Post by Caitrin de Archer on Oct 8, 2012 6:15:16 GMT -5
Caitrin had already decided that there was no possibility that she was going to get back to sleep. She let her eyes flicker open; their bedroom was mostly in darkness, but the light that was peeking through the curtains told her that dawn was upon them. Caitrin rolled over, pulling the bedcovers over her shoulder as there was a chill in the air that morning. She didn’t need to look to tell that her husband was still asleep; Griff wouldn’t wake up until he absolutely had to. She didn’t need four years of marriage to tell her that. Caitrin’s hand found her husbands, and entwined their fingers together, squeezing his hand softly. Of course that didn’t wake him up either, but that hadn’t been the aim really. A smile crept onto her face then as she remembered what day it was. Today was in fact Esmae and Arthur’s third birthday, and yet, it was the first birthday they were spending in their new home.
They had been living here for a few months now, ever since Dristan had announced that he and Rowan were getting married. It had all been rather rushed in Caitrin’s opinion, but who was she to judge. Allard had offered the estate to them given that Lucan and Camila had now returned to Glouchedon. They would have been stupid not to accept of course; there was no place for them with her Uncle anymore, and this was the only alternative which meant that they could still remain in Camelot. Caitrin hadn’t yet settled into her new surroundings. It wasn’t that Allard hadn’t been welcoming enough, or that she wasn’t grateful, it was just because it didn’t feel like it was her home yet. That would take time. The children, bar Esmae, had settled in well to their new surroundings. Esmae on the other hand had not settled at all, she had been unruly, difficult, and had kept asking to go home. She seemed a little more at ease now though, which was all Caitrin could hope for really.
They had planned on all spending the twins birthday together as a family, to help Esmae settle in as well as enjoying the time together. It had all gotten easier in the past year or so, especially with Alfie. Caitrin was pulled from her thoughts before she had any more time to dwell on the past by the creaking of her bedroom door as it began to open. Caitrin didn’t stir, she had a feeling she knew who it was. The footsteps that followed were too light to be that of a maid, or Allard, as on occasion he’d had to rouse Griff from his sleep to help with matters of the estate. No, these footsteps were light, and ended at her bedside. She felt a soft tug on her bed sheets, followed by the weight of another body on the bed, “Mummy?” Esmae was obviously trying to whisper, but wasn’t really succeeding, “Mummy?” She repeated, nudging her mother’s side with her small hands. Deciding she couldn’t pretend to be asleep any longer, Caitrin opened her eyes, and smiled up at her daughter who was giving her a toothy grin; her scarlet hair falling messily down over her chemise. Caitrin tucked a lock of hair behind her daughters hair, and caressed her cheek with her thumb,
“Happy Birthday Esmae.” Esmae beamed, and clumsily clambered up the bed to throw her arms around her mother’s neck. Caitrin embraced her daughter, and held her there for a few moments, wondering how on earth it could have been three years since Meghan had handed her both Esmae and Arthur for the first time. Esmae drew back, and looked at her mother expectantly. Sitting up, Caitrin ruffled her daughter’s hair, “Where are your brothers?” Esmae shrugged,
“Asleep.” Caitrin nodded, she suspected most of Arthur and Alfie’s early rises were more to do with the fact that Esmae woke them up rather than them actually wanting to be awake. Esmae was now looking at her father, who was still asleep, or he was as far as Caitrin could tell.
“Wake Daddy up as well Esmae, then you can go and get Arthur and Alfie up.” The child looked delighted at the suggestion, and clambered onto her father with all the grace that a three year old could muster. “Daddy?”
Tagged: Griff Aubert (& Esmae, Arthur and Alfie Aubert!)
Timeline: During Arthur’s Bane
Time of Day: Dawn
Location: Allard’s Estate
Notes: Dometic!Caitiff alert[/color][/size]
