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Jaheira knew who the letter was from based only on the scruffy appearance of the cat that trotted up to her. She surprised even herself that she was looking forward to reading the contents and forwarding along the contents she needed to. The letter was even a little late but farms tended to be busy this time of year and she couldn't fault the folk for getting caught up in their usual routines.
(Gods knew she was finally starting to settle into some semblance of one herself.)
She paused just long enough to give the familiar a scratch behind the ears before granting them leave (they'd be back later for the return missive and payment).
She settled back on the chair she claimed as her own and opened the only slightly rumpled envelope. The letter opener settled back into its place upon the pile of other letters that she really shouldn't be ignoring but would continue to.
Maybe it would stem the tide from “Professor Dekarios regarding a guest appearance on the many benefits of druidic magics” (it wouldn't). And maybe if she responded to Astarion he'd stop randomly showing up in her home, raiding her wine stores, and teaching her young ones the best ways to steal (he wouldn't and neither of them would admit they secretly enjoyed it).
The letter started off the usual way, with pleasantries and complaining about the weather while rejoicing the simple joys of a moderately successful farm. They asked only politely about the party members still in the city before moving more in depth to the gossip of the town and each other. Three different hands teasingly poked fun and domestic complaints at one another. It always brought about a swirl of bittersweet warmth in the old druid. Though much like poking a bruise she craved this part of their correspondence the most.
Finally they came around to inviting her and any of her family around for the harvest festival should they wish. Her first instinct was to decline, there was always work to be done in the city before she thought of the empty spot they'd have at the table. It was an ache she knew all too well, even if theirs wasn't going to be forever. Besides, the young ones could use the chance to run wild through something other than a busy street…
-Not a Choice When You Choose Them All-
The response to the second letter arrived far sooner than she expected. It was carried by a very tired pixie (an arrangement that while she did disapprove, Jaheira felt was best let alone), whom she gave a generous helping of milk and honey before they vanished in a scattering of sparkling lights. She'd barely had the time to read through it before she was heaving a tired sigh of her own and pulling on her boots. Leave it to the young adventurers to not give ample warning before returning. Although returning to the city was a foresight that she could only attribute to Wyll. Indy and Karlach both were apt to attempt a planar shift without a solid target in mind. Although the target landing described in the letter was currently a temporary housing camp and not a park…
She breathed a sigh of relief she didn't know she'd been holding when the chaos she strolled up to was only a family's interrupted cook fire and three very disheveled adventurers.
Wyll was currently apologizing to the family while Indy was humming a healing warmth over a sluggishly bleeding cut on Karlach's arm. The barbarian perked up and waved enthusiastically at her when she was spotted. Jaheira restrained her smile under a look of disappointed parent as the trio collected in front of her.
“I thought you all would have learned it's polite to give proper warning before you turn up at someone's home?” The glare couldn't last before the sight of all of them healthy and whole before her. She waved them to follow her before she broke and did something soft like hug them all tightly.
-Not a Choice When You Choose Them All-
“You haven't read it yet?” Jaheira asked over her shoulder, dancing around Jord in the kitchen for the tea kettle.
“Oh right! The letter!” Indy started digging in his bag and the druid didn't miss as both Karlach and Wyll snuck what were probably either very useful or very valuable items into their own bags of holding as a whole eclectic pile of junk was dumped on the floor. Sometimes she wasn't sure how he didn't lose his own head.
“And neither of you read it?” She asked as she handed out mugs, the sharp scent of mint rising with the steam (Jord still wouldn't apologize for letting it run rampant).
“That would be rude.” Wyll objected just as Karlach said
“I couldn't find it.”
They shared a look that Jaheira didn't miss even as Indy triumphantly held up a creased, and still sealed, envelope.
“We've been so busy lately with chasing down that lead for an upgrade and parts and fighting off everyone on our tails that I kinda forgot about it.” The former farm boy said sheepishly. Wyll just smiled fondly at him while Karlach followed up with
“He's been dabbling with some artificer-y stuff lately so he can help with the upgrade.”
“Of course you are.” Jaheira muttered good naturedly into her mug.
Indy's eyes quickly flicked through the letter, a warm smile on his face before handing it over to Wyll. Rion clomped into the house, raised a brow at their guests but didn't comment, and made her way to the showers. When all three had at least skimmed the contents Karlach asked
“So what's this Harvest Festival?”
Indy’s face lit up and he started animatedly talking about what his family did for the small town’s celebration. It sounded like the typical excuse that folks always needed at the end of a busy season to let loose and blow off some steam. That was to say, comforting and community driven. Any casters in the town would be throwing sparklers and color and music into the air, a delightful reprieve from strumming up a mending spell over the same raggedy bridle six times a day to hear Liwo tell of it in the letters she’d received (Ben always teased that Liwo was exaggerating his repeat casts). Jaheira smiled into her tea and waved Tate to come join them. He stayed in the shadow of the fireplace but grinned back at Karlach as the barbarian met his gaze. The half elf’s reminiscing trailed off slowly and he leaned back into the chair, content but very clearly tired.
“I’d love to go to one in the future.” Wyll said warmly, the bags under his own eyes were nothing to sneeze at, Jaheira noted.
“Yeah! We could meet your folks!” Karlach’s own interjection was interrupted halfway through with a yawn (her posture and wariness didn’t waver, the time in Avernus had clearly marked them all).
“Why not this one?” The druid said, rising with an uncomfortable creak of bones to begin collecting cups. All eyes were suddenly on her.
“What?” she asked slyly. “An old woman can’t make new friends? You thought I’d simply be courier between you and your family cub? They’re lovely people and we meet for tea every month or so.”
Indy blinked in obvious surprise. Clearly it hadn’t occurred to him that she’d make friends with his family.
“I can’t believe Jaheira got to meet your parents first.” Karlach grumbled, nudging her partner teasingly in the side. He started slightly and then rolled his eyes.
“Right, silly me for not arranging dinner between cambion fights. But Jaheira, you mean this Festival hasn’t happened yet? Wait, what is the date today, err tonight?”
“18th of Elient, your family invited me and mine to join them, you could take the chance to surprise them. Not to mention you can entertain the young ones on the way.”
The smiles she received in return lit the room.
-Not a Choice When You Choose Them All-
The days leading to the trip and the trip itself were relatively uneventful. Jaheira did notice that there was a bit of tension in her heart that had uncoiled now that she no longer had to worry about these three idiots. She did notice that the trio shared a tent but made no mention of it. They'd mention it when they were ready.
City streets faded into farm fields and hills and pastures. No matter how many times she traveled, Jaheira always found it interesting to see how quickly the city ended and the country began.
The village that Indy grew up in was just far enough away that it wasn’t convenient for frequent trips but the journey itself only lasted about a day and a half, the sun just barely having passed its zenith when the farm came into view and Indy broke into a swift jog toward the simple house and barn. Wyll and Karlach shared a look and glanced back at Jaheira (she merely raised a brow and continued her slow and steady pace) before breaking into runs of their own, trailing after their Jack of All Trades.
When Jaheira caught up, having shooed the children on ahead to play with the dog whom they’d met before, Indy was already scooped up in his mother’s arms, looking like he was struggling to breathe. Liwo was just finishing a casting (probably sending for Ben, wherever he’d been squirreled away) before taking his turn at squeezing his nephew nearly as tightly as his mother. Before introductions could be made Ben rounded a corner and didn’t even wait for Liwo to release Indy before joining the heap of them. Lynn waved at the young ones before clasping Jaheira’s arm firmly in greeting. Wyll and Karlach both stood off to the side, unsure where they were meant to fit in in this mess.
Indy finally managed to escape, hair ruffled and eyes moist and gestured from his companions to his family.
“Everyone, this is my family, my mom and dad,” he gestured at the pair of half elves, his father willowy and pale, and his mother with her sturdy fighter’s build and bronze skin, “And my Uncle Liwo.” He gestured at the half orc (whose intimidating height was hampered by the weepy grin on his face). Indy turned back to his companions.
“And this is Karlach-”
“Nice to meet you!”
“-my partner. And this is Wyll,” Indy paused as Wyll gave a very formal bow (Jaheira was certain she was the only one who saw the nerves in how tightly he held his posture).
“Is he your partner as well?” Ben asked softly.
Wyll’s eyes widened ever so slightly but Indy just smiled and nodded (Karlach snuck a glance at the old druid but Jaheira just rolled her eyes, idiots the lot of them).
Lynn elbowed Liwo in the side.
“You owe me a drink.”
“Hah,” the half orc laughed good-naturedly, “where do you think he got it from?”
Karlach and Wyll both looked to be reassessing the whole situation in front of them. Jaheira hid her smile by checking to be sure her own charges hadn’t disappeared.
“Well come in, come in! Supper’s been set to simmer, and the festival food won’t come out ‘till tomorrow but Lynn’s been itching to crack open the ale.”
“Finishing up every project Liwo leaves behind is hard work!” she said before turning to the tiefling behind her. “You look like you know your way around an ax, mind helping with some firewood?”
Karlach brightened.
“Of course!” she said just as Liwo piped up
“She’s a guest Lynn, don’t put her to work!”
“Wouldn’t have to if you didn’t get caught up in six other things halfway through!”
The ribbing seemed to roll off the bard like water off a duck as he nudged the front door open and grabbed a lute in one smooth motion, Ben and Lynn following behind. Indy held the door open for his partners with a warm smile.
“Welcome to the family,” he said as they began to crowd inside. He caught Jaheira’s eye and waved her in as well. “That means you too.”