12.18.08 - Lullaby

Location: Redwall Healer's Dorm

Characters Involved: Harper, Tameus

It is late. Harper walks into the healer dormitory with a cold Tameus in his arms, a blanket draped over him.

Tameus is half-asleep, his gray fur kind of fluffed out underneath his uniform while he shivers.

Harper walks over to their cot, lowering Tameus gently to it, so that his head rests partially on the pillow. He goes about unlacing Tam's boots, pulling them off in silence. Not wanting to wake the little guy too much.

Tameus's upper body turns partway and he nuzzles his face into the pillow, one hand extending to grasp the corner. His toes flex and curl as the boots are removed.

Harper pulls the blanket up over Tam, tucking it snuggly 'round him on all sides. He leans forward, to place a kiss to his forehead.

"Nnh," Tam says groggily, and reaches one hand to clasp at Harper's arm.

Harper's arm is clasped as he was readying to stand. He stills, smiles, goes to detach his arm. "'Tis time t'sleep, Tammy..."

Tameus squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, yawns, and opens them again. He looks a little more awake - just a little. "I tied m' laces," he mumbles.

Harper grins, resting his paw on Tam's forehead. "You did a good job."

"Y' didn' e'en see," the leveret churrs, fighting sleepiness. "I did 't m'self. Up on th' wall. I haft' show y'..."

Harper shhhs. "In the mornin'. I'll sing you that lullaby now if you promise to sleep."

Tameus mumbles a quiet protest but it doens't really get far. He yawns. "Okay.. lull'by."

Harper smiles slightly. "Thought so." He seats himself on the edge of the cot, brushing back Tam's headfur. "Like I told you, my mum used to sing this to me... I used t'ask for it all the time." He clears his throat quietly, is silent for a moment.

Tameus rolls onto his side and nuzzles his head up against Harper's hand, his eyes open, intent on the buck's face. He waits.

The silence plays out for another moment, in which Harper smiles at Tam's rapt attention. His lips part and he begins to sing. The voice he used for the children's rhyme earlier cannot compare. "Hush-a-bye, m'little child... Hush-a-bye, though winds blow wild... While storms rage o'er the sea, you shall sleep in serenity." He strokes Tam's headfur as he sings. "Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye, sea winds whistle a lullaby. Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye, sea winds whistle a lullaby..." He pauses, to draw a breath.

Tameus emits the softest of churring sounds, ears pressed back along his head and muzzle twitching in a dozy smile. The lullaby is certainly effective in helping him fall asleep, but he struggles to keep awake, wanting to hear the whole thing.

And he smiles, as he /always/ smiled when his mother came to the next part, feeling as if the song was made just for him, "Child of fisherfolk by the shore, winds shall sing to you evermore... Winter gale or summer breeze, fill your dreams with their melodies..." And then he sings the refrain again, trailing off quietly, "Sea winds whistle a lullaby..."

Tameus's eyelids droop further and close, and he draws a slight breath - then lets it out in a sleepy sigh. Still awake, just barely.

Harper smiles slightly, drawing down to place another kiss to Tam's brow. "Good night, m'little Colonel..." And he stands, moving towards the door, though his eyes remain on Tameus.

Tameus's fingers flex a little and he squeezes at his hold on Harper's arm, then releases it as his parent pulls away. There's a low mumble that doesn't form words, and then he's asleep.