Chapter Text
Many years ago:
The sun was setting deep over the horizon. The room grew darker only lit by a few spheres in the nightlamp next to the bed. Renarin had snuggled up to his mother´s side tightly wrapped into his parent´s blanket. Meanwhile Adolin was bouncing on the bed Anticipationspren fluttering around his head.
Dalinar “The Blackthorn” was to return from his campaign tomorrow midday according to the latest spanreed message. This evening the young boys already got nervous which is why Evi allowed them to sleep in Dalinar and her chambers. This is very much unlike Alethi customs and Evi tries to acclimate as best as she can, but sometimes Alethi customs be damned, she wanted to be as close to her children as possible. This would never be possible if were Dalinar here, Evi knows this. So this will be the last evening of secret sleepovers, she knows. For now, at least.
“Mother, mother I don´t want to go to bed yet,” the young boy exclaimed. Evi, with the calmness of the One himself, shushed her son and quietly spoke: “But Adolin my dear, the sooner you go to bed the sooner you will see your father again tomorrow.”
This promptly got a reaction out of the young boy who quickly began to scramble under the covers drawing the blanket up to his eyes. Renarin on the other hand had silently perked up at his mother´s words, a single Curiosityspren like a transparent spinning ribbon wounding around him.
Renarin had yet to meet his father since he was away on military campaigns so often. Sometimes Evi would go with him, but other times she would stay with her children like she had done this time. Renarin always felt sad when she left. It was like his mother was the only person that truly understood him.
Well and his brother of course.
Renarin tugged softly at his mother´s dress to get her attention. “My sweet child,” she thought, always the quiet one. “Yes darling,” she answered.
“What is father like?” Renarin softly inquired.
Before Evi could answer Adolin burst in loudly: “Father is honorable, strong and fearless! He is the best warrior the world has seen and he protects the family. When he is here, you don’t have to be afraid little brother.”
Evi chuckled and added: “That is absolutely true. Your father is a great man.”
“And I don’t have to be afraid then?” Renarin asked again.
“No, my darling. He protects the family.”