#Child sitri verse tbt

[aurheatum]

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Sitri isn't a particularly mischievous child, but surely it's alright to play now and again, especially on a day like this. Lady Rhea is giving out candy to all the children who ask, after all. Of course, that's very kind of her, and it's not that Sitri is jealous. It's just that she doesn't think she should stand in line for candy with everyone else. She's special, her mother herself always says so.

So Sitri sneaks away from the other orphans and all the way to the Archbishop's office, with a brief stop by the kitchens. She crouches behind the desk, peering out now and again to see if her mother is coming (hopefully without the clergy in tow).

When the door opens and she sees the tip of Rhea's witch hat, she covers her mouth to keep from giggling. It's only once her mother is almost beside the desk that she leaps out from her hiding place, roaring like a fearsome wyvern with her hands fashioned into claws.

"RAAAWRRRRR!" The roar devolves into a fit of laughter as she rushes to throw her arms around her mother's waist, smushing her face into Rhea's legs and nuzzling her. "Well? Did I scare you, Mama? Did I?" She asks between giggles, pulling back just enough to look up at her mother. "I practiced a whole lot with Val," she adds, breathless with exertion and joy.

"Oh, and I got you muffins! They're still over there," she points towards the desk with one hand before going back to hugging her mother, "because I couldn't make claws holding them and all. Anyway, you deserve to get treats too, Mama." Despite this, she makes no move to let go of her mother and allow her to go near the desk. It's just too nice to hold onto her like this.

"Oh, but I'm not releasing you," Sitri adds in a sudden burst of inspiration, grinning as she tightens her hold. "That's part of the prank, you see. The witch will be trapped without treats until she defeats the dragon guarding them."

The way to "defeat" her is, of course, to simply pick her up and carry her. She doesn't say it so as not to ruin the game, but she does look up at Rhea expectantly. "I'm a baby dragon, though, so this should be easy for a powerful witch like you!"

The last equinox on the close of the Horsebow Moon has long held meaning for the people of Fodlan and Rhea has found it fascinating to watch the rituals and celebrations they invent for times of transition such as these, even without the church’s guiding hand.

"Festivals” particularly ones involving what can best be translated to their language as spirits seem to hail from Brigid, and have grown in popularity since Adrestria’s west coastal towns also started celebrating in a similar manner.

Rhea had been worried about this at first, particularly as the Empire had so recently seemed to shy away from the church, but looking out over the castle town now with children and adults alike dancing cheerily around a bonfire she feels confident she has made the right decision.

The Horsebow Moon is a time of bounty, and as all beautiful and good things come from the Goddess it had been simple enough to introduce her teachings to the holiday.

Rhea has in fact just come back from speaking on Her behalf, though in a different garb than usual; rather than the archbishop’s head piece she now wore what was apparently a “witch” hat, one that she claimed gave her the Goddess-appointed power on this day of all days to deliver candy to any child who might be deserving of some.

(Let it not be said that Seteth’s absence hadn’t led to some good. Garreg Mach’s younger populace, orphans of the church and children from the town alike had been delighted with her performance).

She had given the rest of the candy (and hats, logically) to the more willing nuns and started back to her chambers, wondering, as she did so about one child in particular; when she finds her door open a jar, and shut again in a very certain way she cannot help the smile that comes to her face, that she covers over at once with her usual mien.

“Oh my!” And it comes out loudly, but with a burst of true laughter; “you certainly startled me,” she says, honestly, and adds with a twinkle in her eye: “the Dagdan diginitaries told me to be wary of tricksters and shape shifters this time of year but I obviously did not heed them. Whatever am I to do with this one who has stolen into the church’s innermost chambers?”

She bends down to listen closely to her captors instructions; craning her head only for a moment to look at the basket of muffins she had first missed on her desk, and she is sure when she can give them a closer look they will be as perfect as Sitri is in this moment.

"I get both a trick and a treat then? My, being a witch is certainly a busy life," she laughs as Sitri pulls her closer. "And it will be even busier… once I capture the baby dragon in turn!"

Rhea sweeps Sitri up in her arms then and though the girl had made her intent clear as any of her most heartfelt emotions the expression on her face is the sweetest of things Rhea has, or will, experience today she is sure (muffins included).

"Now that I have you I do not think I shall defeat you or give you up… what do you say we start our own hoard of sweets? Your wonderful muffins and these candied apples I have saved just for a certain dragon child were she to fly near enough to catch. Ah, and something for Val too of course. It would not do to forget such a wonderful mentor and friend in such a day of celebration."