• Closed • Stick them with the pointy end.

[Celeste Andaris]

55th Zi'da, 717

She'd been absolutely useless at the Venora charity gala, which she could kick herself for. Add to that the conversation that they'd had in the carriage on the way there and what Xander had said, or more precisely not said, and Celeste knew that she had some serious catching up to do. Yet, there was the whole thing of not being able to move, feeling rather as though she looked like the back end of a barge and about as attractive. Her swollen stomach was frankly ridiculous at this point and she'd suggested to Xander that it would make sense if she moved into her own room, her own bed. It gave him space, let him sleep and meant that they would both be more likely to rest had been her argument and she'd appeared to mean it, although she left the decision to him.

But, there was no doubting it, as her pregnancy progressed, Celeste pulled away from Xander more and more, in terms of any sort of physical contact. She didn't avoid him, far from it, but if they were alone together, there was distance between them and it had been a long time since she had been in any way comfortable with him seeing her in any state of undress. Just the thought of it was horrifying to the young Andaris, of him seeing her like this, it was too much. She knew what his reaction would be and so she protected them both and kept away from him. Yet, not a trial went by where Celeste didn't tell Xander she loved him and, any time the two of them could spend together, she wanted to.

However, to-trial they had arranged to do something together, as a family. Ala'ni had been asked for ages now, if she could learn to fight like Xander, and Celeste had resisted the idea. However, it was something that the little girl wanted and Celeste found it almost physically impossible to say no to her. So, they were meeting in the courtyard where once Xander had helped her with her training, when she had been worried about being flabby. Celeste bit back a chuckle at the irony. Having had breakfast together, she and Xander were making their way, slowly. Celeste couldn't do anything at any other speed, in truth. Still, she slipped her arm into his and smiled. "I'm sorry I'm so slow," she said, softly.

She looked at him and smiled, although her worry showed. "I think I'm going to get her a new tutor, soon, for general things, but Xander no one but you for this." She frowned slightly as she considered. "And we need to get our wills written, too, to include her in them. What if I die? I'm the one who adopted her and I have not done that." Women died in childbirth all the time and preparations needed to be made. Still, as though she realised what she was thinking and saying, she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I want her safe, she's lost so much and we're her parents." She rolled her eyes and for a moment looked much more like herself as she grinned at him. "Which apparently means you teaching her to hit things with stick."

[Xander Andaris]

Her arm slipped around is and he glanced at her, flashing a smile as they strolled through the house towards the courtyard where they were going to meet Ala'ni. She was, as she did a lot these days, apologising and it was something the young Baron actually found frustrating. Of course he wouldn't say that but inside it made him quite tightly strung. "It is okay, I often walk too fast to enjoy the walking itself." He chuckled and looked towards the door to the courtyard ahead.

"A new tutor?" Xander's eyebrow raised slightly as he looked over at her. "Do you have someone particular in mind, it is probably best we meet them first too." Xander was sure Celeste had considered that but he was just thinking out loud. The conversation went somewhat darker though briefly as Celeste spoke of writing wills, something he was not yet ready for and something he disliked the idea of her feeling a need for. Death was not something he was eager for in the case of either of them.

Xander shook his head, knowing that the girl, adopted daughter of Celeste would never be without anything again. "Yes, let us not think about death right now and instead think about safety and how much more safe she will be after she has been trained to hit with a stick." Xander placed his free hand on Celeste's hand on his arm and smiled back at her, blue eyes cheerful and calm.

He pushed open the door and gestured for Celeste to go first, following her outside and closing the door behind him. It was a brisk day but not so cold that he suggest they train indoors. Besides, once the blood was flowing faster none of them would feel cold. "It is better she know how and never use it than not know and need it." He shrugged slightly as he walked across the courtyard and collected two sticks, one for himself and one for Ala'ni. Although they would not get much use in this first lesson, he wanted to teach the girl his way and that may be different from some others.

In his eyes it was better she learn the best way she could, he would rather that was his way that he knew worked. "You hsould learn too, not until after the birth of course." Xander swung the larger stick in a circle behind him, the woosh audible as the air was forced out of the way. "After all, I may not always be on hand to save you." He teased her but the true care was easily visible in his eyes, her safety was important to him.

[Celeste Andaris]

She was frustrating him, she knew. Or, something about the whole situation was. He often walked too fast to enjoy the walking itself? That was certainly true and she smiled at him as he said it. It was his long legs that did it. But what was it, sitting there in the background of his expression? Maybe it was because she was here and he wished that time alone to train their daughter? Celeste simply did not know these trials, she was not sure what it was that he was thinking. That realisation, in and of itself, caused a sigh of irritation to escape her lips. So, they walked and he wondered about a new tutor. "I was thinking of a lesser noble. Someone who can teach her etiquette, the history of the seven families, of Rynmere." That was important for Ala'ni, that she knew who she was and the family she belonged to."I understand that one of the Endors might be good. Alice." Celeste glanced at Xander and smiled a slight smile. "Plus, since your sister is to marry one of them, it would do no harm to have one close by, no?" Always, without doubt, the young woman was thinking of every angle she could.

He didn't like the talk of death, the need to make wills and so on. She couldn't blame him, exactly, but equally these things needed to be considered. With a glance at him, Celeste considered at what point they would have to have the conversation. "We need to talk about her place in the family, Xander. She is our oldest child." He wouldn't like that, she knew, and he had warned her back in Krome that adopting the girl would have political ramifications. Celeste didn't care. Her brown eyes sought his blue and she tried to stave off an argument before it happened. "We can work it out, I'm sure, in a way that we are both happy with. But we need to discuss it." And, they needed to discuss wills, but she would stop on that for a moment. Just a moment, though.

As they exited the building, she pulled her coat tight against her and adjusted her gloves.It was cold and she knew that Xander and Ala'ni would be fine as they trained, but she would be still and so wanted to make sure that she kept warm. "You're right, of course. Better that she is able to defend herself." He was right, but it didn't mean she had to like it, and that was the end of it. Yet, the world they lived in was such that noble folks needed to be able to defend themselves. Very much so. The scar on her side, which had stretched out of shape as her pregnancy progressed, was testament to that.

He wanted her to learn the sword too? Celeste looked at him in some surprise and then he pointed out that he might not always be there to save her. Things had grown more distant between them, physically, and Celeste worried about that ~ was that what he meant? She forced her lips to lift in a smile and she nodded. "If you think it would be a good idea, then of course." Ala'ni came charging up to them and flung herself into Xander's arms. "Are you really going to teach me?" Deep eyes regarded him with a strange mixture of serious and delighted. "I've wanted to learn for so long, are you really going to teach me? I'll be good." Then, much more sedately, she moved over to Celeste, who leaned down and hugged her, kissing her on the top of the head.

"Where shall I stand? What shall I do?" Ala'ni asked Xander with excitement shining in her eyes. Celeste moved to sit on the low courtyard wall and she watched them with a smile as Ala'ni jumped up and down on the balls of her feet. "Is that my stick?"

[Xander Andaris]

An Endor by the name of Alice, one that he had never met or heard of in fact. Still he could not at the time see any issue with a new noble tutor, someone well versed in what it meant to be nobility. Of course what Xander believed that meant and what many others believed did not always line up. It was bound to be that way though not everyone thought the same, for all he wished they did it would not change the truth. So he nodded. "I am sure the Lady Alice Endor would be a suitable tutor for her and you are right, No harm in having one near by."

Xander new that one day they would have to face the truth about Ala'ni and the extent of her role in their family but he did not wish it to be now not when they were about to have some bonding time together. "We can discuss it but not today, let us keep to a more comfortable topic. I don't wish for an argument this trial." He squeezed her hand and half smiled, knowing that they would not agree about Ala'ni no matter how much truth he spoke. She was a mother and those instincts would be hard to overcome.

"I do think it a good idea, it would kill me to lose you and the better protected you are the safer you are." The Baron knew Celeste had a lot of motivation to defend herself and would do so if she had too but she had no training and so now there was little she could do. If she got some training Xander would be much more comfortable in leaving her alone anywhere. Quickly though they were interrupted by a very excited Ala'ni who came charging up to Xander. He caught her under the arms and lifted her up in front of him, spreading his legs to bare the extra weight as he raised her into the air and chuckled.


He placed her down and she spoke. "Of course I am going to teach you, you are getting big and its time to learn." He knew how few female children in noble families were actually tutored in combat, it was an issue clear from Celeste's inability to properly defend herself. The wolf watched as Ala'ni timidly moved over to his heavily pregnant wife and was hugged by her, was this what his future had in store. He would not lie that he liked to be part of a family. "Well first you need to calm down a little bit, in sword play it is important to be calm and collected, concentration is a top priority." He squatted down to her height and looked into her young innocent eyes.

Once he thought she was calm enough he held out her stick. "This one is yours but remember real swords are heavier okay?" It was balanced on his hand awaiting her grasps and he smiled reassuring her it was okay to take it. "Now, the first thing I want you to do is try to hit me." He smiled somewhat mischievously as he stepped back and rolled his stick to the side, standing unarmed before the girl. "Don't worry you won't hurt me." He egged her on as he waited for her to begin.

[Celeste Andaris]

"As my husband commands, of course," was the response that she gave to his decree that they would talk about it on another trial because he did not feel like arguing. But her voice was soft, not irritated and almost-teasing as she squeezed his hand back. "I'd like to not argue too. Let's just have a nice trial, a bit of family time, shall we?" That would be nice, rather than fighting about might-be and could-happens.Things between them were difficult, lately, and she knew that it was largely her fault. The pregnancy which delighted them had impacted her emotions, made her concerned and paranoid, needy and a hundred things which, in moments of clarity she simply did not recognise in herself.

It would kill him to lose her? Celeste looked at him and shook her head. "Let's not worry about that to-trial, Xander. Once the baby is here, I promise." There were so many ways of losing each other. Did he want her able to defend so that he could leave because he wanted to leave? Did he want to leave? He had saved her, in more ways than she could ever explain, but Celeste's fear rose to the fore. She wanted to tell him, tell him what she was afraid of, but she could not.

Because he might tell her she was right.

Thankfully, Ala'ni came charging up and when he lifted her in to the air she squealed in delight. Celeste felt her heart lift at that, the young girl hadn't even been willing to speak when she first came home to them. Now? "I am getting big, aren't I? Soon, I'll be bigger than you." She hugged Celeste and then Celeste moved to sit down and Ala'ni came back to him. She had to calm down? She nodded and quickly put on a very serious face. "I'm calm. Very calm. Big lots of very calm." She looked at him and she could barely contain her excitement, but she was doing her very best to. So, she returned his gaze and then took the stick. Swords were heavier? She nodded. "If I'm good and I work hard, will I use a proper sword?"

But try and hit him? Ala'ni looked at him in some surprise and then she shook her head. "I'm not supposed to hit people. I don't want to get into trouble," very serious young eyes regarded him and she spoke, as she always had, with blunt truthfulness. "I thought I was learning to stop people hitting me. I don't want to hit you, I love you." And then, with a frown she added a question that had been bothering her and so, she asked it. "When the baby comes, will I still be yours too?" Celeste gasped, started to move and to answer but then, she stopped. Ala'ni had asked Xander, not her, and she shouldn't jump in there. No matter how much she wanted to. There was no doubt that Ala'ni's question was about whether both of them would still consider her theirs, her hand had moved to encompass Celeste too, but it was Xander she asked.

[Xander Andaris]

"Yes, some family time would be nice." His smile was genuine, he was tired of arguing and they'd had their fair share lately. It would be nice to just relax and enjoy the day. Of course relaxing was less of the plan with Ala'ni's training being the plan. He was sure it would be much more interesting and tiring than relaxing, children had a way of taking it out of you. Celeste was right about not talking of losing her, it was the wrong time and so he continued into the courtyard and readied himself for the little girl.

He smiled at her words, she was a sweet girl and had come a long way from how they had found her in Krome. "Bigger than me?" He gasped and ruffled her hair. "Not just yet." He watched her hug Celeste and then return to him, he could tell the calmness was superficial. The Baron would not expect much else from a child though, what he was looking for came with maturity but he saw her trying and that was what he wanted. Motivation was good to see.

Then he watched as she questioned whether she would get to use a proper sword at his comment about them being heavier. "Perhaps, swords are dangerous but if you are careful and show me commitment," he glanced at Celeste and whispered, "and if your mother allows it, then maybe." He nudged her arm and stood before her, instructing her to hit him only to be met by resistance. It was sweet but evidently their was no danger of getting in trouble.

"I promise you won't get in trou..." She kept speaking and then asked a question he was not exactly prepared to answer. Xander had not expected such a question to be posed to him then and there. Remaining where he was he looked at her and shook his head. "We love you too Ala'ni and of course you will still be our child. We found you back in Krome and we took you in as our own, the baby will be your sibling and we will love you both." Then he stepped forward and squatted again placing his hand over hers holding the stick. "You don't need to worry about getting in trouble or not being our child any more, you always will be."

The wolf pulled Ala'ni's hand and the stick moved forward bouncing off his forehead. "See nothing to worry about, not in trouble." He smiled widely and then stepped back, moving his hand to suggest she try like he had said earlier. "I know you want to learn to not get hurt and that is what I am teaching you, trust me Ala'ni." Xander wobbled on his heels. "Go." He commanded with an arguably playful tone.

[Celeste Andaris]

It was a strange, wonderful and melancholy experience, watching her husband and her daughter together. Ala'ni adored Xander, there was no doubting it and she craved his approval. As Xander whispered to her that he might let her use a sword and one of the conditions was that her mother must allow it, a rare smile crossed Ala'ni's face and she whispered back. "She'll let me if you ask her, but only then." The young girl, oh so serious usually, seemed quite convinced of that. If Celeste heard, then she did not speak or respond, but her eyes met Xander's just for a moment.

And then, in a moment, Ala'ni asked a question and it all seemed to stop for the young Baroness. She watched as Xander knelt in front of the little girl that he hadn't wanted her to bring home, and reassured her completely that she would always, always be theirs. Pregnancy was such an emotional time, she had so many feelings swimming around and she knew, without a doubt, that she was tricky to live with, but as he spoke to her daughter... to their daughter, Celeste felt tears prickling in her eyes and her expression told of the sudden swell of love she had for the man she had married.

When he took Ala'ni's hand, though, the laughter of the little girl filled the place and Celeste smiled too. There had been so much death and pain in the young one's life, if they could make her smile and laugh and be secure, then they would have done a good job, a good thing. Ala'ni, for her part, gasped in surprise and guffawed with laughter from her belly at the gentle thwap on his forehead. But then, she took on a more serious air and she nodded. "Alright, father. Are you going to hit me back?" Whatever he said, and before he really answered, she stepped forward with the aim of poking him in the stomach with the stick. It was a basic stabbing movement, and she knew very little except how to hit boys who teased her.

She had a lot of questions. How should she stand, how about holding her sword? If she had to, could she still pull people's hair and a hundred other strange, child-like questions. Celeste sat and watched, her hand protectively on the swell of her stomach as her husband and her daughter played together. Later, she promised herself, she would tell Xander that she had never been more proud of either of them than she had in that moment. Ala'ni for the question, and him, of course, for the answer.

[Xander Andaris]

The laughter of Ala'ni warmed his heart, he missed the innocence of childhood and the joy such simple things could bring. Still perhaps having his daughter around helped him retain that youth and happiness. Still as he stood from the small smack he had given himself he heard the girls question and went to answer. Of course he did not have chance as she tried to stab him in the stomach with the stick, reflex and training took over as he stepped aside. He made it look easy as the weapon of Ala'ni missed him and he smiled. "I told you not to worry." He was ready in case she tried again, the lesson he was trying to teach becoming clearer.

Every attack she launched at him he would avoid, stepping to the side or back, sometimes jumping or even ducking. His demonstration was to show that there was more to sword fighting than just knowing how to swing a sword. "You see Ala'ni." He held out his hand to show her to stop. "One of the greatest things a new sword fighter forgets to learn is to dodge, they plant their feet and swing and stab but they6 forget that movement can be all it takes to avoid an enemy." The father smiled and knelt down once again.

"You wanted to learn how not to get hurt, that is the first step." He gently squeezed her shoulder and then placed his hand over hers on the stick moving beside her and taking her other hand. "I will show you how to hold it though." He placed her right hand forward and the back hand behind it with a small gap. Gently pulling on her fingers he made sure they were not too tight. "You need to keep your hold loose enough to move the stick fluidly and comfortably, you will soon learn when to tighten and loosen your grip it comes with practise."

Sliding around to face her once again he explained something more. "The first attack you made there was called a thrust or a stab or even a lunge. It came naturally to you as will other strikes, because what feels natural is usually the best way of doing it." He smiled and then picked up his own stick, now you try.

He tried not to look at Celeste, expecting her to intervene. "Are you ready? Remember only to move out of the way of the stick, we will start slow." Xander gently thrust the sword toward her like she had him, hoping to see her remember how he had moved aside from it moments ago.

[Celeste Andaris]

Watching them together, father and daughter, Celeste wondered how she could ever have doubts. Kindness shone from Xander and the pair of them moved together in clear synchrony. Being there, outside of them and looking in, Celeste knew that there was nothing for her to worry about as far as her daughter was concerned. No matter what, Xander was her father and, when Celeste had made the decision to adopt the little one, she had fundamentally made the decision for them both. And somewhere along the line, somehow, they had become a family. It wasn’t something Celeste had expected, but it had happened and she could not be more grateful.

So, she said nothing as she watched. Xander taught the little girl and where once Celeste might have intervened, trying to stop Ala’ni from getting hurt, from being violent, from learning things she didn’t need to learn, she had no need to do anything like that. Because Ala’ni was being taught by her father, and there was nowhere she was more safe.

For her part, the young girl paid close attention to Xander. She held the sword the way that he wanted her to and she tried to follow what he said. She smiled at him when he said about defence. “You’re just never where I’m hitting!” Which was, she supposed the point. As they practiced there, she did as she was told and paid attention to her footwork, her grip and so on. She was very happy to do so and, as much as a child of her age could, she took it all in.

Inevitably, though, she grew tired and bored. It was to her credit that the serious young girl carried on, but Celeste caught Xander’s eye and nodded slightly. It was time to call it, she thought and so she stood and made her way over. ”I’m so proud of you both,” Celeste said and put her arm in Xander’s as she stroked Ala’ni’s hair. ”And I love you both, very much. Shall we go back to the house and eat pancakes?” Ala’ni grinned and nodded. “Shall we, father? I’d like that!” She leaned forward and spoke in a quieter tone. “I can hear the baby. She’d like cream and fruit on hers” Celeste chuckled and looked at Xander. ”What say you, husband mine?”

[Doran Cooney]

Celeste "Tessa" Andaris

Knowledges: N/A


Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Renown: N/A

Points 15

Xander Calen Andaris (nee Krome)

Knowledges
Bladed combat (Longsword): Remaining calm and keeping concentration is vital
Bladed combat (Longsword): Remember that steel is heavier than sticks
Bladed combat (Longsword): Voiding attacks to one side
Bladed combat (Longsword): Voiding attacks backwards
Bladed combat (Longsword): Ducking and jumping over swings
Bladed combat (Longsword): Attacks should feel comfortable and natural to you
Teaching: Cater your lesson for your student
Teaching: Be stern but still playful
Teaching: Encouragement is important

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Renown: N/A

Points 15

---

Cute little family thread with a streak of morbidity! Xander's first lesson was great; much better to learn how not to get hit with something first before you hit back. Celeste seems pretty practical minded, if not a little needlessly worried, but I'm sure being pregnant doesn't really help with anything but adding to the stress of general life. Good thread~

Please edit your grade request, thank you!

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[center][img]/gallery/image.php?album_id=39&image_id=7932[/img]Doran Cooney[/center]