smallestopener | Slumber Birthday Party

The tea party room in the House of Arch has been re-arranged. The chests of dress-up clothes are still there, but the large table is gone. In its place are comfy, overstuffed chairs, a long sofa, and several cushions and bean bags scattered about. There is a small table loaded with snacks like crisps, dips, cupcakes, candy, and soda. There's also a veggie tray and cheese and crackers for all of those over age eight.

An old model TV hooked up to VCR is set up with several video cassettes of movies such as The Aristocats, Sleeping Beauty, Shirley Temple classics, and other fun viewing choices.

Tom and Door have been busy escorting guests into the House, if they didn't already have access on their own, and the birthday girl greets them with squeeful happiness. Megwyn is already there, standing by a basket of fresh hay and apples. Even Companions need treats.

She is wearing pajamas with unicorns on them with a fluffy yellow robe on over. She is very excited and feeling very grown up. She's going to stay up all night.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

smallestopener

"We might get hungry. If we do, we've plenty of yummy things to eat. Have you had crisps?"

She hands Marian a potato chip.

"They're salty and good."

From:

queenofmay

"I can not say I have," Marian said, taking the small, rather strange looking object in her hand.

She might have given it more academic, wary, study, were not the adorable eyes of amusement staring up at her waiting for her to eat the weirdly shaped--slightly oily?--thing.

So she popped it into mouth, praying she didn't hate it, and drew up short, looking toward the bow.

"Different. But really good."

From:

smallestopener

"There's sweet stuff, too. And fruit."

She twirls around. "I'm glad you came! Alanna is here, and Amy, too. And Mary is coming - she's a kid, but she's older than me. Some more people might come, too!"

From:

queenofmay

Marian looked around with a grin. "That sounds terrific. Your party seems to be a rousing success, birthday girl."

Looking across the table, she was counting things she did and didn't know, before she smiled. "What is you best birthday gift so far?"

From:

smallestopener

"I got to go to visit Valdemar with Megwyn," she says.

Megwyn is the white horse-shaped entity in the room. She's busy mind-speaking with someone else at the moment, but it's hard to miss her.

From:

queenofmay

Marian gets the reference to the horse but not the first name. She isn't that slow on the uptake in Milliways anymore though, which shows when she ask brightly, "Another world? Her world?"

From:

smallestopener

"Uh huh. I'll go to school there soon. I'm to be a Herald of Valdemar."

From:

queenofmay

Marian smiled curiously, "What do you do as a Herald of Valdemar?"

From:

smallestopener

"Megwyn and I will fight the bad guys and the monsters. I know lots of sword fighting already."

From:

queenofmay

Marian thought for a moment to say she was awfully young for that, but Milliways was different and she was different in her own world where she was supposed to believe it herself, so she didn't. She just smiled.

"I think that sounds fun, but awfully dangerous. The both of you should study hard so as to be in the least danger while you are out saving the worlds."

From:

smallestopener

"That's why I take lessons now. I have to go to school for years and years before I do any real fighting. I'll be okay. My Megwyn will be with me."

From:

queenofmay

Marian expression betrayed that she didn't exactly understand just how that bond worked, especially since most little girls in any world felt they bonded to their horses.

"I shall be glad and you'll have to come show me your moves sometime. What all weapons shall you learn?"

From:

smallestopener

"I know sword quite well, and crossbow a bit. I can do regular archery, and shoot a slingshot. And Spike was teaching me Jeet Kun Do, but he had to go with Beth and Beth Jr. to her world, and he'll be back soon."

From:

queenofmay

Marian nodded through her list, eye brows raising a little at the extensive list. She really was a rather amazing little girl.

"If you'd like help I can give you advice on your archery and perhaps give you some pointers on how to do it while astride and while at a gallop, both can be rather tricky."

There was a conspiratorial smile there.

And maybe some other tricks she'd consider teaching the young girl later if it came up.

From:

smallestopener

"Oh, I should like that! Susan used to teach me archery, but she had to go back home for most of the time. I like archery. Do you have a horse here? There are stables by the lake."

From:

queenofmay

"Yes," Marian said with a laugh. "I keep him stabled under Master Caspian's watch. We'd be glad to take you riding and show you some pointers."

From:

smallestopener

"Megwyn would like that, I bet. She's not really a horse, but she looks like one. She's really a person. A very special person. She's a Companion. But we like to visit the stables. Caspian lives here in the House with us."

From:

queenofmay

There was a long studying look at white pony who was a girl and a special companion to the little lady she so adored. "She is a rather amazing being then."

Marian looked curious suddenly, at the last comment, "He does? Is he from your world then?"

From:

smallestopener

"No, he's from Narnia. It's a different place. There are lots of different worlds. Have you gone visiting in any? You're in the Underside now, so you've gone visiting in one at least."

From:

queenofmay

"I have," Marian said with some look of surprise. "Apparently, now. But not except for once or twice before."

She will not tell the little one of Nightmare Town though. It's something which still haunts her.

"I have not been to Nania though. Is it part of your Underside or an entirely different world, too?"

From:

smallestopener

"It's a different one. Valdemar is a different one still. The Topside is part of my world, a little, and the wizarding world is, too. Ace took me to visit lots of planets and different worlds. So I've been all over."

From:

queenofmay

There's a little lingering on the topic past, since she's still curious but pressing a little girl was not her. Instead she just smiled because the exuberance really never stopped being cute.

"You've definitely been to many more worlds than me. You'll have to tell me which ones were best sometime in long detail and what I should see on each planet."

There is a grin. "Perhaps we could make it a day. I could help you practice and during lunch you could tell me about places to visit as repayment?"

From:

smallestopener

"Okay! I think that would be fun. Hey, Marian, do you know good stories? Good scary stories? You'll have to tell one later, if you do."

From:

queenofmay

Marian looked thoughtful, "I do know a few, yes. My Lady's in Waiting used to be fond of them. And I've been reading a few from centuries far into the future while spending time in Milliways. Would you like me to tell you one?"

From:

smallestopener

"Yes. And you can tell Mary, too. She's my friend. We both like stories. But first, let's get some snacks, okay? If you didn't like the crisps, I bet you'll like the cupcakes."

Shall we fade there for great story telling downthread?