#rivervale_lodge

A grin. "And that's exactly what I mean."

"And Nadeen likes me too!"

"I know." Her eyes have a happy gleam.

"You did?"

A shrug of admission. "I suspected. Strongly."

"But I knew for sure that you liked her."

"..You did? How?"

"You kept telling me. You didn't know you were doing it, but you did. Over and over. And your face lights whenever you speak about her, Dagmar."

"...Oh. Hunh."

"Nadeen says, before, when we were together the first time, that we were couple."

"What did her father think of that? I think you were supposed to be her guard?"

"I was supposed to be, and I was. But I don't think he approved."

"But, well - he trusted me to guard her when she came back!"

"True!" She smiles. "Dagmar, I'm happy for you."

"Yeah?" A smile. "Cool."

"Hm...you'll need to find a way to manage your friendship with Symon. You don't want to lose that, but I know he and Nadeen will never likely be friendly towards each other."

"No. Though they've been at truce..."

"Symon's my best friend. So I'll make sure he's safe."

"Good." She nods. "But you may need to make sure he's reassured that you're still friends."

"Oh.. you think? Okay. I worry, sometimes - he's so busy. And I've gone pretty seelie, I think?"

Torin Tovald comes in, the old grump cricks his heck, and racer moves along beside him. The aged hound and the aged man moving , the dog having a rougher time with the cold despite the greyhound's doggie sweater.

"Torin! Hi!"

"Torin." Kerri stands, interrupting whatever she was about to say to Dagmar.

"...You need coffee? It's cold."

She goes to him and tactfully guides him towards a seat by the fire. "You're looking well."

Dag decides to get a nice warm cup of joe. Touch of sugar, like Tove told her...

"Coffee would be welcome" He says "Did I intrude on something?" He pats Racer, and the old dog wags to greet everyone, and then sleeps by the balefire

Kerri gives Racer a brief petting before he settles. "We were just speaking. About Valentines. Would you like a cookie?"

Dag snags the plate, bringing over coffee AND cookies.

"Oh oh no, I'm good. " he smiles "And how is my favorite grand daughter?" A look at Dagmar "And my favorite Hearth" A nod to Kerri.

"Good!" She offers out the treats.

Kerri grins. "That's kind, thank you. I'm very well. And how are you doing?"

He takes one and the coffee despite the initial decline of cookies, one doesn't reject a grand daughter's offering. "Tired. But not nearly as tired as old Racer here. I think the cold has been getting to him. Though I'd enchant him and let him snooze by the fire while offering my services as a baby sitter for the childlings while wilders and Senior wilders went to do their valentine things"

"Thank you, Dagmar" He adds

"Oh...that's extremely kind of you. And I'm certain the Chieftain would appreciate it. Are you certain?"

"Absolutely," Torad says "I'm not dead, or even as old as I probably look, but I'm a wee bit past chasing after pretty ladies."

"So might as well tell stories to young ones, or at least tell them not to set fire to each other"

Racer really IS old, and clearly is just happy to be near the fire.

"Well...all right. I'll prepare some food, simple fare, for you to enjoy, but then...I think I'll take you up on that." She goes to him and kisses him on the cheek. "Thank you."

Dagmar sits down on the floor by Racer and scritches his ears.

Racer's tail thumps the floor

"I would tell you not to go to the trouble, but you'd just over rule me , or worse tell Tove on me So thank you, hearth"

"And...perhaps Sylvi can help Racer a bit, with her Spring work. She's not home yet...probably practice. But when she gets back, I'll make sure she checks on him."

He does smile at the kiss

She waves off his concern. "It's no trouble."

"I'd appreciate that," He sighs "I know he's getting into his last years. Good dog. Will be sad to see him go but... it's the wheel"

"He should at least be more comfortable in his time with you."

Dag bites on her lip, creasing her forehead.

"Now Dagmar, don't let your grandfather depress you. He may yet surprise us and last for five or more years. I've been wrong before. I didn't think anyone was good enough for my Tove, and then I met your father. So, I was wrong there, wasn't I? Might be wrong here too." Her grandfather says in a reassuring voice.

"Might be, yeah."