A New Cape

A New Cape

               

                The sickness had claimed his mother, her sister, and the war had taken the father as well. Talathes Anuriel looked down at the small boy and sighed exasperatedly. He was hidden in her cape, which she had repeatedly told him not too.

“Torion, please for the last time come out of there. If I start to walk you will get knocked down.”

He looked forlornly up at his aunt while clutching a small stuffed bird. He quietly responded, “I sorry aun’ Ta’athes. It jus so warm in here.”

Talathes looked down and sighed again. She parted he cape and held up the portion he was wrapped up in and said, “Please come out of there. If you don’t I will have to put you in time out.”

The pitiful boy looked up at her with his big brown eyes and held the stuffed otter up to his mouth and her heart melted.  She sighed, swished the cape around off of him and knelt down to his level looking him in the eyes and said, “You really like my cape don’t you?”

He nodded and she continued, “Well what if we went to the tailor’s shop and I were to get you a brand-new cape all your own so I don’t have to worry about knocking you over every time I go to walk.”

Torion timidly looked at his aunt and clutched the stuffed otter even tighter. The child agent laughed and said “Ma’am, maybe try smiling at him. He has been through a lot the past week and a half.”

Talathes allowed a grin to crack her normally rigid features which seemed to put the young elf at ease. She repeated her question and this time he nodded rather enthusiastically.

Talathes picked up the boy and sat him on the counter of the receptionist desk and finished signing the papers which gave her custody of her nephew. Once they were done she picked him up and walked out onto the street where she stood him on the ground. 

She said, “Give me your hand Torion, it’s dangerous for you to walk by yourself.”

She led him though the winding streets of Caras Parth-Galen to a tidy little tailor’s shop where she had all of her own clothes made.  As they walked in the tailor came to the front and smiled, “Ah Talathes, it is always a pleasure to see you. What can I do for you today?”

Talathes bowed and revealed her nephew who had somehow found himself back inside the cape. She replied, “Allow me to introduce my nephew Torion. He just loves this cape that you made me Rirosson. We are here now to see if you could make him one to match.”

Rirosson smiled kindly and looked the boy over. He rubbed his chin and walked around to where Torion was and knelt down and asked, “Torion, is it? Would you please allow me the honor of making your cape?”

Torion looked at his aunt who nodded and said, “Go on, its ok.”

Looking back at the tailor Torion nodded shyly. Talathes, knelt beside her nephew and asked, Can I hold onto your stuffed bird while he measures you for your cape?

Torion looked at his aunt and then at his stuffed bird and back at Talathes. He suddenly looked very serious and said gravely, “Natphen is my best friend, don’t lose him.”

Talathes saluted her nephew and said in her most serious officers voice, “I shall look after Natphen with my very life.”

The boy giggled and held out his stuffed bird to his aunt she tenderly took it from the boy then motioned for him to turn around so the tailor could begin to measure him. He was scared at first, but quickly warmed up as the tailor told jokes and made him laugh. Finally, after about ten minutes they were finished. Rirosson walked back behind the counter and took out his big notebook and made a new entry writing carefully Torion’s name and measurements. Rirosson inquired, “What style should the cape be Ms. Anuriel? I know of many very fashionable children’s styles.” 

Talathes turned to her nephew and asked, “Well, Torion, would you like to look at the different styles?”

Torion shook his head and said, “I wan’ one like aun’ Ta’athes.”

Rirosson smiled broadly and said, “Well it seems settled then. One Childs Royal Air Corps cloak made to order coming up.”

“How much will it be Mr. Rirosson, and how long?”

Rirosson brought out a pad of paper and calculated it up and said, “Twenty gold crowns, and I can do it now if you would like.”

Talathes nodded and said, “We will go get something to eat and come back.”

“That will be perfect, by the time you return it will be done.” Rirosson replied.

Talathes took Torion by the hand and led him back outside. As they walked Torion began to sniffle then cry. Talathes knelt down and asked what was wrong. Torion told her that he was tired. She sighed and looked at the small boy standing there rubbing his eyes, so she scooped him up in her arms and began carrying him. She received several looks from others as she was well known in this part of the city for not ever wanting to have children in favor of being in the Royal Air Corps. They went to her house where they ate and Talathes tried to make Torion feel at home. She showed him the room where he would stay once they got his stuff from his parents’ house. Once they were finished with lunch they returned to the Tailor’s shop where Mr. Rirosson presented Torion his cape with great fanfare making he boy giggle and smile. Talathes looked at her nephew and thought to herself ‘It won’t be so bad really having Torion around from now on’

Torion strutted around the shop with his new cape swishing it and taking it on and off. Talathes clapped and laughed proudly as her nephew looked happier than he had all day. 

Author's Note

I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the dialogue. I always feel as though it is clunky

Reviews

[NewWriterOldWorld]

Dialogue flows fairly good man, seems realistic enough! As a story writer, I think a good chunk of us feel the same way you do when writing dialogue.

I like the piece! It's a feel-good story and flowed cohesively.

My only critique, and this is one that I still REALLY struggle with, is using made up names. I feel like it's such a slippery slope because if the names come off a little awkward, it can bring a whole lot of unwarranted negative attention. That is especially sad when the story is well written.

Just something to consider when you are using exotic names.