Heading home

[bardmcshane]

Erin had given the message to be passed along, told Lydia she'd be back. She would, of course, but now she needed to go back home. Perhaps people didn't understand what it was like to be completely alone? Most of them had family or pack as they called it. Erin had a beau but he was often busy with his own tasks.

She wouldn't hold those things against him, duty she could understand. She found herself becoming more and more irrated with the world in general, good Gods she sat down with Ryan and nearly pour out her guts to him. As if he needed that?

She let the horse roam as he wished as the bird coasted ahead of them. The rain continued to come down in sheets as she didn't bother with a cloak.. it would only get hot, wet and smelly. Clem was doing alright on his own for now.. stubborn old goat that the fellow was.

Her anger wasn't so much at those around her, they weren't really to blame for this uncertainty that she felt, then the letter from back home of Renee getting her heart broken? It had caused something in her to snap. That little bastard knew that her parents had been out of town, and with Jared off on his own assignment, that left her sisters and little brothers with her Nana. While there were cousins and the like around.. this was her job.

Renee was a lass that longed for comforts and the priviledged life, a life most farm girls would never see. And a jackel had given her those promises, leading her around by the heart strings and knew very well he had no intention of wedding her. Did that stop him? Not at all, and granted her sister was an idiot for allowing this to go so far.. he was four years older then she. Erin's expression soured even more as she wouldn't push Rock, not while it rained. The last thing she needed was the horse to throw a shoe.

The ranger kept her eyes forward as the bird called out and came back toward them. The wings were getting soaked and flying was soon out of the question as Erin lifted her arm to give the bird a place to perch. The bird didn't weigh more then a few pounds as it hopped from the forearm to her shoulder. The little noises were accompanied with the hunkering down of the bird, the talons piercing into the leather that had been stitched onto her shoulder.

The ride had taken most of the day and with the heavy dark clouds overhead it was difficult to give a time as she spied a cave not far off and directed the horse there. Give them time to rest, eat.. then head back out to the road itself. She wanted to be home within a few days time.

[bardmcshane]

Home...

She came up the small rise and looked down into the valley below. Her heart seemed to leap at the sight of the rolling plains and different colored landscapes marking off where the fields were. The weather here was comfortable as she didn;t bother trying to confine the blond brown hair. Nana's was still a bit away but dear Gods did it make her very soul shine at the simplistic veiw. Rock it seemed had gotten a nose of the familiar landscape and all but charged down the hill side. The light laughter came from the ranger as she held on.

The merlin had wheeled off in a different direction, likely going to check in itself. Good, there were some things that shouldn't be witnessed. Even with the events that had brought her here were shoved aside for now. The horse slowed as they reached the winding dirt road as she couldn't have helped the bright smile had she tried. She followed it until midday as she turned the horse into the yard of her Nana Mcshane's. The cousins were about doing their chores as the calls and greetings were given. The young woman lifted her hand in a wave.

The door slammed open as the herd of littles bubbled out , as Erin laughed herself and hopped down from the horse. The first two to get to her were the twins as she was nearly bowled over by them. The hugs and kisses were passed about in spades as she remarked about their growing and how she missed them. After them came Harvest carrying Clancy on his back. She hugged them both just as they were giving each a kiss to a cheek, and stealing Clancy all together.


The three year old boy had taken on his Mum's thick black hair though had the chubby handsome features of their father. Boyo.. mum was in for with this one.. as she gave him another hug. She looked up to see Renee as the poor teenage lass stood at the edge of the porch. Erin slowly put Clancy down and moved toward her little sister. The beautiful blue eyes were glassy as she all but threw herself into Erin's arms. Behind Renee was Evie who had written the letter. She winked to Evie as she just rubbed Renee's back. " Hush lass.. be things we oughts talk about. " She whispered as she gave a nod to Harvest and Evie and the littles had gone off to welcome home Rock.

Even as Erin held Renee her Nana came to the door drying her hands with a towel. The woman was stout with good cooking and country life as she gave Erin a nod. They would talk later , right now she had to help sooth her sister's heart. The two girls walked off for a bit, heading into the fields that had been allowed to go fallow for the year. Erin listened as Renee told her everything which was in honesty a bit more then she herself wanted to hear about her little sister.

It all came back to Lars. it had been as Evie had written and told her as she kept the biting remarks to herself, Renee didn't need the told ya so's. What she needed was just to be able to talk about it. Though the more she talked the more upset Erin was becoming. It was a good thing that Nana had called them back to the house as Erin told her to go on ahead. She stood out in the yard and watched the fields and the sway of the tall grass.

It was her Nana that came out as Evie and Renee helped with getting the rest of dinner finished up for the family. " Ya heard? " She asked abruptly as Erin gave a small nod.

" Aye. " She spoke softly as she turned to look at her Grandmother in the face.

" Ya comes back ta does somethina bouts it den? " The woman asked with her hands on her hips. Erin gave a small nod as she waited for the woman to go into how it wasn't her place, and to let the men folk take care of the situation. " Good. Wit yer Da an Mum off runnin abouts.. I tols her.. I tols her that boy wanna no good. " She complained but at the expression she recieved from Erin let it fade off.

" Renee is a good girl Nana, she jus wants a fella ta falls in love wit her.. ain't nothin wrong with that. " Erin spoke up. Of course Lars had attempted the same predatory silliness on ERin as well when she was younger, but when he tried to sneak up on Erin.. he ended up with a pitch fork in his leg. His own fault.. but Renee was far too gentle for that sort of thing.

" Ain't nothin wrong wiht findin a good man, right enough there.. but that boy.. " She hrumphed and folded her arms across her chest.

" Will regret he e'er touched one of us McShane lasses..don'tcha worries. " Erin promised her quietly. The old woman lifted a hand and patted Erin's cheek lightly.

" Thats meh girl.. now then goes an wash yerself, gots dinner abouts ready. " She added that with a slightly harder pat to the cheek.

Erin laughed and gave a nod as she moved off to the water pump off to the side. It was time to wash off some of the road and anger , no one came to Nana's table dirty or angry.. it was a quick way to go without dinner!

Now meal time at Nana McShane's was quite the ordeal, a house full of littles and cousins and wives all showed up as they gathered about the huge wood tables. Erin and her siblings sat at a table to themselves as they held hands while Nana herself gave thanks to the Lady above. With a break of that, the noise and conversations erupted like an explosion as the sounds of forks touching plates and the spoons dipped out food. The light hearted laughter all mingled in with the voices of generations of the family had gotten together. It wasn't feastday or anything of that nature, as those were typically held out in the barn during cold weather or in the yard itself. The house wouldn't keep everyone for events such as that.

The twins told Erin about their learning to ride and learning how to milk the cows. Evie had taken up with Nana and started sewing and mending whatever clothing needed to be fixed. Harvest had taken a far more sensible approach of spending the summer with Nana and took up working wiht the smithy as well, though doing far more then just shoeing horses. The dark eyes looked to the mirrors of her siblings as they laughed and caught up. Erin began to tell the stories of the people she had met and some of the fierce monsters as well.

While Erin didn't pay much attention the room had slowly gone quiet to listen to the stories. Nana greatly disapproved but it seemed to keep the others rapted. The bard in Erin let her play to her audience as she slowly stood up and began to tell the story from there. More talking to her little brothers then the room as a whole.. but if they wished to hear, she would tell it. This way she didn't say the same story twice.

Soon she ran out of stories and dinner long since over as she offered to put the boys to bed. She kissed them all and tucked them in as they shared a bed. She answered questions for what seemed hours before stating it was time for them to sleep. Once leaving that room she checked in with Evie and Renee.. the girls talked a while before they too slipped off to sleep. Erin had gotten used to staying up for far longer as she slipped down stairs and out side again to look up at the moon. Not without stealing a piece of Nana's peach pie and a cup of the dark coffee that she kept around.

The seat was taken on the edge of the porch as she contemplated all that she had been told, right.. so tomorrow she would go into town and find Lars, then explain a few survival fundementals. Going near her sister again? Wasn't a good way to keep breathing.

[bardmcshane]

Erin woke the following morning to find she had the bed to herself, instead of sharing it with Evie. The sounds below greeted her and caused her to smile as she just lay and listen to the conversations and the bustling that went on in the kitchen. Her eyes closed for a moment as she let herself emerce in the sounds. The sigh came as she slipped out of bed and took her time in washing up and gettting dressed.

Mind she didn't dress herself the same way as she had in the nondescript clothing when living in GoldenMyst, here she was free to wear the skirts and flowerly blouses as she pinned her hair up neatly before coming down stairs. The girls all grinned and the hugs and kisses again shared among the cousins and other women as Erin rolled up her sleeves to lend a hand. It was Nana that looked over at her and gave a small nod.

" Yer mum an da left a pack in the other room, " The level stare was given to Erin before she went on. "Spect there be things there that ought to be put away. And Jeb is going into town, could you ride along with him. Ye know how that boy fergets things. " she sighed and rolled her eyes. Erin knew very well what the woman was hinting at. Erin gave a firm nod and dried her hands off from the dishes she had been doing.

She didn't bother with removing the apron as she moved out to call Jeb over as the large lumbering McShane lad agreed to go with her to town for a few things. While he got the carriage ready, Erin moved to the pack and slipped into one of the other smaller rooms and began to rummage. The odds and end daggers and such were a bit too blatant for her tastes. Though at the bottom of the pack was one of her mother's boxes. Erin smirked a little as she drew out the box and opened it. It was exactly what she had hoped for, a tiny emerald stud as she took it out of the box and with a string of curses Erin pierced her ear quickly with the steel post of the earring.

As soon as it was afixed upon her ear she could suddenly hear the giggling laughter of the girls in the rear room of the kitchen. She could live with the sore ear, though Nee owed her.. as she slipped out of the room and put the pack up into the closet once more. She paused as Nana handed her a small pouch of coins and a list. Erin made her way out as her cousin offered his hand up as she caught up her skirts and stepped up with his aid into the front of the wagon.

Town was little more then a gathering of the general store, the local smithy and the guards garrison which most of it was made up by local sons. along with a small building that suited as a inne/tavern for folks to gether in. Erin couldn't help but grin as they passed the miller's place and offered the old man a wave. " G'day ta ya, Mister Smirth" she called out as the man squinted then waved back but his attention went back to his task. Jacob Smirth was Lar's father. It was always good for the old man to know she was back in town. By the expression on his face he probably knew why Erin was back.

If not he would soon enough.

The wagon pulled into the area as Jeb hopped down and again offered his hand to Erin as she smiled and took it. " Thank ya Jeb, shouldna be mores then a few minutes.. ya gots the list fer the smithy? "She asked the large man as he nodded and headed in that direction. Erin looked around and marveled how terribly small it all seemed now. Town when she was younger was a great place.. now? She shook her head a bit as she stepped up onto the porch of the general store, taking her time making sure to be seen as she listened to the talk among some of the young men that gathered here and there.

Likely all of them were to be doing something constructive other then standing around gossiping like a group of hens. Worse then women! As she overheard conversations that made her blush a bit not to mention brought about a flare of anger. So he had been telling tales? Renee said it hadn't gone so far as a bit of kissing, when she refused to go further... he had gotten rough with her. Yet from what the boys said? It took every ounce of Erin's will not to go hunting for the bastard.

Instead she plastered on one of her prettiest little smiles and waved at the boys before going inside. The general store had been sold to a younger couple , likely one of the storekeeps sons and his new wife. Erin of course wanted to know these people as she stood and gossiped with them while getting the flour and other items needed as she looked to the supplies.. yes she could have very well carried them out.. but with the group of strapping young men .. why should she? The steps carried her outside as she walked toward them. Watching how some looked at her differently then they once did.

" Tim Walkins.. my.. you did grow into those ears of yours didn't you? "She teased lightly as she glanced to the others and played the sweet lass as she looked back to the store. " Could ya fellas help me out a bit.. Jebidah is over in the smithy.. but I have supplies ta take back ta Nana's.. " She bit into her lower lip and looked down a moment then back up to the lot of them. " Could ya'll give me a hand loadin up the wagon? " She asked with a little cant of her head and that small charming smile of hers. While not all helped but three was enough as she doled out the compliments and the light little touches to arms and shoulders.

She giggled and gushed like any little empty headed little thing would. It was finally Mister Walkins that asked if she could possibly meet him at the tavern later for perhaps a drink of cider. She chuckled softly and gave a small nod. " Aye.. I'll sees ya afterin dinnertime. "She offered before Jeb came up to chase the boys off. He gave her a strange look as Erin returned it with a knowing one before taking his hand to help her up into the wagon once more.

Excellent, now she had an alibi that wasn't her family.