#goldfinchfreehold

She looks up at Dagmar. "Mm?"

"I.. listen, I know it's a whole lot? Like, a lot a lot, right now." She bites on her lip.

"Oh. Um. Thank you. Thank you for your help. I'm not great at saying so... but you're a good friend."

"But I just... with trolls? I mean, I'm a troll, so I guess I can say this with some authority, maybe.. what? Oh, sure, of course, you're my friend."

Piper nods, listening.

"OKKKKAY " Olgar either hasn't talked to Kerri, or more likely, Kerri has not betrayed the secret of Piper's preganancy to him.. at least not yet, "You want me to go into the Dreaming and bring him back now?"

She swallows. "I just mean - with trolls, oaths mean a lot. It's... it's hard to explain? How they feel, how they kinda change something inside?"

"Yeah. Sooner the better. I can come with, if it helps, but if you could do it faster alone, that's best."

A slow nod. "It's not that I haven't thought of it." She glances down to ensure that Siv is still resting quietly.

"There's... the kith, there's a special oath, for adoption. It's... it's not just like signing a paper or nuthin'. It's.. Jaymes and Tove are my parents, like, in my soul and to the Dreaming and forever? It... where my genes came from, that's... whatever, that doesn't go away, but they're my parents, and it's real. R-right? So... whatever, with the magic, I don't.. I don't know if that has to.. to matter, for it to be real? Families aren't... families aren't just... It's not like one of your Moms isn't your real Mom, right?"

Siv is.

Olgar thinks it over then says "Okay. I'll go get him. You stya here. If this takes a bit I don't want us BOTH missing July 4th. "

"But if we had been oathed? And I had slipped up? That would have broken Siv. And THAT would have killed me." She bites her lip. "I... there are Satyr versions of the oath. I don't know if Siv, and Jonas would accept that, it almost feels like a promise that I mean to cheat someday. But.... oh, I don't know."

"Or do you mean..." A glance towards her midsection.

"Dad, you're the absolute best and my total hero."

"J-just... just worrying about whatever genes or hoodoo or mechanics happened, I dunno, I just think maybe it doesn't matter much to make the baby really everybody's baby?" A fretful expression.

"A real hero wouldn't risk leaving all the grilling to Frank 'I don't know the value of a nice sear' King" Olgar says "So my apologies there, but I'm off. Tell your friends I got this covered"

"Ohhhh." Piper nods. "It depends on what... everyone wants. It's not like it's something I can decide for either of them."

"But... that does make sense."

"N-no, of course not. But I just thought... I thought knowing about the special Oath would help?"

She nods again, emphatically. "it's a lot to think about... but they are good thoughts."

"And even without an oath, anyone can tell you're Tove's daughter." A small smile there.

"Even if you can't carry a tune in a bucket."

The melts away the anxious edge, earning a smile.

Lightly teasing!

"I will. And if it comes right down to it, Dad? I'll defend your honor at the grill-side until you get back."

She gives a kiss and disconnects.

Sylvi comes back downstairs. "Okay, got him, and he's on his way to find Jonas. There's no way to say how long it'll take, but he knows it's important."

A grateful smile. "Thanks, Sylvi. Do you mind if Siv and I veg here for a while?"

"Not at all. Hey, I've got some blankets over here. Why don't you get comfy with Siv and nap it out?"

She brings over the throw blankets.

"I'm too keyed up to sleep, but I'll rest." She nods.

Taking extra care to tuck Siv in around her.

"Good. I'll bring down a couple of glasses of water."

A grin to Dagmar.

"I'll,,, give you all some space. Um. Text me if you need anything? I can make snacks."

And soon... Piper and Siv have space, the former watching over the latter as she sleeps

Leaving Dagmar and Sylvi to talk if they wish, in antoher part of the hold.

They also have a pitcher of water and glasses. Upstairs, Sylvi gives Dagmar a stunned smile. "Holy shit."

"Magic is wild." She agrees.

"So wild!" Nod nod nod. "Damn...Goldfinch gives good Beltane." She beams proudly back towards the stairs to the balefire.

"Looks it." A passing thought and a blush.

"What?" she coaxes at that blush. "What was that?"

The balefire shimmers brightly, and proud. See, she showed who it was.... by blinding only Siv. Which might sink in

Brow.

"What?" she grins.

"I swear, your fire is showing off."

"...Can a flame be smug?"

Pride monthso it's down right resplendent!

Sylvi laughs. "Okay, my balefire likes to strut. Can you blame it?"