The Maze of an Infant Mind

[»Míríel«]

Neron was comforted by what they had to say to him, but a part of his was still worried. He couldn't imagine Miya not being her spunky little self, thinking about a butterfly one moment then jumping to a tree the next. Her little mind, though overwhelming at time, was so amusing. She wielded a lot of charm as well. The last thing he wanted for his girl was to be drawn to the darker side that was so easy to slip into with those of a more sober mind.

Neron nodded, showing that he understood. Turning to Aeryn he let out a sigh. "Thank you. I don't know what we would have done. If what you say is correct, which I don't doubt, then you saved our daughters sanity and even her life." He shook his head, stunned that his daughter had been in such danger. "I think that both of us would be honored if you helped Miya through training some of the time. She seems to like you." He looked back at his little girl in Jaedon's arms. "She would probably like coming to see you every once in a while." Turning back to Aeryn his green eyes glinted slightly under his hair. "I'm sure you would take care in training and teaching her how to use her power." He smirked slightly, "Though I warn you she can be a bit...trying at times in the concentration department." Neron knew all to well, as Jaedon did, how hard it could be to get Miya to focus. "That is if you wish to help us in this area." It was a big thing for Neron to be trusting Aeryn after their little episode a couple years ago. Even though Aeryn had nearly destroyed Neron's mind, Neron couldn't avoid the fact that Aeryn had saved his daughters. They were on the neutral ground now, their scores settled, it would be best to start off this next phase of their relationship with one of trust.

The whole thing could end up for working to both of their advantages. It would allow Jaedon to focus on Byren while training for a bit, and maybe even Byren could train a bit with Aeryn so Jaedon could focus on Miya. As they grew more comfortable with Aeryn, considering he did his job well, both of the kids could go off to train while Jaedon and he got to spend precious time alone together. Usually Jaedon and he split things amongst themselves to help lighten the load. Training was one of the areas they couldn't. It was strange to think how he was the only one who couldn't read minds in the family now, and Jaedon was the only one who couldn't fly.

Miya took a couple moments before responding. Her mind took twice as long to process what was going on. Closing her eyes due to her vision still being blurry, she buried her head into Jaedon's chest. "Oh" Was her muffled reply followed by. "Tired Momma." It should have been "I'm so tired momma", but she simply didn't have the energy to say all of those words. As soon as she had finished the word "Momma" her body pulled her back into the realm of unconsciousness. This time it was not as heavy, being only a deep sleep.

[saerwen]

As Aeryn listened to Neron speak, he was surprised. From what Aeryn had learned about Neron, and from the fact that they had yet to have contact since their last incident, he didn't really see Neron as the trusting or forgiving kind. That gave a testimony to just how much he cared for his daughter and how much he wanted her to live a care-free, easy life. If he could overcome his own personal fear and grudges to have Jaedon bring Miya to Aeryn, that was a huge step. But now that step had been made and he was initiating the next one all on his own. It seemed that the first step had been a test of good faith in Aeryn, and the second had been the off for a more permanent good standing.

It wasn't generally Aeryn's way to form an attachment with someone so wholly unconnected to himself, but he had found that after meeting so many people who lived here, he was settling down a bit. The woods were quite accommodating, and even better, they were quiet. Not many people came rummaging through them, and even if they did, they never came close enough to really bother him. And Neron's proposal was a beneficial one, for both sides of the party. It would keep him on good standing with two people he had come to respect with a silently understood fear and respect, while also keeping his mind active with the little one. Aeryn needed something to keep his mind active and rushing, and this little telepath of great ability might just prove to be his perfect medicine. Also, he knew that since Neron was no telepath, Jaedon would have a tough time training to tiny children by herself. Telepathy took time and effort, and if your attention was divided too much, someone or something would inevitably be neglected.

Jaedon was surprised that Neron had initiated that idea. She had been intending to talk it over with him in private before asking Aeryn directly, but since Neron had gone and done it already, she found that burden lifted right away.

"I would really appreciate the help, if you wouldn't mind," Jaedon almost choked on the word "help." Even though she had changed quite a bit, sometimes she still had issues with that one little word. Neron might have noticed her hesitation as she said it. She hoped that Aeryn wouldn't take that millisecond of hesitation as being disrespectful.

Aeryn looked from Jaedon to Neron and then nodded his head, "I would be honored to take part in her training, and even your son's training, if you would like." Jaedon smiled in relief, suppressing the huge sigh that wanted to escape from her chest.

Jaedon listened as Miya mumbled on. She smirked, "Yes, dear, I can tell you are tired." She shifted Miya around in her arms and stood up with her baby tightly secured.

Looking at Aeryn, she smiled, "Thank you so much." She then turned to Neron, "You good for picking Byren up? We need to get her home."

As Aeryn watched the "happy couple", he yet again marveled at the way the universe worked. Two completely twisted people with two children, one of them a complete ray of sunshine, and an apparently reformed way of life. How much better could it get? He simply shook his head and walked away quietly, his form disappearing fairly quickly behind the trees.

[»Míríel«]

A smile came to Neron's lips as Aeryn mentioned that he would love to help them out. With a nod of his head he let Aeryn know that it was settled then. "Good. Whenever Miya is feeling up to it, we will bring her out here." Jaedon's little hesitation didn't get past Neron but he let it slid. His wife was proud, and Neron loved her for it. Perhaps he would tease her about it later, but not right now. This whole ordeal was a bit much on everyone. For once in a very long time, he hoped this his wife and he would be able to sleep peacefully, no longer worrying about their little girl's mental status.

Neron walked with Jaedon away from the area and nodded to Jaedon's question. "Sure." He gave a slight shrug. No doubt Cecily would fuss about what a brat Byren was and put up a big show about what he had done wrong, if that were possible. Though this act would not prove anything. Everyone knew how much Cecily enjoyed having the little tykes over, bumbling around, listening to her tales and sitting wide-eyed as she made shows with different potions spouting things and turning colors. Usually she put them to work, and Neron wouldn't be surprised if their children walked away from this friendship with a large knowledge of herblore. Whenever Cecily wasn't making them grind things up or chop things, Tarian, if he were there, would take them out to gather or would race them in the sky. Although no one could beat Tarian if he really put his mind to it, he often let the kids win by just a fraction. With them getting older though he made it much harder on them to catch him.

Before he broke off to go collect his child he looked at Jaedon, "I guess we will have to be extra careful what we think about for a while until Miya can build up a defense against it. If that is possible." It would be a hard task for them both, so many things reminded them of their past. All Neron and Jaedon had to do was look down at their marks of their past, Tattoos and scars, and off they would be, lost in the past. Turning back to see if Aeryn was still there Neron could only see an empty forest behind them. It was as if the whole event had never taken place.

THE END