It's About Time (Solo feat. Sira)

[Aidara]

Timestamp: 8th of Fall, 511 AV “Yes, that’s right. I need it soon, please.” “Alright. Pinions, or have you a trade?” Eying the small woman who stood across the booth countertop from him, the vivacious woman rested her hand on her hip, long nails tapping impatiently on the wood. “Not unless you need any kind of poultice or herbs… I have coin enough to pay.” Squinting up at Lexi, the statuesque woman who ran Lexi’s leathers, Addy felt her lips twist down in a slight frown at the woman’s attitude. She was cocky, for sure, and very confident in her skills and what she wanted, basically the complete opposite of the Healer that faced her. “Forty-five Pinions, then.” And that long fingered, manicured hand was held out over the counter, waiting. Pulling a small leather pouch from her hip, Addy carefully counted out the coins and set them down onto the wood, completely ignoring the stretched out hand. Smiling sweetly, the coins were pushed from in front of her towards Lexi. When the Avora woman reached for them, her nose wrinkled in distaste, Addy made a quick noise of correction, as if she was scolding a dog. “Ah-ah!” and the hand stopped in it’s decent towards the coins, a brow rising as Lexi looked down at the healer. “For robbing me blind, I expect the best quality saddle that this city has ever seen. The detail work must be impeccable and you must speak of this to no one. Especially not Sira. I will be by to get this three days hence.” Green eyes locked the other woman’s gaze, her normally friendly face adopting a glower that she had undoubtedly learned from her sister, Sairque. Waiting, with her hand still covering the money, Addy simply stood until Lexi gave in, stepping back with her hands upraised in surrender, the haughty look on her face greatly diminished. “Yes, Endal Aidara, of course.” A lot of people still thought of the little woman as the healer they all trusted and loved. It always came as a surprise when Addy actually acted and called for the amount of respect usually given to those of her caste. Perhaps the sporadic usage of her status it was intentional, because it sure did get her what she wanted. “And when I return, I expect a better attitude, as well.” And with her bossy britches still pulled up high, Addy turned on her heal and smoothly disappeared into the crowed, leaving her coins on the table and a silently fuming woman behind her. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lexi, but Addy’s next stop was the Craft Gallery. The market was bustling, and even as she bartered with the leatherworker, there was a line of customers behind her. There was simply no way that the woman was going to be able to fill all these orders by herself by next market day, let alone construct her order from scratch in three days. So she had to cover all her bases. Slightly paranoid that Lexi would try and teach the Addy a lesson for her attitude and public embarrassment (The healer still wasn’t used to being able to get away with such things now), Addy slipped in among the other Avora that weren’t frequenting the Market. The Gallery rang with the sound of work. Looms clacked and hammers smacked against stone, but the loudest sound was the laughter. These men and women, for the most part, really enjoyed their jobs. Pacing slowly down the hallway, tipping her head in a nod to the passing workers who acknowledged her with a smile or a wave, Addy paused at each room before moving on. She knew exactly who she was looking for, but he wasn’t found until she stuck her dark-red-head into the last room off the hallway. “Nika!” She called, smiling as she stepped into the room. He was a grizzled older man, his face creased and well-worn like a good piece of the leather he worked with. His red hair was starting to go white at the roots, giving his hair at first glance the appearance that it really was on fire. He was clean shaven, so there was no way to tell whether his beard would act the same. “Dara, my dear! I thought you had forgotten me, now that I has me a woman to take care of my aches and pains.” With his bright blue eyes disappearing as a grin crinkled his face, Nika set down the leather strap he had been working on, holding out his arms to the small woman and gathering her into a hug when she stepped forward. The two had met while Addy was in the infirmary, Nika having made frequent visits complaining of aches in his joints. A simple herb concoction would have solved that, but Addy suspected the man was lonely for company, and was more than happy to mix his medicine on a day by day basis while they chatted. “I had wondered where you’d gone! Your chair in my office is starting to gather dust!” Pleased for this change for the better in Nika’s life, Addy made it clear she was joking and harbored no hard feelings by planting a kiss on his cheek. “In fact, I am here for your expertise, not to scold you.” Tilting white-and red brow in curiosity, Nika sat back down on his stool and took up the leather again, gesturing for Addy to find a place to sit. That wasn’t as easy as it seemed, for Addy had to move a pile of boots and a small saddle that looked to be made for a child before she found the second stool. Perching on the edge, the healer began to twirl a long auburn lock around her finger. “I just went to Lexi..” The roll of his eyes made Addy grin before she continued, “I know.. I know, but she’s good. The problem is people know it. If she starts divving up her work, will you take my order? I trust you. And your tooling is superb.” Nika pretended to blush and preformed a complex bow with his hands, though he remained sitting. “I would be honored, my dear. May I ask what…?” “It’s a saddle. For Sira…well, for the both of us, since I am the one using it. But we’ve got a loaner right now and…I wanted it within the next three days. That’s the kicker.” Wincing theatrically, Addy rubbed her backside as if to express how uncomfortable the thing was. “Three days?” Even Nika looked skeptical, glancing up from his work to eye her, as if trying to gauge how serious she was. "In a rush are we?" Shifting uncomfortably, Addy couldn't help but blush. "Well, yes. The baby shower...Sira gave me this.." Fingering the beautiful necklace that she now always wore, Addy lifted it to show the man. He gave the proper Oooh's and Ahhh's and the woman had to smile. "Yes, its gorgeous. But I didn't get her anything..." Looking up, Addy tried to give Nika her most pitiful look. One that he couldn't turn down. And it worked. “Ah yes. Well dear, you can count on me. But if I expect to have time to help you, I must get back to my work…” With the business completed, Addy stood and offered the man another hug, some well wishes and the hopes that he would come visit her in the Infirmary soon before she took her leave. Feeling particularly proud of herself, Addy strode happily back to the Aerie where she could relax and continue planning her gift.

[Aidara]

Evening of Fall the 8th Having spent most of the day relaxing with Sira, Addy was anxious for her love to leave. Still on the nights watch, though it seemed lately that this was more of a blessing than a punishment, Sira spent her nights out and returned around dawn. For those times when Addy did not join her, this left most of the morning and the early evening for the women to be together. Any couple who were both working long hours knew how rare time together really was. So Sira was to leave, and Addy had disinclined to join her, claiming that she was too tired and needed sleep badly. Understanding as always, Sira even went so far as to tuck the little woman in before she stripped, bundled up her clothes and trooped out into the Aerie for departure. Staying as still as possible, Addy listened to her love chat idly with Catabasis as she readied her things for transportation; it was always a little bit of a process when Addy didn't come along, since Sira had to stick everything in a saddle bag that was big enough for her to grasp in her talons without crushing or damaging the gear. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Addy heard the rush of wind against feathers and the distinctive strokes of Sira's wings. Listening until she could no longer hear the flapping as Sira departed, Addy bounded from her bed and got back into her clothes from the day. Grabbing up her healing bag, Addy slipped on her sandals and switched her flimsy Vanati for a heavier one and raced from her aerie home. Most of the corridors were deserted, and so the woman didn't have to stop very often for pleasantries. Maybe those she passed saw that she was on a mission and decided against disturbing her but whatever the reason, Addy reached the Infirmary in record time. Unbarring and opening the door, the small woman slipped into the darkness, feeling her way by memory to the first sconce. Once this was lit, things were easier and the room was soon glowing with a warm, orange light. Since the Infirmary was never to be locked when a healer was present, Addy left it slightly ajar, just in case of emergency. She stooped and re-lit the fire in the grate before searching out the things she needed for her... experiment. Dropping her bag on the table, Addy went straight for the cabinet that held the stitching equipment. The thickest, strongest needle was chosen as well as a roll of poor quality bandage, that of which they wouldn't have use of unless all other supplies ran out. Settling down in one of the chairs by the now roaring fire, Addy placed the needle and cloth down on the table, grabbing her bag and carefully pulling out the drawstring bag she had stashed inside. Sira normally didn't rifle through her things, but Addy had taken no chance in her love seeing part of the surprise. Carefully so that they didn't bounce in random directions or break, Addy poured the sack of glass beads out onto the stone coffee table that stretched in front of all the waiting chairs. They were all different colors, sizes and shapes; she had taken the cast offs from the Glassworkers the day before, planning on using them as practice before she gathered the actual beads she commissioned. It would be a shame to damage or break any of the finely wrought beads during her trial-and-error. "This can't be too hard..." She whispered to herself, taking then the heavy thread that she had bought from a tailor, picking up her needle and looking at them both. "Like stitching a wound, right?" Wrong. Oh so wrong. It was almost a full bell before Addy gave up on it as a lost cause. All over the table were the now scattered beads, a length of bandage stretched out before her. Though she had given the project all her attention, the work that sat across her knees was sloppy...and that was putting it nicely. As it turns out, sewing wounds had nothing to do with sewing beads to fabric. The first difference was the goal of each task. Stitching skin was quick, gruesome work; you wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible, while doing a good job of making sure that the skin was going to re-attach and adhere back together. Cleanliness and clean, precise motions were key. Sewing, while needing a precise hand and concentration, had nothing to do with speed and all to do with looks. Lines had to be straight while the stitches had to be close together and neat. Looking down at her work, Addy couldn't help but feel her confidence fall. She had started out okay, the beads she stitched into the first row ending up rather straight and relatively close together. The second row dipped down in the middle, leaving a large gap between it an the first row. The third row was comprised of different shaped beads than the first, and this is where Addy's needlework became sloppy. At one point, the thread tangled around the edge of a green bead, knotting in an unseemly way on one end. This line was the worst, zig-zagging up and down until the row was almost diagonal from where she had started. "Petch it all." Frustration got the better of her as she tossed down the cloth, wincing as it clattered sharply against the stone and instantly making her feel guilty. This was for Sira. She had to do this. It was time for Plan B.

[Aidara]

Fall the 9th Knock, Knock Pausing in the doorway for courtesy more than anything, Addy lifted her fist against the wooden door to announce her arrival. When there was no answer, she peeked her head around the corner, glancing into the room as she raised her fist again. Knock, Knock, Knock And then "Helllooooo?" Still, nothing. Throwing courtesy to the wind, Addy stepped into the Master Seamstresses work room, clasping her hands behind her back so that if anyone stumbled upon her, they wouldn't get the wrong impression as she started to look around the room. It was filled with piles of beautiful fabrics, racks of half-completed tapestries and there was a lounging chair piled so high it almost looked unsteady of bryda, vanati and scarves. It was almost half a bell before Tia returned in a whirlwind of color and fabric. She was a woman in her middle years with hair so pale it could almost be called strawberry blonde. She was pretty, though, even with her many measuring tapes draped around her body, pencils behind her ear and smudges on her face. Tia gave off the impression of a very frazzled woman. "Tia..? Tia! It's Aidara. No, no, here. I let myself in." Speaking up, Addy caught the seamstress by surprise. She turned on her heel towards the door, assuming that was where the voice had come from. Addy had actually seated herself on one of the only empty chairs left in the room. The one found at the woman's desk. The healer rose when she spoke, stepping towards the other woman as she called attention to actual whereabouts. "I hope you don't mind. I came looking for you earlier but you were out.." Green gaze danced to the stack of fabrics cradled to her chest, and extended a hand towards her. "Would you like some help?" "No, no Endal Aidara. It's fine I can... just put them... here" Grunting as she tossed the cloth onto an already huge pile of scarves, Tia turned and stepped quickly to Addy's side, taking the outstretched hand into her own for a handshake instead. "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting." "Addy, if you please. And don't worry about it. I should have asked before just dropping by... Especially with the favor that I have to ask." She would have liked the work into the question a bit, maybe over some tea and gossip, but Addy could already tell that she was on the verge of losing Tia's attentions, and thought it best to cut to the chase. "I need you to teach me how to sew." And with that, she took the leather purse that held the coins she had grabbed for this purpose and plunked them down onto the desk. It had the heavy, clinking sound of many coins that she had hoped for. Tia was a very busy woman, hard to pin down (pardon the pun) and even harder to get to commit more work to her already busy schedule. It seemed, however, that a fat purse of pinions were the key. "I...well... I shouldn't but...." Hazel eyes glanced nervously from the cloth she had just deposited next to her, to the coins, and back again. Finally, her gaze locked on Addy's face, saw the hopeful glimmer in her eye and the smile on her face and gave in. Addy could tell when her decision was made; some of the stress seemed to leave her and she ran her hand rapidly four or five times through the frizz that was her hair. "Oh, alright."

[Aidara]

Sometimes it is the most difficult jobs that leave one feeling most satisfied. Addy worked two jobs, technically; running the Infirmary while keeping up with her Endal duties, assisting Sira in the hunting and gathering of food while also trying to overcome the conundrum that her gnosis mark presented for the pair. It was tough, trying and usually long hours of work. Some days, Addy hated it and wanted to cry, pout and stomp her foot. Other days, as she sunk into the warm waters of a bath, she reveled in the delicious feeling of utter accomplishment. She was doing what she always wanted to do, be and Endal and heal. However, sewing was the hardest thing she had encountered yet. Working a long shift at the Infirmary and then staying up all night on a watch was nothing compared to this. "There has to be an easier way!" Shouting in frustration, Addy snatched her hand up and stuck her thumb into her mouth as she had pricked herself with the needle for roughly the dozenth time. Each of the fingertips on her right hand were slowly oozing blood and staining the back of the cloth she worked on. "This looks hideous." Tossing down the cloth in frustration, Addy crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. Tia sat across from her, legs crossed as she idly stitched the hem of a pair of bryda. The Seamstress had a small smile to her lips and she refused to raise her gaze from her work or acknowledge Addy's temper tantrum. Feeling more and more stupid as the chimes ticked by and the silence stretched, the healer finally heaved a sigh and picked her work back up. "It's not as bad as you think, and you're not going to be perfect yet." Setting the pants aside now that her student was done acting like a child, Tia stood and moved to look over Addy's shoulder. She pointed out the newest row of beads, running her finger along the stitches on the back of the fabric. "You're using too much force, and pulling the thread too tight. See here.." And she indicated a specific stitch where the cloth was bunched on either side of the bead. "...that is how you can tell your stitch is too tight. You want to loosen your hand a little and try and keep the tension the same for every one of them. That way, they will all lay flat against the material." With Tia still watching, Addy tried a new row. Once, the seamstress took the needle from her hand and readjusted her grip on it, saying that she was holding it like she had to punch through bone, when it was just flimsy fabric. Taking this advice, Addy had a much easier time on the following row of beads; they all laid flat and straight, though one or two were a little too loose. "You've got it. I'm sure you can tell here where you lost the tension again." Giving a smile and a pleased nod, Tia sat back down and gathered her work once more into her lap. "Just fill the entire strip of cloth and I think you'll have enough experience under your belt for your project." Nodding and smiling back, Addy thought that seemed easy enough. With renewed excitement, she turned back to the needle and cloth and began again. It was when she realized the end of the fabric dangled down by her feet that it wouldn't be as quick a learning experience as she thought. The disappointment must have been written all over her face because as she looked back up at her tutor, Tia couldn't help but laugh.

[Aidara]

Having finished up with Tia, Addy gathered her things and hurried off deeper into craft gallery for two final bargains before she could start to finish up the gift. It was a time crunch now, as this evening she was supposed to do the watch with Sira. As it was, the woman was probably wondering where she had disappeared to. Addy had to just hope she hadn't noticed anything fishy since she spent most of the daylight hours in the Infirmary anyway. The first stop was Nika and her saddle. It was nearly finished when she arrived, the Avora just checking over the stitching and making sure that it was a solid piece. It was more than solid... It was beautiful. The workmanship of the saddle took Addy's breath away, and she stood there with her hand over her mouth while Nika finished his work, not speaking. When he motioned for her to open her arms so he could lay the saddle flat on them, she stuttered stupidly in her thanks. "Nika... I.... This is more than... Why aren't you running the stall? You're a master!" and past that, she was speechless again, looking down at the beautiful, supple leather, expertly tooled piece of art in her arms. When Nika waved away all of her compliments and offers of payment, Addy simply sidled up sideways next to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. She grinned as the blush blossomed over his age-crinkled features, wrinkling her nose and sticking out her tongue at him. "Thank you, Nika. This means more to me than you can know." "It's a pleasure, Doll. No scoot, I know it's not finished yet for you. Don't waste your precious time with this old man." Another kiss on his cheek and Addy was back out the door. When she was outside, the first thing the little woman did was hunt down the first Dek she could find. It was a small, young woman who looked like she had barely left Yasihood behind. Feeling a pang of remorse for a life lost and wasted, Addy pushed that quickly aside and dug into the waist of her bryda. Pulling out a small bag of pinions she pressed them into the Dek's hand. "Please, take this to the kitchens. Make sure that Avora Nika gets Endal rations for as many weeks as this will buy. Tell them that it is an order by me. And also, keep ten pinions for yourself." Quick math in her head told Addy how much of the money in the bag she could spare for the Dek and still get what she wanted for Nika. "Endal Aidara! Are you sure?!" Blanching and seemingly nailed to the floor, the young woman just swayed on her feet as she looked up at the healer. "Yes, I am sure. Now go, child. And don't tell anyone either, if you don't want your coins stolen." She had heard how tough it was to live as a dek, and this girl looked fresh off the chopping block. It would be a shame for her to figure things out the hard way. Giving the dek one last smile, Addy turned back down the hallway. But instead of going back to the Infirmary or her Aerie, she turned into one of the first rooms on the Galleries halls. When she stepped into the room, Addy recognized it as the one that Ronin used to occupy. But instead, the familiar face of her friend was replaced by another generic redhead. He seemed overly pleased to see a woman step into his work-space, rushing over to relieve her of the burden she carried. There was excessive amounts of bowing and scraping and titles, but behind the politeness Addy saw the leer that raked her body. Feeling suddenly uncomfortable by the same attentions she normally craved, Addy felt herself cringe away from this man, returning only the minimal pleasantries before getting down to business. "The glass beads that I ordered." And she held her hand out "Wha...Oh, right." Tearing his gaze from her chest, the Avora spun and rifled around on his cluttered desk, finally pulling out a medium sized cloth bag. It's contents clinked happily when he handed it over and he stood, waiting expectantly. Taking the bag, Addy set it gently on top of the saddle next to her before she turned back to the Avora. Her hands found her hips and she gave him what she hoped was a withering glare. "Are you positive you wouldn't like to trade anything else? I still have coin and enough supplies that I can trade to get you something you want..." But she didn't even get to finish her sentence, her words dying on her lips as the man started shaking his head. "I would like what we discussed." The leer was back, his lips curled into what he thought was a smile, though it looked more like a snarl. Repulsed, Addy simply turned and scooped up her possessions, simultaneously turning her back on the Avora. "It will be as we arranged." She paused, allowing the disgust and distaste for the treaty to flow over her face. When she made the deal, she hadn't thought the man serious. "I will be in the baths tomorrow evening just before the light falls. If you are not there, our deal is void." And she slipped quickly out the door before he could respond. It was one of those times that Addy simply wished she was someone else. Preferably someone with ridiculously long arms for carrying lots of things and the ability to just walk and have crowds part for her. Oh, that's right, Sira. But too bad she couldn't coyly kiss the other woman into submission and make her carry her stuff back to the infirmary. That would obviously ruin the surprise.

[Aidara]

Locked in her office, Addy set to work. She would have to rush to complete the details now, having lost time she couldn't afford too. It was unfortunate that the delicate work she needed to do couldn't be rushed. So, instead of finding the free time during her Infirmary shift to stitch the glass beads on, Addy had begged, pleaded, cajoled and even bribed Keah and Miquel into let her finish the project. "I promise, I will do all of the cleaning and stalking for the next week!" She saw the skepticism on their faces and instantly upped the anty. "Two weeks! And I'll open and close as well." Clasping her hands and getting onto her knees Addy turned on the puppy dog pout. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease? I want to do this for Sira. I need to do this for Sira. You both know I don't shirk my duties, and that I wouldn't ask for this lightly." "Oh fine." Keah was the first to cave, reaching out a hand to help Addy back to her feet. There was a smile playing at the corners of her mouth and Addy saw the amusement dance behind her eyes. "Wait.... Hey! You're both BRATS!" Laughing and swatting at the pair who both stepped quickly out of reach grinning, Addy sighed and shook her head. "Of course we were going to let you take the day. You just needed some humbling. A little begging every once and a while does the heart and soul good." Miquel's eyes glittered with vicious amusement, though he wasn't able to keep the smile from his face. "Brats." She loved them both dearly, and it was all show when she spun on her heel and stormed away into her office. They were right, she had needed humbling. Smiling and shaking her head, Addy sunk down into her chair and eyed the saddle perched in the stool before her. It seemed to take up the entire room, the project before her looming until she felt the rise of panic. This was important. She had to finish. Since the saddle was going to get a lot of wear and withstand a lot of tear, Addy had to find the perfect place to embroider her design. The seat was out of the question, as was anywhere else she or the saddle bags would lay; not only would the glass beads be uncomfortable and chafing in those places, but were also much more likely to splinter and shatter. Finally, Addy decided upon the girth. Since Sira was rarely walking around with the saddle left on, and the girth was situated so not to hamper her wings, it was the perfect place to set the delicate beads. Not only that but it was a nice straight strip of leather, and Addy had only enough time to learn how to sew in a straight line. Girths were straight. It was perfect. First things first, the woman rose from her chair and rifled through the bag she had taken to carrying around like a purse. From within she took out a long, thick bone needle and some twine. Tia had suggested these both for punching through the leather, yet still being small enough to fit through the hole in the bead. These Addy laid on the desk while she dug around for the bag of glass beads. These too were brought to the desk, though the little woman sat before she dumped them out into one of the three bowls she had placed in a row. Clinking and clattering, red, green, and purple beads fell from the bag. A ginger brow arched in surprise when she picked up a red bead; it was perfectly round, the craftsmanship impeccable. The leering, sneering face of the Avora who made them made Addy's mouth twist into a momentary frown but she quickly moved past the thought. They were beautiful, and perfect for her purposes. The girth was retrieved and laid across her knees, the needle threaded and the first red bead held to the top corner of the leather. Addy had separated the beads by color to make it easier when consumed by her work. She wanted to make as few mistakes as possible, and wasn't really sure how to fix sewing the wrong color in the wrong spot, so she took all the precautions. Taking a deep breath, Addy knotted the end of the twine, making sure that the knot was bigger than the hole the needle would make so that the thread would stay anchored. Turning the girth over, she picked a spot on the underside of the leather to start. Pausing only for a moment, she plunged the needle through, surprised by how much resistance she met. It took a lot more force than she expected, but the needle popped out the other side and Addy gave the thread a firm pull to secure it. The first red bead she had chosen was slid down the expanse of twine until it rested against the leather. Tugging and adjusting until it was just right, Addy carefully held the bead down as she pushed the needle back through the leather once more. Tia had talked about "back stitching", stating that it would more firmly anchor the bead to the leather as well as allowing the final product a high quality and neat look. However, Addy hadn't been able to pick up the finer aspects of the stitch quickly enough, and the seamstress had reverted to teaching Addy simply sew in a straight line. So that is what she did. Over and over again Addy punched through the face of the leather, looped around the back and strung the next bead. Using the edge of the girth as a guide, she was able to keep her line relatively straight. The second line of beads was staggered slightly, since they were round, so that they nestled closely into the gaps left by the first row. This was Addy's own idea, having noticed half way through the first row that because of the size of the beads she ordered, her pattern wouldn't fit the width of the girth if she didn't think of something. Thinking herself rather ingenious, Addy bent to the task as her sconces burned lower and lower. Hours upon hours later, squinting in the near darkness and with her finger pads poked and pricked until they were bloody messes, Addy was finished. There had been an odd number of beads, leaving three green ones left over. These Addy pocketed as she cleaned up her mess and wiped the blood from her hands. Her fingers were raw and sore, tears springing to her eyes as she took a jar of ointment and applied a liberal glob to her aching fingertips. It stung as if the thick needle was still jabbing into her fingers, over and over again. The healer had gotten sloppier as each bell passed, caring less about her safety and more about making sure that despite the weary cloud that descended upon her her lines stayed straight. Now she would be able to say with pride that she poured her blood, sweat and tears into the gift. The thought made the exhausted woman laugh out loud. She laughed until tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, which she had to wipe away with the back of her hand. Rising and gathering all her things, Addy carefully packed them away. Taking the saddle in both her arms, the finished girth and her bag on top, she stepped from her office. Expecting to see Keah and Miquel still puttering around the half filled infirmary, Addy was stopped in her tracks when she saw the place empty and dark. Two yasi slept on one bed in the corner, the smaller of the two coughing every once and a while. Their presence meant that one of her two healers were going to be close by to keep an eye on the over-nighters. But the place was cleaned and otherwise closed for the evening. Cursing herself and her bad timing, Addy mentally made note that she would have to do something to make up for the fact that the others had closed when she had promised to do so herself. And then it hit her. Night had already fallen, meaning that either Sira left without her to go do the watch or was still waiting for her back home. "Petch." And she bolted, leaving the Infirmary behind as she raced back home as fast as her little legs and overburdened arms would allow.

[Aidara]

Skidding to a stop outside of her front door, Addy took only enough time to readjust her burden, freeing one hand to push the door open. Panic that she had missed the golden opportunity to present her gift, Addy hadn't even thought of reaching for the mental link between she and her bondmate. So it was with trepidation that she slid into their home, listening carefully for any signs of her lover. "Sira?" She finally called out, wincing at the warble of nervousness in her voice. There was no reply. Sira? She tried again. But there was still no reply. "Oh no..." Addy moaned, sinking down onto the comfy sofa they had situated in the middle of their common room. She had been sneaking around for days, how could she have expected Sira to not notice? Those preggo hormones were raging in the woman, leaving Addy unsure whether Sira was mad, sad, angry, confused or even oblivious. Pushing herself to her feet, Addy sighed and picked up the saddle. Trooping into the Aerie, currently vacant of a big black grumpy eagle, Addy walked over to the edge where the eagles launched themselves into the air. There was a small ledge that closed the aerie off from being an open ledge, and this is where Addy sat, the saddle in her lap, while she waited for Sira. Unsure if her lover had left for her watch or was just off somewhere else, Addy was ready to wait it out. When Sira did show her face, Addy jumped to her feet, trying to guage the other womans mood before drawing attention to the gift. This proved impossible, however, so the little healer just assumed she was angry, or disappointed at least. Dropping her gaze, she held out a hand, hoping that Sira would step forward and take it. Addy was nervous, and Sira would certainly be able to sense that. Drawing the woman into a hug, Addy wordlessly sat her down onto the same ledge she just vacated and told her to close her eyes. During the waiting period, Addy had changed her mind and stashed the saddle in the shadows under their bed. It was supposed to be a surprise after all, and as weariness crept into the healers body, she worried of falling asleep and waking to find Sira having already seen the gift without the proper presentation of it. "Wait here. Close your eyes." And she was gone, racing back into the room as fast as her little legs could carry her. Her dashed return was a bit more stately, but only because of the burden she carried. Stopping in front of where Sira sat, Addy cleared her throat and couldn't help the smile that blossomed across her face, despite the nervous twist of her stomach. "Okay, open them." Cradled in Addys arm was a hand crafted, delicatley tooled saddle. The leather was a creamy brown, leaves and vines and small flowers carefully carved onto almost ever flat surface. It was workmanship the likes of which Addy had never seen, though she couldn't speak for Sira. It was light and well crafted, the type of saddle that would wear and age well, withstanding years upon years of constant use. The leather was new, yet supple and soft to the touch. The seat was small and obviously made to fit Addy specifically, though the pommel was taller than most other Endal's had them, as many preferred to lay flat against their birds to avoid the ripping winds of flight. However, Addy saw the pommel as something to be used as an advantage, somewhere she could sling her nets for fishing or even her traps, and yet they would still be out of Sira's wingspace. There was an extra ring in front of the stirrups, small and discrete but strong enough to withstand the strain that there would be if Addy attached the securing straps. Though she didn't need them anymore, her flying having improved considerably, Addy was thinking of their child when she requested this addition, and she told Sira so. While her love poured over the saddle, Addy disappeared again without notice. When Sira finally looked back up for the other woman, Addy would be behind her, the girth draped across her arms to display her beadwork. There would be a slightly worried look on her face, the nervous twist of her lips only hinting at the roiling state of her stomach. What if Sira didn't like it? What if she thought it was ugly, or cheesy? Holding her breath, Addy waited for the reaction. The patter was very simple, and obviously done by an armature. There were twelve rows of beads total, four rows of each of the three colors. From left to right it went Red, purple, green. The lines were relatively straight but not anywhere near perfect. The only thing that Addy had done perfectly was how tightly she had sewn the beads down. There would be no worries about any of them falling off. Unable to wait for Sira to speak first, Addy opened her mouth and let all of her worries tumble forth. "It's supposed to represent you and me and the baby. Red is you, green is me and purple is our child. I tried really hard and that is where I have been the past couple days. I know it's not perfect or the most beautiful thing in the whole world but..... I hope you like it." Finishing with a sigh, Addy turned her green eyes to Sira's golden ones, chewing at her bottom lip in worry. "Oh, and I need you to come bathe with me tomorrow... I kinda... promised certain things to an Avora that..." Wrinkling her nose, Addy hoped Sira got the point.

[Sira]

It was true that Aidara had been acting a bit strange the past several days, but Sira tried not to give it much thought. Addy was a busy woman, who was Sira to question if she was busier than usual. It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong, was she? But then.. why isn't she here right now? Okay, so maybe Sira had given it some thought. She didn't want to, but ever since the party she had a sour taste in her mouth regarding Addy and her adventures outside the aerie without Sira. She was probably just reading into things too much, it was probably nothing. But then again.. she had disappeared at the party as well, hadn't she? Sira didn't doubt that Aidara loved her.. but she was moody, cranky, and a whale, so Addy might be tempted to seek companionship elsewhere. And though she liked Eoin well enough, there was something that bothered her about him. Addy was too attached, and Sira didn't like that. And now she was late for the night watch, and Sira would have to go alone.. again. They finally had time to spend the night together and Addy wasn't there. What do you think I should do, Catabasis. The large bird, who at that time was still in his aerie, gave Sira a mental shrug and stood to stretch his wings. Give her more time. She'll be here. Catabasis hopped over to the ledge, glancing down at Sira. I'm going to go get some air. Wait for her. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out in the bay for you, if something happens I'll let you know. Sira expressed her thanks, eyeing the bird suspiciously as he flew off into the night. The eagles had eyes and ears everywhere, did he know something she didn't? Sitting back down on the ledge Sira waited about three or four chimes before her belly began to grumble. Maybe I'll just go get something to munch on. When Addy arrived Sira was nowhere to be found, but it didn't take her long to return and when she did her arms were laden with a tray piled high with all sorts of random foods, mostly raw meat though. Lately Sira's cravings had been of a more kelvicy nature, and the tray consisted of a plate stacked with various slices of uncooked fish, some deer, and a bit of rabbit. There were other things as well, a bowl of fruit, some cookies, some sort of tart, and a slice of chocolate pie. Just a light snack to hold her over until morning. When she walked into the aerie and spotted Addy sitting there Sira's greeting was anything but warm. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up. It's a good thing Catabasis said he'd cover for me until you got here because we're late for our shift." Sira set down the tray, her back facing Addy as she continued to speak, "It is our shift by the way. Just because you run the infirmary doesn't mean you can shirk.." Sira's voice trailed off when she turned around and saw he subdued look on Addy's face. She held out a hand and Sira took it, being pulled into a hug. "E.. especially when.. when.. it's the first chance we've had to.." Addy sat her down and told her to wait and close her eyes. Sira's anger and irritation was immediately replaced with confusion and curiosity. She closed her eyes and waited, the excitement and anticipation building in her until she felt like she would explode. "Okay, open them." The look on Sira's face was absolutely priceless. Of all the things Aidara could have brouht her, Sira had never expected a saddle. Not just any saddle, but the most beautiful saddle Sira had ever seen. "Addy.. where did you.. how did you? It's perfect!" Sira jumped up and wrapped her arms around the healer, a hard thing to do with a saddle in her arms, and showered her with kissed before taking the saddle from her to inspect it closer. The vinework was the work on master and the leather was so soft to the touch, but Sira could tell it was of the strongest quality. The saddle was clearly a masterwork. When Sira looked up and saw Addy had more to show her she gasped at the beautiful glass bead pattern woven onto the girth. Sira knew next to nothing about sewing so it wasn't until Addy mentioned it that she even noted any of the imperfections, but to Sira's now watery eyes it was nothing but perfect. "Oh, Addy.. it's beautiful. Thankyou so much." Sira took the girth from the healer and gently set it aside, then pulled Addy into a long, warm hug. "I'm so sorry, Addy," Sira whispered as tears ran down her cheeks, "I love you so much. Thankyou for this." Of course Addy had no way of knowing what Sira was actually sorry about. She would probably assume Sira meant her harsh words form earlier, and just relate it to the hormones, but in truth Sira was apologizing for ever having doubted the healer's intentions. The gift, the perfect gift, sealed away any doubt Sira had held, and Sira felt only happiness and gratitude. "I love you Addy."

[Indigo]

Character: Aidara Skills: +2 Negotiation, +1 Organization, +5 Sewing, Lore: Putting on your Endal Britches, Using flattery effortlessly, Balancing duties with personal life, Temper tantrum-again, Going out of your way for the perfect present, Learning the moods of a pregnant woman, Making a saddle for a pregnant Kelvic Wind Eagle, Her kisses are worth the blood sweat and tears, A loving moment Character: Sira Skills: Lore: Controlling your jealousy, Kelvic pregnancy cravings, A loving moment Notes: Wonderfully detailed thread Addy! Your attention to stitch tension, embroidery and negotiation are a good balance with a sweet scene at the end. My only complaint: It was too short! I'd love to see more threads with both of you! If you have any questions or comments about your grade, please don't hesitate to PM me.