Papa

Writers: Estelle, Lexy
Date Posted: 22nd July 2005

Characters: Enrizial, Anaia
Description: Enrizial visits Anaia and their daughters, and Faraline surprises them
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 3

Though there was much work to be done at the Hold after his absence, Enrizial had made it quite clear that no appointments were to be made in the middle of the afternoon. He knew that if he wanted to catch his daughters while they were still awake, he could not visit the nursery too late in the evening.

When he arrived, he found Anaia already there, sitting on a couch with Alalia on her knee while Faraline crawled back and forth on the rug, surrounded by toys.

"It seems she's getting reacquainted with her dolls," he said, treading carefully as he entered the room so as not to crush anything underfoot.

Faraline pulled one of her dolls over to her and began gnawing on the hand, her eyes bright as she glanced over at her parents. "She seems to have taken a shine to that one. She's been carrying it around with her all morning." Ana slid over on the couch and patted the seat next to her. Alalia lay in her arms, her eyes shut as she slept peacefully even through the shift in position.

"All morning?" Enrizial raised an eyebrow as he sat down beside her, though his tone was light and without rebuke.

The young Lady blushed slightly and watched as Faraline used the toy box behind her to pull herself up to stand. "I've sort of not let either of them out of my sight. They've been with me all morning."

"I would think they'd be safe here - after all, you left them at Amethyst Cliff while you visited here last time, didn't you?" Enrizial was not entirely certain _he'd_ have trusted the folk at Amethyst Cliff to look after the girls after what had happened to them there, though he'd been reassured a little by the number of guards in evidence at the Hold since the kidnappings.

"That was because I wasn't returning home until we'd rebuilt at least some of what we'd managed to lose, and I couldn't do that all the way from Amethyst Cliff, now could I?" Leaning in to him, she kissed him softly. Just at that moment, their daughter let go of the toybox and began toddling over to them, babbling as she came.

"She's walking!" Enrizial watched, enraptured, as Faraline approached, still a little wobbly on her feet but far more confident than she'd been when he'd seen her last. He held out his hands. "Come to Papa..."

Faraline nearly stumbled, but regained her balance and managed the last few steps before placing her small hands in Enrizial's and looking trustingly up at him. "Papa!"

'Papa' was so startled that his mouth dropped open and he nearly let go of her. "Anaia...did you hear...?"

"I did!" Anaia smiled happily, looking at Enrizial's face glow. Leaning in, she kissed his cheek and hid the small twinge of jealousy that her daughter had said his name first. Especially considering she'd been the one with the girls for the last few months. "She knows who her Papa is."

"She does!" Enrizial, grinning foolishly, lifted the little girl high up above his head, where she squealed in delight and waved her arms as if they were wings. "You're such a clever girl, Faraline! Can you say that again? Can you say 'Papa'?"

Faraline only giggled and put her fingers in her mouth.

"What about 'Mama'?" Enrizial asked, belatedly feeling a little guilty for the gift he'd been given. "Can you say that?"

Her fingers popped out of her mouth and she pointed at Enrizial. "Papa!"

Anaia laughed and shook her head. "My time will come, Papa, I promise." Leaning over, she kissed his cheek lightly and smiled at him happily. _This_ was what she had dreamed of for long. Perhaps now they would have it!

Last updated on the September 6th 2005

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Papa