Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 44: The Will of Children

     Being the eldest in a group of thirteen children was a big responsibility. One had to be calm, collected, dependable, wise, an example for them to all follow. These were things that Nicolynn never had trouble with. She'd been an only child for a short time. Most of her life, the years that she could remember, included Mythalus. She'd had to be that grown up child since she was six and she didn't regret it. But now, she was not the oldest. When Bellamy arrived with his father and cousins, it gave Nicolynn the golden opportunity to not be so mature all the time, to regain a little of her childhood. She'd just turned ten, a short time before the gathering. Her childhood wasn't completely gone, but she felt that with an older child there to take over, she could let loose. 

     With that, she let go. Nicolynn stopped worry about keeping up that pristine example of herself, with that aura of responsibility and intelligence and tried to have fun. She ran about the halls with Anthony in the dark of night, played fierce games of chase with the younger children, trained without a care for what dummy her strikes fell upon, and gossiped with the girls just as her mother had in the few months before she left Skyhold. She felt free. Everyday brought something new and the feeling was enlightening. 

     She and chandler had become good friends. The girl was broken and scared after the death of her parents. She would carry that crying little boy wherever she went, trying desperately to soothe his wails. Chandler reminded her very much of Claude. The Antivan hardly came out of the barracks anymore. She stayed there, nurturing her infant sisters. She was quite good at it too. Nicolynn hadn't heard a cry out of either of them in some time. It was a wonder she managed it without her mother or another adult to assist. she was a very strong willed young girl. At night, she could hear Claude's thickly accented voice travelling through the room at night as she softly sang that same ballad their mother used to. While only intending to lull the babies into the peace of rest, she took all of them with her melodic, velvety voice. It was a beautiful call to bliss that none of them could resist. 

     Philippe didn't sleep in there with them very often anymore. He would sit in the window, watching out it as she sang. When she finished, he would wipe his eyes, cleansing his cheeks of tears, get up from his place on window sill and leave without a word. It was a sad thing to watch. It only hurt more to know that he did hold onto a piece of his mother. When Nicolynn first realized the similarities between Claude and Chandler she knew she had to get them to be friends. They had both lost so much. 

      But Chandler was much quicker to recover from her loss. Claude shied away, only making appearances to eat or sleep or take care of Camille and Olive, while Chandler sought the comfort the others had to offer. Nicolynn had tried but Claude was simply uninterested. She didn't want a friend who had lost just as much as she had. She wanted her mother back. Chandler was a sporting young girl. Her untameable blond locks were a frizzy mess and thus kept up in a tight bun on the top of her head. She smiled easier now and her laugh was lighter, louder than before. She found Nicolynn was a good friend to have around and often she and Anthony would engage in a game of chase or training with her. Nicolynn enjoyed her company, especially now that Claude had receded so far away. 

      They had a plan though. A plan that would hopefully bring her out of the dark. Nicolynn and Chandler skipped arm in arm up the hall to the barracks where they knew Claude would be. She'd be collecting the twins for lunch at about now and they knew they had no time to spare before she began to panic. As soon as they walked through the door, Claude was trying to make her way out. "Have you seen Camille and Olive? I left them in here for a moment to go to luncheon but they're gone." She looked to be on the brink of tears. Nicolynn was quick to soothe her though. 

     She and Chandler broke apart and both looped a single arm through each of Claude's. The Antivan girl stiffened, unsure of what was happening. Her deep brown eyes widened and she allowed herself to be strolled slowly through the room, back out into the hall. "They're eating their own lunch with your very capable younger brothers. They are very jealous indeed of how much time you get to spend with the twins. We thought you could use a break so they've decided to take care of them for the afternoon."Nicolynn explained confidently as smiled and guided Claude by the arm out of the stone building. The castle was impressive but it became a looming shadow at times. They needed to go outside, to get away from the compound. She turned to the other girl and grinned. But there was no grin on Claude's face. There was only horror written over her expression. "Pierre? Pierre and Julien are caring for Camille and Olive?" She questioned with a disbelieving shake of her head, almost looking scared.