Picking strawberries for DWC :3
Thanks for the prompt for @dadrunkwriting!
Trying something a little different this time. Decided to do this one about my Inquisitor, Aylwen, prior to the Inquisition. She’s about 17-18 in this story, and still living with her clan. Also featured is her then-boyfriend, Dylahn, who turned out to be kind of a jerk.
“Riwyn! Joslan! Stop that!”Aylwen called down the row of strawberry plants. A small girl and boy,previously engaged in shoving each other, looked up guiltily.
“He started it!” Riwynshouted, pointing at her brother.
“I don’t care who startedit! No pushing, or you two will be back at camp with the Keeper quick as awink!”
Cowed, the childrengrumblingly went back to picking berries. Aylwen took this opportunity to standup straight, crack her back, and scan the rows to make sure the other childrenunder her care were behaving. So far so good, though Athmen and Alaras weregetting a bit too close to the woods for her liking, little Nolya looked a bitlonely, and Kia was spilling more berries than she was picking. Aylwen made amental note to go and check on them soon.
“Isn’t this an idyllicscene.”
The deep voice madeAylwen turn. A lanky man,vallaslin-less, like her, made his way down the rows. She smiled and moved tomeet him half way.
“Dylahn.” She stopped infront of him. “What brings you out here?”
He grinned, looking herup and down, which made her blush. “What a question. I wanted to see you on thejob, of course.” He glanced around the field, surveying the scene. Twenty somechildren, ranging in ages from four to twelve, wandered the clearing, snatchingup berries, giggling and chatting. “Does Deshanna always have you looking aftersuch a large brood?”
Aylwen shrugged, beaming.She gripped the handle of her basket tighter. “It’s not so hard. I just keep aneye on things. And most of the little ones have known me since they werebabies, so they’re usually—Don’t youdare!”
This was directed at10-year-old Ellasan, about to lob a clump of dirt at the back of his friend’shead. He dropped the dirt immediately, looking guilty.
Dylahn chuckled, and tooka step forward. “Very impressive.” Before she expected it, he lay a hand on herwaist, drawing her closer. “You’re so full of surprises.”
Aylwen stiffened insurprise, and her cheeks grew hotter.
“Not here,” shesaid quietly.
“None of them are payingattention,” he said. His face was close to hers, and part of her did want to kiss him, like they’ddone so many times in the weeks since he’d joined clan Lavellan. But insteadshe stepped back, wriggling free of his grip. She squeezed his hand.
“I’ll be done here inabout an hour,” she said. “We can meet in the usual spot?”
He sighed, raised his eyebrows.“I suppose I can wait till then,” hesaid. He released her hand, and turned to leave. “Good luck with your chicks,mother hen.”
Aylwen shook her head,heart beating fast, and turned back to her charges. They quickly distracted herfrom how flustered she was.
“By the Dread Wolf,Joslan! Don’t put berries inyour sister’s hair!”