A sparkling morning greeted my daughter and me as we stepped out of the Bar-en-Acharn manor and onto the front yard. Instantly, our toddler wiggled to be put down. The dew-touched summer flowers peeking up out of the grasses and vined among bushes irresistibly caught her attention. As her tiny feet touched the ground, she ran to the nearest clump of flowers and plopped down amongst them, hands stretched out before her, reaching with her little fingers splayed. Softly, she moved her hands across the blooms and happily cooed. I smiled and turned away to ready the cart and pony for our adventure of the day: picking wild strawberries. Suddenly, I was aware of the fresh invigorating scent of morning glories.
Turning back to Baniel, I saw her with picked blooms in both hands and pressed against her nose. Beneath closed eyes, the petals were drawn tight against her nostrils as she inhaled slow and deep, then relaxed on their stems as she exhaled with bright laughter, her eyes wide open and on me. Seregrian had mentioned the psychic bond that had developed between Her and our daughter, but this was the first instance of an overt connection from Baniel to me. I joined my princess in her laughter and drew the pony and cart towards her.
With Bainiel, picnic box, a bucket of oats, and empty berry baskets aboard, we trekked up and out of the Enclave as I walked beside the cart and, with a long switch, gently guided the pony along the route. My princess was having a good day, enjoying the tour as she sat with her mother’s regal posture and pointed at things along the way. “Boulder”, “tree”, “river”, “house”, and other words popped out of her in common tongue as she points, and I named them. Often, she said the words in unison with me. “Bird” came out before I could say it, proving she could sense the word and its sound even as I formed them in my own mind.
Outside the village, we trundled across the Great East Road to a large meadow surrounding a pond. Across the high, flat ground edging the cliffs, wild strawberries had found a home amongst the sparse sunlit grasses. Their field stretched as far as my eye could see. The sun was just high enough to find the cliff side and the treasure it guarded; sweet soft red fruit berries with seed-studded covers. They grew low to the ground on lush green plants offering the fruit a leafy canopy.
Leaving the cart near the pond, I set down the bucket of oats next to the waters edge for the pony, then gathered up empty baskets and the picnic box. With a free arm I scooped up Baniel and set her down. She paused for a moment, absorbing the sights and sounds, then looked at me with the innocent question often seen on toddler. With out speaking, I glanced toward the strawberry field, and she turned to trot towards it.
The morning stretched towards noon as we filled up the empty baskets. She only needed to watch me for a few moments to understand how to pick. She also seemed to understand that the fruit was not for eating now, but was for later, and the baskets were for carrying them. She contentedly did the chore, and I gave her some space as I wandered a few yards along the cliff, filling my own basket.
Suddenly, I tasted the sweet and summery tartness of a big, juicy, freshly picked strawberry. I looked up to see Baniel squatting comfortably as only a toddler can, her face peering dreamily about at the wonderous day, and nibbling slowly on a perfect berry nearly the size of her palm.
My princess looked at me and laughed as she held the half-eaten fruit out to me.
