"Well, it's not like we can just reschedule right?" Aldric smirked a bit,
"Nothing to be done. So let's just take it in stride, hm?" Of all the things they were here to do, meeting his mother should arguably be the least stressful. Still, it would be a lie to say he was completely free of frayed nerves himself, and he could understand why Valery felt that way as well. He'd certainly be a bit anxious about meeting her father or mother, if that were even a possibility.
They stepped off the ramp hand-in-hand, and Aldric gave her a reaffirming nod as they hit the small dirt path guiding the way to the Laurent farmhouse: a small little home surrounded by fields of gold. A rickety windmill loomed beside it, rotating steadily in the Dantooine breeze. It was quiet, spare the churn of the mill and the rustling of wind through grass.
Aldric was immediately struck by returning childhood memories. The house had hardly changed at all. As they got closer, the jingling of wind chimes hanging from the porch joined in the gentle symphony.
"It is," He sighed contentedly, taking in a deep breath of unspoiled air.
Despite that contentedness, he gradually slowed as they reached the front door, becoming a bit more careful with each step. It was a strange concotiion of emotions all hitting him at once. What lay beyond that entrance, he couldn't be certain. Not until they saw for themselves. With another deep breath, Aldric raised a hand, and knocked three times.
A bit of time passed in complete silence, as if no one were home. He looked to Valery curiously, and had just raised his hand to knock again, when the sound of a lock unlatching pulled his attention back. The door opened, revealing an old woman with kind features. She seemed rather healthy for her age, no doubt a consequence of self-reliant farm life. There was some notable similarity between her and Aldric, ensuring the certainty of their relation. Unlike him, she had light sandy blonde hair, though most of it has since been overtaken by gray in her growing age. It was shoulder length, wound into a tight bun, and her gentle eyes were bluish-green.
Aldric blinked, taken aback by a sight that was simultaneously familiar and different. She had aged, no doubt, but that was indeed his mother. He opened his mouth to speak, to introduce himself, but apparently she had no need for it,
"...Aldric?" The woman said, immediately recognizing her son. He broke into a smile,
"Y-yeah, mom," They embraced, and after a few long moments broke apart.
"I didn't think I was gonna get to see you again," Aldric admitted.
She smiled,
"Oh, dear, I never had any doubt." His mother finally looked at the stranger between them now, eyeing her up and down with a suspicion that seemed to indicate she at least had a guess as to who Val was to Aldric. He spoke up at first,
"M-mom, this is-" She then raised a hand to cut him off,
"I'm Edeth, Aldric's mother. You are…?" Her tone was prying, but not demanding.
