The First Book of Adeline: Freedom

Chapter 4: Raid

The next several days were the most peaceful Adeline had had in years. Grandma Meranne took measurements of all three girls, and began adjusting the outfits they would be taking with them. Ophelia reluctantly included a bright green dress with her selection, and both Isabel and Grandma Meranne's prodding.

"You'll need to wear something lady-like when we visit Vahd," Isabel had insisted.

Often, Adeline would help, ripping seams or cutting excess cloth, although she left most of the sewing itself to the older woman; she'd never been more than passable at keeping a seam straight. Mostly, though, Adeline prepared the meals for everyone else.

Ophelia spent the majority of her time outside, either hunting, fishing, or keeping up on her knife work, in addition to such outside chores as splitting wood. Isabel spent a good portion of her time perusing the books in Grandma Meranne's library, which was kept in the outbuilding. When Adeline had a spare moment, sometimes Isabel would continue teaching her the trader's tongue.

One such day, Adeline was cooking, humming to herself, when she heard voices from the main room. After making sure the food could be left unattended for a minute or two, she moved over to the door, and was about to open it when she heard her name.

"...bout Adeline," Isabel's voice said softly.

"What about her?" Ophelia asked, her voice carrying clearly through the door.

"I was just thinking... We have no idea what's going to happen in Luskra. We have no idea if Vahd will help us - honestly, we don't even know if he's still alive. Can we really force Adeline to join us, when thing are so uncertain?"

With confusion, Ophelia's voice replied, "What else can we do? It's not like she can go back home - and even if she could, I wouldn't let her; whatever's waiting for us can't be worse than that place."

There was a pause, and then a slight creak, as if someone had just sat down on the bed. Isabel spoke again, her voice a little hesitant and unsure of herself. "Well, I was thinking... it seems pretty safe here, and Adeline and Meranne seem to get along... I mean, we'd have to talk to both of them first, of course, but... I want her to be somewhere safe."

For several long moments, all Adeline could here was silence. Just as she was about to open the door, though, Ophelia said, "Then, let's talk to them. I don't think it's our choice, after all; whatever Adeline decides, that's what she wants, right?"

Adeline felt her heart glow with warmth. Isabel's voice answered again, filled with a bit of relief, along with something else that Adeline couldn't quite pin down. "You're right; it's her choice. It's her life, after all." Absentmindedly, Isabel wondered, "I wonder when dinner will be ready?"

Just at that moment, the pot of veggies hissed, on the cusp of boiling over, and Adeline leaped over to it with alarm. She tried to push the discussion to the corner of her mind, but she couldn't help mulling over it; what did she want to do with her life from here on out?

A day or two later, everyone was outside. The late afternoon sun painted everything a soft golden color, the temperature the warmest it had been since they arrived at the cottage. Grandma Meranne had just finished adjusting a spare outfit for Ophelia, and the dark-haired girl was testing it out, tumbling, leaping, and climbing all over the place while the other three watched.

Eventually, she rolled to her feet in front of them, and Adeline couldn't help but applaud, awed by the older girl's skill.

"They're nice," Ophelia announced, looking down at herself. "I think I like them better than the clothes I came in, actually."