So I am back again.
Hope you enjoy it :)
5 months
Eva opened the gifts and smiled at the pretty dress.
"Is it really mine?" She said and swung it around in a dance.
"Well, you need a new dress for the dance." Her mother smiled.
The little girl's eyes lit up.
"What about your gift, Wendy?" Edward asked.
Wendy smiled knowingly. "That is in the forest."
Eva ran to her and took hold of her hands. "Are we going for a ride?"
Wendy nodded with a smile.
Eva smiled and danced. "I am going to wear my new dress." She sang.
"No." Their mother said firmly. "That dress is for dancing, not riding."
Eva frowned, but the cueing from the two cribs by the wall made her smile.
She went to the twins and cued down at them. "Are you wishing me a happy birthday?"
Arthur pulled at Wendy's skirt. "I want see baby too!"
Wendy just smiled and picked him up and carried him to the cribs.
"Tiny!" He said and pointed to one of them.
Wendy could not remember which one of them it was. William or Ethan.
Their mother sighed behind them. "I guess, they need to be fed again soon."
"One baby can be hard. Two is thrice the work." The grandmother said from her rocking chair.
"Yes, so are getting the other four children to do their chores." Their dad laughed.
"But … my forest ride…" Eva whined.
"After your chores are done." The father said with a smile. "The guests have left for the morning, but we need to clean for the ones that come later."
Wendy pushed the stepping stool toward Temper.
She had grown a lot over the winter and no longer needed the stool, but Eva did.
Wendy put her foot in the stirrup and swung herself onto the horse.
She leaned down and more or less pulled Eva onto the horse and sat her down in front of her on the saddle.
Eva giggled, as Temper stepped out of the stable and toward the forest.
Edward and David watched them.
Wendy knew they were jealous, but she had really only thought of this about a month ago and Eva's birthday happen first after that.
"Do be careful and … not too far into the forest." Their mother stood behind the boys with one of the twins in her arms.
Wendy nodded and let Temper strut into the trees behind the inn.
Eva's eyes lit up, as she saw a squirrel shuttering across the forest floor.
"Did you see that?" She was almost bouncing on the saddle.
"Yes," Wendy smiled.
"Too bad about the weather…" Eva's head turned up to the sky. There was no hint of blue anywhere. And Wendy could hear the disappointment in her sister's voice.
She put a hand on Eva's head. "Do you want to try something fun?"
Eva turned her and smiled mischievously – like she knew this was what their mother had warned Wendy about.
Wendy pulled her arm closely around Eva. "Then hold on to the saddle."
She then kicked Temper into a gallop.
She could hear Eva gasping in surprise as the horse set off.
Wendy held her arms closely around Eva, as she could, while they were racing through the trees.
Temper seemed to know where Wendy wanted to go, so she did not need to steer him much.
As they came to the clearing Temper slowed and Eva turned smilingly in the saddle as the pretty pond and wanted to swim.
"Let us start with getting some lunch." Wendy smiled and helped Eva down from the horse.
Because it was Eva's birthday, they had both meat and cheese with their bread on the outing.
As they ate their lunch with their feet in the water, Eva turned to Temper, who was happily grassing in the clearing. "Can we just let him walk?"
"Yes," Wendy said and patted Eva on the head. "There are lots to eat, so he stays here."
Eva then leaned over the water's surface. "Do you think there are fish? Such we catch some for mother?"
Wendy smiled. "What if you do not like fish?"
Eva thought about it and pulled her feet out of the water. "What if they are hungry?"
Wendy laughed and laid back on the grass.
Eva followed her example.
"It is so silent out here…" Eva mumbled like she was sleepy.
"Yes, it is…" Wendy said.
They laid like that for some time.
Then a baby deer suddenly appeared in Wendy's field of vision.
She lightly nudged Eva and put a finger on her lips to not startle the deer.
Wendy could not tell whether Eva was awestruck or panicking.
The deer bent down and licked Wendy on the forehead, which made Eva reach out her hand.
The small animal licked her fingers and Eva tried to stifle her giggles.
So, you are … awake …
Eva looked surprised and sat up, as the deer went away.
Wendy smiled and sat up.
The baby deer walked back to the elven queen, who gently caressed it.
Go now little one … back to your mother…
The baby deer disappeared into the trees.
"This … is your surprise," Wendy said to Eva.
Eva looked from her sister to the beautiful creature standing a few feet away.
She did not speak.
The elven queen smiled at them and elegantly stepped toward them.
What a beautiful child you are… Her voice echoed around them.
Wendy smiled at her sister, who still stared at the elven queen.
"Are you a fairy, miss?" She asked.
Her Majesty laughed. Some have called me that … though I am the elven queen…
Eva's head snapped back to Wendy.
"You know an elven?" She asked with big eyes.
Wendy smiled knowingly, but it was Her majesty that answered.
Knowing is a strange word… She said and knelt down in front of Eva. Because … when do you know … that you know…?
Wendy laughed at Eva's puzzled look.
"Your majesty, there is a reason why I brought my sister." She said.
The elven queen looked at the smaller child.
Eva smiled brightly. "It is my birthday today!"
Is had so…? The elven queen smiled gently and then rose from the ground.
Then I suppose you shall have a gift…
As she stood up, she stretched out her arms and looked to the sky.
Suddenly the sky cleared up.
Wendy stared. "I did not know you could do that, your majesty."
The sparkling eyes smiled at her. Knowing … when will knowing be good … and when is it bad…?
"Do you always talk in riddles?" Eva asked.
The elven queen giggled and smiled. Sometimes I talk in riddles … others I do not…
Eva tilted her head and Wendy laughed. "I think that is a yes."
Now how about I show you … what I have shown your sister before…? The elven smiled at Eva.
Her eyes and smile got bigger. "What is it?"
Her majesty gestured toward the tree line, where green children and child-sized elvens were partly hidden in the trees.
Eva laughed and clapped her hands – something Wendy had never seen her do.
Wendy laughed as a small elven child ducked out of a way, as Eva closed in on him.
She and the elven queen sat in the shade of a tree and watch the children play.
"Are they really children?" Wendy asked, as Eva finally caught one of them and then ran away laughing.
Her Majesty smiled and ate a few berries before answering.
The way you speak confuses me … what is a child …? The queen gestured to the laughing child-sized creatures. And how can we be sure … these beings are not children…?
Wendy shook her head confused. "I guess … as long as they laugh and are happy … they are children."
Her majesty smiled at the children in the clearing. Then … they are children…
An elven child with vines clinging to his body gave Eva a purple flower.
She giggled with glee and ran towards Wendy.
The others followed curiously.
Eva threw herself in her sister's arms and showed her the beautiful purple flower.
"It's really pretty." Wendy smiled.
"Can you braid it into my hair?" Eva asked.
Wendy was a little taken aback and looked at the elven queen.
She just smiled and moved her hand over the grass between them.
Colorful flowers sprung up with the wave of her hand, and Wendy was sure many of them did not exist outside the forest.
Use as many as you desire… her voice rang out.
Wend gently plucked a few and started braiding Eva's hair under the watchful eye of the elven children.
The younger children chatted and laughed, and everything seemed so peaceful.
After she had finished Eva's braid and her little sister stood up and twirled around to show her new friends the braid a blond elven child sat in her lap and asked for a braid.
Wendy smiled content.
The elven's hair was soft between her fingers and not at all messy – considering it went down to her waist and blew in the wind.
One by one the long hair elven children wanted her to braid their hair and then went to dance with the others.
Her majesty's laugh echoed around Wendy.
It is long since they have played with your kind like this … they must have missed it…
Wendy tilted her head. "Where there a lot of them that came to play?"
The elven queen mirrored her movement. There were many who wanted … but few I allowed…
"When?"
The queen seemed puzzled. I do not know… I cannot say…
The elven children bowed and curtsied for Eva and twirled around with her.
When the sky started to turn a different color, Eva was half sleeping in Wendy's lap, as the elven queen told a story of another little girl wandering into the realm. Wendy decided it was time to go home.
It has been wonderful… the elven queen whispered, as the other children disappeared into the trees.
"Yes, it has … I cannot wait for you to meet the rest of my siblings," Wendy said as she carried Eva towards Temper.
Please remember the time with me … please remember us all…
Wendy looked at her confused but handed the sleepy Eva to her when her majesty reached out.
"Of course, I will, and I hope I am allowed to come back," Wendy said and pulled herself onto Temper's back.
I will always allow beautiful … and kind children… Her majesty whispered as she caressed Eva's hair. The oddly colored flowers turned white and red, but the purple color remained.
Wendy reached out and Her majesty gently handed her Eva, who just snuggled up to her.
Though you are … by far … my favorite…
As soon as they got out of the forest, the sky grew dark with grey clouds.
There was a light in the kitchen and the wind picked up.
Wendy made Temper hurry to the stable.
She gently shook Eva awake and managed to get down from the horse and help her little sister down.
As they went inside, Eva rubbed her eyes.
The inn was filled with people.
Edward and David were running around serving beer and water to the tables.
"Wendy…" David sighed in relief and hugged his sister. "Mother was worried."
Wendy looked at him confused.
"Can you help us?" Edward said annoyed as he went passed with a few mugs.
"Yes," Wendy nodded. "Just let me get up and get changed."
"Where were the two of you?" Her mother asked as Wendy stirred the big pot of stew.
"In the forest," Wendy said.
"You should have come home when the weather turned…" Her mother as she made faces at the baby in her arms.
"It was sunny in the forest," Eva said and twirled. "Look at the braid Wendy made."
"Oh, how pretty." Their mother smiled, as she caressed the redhead twin. "You are really getting good, Wendy."
Their grandmother smiled from her stool, while she rocked the other twin.
"Why are there so many people at the inn?" Wendy asked.
The stew was about done.
"A few of the villagers came for the goods Edward brought yesterday, but I think they will be waiting out the storm." The grandmother said. "There were also quite a few travelers that have sought refuge for the night."
"Is it really that bad?" Wendy asked as she collected as many bowls and plates from the cupboard as she could and handed them to Edward and David.
"It was so odd how fast the storm came to be … and I am surprised you did not feel it when you came in." Their mother said as she tried to hush one of their baby brothers.
Wendy found the ladle and scooped the soup into bowls that Edward, David, and Eva then carried into the hall.
There was a loud cheer from the hall every time one of the children appeared in the doorway.
As Wendy went around with the last few plates, she went to her father.
She put the plate down in front of him and then noticed the instrument lying on the table.
The man next to her father smiled at her and then caressed the instrument.
"Do you like me fiddle?" He asked with a raspy voice.
He spoke English, but the way he spoke was strange.
Her father patted her shoulder and Wendy nodded with a polite smile.
"Your father let me stay for a song, so me hope you will listen." The man said with a crooked smile.
Wendy was curious about the fiddle but knew it was impolite.
Because there were so many people Wendy and the others had a lot to do, they ran back and forth with mugs and plates, as people finished and wanted more.
She had almost forgotten about the man and his fiddle when the music started to play.
All the children stopped and watch the man.
He had lifted the fiddle to his shoulder and was strumming it with a strange bow-like thing.
Wendy smiled.
The music felt light and playful.
As he continued to play Wendy began to twirl to the music.
She smiled as she sat down two mugs at a table and spun around.
David took her hands and they danced between the tables.
When the music stopped, the people around them clapped.
Wendy and David looked around not sure what to do.
"Me did not know you were a dancer." The musician said with a smile.
He was missing some teeth.
Wendy smiled and blushed.
"Well, tomorrow is the dance. It is good that you practice." Her mother smiled.
She and their grandmother were sitting with the father and the musician.
"Well, we cannot let the little hunter show us up, can we?"
One of the farmworkers rose from a table and with a smile pulled Mina up from her chair.
Mina laughed.
So did the musician, who started playing again.
Eva suddenly appeared in front of Wendy and excitedly took her hands to dance.
They spun around as others joined in.
The music changed as tables were pushed to the side, as more and more people join the dance.
They formed a chain that went under someone's arm and over another's.
Wendy was surprised at how fast the music was as it changed again and the chain broke.
She and Edward were dancing as the other dance pairs broke apart and they switched partners.
Wendy laughed, as Doctor William's daughter spun a blushing Edward around.
As hours past the dancers cleared out.
The guests that had a room upstairs went to bed.
One of them even gave up his room, so the village children could have somewhere to sleep.
The musician sat and drank with their father, as Wendy delivered beer to the few people still awake and mumbling in the dim light of the lanterns on the tables.
Edward was handing out blankets to them.
Eva, David, and Arthur were already in bed, but their father needed Wendy and Edward's help. At least while their mother had to take care of two babies.
"You should stay an extra day." Her father said as Wendy served them beer.
The musician smiled and nodded to her and took a big gulp of his beer mug.
"Me could," he said and sat the mug down. "Me do not know where me going anyhow."
"You do not know where you are going?" Wendy asked before she could stop herself.
The musician showed her his crooked smile. "This old man has traveled so many years, me only remember the good food and the pretty lasses." Then he gently pinched Wendy's cheek.
"I can hear you come to Ireland though…" Her father said.
The musician narrowed his eyes in thought. "Me once took a boat from there … never looked back."
"But we would appreciate you staying for the dance." The father explained. "We rarely have musicians coming through at this time."
The musician nodded and eyed Wendy.
He patted her head in a fatherly fashion.
"If ye hands are as ye feet I think me teach you to play…"
So that is it for this week :)
Tell me what you think.
I tried to make the musician sound Irish, let me know if it was off or a stereotype or the like and I will change that.