[ P ] I'm Beside You, O' Maiden Fair

SORCHA KINNAIRD

Bonding Moment: Orlaith

Thunder rumbled outside the den, a late winter storm despite Rionnach being firmly in the arms of spring. Despite the weather, her sons slept soundly in a little pile, Gwydion sprawled haphazardly across Arran’s back in a manner that was only comfortable to young boys, both snoring softly. But Orlaith had awoken, and the girl's tiny legs toddled towards her mother, a whimper in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Sorcha asked softly as Orlaith settled between her forelegs, curled up to her chest.

"Can't sleep." Came the reply, muffled against her fur.

Another crack of thunder was followed by a flash of lightning, illuminating the den briefly. Orlaith yelped, burrowing herself into her mother’s chest. Sorcha shifted, gently grooming the girl between soft words to calm her. Words soon found song, as she recounted a familiar lullaby, one that Iona had sung to her when she was just as small as the girl in her arms, restless and frightened by the storms raging the forest outside - lulled to sleep by her parent's native tongue, an ancient lullaby of her ancestors. It was a language that she spoke less and less, Iona being the only member of her family still fluent. Yet as she sang, Sorcha found that she remembered the words just as if her mother had sang them to her yesterday.

“A naoidhean bhig, cluinn mo ghuth,
Mise ri d' thaobh, Ó mhaighdean bhàn.”

Orlaith soon began to settle, and although Sorcha would never believe herself to be as good a singer as her mother, she was relieved to find the earthen girl was soothed by her voice, as she had been by Iona. She pressed a kiss to her forehead, as Orlaith blinked up at her sleepily.

"... Naoidhean bhig, ar rìbhinn òg,
Mhaighdean uasal bhàn."

table by rae - image by kit

BAELFIRE

Bonding Moment: Orlaith

Baelfire had been sound asleep, same as the boys, despite the thunder that clapped outside and the rain the poured steadily on their home. He hadn't been sleeping alot since the kids were born but not because they kept him up, but because he just loved watching them and was honestly too excited to relax enough to sleep. A few restless nights, however, led him to a hard crash in the end.

It wasn't until he heard his young daughter's frightened yelp, followed by Sorcha's gentle lullabies that he began to stir.

The man groggily lifted his head, perhaps he would have been swifter if he had not heard Sorcha already awake. There was no danger, just a fright from the storm. He glanced over as the lightning flashed and a yawn escaped him. Weather like this hardly phased him anymore, but he'd never been one to fear them. His own mother had told him not to worry and so he hadn't. He had been so trusting of her, and of his father, that he just accepted their word as truth and law. It was his brother, Beltane, who had been far more curious and had questioned everything.

He looked towards Sorcha and Orlaith now, his heart warming as he slowly came to. He smiled gently, unable to find the words as he gazed upon them. He still couldn't believe this was his life now and often he wondered what he had done to deserve everything Sorcha had given him.

The native tongue upon Sorcha's lips fell easily and though he knew what she said, he added nothing of his own. He did not speak the language, at least not fluently. His parents had chosen english for their little family but he saw nothing wrong with either. As he watched her hold their daughter, he shifted closer to lay beside them. He pressed a kiss to Sorcha's cheek and looked down at Orlaith as the storm began to settle, so did she. "You're so good at this..." he whispered softly, so as not to rouse her.

"Goodnight, little one." he said softly as Orlaith drifted off. Baelfire leaned against Sorcha and yawned again, growing tired once more. "Try and get some sleep, sweetheart..." he murmured.

table by rae - image by kit