#brightwindsbarony

"And you showed that girl somebody cared."

"Thanks, Irene. You're nice" She says in troll bluntness

"Thanks!" She chirps back, with a sunny grin.

"Hey, wanna go to the fort?"

"Aren't we in TROUBLE for the fort?" Ashlee says "Sir Dubh got awful grr faced"

"Well, we're not grounded!"

"No. I guess the Baroness was .. more amused than worried? Or both? Hard to tell. She. .she seems nice. " A thought "I like her. I didn't think I would"

"She's pretty!"

"She IS... but that's all sidhe. It's the nice that makes her worth keeping" Ashlee ponders and the nods "We'll have to make sure we keep her. We're not going to get better I don't think"

"Well, if she's making tabards she must be staying." Reasnably.

A blush "well yeah. I just.. I mean we have to make sure no other sidhe try to take her spot"

"Oh, right. Like the bad guys."

"I'm gonna learn how to shoot arrows. Like Link!"

"Then I can thwip-thwip-thwip the bad guys."

"Arrows? Oh you should be good at that. You're so steady handed! And quick reflexes!" She cheers up even more on behalf of a friend "And I could provide cover for you"

"Right? And I can pick off some before they get close..."

"Maybe we could do fire arrows?"

"Fire arrows? Gotta be careful.. don't want to start a brush fire" She says "Too bad there aren't ice arrows"

"Maybe Ryder could make those?"

"He does more building things" They make their way towards the fort.

"Sure, but nockers KNOW stuff."

"Oh and... uh uh.. we're busted." There is ... an ADULT

"Oh noooo..." Who?

Ross turns "Hello , young ladies. The centaur looks like a wizard kind of what with the staff and the beard that's been growing

"Hi Mr. Ross!"

He smiles "WHere are you two heading?"

"Exploring!"

"I can't blame you, we live in beautiful country" He says looking over the landscape . He looks the direction they're going "You know, if you keep exploring that way, you'll find yourself in a fort"

"Wow!"

"You.. you don't say" the troll says blushing

"I do say" Ross nods, with a smile that shows he's dealt with kids "Now I hear rumors you kids aren't supposed to go out that far wtihout an adult" A beat "I happen to be an adult"

"Ohhh, I don't think I heard that rumor. But.. but if you wanted to see the Fort... that.. that would be okay, right Ashlee?"

"We'll protect you, mr. Ross" The troll nods

"Well, that is very kind. " he nods "Come along then" And walks with them

Irene bops along. "I wonder if beards are good for braiding?"

"In some cultures, men took pride in their beards and could make them quite elaborate. Heck, some men have beads in their beds"

"Ooo..."

"It's true. Alas, young Irene, I cannot let you play with my beard. I promised my wife a long time ago she had veto power to any major changes in my facial hair. I made the mstiake of getting this cheesy mustache. She hated it" A chuckle

"Well, you could ask if you could bead your beard."

"I have some nice shiny beads, too."

Ashlee giggles. It's just too funny. a man with a beady beard

"When I grow my hair out, I'll have lots and lots of tiiiiinnnnyyyy braids."

"Oh that'll look grand" He nods

"Mom cut it when I forgot myself."

"And I guess it's okay but I like brushing hair."

"I see" he nods "Well my wife thought you did a good job and so did my daugher, so thank you. Anhything that makes them happy makes ME happy" They move on towards the fortress

"That's good! I think you're all real nice, and I'm glad you're here."

"We definitely take after Chiron" he nods

"Chiron?" Ashlee says

"Chiron?"