Both Lorna and Tamen smiled softly and ate their stew as they watched the young men and women of their camp interacting with one another.  At the first mention of snow ball fights Thomas had lept off of Lorna's lap grabbed Dalia's hand and said, "Come on you have to get me dressed to go outside."  Dalia had smiled and said, "Eat your lunch first then we'll all go."  So not wanting to be left out Thomas went and wolfed down his lunch before going back to pestering Dalia into helping him put on his outer clothing for outside.  But Dalia waited until Mira had set Tamarah down before taking the twins and Dustin with her back towards their hearth to get dressed up in their warm clothing.<br/><br/>The two oldest members of the camp exchanged comments with each of the young adults as they all began to wander off for their outing to the great outdoors.  When everyone was gone except the two of them Tamen got up and went over to the stew pot and helped himself to another large bowl of stew.  Seeing the soft smile play across Lorna's lips he chuckled lightly saying, "What?  I shall need my strength if I am going to go out there and try to tackle the task of making friends with that horse."  Lorna had only giggled a little as she finished off her own bowl of stew thinking about her children and just how fast they were really starting to grow up.  Especially Mira and Dalia who were being forced by circumstances to grow up much faster than either of them truly deserved.  And now with all of them gone off to go outside the silent tears which had been threatening to spill all morning began to fall down her cheeks.<br/><br/>Tamen was not blind to his old friends plight.  Lorna and his wife had grown up together and so after Lorna's husband had left Lorna had spent many nights after the children had gone to sleep speaking with both Reyna and Tamen. Well technically Tamen only really listened as he worked away at one carving or another as the women folk talked to one another.  So after cleaning his bowl out Tamen sat down next to Lorna and wrapped one of his strong arms around her to offer her what support he could.  Neither of them spoke much they didn't have to.  Each of them fully understood the losses each of them had endured.<br/><br/>Tamen kept his arm around Lorna until she had let her tears run their course before sitting back up and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.  "Are you going to come and join in the festivities outside?"  Tamen asked.  "No... I don't think so... not right now anyway.  Someone has to be here to serve lunch to Oena and Vanyel."  Nodding Tamen added, "Are you going to be alright?"  Lorna looked up into Tamen's eyes  before softly replying, "Are you?"  These were the same to questions that they often asked of each other in various ways.  Tamen of course was the first to look away as he always was.  Lorna's pain was old and deep while his was new yet not any less deep than her own. They had each tried to give each other as much aid and support as they could but neither of them really felt as though they were very successful.  After all how successful could one be to bring true comfort to another person when they found it very difficult to allow themselves any real comfort of their own.<br/><br/>"Well I guess I better get going before the daughter of my hearth decides to send a search party to come and find me.  She's been hinting that I should go outside all morning long... so if I don't go now I'll likely never hear the end of it later tonight as we sit have our evening tea."  Lorna giggled a little at this statement then somewhat playfully she said, "Well get out of here then you big ox...  Ayshia is a beautiful young woman, I sure would hate to be the one to break her heart by keeping her father from what should be a fun afternoon."<br/><br/>Tamen stood gripped Lorna's shoulder in silent support before heading towards the horse annex.  He had long ago been keeping extra clothing in there so he really wouldn't need to head back to the Crane hearth.