Cador smiled benevolently.  His days of holding that honour were long gone, as had any resentment about being usurped by younger siblings.  The youngest twins had escaped that, when their mother called a halt (and not before time) to further offspring.  He kept very quiet, so as not to disturb the sleeper.

It didn't take much to move Caitriona along with him. She'd always been close with their mother and this was her special day which was why Cait suspected her father was aware that she wouldn't make a fuss over things today.

She set the vase of flowers and the bottle of perfume from her pocket on the bedside table. This time it was a honeysuckle rose scent that Cait remembered from when she was quite small while walking in the gardens with her mother and she said that it was one of her favorites.

Caitriona still knew her mother was an extremely light but dangerous sleeper, even after decades of having her children wake her on her birthday. She kissed Lorraine's cheek before pushing Kierahn up closer.

Tamlin stayed in the middle of the pack, moving a bit to the side as even the large room could easily grow crowded with the bulk of the family present.

Given her twin's reluctance, Cait shook her head with a grin and mouthed the word 'Chicken' at him.

"Happy birthday, Mama," she said gently.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Fri 21 Sept 2018.

Lorraine felt the shaking and on instinct she bolted straight up. Her hands reached to her side for her weapon. Feeling nothing, she reached above her head for the sword she was sure was on the wall. Finally, after a moment, her blind panic reaction faded and she saw the face of her youngest.

"Oh! Caity!" She reached out and hugged her. "Oh good morning you bunch. I see you lurking there. It must be my birthday today!" She smiled and laughed, opening her arms to hug her family.

Caitriona laughed and returned her mother's hug.

"Since everyone else was too scared to get any closer, I had to be the courageous one," she said, teasing. She then tugged Kierahn toward the bed since he hadn't been there for the ritual for the last few years. "And look who showed up this time!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:27, Fri 21 Sept 2018.

"Happy Birthday, and Happy anniversary mom.", Kierahn wished to Lorraine before turning to look at his father, "Day's also about you old man, Happy Anniversary.", he says with a grin as he bends over to give Lorraine a bear hug.  "So where's my cake?", he asks.

"Breakfast first...." Marian is standing near the back but can't help herself replying to Kierahn's comment before adding maybe a little sheepishly, "And Happy Birthday mom."  She's smiling happily though.

Erica waits her turn and then gives her mother a kiss and a hug.  "Happy Birthday, Mom."

"Don't worry, Kier, I made some sweet bilberry jam for the table this morning if you need your sugar rush," Caitriona consoled her twin while hiding a chuckle at Marian scolding him. To be honest, it wasn't a terribly unusual thing as she was thirteen when the twins were born. She always seemed like a grown up to Cait.

"Good morning mother, and congratulations," Tamlin said as he gave her a brief hug, "Gifts after breakfast or your oldest may scowl so hard her face freezes."

She simply gives Tamlin 'one of those stares' that simply says Careful Tamlin.  I'm not above making your words... stick.  Though it's playful enough.   She's never been an overly vindictive big sister - confident enough in her own standing within the house to know that revenge is a dish served cold and sweet.   It wouldn't be the first time that one of her siblings has had their favourite shirt shrunk in the wash... their wine watered down... their horse sent for shoeing at the most inconvenient time.  And somehow those tricks never quite seemed to work on Marian.

Apparently still content to yield the moment to her siblings, Branwen remains hovering at the back of the group, a faint trace of a smile just barely evident on her face, her contribution to the pounce-on-Mom ritual limited to a simple "Happy birthday, Mom!" as the scrum begins.

Having let his siblings go in before him, Cador worms his way through the assemblage to greet his mother with the others.  “Happy Birthday” he says with an open smile.  “And from Aurelius, too”

Lorraine gladly hugged each of her children. She'd even get out of bed and go over to hug her Branwen. She stretched and then smiled. "Come on everyone. I don't know about you but I for one am hungry. And since today will be spent with all sorts of people from the court, I just want to enjoy some quality time with my family." As she started out of the room, Corwin took her hand and all the kids could see the patently adoring look they gave each other.

Corwin and Lorraine would lead the way towards the dining area to see what had been set up for them. "So are you kids looking forward to today's events?" Lorraine was smiling as she asked.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:36, Sun 23 Sept 2018.

"Even more so considering the company!"  She smiles as she opens the door to usher the family out towards the prepared breakfast chamber.

Kierahn earnestly shakes his head, in truth he had little interest, but if it made mom happy, he was going to be happy for her.  He held his tongue though, with all the kids talking and wishing, he felt a bit like a drop of water in a bucket.  Instead he works on adjusting his hair color to transparent while listening to everything going on instead of interacting with it.

Caitriona set he lips hard against one another to keep from saying anything in response to their mother's question. She would have to wait for Corwin to keep his word and talk to Lorraine.

Meanwhile, she watched Kierahn as he fussed with his hair. Hair without color was a bit different...

"Now you look bald and scruffy all at the same time," she commented with a grin. "Try matching your shirt color. That way you're coordinated."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Mon 24 Sept 2018.

“Of course” Cador answered, meaning the parts which he didn’t count as work.  So long as none of his knights got into trouble it would be bearable.  He’d just have to keep a protective eye on Caitriona.  Marion and Erica were more than capable of handling themselves, Branwen, well maybe Branwen needed watching too.  For different reasons.

But that was still ahead.  Breakfast and presents first, and as long as the younger behaved themselves - more or less - there should be no problem.

"I am prepared," Tamlin answered as they moved to be seated for breakfast.

Erica trailed along, happy to be present but feeling no need to add chatter to the chaos.

Corwin checked an internal sigh. He supposed there was no way to avoid it. "Dear, Caity and Kierahn were wondering about going to this year's tournament. I...don't think it's a good idea to expose them to the Court at such a tender age. Courtiers can be schemers in my experience and..."

Lorraine waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense honey. Cador and his knights will be on hand to protect them from any physical dangers. You and Oriana are here in case of anything they can't handle. And besides, how will they ever learn how to navigate the Court if they have no experience? Besides, if anyone tries anything, I'll rip them apart." Her cheerful tone didn't change in the slightest as she said that.

Corwin checked another sigh. "Alright. Alright. I guess you two can go. But you have to promise to stay in sight at all times, and Cador, I'm going to want a special detail for them."

Caitriona smiled widely and let out a small "yay" in excitement before moving to her father and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," she said happily before then giving her mother a kiss as well. "We won't be any trouble and it will be fun to see the tournament and go to the grand feast in the evening. Is there dancing, Mum? Surely, you and Daddy must dance."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Mon 24 Sept 2018.

“I”ll assign a knight each to guard them, unless more are required” Cador puts in.  An older, married knight in Caitriona’s case.  It won’t stop the “courtly love” crap but Oriana ought to be able to straighten that out.  He isn’t aware of any real danger.  “And I’ll see if they can be seated by me” - which shouldn’t be a problem.  “You’ll get a good view” he tells the two youngest.

If there was any excitement at this news for Kierahn, it didn't register on his face.  He was a Prince of Amber, he always knew he'd be in the courts eventually, he just never looked forward to it... his place in a court was decorative, not administrative.  He'd look pretty, avoid interactions as much as possible, and nod & wave as expected, the whole time daydreaming of adventure and battle.