Beyond the Alliria Reach towards The Spine the Leprechaun had fled with the child trusted to him in the heat of battle. Each step had been agony. A war he had with himself not to turn back and save the woman whose icy gaze had finally begun to thaw in their last moment together. The taste of her on his lips and his promise to save her daughter whatever the cost was the only thing that had held him firm.
Centuries of wandering the world were what some people dreamed of. Cillian himself had once been one of them, but those long years of sleeping rough or in the seat of his cart had given him an appreciation for having his own roof too. He had collected a few over the years. One out on the edges of the desert, another deep in the jungles of the wild and a treehouse in the falwoods. The small stone cottage he took Rose to, however, was his favourite. On the edge of the Wda River in the midst of a wild flower meadow he had built his home and workshop methodically. The main cottage was two stories high with a squat chimney and a large deck outside where he liked to smoke his pipe in the evening. Beside the home was another squat building but only one level and often with its doors thrown open so he could do his work whilst admiring the view of FrauFrau grazing beyond. Or, more recently, from where he watched the young girl play.
It had been weeks since he had said goodbye to Sierra and promised to guard her daughter with his life. The child was the opposite to her mother as far as he had discovered so far. Quiet, with a sweet disposition and none of Sierras sharp tongue - though she did share that look of disapproval her mother had for Cillians jokes. The memory made him smile in the middle of his work and put down his tools.
"Rose! Are ye hungry?" The Leprechaun wiped his hands on his apron then lifted it over his head to hang it up on the hook by the door. A dark head turned, just visible above the tall flowers where she was sitting, and the small child waved in greeting before returning to her game. Cillian chuckled to himself then headed to the kitchen to fetch their lunch.
Instead of making her come inside he took the food and a blanket out to her. The sun was pleasant and the wind cool coming off the river. Besides, he had spent hours inside. It was nice to have a change.
"Did ye finish your homework?" He asked casually as he laid out the blanket and sat down. Rose shyly gave him a smile before producing the flower crown he had been showing her how to make. He let out a low whistle. "Well now, that is a beauty," Rose flushed and scrambled to place it on his head making him laugh and pull her into his lap. She snuggled close and took the strawberry he offered to her.
"Can I have another story now?" She asked sweetly, fingers wet with the fruits ripe juices. "A mermaid one!" She paused then added quietly. "Please?" He chuckled and adjusted the crown.
"Mermaids, eh? Well now let me see..."
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