The Baker's Assistant (closed)

[KieranSoares]

This particular gift was one born of the same skill set. It was a lovely and thick heavy cloak made from a bear skin and lined with wool, the outside black with the bear's fur, and the inside wool dyed a rich, dark navy color. It was much heavier than her current cloak, made with Scottish winters in mind for warmth and durability. Just as she was looking it over, Aleister emerged with one of the wooden slabs of risen dough, setting it aside to pause and look at her.

"I hope y'like 'em... Wasn't sure what else I could get ya tha'd be useful," he murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla turned as he entered the room again, a soft smile on her face. "I love it, Aleister. Thank you so much. I don't know how I can repay you for everything." She said softly, noticing that he was wearing the apron that she had given him as a gift the night before.

"It'll be much warmer than my old wool cloak. So, you won't have to leave yours behind for me anymore." She teased him, packing both away before she turned to hug her dear friend tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I jus' want you t'be safe an' healthy. An' when tha' baby comes an' you come back t'work, y'can bring it here rather'n leavin' it with yer Ma. I'm settin' up a crib for it. I'll make damn sure tha' it gets plenty o' time with you." He smiled down at her with probably the kindest expression she'd seen from him thus far. Despite having only known one another a short few months, Aleister had made it clear at this point that he was at her beckon call not just for herself, but her baby too when the time came.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Aleister, you don't need to set up a crib. My mother can watch the baby and I'll get plenty of time with it in the evening times." Kayla murmured, noticing the kind expression and excitement in his eyes. "Are you excited for the baby? You big softy, Aleister."

She teased him sometimes and she seemed to be the only one that could do that without him getting too upset.

 

[KieranSoares]

"O' course I'm excited. I mean... why wouldn' I be? Someone new fer me t'spoil li' Lucy, an' Bell's lass." He seemed a little embarrassed at that admission. "I love kids, don' know why... Always 'ave. Can' 'help bein' excited fer one o' my closest friends."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla's smile turned gentle as he called her his closest friend. In the short time that she had known him, she had come to respect and care for Aleister. He was a good, hard working man who had simple pleasures.

"Why have you never settled down with a wife and had a few little ones of your own? I think you'd make a wonderful father." Kayla said softly, turning her attention to the rolls that were finished in the big oven.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Too busy fightin' most o' my life," Aleister sighed, absently touching the Invernessian Axefighter tattoo on his neck. "They sent me 'ome when I lost my eye, said I'd given enough fer th'cause. What th'cause was, I don' really know." He turned to watch her as she worked.

"I migh' as well tell ya m'story, aye? I was tryin' t'make a livin' long enough t'save up fer weapons an' armor, then I closed th'bakery an' joined up with th'axemen. Spent most o' my time in th'forts between Inverness an' Wick, an' on th'lookout points along th'east coast an' the English-Scottish border. Even went t'Ireland once an' met th'King in Dublin. My las' battle was durin' the peacetime before this last war with th'Erygonians. King Brogan sent us axemen t'Normandy t'help King Henry o' England hold England's claims. I was scouting in enemy territory when I was ambushed an' my partner, an English spy, was killed... If she'd survived, I might've asked 'er t'marry me, but... ah, I had no chance with a woman li' tha'. Anyway... these French soldiers got hold o' me an' their lieutenant tried t'make me tell 'im where my allies were. I wouldn' answer. I don' know what 'appened, but when I woke up, I was layin' in an English officer's tent, missin' my eye. He told me tha' they'd stormed th'French camp an' found me 'alf dead, an' 'e was sendin' me 'ome fer an honorable discharge fer no' givin' up any information. So, I came 'ome, collected my pay, an' set back t'the bakery. Been 'ere workin' ever since."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well then, I suppose I should thank your missing eye for bringing you to Inverness. We wouldn't have the wonderful bakery if you were still out there fighting. I wouldn't have my best friend either." Kayla said with a grin as she turned from over with the fresh rolls and moved past him with practiced ease.

One the tray was placed away, she turned to look at Aleister with a soft smile on her face. "You've given me a good life here, Aleister. I don't think that I could imagine a different life then what I have now. I have a child on the way and its father is gone, but you've managed to make me happy."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's nothin'," he half-muttered, and she caught the tiniest blush at her praise as he turned away to hide it, pretending that he was checking on something. "Jus'... tryin' not t'make too much of an ass o' myself in this life."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're a credit to Inverness." Kayla said softly as she moved back into the bake house to start on some scones. "I certainly don't know what I would do if you weren't here."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Stop tha'," Aleister chuckled. "If y'want t'butter me up fer somethin', jus' ask fer it." He came to join her in making the scones, opening up a new barrel of flour for her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, maybe I can sweet talk you into a few of your cheese danishes before I leave?" Kayla asked sweetly, looking over at Aleister as she batted her dark eyelashes at him.

It was no secret that she had been craving sweets during her pregnancy and it seemed that he was more than game to indulge her in what she wanted.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure y'could," he shrugged with the tiniest hint of an amused grin as he worked beside her. "No' sure what's in it fer me, though." He'd taken to her teasing well, and been fairly teasing in return as he grew more comfortable.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll fix you dinner. Roast lamb." Kayla commented, knowing that Aleister was a man that would hardly say no to a good meal. "Oh, and you have to promise to go to the dance at the keep with me. I don't want to be the only one there without someone on my arm and I want to dance with someone I trust."

 

[KieranSoares]

The idea of dinner was surprising but welcome. However, the mention of a social gathering had Aleister tensing up. "Uh..." He gave her a small, nervous smile, "I'll give ya all y'want if y'don't make me go." But he couldn't say no to a lady's invitation, and murmured, "... I s'pose I could... show up, 'r somethin'..." The idea was fairly daunting to the lone and simple baker.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's all the people you already see every day here at the bakery, Aleister. You just have to put on your best clothes and...well, I'll be a wall flower with you. I won't leave you alone for a moment." Kayla promised, giving him a smile as he murmured about possibly showing up.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah, but... y'know, yer Uncle an'... Jesus, if I made a fool o' myself in front o' th'queen an' king." He sighed heavily. "Alright... you win. Yer more persuasive than Bell, dammit," he managed a small chuckle and went to get some of the fresh cheese danish pastries for Kayla.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla had a triumphant smile on her lips as he agreed to go and went to fetch her danishes. She knew that she had him wrapped around her finger and he was also one of her best friends besides her brothers.

"Would it make you feel better if I made you roast lamb and black currant jelly?" She asked him, trying to entice him into a little bit better mood. "And...and some roasted carrots."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'already got me t'say yes, what more d'ya want?" Aleister chuckled as he returned with the danishes in a paper bag. He'd definitely put more than just a few in. He set the bag on the counter and faced her with one of his rough half-smiles. "So is tha' dinner t'night 'r some other time?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, if I left now, I might have enough time to go and get it done." Kayla challenged, a smile on her face that no one but him had seen since Gale's death. "If you brought a loaf of that grain bread, it would be all the better."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then shoo," Aleister waved her away. "I'll finish everythin' up an' be along when th' scones're done bakin'. Troublesome woman," he chuckled and took over for her. "An' don' ferget yer danishes." She could honestly talk him into just about anything and he knew it all too well, but he was all too happy to let her get away with it.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled at him in triumph as she gathered her danishes and pulled on her cloak. The air was brutally cold as she stepped into the grey winter day, but it was thankfully not snowing. She didn't know if she could take much more snow, she thought to herself as she continued on her way towards her little cabin. She walked up to her door when a sudden snowball hit her in the side of the head and sent her tumbling to the ground. Glancing around, she noticed two furry heads bent low in the whiteness, giggling to one another.

"Katya and Timmal. If I'm not on my feet in two seconds, I will tell your father what you just did." Kayla threatened, knowing that Ruben could be a strict taskmaster with his precocious twins.

 

[KieranSoares]

They hesitated for one second out of fear, then bolted forward to help their father's cousin to her feet, apologizing profusely in the three languages they knew, being Erygonian, Lunar, and English. Timmal carefully brushed snow from her clothes while Katya examined her to make sure she wasn't hurt. The two were close with Sam and Rho and quite a lot like them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why are you throwing snow at people?" Kayla asked as they both looked at her out of fear that she really would tell their father. "Did Sam and Rho put you up to this? Because if they did, I'll have to have a talk with Uncle Brogan."

She knew that the twins all shared a special bond. Twins ran thick in the Ghis family, which is what made her thankful she was only carrying one child. She didn't know what she would do if there were two babies to take up all of her time.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We thought it'd be fun..." Timmal murmured.

"Sam and Rho said we'd get in trouble, but we thought we could hide," Katya answered honestly. She was definitely the more honest of the two, whereas Timmal wasn't necessarily a liar, but he didn't give up the truth easily when asked.