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Oakley paced in front of his parent’s room, listening to the sounds coming from within. Soft snoring from Dad, and the clinking of a needle from Mama's sewing.
They didn't have time for him, ever since the twins were born two years ago. He knew they were trying. They'd arrange whole days for him and he was so happy! But they never lasted long enough. And Assan wasn't around much without Felai, and Violet was always off at classes…
“Mama?” Oakley called out. “I had a nightmare, Mama.”
The clinking immediately stopped, followed by soft, shuffling footsteps padding across the floor. There was a pause of silence, and then the door opened.
Mama was a mess. Her long curls were tied up in a bun, but more hair was out of it than in. Her eyes were slightly sunken, and her mouth was drawn tight.
“Hey, my little blackbird.” Her voice was incredibly raspy as she stepped out into the hall and clicked the bedroom door shut. “What's wrong, baby?”
Oakley's lip trembled. He felt guilty. It's not like Mama wanted to ignore him, she was always there when he needed her. But with the twins being in their terrible two's, they took a lot of Mama's attention. “I had a nightmare.”
Mama immediately crouched, taking his hand and rubbing it gently. Then she stood and began guiding him down the hall. “Come here, Oak. Let's go to the sunroom.” She brushed the hair out of his face and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “We can talk about it.”
She led him into the window-lined sunroom at the end of the hall, closing the door behind them and making her way over to one of the couches directly underneath the skylight. She patted the space next to her and Oakley came and curled up next to her just like he always did. And Mama scratched his scalp just like always.
“There was a man…” Oakley began, trying to recall the nightmare that had sent him to Mama's door. Violet always told him he was too old for nightmares, but Dad said it was normal, especially for mages. “He was tall, and shiny.”
“Shiny?” Mama peered down at him, looking amused. “Like how?”
Oakley paused, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall. “He was shiny. And his head was shiny.”
Mama's hands stopped their movement. She looked worried, confused, and alarmed all in one. “Oh?”
Did Mama know something? She was getting that look in her eyes that she got when his magic flared up. Uncle Emmrich was trying to help him, but the magic didn't like to go where Oakley pointed it. It was frustrating.
“Yea.” Oakley pushed himself further into Mama's lap, and the gentle scratches began again. “He was mean. He turned into a big creature, with lots of eyes. I was really scared when it looked like it was gonna swallow me whole.” He buried his face in her nightgown.
“Oh my little blackbird…” Mama sounded worried, but it was soft. “Don't worry, okay? That man can't get to you, especially not on Mama and Dad's watch, okay? That's part of our job.” She lifted Oak up a bit and hugged him close. “You trust Mama, right? I won't let him get you.”
Oakley's eyes closed and he sniffled, feeling tears well up. “Yes Mama. Can you tuck me in?”
Mama rubbed his back carefully, humming under her breath. “You're six, now, Oak. Mama's back starts to hurt.” She took his hand, squeezing it. “Tell you what. I'll carry you to bed, my little blackbird. But tomorrow I need you to do me a favor.”
Oakley paused. A favor usually meant Mama needed something that only he could do. Last time it was making it rain in the garden while she was in Arlathan, which was annoying. Made his lyrium rune tattoos from the Dwarves itch. “What is it?” He asked cautiously.
“Your Uncle Kal is gonna be pretty lonely tomorrow.” Mama began. “Uncle Luca is out on a mission with their oldest, and the youngers are having a sleepover tomorrow with Vi and Nella, remember? You didn't want to go.” She brushed his hair back gently, producing a hair clip he hadn't seen and carefully clipping his messy bangs back. “Can you go hang out with your Uncle Kal for the day?”
Oakley's eyes widened in delight. A whole day with Uncle Kal! And no cousins? That sounded like the best thing ever! “Yes! Yes Mama!” He bounced out of her lap and ran to the toybox in the sunroom. “I can show him the dragon Dad carved! It's got tattoos just like us!” he scrounged around till he found it. A white Dragon carved from Birch, with sapphire inlay eyes and carefully painted Dwarven runes. Dad had spent weeks carving it for him for his birthday, and it was his favorite toy in the world right now.
“You know the rule about house toys.” Mama started, and his face fell. They weren't allowed to take their toys off the estate. Mama said it was so they didn't get sad if they got lost. “But I'll make an exception if you can promise to be careful.”
He nodded quickly. “Okay! I can do that. Can we get a gift for Uncle Kal?”
“What kind of gift, bud?” Mama crouched next to him. “You know your Uncle. He just gets whatever he has an itch for.”
He thought deeply. It had to be special for his favorite weird uncle. His nose scrunched as he thought, and he sighed. “I can't think of anything…”
Mama chuckled and lifted him into her arms, grunting slightly with effort. “Uncle Kal will be happy you're there.” She brought her face closer, nuzzling his cheek. “You're the gift.”
He giggled, nuzzling back. Mama was the best. “Can I say goodnight to Dad?”
“Dad's already asleep. Plus he's got a long day tomorrow, cleaning the aviary. Assan and Felai are coming back this weekend.”
He pouted. “Okay…” a big yawn overtook his body and he blinked. He hadn't realized how sleepy he was. He leaned against Mama's shoulder. “Thank you Mama.”
“Any time, my little blackbird.”
____________________________________
The next day, Mama and Dad both held his hands as they walked him to the carriage. Mama was the only one who got in though, kissing Dad and asking him to pick up dinner. Oakley wondered why Uncle Kal and Uncle Lucanis's life was so much different from Mama and Papa's. Theirs seemed much more exciting.
“Okay, Oak. You're gonna–”
“Be good for Uncle, I know Mama.” Oakley interrupted with a huff. He was always being told to behave when they left the house.
A short laugh escaped Mama's mouth before she covered it. “No, blackbird. You can be as crazy as you want with Uncle Kal, short of burning the manor down. Get all that wild energy out.” She leaned over gave him a noogie.
Oakley grinned and jumped across the carriage to sit next to Mama. “Mama, what are you gonna be doing today?”
“Hmmmm…” She tapped her chin, avoiding his eyes. “Mostly…cleaning the house, and maybe hiring some staff, it looks like. We used to only have to hire a cleaner monthly when we first moved in, and I was able to cook most meals myself. But it's been getting worse each year we've been here. So Dad and I discussed getting some help so we can spend more time with you guys. It does mean Mama won't be cooking as much, but I promise I'll get a good chef.”
“Lucas is a good chef…” Oakley murmured, remembering the Dwarven man's al pastor.
Mama's eyes widened just a tad, then narrowed. “Oak, hun. Lucas would rather die than leave the de Riva manor. I'm pretty sure if he retires, and that's a big if, Rosa is going to have to drag him kicking and screaming from the house, because he'll just set up shop in one of the bedrooms without Viago knowing.”
That made him giggle. Lucas wasn't even bigger than him! So Rosa could probably easily carry him. “Veegee would be so mad!” He could imagine the face of his favorite grandfather, with his veins popping out in his neck and Teyma trying to calm him. Mama said he made the same face when he first called him Veegee. It's not his fault Viago is so hard to say and both he and Mama wouldn't let him call them Grandpa!
Oakley watched out the window as the streets passed between noble houses. They were all so fancy with their sprawling huge houses and their perfect gardens. But they were too stuffy. Home was nice, the gardens were HUGE, so huge that Mama had told him he wasn't allowed in the Gardens without someone else so he didn't get lost again. The house, by comparison of these others, was small. Only about forty rooms, that was four tens! Big enough for their family, though. Half of them weren't even used.
Mama seemed preoccupied with the papers she had brought with her, so Oakley craned his neck to look. The words swam, though, so he had to focus reaaally hard to see anything. They looked like portraits.
“What's that, Mama?”
“Nobles.” Was her short reply, then she paused, looked up at him, and elaborated. “Your sister has been begging Auntie Allona to take her to a ball, so Allona got me these invitations. I'm trying to figure out which one to send your sister to.
Oakley pouted. Couldn't he have Mama's full attention just in the carriage? “Can I go to the ball too?”
“Most of these are tea parties, hun. Or wine tastings, or group fittings. But they're really just places for women to try on clothes, eat sweets, compete, compare, haze, and gossip. Social circle stuff.” She explained. “Your auntie goes to a lot of these because of Uncle Illario.”
Right. Auntie Acorn and Uncle Ari were big important people. That's why they didn't come to all of Mama's dinners, but Nella did.
Scrunching his nose, Oakley moved back to the other side of the carriage. He heard Mama sigh.
“Don't move around the carriage too much. I don't want you falling and hurting yourself.”
“I'm not gonna, I promise, Mama!” Oakley said with a frown. “I just wanna–”
She looked up and smiled at him. “You can get all your jumping out at Kal's, okay? I'll even let him toss you with his magic if you want?”
He brightened immediately. “Kay!”
“You even sound like Kal sometimes.” Mama said with a smile, as she reached across and booped his nose. “I sent a letter to Uncle Emmrich, by the way, regarding your nightmare last night. He's sending some of those herbal tea bags you like from Nevarra. He says they'll help with your sleep. And keep that big shiny man away from you.” She sounded nervous. Mama was always nervous, but this was different.
Eventually the carriage rolled to a stop, and Mama opened the door, taking Oakley's hands and helping him hop down from the cabin. She scooped him up, hugging him tight.
“What's wrong, Mama?” Oakley pressed his face into her shoulder, smelling the laundry detergent she always used. Lemony. And herby. Like tea!
She squeezed him tighter. “Nothing, blackbird. Mama's just very tired and a little stressed. But that's not for mum's little man to worry about. Let's get you inside, okay?”
The front door was unlocked, as per usual, and the house was quiet, which was not usually. Oakley let himself be carried all the way from the first floor to the third, staring at the workers who only glanced at him. They weren't surprised in the slightest by him or Mama being there.
They stop in front of a door Oak's never seen, a fancy one with gold in it. Mama knocks only twice, pausing in between. He feels her take a deep breath, something between a groan and a sigh, and she sets him on the floor. She crouched next to him, reaching into her pocket and pulling out some sticks and poking them into the little hole in the door. A moment later she pushed it open, and Oakley peeked inside.
His Uncle Kal was face down on the massive bed covered in pillows and blankets.
“Go away…” his Uncle's voice was muffled.
Mama walked in, seemingly uncaring. She grabbed his ankles, trying to pull him out of the nest. “Wake up, Kal! You can't sleep in bed all day just cuz the kids and Lucanis are gone!”
Kal whined, refusing to move. “Yes I can.”
Well that wouldn't do! Oakley stormed up to his Uncle and joined his mother in pulling at his feet. “Uncle Kal! Mama said you'd play with me today!”
To his, Mama's, and even his Uncle's surprise, he apparently had much more strength than he thought, as Uncle Kal was forcefully yoinked from his loft and hit the ground with a resounding thud.
Mama's eyes were wide, her mouth even wider, and she glanced down at Uncle Kal with a look that slowly morphed from shock into a grin. A grin that got really really wide.
But that grin disappeared swiftly as Kal rose like a bolt of lightning, grabbing Oakley by the foot and flipping him so he himself was standing up, and Oakley was now dangling by his big toe.
“You're getting strong!” Kal boomed, an excited grin on his face. That was more like Uncle Kal! “What're you guys doing here?”
Mama rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “I knew you'd be pouting and inconsolable. So I brought my Lil mischievous man here to keep you company while I get some…” Her gaze hardened for a moment. “..housework done. ”
Oakley knew what that meant. It was Mama's way of getting around saying she was helping Veegee with something. She'd been doing that more often as of late.
“You guys still having money problems? You know Dad would just give you the money, right?”
“Fenris would if he had that much. And Hawke's busy. And Viago would want me to earn my money fair and square. Davrin's trying to finish up his monster manual, so I'm doing my part to help bring in any extra.”
Oakley didn't understand what they were talking about, so he reached up and grabbed his Uncle's arm, maneuvering so he could climb him and sit on his shoulders, resting his head on Uncle's impossibly soft hair.
“This is boring!” He declared. “I brought something to show you, Uncle Kal! Way better than money!”
Mama seemed amused by that, and reached into her bag to hand him the little Dragon toy Dad had carved. “Be careful, remember?” She warned lightly.
Oakley gripped the toy tight, heading Mama's words. He then shoved it into his Uncle's face. “See? See? It's cool! It's got lyrium like us!” He waved it around, the lyrium paint on the toy making his own runes glow a bit brighter.
Kal hummed. “That's pretty neat! This is cooler though!” Kal tossed him up, much higher than a normal elven mage would have been able to. Oak grabbed the edge of the chandelier, hanging from it and giggling.
Mama looked tense, but didn't stop the two from their game. She knew there was no point by now. “Okay, Kal. He's in a bit of a phase with names, first of all. So if he calls you something weird, please play along unless it's really bad. Also, he won't eat pumpkin. He thinks it's evil cuz I'm allergic, go figure. He also won't eat melon, if you can figure that one out, be my guest.” She handed the bag she'd been carrying to Uncle. “Everything he needs except food is in there.”
Uncle smirked, looking up at Oakley. “Got it! I'll keep him busy till the Crows come home!”
“Thank you.” Mama smiled and pointed at Oakley, grinning. “You better have fun, okay? That's an order.”
“A Warden order or a Mama order?” He questioned, tilting his head. “Cuz Dad's better at that.”
She laughed. “A Mama order.” She turned, and looked back one last time. “Oh, and Oak? Don't forget to zap him with all you got. Maker knows a static shock won't make up for all the near electrocution I almost suffered!”
And with that, Mama left, leaving him and Uncle Kal in the bedroom. He jumped down, landing softly on a discarded pillow, so he could look Kal in the eyes.
“You know, Uncle?”
Kal grinned mischievously, and crouched down to be eye-level. “Yea, Oak?”
“Uncle and Kal have the same last syllable.” He grabbed Kal's arm, ready to make a declaration. “I'm gonna call you Unkal.”
Kal threw his head back, laughing raucously. “Yesss! That's great!” He stood up and started walking towards the door, so Oakley followed. “So whatcha wanna do today?”
Oakley pondered it for a moment. “Mama said I could do anything I want except burn stuff down…”
“Well there goes my plans.”
He looked up at his uncle. “Hey Unkal?”
“Yes?”
He pointed to the blades hanging up above the fireplace. “I wanna learn to do stuff like that!”
Kal paused, humming with chaotic intent. “Like weapons?”
“No! I wanna learn to do what Mama used to! And what you and Veegee and Uncle Luca do now!” He bounced on the balls of his feet. “I wanna be a Crow!”
“I think your mom would attempt to kill me if I did that. She wouldn't succeed, but boy she'd be mad. I'll ask her after today, check when her timeline is!”
Oakley pouted again. “But I'm getting better at controlling my magic!”
Kal smirked and picked him up again. “I'll be the one to test that!” Instead of going towards the door more, he started walking towards the balcony, then he used his free hand to start making sparks. “To the training hall!”
He launched them from the balcony, using his lightning as a propulsor to steer them towards the training hall as Oakley laughed.
Today was gonna be fun.