From the Desk of Marthin Sunfire

[Nymare]

It was yet early morning, bright light blazing in from the east as dawn quickly lost it's rosy blush and spilled through the study. Marthin Sunfire had been awake for some time. It was hard to sleep here, even now. The estate was still nowhere near as finished as he had hoped, but then, lack of funds will do that to a project. Yet, it was not so much the disrepair that some wings of the once sprawling estate remained in, as much as the memories that seemed to hang like a pestilence cloud through the halls, polluting the very air he breathed, which made sleeping... or even existing... a tedious endeavor at best within these walls.

Their home, like so many, had been ransacked by the Scourge invasion, and no amount of time, fresh marble, or clensers could wipe the taint away.

Throwing open a window, Marthin inhaled deeply, his long black hair flowing back from his shoulders with the early morning breeze. The air, at least, felt fresh. With a stretch, the head of the Sunfire family turned from the window and returned to his desk, a single parchment resting atop it. His eyes scanned over the courtly script, his mind already formulating a response.

Reaching into a drawer, Marthin pulled out a fresh piece of vellum and began writing.

My good Baron -

I am pleased to know that you take an interest in the whole of my family, and so I will do what I can to have as many of us assembled and ready to receive you as possible. If it will suit your schedule, you are invited to brunch here at the Estate later this morning. I trust you will bring my sweet Nymare with you - her family has missed her dearly.

Belore,
Marthin Sunfire

With any luck, the letter would arrive at the Ran'Deau plantation by breakfast.

[Skafloc]

He returned from his early morning workout sweaty and wide awake. The house was still quiet as he entered from back door to the kitchen area. He was immediately aware of the smell of fresh baked muffins assailing his nose. Chauncey was flittering about the kitchen, carrying a hot tray of round steaming golden caps overflowing their moulds.

" Mmm.. what kind did you make this morning my good man? " asked Skafloc of his housekeeper.

Chauncey replied without turning in his deliberate calm voice. " Muffins made from Moonberry. Moonberry is good for the blood and digestion. These are good, not too tart and not too sweet. But these are not for you."

Skafloc hovered over the baking counter, his hand poised over a solitary muffin that had been calling out to him, declaring itself his to be sampled. " Not for me? Well then Chauncey its only you, Nymare and the cleaning staff left in the house. Are you suggesting they are going to be enjoying muffins while the master of the house goes without? "

In answer Chauncey pointed to an open letter sitting on the wooden kitchen table they generally used for dining when there were no guests to entertain. " These are for him. "

Skafloc raised an eyebrow and went over to read the letter.

" Brunch! Today? Well that leaves us not a lot of time. I had best rouse Sleepyhead from her slumber I suppose. We should need to head out shortly." Setting the letter down Skafloc walked out of the kitchen and down the long hall to the main staircase to the upper level.

Opening the door to their bedroom he saw Nymare lying on their bed, sheets and bed coverings in a tumble only half covering her. Sitting next to her on the bed he gently brushed some stray blonde hairs from her face. After a few moments just watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the play of the morning sun on her bare arm and leg that lay exposed on the bed, he leaned over and whispered into her ear.

" Rise and shine my dear. We have been called to brunch. Time to meet Father and Mother. "

[Nymare]

There came a long, soft, plaintive whine from somewhere in her throat at the disturbance, her mind vaguely registering the words, and she proved that, even in her sleep, she was capable of producing the fiercest of pouts as she grabbed the sheets and wiggled onto her side. The sheets promptly covered her head. Skafloc smirked down at his new bride. Both of them had been out late, and when they finally did meet up at the plantation... well, they were still newly wed, afterall, and since the fogginess that had been plaguing Nymare's mind had lifted, she was impossible to say no to.

"Fine, have it your way," Skafloc warned in a playful tone as he tenderly rubbed her hip, "but if you do not get up now, I will have to send Chauncey in here to dress you, and you have seen his attire."

"You wouldn't dare," was her muffled response.

"Unless you would prefer me carrying you to your parents for all of Silvermoon to see, wrapped in a sheet and slung over my shoulder?" He smiled as he watched the sheet slowly pull back from her face. Instead of an indignant gaze, though, he was met with the sweetest bedroom eyes.

"We should get cleaned up," she murmured coyly and rose, lightly running a finger over his sweaty skin.

"By the Sunwell, Nymare, we have a brunch to get to... with your parents..."

"I know," was her whimsical reply, her voice like the distant sound of chimes on the breeze. Motes of golden sunshine glowed across her bare skin as she lightly padded across the floor, everything about the way she moved commanding that he follow her.

________________________________________

The mid morning sun brought fresh life to the unused drawing room, all windows along the eastern wall thrown open wide to let in the beauty of the glorious spring day. Marthin inhaled deeply and sighed with grim satisfaction. Scattered throughout the refurbished room was the one pride he had left - his family... or, most of them. His wife, Nellani, reclined on the sofa, going through a book with their youngest daughter, Anaralah, her pale blonde hair, much like Nymare's, setting her apart from the rest of the family. The other four girls were quietly dispersed through the room, all with books, dark hair, and robes of varying ranks from the Priest and Mage orders within Silvermoon - typical for this generation of Sunfire. All that was missing were his precious twins.

As if on cue, he heard Nymare's unmistakably sweet voice faintly echo from down the hall, followed quickly by a light ringing of laughter... something he had found himself missing. Since the Sunwell, she had never been the same, and since their return to Silvermoon, he had worried that he had lost his fire sprite for good. But, hearing her now made the past five years seemingly melt away.

He makes her happy...

The room around him stilled. No one had seen Nymare in months. The anticipation was practically palpable.

"Nymie!" Anaralah cried out with joy as soon as she saw her sister's head poke through the drawing room door. She had just turned thirteen and still struggled as much as her favorite sister ever did with controlling her impulses. The girl lept up and bound across the room with no regard for etiquette.

"Ana!" Nellani began to chide, but caught herself as Nymare stepped fully into the room. He glanced curiously to his wife. All that he could not express was written plainly across Nellani's face. It was astounding how much Nymare had grown up in only a few months. Even more striking was the man who walked in close behind her.

"Baron Ran'Deau," Marthin greeted with a polite smile, extending his hand out before him as he strode across the room to meet them. "A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

With how Anaralah clung to her older sister, and how the rest of the family seemed to slowly be closing in about them, he knew he would have to wait his turn to catch up with his wayward daughter. There would be time for that later, anyway. He was far more concerned with speaking with the man who was leading his daughter to her doom.

[Skafloc]

Skafloc could tell it was once a comely and well cared for manor house. It still showed tremendous promise, there were signs that rennovations had been commenced here and there. However everywhere he saw the evidence of unfinished work. Ambitious tasks started, yet interrupted before their completion.

With the Sunfire's always on the go, there was nobody to maintain the manor for long. That was something that Skafloc could help with. A few staff sent in from time to time to work away at the restoration. So long as Nymare's father was open to the idea.

Nymare let herself in, guiding them both down a long hall towards sounds of life. She called out, her voice ringing down the hall followed by a giggle. " Hellooo! We're here! "

A squeal erupted from the room at the end of the hall. As soon as the pair crossed the threshold into the wide, sunny living area a golden haired bundle of energy flew across the space to wrap herself tightly around Nym's legs. Skafloc look down at the glowing face of a smaller version of his wife, her eyes wide with joy.

Four other young women of varying ages descended upon her, not as exuberantly as the young spitfire but with the happiness written on their faces nonetheless. All had the dark hair of the man Skafloc saw standing a little to the side, regarding the display with a mix of happiness and.. something else Skafloc couldn't quite place.

A striking woman was sitting on the couch, peering intently at Nymare. Her mother Nellani no doubt. Her gaze turned from her daughter to regard Skafloc, even as he realized he was staring. He smiled and made a small bow to her then turned to face her father Marthin, who was striding towards him, arm extended.

"Baron Ran'Deau, a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." he said as he neared.

Skafloc shifted the tray of muffins he was carrying onto his left arm and extended his own right hand to greet his father in law.

" Sir, it is a pleasure and honor to meet you indeed! I thank you whole heartedly for welcoming me in your lovely home. You have made Nymare so happy. My housekeeper has prepared a little gift for you, someting for the brunch. I do hope you and the kids like Moonberry muffins? "

He held out the tray, looking around for some place to set it down.