
Thalia didn't know the rider was a mage. She only knew that he looked fancy, and intimidating. But she skipped up and tapped Sturm on the shoulder anyway. "Got you!" She states smugly. It was an ongoing game for her, How many times can I catch Sturm off gaurd? But she was pretty sure he was letting her surprise him. He whirls and flashes her a smile.
"One second, Thalia." He says gently. And then he turns back to the rider. "If you are sure you are not hurt, sir mage, I will take my leave." He turns in Kit's direction. "Coming, Kit?" He asks.
Kit looks thoughtful. "In a minute, Sturm." She says.
Sturm shrugs and turns back to Thalia. "How about you, Thalia?" He asks, barely holding back a smile. She nods vigorously, almost dislodging a blue flower she placed in her hair.
"See you at home, Kit!" Thalia calls excitedly. Then she grabs Sturm's hand and they head toward town, Thalia jabbering excitedly about anything and everything. When they get to the inn, Sturm interrupts her.
"Alright, I have to get home. I'll see you later." He states with a bow. She giggles and then goes inside.
She doesn't notice the same man who was riding the donkey, too preoccupied by the sight of a hill dwarf she recognized. "Flint!" She squeaks, barreling across the room and practically landing in the dwarf's lap. She then remembers her manners. "I mean... good afternoon, mister Fireforge." She curtsies unsteadily and smiles, exposing her two missing teeth. She plops down across from the grumbly dwarf just as the barmaid swings by.
"Here you go Fint." She says, plunking his food on the table. They chat for a minute, Thalia paying no attention. She merey sits there, only coming out of her daydreams when the barmaid sets a glass of milk in front of her. She smiles and mumbles a thank you.
When she gets lost in her daydreams, nobody notices her unless they're actively looking. And she notices nobody else... unless they practically leap up from the table. She watches Flint go, and then squeaks in delight as her sibling come through the door. She doesn't hear a word said, just runs up and grabs Kit's hand. Kit glances at her in annoyance, then goes back to whatever she was talking about with the man who was riding the donkey. "Sure." She says. "C'mon Caramon." She doesn't have to tell Thalia, because the younger girl always trails after everyone. But this time she pauses, seeing Raistlin apparently has business with the man. She lets Kit and Caramon bicker and touches Raistlin's arm.
"What are you going to talk to him about?" She asks quietly. He shakes his head.
"I'll tell you later." He whispers back. Thalia nods and hurries after Kit and Caramon, who are just turning to leave.
It was morning. Thalia woke just before the sun came up, springing out of bed and padding out to the main room. She sighed softly when she saw her mother 'knitting' and softly singing to herself. Thalia started humming along and went to sit on the floor next to her mother's chair, waiting for everyone else to wake.
As soon as Raistlin was ready for school, Thalia spoke up. "Can I come?" She whispers faintly. Kit starts to refuse, and then sighs in defeat. She never could say 'no' to her little sister.
So the three of them depart, Thalia skipping along happily in her rough dress. Sometimes she lags behind her brothers, but sometimes is ahead, and occassionally even actually keeps pace with them. One of these times, she hears that Kitiara was at the trough. "What?" She asks, startled. "Why would Kit be there?" She frowns.
"I dunno. But she got a map from somebody. I think she's going somewhere." Caramon says with a shrug. Thalia bites her lip.
"Hmm." She whispers. Then she stands still, seeing some disconcerting images. Kit, in the sky on a large blue creature... and then Kit at the edge of a grove... looking frightened. But she was much older in both images. Thalia shakes her head and hurries to catch up with her brothers.
She's still lagging when the farm car comes by and Caramon and Raistlin stop to talk to the driver. She smiles, seeing that the cart waits for her. So nice to be thought of... She thinks, swinging up into the cart and letting her feet hang off. She hums softly the entire way to the school.
Had either of her brothers paid attention, they would have realized it was the same not-quite-a-tune their mother had been humming that morning.