#rivervale_lodge

"Oh.." Purple blush then why not? Oh lord, I need to stop getting so caught up in my ego "Ah, but you do have designs?" She starts to move off with him

"I travel, singing and so on, least I am from here..." he says "And I could not help but hear you are called Waveborn?"

"I was born at Sea, Mister Ness" She says proudly

"Then you might be just who I'd want as an apprentice" He says "You see, I am getting on in years...as if your four or five shots across my nose about my curlilng horns weren't a clue "He winks "And you have a promising voice , could become a minstel yourself."

"Oh music is nice ,but I'm not sure I have the calling there" she says

"I think you might... you see... I need an apprentice for a carnival line cruise...help. It's a Norweigan cruise line. You would not just be performing, you would be spending the next three months learning all I can teach you as you huge the coasts of scandinavia. "

"And sometimes... not hug" he says "But rather.. cross the deepest blue. Have I read you right, Siv Waveborn? Would such a life appeal? Song and sea? People and whale sightings?"

Siv's mouth fall opens as she imagines it. The Sea, not of the Dreaming, but of mortal kind "Would I... surely I wouldn't be allowed to learn much about the ship and the running of it?"

"Surely you would. I have some pull." he says "I doubt they'd let you navigate too close to coasts... but the open parts? Mmm maybe. " Tom says "You seem a girl who could earn their respect. "

"I.. Tove's the one you want..." She says//"What would I teach her?" He laughs gently "And the sea does not hold the same pull I think." Music starts

"What, they're singing? " Siv smiles "Who started that?"

"Dagmar did, the BIG girl with food hndling" TOm says "Pretty sure"

"No..Dagmar would never start something up she's too.." Then a smile "She really DID didn't she? That's wonderful! "

"It is, and it seems she does fine, Siv, if you felt responsible" the satyr says "You helped her greatly. Music is a gift, and you shared it. Come with me, share it with others by my side as a student"

Siv says "I...to actually see the ocean again, and my mother's home land.. .the mortal side as well as the fae? I always wanted to go there.. and maybe Iceland and Finland? And.. oh"

Siv's heart grows excitedly... but then, the song flows it's lyrics over her...

"It's a fine song. Tove wrote it you say? "

"yes.." She answers him "So I'd never forget.." then she glances over at the crowd and the light and then says "Home" a great realization comes over her "I'm sorry, Mister Ness. I must decline."

"Must?" he says "are you sure that's right? This hold is strong. Your family thrives. And you have a right to follow your own dreams. you're a wilder."

"I am..." She says "But I'm also a troll. It is not that my folks NEED me, it's that I would wound with my departure. By bright light and trumpets, or slipping way in shadow- I would hurt them. I will not do that. Not even for such a tempting offer. "

"You will regret it, I think" He says with a sigh "years from now."

"Then I'll have matured ... I'll find the sea again, sir... but that song? I may havee no Da'an , at least none that any can fathom... but I think the universe is speaking clear regardless. Now is not the time. Maybe in months, maybe in a year, eventually I will be with my sea again. But not tonight, and not with you. Tides and winds bless you, but mine will be a different course."

And before he can make another pitch, she pats him gently and moves back into the room to raise her voice

Tom watches her go. "I've lost her. Mmm yes, maybe it is Da'an. Ole Tom. Maybe it is."

.............

A night of ice ceam and music and tove victorious and Dagmar can't believe she sang ... and folks sang with her! And...she's not sure how she ended up showered in her PJs after.. it was like autopilot, but a good autopilot

She's in her bed. And Odin leaps onto her

"Hey, fatso." Affectionately. She gives him pets.

He's not fat! He's simply Nordic sized.. a meow of protest..well, it was protest, the petting is nice..yeah

both hands please

And ear scritches. And a kiss on his fuzzy head.

Well, okay... rusty purrs abound

Of course, she might get her lips headbumped during the kiss if they don't time this right

A risk she takes.

Well, okay, she's chosen wisely! which Odin and his opinionated purrs will tell her.

"Yeah, love you too, Squinty. Today was good." A sigh, and she nestles down in her pillows.

And in so doing, becomes Odin's pillow. His one good eye closes... He Has had a busy day. Really, two leggers have no idea

Eventually, she stops petting him - hand falling still as she falls asleep. Safe, warm and content.

Ditto... Odin, like her, has a home, and like her, not that he'd admit it, the home is people.

(End scene)

Dear Mom and Dad, chores done, homework done. Phone on me. I have gone to Firnost. Don't worry, I won't be sleeping in the rafters and will be home tonight -Siv

The note is left where it can be found on the fridge