Borimrod had tried to sneak in for lunch, but Heather caught him with one of her looks.
The half elf didn't have to say a word, she simply sat back in her chair, her arms folded over her chest, never breaking eye contact. She was sitting at a table a little bit away from the other children doing their studies. She always tried very hard to avoid raising her voice in anger and rarely shouted. She had few rules, but they were unbreakable and her "disappointment" with someone was usually more than enough chastisement. "I am shocked at you, and disappointed in your behavior in the stables earlier."
Borimod's head and shoulders drooped.
"I realize that you meant no harm, but did you consider Dori's feelings in the matter? Did you know that Dori is sometimes allergic to hay when it touches her skin?"
The boy's flushed cheeks paled. His head snapped up, his look -- panicked. "No, Ma'am, I didn't!"
"She's fine. A little miffed, but fine." The corners of Heather's mouth twitched with a smile she was trying to hide. "It was a cute prank, and I hear, she got you back."
"Yes, Ma'am." he unconsciously rubbed the bruised shin on the back of his other leg. "I should go apologize."
"Hm. You should, but I would like for you to sit down and talk with me first."
He obediently pulled out a chair and sat. "I am sorry for being disruptive in front of a guest."
"Thank you, but that is not what I wanted to discuss."
"What else did I do?" The young man was fidgeting. Heather had been so kind to him and his little brother, he didn't want to leave. they were safe here.
"Not a thing Borimod. I want to get to the bottom of why you did the trick in the first place. I have nothing against occasional pranks,"
The young Rohirim's head snapped up in surprise.
Heather winked at him as she continued, "So long as they don't hurt anyone. I may be ancient, but I enjoy a good prank or joke now and again. Everyone needs to laugh. You have always been so mature that it shocked me, and probably her too. That might be part of why she got so mad."
He nodded. "I understand. I--I..." He folded his arms on the table and buried his face in them. "I think I like her," he mumbled.
"I thought so."
His head snapped back up.
"It is common for young men, if they have not been properly taught, to prank or even be mean to girls that they like. Girls, show they like you by being nice, and when you do things to them, especially if they've been doing their nice things, they get really mad."
"Like sending out my favorite jam every day in Willum's second breakfast basket." It was a statement, not a question. The pieces were starting to click.
"Um-hm."
"Will you please teach me how to..."
"Yes, I will teach you to be a gentleman. In the meanwhile, just try to consider her feelings when you do things that affect her, and remember that she's had a pretty rough life too, and has been hurt a lot. That's why I taught her to fight, so she could defend herself. Think of it like this, if she was your sister, instead of your friend and someone pulled that prank on her, how would you feel?"
"I would want to hurt him." Borimrod replied, quickly.
"Yeah, so treat her the way you would want someone to treat your little sister, if you had one."
He nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. May I go apologize now?"
Heather smiled and nodded. She watched him as he slid his chair back into place before walking over to the study table and began to speak with Dori. She was smiling. He really was a good kid, just untaught. She was about to head into the kitchen to make sure the fresh batch of stew and the roasts for supper had been started when Milla stumbled into the tap room. Wait, she stumbled? She should be sober by now. The half elven healer met the maid and caught her just before she could fall into the fireplace. There was a bottle clutched in her hand. So she has a stash. Probably been drinking on the job this whole time but managed to keep it from me. "Milla, what are you doing up?"
"I had to tell you something" the maid slurred. "I want a raise. I work in here, alone, all night, just in case someone comes while everyone else is sleeping."
"Willum sleeps in the room off of the stables so he can get up at all odd hours if someone should come, and you so rarely have anything to do, you know I wouldn't mind if you dosed in a chair, or brought a book in here to read, and frankly, I'm not asking you to do anything I haven't done myself, more than once, with a child to look after."
Milla started shouting and cursing, gesturing wildly.
Heather stood still, her expression grim, waiting for the inebriated girl to wind herself down. As soon as she is sober, she is going to start packing, she thought. Then another sound pierced through the shouting. Music. Then words. In a language she had not heard in a long time. She closed her eyes and tuned Milla out, her body relaxing where she stood. A blissful smile was on her face.
She didn't know when Milla stopped shouting, when Beryl crossed the room and clasped her hand, or even exactly when the music stopped. She suddenly came to herself and feeling the little hand in hers, looked down into her daughter's eyes. She leaned down and kissed the girl's forehead, then sent her to stand by Borimod while she dealt with intoxicated maid. Thankfully, the music's effect on her had not worn off yet, allowing the healer to put her to bed and search the room for more alcohol without much fight.
"Milla will be leaving tomorrow morning," she announced as she set the confiscated bottles on a high shelf behind the bar. "Back to your studies, please, while I start supper."