Closed [The Great Bazaar] Supply Run

[Garland]

Garland watched Elann play with the twins, she was very with children. Phobos had taken quite a liking to her, and Aneeka as always is giggling and laughing.

"Thank you for getting what I needed, but... Isn't this a bit much? I mean I don't know much about childcare and I would follow your advice but still." He looked at the things she had brought, mostly some warm clothes, which he did ask for, but he didn't ask for was the harness.

He picked up the harness, it was tough but flexible. "Are these comfortable for the twins? It looks like they might feel a little cramped in these things." He said and sat down beside Elann.

As he was sitting down Phobos eyed Garland and threw his rattle at him. The wooden rattle hit squarely on Garland's head. He reeled back and rubbed the sore spot on his head.

"Ow, Phobs no." Garland grumbled and saw that Aneeka was laughing at his expense, she then threw her own doll at him. Garland just blankly stared at them as both the kids giggled and laughed.

Garland handed the toys back to the twins, and looked at the harness and then the twins. "How do you put this on anyway?" He looked at the straps and ropes, seeing if they were good quality and had little or no chance of breaking. "Elann, mind if you help me put this thing on? I want to make sure it's not too loose or too tight."

After putting on the cradleboard, Garland couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, he did look strange. Though he did move around, seeing if any of the straps or rope or have trouble or if he would have any problems with mobility.

"Hmm... Seems good." Phobos looked very confused at what the thing was on his father's back, it looked like some sort of tube. The best way Phobos could describe it was a vertical basket.

It did not look comfortable at all, Phobos didn't want to get in that thing, he would rather be in his snug basket than the cradleboard. Phobos threw his rattle again, this time Garland dodged it and he knew that these two would be a handful.

Suddenly, Aneeka started crying, a rumbling in her stomach meant that it might have been time to feed them. "Oh no... I forgot to bring the drinking horn! Maybe we can try to feed them some solid food? I do have the oats from before, and the milk to help them water it down."

[Elann]

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"Oh," she giggled, "Please...don't follow my advice. I don't know enough about children for you to listen to me. I've just spent some time at the orphanage and Aenysa told me what I should get."

She turned to watch him sort through the things she had purchased. The baby squirming on her lap kept kicking her in the stomach, though it was so light she hardly even noticed it. Elann's hand kept tickling her as she looked over to Garland.

"Of course. It is lined on the inside with nice comfortable furs and cloth. They will be comfortable, plus, you can choose not to tighten it so tight around them if you want, but the point is to keep them from squirming too much I think." She didn't really know. She had only seen some at the orphanage. As Garland struggled with it, she smiled, amused. He really did need some help, and when he came over to her with it, she slid Aneeka off of her lap, and laid her on her belly.

Elann could feel her muscles already turning sore from the running she did as she rose to help him. It didn't seem too complicated. it was like a backpack, the other straps being mostly for the babies. With mild curiosity and a bit of guess work, the two of them were able to make it snugly fit onto him.

"There..."

She looked him over, seeing that it looked like it fit right, she nodded.

"So I think of course you'd have to put the babies in the carrier first, and then wear it. But now that it's fit for you, you should just have to slide it on like this and tie this and you'll be fine," she said, indicating the various ties they had made to fit Garland's body shape.

Phobos was too young to understand really what was going on she thought and likely was just throwing his toy because he could. The fact it had hit Garland and almost again was quite amusing. "It's almost like he's aiming for you. If he was a two year old I'd say he was." She giggled at that thinking of some of the rambunctious two year olds in the orphanage.

When Aneeka started crying, she didn't know exactly why she was crying. Instead of going right to her, she helped Garland take off the cradleboard and slid it carefully and neatly onto the table. No need to make a mess of things.

"Do you really think she is hungry?" She inquired, not sure that was why she was crying. Who could tell? "I could make some oats, or we could heat some of the milk and maybe dip a rag and let her suck on it. I have some cloths here." She moved to her end table and lifted a small stack of them. They looked like they were failed attempts at making napkins.

"What would you like to do? Maybe we could try the milk first, since that will spoil soon? Then maybe we can try the oats and see if they want them when that runs out?" He did buy an awful lot of milk. "Are you hungry? Do you want me to make you something also?"

She was trying to be a good host, but it was clear she was a bit stressed. It was a lot of responsibility to help take care of two children, especially when they weren't hers.

"Do you need to go on patrol? Did you want to leave them here with me?"

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Garland]

Garland took the milk, and looked at Elann. "No, I won't be leaving for patrol today, my patron gave me a day off, she said I need to take care of my kids before anything else." Now that he thought about it, there was nobody to take care of them when he is out on patrols.

There is Mrs. Pernis in the dorms but he couldn't possibly ask her to watch over his children when she has an entire dormitory of rowdy squires to take care of as well. And he wouldn't feel like it was safe for the children. There were a few squires that know a bit about small children, some even had children of their own, still most of the squires are either teenagers that really don't want to do anything with the twins or teens who would not leave them alone and treat them like dolls.

"I am a bit hungry but I don't want to impose, you've done plenty for me already." He gave a small nervous smile. "Let's give them some milk first, I think I'll save the oats for a later date. They don't spoil as fast as milk, right?"

Garland gave the milk to Elann and took Aneeka from her. Phobos still looked confused as to what was going on, but he had lost interest quite quickly, he then fell down to his side and started biting one of the dolls.

Garland rocked Aneeka softly, trying to calm her down, but she just thrashed about, thumping her little hands and feet on Garland's chest. "Come on, sweetie. Stop crying, we're just gonna heat up some of the milk so it'll taste much more yummy. Shush now Aneeka, come on, where's my happy little girl? Huh?"

Garland placed his head on Aneeka's tummy and kissed her a little, hoping it would calm her down, if only he knew how to sing any songs that are calming. All the songs he knows are drinking songs and party songs. "Elann, do you know how to sing? Maybe that would calm her down."

[Elann]

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"Oh that's a relief!" She said happily as she discovered his patron had given him the day off. Garland was fortunate. Many of them would have given a shrug and made him work. It seemed whoever was in charge of Garland was a decent person. "That means you at least get to spend some time with them. Remind me before you leave to give you my schedule for the next few weeks so we can coordinate if you need me to help watch the children."

He refused her making food and she nodded, internally thankful that she didn't have to cook as well. Her arms felt like noodles and now she had to make milk. He had ordered a gallon of milk, so with struggle, far more than he had, she managed to lift it. Elann was not a strong woman.

"Yeah that's probably a good idea. Milk is good for morning and maybe try to get them to eat oats in the evening. That way it won't be spoiled. Also you can get them a milk that is halfway between a yogurt and a milk. Those stay until evening without spoiling. You just heat it and it turns back to normal milk." She nodded and went about pouring some of it into the pot that was on the hearth. The babies didn't need much, but she poured in a bit extra just incase Phobos was hungry as well. All she had was some rags that were clean and could be used to feed them. "Aenysa said though that you should be trying to get them to eat at this age though." She sighed, "I honestly don't remember half of what she said. I was in such a hurry."

She kind of felt guilty about that and hoped that she managed to get everything. There was worry growing in her heart at the topic she was avoiding talking about, trying to keep it secret from Garland and to not show on her face. Aneeka's cries grew louder and Elann winced a bit as she beat on her father's chest. It seemed Aneeka was so hungry she didn't care what he was saying and kept on crying. Slowly Elann moved the milk over the fire and began to stir it.

When Garland randomly seemed to ask Elann if she could sing, she nodded a bit and began to sing out a lullaby. Surprisingly, Elann's voice was very smooth and she hit the tones just right. It seemed she was quite the competent singer. Granted it could have been even better, but she was definitely decent at singing lullabies for babies. The song was in Shiber, a language they couldn't understand, but it somewhat made the song sound even more unique.

Elann moved toward Phobos and snatched him up from the floor as she sang, carrying him with her at her side with a hand around him. The song came to an end as she zipped into the bedroom to get some cloths. It seemed Phobos was hungry as well and he immediately went for her chest and it made her laugh and guard herself from the hungry baby. "Nothing for you there." She kissed his forehead, making him look bug-eyed up to her.

She picked up the cloths and danced two of them in front of him as she walked back out, continuing to sing another song and attempted to fascinate him into giggles. His eyes were wide and confused as to what was going on, but eventually could tell it was something funny by the laughter of Elann as she sang and fell into giggles himself.

As she brought him back to the living room, she cupped her hand under his head, saying to Garland, "She said to make sure their head is supported. See?" She set down Phobos and went about to check on the milk. It had started to get hot and steam, so she removed it from the heat and looked to dip a rag in and give it to Garland to give Aneeka. She then would do the same for Phobos with a different one. "I'm sure the drinking horn would be much easier."

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Garland]

Garland raised up his hand and supported Aneeka's head. "Like this?" Though with her crying and kicking it was hard to properly support her head.

Garland sat down on the floor with the cloth and some milk, he dipped the cloth in the milk. He took the corners of the cloth and let the milk drip down to the middle of it. Garland placed the cloth near Aneeka's mouth and she quickly bit on it, sucking the milk through the cloth.

Garland cooed and smiled softly as Aneeka drank the milk. "Despite how mischievous they are, I'm happy they're with me. I love them." He sighed wistfully thinking about April. "I don't know where their mother is or if she's ever coming back, but right now I have an obligation to take care of these two."

He yawned and continued to dip the cloth in the milk and let Aneeka drink it. "How's Phobos doing?" He looked over to Elann and saw him drinking the milk as well. "Hey, Elann. I'm not entirely sure I would be able to keep them in the dorm, so if I absolutely need to, can I put them here? Until I can smooth things over, hopefully it doesn't come to that."

It seemed Aneeka was content with the milk, and was feeling quite relaxed, it looked like she was falling asleep now.

Garland started whispering softly towards Elann, her lullaby has worked wonderfully with the twins, they loved listening to Elann's gentle singing voice. "I was planning on heading home as soon as I bought what I needed, but if you don't mind, this place is quite comfortable, mind if I stay here for a few bells?"

He lied down on the couch with Aneeka on his chest, sleeping soundly. Garland closed his eyes as well, he didn't have a good night's rest last night due to the twins, so now he was very very tired.

Garland rubbed Aneeka's head as she slept, making sure he held her firmly on his chest in case she rolled off in her sleep.

[Elann]

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A simple nod came from Elann as he asked if he was doing it right. "Yeah, I think." She tensed her lips, obviously just as at a loss as he was. It was hard to tell with her crying and kicking if it was the proper way to do it. Still Elann had seen it done at the orphanage and thus thought it looked right at least.

The babies enjoyed the milk after it had cooled on the rag a little bit. The warm milk on a cloth was strange for them. It was clear that both were breast fed and after a while with the drinking horn if Garland had one. Still, with milk in their bellies, after a good while they would be happier.

A knife went to her heart, thrashing wildly as Garland spoke of how much he loved his children. Elann wondered at their mother and his obligation. Would she ever come back? His question withdrew her from her thoughts on the subject and she smiled.

"Oh, he's liking this."

"Well Garland, I work all day, so there are times I can't be here to watch them, but if I'm off work, sure. I'd love to have them here."

With milk in their bellies and her singing to them, the babies calmed down. She continued to sing softly as she could visibly watch them start to drift off. From her side, she could hear Garland's words about how her place was comfortable and watched him lay down on the couch. Aneeka was already conking out, likely tired from her fits and now the warm milk. Coupled with Garland's body heat, she didn't stand a chance and was out in moments.

"I don't mind...but Garland. There is something else the lady at the orphanage said." Taking in a deep breath, she looked down to Phobos and lightly played her fingers over his small chest. "You have far too busy of a life to take care of these babies, and so do I. While it's okay for a short time, unless you can really find help that lets you do both your work and take care of them, you should consider bringing them to the orphanage." She looked to him cautiously and quickly said, "I don't mind watching them at all, and will really help you as much as I can, but I have a very busy life just trying to make ends meet you know? I can't always be there when you are off on patrol. And I am not the best mother. I know next to nothing about babies. Maybe your job has someone who can help for times when I'm at work?" It hurt her to say, not only because she cared for Garland and his children, but because she was powerless to know how to properly help him.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Garland]

When Elann started talking and told him how his lifestyle just couldn't kept together with his kids. He frowned, knowing what she was saying was true. He already had a conversation like this before with his Patron earlier this day, and the time just didn't seem to help.

"Yeah, I know." He just sighed, he had thought about maybe becoming a mercenary instead to provide for them, but that wouldn't work either. "My Patron said that they take care of the kids from single knights and squires there, and raise them, we can take them back whenever we want and a few knights have done just that, but it just doesn't feel... right."

He looked over to Elann and Phobos, then to Aneeka. He held her tiny hand and rubbed her head. "I want to raise them, I don't want them to grow up thinking their father left them in the orphanage while he went off on adventures or something."

"It would make sense to put them there, but I was raised in the orphanage and it wasn't the most... upstanding place to grow up in." He thought back to his days in the orphanage, he remembered a young Eypharian who was almost beaten to death if he didn't interfere. In the end both of them just got beaten down, but that event started Garland's hate for people that hurt or fight just for fun or for no reason at all.

"I don't want to coddle them either, but... maybe if I ask for permission from the chaperons and my Patron I could keep them in the dorms and put them in the orphanage when I'm doing quests and slaying monsters and delving dungeons or whatever knights do." He laughed weakly at his joke, though it was a dry laugh, unfilled with mirth and jovial energy his laughs usually had.

"Or if I can't handle this, I guess it's better for them to be in the orphanage... But I'll take care of them, at least until they're a year old..." He closed his eyes again. "Elann, I'm a bit tired, didn't get much sleep last night, I think I'll follow the kids' example and take a nap."

[Elann]

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Garland at least listened to her. There was that, but another some six months of raising his kids? Her hand rose to lovingly stroke Phobos across the chest. He was the father, his decision was final. That was something she grew up knowing very well since theirs was a patriarchal society, however in this instance she wondered if he did them a disservice. Letting out a little sigh at his requirement to take a nap, she also rose. "Okay, but here, drink the rest of this milk. I will watch over Phobos and make sure Aneeka doesn't wake up."

She then moved to get a glass and upturned the pot, making the milk fall into a glass. The warm liquid would make Garland sleep even better if he drank it. It would not be hard for him to sit up his head enough to drink from the glass she held for him with the child. Aneeka was conked out it seemed and she had a look to her little body that made it look like it had just stopped working all together. Leaving the milk there for later wouldn't work so it had to be drank.

He didn't seem to get much sleep the previous night and it wasn't long before even he was on her couch snoring away as loud or quiet as he did. She left his side, leaving the glass on her coffee table and lay on the rug near her fireplace, looking at Phobos squirming about next to her, trying to crawl to her but failing. Her piercing eyes gleamed at the baby and it wasn't long before she had to have him in her arms as she lay there. He played on top of her belly as she propped him up, dancing with his little feet and bouncing around happily, but silently. Idly she wondered if he could walk eventually if she held him up enough like that.

Inside, Elann didn't enjoy the fact they had to stay there and was furious at what the mother had done. Rage took over her at the injustice of abandoning children, even if she had deposited them with Garland who was the father. Elann was more their mother in love for them now than this stranger who gave birth to them. Garland seemed to think it was best to raise them until they were a year old...she didn't think he would make it a week without her helping him. He would have to switch to doing his patrols in the evening rather than the day so that she could watch them while he did his rounds around the city. It would be hectic to say the least for Elann, but she would do it for his sake, taking the stress and hardship upon herself; if not for Garland, then for the innocent in her hands.

Eventually Phobos would settle down and she'd lay him on her chest. She gently held his back with her palm and pressed him to her until he began to fall asleep; which didn't take long as she began to sing, silently at first, but eventually loud enough to calm the three of her visitors; soothing them into a deeper sleep.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Garland]

Garland had drunk the milk and lulled himself back into sleep, he had too much to think about to go to sleep, but his was very tired, his eyelids felt like weights and he had trouble keeping them open.

A few hours later, Garland woke up with a small jolt, he was dreaming by the looks of it, but he couldn't quite remember what it was about, but what he did remember was it was mostly about Phobos, he looked around trying to find his baby boy.

He saw that Phobos was with Elann, he sighed, releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding. His dream, which was more like a nightmare felt so real, but he doesn't remember what his nightmare was about.

He got up, careful not to wake Aneeka who was still asleep on his chest. Garland yawned and sat down beside Elann. "What time is it?" He asked and held Phobos' hand. "I had a terrible nightmare."

Garland held Aneeka in his arms and kissed her. "I should get them home. This place is perfect for them, but you would have trouble with them. I'll ask to get a new schedule for my patrols tomorrow."

Garland placed down Aneeka on the couch, It would only get colder in the night and he should leave while there's still some sun in the sky. Garland grabbed some clothes Elann brought with her and laid them out next to Aneeka.

"I'll put on their clothes when they wake up." He hasn't eaten all day, but it didn't bother him much, there should be some food in the dorms, the food there is not the tastiest, but it is filling.

"Elann, I'm sorry for being a burden, but thank you for everything you've done here today." He looked at Phobos, still sleeping in Elann's arms. "I want to be better than my parents, I mean they died protecting me I think, that's what they told me, but I want to actually be there for them."

He rubbed the tears away from his eyes, pretending it was just the crust from his sleep. "I will be there for them, and I'm not above asking for help. If needed I would get a job and put my squirehood on hold." He felt resolute, like nothing could shake him. "These two are the most important people in my life right now."

[Elann]

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Once Phobos had slid into the realm of dreams, she went about preparing the clothing for Phobos. She was able to move him off of her without waking him up, and it made her wonder if she could get the clothes on him too. Sure enough, he was in a deep sleep and she was able to slip on the nice comfortable new clothing for them. She however did not bother to do so for Aneeka who was on the sleeping Garland.

Bells passed and Elann had since resolved herself to grabbing her fabric and try to make the stitches that she saw the seamstresses at work do, however she was far from able. With practice though she would gain the skill, she knew it.

When Garland jolted from his sleep, Elann's steady gaze moved to him and she tucked the fabric to her side as if awaiting his words. Slowly he sat up asking what time it was.

"I am not sure. A few bells have passed though since you've gone to sleep, so it is getting close to when the sun will go down."

She smiled as he displayed love for his daughter, giving her kisses. She loved that about parenting and babies. You could show them an affection that it was not normal in her culture to show adults. It felt special.

"That might be a good idea. I was going to suggest you switch to evenings so I can watch them while you do your patrols."

With that decided, Elann stood up and bent down to pick up Phobos, who didn't even squirm at her picking him up. She placed him at her shoulder and moved him quietly over to the carrier and began to strap him in. Once strapped in she moved to grab the fur blanket and toys, cleaning up behind the wake of children. She then tucked Phobos' fur blanket around him and closed the cradle around him, giving it a good tight tie.

"I think you should put them on her now. She won't wake up." Elann would help him as best she could and then strap his daughter in with her fur blanket as well. They looked a lot warmer than they did when she first saw them on earlier and that made her happy.

When Garland apologized, she patted him on the shoulder sweetly and said, "It's okay. Look, I'm not going to lie to you. It is a burden I wasn't expecting, but some burdens can be good. Think about what my friend at the orphanage said. You can always bring them here when I'm not working, but eventually you need to figure out what is best for them. I am not their mother. Still, I will help where I can. Just take your time, adjust, and if you can handle being a parent, then okay. If not, we can go from there. Either way, today is not the best day to worry about this. Don't hesitate to bring them by. I'm here for you."

She then would tuck the toys into the cradle and grab the last of his milk and things that had not been used up and set them on her table. She would help him get the cradleboard slung over his back with babies in tow and then would place all of his supplies organized and in order in his basket.

"There. Have a good night Garland."

If he was ready to leave, she would open the door for him and then after he left, would shut and bar it.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts