From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Deimos wasn’t so much put off by the screaming as the inability to cease it. Or to know what to do with the current dilemma. Luckily for Noah, the Sword had long since become used to the wakes of chaos, the brands of warfare, and the wreckage of bedlam, so much so that in the midst of panic and apprehension, he remained calm and steadfast – like an ordinary day. Just with slightly wider eyes and inward praying that this wouldn't become completely unhinged.
Glancing down at Marcus, who remained very quiet and therefore immediately favored, his eyes then studied the nursery, pondering if there was something suitable for the time being. Would anything distract her until Cordelia returns? Did newborns enjoy toys? Could he make something? Could they even fixate on something jingling, jangling, or bright, flashing? He’d have to default to the Sentinel for that, given his short-term experience (but more than the Warden’s) with infants.
think about this you have the ability to survive anything
Offering his daughter his finger to suckle on was no replacement for what she wanted. It did not placate her. Her cry was shrill and loud and sent a shiver down the Sentinel’s spine. He spoke lowly and calmly, however, his voice very controlled in an attempt to offer her comfort. He turned her over in his arms and swung her gently, a move he watched Cordelia do to calm her down when she needed help to burp. Her cries lowered, but she writhed uncomfortably and whined.
”She likes this rocking motion.” Noah finally spoke aloud to the Sword, showing how he swung her with her belly against his arm. ”I don’t know if there’s something you could make that rocks or swings like this.” He looked for a moment to their crib, ”Because I made that to be stationary.” Unlike some rocking bassinets he had seen in store windows while in Stormbreak.
The rocking motions seemed to remain some sort of lulling decree, and the Sword’s brow arched, watching the movements, and then glancing towards the crib, which remained still. Understandably so, given the nature of the thing. I can try, he offered, tucking Marcus tighter against his chest with one arm and amidst his elbow, before freeing his other hand.
He may have seen one or two bassinets amidst Halo’s stores and markets; the sort of maneuvering portions with hinges amidst the wood. Striving not to bother the infant in his hold, while managing to contort and create, was something he hadn’t quite contemplated before – but not letting it take hold of his machinations, began to construct the proportions.
Eventually, the proportions coincided with a makeshift cradle, capable of small, minute movements; wooden with a hood, framed with little Halovian details on the sides (snow, ursur, luxere), and room for two, if there was such a need. There you go, he added, waiting for some approval, or the exact opposite.
think about this you have the ability to survive anything
Noah would never cease to be impressed with the way Deimos' magic worked. He was able to conjure and create out of nothing. He knew that the Sword had leveled like a boss worked hard to achieve this ability, and that only increased Noah's admiration of it. He watched as the cradle rocker appeared. It was big enough for both twins, and that made Noah smile. The two of them seemed to love being together -- something, he imagined, that stemmed from Marcus and Margot sharing the same womb. They knew nothing else but each other from day one. "She might like Marcus with her." The Sentinel said.
Taking his fussing daughter, Noah gently placed her in the cradle and started rocking it. She screamed for a moment, a rage-filled cry at being placated rather than fed. But it only lasted a moment, as the motion and comfort of the soft bedding within soothed her. Her rage and unmet desires were calmed momentarily -- she merely grunted in an uncomfortable way as if she was trying to decide whether or not to begin screaming again. Noah looked back at Deimos and gestured for him to lay the more even-tempered twin beside his sister.
With Noah’s quiet approval, Deimos watched as he placed the other twin within the cradle – waiting for something to happen. It wouldn’t fix something within an instant, given Margot’s consistent and prolonged howling, but eventually the rocking seemed to lure and lull her into a far more easygoing fixture, and the Sword would keep that in the back of his mind for future purposes.
Which meant it was Marcus’s turn; making sense, the Warden supposed. From what he’d seen and learned of twins, including Kiada and Hotaru, and any offspring by the latter, the connection was inherent and necessary. Checking on the youth in his arms, he then inclined slowly and carefully forward, before mimicking the Sentinel’s gestures, and placed Marcus beside his sister.
Glancing upwards to Noah, hopeful he’d done it correctly, he then took a few steps back, ensuring he was out of the way.
think about this you have the ability to survive anything
Noah didn’t stop rocking except to give Deimos time to put Marcus in his place. The milder twin grunted some, but as he felt his sister next to them, he settled in easily. The Sentinel kept them rocking, and looked towards Deimos. ”Perfect.” Although his daughter was not lulled into comfort, into sleep, at least she had been pacified enough to gain patience for her mother’s arrival.
”Cordelia will be home soon.” He said as his eyes focused behind the SWord for a moment and noticed the way that the icy landscape outside the window was being painted in majestic purples and brilliant yellows, indicating sundown. ”After she feeds them, I think they will sleep well.” He looked at his children, and smiled down at them even as Margot groaned and whined her displeasure.
”Thank you for visiting. And thank you for the rocker.” Noah said. The feelings over the bond and the look in his eyes indicated that he would, in fact, hug the man if he weren’t trapped rocking his twins.
The waiting game seemed to be one of the more effective nuances with the infants, and other motivating distractions. Food, understandably, was one of the key factors, and Deimos almost wondered why they didn’t have some directly on hand, just in case of these situations, but then again, perhaps there were other nuances to coincide.
But Deimos took this as his cue, once the youths were settled again, nodding in affirmation. You are welcome passed through the bond, uncertain if voices piercing through would simply wake the twins once more. Thank you for allowing me to visit. While apprehension inducing, it’d also been enlightening and educational, in ways he’d yet to experience.
From there, he’d slip out with a quiet wave, permitting the family their time together once more.
{FIN}
think about this you have the ability to survive anything
