#rivervale_lodge

"Thank you, Siv, for your report."

"Dad. I know... I know this felt wrong to you, but when that boy's soul stepped out he.. he was talking and walking by Olgar... he could interact for the first time in his young life regularly. I think he's happier...I don't know if that helps?"

Kerri looks concerned at that comment, watching Frank.

"Mountain..."

Frank looks calmly from one to the other.

"Thank you for that, Siv."

Quietly, Kerri adds, "For what it's worth, Mountain...I agree with Siv. I don't think all autism is the same, but from what Olgar said, this boy was trapped, without hope, in that body. A soul unable to dream in any meaningful way, Mountain."

"You're welcome," Siv says "I know it's been a rough 16th, but it's finally done." A wipe of her brow "And... Nadeen's dad is safe at Caer Falken"

Frank sips.

And he nods. "Thank you both."

Kerri glances at Siv, then back to Frank. "The Chieftain is at Caer Falken, too. I...expect she'll be back soon."

Siv nods fidgets a bit "Yes. Good to have things back to normal"

"More or less," Kerri grins slightly.

Frank nods again, and finishes his drink.

"Mountain...what are you going to do?" Kerri is finding his silences to be concerning.

She's not alone as Siv gets herself a drink

Frank clears his throat. "Well, I think I'll go on patrol." He stands and goes to pull on his coat and his boots.

At that point, though, the dogs make noises of somebody familiar approaching. And then the door opens and the Chieftain is there.

Siv mutters thanks god.

She pauses in the doorway, almost face-to-face with Frank, then scans through the room, spotting Kerri, then Siv, and Olgar at rest.

"Chieftain," Kerri says, her tone relieved. "Do you need food or drink?"

"No, thank you, Hearth." A pause. "My Heart," she says quietly to Frank. "You are leaving?"

"Patrol." Quietly.

"You should rest."

"I do not need rest just now." She looks to Siv. "You, however, have a big day tomorrow. Go to bed, please."

"I..." For a moment she wants to protest then, "Yes, mother." A breath, and she goes to her mother and kisses her on the cheek, then goes to her father and the same and whispers in each one's ear "Try not to go to bed angry with each other if you can. I love you both."

"Daughter," Brekke says gently, and touches her cheek.

A soft hopeful smile for both, and she slips out

Frank kisses Siv's cheek, when it is near, and then (dressed) turns to exit.

Then she looks past to Kerri. "Hearth, I am going to patrol with the Mountain. Excuse us."

Kerri nods. "Yes, Chieftain."

Brekke looks to Frank. "Let us go."

Frank holds the door for Brekke.

And they go.

Kerri looks to Siv and gives her a nod. "They will figure it out, Siv. It may take time...but I have seen them in bad places before."

Siv having seen her parents move past her when she was about to get to bed, sighs and nods "I know, Aunt Kerri. I just... it's so... stupid. Not dad's ethics, not mom taking command... just that...each did what they thought was best, can't they respect that and go on? "

"They are both leaders. There are consequences to their actions. And sometimes they need to hold each other accountable."

"I know you're right.. and I so wanted to .. tell them to... how stupid it was to... argh I'm such a hypocrite. I growl at Jonas and tell him I'll do what I think is right always, and now my folks are both doing no less and I want to shake them both. " A sigh "I wish..."

"You wish...it could be simple?" Kerri says quietly. "That's not how our lives work, Siv."

"Actually, I was wishing I could talk to Bancroft about it, he always understood and listened. Sometimes Jonas.. he.. tries to fix it for me. " frustrated "And that's not .... not what I need"

"Have you told him that? That you need him to just...listen?"

"I guess I should have. And your'e right, I DO wish it were Simple but I know it's not. Honestly, I wanted to punt Nadeen's dad in the ass and I'm glad that Balor got his. I'm angry and I'm frustrated and I hate not being able to help them and I know Jonas feels the same way... about me I mean. He wants to help. He's dying to help."

"Dying to help?" Kerri says. "That seems excessive."

"Well, ok, I admit to being prone to hyperbole. We.. he nd I have become... intimate. And romantic.. and I feel for him and he for me, but he's like...so trollish about it."

Kerri gives her a bemused look. "Trollish? So...you think the way he acts with you is the way your father acts with your mother? Or the way Olgar acts with me?"

"Ugh. Why did you have to say that I.. " A groan "I guess? Silent walks, and he's wanting it so folks know ours is an honorable relationship IF they know about it all. He wants to protect my good name. And sometimes when HE's upset, he gets quiet and i don't know what's in his skull and I'm not allowed to crack it open to look."

"He sounds like a bit of a challenge for you."

"yes, but I suppose I can be difficult and stubborn, but feel free to leap to my defense there"

Kerri shrugs. "I've been known to be difficult and stubborn at times in my life. Ask him," she nods towards the sleeping Rover. "I don't think those are negative features."

"Well, you and Uncle Olgar are like ...well, it's like you never stopped dancing together, even when you're standing next to each other. Sometimes it seems he wants to hit the mosh pit and you want to waltz, or vice vers, but you both still .. dance a bit not around, but WITH each other. I envy that"