(Blah... I ramble. And I can't think of a good title for it. ^^)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The smell of shepard's pie caused Bree's eyes to widen excitedly, and her mouth to instantly water. With her new, precious doll tucked securely in her arm, she tugged upon her mother's skirt and began to pull her from the doorway of their meager home. "Bree..." Ellyce laughed, but smiled curiously as soon as the spicey sent of food reached her nose. "Ooo... I wonder what that is," she said lightly for the benefit of her daughter though she peered a bit suspicously down the narrow hallway. "I was wonderin' if you two would ever show!" a familiar face, and a familiar shock of red hair immediately calmed Ellyce's nerves. Talyn Radford kneeled at the far end of the hallway and held her arms out for the darling little four-year-old who went bounding into them. "It's good t' see you too," she laughed, embracing the little girl. "What are you doing here?" a warm smile lit Ellyce Nolan's normally worn and weary features. She didn't appear as tired this afternoon, as if there was maybe some bit of weight lifted from her thin shoulders. A recent widow of just over a year, and a woman of only twenty one summers, she looked beyond her years. More then slender or willowy, she was thin. It could be seen as she took of her coat to hang upon a hook by the door, from the way her collarbones protruded just a bit more then they should, and the way her cheeks were just slightly hollow. She gave what she could (which wasn't much) to her daughter, and hadn't much of an appetite these past months anyhow. There was a subtle beauty to her, however, a ghost of what she had been. Her pale blonde hair was pulled into a bun that was tousled from the wind. Loose strands tickled at a long, and graceful neck. Her eyes were a light, sunbleached green, and framed by dark lashes. "I brought y' both dinner," the former Guard Captain replied with a roguish smile as she smoothed a hand over Bree's blonde head. "Talyn..." Ellyce shook her head, "You know you don't need to do that," but her slight smile betrayed her, and the soft growl of her stomach urged her forwards. "Ah.. But I 'aven't seen y' two in over a week," Talyn tickled Bree in the ribs to her delighted smile and breathy laughter. "An' I wanted t' see how y' were," her warm, friendly smile was enough to allieve Ellyce of her worries as she joined the other two in her kitchen. "We're doing well enough," Ellyce spoke as she moved into the wide room and towards the brown paper wrapped food that Talyn had set upon the table. "A little better today then others," she glanced over her shoulder as she stopped beside a cabinet. "Bree made a new friend today," her smile was soft for the proud smile the little girl exibited. "Oh, you did?" Talyn turned back to the little girl that she still knelt beside. "Who's yer new friend?" She knew better then to expect a vocal answer as the little girl soundlessly replied with lofting her brand new doll in the air by the arms, and holding it directly in front of the redhead. Bree was a perfect little version of her mother. From the pale blonde hair that she had held in a poneytail by a grey bit of yarn, to her light, shining green eyes. Her cheeks were round, and flushed with youth, but when Talyn tickled her, she could just feel the four-year-old's ribs. "Ohhhh..." she whistled softly, "Isn't she purty?" Talyn leaned closer to look. Indeed it was a beautiful doll. It appeared more worthy of display in some noble's home then to be in the grubby hands of this little girl. I had a fine, silky blue dress, and soft orangish-yellow hair that felt real. But it's delicately carved face was what drew Talyn in. It was exquisite. Her fingers absently traced over the doll's lovely cheek and over her features. For the briefest moment, another face flashed in her memory, and her smile withered for a moment upon her lips. The doll had almost a remarkable likeness to the tiger she was hunting. "That is a beautiful doll, Bree," her stomach turned at the thought of it resembling the murderer of her father... and she shook her head to rid herself of the revolting idea. "Just beautiful. Where did y' find such a treasure?" "There was a kind man outside of the Foundation this afternoon handing toys out to the children," Ellyce replied as she pulled out plates and forks to set upon the table. "Jakey, he said his name was. I can't believe he had the time to make so many toys to just give away," the man was remarkable in her opinion, and Talyn was quick to pick up on such things. "He could've made a pretty penny fer a toy like that," Talyn said as she rose back to her feet, patting Bree's shoulder. "That's very generous." "Yes, very kind," Ellyce glanced over her shoulder, smiling gently towards the other two. She hadn't seen Bree so happy in months, and she couldn't thank Jakey enough for that. She shook her head to shake off her wandering thoughts as she turned to pull the meal of shepards pies out of the brown paper wrapping. "Well," Talyn scooped Bree from her feet to her delighted gasp, and walked her over to the table. With and oof, she set the girl onto a chair, and pulled out another for herself. "I 'aven't found much, but I wanted t' let you know that I'm still looking for 'er, Ellyce. An' she 'as been seen in town." Ellyce sat down with a heavy breath, looking towards Bree as she smiled and hugged her doll. "I'm sure you'll find her, Talyn." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Sarah _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives & Other DMI Lists: http://islesofmyst.com/lists.php3
