[Arestevana]

"Crispin, darling, Did you get any kindling? Oh, I thought I told you to spit that out!" Elsa made a grab for the piece of hay dangling from her son's mouth. He avoided her in an irritant manner, and she kept a sharp eye on the lad until she was certain he had followed her instruction, despite tripping over things as she unpacked supplies from the wagon.

"Crispin!" She called again, seeing him begin to edge toward the wagon again. "Where's your sister?" Crispin gave a careless gesture in the direction of the wagon, seemingly preoccupied. Alora poked her head out, reluctantly, probably aware that she was about to be recruited. "Come on, you two, help me get some water for everyone!" Elsa called, picking up a stack of buckets.

"Over here, Elsa!" a familiar voice called. Elsa turned and saw Peony Boffin and several of her children, also carrying buckets. "The stream is just over that hill, come with us!" Peony said warmly. Elsa smiled gratefully and followed them, aware that Alora and Crispin had run off and might prove troublesome to find. She was suddenly glad that she had agreed to allow May and Henry to watch them.

When the reached the stream, the Boffin children gleefully ran out into the water to fill the buckets. Elsa watched them, trying to recall their names. Nick and Daisy? Or is it Rose? Oh, dear, I never can remember. When the buckets were full, the Boffin girl helped Elsa carry her buckets back to the Whitfoot's wagon, while the lad, Nick, It must be Nick. Surely Bolco is older than that? helped his mother with her load.

When they had returned to the wagons, Elsa smiled gratefully at her helper. "Thank you so much--" she hesitated. "Rose. Thank you." The girl smiled shyly, and Elsa realized that even if her name was Daisy, the lass would never say so; she was too polite. The girl ran off, presumably back to the Boffin's wagon, and Elsa picked up several full buckets to take to the neighboring wagons. She made sure to deliver a bucket to Ruby Hornblower, who seemed exhausted as she tried to watch her children and set up camp at the same time.

Returning to the Whitfoot's wagon, Elsa cleared a fire circle, wondering vacantly when Kalimac and the others would return, and if they'd had any luck finding wood. Just then another of the Boffin children ran by, a girl slightly younger than those who had been with their mother at the stream. Her golden hair and cheerful laughter only made Elsa sigh. That is Rose. She thought. The other lass is Daisy. Oh, dear.