Taking Demeter and Carlotta to Gotland

[ostro_goth]

Teja is sitting by the door, turning the snake bracelet in his hands.

He is waiting for his friends to to turn up, so they may go visit his people together.

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[fiery_ring]

Carlotta glances at Teja, wondering how he takes such a speech, given his previous ideas about childrearing.

[ostro_goth]

Teja has been talking to Wachis about several ways of fixing things, but turns his head at Adalgoth's passionate pronouncement, and wanders over to where they are sitting with the babies.

"You have ever been bold, fearless and generous of heart, my Adalgoth," he says, quietly, "and never worried about what darkness that might lead you into. You are still bolder than most, and you children will thank you for it."

[wheatencrown]

"Of course they will be as children flourish when surrounded by love and they're truly loved here."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods. But this sort of family life... is something she's never really known. And for a moment, she tries to imagine what it's like to grow up with a mother and father who are always there, in a house that doesn't move, with lots of siblings.

(Probably not quite as fun as travelling and performing and having access to an elephant, mind).

[ostro_goth]

"Even children surrounded by love may die," Teja says, remembering little Athalwin, son of his friend and predecessor Witichis, after whom one of Wachis' sons is named.

"You do not get what you deserve. You get what you get, and no amount of boldness, love, and determination will sway fate."

"Says the man who saved what remained of our people by just stubbornly standing in the mouth of a gorge, throwing spear after spear, and just not budging," Adalgoth chides, quietly.

Teja shrugs, and reaches out to stroke little Valeria's cheek, where she is cuddled against Demeter and looking at him with big eyes.

[wheatencrown]

"Yes, but life is part of death and love can do more than you realize. Also listen to Adalgoth who knows you,"

Demeter smirks at Teja, she will not let him find the dark here.

[fiery_ring]

"The man ever watchful of death, never feels the glory of the wind rushing through his hair as he leaps from a trapese." Carlotta says.

"The man who forgets it entirely, feels the glory of the wind rushing through his hair as he leaps from a trapese only once."

[ostro_goth]

"That is true," Teja says, "even if you know not what a trapeze might be."

Pause.

"And yes, he knows me. I often marvelled how one so bright and clear might know one of such darkness as mine so well; and I marvel still."

"People were scared of you," Adalgoth says, "even as they admired your deeds. I never was. I was never scared to look at what's inside that darkness. And I soon found it's not darkness at all. Between the dark heads of the gloomy night-woods, you can see the shimmer of far-away stars, if you but look long enough."

He sits up on the bed-bench, which he can do as he is no longer being sat on by the babies. "You seem to have all the children, ladies. I have nothing to cuddle."

Even Teja has one of Isis' kittens, asleep on his shoulder. He reaches up and hands it to Adalgoth, in the way you'd hand over a cup of water, or a tool.

[wheatencrown]

"You need darkness to see the light and Teja, you're a bright and wonderful person. Now no more talk of sad things, its not a day for them."

[fiery_ring]

"Especially not in front of the children." Carlotta says, making a mental note that if or when she eventually has children, to be careful what Uncle Teja explains to them at what age...

[ostro_goth]

Adalgoth cuddles the kitten, smiling at Teja.

No, indeed, he might be smirking at Teja, and Teja rolls his eyes, suppressing a smile.

"They are too young to understand," he says.

"But they catch the tone of your voice!" Adalgoth says.

[wheatencrown]

"And children understand far more than you expect and this is a house of hope."

[fiery_ring]

"Yes, children can understand before they can talk." Carlotta says. "How old are the twins?"

[ostro_goth]

"Six months and three weeks," Adalgoth says. "They were born on the first night of November."

[wheatencrown]

"They're doing so well. Yes, you are, my dear,"

Demeter rubs noses with Valeria and laughs.

[fiery_ring]

"Does that mean they'll walk soon?" Carlotta asks.

[ostro_goth]

Adalgoth laughs. "They'll crawl first," he says. "And then they'll stand up, hanging on to anything they may grab. And then, they'll walk, and for a few months until they can listen to sense, all hell will be loose, and we must not keep our eyes off them for a single moment. And there will be two of them!"

[wheatencrown]

"It looked liked they were getting ready to crawl."

[fiery_ring]

"Ah, yes. In the circus, we tend to start turning them upside down around then." Carlotta says, grinning. "And we take it in turns to watch all the little ones at once."

[ostro_goth]

"Upside-down?" Adalgoth says. "In the circus? Why?"

[wheatencrown]

"I think to teach them to be comfortable just as you'll have them around horses so they're not scared."

[fiery_ring]

"Because being turned upside down makes some people feel a bit funny, so we get them used to it early." Carlotta says. "By the time they're about four, we try and get them balancing that way while being held."

[ostro_goth]

"Well, these two won't have to be circus performers," Teja says. "In fact, they won't have to be anything except mothers and wives, eventually."

Adalgoth shrugs. "And what can boys be? Farmers and warriors. We don't have fancy choices like we did in the south-lands. Or that you have in the future."

Valeria snuggles up to Demeter, giggling, not minding at all as yet.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter strokes Valeria's hair and back,

"No, but each life holds such possibility within it."

[fiery_ring]

"They could make jam, or pottery, or weave?" Carlotta suggests.