The hearth rug turned into a tiny, quiet meeting place.
Lysa, Etta, Marin, Noa, and Tali sat in a loose half-circle, backs straight like they were trying to prove they could be trusted. They kept glancing at Elowen like she was both a legend and a very tall wall.
Which—fair.
I stayed behind Elowen's leg.
Mostly.
I kept peeking out, then hiding again, like a nervous animal learning the room was safe.
Elowen didn't force me.
She just kept her palm resting lightly on my head, thumb making slow calming circles that steadied my loop without even using magic.
Lysa spoke first, soft and careful.
"So… Rin. Are you… traveling with the Dawnwatch?"
I pressed my face closer to Elowen's cloak.
"I'm not—" I started, then realized I didn't know how to explain *I'm a sword that can be a kid and also I might be sealed to something terrifying* without making everyone panic.
Elowen spoke gently from above me. "She's under my protection."
The girls nodded immediately, accepting it like that was the only answer they needed.
Etta smiled, voice warm. "That's good."
Noa tilted her head. "You're really shy."
"I'm not shy," I protested, voice muffled.
Marin's eyes glittered with mischief. "Then why are you hiding?"
I peeked out just enough to glare at her.
Marin laughed quietly, not mean—just amused.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "You're just… cute when you do that."
My cheeks went nuclear.
"I am not cute," I snapped.
Tali leaned forward slightly. "Yes you are."
"No," I insisted, and my mouth betrayed me by forming a perfect pout again.
Sable, passing by with a basket of folded cloth, paused and whispered, "Oh no, the pout is back."
Maera's voice floated from the map table without looking up. "Ignore it."
Sable whispered, "I can't."
I made a distressed sound and hid harder.
Elowen's hand smoothed my hair once, steady. "They're being kind, Rin."
"I know," I muttered. "It's worse."
Elowen's shoulders shook faintly like she was holding in a laugh.
Lysa tried again, gentler. "We can talk about normal things. Like… what food do you like?"
I peeked out.
Food was safe.
"Sweetbread," I admitted quietly.
All five girls reacted like I'd confessed a secret treasure.
Etta clasped her hands. "I knew it!"
Noa nodded seriously. "Sweetbread is the best."
Marin leaned in, voice conspiratorial. "Do you like honey too?"
My stomach growled faintly—traitor—because the wayhouse honey was unfairly good.
I whispered, "Yes."
Tali smiled. "We have honey candy."
I froze.
Candy?
My eyes widened before I could stop them.
I tried to hide the reaction.
It didn't work.
Elowen looked down at me, catching the entire expression with quiet amusement.
"You can have some later," she murmured.
"I didn't—" I started.
My stomach growled again, louder.
The girls giggled softly.
I turned red and hid behind Elowen's leg so hard I almost fused with her boot.
Elowen rested her hand on my head again, then spoke gently—low, private.
"Rin."
I peeked up.
Elowen's eyes were warm, but thoughtful. "Do you want to keep talking to them?"
I hesitated. "Yes. But…"
"But what?"
I mumbled, "I don't know how to… be normal."
Elowen's gaze softened like she understood far too well. "Then we do it slowly."
I nodded into her cloak.
The girls waited—patient, still, no pressure.
Lysa spoke softly again, like offering a step instead of a leap.
"What do you like to do? Games? Drawing? Stories?"
Stories.
My chest tightened.
I loved stories.
But saying that out loud felt… exposed.
I peeked out anyway, whispering, "Stories."
Etta's face lit up. "Me too! Do you like hero stories?"
I blurted without thinking, "I'm literally a legendary—"
Elowen cleared her throat gently.
I stopped and hid again.
Marin giggled. "She almost said it."
"No," I muttered. "I didn't."
Elowen's hand slid from my head to my shoulder, a quiet anchor.
Then she said something that made my entire soul stop.
"Rin," Elowen asked softly, "do you want me to hold you while you talk to your friends?"
My brain short-circuited.
Hold me.
Like earlier.
Like the sling.
Like the chair.
Like safe.
My mouth answered before my pride could form a defense.
"Yes."
Silence.
Absolute.
Five girls stared.
Sable, mid-walk in the background, froze like someone had cast a spell.
Maera's pen stopped scratching on the map.
Elowen's eyes widened slightly—surprised she'd gotten an honest answer that fast.
I realized what I'd said.
My face went so hot I thought my core loop might ignite.
"I— I didn't mean—" I stammered, trying to backpedal and failing. "I mean, it's not like— I'm not—"
Elowen didn't tease.
She just moved carefully, gently, like she was afraid sudden motion would scare me.
"Okay," she said softly. "Come here."
She lifted me with both hands, steady and warm, and settled me on her hip—one arm supporting my back, the other under my legs. Instantly, my body relaxed like it had been waiting for permission to stop holding itself up.
My dignity tried to scream.
It got smothered by safety.
Elowen adjusted my blanket around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head—quick and grounding—like it was normal and she wasn't embarrassed at all.
My cheeks burned anyway.
"I'm not a kid," I muttered weakly.
Elowen's voice stayed calm. "I know."
Her tone again—*the tone*—that gentle, indulgent agreement that made me feel like a kid even more.
The girls stared for half a second longer—
then Etta smiled so wide her cheeks lifted. "That's sweet."
Marin whispered, delighted, "She got picked up."
Noa nodded gravely. "She likes it."
"I do not—" I started.
Elowen shifted me slightly higher, comfortable and secure. "You said yes."
I froze.
Because she was right.
I had.
Lysa's voice turned even gentler, like she'd realized this wasn't a performance—it was real comfort.
"Rin," she said softly, "do you want us to stop asking questions?"
I hesitated, then shook my head slowly.
"No," I admitted. "I just… need… this."
Elowen's hand rubbed my back once, a small steadying motion.
Tali smiled. "Okay. We can just talk about food and stories."
Etta leaned forward slightly, excited but careful. "What's your favorite kind of story?"
I glanced up at Elowen's face—close now, safe in her arms.
Elowen gave me a tiny nod.
It's okay.
I took a breath.
Then I answered from the safest place I knew—held against my mommy's side, hidden and brave at the same time.
"…I like stories where someone gets saved," I whispered.
The girls went quiet.
Not awkward.
Soft.
Understanding.
Lysa nodded. "Me too."
Marin's voice was quieter than before. "Especially when they don't have to be alone."
My chest tightened.
I hid my face briefly against Elowen's shoulder.
Elowen didn't squeeze too hard.
Just held me steady.
And for the first time, talking to "friends" didn't feel like standing in the open.
It felt like standing behind a shield that loved me.