#daughteroflanterns

[mymothershumility]

{ @daughteroflanterns }

[fullrangeofemotions]

‘ can you tell me a bedtime story? ’

Vine meme @daughteroflanterns 

Donna looked down at Reina with a soft smile as she smoothedthe blankets down. She sat at the edge of the bed and looked at the little one. Donnawas not too sure how well she was at telling bedtime stories, but she nodded,acquiescing to the request.

“Let me see, what story do I tell you?” she tapped her chinthoughtfully, before straightening up when she remembered one her grandmotherused to tell her.  Well, not the originalstory, but she could arrange it to something more kid friendly. “In thisotherworld, a magical world, there lived a group magical people called theTuatha De Danann. Now, the king of the Tuatha de Danann was called Midir.

Midir was a good king. He took in children who didn’t have any parents and he would become their dad. One of them was Aengus Og, the god of love, who when he was old enoughset out to live on his own, like children tend to do. One day, Midirdecided he would visit his son, make sure he was doing well, like parents tendto do. On his way there, he met a beautiful young lady named Etain. The momentstheir eyes locked they just knew they were soulmates. He took her hand in his,”Donna reached out to take Reina’s little hand in hers, “he peered into hereyes,” she locked eyes with Reina, “and asked her, with all of his heart, ‘comelive with me?’ and she said, ‘yes!”  

“But, his….sister, Fuamnach was suspicious, see, she wantedto make sure that Etain really did love her brother. ‘How do you know she lovesyou? You are a king, maybe she just wants you for your money?’ So Fuamnach usedsome of her magic to turn Etain into a pool of water. Etain was a small, littlepool of water that quickly evaporated under the hot sun. But, the vapor cametogether and turned into a beautiful butterfly. But being a butterfly would not stopEtain from being with Midir. Nothing would stop her from being with him, so she,”Donna brought her hands together to resemble a butterfly flying, “flew back toMidir’s side. She couldn’t talk but with each flap of her wings, she created music and a beautiful scent. Think of whatever is your favorite smell, thatis how the butterfly smelled. I like to think she smelled of fresh bakedbrownies. Of course, Midir knew right away that it was Etain.”

“But Fuamnach was not fully convinced yet. So, she called upa storm and Etain flew away. The last thing she heard was Midir crying out forher as he was too late to help her. Etain was caught up in the storm for areally long time until finally she ended up back where she first met Midir, byAengus Og’s house. If you remembered, that is Midir’s son. Aengus Og recognizeswho she was and took her in, keeping her in a glass box in the meantime. ‘Stay here, I will get my dad.’ Beforehe could get his father, Etain accidentally flew out the box and was swept upby the storm again. ‘Oh no!’ she cried out, feeling like she was at the end ofher life, when she ended up falling inside a King’s banquet hall in the normalhuman world. The little butterfly twirled dizzily, crashing inside the cup ofthe Queen. The Queen, not knowing that Etain was in there, drank all of herdrink down. But this is not where out story ends, no, because you see, Midirand Etain are soulmates. The Queen, magically ends up pregnant, and you knowwho she gives birth to? Etain!

Etain grows up to be as beautiful as she had been.Meanwhile, Fuamnach, guilty that she had taken things too far, leaving herbrother depressed and heartbroken, she traveled to see if she could find Etain.One day, she came upon a garden where she saw Etain, laughing and playing.Immediately, she rushed to tell her brother. ‘Midir! I found her!’ she toldhim. Etain, by now, was old enough and ready to be married off. She didn’tparticularly love the man, but he was a good man.

By the time Midir raced to get to Etain, it was too late, shewas already married. Not only that, but she had no idea who he was! She had nomemory of him. To her, he was a complete stranger and that broke his heart evenmore. He tried telling her but all she said was, ‘you are a complete strangerto me! Leave! Before I call the guards!’ However, Midir did not give up. Heasked her, if he could beat her husband in a chess game, would she give him onelast kiss. He would never bother her again after that. She agreed, not thinkingher husband would agree and if he did agree, not thinking he’d lose, ‘yes, ifyou beat my husband, I will give you one kiss.’

The husband of course lost to Midir, and the moment thatMidir pressed his lips to Etains, her memories came rushing back. She gaspedand kissed him desperately, both of them crying in happiness. In that moment,there was nothing but them. Overwhelm by the light radiating from Midir and Etain’slove, the husband sobbed that he would not stand in their way.

Moved by he who had been her husband, Etain pressed one last kiss to his forehead, ‘thank you’ she whispered to him. She gave him one of her blessings before turning and taking Midir’s hand in hers. Together, they walked out of the castle and back home, to the magical land they came from. They are probably still there, in that magical world, sitting by side. Happy to be together. The End.” 

[marijordansaito]

{ @daughteroflanterns && @mymothershumility }

Mari checked over the table one last time, making note of everything that was carefully arranged. She and Reina had planned this surprise for their mother for weeks. They’d called the bakery down the street and ordered some of her favorite treats. While Mari had set up their surprise, Reina had taken in the task of keeping their mother preoccupied. In Mari’s opinion, her older sister had gotten the harder of the two tasks. Their mother could sense when something was amiss like no other. Taking a final inventory, Mari turned toward the living room at the approach of footsteps.

[mymothershumility]

{ @daughteroflanterns && @neverflownwithme }

[mymothershumility]

♨

Send me ♨ for my muse’s reaction to yours bringing them a calming cup of tea || Accepting

Her eyes lifted from her pad, gaze falling upon Reina’s bent form and the pristine white cup that had been set on the low table in front of her. For a brief moment Laira remained quiet, focus trained on her daughter. Then, she carefully set her pad aside and patted the cushioned space beside her.

[mymothershumility]

Her mother wasn't exactly difficult to buy for. Reina knew what she enjoyed and knew where to find said items. That didn't mean that it was easy to decide on what to buy her. It had taken almost two weeks, but she'd finally decided on the best gift. It was a matter of giving it to her mother now. Stepping quietly into Laira's office, she gently placed the gift bag on her mother's desk. "Happy birthday, Mama."

She’d been so focused on finding her charmed bracelet from Artemis she’d hidden away in one of her desk drawers that she hadn’t heard Reina enter her office. It wasn’t until she heard the soft rustle of the bag being set atop it that she noticed the younger girl’s presence.

Laira looked to the bag and then smiled as she registered what her daughter had said to her. “Thank you, Reina. You did not have to purchase anything for me, though.”

[mymothershumility]

first words

It was an agreement they’d both decided on together. Hal would speak English to their little girl while Laira would speak Jaydian. It gave them both bonding opportunities and it would help her to receive the entirety of the languages instead of bits and pieces of them.

She’d started babbling nonsensical things early, giggling and answering back anyone who would talk to her in her own little way.

Hal adored it as did Laira. Her husband found a particular bit of joy in it, though. And Laira loved watching him carry on little conversations with Reina about this or that.

The babbling continued for several weeks and Hal was adamant that Reina would be talking sooner rather than later.

On a rainy Friday night, Hal sat in his office finishing up his last blueprint for the quarter with Reina occupied on a thick blanket beside him on the floor. She was quiet, happy to have Bijou as her personal plaything for the time being. The dog paid little mind to the little girl, letting her stretch across her or try to pull up by using her tail as an anchor all she wanted.

There was a sudden distant rumble of thunder, one that Hal hearing did not pick up on just yet. It was too far away for him to hear. Bijou had heard it, though. And so had Reina.

The dog rose quickly from her spot on the floor and fled underneath Hal’s desk, shaking and nudging at his leg for attention. She calmed when his hand rubbed gently atop her head.

Reina went still at the sound, lip beginning to quiver. She started to babble, the sounds directed in her father’s direction. There was another rumble of thunder and her babbling increased all the more until...

“Pa-pa!”

For a second, Hal froze. Then, he turned in his chair to look down at where Reina sat. She was babbling again, bottom lip quivering and arms stretched out in his direction. Had she just...?

“Pa-pa!”

By now, Laira had emerged in the open archway and paused. Hal hadn’t been the only one to hear their daughter’s first word. The man in question was out of his chair and picking her up without a word. Laira didn’t think his smile could have gotten larger if he’d wished it to.

Reina’s hands curled tight into Hal’s shirt and her face found a hiding spot against his neck. She started to quiet off immediately, though.

“It’s all right,” he told her, softly rubbing her back. “It’s all right. Papa’s here.”

flyboyof2814, faxwhispererdonna, daughteroflanterns

[mymothershumility]

{ daughteroflanterns }

Laira was quiet as she approached, dropping the hooded cloak in her hands along the girl’s shoulders when she was close enough. “You will fall ill if you remain out in this weather.”