Family Tree [Thurion]

[Alva Heavenshield]

Jorunn Stables, Heavenshield Residence - Fridheim​

​

Alva opened the front door and stepped out into the brisk air. After a few paces out into the yard, she turned to wave at her mother, standing in the kitchen – a confirmation that she'd stay where she could be seen. After spending most of the morning asking, “When will he be here?” Alva had been ushered outside to play and to await the arrival of her Grandfather, [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]. It was always nice when he came to visit, but today was different...

He would be minding her while both her mother and father were away. Her papa had told her that he was taking some horses to their new home, a day's ride away. And, mama needed to go work at the Reach, where there were patients that needed help.

The small girl pushed strands of wavy hair out of her face and took a good look around. It was cloudy, but there were soft rays of sunlight streaming down. A good day to play outside indeed. She lifted, with a gloved hand, a long stick – a new sword. She gave the stick a swing and stomped her feet in what she assumed to be 'footwork' that everyone said was so important. Alva wanted a sword of her very own. But, mother said it was too dangerous, and father only mumbled, "Perhaps, someday."

A sound drew her gaze, Grandfather was approaching!

“Halt!” She cried, holding out her hand.

Alva, still brandishing her stick-sword, stood ready. “I will get you!” And then, charge! She bolted for the imposing form of her Grandfather, unafraid.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Valae's was a humble retirement. She had followed in her adoptive father's footsteps in holding the highest office in the Silver Jedi Order, and later followed him again when she retired from active duty and settle beside him on Midvinter. When Thurion was asked to become the first Lord of Fridheim and Warden of the Westmark, Valae assumed his position of leadership at Eirin's Reach, a place of healing and medicine located within the city. There she devotes her time to do what she's always desired in life; helping people. It was an enviable existence, he felt.

It did however come as quite a surprise when he was eventually introduced to a man she'd taken a fancy to. It was not something he'd anticipated, becoming so protective of her suddenly, and as many fathers do where their daughters were concerned he had felt a need to inspect this stranger closely before giving them both his blessing. Njal Jorunn turned out to be a good man and, as fate would have it, a loving father to their child. Little Alva was born only a year following the arrival of his first grandchild, and he could not be more ecstatic knowing he now had not one, but two tiny ones to dote on! What gladdened him even more was the fact that this one even lived in the same city, and could thus see eachother whenever they liked.

It was when he approached the Jorunn-Heavenshield homestead that he heard a high-pitched voice call out to him, causing him to stop dead in his tracks. The little girl brandished her sword and charged at him, and Thurion, though lacking one of his own, bravely returned the charge. Before she could strike him down however, he was able to grab her under the armpits and swoop her off her feet, spinning them around laughing before settling her on his arm. "You," he said and placed a kiss on her cheek, "are the smallest, most adorable highwayman I have ever encountered. But also the bravest, attacking someone so much bigger than yourself."

Grandfather plucked the stick from his granddaughter's tiny hand, studying it. "Now that's a fine blade you got here, Alva," he remarked and handed it back to her. "Were you really looking to poke a hole in your poor, old grandpa just now?" As he said so he playfully poked her tummy.

[member="Alva Heavenshield"]​

 

[Alva Heavenshield]

Alva laughed as she ran, and laughed harder still when Grandfather charged back. And when she found herself scooped up off the ground, her head tipped back in a nearly breathless fit of giggles. When she'd come to settle upon her Grandfather's arm, she blinked. What was a highwayman? But, she understood the meaning.

“I am brave,” She affirmed, nodding.

She took hold of the stick when Thurion handed it back, and shook her head, whipping waves of brown hair wildly about. “No, no, no,” Alva said. “Just pretend, it's not a real sword.” She added, a bit glumly – not that she'd ever really attack her family members, especially one that she held so dear. But, a wide grin found her as Thurion poked her belly. “Tickles!” She hollered and attempted to return the favor.

But, the door pushed open again – and her mother was seen coming out. Valae embraced her father and daughter and smiled fondly. “Thank you for watching her,” She said, looking up to Thurion. “I'll be back in the afternoon, there are fresh biscuits and jam inside.” Then, turning to Alva, she said, “Be good for Grandpa, alright? Love you both.”

Alva waved as her mother started off towards town.

Her eyes of stony blue fixed her Grandfather in a curious gaze. “What will we do today?” And then another question, a very important one: “Did you bring me anything?” Alva had a taste for sweets, and she knew that a bright smile usually made people produce them.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

As Valae appeared in the doorway and greeted them on the way to work Thurion's grin only widened at the sight of his daughter, giving her a firm embrace in return and a peck on the cheek. "Don't you worry about a thing, kiddo. You go save lives."

After seeing Alva's mother off, there was a sense of mischief in the air once Grandfather and Granddaughter were left to their own devices. Immediately the younger of the two capitalised on this fact. With a chuckle Thurion put her down and got down on his knee, taking a moment to study her face. "You look so much like your mother," he remarked, for even though he did not know Valae in her youngest years he could tell how Alva would turn out once all grown up.

As for her question, Grandpa reached behind one of Alva's ears and somehow came up with a sugary biscuit in the palm of his hand. "You would think you've had all the baked goods you can stomach, what with sweets growing out your ears!" A simple magic trick which only required practise, and even more practise for one without particularly deft hands, such as himself, yet an effective one. Once she plucked the biscuit from his hand he in turn plucked her off the ground once more, placing her atop his shoulders with her legs dangling on either side of his head.

"Now tell me, what's been going on in pony world lately, hm?" He felt her tiny fingers grab hold of and play in his hair as they strolled the perimeters of her home until they came across the stables and the paddock connected to it. His hands wrapped themselves around her ankles and her adorable little boots to steady her in case her motions would get too excited up there. "Are you all getting along?" He imagined Alva as the Queen of All Ponies.

[member="Alva Heavenshield"]​

 

[Alva Heavenshield]

As she was placed back down on the solid ground, she blinked at her Grandfather as he studied her. She responded to his remark with a grin, she did look like mama. They had the same brown hair that seemed to go all wild, but her eyes were blue like her father. Alva looked at Thurion's face, too. He had scars, but Alva thought that he must have always been this way – it was the only way she could remember him.

“Wha-?” Her eyes went wide, watching as Grandfather pulled a cookie from behind her ear. Alva's small hands reached up to make sure there weren't any more cookies back there before taking the one offered by Thurion. “Thank you,” She said, remembering her manners.

And soon, she found herself upon sturdy shoulders. Goodness, what it would be like to be this tall – she was surely the tallest ever, taller than the tallest Valkyri. She held on, feeling the long strides of her grandfather as he carried her.

“Ponies?” She echoed, nibbling her cookie, and looked down to see the crumbs atop Thurion's head. Alva brushed at his hair, letting the crumbs continue to tumble down. “My pony is very good. She is Nissa, the round one, just there.” Alva pointed, leaning forward slightly.

Indeed her pony was well-loved, and well-fed, too. The friendliest of all the ponies, she was fond of treats, just like her young mistress.

“We could ride,” She said, “We could go exploring. You can take Leif!” Alva indicated a stall, in which there stood a tall, cream-colored horse.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Now how could he have possibly guessed his grandchild was itching to go for a ride? Growing up around horse breeding was sure to affect Alva's appreciation for their kind and naturally she would feel at her best on horseback, even at such a young age. After all, most Heavenshields had proven to be headstrong when it came to particular interests, and Grandpa would not deny her her pleasures. "Alright, sounds like a plan," he tilted his head back a bit to look up at Alva on his shoulders with a smile, squinting against the sun hitting his face.

With Alva's help they located where her father kept the saddles and retrieved two, one big and one much smaller. Thurion knew his way around horses well enough since his discovery of Midvinter three decades ago, although it needed to be said that horseback riding had sort of been ruined for him the moment he climbed onto Skywalker's back and took to the skies for the first time. Side by side they saddled up, Thurion watching her progress as she tightened the straps to the best of her ability. "Doing alright? Here..." He stepped over to help her with the girth, giving it a good tug. "Goodness, that is one fat little pony," he couldn't help but remark upon. "What have you been feeding him, huh?"

Making sure everything else was in order he raised her into the air and seated her upon her pony, then led both horses by their reins towards the gate. "Figured it would not do to just ride around inside the enclosure." He then got on his own horse and handed over all control to his granddaughter. "Here we go." A few clicks of his tongue urged Leif onwards at a slow walk. They would need to head through one of the gatehouses to exit into the outdoors, and so they made their way down the dirt road which soon turned into proper cobbled city streets the closer they got to the more densely-packed residential areas. They certainly drew many gazes as they walked past citizens and soldiers alike, recognising their lord and his grandchild up on their steeds.

"We take a right here, and there's the gate right over there," he instructed her as they turned the corner, pointing towards the exit.

[member="Alva Heavenshield"]​

 

[Alva Heavenshield]

Alva adored the process of getting Nissa all dressed up to ride. Blanket, then the saddle, which Grandpa helped to fasten tightly around her pony's middle. And, when posed with a question as to her pony's diet, the girl merely giggled. When she was lifted easily into the air by [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], Alva held her arms up towards the sky, laughing gleefully.

Sat atop the saddle, specially made for her, she put her small feet into the stirrups (that had been shortened). Alva held the reins with comfort and confidence. Her father used to lead Nissa, walking horse and daughter around the arena by way of a rope. But now, Alva was allowed to ride with supervision.

“Really?” She asked, turning to Thurion. “You will take me out?”

She looked with wide-eyes, gleaming with excitement. This was one reason she liked Grandpa. He was usually willing to indulge her whims. Watching the way her grandfather rode, Alva sat tall in her saddle, just like him. Someday, maybe she would be a proud warrior like him (if mother allowed it). Alva urged Nissa on gently, and took in the scenery with a wide grin.

She liked the way the horse's hooves thudded on the dirt, but she liked it even more when they sounded against the stone of the city streets. Alva waved to some of the townsfolk, smiling and laughing as others returned the gesture. The people here looked at Grandpa, her, too, but she mostly noticed the way they gazed at him. There was a certain light in their eyes, she didn't know the word for it, but they liked him quite a lot. Not as much as she did, though.

And, out they went. With the city gate at their backs, Alva was tempted to ride fast. But, she looked to Thurion... it was best to mind the grown-ups. “I like it here.” She drew a breath of the crisp, cool air. “Where shall we ride?” She asked, canting her head. “To battle?”

She'd forgotten her stick-sword back at the stable, but she held aloft an imaginary blade.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Once they were out the gates they were on their own, following the shores of the Great Maw, the vast ocean which encompassed the entirety of Midvinter. Thurion rode first to make sure Alva would not get too carried away and maintain a leisurely pace; for himself, the chance to take time to appreciate the scenery of the unbridled beauty surrounding them. Alva felt differently, wishing to indulge in her newfound freedom for a bit. When she mentioned riding off to battle however, Grandpa was given pause and he slowed his horse until walking alongside her pony.

"So eager to rush off to battle, are you," he chuckled, though the notion of his own grandchild going off to war was anything but humorous. The blood of the Valkyri runs in her veins, but in this he had hoped her mother's peaceful nature would prevail.

"You are of House Heavenshield, Alva. You are Valkyri. I have no doubt you will find many battles in your lifetime." He reached out to caress her rosy cheek. "But do not seek out conflict where none is needed. War changes people, and often times for the worse. There are... invisible scars that do not heal with time."

But Thurion would then shake his head and smile, vanishing such heavy thoughts for the time being. He was to spend a day with his beloved granddaughter, and he refused to get bogged down in subjects unfit for such a young, innocent mind. "How about this, Alva," he leaned in as if to whisper a secret.

"You may go as fast as you wish when it's just the two of us. I won't tell." The likelyhood of her portly pony outrunning his own steed was non-existent, and he would be able to catch up in no time in case of danger.

[member="Alva Heavenshield"]​

 

[Alva Heavenshield]

Alva blinked, surprised by her grandfather's words. They were solemn, she could tell. But, the true weight of his words had yet to sink in. War was a game to Alva, it was something she played with other children. Of course, none of them knew what it really meant. She would stare, without intending to be rude, at the scars that marked Thurion's face. Scars were things that were left behind, did any of them truly heal?

She was relieved when a smile returned to her grandfather's face, a signal that she, too, should smile. And she did, the expression quickly brightening as she received whispered words.

“Okay,” She said, the mischievous glint was in her eyes again. “Keep up, Grandpa!”

Alva giggled and urged Nissa to run. The portly pony gave a whinny of protest but soon began to pick up the pace. The young girl reveled in the feeling of the wind in her wavy hair, and she rode with brash confidence. When she was riding, there were no cares in the world – only how fast to go!

But, Leif was the faster horse.

And, in the open expanse of field before them... he'd catch up to her in no time.

“Nissa! Can you go faster?” She asked and received only a wild shake of the pony's mane.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]