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Post by padmavati on Apr 8, 2008 22:39:16 GMT -6
Despite still living within the Briar Rose Inn, our Padmavati has managed to keep structure and education a constant in the lives of the Raviraj children. There were morning chores to do, as delegated by the Innkeeper, and daily lessons were recieved in the gardens by Padma herself. The worlds of different cultures, languages, basic Math skills, reading and writing, and ideas worth it to note were always being touched on in their young, impressionable minds. Something else she wanted established in the children was getting use to the city, so it no longer felt foreign, but more like home.
This day, It was still rather early in the morn when the children were gathered and the small group of five headed out into Turas Lan for a while. They stopped by Carnival Lane, where energies were spent playing with the gypsy children while Padma could not help but browse through some furnishings she thought to be perfect for the house by the sea. Though she didn't technically own it yet, she's gone back twice already to.. check up on it. Next it was on to the docks where they watched ships come and go, taking advantage of the warmer weather that was beginning to settle in over Skye.
They were discovering something not so easily come by in India: freedom. Absolute and beautiful. Freedom that had a part of Padma wishing she too could fight for it. But with her children, it was not to be so. Though should the fight ever come to her... It was near noon when they wandered into the Templar Hall, a place neither children nor parent had seen yet. Their steps were muffled against the wooden floors, their voices carrying through out the massive structure. "What is this place, Padma?"
Cloudy eyes looked over from the small two year old happily bouncing at her feet over to her eldest girl, Lalit. "It is the Templar Hall. Templar Knights meet here while scholars and those with a thirst for knowledge gather, learn, and share what they know."
"Will we get to see an actual knight???" This time her attention drifted over to Prabodhan, the dark skin, bald headed boy no more than seven winters. The boy who often reminded her of a monk with his basic clothing and the way he looked upon the world with a serene countenance.
"I do not know." She replied with a smile, her words laced in that enticing Indian accent. "If not today then someday."
"I hope we do SOON." That smile broadened.
"MEHMOOD!" Having been looking over the exterior of the Hall, the loud voice of her eldest boy, Amani, caused her body to twitch in surprise. Looking over, she caught a glimpse of him chasing after little Mehmood, who held in his hand one of Amani's toys and was running away! "Amani! Mehmood!" She tried to yell without being too loud but it was too late. Amidst the other voices and sounds of the Templar Hall, one boy bounding after another was still quite loud. Padma went to go after them but after glancing to the side, she saw that Prabodhan was no longer where he once was. Welp. That was what she got when bringing three boys with her. Unexpectedness.
"Please, go after them, Lalit and catch them before they cause any unwanted trouble. I will go look for Prabodhan." The beauty of a young girl gave an obedient nod of her head before disappearing on the trail of Amani and Mehmood. Heaving a heavy breath as strands of wavy hair were pushed behind a shoulder, Padma started off in the opposite direction. Her gaze danced around the Hall in search for her little one, peering around bends. It was then she caught sight of the Lady Eirian in the middle of teaching a class. She had forgotten that the Lady taught here as well as the Hall of Guilds.
A radiant smile curled her lips as she offered Eirian a finger wave, almost completely passing them by before stopping mid-step. A familiar sight caught her attention in the class. It was Prabodhan! The little sneak was sitting in the back, trying to blend in with the others as he listened to the teachings being given. Padma could not say she was surprised to see such, for the boy enjoyed learning unlike any other.
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Post by Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius on Apr 12, 2008 16:49:45 GMT -6
"The great gods and goddesses of empire's past tell us much about what we believe now, and who they may have become. Did Aphrodite become a saint, or Apollo a patron for artisans and people of science? Yesterday we talked about Zeus and Hera. Now that the warm seasons are here, it is a good time to talk of Demeter and her daughter Persephone." Books opened as neighboring pupils strained to see if they were on the same page as their fellows. Crisp, stiff parchment turned again and again until the passages discussing the Goddess of the Grain, Seasons, and her daughter were found.
The Order of the Knights Templar enjoyed the ability to patron the Scottish island to the contentment of means without persecution. Outlandish, outrageous moral charges that screamed in Europe for their burning fell to nothing but pish-tosh disregard in Turas Lan. Tall marble columns lifted lofty idealism to the heights of opulant granedur to be shared with those who came inside. Knowledge was eternal, marked here by the passage of seasons, moon, and stars instead of by the unsavory ability to switch opinion in the space of an hour. Eirian had dabbled in the stuff of the learned but never thought to become addicted to the sage's wine. It became important to her that there was time to spend with books, the loom, and all her arts alike.
Let it never be said that the Lady had the true capability of lounging like an nondescript child of leisure! Boundless energy reached out to inspire, investigate, and perhaps even instigate a time or three. Among her students was an unlikely candidate who wanted to make for himself a place in the seat of the learned. A scholar ought be serious but only a jovial smile was given to the secret pupil seated behind taller people. She could turn no one away and would not begin now. Philosophy, religion history, rhetoric, dance, and the arts. What at first was a handful of daughters and three sons was now a plethora of young men with multitudes of young girls starving for the invigoration and challenge she provided. As it was, the class consisted of both sexes at present, chaperones, and the little boy who caught her eye.
He watched every step that she took from the front of the gathering to the back of the room, knowing that her eyes had never left him alone as much as one might have thought. His dark skin, bright eyes. She recalled them before when Padma had slid in from beyond the door into the little world of learning here in. " Read the passage and discuss it among yourselves, in a little we will discuss it together, after which you gentleman may go continue on with your knight's training, your masters will expect you in the chapel. Ladies, we will commence with our dancing so we may enchant them with our steps later..
Her thoughts manifested in the form of the woman herself! As Eirian lifted a hand to wave, the mother's gaze darted off to the curious boy in the back of the room. Ah, so he had gone off had he? What a strange place for a boy to run astray!
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Post by padmavati on Apr 18, 2008 14:37:44 GMT -6
Then there was silence. Faces dissapeared behind opened books when given their cue, including that of Prabodhan. The young feiry red head next to him had offered to share a book and even though he couldn't read much English, he readily accepted. Padmavati didn't seem in much of a hurry. She looked... almost amused as stormy eyes watched on, arms crossing beneath her chest and a shoulder leaning against the cool wall. It was only a matter of time, she knew. It took few minutes before it was almost as if something had struck Prabodhan and he instantly looked over at her waiting ever patiently, those chocolate-black eyes widening in sudden realization!
"Padma! I am sorry, Padma. I know I should not run of-" The boy had come bounding up to her after the class began their varied discussions but was cut off as she bent over to his level. Her hand came out to lightly grasp his little chin, raising it so that the contrast of gentle and sharp eyes could meet. "Save your words for someone who does not know you as well as I do." Padma grinned. "Just.. always remember to tell me where you are going. Always, okay?" She inquired gently, moving her hand from his chin to cup the soft skin of a cheek, looking genuinely pleased when Prabodhan nodded in eager understanding.
"That goes for you both as well." The discussions were well underway when Amani and Mehmood approached in front of Lalit, both recieving a disapproving shake of her head. "You lot know better than to run off when we are out like this. No more, alright?" A little something was spoken in their native tongue to the youngest one, Mehmood, and after they nodded slowly in their agreement, that stern look etched across her face melted away and Padma could not help but smile. She poked them playfully, causing them to replace their.. child-like shame for laughter. "Alright, go sit over there with Lali and Bodong. I will be back." She could not help but protect as much as she could while not clipping their wings.
After ushering them over to where Prabodhan (affectionately nicknamed Bodong, no miss spell here lol) and his new friend sat, Padma stretched out her legs to their full length. There were things... ideas and notions that were coming to mind for the first time. She was dreaming big things in a new world of freedoms and she could think of no one better to discuss these particulars with than the Lady Artisan herself. "Good afternoon Eirian." Hands were brought up before her, laid out flat together, and Padma bowed respectfully in custom. She stood a small distance away from where she taught. "I apologize for the unexpected intrusion. I would be lying if I said it did not happen often." As always her tones were kept normal, soft, and overall pleasant. "Though I am glad he did for it brought to mind things I would like to speak with you on when you've the time outside of classes."
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Post by Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius on Apr 23, 2008 2:08:29 GMT -6
"My door is open to you now, come, my students are at work," the woman stepped back into a curtsy, but instead of putting her hands down to pick up the fabric, she pressed them together and let her body incline forward. Two worlds melded in a common thread of cultural experience that would bind them fast as friends. "How can I be of service, Padma?"
Milicent, the lass the boy had taken to, showed him the wonders of the passages by explaining to him the words as best as her understanding allowed. So many of them! He was spellbound until sumomned by mother's words he had to heed. Eirian did not break the enchantment,but encouraged it. Why toss him out of a house of learning if he came with cupped hands to drink from the well, needing to be satiated?
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Post by padmavati on Apr 25, 2008 18:19:37 GMT -6
A wide, closed mouth smile was given in Padma's gratitude to Eirian accompanied by a quick nod. Now worked better than later though it forced her to think on what was to be said. Fluid steps brought her behind where Eirian taught from in the front, resting the small of her back against a low set shelf. For a moment, she watched the back of the room as her brood drew in a few others eager to help and teach. Endearing, it is, to see the children of India and Skye meld together as if they hadn't been from worlds apart. Finally that gaze tore away to look over and settle on the Lady Artisan.
"In India, my husband and I, we would take in those children who were homeless or orphaned and give them a home. I would teach them as my husband taught me, mold them, help them. My four are the last to come into our care before my husband passed away and we left India." She had glanced over to Lalit and her boys at their mention before returning her attention back to Eirian. "Anyway.. I do not like to admit, but I was... discouraged to see that there were no homeless children running the streets here." It sounded silly and perhaps selffish at best.
"But it has forced me to look beyond that in to other things I can do. My husband.. left to us after his passing the fortune he made through out a long life. I have decided that I want to use it to help the advancement of young girls and children here. Spark in young girl's an independence, intelligence, and strong mind. Teach boys not to look upon the fairer sex as inferior.. but as their fair equals. Perhaps establish schools, apprentice schools, where there are few or none. Speak and work on behalf of child care and education. Take in young girls to work with personally.. teach mixed classes." A half smile was seen at that. It was a lot, to be sure, and of course it wouldn't all be attempted at one time, but they were her hopes for the future. "What do you think?"
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