Gentleman Apprentice Appreciation
Dear Husband
(This is gonna get sad before it gets better. Warning Trauma and Death)
Technically Alaric never married. But that doesn’t mean he was a crappy father. In fact he was a lot better than most husbands/fathers go. Always ready to help Fayla with house chores while Wren was on bed rest, ready to run to Nopal or Praka for any cravings Wren had (Fayla had to stop him when Wren mentioned a Cactus Juice Slushie from Catclaw Mountains she had when she was younger, Alaric was already tacking up Amata before Fayla halted him), and ending up being a loveable Papa.
When Asher (son) and Odette (daughter) were born nothing could keep Alaric away. He was at Wren and Fayla’s home every other day. Reading, playing, cooking for the women, helping with household chores, etc. Both women were absolutely smitten with him, especially when it came to diaper changing.
“While I’m visiting I’ll be changing! You two have already done enough!” *proceeds to get halfway through the changing and ends up throwing up in the diaper basket* “Wha-eurgh! Have.....you been feeding? *gag* them?” “No no!!!! I’ll change them!”
“At this rate, Allie, it will be nightfall before you get one done...”
Unfortunately the happy family didn’t last long. When Alaric, Lactarius, and Valerius has decided to stop by for a visit they find Wren and Fayla’s home crushed under a landslide. The three spring into action digging and getting more help to find the four buried inside. They end up finding Wren, Fayla, and Asher together in what was once the kitchen. All of them dead. Alaric was devestated. The man’s grief causing him to frantically search for his lost little one. Lactarius had to pull him away for a few minutes so he could properly grieve the loss of the three and regain his common senses. After searching for his daughter nearly the entire day (everyone giving up hope to finding the little girl alive and just simply looking for a body to bury with the two women and other baby. By some miracle they end up finding little Odette (1 yr old) pinned under and shielded by a giant tree. The little girl would end up loosing her leg just under the knee, but that wouldn’t stop her later in life. (Alaric would make her prosthetics and hire others to make some for balls and dances specially for her)
After everything settled back down and Alaric was full time father he settled into his role quite nicely. A few hiccups here and there, nothing that Lactarius and Valerius couldn’t help him through, Alaric and Odette grew into a great father/daughter team. The young girl quiet and withdrawn around strangers, but once she got to know you she would show you her rambunctious personality. The only time she was fiesty right out of the carriage was around the dock workers and pirates listening to them share stories of how they lost limbs, eyes, teeth, etc. Odette felt she had to share how she lost her limb. It made Alaric feel better that she was comfortable sharing what happened. And the fact that these rough men would cheer and make her feel like a Queen when she would hobble onto the deck to join them. Except when Old Hugh told her to make her story more dramatic (people LOVE dramatic!) so now she will add a dragon made a landslide, or a bog witch threw a tree at her because she was too pretty......
Alaric wanting the best for his daughter decided it was time for him to stop running away from responsibilities and enjoying a carefree life of random side jobs and hobbies here and there. He formally began shadowing Valerius as new Consul of Vesuvia. Valerius thrilled his son was following traditions gently reminded him to also pursue his own hobbies and not get sucked under the pressure to be perfect. To try his best and don’t be afraid to fail and ask for help. Because without failing himself, Valerius would have never met Lactarius.
Years later Alaric and Odette would have a nice little surprise when she turned 12. Lactarius’ own tradition would carry on down the women of her bloodline. Odette could shapeshift into a manticore. But that is another story for another time.