Madness, that was the only word anyone could describe 'the cozy inn' that night. Aella with the help of Amon and Joey had moved all the tables to the side, creating a wide area in front of the bar counter. That wide area was now occupied by children ranging from various ages, running up and down playing with each other. Gale was in the eye of this chaos holding the birthday boy, Little One and trying to bring some form of order. Gale and 3 his friends (Raven brothers) managed to split the chaos into 4 different groups and got them all to focus on one thing to pester.
Group 1 lead by the youngest of the Raven brother's chosen to pester Joey. Joey being a vault security guard for a few years had developed pretty good sword fighting skills. In turn he play battle any child who challenge him, making sure to let some win and pretend to be exaggerated damaged if they manage to hit any part of him. Creating an interesting play for the rest of the group to watch.
Group 2 led by the middle child of the Raven brothers chose to pester Dr Storm. Dr Storm was more interested in sitting on the sidelines with the other parents and drink himself to sleep. But the children always manage to get on his nerves by calling him a shaman and demanding that he proved he isn't one. Which always managed to make Dr Storm put down his drink and explain the two differences. While answering all their questions even if the questions were ridiculous in the eyes of an adult.
Group 3 lead by the eldest of the Raven brothers chose Aella. Aella knowing all the children and being used to them all, knew exactly what tricks to keep them entertained and those tricks were her bartending skills. She juggled bottles behind the bar counter making them each a colourful swirling drinks. Which mainly was cranberry juice or orange juice or lemon juice or any other type of juice mixed with sparkling water to give it that gradient, bubbling beauty.
Group 4 was lead by Gale himself with the choice to pester Little One and Amon. The children were amazed each time Little One spoke for it match their exact feeling, letting them felt understood. Whenever Little One engaged with someone for 10 minutes, Gale would switch the groups attention towards Amon by asking interesting questions so that Little One had some time to rest. Amon played along more than willing to share the tale of how they made it through the curse mountains of Mountmend. Well... an extremely altered version to hide the fact that they were dark elves.
The parents of all the children, sat on the side at the empty tables, talking to each other and watching their children play. Whenever one child got bored they would switch to a different group. Aella, Joey, Amon and unconsciously even Dr Storm were praying for Philomel to return soon so that they could bring out the food and stop the entertainment.
Philomel finally returned about an hour and a half late. She quickly apologied, wished Little One a happy birthday and rushed upstairs to wash her face and bring down Little One's present. By the time she returned down stairs, the food had been served by Aella and Aella's mother with the help of Amon. Joey by then was too tired and was laying spread out on the floor, with a wooden sword in hand. The food was all layout on the bar counter and everyone lined up for their turn at the food before sitting down at the table. Amon fed Little One first before helping Joey to his feet and getting some food. The last group to eat was Amon, Joey, Philomel, Aella and Aella's mother. To which they sat together and filled Philomel what she had missed while she was setting up traps in the catacombs.
Darzirak who led Philomel back to the inn, stayed hidden within Amon's shadow. Feeling slightly annoyed that there were too many people and he couldn't reveal himself. He did manage to get Little One's attention since Little One sat on Amon's lap while Amon ate. Attention that Darzirak wished he didn't earn since it resulted in a squealing happy toddler pulling at his tail.
Once everyone had eaten, Aella with the help of Joey moved a table to the centre of the room. Aella's mother brought in the huge cake with all the candles lit, singing happy birthday and instantly everyone joined with the singing.
She placed the cake on the table in the middle of the room. Amon holding Little One and Philomel both stood at the table. Singing along and clapping hands while Little One was completely distracted by the many lot candles on the cake.
" Make a wish Little One!"
Philomel chimed at the end of the song.
" Little One wish then blow, blow."
Amon instructioned as he pretended to blow at the candle. Of course, Little One instantly blew at the candle, without wishing and squeal in delight when the light went out. Within minutes and many attempts Little One manage to blow out all the candles one by one. Everyone cheered and clapped their hands. Amon passed Little One to Philomel, so that he could cut the cake. The cake was cut, Little One had the first piece and was happy at how sweet it was.
Philomel fed Little One the rest of the cake before having some for herself, while Amon and Joey both cried as they ate the cake. Extremely shocked and happy they could taste heaven within a fluffy piece of sweet delight. Once the cake was enjoyed, Philomel brought out the present she had made and wrapped the previous night and presented it to Little One.
" Happy birthday Little One! This is from me, Amon, Darzirak and Joey."
Philomel chimed as she placed the badly wrapped present on the table in front of Little One.
" Oh! Ho! Wonder what it could be!"
Amon joined Philomel's side as he wipe the tears from his eyes and lick the icing off his lips.
" Ai?"
Little One questioned as he picked up the present and felt the texture of the paper between his fingers.
" Open Little One. Open."
Philomel instructed as she pretends to pull the string. Little One pulled the string and instantly the present unravel revealing a pure black handkerchief with pretty good embroidery in one corner. With bright Sapphire blue string that was stitched into curving grape vines with leaves and grapes sprouting out from it an inch from the edge of the handkerchief. Creating a beautiful border design. In one corner embroidered a very fancy looking capital letter 'L and O' in cursive that matches the loops of the grap vines with a leaf or two growing out of it. Unfortunately it was stitched a little too close and looked like a beautifully done 'D'. With a little gap on the top like an elegant design.
" Oh! I like this present! That's a very good D. Now Little One will forever remember me the great Darzirak."
Darzirak commented from under the table right next to Philomel's legs.
" It's not a D! It's L.O for Little One."
Philomel stated with a huge pout as she glared at Darzirak.
" And what a splendid embroidery it is!"
Amon quickly praised, not wanting Philomel to be disheartened. He patted Philomel on the shoulder and knelt down so that he could match Little One's line of sight and study the handkerchief.
" Wow! Isn't this the same colour of that wool that you had in your satchel this whole time? Did you weave it yourself to make this handkerchief?"
Amon questioned with a pointing finger before touching the handkerchief to feel it's quality. Even though it was wool, it was well spun and tightly weaved which made if feel smooth and soft to the touch. Philomel nodded as she stared at the handkerchief, her pout turned into a frown as she became conscious of the embroidery. The more she looked at it, the more it looked like a beautiful fancy 'D'.
Little One stare at the handkerchief for a moment before turning to Philomel and digging into her pocket. Within an instant Little One pulled out a white handkerchief with simple curving blue lines and inch from the edges, creating a beautiful border, hand embroidered by Philomel's father. At the corner of the handkerchiefs was her father's name "Anubis" embroidered like a beautiful signature at the bottom in her father's favourite sky blue string and double knot.
Little One placed the handkerchief side by side and pointed at the two. Both handkerchief quality and texture were the same. One black the other one white, one sapphire blue the other sky blue, along with the different designs. But without a doubt Little One's was more elegant looking from all the effort Philomel put in.
" Oh! Matching handkerchiefs! That's definitely a good, cute gift to give! I heard that it's very popular amongst couples to having matching items."
Joey commented as he continued to savour his piece of cake.
" Aren't you happy Little One? You now have matching handkerchiefs with Philomel!"
Amon chimed as he touched Little One's wrist and waved it up with some enthusiasm. The whole time Amon's other hand never left Philomel's shoulder which left his arm dangling behind Philomel's chair in a wide curve since Amon was holding the shoulder furthest from him while kneeling next to her chair. Aella noticed this with a frown.
Little One kept looking back and forth between the two handkerchief before picking up his new handkerchief, unfolding it and placing it on his head before doing the same to Anubis's handkerchief and placing it on Amon's head.
" Ai!"
Little One laughed as he clapped his hands in amusement.
" Trying to make a hanky hat?"
Amon chuckled.
With that 9 pm eventually rolled in as the party winds down. The villages one by one started leaving with their children leaving behind the gift of either crop, dairy products or fruits. By the end of it all, the gifts/ food supplies filled up a whole sack to its brim. Aella and her mother with the help of Joey and Amon cleaned up the inn while Philomel put Little One to bed. Philomel was still somewhat sad that it looked like a 'D' after all her hard work but eventually she got over it since she was trained to be a scavenger/ theif and not a tailor. Darzirak hung around the exhausted Dr Storm who for the first time in decades fell asleep without a drink. His nightmares was extremely interesting to Darzirak.
And with that came the end of the first birthday party of Little One.
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