Pletty Kitty

Writers: Francesca, Paula
Date Posted: 9th October 2008

Characters: Lymria, Jadorin, Torgny, Lyale, Omrian
Description: Jadorin measures Lymria and her children for clothes
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 6 of Turn 4

Cloud stretched and yawned, green eyes looking towards Jadorin before
she jumped right onto the stack of hides he was flipping through in
his office. The feline purred and rubbed against his arm, happily
ignoring his annoyance. He gently tried to push her away but she
insistently returned, until he sighed and placed her on his lap, idly
petting her while he continued reading.

After several minutes, her ears perked up and she looked towards the
hallway, from which the Journeyman could hear approaching footsteps.
He picked up Cloud and deposited her on the floor, quickly brushing
off some of her fur from his lap, then ran a hand through his hair.
He hoped it wasn't the pushy woman who had commissioned a rug and
thought it helpful to stop by the workshop every morning to check on
the apprentices' progress.

Lymria ushered the three children into the weaver's workshop. Torgny
looked sullen like only 11 turns old boy could when he was forced to
do something unpleasant, the little girl looked excited with idea of
getting new clothes and Omrian was leaning dangerously downwards on
her arms. He wanted to walk on his own but was still too slow.

"Hello?" Lymria greeted with a question in her tone and looked around.

Jadorin couldn't help but wonder at the woman's age when she entered the
room. She seemed far too young to have three children already, especially
one who looked to be at least 10 Turns old. Perhaps she was an older
sister?

"I'm Jadorin. How can I help you and the children?"

"Hi, I'm Lymria, I'm a fostermother," she replied and lowered Omrian
to the floor. "The Turnover is approaching and we need clothes for it.
We come for Amethyst Cliff hold and all our better clothes were
destroyed in the earthquake," she explained. She had came to Amber
hills with no other property than what she had been wearing during the
disaster.

Jadorin nodded, taking in all of the information. That explained
everything- especially why she was so young, with three children.
"Well, I hope you've all settled in well. I have only been here a few
months myself. Take a seat and I can write down what you have in
mind." He gestured to the seats across from his desk. "Now, you want
four outfits, is that right?"

"Yes, that's right. If you can Omrian to stay still long enough to take
his measurements," Lymria said, a half an eye on the active toddler.
"Sweetheart, those are needles, don't put them into your mouth," She
scolded him and reached to rescue the needles from the curious child.

"Let's measure him first then. If you put him on your lap, that will
make it a lot easier." **And then he won't eat anything or poke
himself** he added to himself.

Unfortunately Omrian had spotted the feline. "Kitty!" he cried with
delighted voice and ran towards it with outstretched arms.
"Omrian!" Lymria rushed after him and lifted him up. Of course the boy
got a tantrum when he was not allowed to do as he pleased and started
to wail and kick wildly.

"If you can make him be still long enough. I'm sorry about this,"
Lymria said with suffering voice and grimaced at the noise the boy was
making. The two older children were giggling.

Memories of younger siblings passed through Jadorin's head as the
toddler howled. In an attempt to get him to stop, the Journeyman
scooped up the feline, who was hiding under his desk. "Want to pet
her?" he asked, his voice soothing. "Her name is Cloud. She's
younger than you are." He held Cloud in his arms, keeping her out of
the child's reach until he responded.

Omrian quieted down instantly. "Kitty?" he pleaded.

"No pulling fur or tail or biting," Lymria warned him and turned him
so he could pet the feline.

"Pletty kitty," the boy purred.

"If I let you pet the kitty, you need to promise to stay still, ok?"
Jadorin said, kneeling so he was about the same height as the little
boy. "And then, if you're really good, I'll let you pet a
firelizard." He hoped the child was old enough to understand
everything he was saying, and that the prize at the end was enough
motivation for him to behave himself.

"Kitty!" the boy agreed heartily.

"You're very good with children," Lymria said admiringly.

Jadorin looked up at Lymria and shrugged. "I have four younger
siblings, and many nieces and nephews."

He carefully brought Cloud close enough to be touched by the little
boy, glad the feline wasn't struggling.

"Gently," Lymria instructed the child. She looked back to Jadorin. "No
children of your own then?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No wife, no children. Just my craft." He let
Cloud go back to her favorite place under his desk and reminded the
toddler to be still if he wanted the reward at the end. Then, he
began measuring, trying to work as quickly as possible.

"Really?" Lymria said, storing the fact to her memory.

He easily repeated the same excuse he told everyone. "I just recently
settled here at Amber Hills. Before that I traveled a lot. It
wouldn't have been a very good life for a family." Now that it
appeared he would remain at the Hold, however, he was beginning to
feel pressure from others to find a wife.

Lymria just nodded understandingly to his answer. "So, I was thinking
about a matching colour-scheme to all of four of us…"

"All right." Jadorin efficiently finished measuring Omrian, and
praised him for being so cooperative. He called Tini, his green
firelizard to him and allowed the boy to touch her softly.

Lymria reminded him of his younger sister, with whom he had a shared a
very close relationship when they were young. She and her young
family made him almost feel at home.

"Do you want to get a bite to eat at the Tavern some time?" he blurted
out without thinking. Then, realizing his request could be
misinterpreted, he quickly added, "With your children of course. I
hear they have a Harper there, and it's a great place to be,
especially in the early afternoon."

He quickly looked down and pretended to take down some notes, not
wanting to meet her eyes.

"That would be nice," Lymria replied, delighted by his question. "I've
been in the Tavern, but not with the children," she said.

"Oh! Well, great," he said, surprised she wasn't turning him down.
"Are you all free tomorrow?"

"Yes, we should be," Lymria said. She hoped that this time there
wouldn't be green dragons rising to mate like last time she had been
in Tavern.

"Well, let me finish measuring all of you, and then we can decide
where and when to meet," he said, remembering the reason she had
originally come to see him. However, his thoughts remained on their
plans for the coming day. He was looking forward to it.

Last updated on the October 11th 2008

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