Sorry I haven't updated in so long…I've just been terribly busy…Near the end of the chapter, I want you all to guess what fruits they're actually eating :D

Title- A Raven and a Writing Desk

Summary- Mirana is a sweet (but sickly) little girl. Tarrant is the Royal Hatter's son and apprentice. What could they possibly have in common? Well, much more than either of them thought.

Disclaimer- Okay, so you already know I don't own them, right?

Chapter 5: Deal With It

"Makes no sense to me- I just have to believe she:
Flew up to heaven on the wings of angels by the
Clouds and stars and passed where no one's seen and she:
Walks with Jesus and her loved one's waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry about me."—Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson

Tarrant, 9 ½ years old

With everyday that passed, my mother was out of the house for longer periods of time. I sometimes didn't see her for hours at a time. Once, she was gone for a full day, and then it was two days. I cared for my siblings, trying to keep them in check. They behaved for me, thankfully, and were respectful of each other. Each set of twins (excluding Tarrance and I, I suppose) helped each other with their lessons. Tarrance and I still considered ourselves triplets, though others called us twins. It was hard losing Tarra, but she was still the third triplet in our little sibling group. Losing her was like losing a third of me- Tarrance was the only thing keeping me together.

What really killed me was that Nennie, Tori, Typhany, and Trina were beginning to look more and more like Tarra everyday. I fake smiled when I brushed their brown hair or when I dressed them in Tarra's old clothes. We couldn't really get new clothes and Mira said she had looked, but they had no extras. Some days I just wanted to give up and quit. I wanted to run away to the Castle of Crims and just live in peace, become an apprentice, and make a living- like I planned on doing two years ago. Funny how much can change in a short time.

One day, though, my mother did come home. It had been a few months since Tarra's death, and she'd just learned to smile again. When she came walking through that door holding a man's hand, I knew something was up. I searched the fingers on her left hand and found myself staring at a little golden band. A wedding band, to be exact. I smiled to myself. My mother finally found happiness. I realized two things now-

One, I had a father that- hopefully- wouldn't leave me.

And two, we could be- well, almost- a complete family.

Tarrant, 13 years old

Years later, we were rebuilding our lives. The other children were getting lessons from the neighbors, Tarrance had returned to his training, and my father was going to make me his apprentice at the castle! I was going to be the next Royal Hatter. I just couldn't wait until we reached the castle- I would finally see Mirana again! I hoped she remembered me…My hair had grown out more and my eyes seemed darker.

Mirana, 13 years old

I rushed down the hallways, looking over both my shoulders to make sure no one was there. I stopped smiling for once- it felt good to stop pretending for once. I had to smile or else someone would worry and start asking questions- nothing I want. I had just spent the day with Julia, trying to get her to sit up straight when she drank her tea. It was a tedious task, but someone had to, right? It wasn't like she would just do it instinctively.

"Mira, must we?"

"Yes of course! You don't want to slouch while you're in the presence of important people, do you?"

"Yes, yes I do." I giggled and pulled her so that she was sitting in the chair to my right. I sat down at the head of the table and straightened my back as much as much as I could without bending backwards. She slumped even further, making me a bit angry.

"Julia, please? Just do it!" I exclaimed. It wasn't loud, nor was it menacing. She sipped her tea, slouching over the table with her face in her hand. I clenched my jaw and let my fingers squeeze into a fist under the table cloth. I smiled tightly at her and asked one last time. "Julia, I highly suggest you sit up straight in your chair, dear." I don't know if it was the tone of my voice or the glare I was shooting towards her, but she did it.

I felt so aggravated lately. Ever since…well, ever since Tarra died, honestly. It's been a good 4 years now, but I still couldn't forget. Either way, I had been told that Tarrant was coming to the castle today! He was starting an apprenticeship with his stepfather. It was his lunch hour now and I just saw the Royal Hatter walking to the kitchen alone. That must mean that Tarrant's in the workroom! I ran even faster down the hall, muttering an excuse me every once in a while to anyone I bumped into. Of course, none of them got mad at me.

As I reached the door, I slowed and caught my breath. I closed my eyes and knocked on the door. I felt something odd under my knuckles- it didn't feel like a door. I opened them and saw I hat just hit some man's chest. They must've opened the door just as I knocked. I mumbled a sorry and looked up. I gasped upon seeing the boy- young man- in front of me. It was Tarrant.

"Mira? Is that you?" he asked. I nodded and threw my arms around his shoulders. He lifted me slightly off the floor so that he didn't have to bend over. He squished me to him so tightly I could barely breathe! I couldn't care less, truthfully. We stayed like that for a moment until we heard someone coming. He whipped me into the room then shut and locked the door. He continued holding me to him, like he was afraid I'd leave if he let go. My cheek was near flattened against his chest, so much that my right eye was actually closed! I looked up through my eyelashes and saw him smiling with his eyes closed. He reached down and pulled my hair out of my face and finally looked at me.

I pulled back- just a little- and fixed my dark hair so that it wasn't all over the place like it was. He grinned at me in a funny way that made me believe that I looked worse than I really did. He reached over and took my hand, making a bunch of flutterflies jump around in my stomach. I blushed deeply and tried to think of something to say. I couldn't think of much, so I smiled awkwardly and stood to leave. He grabbed my hand.

"Nunz," was all he whispered.

"Excuse me?" I asked. I had no idea what he was saying.

"It means don't go. So, please don't, at least, not yet. I've barely had two minutes with you." He stood and cupped one of my cheeks with his already calloused fingers. "Ye've nea changed, Mira." I wondered subconsciously about his suddenly adapted accent, but didn't think an extra second about it.

"You'd be surprised; shocked even. You're hair…it's longer, isn't it?" He nodded, noticing I was feeling a little awkward. I took his hand and led him out of the workshop and down to the kitchen. He looked like he hadn't eaten in a while. He kept giving me questioning looks, sort of asking why we were going the way we were. I was trying to avoid as many people as possible. As soon as we entered the kitchen, I made my way over to the cupboards. I found a bowl of fruit and placed it on a table. We sat down across from each other.

I reached and took out an Ananab and an Elppa. They were my personal favorite. I already knew what Tarrant was going to pick, but watched anyways. He lifted out a small Raep and one bunch of Epargs. We ate in silence, me staring at the table and him staring at my bowed head. I did eventually look up at him and really studied his face.

His eyes looked tired- they weren't as bright as I remembered. His hair was slightly longer, but it was darker as well- almost red. The pink and blue eyelids that I knew were now a little black-ish. He smiled when he met my gaze, but it wasn't his smile. It looked a little fake. I gave him a tiny smile and went deep into thought, trying to think of possible reasons for his change in personality.