The Ancient Child

[Parin d'Aulaire]

It was late and the night was cold and damp. The stars in the sky were brightly shining but there was no moon. Out of the shadows came a young waif of a girl. She looked like a poor beggar, however, she had one treasure, and with that treasure lay her past, present and hopefully future.
She soon spotted the Inn and hurried toward it. She sneezed softly and rubbed her nose, as she pushed open the doors to the Inn.

Going up to the counter, she stood quietly till someone noticed her. Once they had she did something very odd for a Penniless Beggar child. She stood straight up with the manner of a Aristocrat and bowed to the Innkeeper.
"Greetings Good Sir," she said politely. "Please, I have no money, if you would be so kind, I should like to work for room and board in your establishment." Then she seemed to get worried and added, "Please, I have no where else to go, and it is dreadfully cold night out."

When she stood straight one could see a amazing sliver and golden necklace around her neck. It was shaped like a flat tiara and bore the name of an Ancient Magic Family, one that had long ago passed out of existence: Parin d'Aulaire.
It was because of this necklace that her request was usually turned down but she dare not remove it, indeed she didn't even know how, for the thing seemed to have no clasp and was too small to fit over her head.

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

Evee came into the Inn, she had heard some noise from outside on her way passing through. There was a young girl asking for a room but had no money. Evee came and dropped 5 gold on the counter. "This should do for a couple nights..." Evee said to the Inn keeper. She looked down at the girl then crouched down to her with a smile. "My name's Evee, what's yours?" She said in a calming voice. She could tell the girl was an orphane, just like Evee.

OOC: Sorry so short, my muse is being lazy >_<

[Parin d'Aulaire]

OOC: Quite alright, My muse can be more lazy that that if you'll believe it . . . Oh and I am Roll Playing the Inn Keeper because there isn't any yet so he is free game . . .

IC: The girl looked at Evee with big green eyes, puzzled by such generosity.
"In truth I do not know M'Lady Evee, But I thank you for your generous gift." and here she curtsied to Evee.
"Please M'lady, I now owe you, instead of this Gentleman here, she said gesturing to the innkeeper whom had confiscated the coins and had left a key to one of the less expensive rooms in the inn . . . he didn't wish for the money to be spent all at once after all once it was gone he'd have to put the girl to work.

"Please tell me what I can do for you, that might repay the amount you have so graciously parted with on my behalf." The Girl looked to be only ten or eleven yet had the words of a true lady at her command, not to mention the manners and decorum. Her clothes looked like they had once been fine but had been warn out or tattered somehow.

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

Evee just smiled at the girl but was curious as to why she didn't know her name. "You don't need to worry about repaying me, I was a young orphane as you are now. I was 7 yrs. old though. I just want you to be alright, that's all...." Evee said standing up again. She would make sure the girl had room and board even if she had to put her in her own home. "You speak as a noble, and so young..." Evee said to her surprised but glad the girl has good manners. Evee noticed a little gold necklace around the girl's necklace and she grew more curious, there was something imprinted on it. "Your necklace, what does it say?" Evee could read just fine but she didn't want to be rude and just touch the girl's necklace to read it.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

The girl remebered all to well the ridicule she'd receved for her lovely collor/tiara shaped necklace.
"How dare you steal from a Parin d'Aulaire treasurey! Go return that priceless necklace right now or else . . ."
"Ha! You work well with metals dearie, too bad the Parin d'Aulaire's have been dead for so long or you might have gotten away with posing as one of them!!!"
"Stupid girl, your no more a Parin d'Aulaire than I am! Get her boys!"

The girl shivered at these horrible first memories. Un beknownst to her tears began to roll down her face.
"I - I don't know what it says for certain." She said trying to control herself. "I don't know my letters all that well. However I have been told that it is the name of a old, well known family of these parts and people . . .I think it reads 'Parin d'Aulaire'. At this point she put her face into her hands to hide her tears.
What hurt more than the Beatings or bullying was the lack of knowlage . . . who was this supposed family, and why would they mark her so, knowing she would be ridiculed?

"Please, please don't harm me!" she cried shakeing "I have done nothing! I didn't steal this artifact - it was on me when I awoke in the cylindar . . . "

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

Evee looked at the girl concerned when she started crying. "It's okay! It's alright!" Evee tried to calm her down. The girl had obviously been through some horrible things. Evee put her hand on the young girls and moved them from her face. Evee took out a cloth and wiped the girls tears away. She put the cloth back in her pocket then smiled at the girl. "No more tears, I'll make sure of it." Evee looked around the Inn, she saw a small shelf that had some sweet treets and Evee had an idea.

"C'mon, let's get that smile back on your face...." Evee put her hand on the girl's shoulder and walked with her over to the shelf. There were loaves of sweet breads, vanilla bean sticks dipped in honey, even butterscotch seeds. "Just pick what you like and I'll get it ok?" Evee told the girl without hesitation. She hated to see a child go through bad times, let alone be an orphane. Evee might have found a little someone to look after today.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

The girl sniffled as Evee wiped her tears away with the warn handkerchief. When she offered to buy the girl some sweets, the girl was so amazed she was speechless for quite a while. However, her empty belly soon roared it's impatiens with her and she pointed to a loaf of sweet bread that looked delicious, for it had a sugar glaze over the top of it. It look so good, and yet the girl didn't dare say a word for fear it was only a dream and she would wake up cold hungry and alone in the street at any moment.

OOC: Sorry, can't-think-of-anything-else-to-say!!! Thanks again for RPing with me and even more, for actually considering taking her in!

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

OOC: Not a problem ^_^

IC: Evee smiled and took the sweet bread loaf from the shelf then payed for it at the counter. Evee then handed it to the girl. "There you are. Enjoy it and don't hesitate to me for anything. I know you can't raise survive out here alone, let alone raise yourself." Evee said with a fading smile. She started to remember when she was a young orphane but then shook the images out of her mind. "Why don't we get you settled in your room hm?" Evee said swiping the key off the counter. Evee felt a connection with the girl merely from having the same past with her, and having a kind heart to take care of someone in need. But this girl wasn't a someone, she was a lost child who need guidance.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

It was all The girl could do not to snatch the tasty bread from Evee, she was sooooooo hungry! But somehow she forced herself to take it graciously and thank her properly.
"Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and I am beginning to think it holds no bounds." She said then greedily stuffed a corner of the loaf in her mouth and tore it off, frantic to get the yummy food into her empty belly.

So absorbed was she with the bread that at first she didn't notice when Evee asked her if she wished to get settled in her room. At last she looked up to see Evee beaconing her to follow. Though her mouth was full, and so she couldn't answer, she did follow her saviour to the room which turned out to be one of two loft apartments.

While lofts were usually drafty and sparsely decorated, this was was rather nice if small. It had a fire place (which was out) a couch for reading and lounging, an empty bookcase, a chest of drawers built into the wall, and a loft bed also built into the wall. All this was alighted by three spinning baubles of light in the center of the ceiling. The girl smiled when she saw this for now she knew the Innkeeper was also a kind man, just as Evee was.

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

"Well, here you are." Evee said with a smile. She hoped the young girl would be alright here and decided she'd just come back in the morning to check on her. "I'll be back in the morn' to check on you ok?" Evee told the girl before patting her on the head gentley. It was like she had a little sister, Evee felt good when she helped people out. This young orphan girl was very kind and grateful, that was all the thanks Evee needed from her. She didn't mind looking after her. "Since you don't knwo your name yet, would you mind if I called you little sis?" Evee asked the girl with a cheerful smile. Evee never had the chance to take care of a child and she was enjoying it so much already. She waited for the girl to answer and she still kept a smile on her face.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

The girl thought for a while on this. It would be nice to have a sister, but then again she ought to have a proper name too, oughtn't she?
"I would like to be your sister." she said finally. "But surely even sisters have true names also? I am not sure . . ." She then closed her eyes and looked as if she was thinking hard trying to remember something that was slipping away from her like water form between her fingers.
"As long as no one would throw things at me, I wouldn't mind people calling me Parin." she said opening her eyes once more.
Then she looked at Evee and smiled. "But you can call me little sis, I think I'd like that."

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

Evee smiled happiyl. "Agreed. I'll let people know to call you Parin. I'll call you little sis." Evee paused. She looked around the elegantly decorated room, it would be comfy for Parin. "C'mon, let's get you in bed. You must be exhausted." Evee said to her in a warming voice. She knew she was still snacking on her sweet bread, but Evee was sure it'd be ok for her to finish it up in bed. Evee waited for her to climb up on the loft bed. Evee had plans for Parin, she would make sure she was taken care of. She hated to see children suffer.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

Parin looked at her loaf of half eaten bread and decided that she'd better save the other half for tomorrow. However her mouth was still full of crumblies that she couldn't get down. Looking around she saw a pitcher and Basin with a glass beside them on the chest of drawers. Hurrying over she placed her loaf by the basin, poured herself a glass of water, and quickly gulped it down. Then she poured some more into the basin and washed her face and hands in it taking the dirt from the road off.

"Ok I am ready." she said, As she discarded her tattered cloak to reveal an even more tattered tunic like dress and close fitting breeches underneath, both of which had dried spots of blood on them when she'd been hurt. This wouldn't have been so shocking except that the style of dress was very old . . . in fact the whole outfit from the cloak to the necklace was in keeping with the style about seventy years ago when the last of the Parin d'Aulaire's was said to have died.

"It is cold but those blankets look warm so I will take off my dress too." and So she did, flipping it off over head head and putting it on the reclining couch, with her cloak. Beneath the dress was a Chemise, a sort of short under-dress, in her case more like a thigh length undershirt. It was trimmed with golden and slivered threads, very pretty but the style very old.
She then climbed into the bed and got under the covers. Once she lay her body down in the very comfortable feather bed she realized just how tired she really was. She gave a large yawn and snuggled up under the covers.

It was good to be cared for.

[.::Evee~Natalia::.]

Evee frowned a little when she saw how ragged and dirty the girl was. "Good night Parin, I'll be back in the moring for you. There's a big day planned for you..." Evee said with a wink before she set the room key on the night stand and then left the room. She closed the door behind her and smiled as she left the Inn. Evee wasn't worried about Parin too much now, at least she was warm in bed with some food in her stomach. She'd have to get her bathed and in some clean clothes tomorrow, she might even offer Parin the chance to stay at her house.

If Parin were to live with Evee until she was old enough to be on her own, then she would be fine. Evee didn't want Parin to end up a theif or worse. As Evee walked home, she thought about the light in Parin's eyes when Evee bought her that sweet bread. It was the cutest thing she's ever seen. Evee felt like a big sister who was just reunited with her younger sister, that feeling was wonderful.

[Parin d'Aulaire]

OOC: Shall we start a new thread for next morning or just make a little note saying it IS next morning? If all we need is a note, than may I be the one to put it up, please? I have an idea for it . . .

"Good night . . Evee" said Parin softly just before the door was closed. Once it was, Parin lifted her hand and made a motion toward the glass baubles on the ceiling, turning their light down. It was good to finally be cared for again as she once was . . . wait, as she once was? Had she been cared for before? Why couldn't she remember? These Questions ran round in her head but she was far to tired to think on them any more tonight. Slowly her whirling thoughts gave way to swirling dreams, full of happier times and People dressed like her, speaking as she did and loving her very much.

[glow=yellow,2,300]The Next Morning . . . [/glow]