It's Been Too Long Pt. I

Writers: Kate, Vix
Date Posted: 8th May 2007

Characters: Kaefen
Description: His sister, Erde, and her family arrive at GVH.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 3, day 9 of Turn 4

Kaefen stood outside the Hold proper with Isuel at his side. "I can't believe you arranged this." He said to his wife, a huge grin spread across his face. It had been too long since he had last seen his little sister, and he'd barely met his niece before.

"Well, you know..." She winked, "I do try husband." Isuel smiled and directed her eyes back to the sky, scanning for the blue who was due to drop the little family off at the Hold.

"There they are!" She exclaimed, pointing to the medium sized blue who had appeared not too far away. The creature hovered and then circled down, landing gently in the courtyard that was surrounded by the guard towers.

Erde was torn between looking for her brother and worrying over her daughter. "Ersha, please sit still. We'll be on the ground soon, and then you can see everyone."

"But it won't look the same," protested the little girl, squirming to look behind them.

The woman sighed and clutched her daughter tightly, leaning back against her husband. "This is exciting - but . . ." Her voice trailed off.

"It'll be fine," Pherin reassured her. "He'll be as happy to see you as you are to see him."

Isuel gently tugged at Kaefen's arm once the blue had landed and the rider was helping the family slide down the sapphire hide.

"Erde!" Isuel waved and ran to the woman. The two had gotten along the moment they had met - which was at her wedding. Being the same age helped; besides the fact that they were sisters now.

Kaefen smiled and strode up to his little sister, holding his arms out for a hug. "It's so nice to see you, sis. I missed you so much." He had always been the protector of his younger siblings and being so far from them all was proving very tough for him.

Erde tore herself from her sister-by-marriage's embrace and threw herself toward her brother, tears flowing freely as she hugged him tightly.
"I've missed you. Faranth, how I've missed you!"

"What about me?" Ersha pouted quietly, hands on her hips.

"It's alright, little one," whispered her father as he lifted her to see these new relatives. "You'll get plenty attention when they've finished greeting each other." Pherin reached out an arm to draw Isuel toward him and the girl. "Thank you for arranging this - Erde has been wanting to see him for as long as I can remember."

Isuel wrapped her arms around her brother-by-marriage, hugging him.
"It was my pleasure. He needed to see that she is doing well." She stepped back and looked at Ersha. "My my, little one. You aren't so little anymore!"

Kaefen gathered his sister in his arms and ran his hand over her soft hair, kissing her on the cheek. "I can't go that long without seeing you, Erde. It just doesn't feel right." He paused, suddenly realizing how much he had truly missed her and how much he didn't like it.

Erde sighed, her eyes not leaving him as she noted the familiar face, the same as while they were growing up. "We really need to figure out how to see each other more often."

"You are welcome whenever you can come and I would love to come visit you." He sighed, holding his sisters hands in his larger ones. "It's the distance that makes it so hard."

She forced a laugh. "Well, if all of you hadn't moved away, we wouldn't have the distance to worry us."

Kaefen grinned in defeat. "I'm so sorry, sis." He paused, looking to Pherin.
"There is room for a Beastcrafter, I'm sure of it." Another pause and look of thought crossed his face. "I can't ask that of you." He hugged Erde again. "That'd be too much."

Isuel took the sudden change in conversation and intervened. "How about we all go inside. Go sit down and talk."

Erde wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled. "Let's do that."

"Mama?" A small voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh. . . Ersha." She reached for the child - almost too big for her to hold now - and hugged her tightly before turning to her brother.
"Kaefan, this is your niece - and a fine lady she is turning out to be."

Leaning down, to look at Ersha on her level, Kaefen smiled. "Hello there, dear Ersha." He gently reached out to her, hoping to get a hug from the tiny girl. "It has been too long since I last saw you. You're the little infant I remember."

Concentrating on her mother's words, Ersha curtseyed to her uncle.
"I'm pleased to meet you." However, then his statement sunk in. "But I'm not a baby."

Last updated on the May 10th 2007

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It's Been Too Long Pt. I