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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hewligan" data-source="post: 4208789" data-attributes="member: 19688">karothen was pleased to finally be able to help. When the meal finished, the family slowly filtered out of the room as if on a course of action so ingrained that no words were necessary. They moved to the front porch, where a gentle rain was falling lazily beyond the safety of the timber porch roof. He could smell the soft smoke from Eldan's grandfather's pipe filter through from the front of the building, but heard no noise, no conversation, no idle chatter about the weather.I am going to get wet on the way home, thought Karothen.He noticed Eldan was moving now, clearing plates. He moved to help, lifting items and scraping what small scraps remained into the empty potato pot. The pigs would eat the scraps. That was the way. Nothing would be wasted.He moved automatically, shadowing Eldan, noticing that Jeillia had risen, as if to help, but had then just stood there, looking towards the front door. Her face a mask.The two young men moved together, laden with plates, to the kitchen. A bowl of water sat atop the wood burning stove, warmed with the embers of the spent fire that had been used to prepare the meal. Eldan lifted it with two wrapped towels, and placed it near the back door. One by one he dipped and scrubbed the dishes, handed them to Karothen, who shook and wiped them dry, before placing them together on the central table. Soon the work was done. Neither man had thought to speak during their labour.At last Karothen spoke. Jeillia is quiet. Is she still angry with me?The crease of confusion on Eldan's face made Karothen realise that he probably knew nothing of her outburst.She came to me, to repair something. A thing ... I don't know ... a ... thing? He creased up his face in frustration, unable to express himself. I tried to fix it, but I must have done it wrong. It was difficult for me. I didn't know what it was meant to look like. Well, anyway, I wanted to return it to her. That is all. She left it. It isn't mine. I need to return it to her. Should I go talk to her? he asked, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.</blockquote>

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