Looking Forward

Log Info

• Title: Looking Forward

• GM: Riptide / Aftershock

• Characters: Seldan

• Place: The Padaryn Estate, Bryn Myridorn

It is about two marks, perhaps a touch more, after his last message when Seldan returns to the estate, and the sun has long since set. The night's wind grows cold, sweeping through the streets amid glittering stars and clearing air, but the chill scarcely reaches weary bones. Yes, he'd had a bit of time to meditate, to pray, to compose himself, even to change out of his armor, but not truly to rest, or consume more than an apple filched from the Temple kitchens. At the least, the Seers had agreed to lay the armor by for the evening, and he would come retrieve it in the morning. The day's events play through a mind too weary to rule itself as he walks, from unspeakable visions of murder, mayhem, and pain, to magic worked in unbridled fury, to a grim, limited satisfaction at seeing justice be done.

By the time he greets the servants at the door, he is visibly exhausted, his mind somewhere else, but at least mostly appropriately attired, in long-sleeved shirt, trousers, and adventuring boots beneath the same spring-green doublet he'd worn for an earlier visit. That the links of fine chain that comprise the lighter celestial armor are not quite hidden, and the collar of his shirt open enough beneath the doublet to reveal part of the deep and nasty-looking scar across the side of his neck, might be chalked up to weariness obvious enough for anyone to read, and the blue eyes hold a wealth of thought beneath apparent polite composure.

The servant who attends to him primarily is the young lady from earlier, who politely asks for Reunion and informs Seldan that he may have it given to him later, should Madame Daneira wish for him to show the sword to the family. Then she leads him to a dining room that is filled with guests.

Daneira herself appears to not be here--she might have stepped out for the moment--but Synonie and Parnell are here and seated at the large table, as well as another woman who bears a resemblance to Parnell. She looks at Seldan and her eyes widen. "Cousin Seldan?" she asks. "Is that you?"

At that point, however, Daneira returns into the room on the tail-end of a conversation with a woman that Seldan would know very, very well. "My dearest Seldan," Daneira greets, "thank you for making it to this dinner on short notice. Edie unfortunately had to escort her boys to a fencing match, but this will do just fine for a family reunion dinner."

At Daneira's side stands Carissa, Seldan's mother. In a way the woman looks both better and worse than the last time that Seldan had laid eyes on her. She's a fair bit thinner, as if she'd recently lost weight, and her clothing reflects this as well, being a touch too big for her shrunken frame. On the other hand, she looks happier in this moment than the last time he laid eyes on him. She was smiling softly until she looked at him, and then an expression of warmth spreads from her eyes to her smile and she looks at Seldan with a mixture of love and pride.

Her eyes are just slightly wet around the edges in the space of a moment, and she moves toward her son uncertainly, as if expecting that he might not greet her as warmly as she wishes. "Seldan." Her voice is touched by her uncertainty. "You look well."

Seldan relinquishes Reunion, and his other weapons, willingly and with the very smallest of ghostly smiles. "Do you place Reunion in a closet, they may become loud," he warns.

"Damn right we will, boy," Kanian pipes up, almost at once.

"You're back home and you're still a boor, Kanian." That's Fallia, but all of the carrying on is quietly ignored by the paladin as he turns away, hoping that the servant will pick up the cue and do likewise.

He is about to greet the others in the room, including the other woman, with a polite bow, but that is interrupted when his mother and grandmother greet him, for in looking at the two of them together, there can be no question that they are closely related. If Carissa was for one second worried that she might not be warmly greeted, Seldan immediately dashes that, relief lighting up even the weariness. He at once reaches to pull her close, and if she accepts, she can clearly feel both the fine, light chain he wears beneath his clothing and the fact that if anything, the man has put on still more muscle in the intervening years. That bear hug is momentary, though, immediately falling away into concern. He takes a step back. "Mother, are you well?"

Daneira can only smile fondly as she observes the meeting between Seldan and Carissa. "Seldan has done much for the family as of late and today," she says, "although I hope that Seldan can elucidate us all as to what exactly happened earlier to Baram."

"Boor-am," Synonie interjects, earning her a hushed, "Synonie," from Parnell. The woman who bears a resemblance to Parnell can't help but smile just a little at that before she returns to looking at Seldan.

"I'm beginning to see why I was invited with the specific wording that Uncle Baram would not be in attendance," the woman says.

"Sir Seldan, this is my big sister, Justina!" Synonie points out to Seldan. It's clear she idolizes the older woman in a way a younger child might idolize an older cousin... such as Seldan.

Once Seldan hugs his mother, she hugs him just as tightly in response. Her body is not nearly as strong as his own, but a mother's strength is not always the physical. Her will carries her to hold her son with all her heart, withdrawing only when he does. "Better now." She defers, as if that's answer enough. She reaches out to touch his hair, helping to catch that bit that always tries to block his sight with fond fingers. "How are you?"

To be honest, that bit had been entirely ignored, and has been most thoroughly hanging in Seldan's eyes the whole walk home, lashed aside by the wind until the lot hangs, loose and limp, barely held back by the headband. "I am - well enough," he offers in low tones. The fiction is a polite one, intended to avoid complaint in the presence of a gathering. "I eagerly await dinner." That much is certainly true.

He regards her for a space longer, realizing - what did Father do to her? His own gaze remains both fond and concerned, although he makes the attempt to pull it into something resembling his usual sobriety. Synonie's quip earns the very smallest of thin, ghostly smiles, and he turns to face the others, his eyes lowering.

"When first I received Synonie's missive, I was at once enraged, and concerned, for while I am no Sunblade, the rules and oaths that bind them differ not so very much from the ones that bind me. Lashing out at, or harming, an innocent is utterly forbidden, and beyond unthinkable for those who walk that path. I suspected, in reading that letter, that Father had fallen from grace, if not before, then certainly now. Thus did Zeke - my blood-brother in Alexandria, and an old and wise Sunguard - and I first seek out the cathedral, in hopes that this might be settled ere ever we set foot in this place."

"What we learned there confirmed our guess, that it had been a full season and more since last he set foot in that place, and he terrorized the Sunguards present there when last he showed himself. Knowing this, we knew him to be a danger to all, and capable of anything. We therefore sought Grandmother, and aided Synonie as best we might." He lets out a long, slow breath. "In speaking to him, he understands that the Draco Solis no longer blesses him, but understands not why, nor that he has erred - or is unable to admit that he has gone astray. Such matters are, usually, best handled by the faithful of the paladin's own church, for good or ill, and certainly naught would he accept from me. Thus was it Zeke's decision that he should do his penance far from Bryn Myridorn. He is in a place where he may be guided, does he accept that he has erred, and may return to grace, but he cannot leave save by the assistance of a wizard, and what is more, he is under formal challenge. Does he set foot in this place, I would ask you to summon me at once."

Daneira, Parnell, Synonie, and Justina all listen to the words that Seldan has to impart. When he reveals that Baram has fallen, Justina's brows go straight up in surprise, but Parnell nods firmly at the penance that Baram was given to undergo. "The Sunguard did the right thing, and he has my thanks for it," Parnell says.

Synonie looks up at her father for a moment before looking at Seldan. "Can I send Sunguard Zeke a thank-you letter?" she asks. "It would mean a lot to me. I feel a lot better that he won't be here to bully me anymore."

Daneira ushers those remaining standing to the table, where she takes a seat at the head of it--given her position as the matriarch, it's only natural. "I would do so if he were to come here again," she answers Seldan. "Food will be coming shortly. Sit and relax, please. You've done much for the family today."

She looks at Seldan with a small smile. "Carissa told me some of what you had accomplished in Alexandria, and so it was I who investigated and found that my grandson's deeds cast a longer shadow that I could no longer ignore. And Baram... As you've seen, he had begun to cause trouble for the family. I had little idea of the extent of what he was doing to you, Seldan, and for the fact that I did not pick up on it sooner, I apologize."

As if unable to help herself, Carissa's eyes linger on the scar on Seldan's neck. She doesn't look remotely convinced that he is as well as he is saying, but then... by the look of her she's in a similar situation. At Daneira's request, she moves to take her seat, her expression humbled and quiet as she hears the words spoken around her. "So... He will not be returning? Or... is there a chance that he might?"

Seldan, interestingly, waits for everyone else present to take their seats, pushing in chairs, before doing so himself, and lowering his eyes to the table linens as if to compose his thoughts. "His return is not impossible, but it is vanishingly unlikely. Return will not be possible until he understands where he has gone astray, and returned to the grace of the Draco Solis." I doubt that will happen, is left to hang unspoken at the end of the sentence.

That gaze remains there, at the mention of his other deeds. "I would have you worry not for me, Grandmother. Long has it been since I feared his hand, for truly does the Dreamer guide mine. Once did I tell him that my blood once stained the altar of the Draco Solis in Alexandria, shed in its defense, and that he may question me when he could say as much. That was - not well-received." A ghost of a smile, and he looks up finally at those around the table.

"There are things that I had thought to set to ink and parchment, that their lessons might be shared with young Synonie. But, I would hear of that which you have learned, for it is likely that the tales grow taller in their telling."

Daneira shares that ghost of a smile as the servants comes into the room and place down entrees. There's enough here for the people accounted for, plus some extra for Parnell's older boys, who ended up being absent on account of their fencing match today, which means there's plenty of roasted lamb and winter vegetables to go around. The matriarch of the house has a small sample of her food before she says, "Carissa told me some of your rescue of her, and the cure. As well as the little dragon who aided in your efforts--"

"A dragon!?" Synonie's eyes are wide and full of stars. "Sir Seldan, you're friends with a dragon!?"

"Synonie," Parnell warns, but he and Justina are both visibly gripped in the story, too. "I hadn't heard about this," he adds.

"Yes, Parnell, your nephew is quite accomplished," Daneira says with a small smile. "I've been told of bards' tales of him fighting evil in the streets of Alexandria. All of which is to say that Baram was a fool. A fool who likely shall not be troubling us again anytime soon."

Carissa flushes, pushing her food around with her fork as if not terribly hungry. As if she might be something of a source of at least some of these rumors. She doesn't say anything else for the moment however, seeming perhaps too deep in her own thoughts.

Seldan has set to promptly upon being served, and has fallen silent, focused as he is on consuming his meal. Where Carissa barely eats, he's eating at a speed and volume that is juuuuuuust on the edge of polite, readily rivaling the appetites of either of the older boys. He is managing to be polite about it, but it's very clear that the man was something close to ravenous, and had said very little.

When the dragon is mentioned, he flushes, sets down his knife and fork on a plate that is more than half-empty, and chuckles very, very quietly. "Much do I owe to Tanithariairisixchel, many times over. Were it not for her warning, Mother would have been slain by one posing as me. A creature of mischief, she is, tiny but mighty, and a creature of the Light. For not alone do I stand - usually."

"Woah," Synonie remarks at Seldan's naming of the dragon. "Tanitha...Riarisi...Risisisi...ih-chel? That's the name of the dragon?"

She peers at Parnell. "Can I go visit Tanithariaririsisihchel? If Sir Seldan will take me? She's a nice dragon."

Parnell looks like he doesn't want to explain him saying yes to Edie, as he simply says, "Ask your mother when she returns," as he slices into a portion of lamb. "Carissa, how much did you know? About Seldan's exploits, that is."

Synonie peers at Carissa, however, and she asks, "Are you okay? Uncle Baram wasn't mean to you, too, was he?" Children, willing to ask the questions that others might not.

Carissa settles her fork off to the side of her plate smiling softly at first. "I couldn't rightly say. I know that he saved my life at the risk of his own, and that his dragon-friend acted at his request to cure me of an ill that would have claimed me." Her expression goes rightly troubled for a moment. She might have even said more but at that moment-

There's a small 'pop' of displaced air as a small dragon of golden color appears above the dining room table, a beautiful dragon no larger than the size of a cat. She flaps her wings and lands neatly on Seldan's shoulder, giving him a friendly nuzzle and purrs loudly. "Hello!" Her greeting is light and airy. She peers down the table at those gathered and preens a little. "Hello peoples!"

"One in the state Baram Padaryn was in, Synonie, is likely to harm any and all in his path, and that is why it is so important to act swiftly, on learning of such. Some even fall so far as to actively, and vindictively, turn on those they once named friend." Seldan, though, turns towards his mother, and spots the contents of her plate, leveling a cool stare at her.

Before he can speak, though, Tanith pops in, and his momentarily stricken look reads I did NOT just do that. All the same, she is a welcome force, and he reaches up to stroke the golden scales with a hand. The two are clearly no strangers. "I pray that I did not disturb you from your rest," he offers uncertainly. "All is well, and we were speaking of you. It is well to see you."

Justina, Parnell, and Daneira are all surprised by the tiny golden dragon, but it's Synonie who acts first. "Mummy will understand!" she says to her father, before she gets out of her seat, nicking a bit of roasted lamb from her plate and walking over quite calmly to Tanith. "Oh benevolent and awe-inspiring dragon! Tanithariaririsisihchel! Please accept my humble offering of lamb roast..."

She smiles widely. "For friendship."

Parnell looks terrified. Justina looks at Seldan and says, "Ah, does she... do that often?"

"The dragon is proof of Seldan's deeds, is it not?" Daneira says, smirking just a little. "Although I admit I wish I might have been informed of our esteemed guest. I might have asked the servants to prepare something special."

Clarissa looks surprised by the sudden arrival of Tanith, as much as anyone else. Her lips half-parting. "Tanith dear!" She says, her warmth warming to amusement when Synonie moves to intercept and offer food to the dragon. "She does quite what she wants." This seems to be an explanation to Daneria.

Tanith meanwhile wiggles at the sight of the proffered meat that the girl holds out toward her. "I was bored!" She proclaims to Seldan, her golden eyes blink and her little tongue licks her maw before she gives a little gliding hop to the table where she sort of sniffs in the direction of the offered food. "I accept!" She says cheerfully, though she mutters afterwards in a quite whisper that's obviously directed at Seldan. "Even if it isn't fish."

Seldan's eyes lower, although he does watch as Synonie addresses Tanith. "The fault is mine, Grandmother. Mother is quite right, and I spoke her name, ere I thought. She comes and goes as she wills, but freely always do I welcome her, does she choose to visit. It is fish that she truly loves," he bends a smile down at Tanith. "I warn you, though, that you will not sate her, try though you might."

He turns then, to Parnell and Justina, eyes lowered just a little sheepishly. "I would pray your forgiveness for the upset. The life I lead is - somewhat chaotic. I am certain that you are unused to such behavior. Indeed have I not seen you since I left for Alexandria, Cousin-" he hesitates for just a moment before conjuring the name. "Justina. You, too, are looking well."

"It has been quite a long time," Justina responds to Seldan as Synonie is all starry-eyed with Tanith for the dragon's acceptance of her lamb roast offering. The older cousin adds, "You are looking well yourself, cousin. If you are not a Sunblade, then..."

"Sir Seldan is a Silver Guard!" Synonie says with a wide smile at Justina, before looking back at Tanith. "I'm Sir Seldan's cousin, Synonie, and I'm going to be the best Silver Guard one day, just like Seldan! I'll be Dame Synonie Padaryn!" Here her voice drops conspiratorially to Tanith. "I promise to give you all of the fish I ever find, ever, if you accompany me on my adventures when I become a Silver Guard."

Daneira smiles at the information that Seldan provides, as well as Daneira's explanation. "If she is a beloved ally of Seldan's, then as far as I am concerned, she is an ally of the family," she says. "Future dinners will see fish served, then... just in case. I shouldn't eat any of it myself. Sunguard's orders." The mirth is in Daneira's eyes with the comment.

Then the matriarch looks to Carissa. "Speaking of family matters," she adds, "I'd intended to discuss the path forward for us as a family. Carissa, you are welcome to stay here in the estate. I can have a servant arrange a room for you here, should you feel safe and comfortable here. And I would like to arrange someone to test Synonie for magical talent. Furthermore, I would like to invite those of us who have stayed away on account of Baram's presence at family events..." Here, her eyes drift onto Justina. "... To consider coming to future dinners."

Daneira's eyes are alight with warmth. "To have my family whole again would please me most of all," she says.

Carissa seems to hesitate a moment at Daneria's offer then nods, even smiling at Justina warmly. "Yes, it would be good to be among family again." Her eyes flicker toward her son. "What my husband did..."

Her eyes cloud with water, and she falls silent.

Tanith's golden eyes all but glow at the offer that the girl makes to her. "Really?!?" She sounds excited, and it's clear that the girl has no idea what she's getting herself into with her offer. Tanith hops onto her shoulder with a little effort and snuggles in close. "I will come sometimes if you call me. You can call me Tanith all other times, but when you call you must learn to say my name the right way." She smiles a dragon-smile.

GAME: Seldan rolls will: (7)+34: 41

On the other hand, Seldan's eyes widen at the innocently childish promise, and the ice blue fairly dances. He doesn't quite manage to hold back a laugh. "Synonie," he warns, gently, "remember that Silver Guards do not make promises they cannot keep, for your word is all. You have made a promise, and she will hold you to it. Remember that."

He picks up knife and fork again, and sets to the last few bites on his plate, but his eyes are on his mother. "Mother - where have you been, since last I saw this place?" he asks slowly, even as he polishes off the last of his dinner. "I would hear your tale, and yours, Cousin Justina."

His emptied, cleaned plate gets a long look, but in the end, he sets down his cutlery and looks to the two women for answers. Indeed, he seems relieved that the topic has slid from him. "It would seem that I, too, have been remiss, that so much occurred in my absence."

"I can keep a promise! It's the most important promise ever! Now I'm best friends with Tanithariaririsisihchel! Err, Tanitharia--Tanith!" Synonie frowns as she can't get a bead on how to say Tanith's name correctly. "I'll learn how to say it!"

Daneira, in the meantime, looks sympathetically at Carissa's teary eyes. "Do not blame yourself for Baram's actions," she says gently. "He did more than to cast out Seldan. He fractured this family in doing so. But we will mend."

Justina nods to Seldan. "Truth be told," she says, "I married several years ago, and... I hate to admit it now, but I was using my marriage and then the birth of my children as an excuse to not attend any dinners or meetings, such as this one. I didn't want my children to be exposed to him, nor to get any ideas about what they ought to do with their lives from him. I might have declined coming to this dinner if it hadn't been for the messenger Grandmother sent informing me that Baram would not be in attendance."

Parnell frowns. "Is that why I only get to visit the grandchildren at your house, Justina?" he asks, to which she nods.

Carissa lowers her eyes. "I..." She fails at her words. "I tried to be a good wife, to support him, even after..." She lifts a hand to touch her face. It's clear that she feels terribly about this whole situation. "You ask about me Seldan, but you will not say a word about yourself. How can I ask you to shoulder any more of my burdens?"

She shakes her head then and looks at her family. "All of you have suffered more than enough."

The gesture speaks volumes to Seldan, who lowers his own eyes, and lets out a long breath. "Mother - it is so that I say less of myself than I might. Most here would name me liar, and quite possibly mad, did I spin the half of my stories," that is accompanied by a very small, rueful smile, and he pushes a stray lock of hair from his face again, pushing it towards his ear. It is not long enough to tuck in, though. "It seems unkind to leave her," he nods towards the entranced Synonie, "with nightmares." His words are low.

"I - avoided Father, for a long time, for many reasons. In truth - did I believe myself indeed cast out, that none saved Mother wished my presence, and thus did I say to myself that it was for the best, did I not return."

Daneira nods gently in understanding. "It is the exact opposite," she says. "I certainly missed my grandchild--both you and Emerind, although I have heard nothing of Emerind, and I have found nothing of a trail of him in the places where I've sent people to investigate. Charn is beyond my reach and beyond where I am willing to send anyone."

Justina looks sympathetically at Carissa. "I cannot imagine being married to that man," she says. "You have none of my envy and all of my regards and care, Aunt Carissa."

"I feel similarly," Parnell says, a grateful look on his face given as Synonie is quite busied with petting Tanith, as she's returned to her seat and is busy quietly offering foods to the little dragon... in the event she might like them (even for the lack of resemblance that they bear to Tanith's favored meal). "We are family. The damage that my brother did to everyone is... More than I ever thought. I support Mother in her venture to make us whole again."

Synonie pipes up at last. "Sir Seldan--isn't your blade named Reunion? That's what this kind of is, right? A reunion?"

Carissa's eyes fall upon Synonie. "Then perhaps we might speak upon it another time." She murmurs, picking up her fork once again as if to make something of the somewhat cooled food on her plate. Close attention however quickly reveals that she's not really eating any of it however.

Tanith it turns out is something of a picky eater. She sniffs anything that's not meat and politely turns it down, but seems fond of anything else. Even if it's not her preferred treat. She even seems inclined to share 'her' bounty, encouraging Synonie to eat as well so that she 'grows big and strong'.

"Nor have I," Seldan nods, listening to the words spoken. "I have ventured to Charn a few times of late. Never is it a pleasant journey." He lets out a breath. "Do I learn aught of Emerind's whereabouts, I shall so inform you."

He keeps an eye on Tanith and Synonie, but seems inclined to let the pair keep to themselves until the question of Reunion comes up. "Even so, and it is a blade that heals that which is fractured - even does it find itself, at times, fractious." A small smile, for that, one that fades as he eyes Carissa. "Mother, you are not eating." If he had been inclined to permit her to keep her secrets before, he is concerned enough to speak now.

Parnell looks between Synonie and himself, and he seems to pick up on something unspoken. "Synonie," he says, "do you want to show your new dragon friend the garden?"

Synonie gasps, looking at Tanith. "Yes! There's fish in a little pond Grandmother has! You could eat them!" she says quietly to the little dragon on her shoulders. "They're tiny fish, but they're fish!"

That results in an apologetic look from Parnell in Daneira's direction, but the matriarch simply smirks a little. "Go ahead," she says. "I'm certainly not about to start an argument with a dragon."

Parnell nods, and he goes to escort Synonie out of the room--although she bounds ahead of him happily. Justina remains, eating quietly, as does Daneira.

Tanith perks up considerably at the concept of fish. "Fish!" She exclaims, certainly willing and ready to be carried to them. She hums softly some tune as Synonie leaves the room with her in tow.

There's a moment of silence in the wake of her leaving, as Seldan's mother gather's her thoughts and once again sets her fork aside. "Forgive me. I find that I have little appetite these days. I don't know what's wrong with me." Her voice is soft. "Baram... he was so upset when I left Alexandria. It was as if everything that happened was my fault. I blamed myself too. If I had only been stronger..."

Her eyes are solemn and her body seems frail now as she admits the truth she'd been keeping close to her chest. "We fought constantly after that. I tried not to, I wanted to be a good, dutiful wife. But... Nothing I did was good enough anymore. He said I was weak for allowing myself to be caught like that, that I was old and... Unworthy of being the wife of a servant of Daeus. He even blamed me for his injury. Told me that if I was a better wife that Daeus would have protected him from it." Her eyes close briefly. "In the end all I could do is find an excuse to be away from him, but he sent me letters to berate me for failing in my duties as his wife."

Seldan goes very still, at this story. But of course. That was how he treated everyone. "And yet, not one finger did he lift to aid any," he murmurs. "So certain was he of his rectitude. And yet - this would I ask of you, Mother, do you believe yourself a poor wife and mother." He pushes his plate a bit away, and reaches to take a sip of wine. "On whose side does the Draco Solis stand?" He lets that question hang for a moment. "Let that be your answer, Mother. Think not badly of yourself, for no more could I have asked of you in that. You acted, where he sat upon his hands and preached. Not one finger did he lift, to aid anyone. For Father in his pride and surety of his own rectitude, erred, even as Bauglir did. He was wrong, and he cannot bring himself to admit that he is wrong. Until he does, he cannot ever make it right, and naught will you see of him again."

Daneira nods gently to Seldan's words in full agreement. "The Sunguard who stood with Seldan gave Baram a penance," she states. "It is a judgment delivered by their deity. Baram has erred and hurt so many... And as Seldan said, everyone else seemed to be the one who wronged him. He believes himself incapable of being wrong."

She sighs gently. "I don't understand how he got to this point," she says. "I am his mother. I have asked myself constantly if I spoiled him too much, if there was something that happened to him that I don't know of... But I have not been able to reason out why. I can only try to care for those who he hurt. My family. Not him. When he's hurt so many of my family, I cannot think of him as the little boy who I birthed into this world. He... Is not an innocent. He is a grown man who should know what he did."

"Grown men generally own up to their faults," Justina remarks as she finishes her plate. "My husband will apologize to me if he makes a mistake or hurts my feelings in some way. Uncle Baram seems incapable of apology. Do not expect one from him, Aunt Carissa--make your own absolution and comfort from the fact that there are people who care for you."

Carissa smiles at the words. "I'm certain you are all right." She looks at Seldan. "I hope only that this might grant my son a chance to return home as he wishes as well." After a moment she leans over, patting Daneira on the hand. "As it was no fault of mine, it is no fault of yours. He made his own choices and must sleep in a bed of them." "As must we all." Seldan's eyes wander outside and in the direction where Parnell and Synonie went at the mention of making choices and lying in a bed of them. "I fear that the little one has let herself in for quite the burden, but Tanitharia will not harm her, and thus is the lesson well taught, without harm."

He turns back to the others, then, and his stomach chooses that moment to let out a rather insistent noise. He presses his lips tightly together, clearly embarrassed, but says nothing of it, instead returning to the topic. "It seems that a great deal of damage has been done, and that I should have laid challenge far sooner than I did." His eyes lower, guiltily. "As to the matter of me returning home, that, I think, is for Grandmother to decide." Unbeknownst to him, he holds his breath, and looks like nothing so much as one facing judgment.

"Oh Seldan," Daneira answers gently, holding her hand out to Seldan for him to take. "You are a member of the family. You are home. You have returned. Your contribution is far greater than that of your father to this family; you have dispelled long-held darkness over our family and have returned to us our ancestral home."

Her eyes are warm as she says, "My dearest Seldan, I have only one son--Parnell Padaryn--but I have a beloved grandson: Sir Seldan Padaryn. May he carry pride in the family who embraces him. May he know that he is a worthy successor--in the hopes that he views his family worthy of belonging to. May you know that I am forever and always proud of you, Seldan. I invite you always to our home at any occasion, yet I know you are a Silver Guard. You are pledged to work more important than simple family matters. Thus, you may come and go as you please and as you are needed elsewhere."

There's gratitude in Carissa's eyes as she glances at Daneira, for allowing her son to come back home; where he rightly belongs. She picks up her plate and carries it to Seldan, sets it before him and settles into the spot just at his side, her eyes full of warmth. "Thank you Seldan. For everything you have done for me, and for your family. I'm only sorry that this didn't come sooner. I love you, my son."

The words wash over Seldan, and it's a lot. Words that he had been waiting for most of two decades to hear. At first, he isn't quite sure he believes his ears, but then there's a presence next to him, and the clinking of plates, and his face sinks into his hands as the enormity of that acceptance sinks in, along with the weariness in his bones. He remains there for a long moment, unable to speak.

A few deep breaths later, and he finally does look up, the ice-blue eyes bright with tears. Still, somehow, he manages the formal words. "Thank you, Mother, Grandmother. I am honored to return as I may, and I love you both. There is - much that I have learned."

he looks down at the plate before him, and at Carissa. "Mother. You are in greater need than I."

Daneira smiles warmly. "I love you too, my dearest Seldan," she says. "As Carissa has expressed--it has taken far too long for this to come to pass. And yet you are home. Yet we are reunited." Here she chuckles. "Maybe Reunion was named such for a reason."

She might have more to say on that topic, but then doors open, feet rush, and Synonie pokes her head into the dining room, Tanith on her shoulder. She is dripping wet. "I'm SO COLD," Synonie whisper-screams, shivering but grinning all the while. "But that was SO MUCH FUN."

Parnell quickly pads in after her, looking somewhere between panicked and yet resigned to his fate that he'll have to explain all of this to his wife later. "Nonie, do you want to change dresses? You'll catch a cold if you don't."

"Tanith wouldn't let me catch a cold!" Synonie says, before she seems to think and looks at her little shoulder-dragon. "Would you?"

Carissa smiles at her son, comforting him with a pat on his hand. "I told you Seldan, I'm just not that hungry these days. It wouldn't do to let the food go to waste, and I won't suffer for its loss." She glances toward the opening door and blinks at the girl with her dragon companion.

Tanith for her part looks wholly satisfied with herself. She's purring loudly on the girl's shoulder and looks at her blankly for a moment. "Mmmm. Cold? I could start a fire!" In spite of the enthusiasm in her words she doesn't immediately leap to do so, obviously somewhat languid from her recent meal, but she looks at the slightly damp cloth she's perched on with distaste. "But water is bad. Dry clothes are better."

Seldan looks longingly at the food, but when the door opens, he, too, looks up, and the conversation at hand gets dropped on the floor for the moment. He says only, "Reunion will be most pleased," instead standing as Synonie comes in sopping wet. "It is not in my mind that Tanitharia will properly understand what is meant," he says gently, rising from his chair with an effort. "Tanitharia, no fire is needed," he tells the little dragon. "But if she is not dried off, she might take ill. Would you be willing to dry her off for me, or shall I do it? Her and her clothing both."

Between Seldan and Tanith, there's plenty of magic around to dry off Synonie. Not long after, Edie comes back into the house with the two older boys, who marvel at Seldan's appearance, but are able to control their own delight and enthusiasm at being related to a Silver Guard better than Synonie, although the older boys are warmly supportive of their baby sister's dream to become a Silver Guard.

Justina departs not long after, needing to go home to her own family. Next time, she promises to bring her family along for the next family get-together.

Poor Edonia has to get an explanation about the little golden dragon (who's marvelled at by Synonie's brothers), and she doesn't look terribly thrilled, but she is happy for Synonie's happiness. Although she pales when she learns of the promise made to Tanith. She's picturing all of the gold that Synonie might have to pay for fish. They leave to discuss things as a family. Synonie doesn't say goodbye to Tanith, only a 'see you later'--followed by a demand of Seldan to write down Tanith's full name for her, so she can learn how to say it.

Maybe it's best that an eight-year-old girl can't summon a dragon, however. That one's up to Seldan.

Finally, when it's just Seldan, Daneira, and Carissa, Daneira's holding the key to Ivyhold Manor in her hand, turned over to her by Seldan. Daneira smiles widely at Seldan. "I don't know what we'll do with Ivyhold just yet," she says. "But I think as a family, we'll decide... together."

As Seldan goes to sleep that night, safe in the room that Daneira had put together for him in her estate, he hears a soft feminine voice singing to him as he slips into the sleep of dreaming:

"Reunion, Reunion, we reunite the souls,

Reunion, Reunion, we reunite the family,

Reunion, Reunion, I sing you on your way:

Reunion, Reunion, I sing you safely home."

And he is home. Safe and sound.