Fayth turns when she hears the horses and can't help but smile as Claude comes closer. She shakes her head and chuckles. "You? Late? Never. I'm just early." She winks,

and moves to close the distance between them, but not before picking up the bundle at her feet. She grabs Claude's leg and squeezes in greeting, shielding her eyes and looking up at him. "I don't suppose you are looking as forward to this as I am?"

 

Claude chuckles nochallantly and replies, "Well, I don't know how much your looking forward to this. However, like most things I do with you, it promises to be interesting. At least I won't be bored, eh?" His lopsided, rougish grin returns and he dips the brim on his hat, making the large, colorful feathers sway. Muscles ripple as he kinda leans over to give your shoulder a squeeze, returning the greeting, then hands you your horses reigns. "Shall we?"

 

Fayth beams, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Excited? Are you kidding me? I haven't seen my mother in years. I just know you'll love her, Claude, I just know it!" She claps her hands and giggles, before turning and moving a few steps away. She takes a deep breath, glances over her shoulder to wink once at Claude, then begins. To those with the ability to channel, the bright glow of Saidar springs up around her, growing brighter as she draws more of the power. Slowly, she weaves threads of Spirit into a complex weave, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration, and the tip of her tongue protruding from the side of her mouth. Abruptly, a slash of light appears and rapidly widens into a sharp-edged hole in the air. Grinning triumphantly at Claude, she gestures to the hole. "After you, my dear, after you."

 

Claude laughs lightly, "Like I'd let it happen any other way. We can't have you riding on to the farm followed by a man." He laughs a little harder and then digs his heels lightly into the horses flanks, guiding the animal through the gate with his knees with a practiced ease. His left hand holds firm to Summer while his right eases his blade out of its scabbard. He still looks completely relaxed, as usual. You'd think he was holding a mug of ale or a pipe.
---------------------------------
A large stallion can be seen approaching the house and immediately four people drift towards the horse. Two large men head that way from the fields and two females drift

out onto the porch from the farmhouse. Claude yawns widely, and then sheathes his blade. using his now free hand to scratch Summer behind the ears. His exposed chest can be seen to ripple as his arms flex slightly and he brings his horse to a halt. Quietly he watches the four, almost like he's bored, with his twin emerald eyes. Wait for Fayth to do the talking. (Claude)

 

Fayth stops when she sees the people coming, and the grin that erupts on her face is so large it practically stretches from ear to ear. Her eyes fill with tears of joy that blur her vision momentarily. She waves frantically, and nearly leaps off her horse in an effort to get to them sooner. "Mother! Mother!" she shouts, her voice cracking with emotion. She turns to look at Claude. "She looks tired. And father looks like he's limping...they do too much, bless their hearts."

 

Claude smiles slightly, trying to make himself look serious, and really struggling with the emotion. "Tsk tsk Fayth.." he replies quietly so no one else can hear, "If the other Sedai could see you now...What would they say?" He laughs softly and then mutters something under his breath...going back to fighting with his face, trying to make it serious. His face doesn't seem to want to cooperate. "Shall we go meet them then?"

 

Fayth turns solemn for one solitary second before her grin reappears, this time even bigger and brighter than before. A mischevious glint sparkles in her eyes as she snorts, rather unladylike. "You know precisely what they would say...and you know precisely what I think of that!" She laughs and nods. "And yes, let's go, please. I don't want them to have to walk any farther than necessary." With that, she starts moving again, practically dancing with excitement in her saddle.

 

Claude heels his mount softly and it follows after Fayth, he's finally managed to find that serious look. The bright feathers of his hat swaying gently with each of his horses steps. When they come practically up to the porch he crosses his bulky arms over his thick chest and looks very apathetic. Who knows how long he'll be able to hold this. Fayth had better talk quickly. A slight breeze picks up that makes his nose twitch, causing his nose to wrinkle and his curled mustaches to move, which almost makes him laugh, but he visably chokes down the sound.

 

This time, Fayth actually does leap out of the saddle when she gets close enough, and nearly falls on her face for her effort. Managing to catch herself and look only -slightly- clumsy, she steadies herself against her horse a moment, before breaking into a run. Reaching her father first, she is lifted into the air and swung around a full three times before he sets her down and allows her brother to give her the same treatment. When the men are through, Fayth moves on to her sister, giving her an energetic hug, then her mother, whose hug is a bit softer, though filled with no less love. Fayth apparently can't stop talking, and it is easy to tell where she picked up the habit, because she is nearly drowned out by every member of her family. Fayth allows the babbling to continue, before remembering she is not alone. Still hugging her mother's shoulders, Fayth turns her smile toward Claude, and the curious eyes of her family follow. "This is my gaidin Claude."  (Fayth)

 

Claude tips his hat rather gallantly and swings one leg over the saddle, dismounting easily and then fetching Summer so she can run to Fayth and play near her feet. Sweeping off his hat he makes a regal bow, having practiced this thousands of times at Salidar, and then straightens. Unable to contain himself much longer he grins a lopsided, rougish grin and says, "It's nice to meet you."

 

Fayth hides a smile as she's completely forgotten. Her father reaches out to clasp Claude's hand, her brother nods and returns the bow, serious as ever. Her mother and sister move to stand on either side of Claude, watching him appraisingly. "So this is the Claude we've been hearing so much about..." Her mother says. "She didn't tell us what you looked like in her letters. You certainly look like you could use a few good meals in your stomach. It's a good thing Fayth brought you along." Fayth's sister nods in agreement, and her father adds, "Trinity makes the best bread you've ever tasted." Fayth leans down to pick up Summer, and moves to save Claude from her family.

 

Claude grips Fayth's father's hand in a firm grip and shakes it in greeting. Then manages to look rather puzzled. "Meals...I knew I forgot to do something before I came..." He shakes his head, thick braids swinging and bumping into each other then lets himself be ushered off by Fayth.

 

Fayth takes Claude's elbow with one arm, and holds Summer with the other one. "All right, all right! At least let us sit down and put our things away before you go about insulting the man!" Her grin is still bright, though the initial excitement is beginning to wear off and the brightness isn't nearly as blinding. "Let me show him to the room and then you will have to fight to keep -me- from getting the first piece of the bread I just know you have in the oven, mother." She winks at Claude, and starts into the house. "Claude may be strong, but nothing gets between me and that bread..."