The Lake Sings to Those Who Listen

Enelya wandered through the kitchen, trying to acquaint herself with something that she should have known like the back of her hand. She loved cooking, and she loved being in a kitchen; simply because it was where she felt her heart sing. Well, besides being in a garden, or with her family. Alderic had latched himself to Enelya’s leg, feeling very guilty about doubting her from before. Enelya smiled, and bent down, and picked Alderic up, placing him on her hip, and held him tightly. “Hello my little prince. How’re you this afternoon? Want to do some adventuring today?” Alderic’s eyes became really wide and he nodded his head vigorously. Enelya giggled and placed her son back on the floor, whom ran off to find his father.

“Daddy!!!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs. “Guess where Mommy is taking usss!!!!!” He jumped on the couch and clapped his little hands in rejoice.

Meanwhile, Enelya was digging through the refrigerator, discovering a jar of strawberry jelly, and some lettuce, tomato, carrots, grapes, and some different spices from the cupboards, along with some peanut butter and bread for sandwiches. First, she fixed the sandwiches, five of them, just in case someone was extra hungry, then she tossed up a quick salad, preparing her own vinaigrette that was tangy and had slices of grapes in it, giving it a sweet undertaste that Enelya loved. She just hoped that everyone would love the same food she did… Allen had liked the Lemongrass Soup she made him before she died… Perhaps he’d like this salad too? From the kitchen, she beckoned her husband, “Allen, would you come into the kitchen, sweetie?”

“Oh, I give up – where’s she taking us?”

Alderic giggled, and cupped his hands over his mouth and pressed them against Allen’s ear. “Adventuring!” Alderic plopped down on the couch and held his feet giddy as ever. “ADELLE!!!” He screamed, wanting to tell his sister the good news as well. This was going to be the best day ever and his mommy was making the bestest peanut butter and jelly and even though he didn’t like salad, that was okay, because the sandwiches were going to be delicious!

The young boy stuck his tongue out playfully at his father as Allen ruffled his hair. “Nooo Daddy! My hair!” He pouted, smooshing it down back onto his head, giving him a very posh look, indeed. He then got off the couch and ran through the house, looking for Adelle. “Adellleeeeeeee…!” He called.

Enelya, clad in a white t-shirt, with small little flowers dancing across the front, as well as come blue cargo pants with big pockets on the side, and flip flops upon her feet. Enelya had taken her long brown hair and put it up into a messy bun, the perfect attire for a picnic. Enelya grinned as Allen came over and wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her close to him. She held the spoon in her hand that she’d been stirring the vinaigrette with, and put it near Allen’s lips. “Here. Try this.”

“It’s not anyone’s birthday, is it?”

The Plant Lady shook her head and kissed Allen on the cheek, bringing her lips over to his ear, and whispered into it, “I was thinking, that it is lovely outside, and we should all go out as a family and have a picnic by the lake.” Enelya laid the spoon back onto the counter after Allen had tasted the vinaigrette and wrapped her arms around Allen’s neck, swaying with him a bit. He was just so breathtaking…

"What is that?"

Enelya beamed at Allen's response. She loved to cook, and seeing the expression on her husband's face when he had tasted her food was very satisfactory. "It's the dressing for the salad. Will a salad and sandwich be enough for you to eat? Or should I make something else, too?" She turned around, pouring the lettuce and sliced tomatoes in a plastic bowl with a top, and then following the dressing in a small container.

"Do you want me to get anything?"

The Plant Lady shuffled around the kitchen, finding some plasticware and paper plates. "A basket would be nice? And maybe a blanket, too?" Enelya then went to the fridge and pulled out a container of orange juice for the twins, and tea for Allen and herself. The things were all set out and ready to go for a wonderful picnic. Enelya was so excited!

"Whaaaat?!"

Alderic hunched over slightly, upon hearing his twin sister's irritated response. Though his excitment would not be defered as he ran up to Adelle, and jumped up and down. "Mommy's taking us adventuring!!!" Though he rolled his eyes as she complained about being woken up. "This is not sleepy time! This is adventuring time!!!"

"It'll be enough,"

Enelya smiled and nodded, "okay then, but you know we're going to have to put some more weight back on those skinny bones!" She laughed, and spidered her fingers along his side, sticking her tongue out playfully. Enelya took some plastic ziplock bags she'd found in a drawer, gently placing each sandwich into the bags, stacking them up; ready for packing. She turned around, and bit her lip, thinking...

It was hard... She didn't exactly know where everything was in the house... and since she'd been gone, she wasn't there to help Allen move in, or decorate the house with a woman's touch, and there was that guilt that formed in her chest and she leaned against the countertop, breathing slowly.

“Here you go, sweetie,”

The Plant Lady turned around quickly, ridding herself of looking sad, or guilty, and tired a smile on her face. Though there was a cloudiness in her purple eyes that would soon indicate Allen of her ill-natured mood. She wished her feelings weren't always so obvious... So she could get over them quickly without an uproar... But then at the same time it was always nice to know that Allen noticed and cared for her.

Enelya thanked her husband, and placed the blanket's middle in the bottom of the basket, letting its edges hand over. She then placed the salad bowl, the dressing container, the drinks of the side, and the sandwiches in between the cracks, finally, she added the plasticware and plates. There. All ready to go. She then placed the blanket's folds ontop of the food so that it was nice and secure, and she closed the basket.

“Are we going to need bandaids?”

Alderic rolled his eyes as his sister mentioned trouble. Nothing was fun unless you could get in trouble for it! Duh! Though whenever she thought of bringing bandaids, Alderic stopped, and just blinked at his sister. "What are you, a baby? Bandaids are stupid! Only real men go without bandaids!" Okay, so Alderic was bluffing there. He liked bandaids just as much as the next kid, and couldn't imagine his booboo feeling better until one of his parents had kissed it. But Adelle didn't have to know that! Well, she'd probably figure it out soon enough... But for now, he was enjoying his manly proclaimation!

Enelya smiled, his laugh was so wonderful. If someone wanted to personify happiness… his laugh would be it! She joined in in his laughter and looked at him playfully. However, her bright attitude was still contrasted with the guilt in her eyes. She was a foreign figure in this house, and she had to look through several drawers before finding anything useful, and if it wasn’t more her frustration, it was the mere helplessness that she couldn’t find anything. She wanted so much to simply live in this kitchen, and feel as if it were an extension of her own room, but it wasn’t. It was this alien place to her…

The Plant Lady turned around to Allen’s question, picking up on the fact that he was watching every move she made. She let out an exasperated breath, and tried a smile. “I can’t get away with anything around you, can I?” Enelya’s soft lavender eyes became lost in Allen’s warm, understanding, strong, and loving brown ones. She seemed to melt every time she looked into them. Enelya leaned against the counter, and raised her hands before letting them fall to her sides helplessly. “I just feel… So… alien here, Allen. I mean… I know it’s just going to take some time to get used to… but I can’t help but think I just don’t fit in this house…” Not only had she not been with them when they had moved, but it was also in the city, a forest of concrete and metal – taking Enelya completely out of her element.

"Well I'm not a man!"

Alderic just simply stared at Adelle for a long time – as if he wasn’t already aware of this fact. He crossed his arms and blurted out, “so! Doesn’t mean you have to act like a sissy poohead!” And with that, Alderic stuck out his tongue and grinned. Oh, she thought SHE was the witty one! Hah! Alderic showed her!

"Besides, bandaids have pretty little designs on them. You can't deny that."

…She had him there. Daddy had always gotten the bestest dinosaur bandaides for him and the bestest girly foofoo ones for Adelle. Or, if he was feeling cheap, he got the brightly colored ones that both Adelle and Alderic always fawned over. It was the more economic choice, but it wasn’t as if Alderic was very aware of economic decisions. “…SO!? You don’t take bandaides when you go adventuring, Adelle! Don’t you know anything???”