Not the Hard-Knock Life

Posted on 03 Apr 2022 @ 10:08pm by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Katya Charbonnet (Shar-bon-ay)

2,623 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Once Upon a Codex
Location: Jader
Timeline: 9:30 Dragon, mid-Blight in Ferelden (about 3.5 years in the past)

OOC: Continued from post "The Sun Will Come Out…"

The late-morning sun shown brightly as Katya's wagon pulled away, and Kalian pointed to the workhouse. "The adults you traveled with will be staying there." Or near there, Kalian didn't say. A tent city was forming around the workhouse. Low-town was near workhouse, and as the wagon crossed the bridge, Kalian said, "The guardhouse is ahead on the right, and more homes on the left."

Past the guardhouse, the unmistakable market district was on the right. Jader citizens went about their business, though many of them sent resentful glances toward the wagon, a reminder of even more unwelcome refugees in their midst. On their left, Kalian gestured to the Raven's Roost Tavern. "That is where I usually work, and beyond are craft workshops." As the wagon continued on the road, the chantry's spire came into view ahead, along with the great houses of high-town. The wagon followed the road to the right into high-town and came to a stop in front of a mansion.

The house was huge! There were several children playing out in the spacious yard. Many of them, human and Elven and a couple of dwarfs even playing and laughing and having a good time. As they pulled up , They were greeted by a human woman. She was around 5'10", long black hair, down to the middle of her back! She was on the high side of 40 but a strikingly attractive woman. She had a smile that reached up to her green eyes.

Kalian was surprised to see elven children here, though he knew Hahren Liriel's resources in the alienage were stretched to capacity.

Katya jumped off the wagon and ran toward the woman who likewise ran toward Katya. They embraced. Kalian could see there was genuine affection between these two. "Mo..Miss Caroline." She said as they embraced. Miss Caroline's smile seem to fade slightly, as if she was expecting Katya to say something else, maybe call her something other than 'Miss Caroline' but it seemed to fade quickly. "Oh Katya! My dearest! You always come back! It is always such a joy to see you! I see you have more children in need of a home." She walked over to the wagon. "Hello Children. I'm Miss Caroline. I run the orphanage here. I and all the people here will take good care of you! My cook is making dinner and it will be ready soon! I know you've lost your parents and families. I and all the people here will be here to help you!"

The children watched, wide-eyed and wary – especially the elf girl - as Katya and Caroline embraced. Kalian observed the children's reaction, and thought that Katya's obvious affection for the woman in charge said more about this place to the children than all of Katya's assurances. Kalian got out of the wagon, and began helping the children climb out.

Katya said, "Miss Caroline, this is my new friend, Kalian. He has been a big help with the children."

"Forgive my manners Kalian. However the children need to be reassured that it will be alright. Thank you for your help. Katya has a talent for recruiting the right people to help."

"A pleasure to meet you, serah," said Kalian, with a broad smile and deep bow. He gestured to the two dark-haired human children. "This is Lydia, and her big brother Edmund." Then Kalian gestured to the pale-haired elven girl, who seemed to take a protective position near Lydia whilst still holding back. "And this is Briava."

Caroline smiled. "Hello Lydia, Edmond and Bravia. Welcome to your new home. " She turned around and called to two of the girls playing in the yard. "Mary, Talaria, could you please come here a moment." The girls hurried over. Mary was a freckled faced redhead, human while Talaria was a blonde elf. They were about 10 years old or the elven equivalent in Talaria's case. They looked at Katya and shouted "Katya!" And hugged the blonde warrior. Katya laughed. "Boy you'd think it's been months since I've been here instead of last night!" She exclaimed as she hugged the two children. "Now you two Miss Caroline called you over for a reason Please attend here."

Both girls turned to Miss Caroline. "Now girls I want you to meet Edmund, his sister Lydia and Bravia. Please make them feel at home." Miss Caroline said.

"Hello Bravia." Talaria said. "It's ok. This is a good place. You'll like it here." She stretched out her hand to the elven girl.

Meanwhile Mary was talking to Edmund and Lydia. "Hi. I'm Mary. Welcome home!" She said with a bright smile.

Although she still regarded the human adults with well-practiced suspicion and did not smile, Bravia noticeably relaxed and took Talaria's hand.

In contrast, Lydia and Edmund beamed at Mary. Lydia hugged the older girl and Edmund said, "I'm hungry."

As Kalian watched Talaria and Mary lead the new arrivals into the huge house, he reflected on the resilience of children and their ability to live in the moment. These three, and probably every child here, had been through terrible trauma. "Miss Caroline, I, uh, often assist Maleta, the old healer. If any of the children is sick or hurt I can take a look, and if I can't help I could come back with Maleta. Or, well, is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Thank you Kalian. Usually there is someone with the sniffles or worse. Fortunately, right now the worst is scrapes and bruises. " She looked over at the children. "You know Mary reminds me of another little girl I knew!" She looked over at Katya who blushed. "Always willing to help this one. I thank the maker everyday for my dearest Katya! My little Warrior!"

"She is, indeed, magnificent and dedicated," agreed Kalian with a wide smile. Also beautiful. He wasn't sure why exactly… but he had the feeling he wasn't her type. "Someone I'd be proud to call friend."

Katya's blush deepened.

She looked at Kalian, "Well She's not little anymore. She has become one of the finest women I've seen and you could do worse for a friend Kalian. Come I'm sure we could use a man's help. We have something that needs putting together."

Katya's eyes widened. "OH my! Is it here? All the supplies and materials we need?"

"Indeed it is dear!" Miss Caroline said.

"C'mon Kalian. The kids will be fine. Mary and Talaria will see to it! I have a special project I could use your help on. The kids are going to love it!" Katya said.

"Well now I'm both dying of curiosity, and at your service," said Kalian. "What are we putting together?"

She looked around to make sure none of the children were listening. "It's a surprise for the kids. It's a puppet show. The theater and finishing the puppets. It's something I've wanted to do for a while now but took time to get all the materials. Now we get to put everything together! oh I am so excited! They are going to love it!" Katya said as they headed unto the house.

"That does sound like fun for the children," said Kalian. "I'm not a carpenter, but sure. I'm game to help you build a puppet theater and help make some puppets. Please, show me what you've done so far. Children are so creative... won't they want to make more puppets themselves for the puppet shows they create?"

"Putting it together isn't hard. We are going to make the first puppets but then we are going to encouraged to make their own. Of course there will be plenty of help. For the first ones, I wanted to make them, with your help of course. I want to put on a show to give them an idea. Maybe fire up their imagination!" Katya said.

"Lead the way to your construction project," said Kalian with a flourish and a bow to indicate he would follow. "Do you have a story in mind to tell? I'm partial to the one about how Garahel ended the fourth Blight. Especially, you know… in these times."

"Umm that seems a little heavy for kids Kalian.. I'm thinking of a story Miss Caroline told all of us. About a group of kids who save their village from bandits when all of the grown ups were sick."

Kalian regarded Katya with raised eyebrows, then considered. With the trauma these children had experienced, especially the blight refugees, he thought a story about the Grey Warden hero who ended the last blight would be reassuring. A story where children save the adults was not as reassuring in his opinion, and yet an example of children with the agency to save their own lives and the people they cared about… "Yes, that would be uplifting for the children. Let's get started."

---

That night all the children had gathered around for this special treat! Including the new arrivals. This could help them a lot. Maybe they could settle in a little better. At least that was Katya's hope. "You ready Kalian?" Katya asked. They had spent the afternoon putting everything together. For Katya it was a labor of love. They had rehearsed the story some. This was not a professional performance by any means but it would do for the children.

Everything was prepared, for the most part. Many details for the theatre remained to be completed, like adding a crank-able roll of scenery background, and more puppets, but that would be an ongoing project for the children's creativity. Kalian cleared his throat and raised his voice to speak the introduction. "Once upon a time, there was a peaceful farming village. Families worked hard to grow their crops and raise farm animals. They cared for each other. The children learned their school lessons and did their chores, but there was always time to play." He opened the puppet theatre curtain to the first scene.

The scene was of children playing. Katya said, "There was a group of children laughing and just playing. Having a good time. These are the children of the village. Good friends one and all. There was Maria, her younger brother Rudolpho, Eliza and Cecelia, the twins, Emma, Thomas and Earving. These particular children were the closet of friends and almost always played together. Every afternoon after their chores and school was playtime. They loved to run around in the empty field near the village. Usually they were playing pretend. Maria, the leader of the band would usually have some sort of game. Although sometimes the others had ideas and they would do that! These children were simply the best of friends."

Kalian just barely managed to control three of the puppets, while Katya had the other four. So many puppets at once was a bit of a challenge, but fortunately this was just the introduction. Continuing the story, he said, "But a sickness spread through the village. The children recovered quickly, and nobody died, but the adults were very slow to get well. Maria and her resourceful friends helped keep the livestock fed and watered, and took care of the babies and younger children. But then, whilst the adults were still sick and very weak," Kalian paused for dramatic effect, then added, "bandits came to the village."

Katya said, "The adults were unable to put up much of a resistance, most were just too sick. The bandits quickly took over the village! However, the village was not without its defenders. The children began meeting in secret. They knew that they had to be the ones to defend their home! They weren't sure what to do at first. They were just kids! but Maria spoke up saying they could do it! They just had to figure out how! After all, this was their home and no bandits were going to take it away from them! Not to mention they had to protect their families! So the children began to plan!"

Kalian continued, "The bandits took the big community wagon, and began loading everyone's precious belongings plus important winter supplies onto it. Maria and the other children knew that just because they were not big and strong like the bandits, they were clever and smart, plus the children knew things about their village and the people and animals that lived there that the bandits didn't know. For example, the strongest mule in town, the one that could pull the wagon, was very stubborn and would refuse to work, but would happily cooperate if it was offered carrots. And the old woman who lived next door to the blacksmith was once an Antivan Crow, and still made rat poison in her cellar."

"The children knew every nook and cranny in the village. They knew how to slip in and out of building un-noticed. Maria spoke with the other kids and told the plan. They were going to make the bandits believe the village is haunted. They knew all the quirks of the village and the buildings. They knew they had to pull it off. Fortunately the bandits believed in ghosts so Maria knew they would be fooled.

Rudolpho and Cecelia both knew how to do wonderful spooky voices and Earving, Emma and Thomas knew how to make the houses and other buildings make all sorts of noises. As for Maria, she knew exactly how to make her voice all echo-y. Tonight their plan would be put into action. Before the night is over, the bandits would be so scared they would run for the hills and never return."

"While the bandits loaded up the wagon, the clever children snuck around the town, in and out of buildings unseen, and made their preparations. That night, as darkness fell and the bandits began drinking the wine and spirits they'd stolen, the children got into position," said Kalian. It had been his idea to have the children poison the bandit's drinks, but Katya had rolled her eyes at him and scolded, No, Kalian, that's too dark for children. He didn't mind, she was right, of course.

"And so round midnight the children went to work. Emma and Thomas and Earving set up in the place where the bandits were staying and started making the house creak and groan Rudolpho, Cecilia and Maria made the spooky voices, like ghost. "Intruders! Leave or be cursed forever! Leave now!" The house was creaking and groaning and make all sorts of weird noises. The bandits, being cowardly and superstitious became more and more afraid, reached a point where they were too terrified to stay. They fled out into the night, without their loot convinced the village was haunted, never to return again. The children were hailed as heroes. Slowly the sickness passes and the village returned to normal and everybody was much happier! the end!"

After a moment's silence, Miss Caroline began clapping, and the children followed her example.

Kalian walked out from behind the puppet theatre and took a bow, and then in a loud voice he said, "This puppet theatre is for all of you children to play with and create your own stories, and it was all Katya's creation and gift to all of you! Thank you, Katya!" Kalian turned toward Katya, and bent on one knee, clapping his hands together to join in the applause.

All the children applauded.

"Aww! Thank you all! It was my pleasure! You guys are my family and I wanted to do something special for you! I encourage you to come up with your own stories to tell. I will see about coming up with some more of my own!" Katya said.

-----

 

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