mes enfants

[beheld_beauty]

Belle has ordered the castle to array itself in preparation for guests; the family's Samarian counterparts will be spending a day here. The smaller girls are left with friends at home.

Dominique probably doesn't need to be reminded to be on her best behavior for extradimensional visitors. Céleste might. She agrees indignantly and promises to let Keziah play with Rainier and everything.

"That's all I ask," laughs Belle. "Jane, we are ready for them at any time."

And on the far end, Jane waits for a cue - and then picks Samarians up and puts them down.

Comments

[campanas]

"But it would be fun," sighs Keziah.

"You can just visit here a lot," says Céleste generously.

[mindfields]

"Here where everything is enchanted," laughs Dominique.

[campanas]

"Yeah," agrees Céleste, nodding.

"Maybe we will," says Keziah. "And soon we can bring Ariel too! And then Peninnah. When they're bigger."

[mindfields]

"Why, how big are they now?"

[campanas]

"So high," says Keziah, holding her hand at Ariel's height, "and so low." Peninnah's. "But Ariel can fly now, some!"

[mindfields]

"And how big do they need to be before they can visit?"

[campanas]

"Almost as big as me," says Keziah. "I barely knew magic was a thing when Jane came alive!"

"Wow," muses Céleste.

[mindfields]

"And how long will it be until Ariel is that big?"

[campanas]

"A couple of years," says Keziah. "Maybe if she's very precocious sooner."

[mindfields]

"Then I guess we'll just have to wait until then."

[campanas]

"Waiting is hard," says Céleste.

"Yeah!" agrees Keziah.

[carillons]

"It's not that bad,"

[mindfields]

their respective sisters say in unison.

[campanas]

The Griffins giggle madly.

[mindfields]

Dominique and Damaris do much the same.

[campanas]

"You're each other," accuses Keziah, beaming with amusement.

"They are! And we are! And our mothers are and our fathers are," crows Céleste. "We're like pictures stamped in different colors from a block."

[mindfields]

"Very like," Dominique agrees.

[campanas]

"Gardens now," says Céleste, when they've been through every corridor of the castle.

[mindfields]

"Of course."

Gardens!

[campanas]

Rainier wants to fly, as soon as they are outside; presently one literal and two metaphorical griffins are in the air.

[mindfields]

Dominique looks at Damaris.

[carillons]

Damaris shrugs, grins, and takes off.

[campanas]

"Come on, Dominiiiiique," calls Céleste.

[mindfields]

"No, thank you," laughs Dominique.

[campanas]

"But Damaris is!" says Keziah.