Out of sheer habit and the fact her face did not like to appear in any way upset or annoying – as though it has a mind if its own – Cheila returned the smile before dropping her eyes to her hands. She had managed to tangle her fingers in the material of her dress; the long flowy white one that looked as though it has swallowed her feet. Perhaps that made it alright that she was not wearing shoes… ‘Cheila.’ Oh, Caelia wished for a drink of water, yes? ‘Yes.’ Turning on her heels perhaps faster than she would usually have done, she left the hall for the twins to give their oldest sister their attentions and so she might breathe. And, naturally, fetch her sister a glass if water’ a role that their mother would usually have taken on, or else delegated to the oldest child present. Was that not her recently? No, Cheila did not think she liked playing the part of the oldest sister, in this or many other things, though she would never rightly saying no to her siblings or moither. Except in one thing – if Kiana was not speaking of the march then Cheila did not know how to answer Aetheria’s question and was not full sure she should. So even as her contemplative frown faded back into her usual expression, Cheila’s tone was still a little awkward as she offered Caelie her water. “You know you are welcome to more than just water,” she added, suddenly aware it was a little late for that. “Though there is nothing wrong with it, of course.” ‘I don’t think Caelia think you’re insulting her drink, daydreamer.’
“Died?” Cheila’s eyes opened wide with horror and she automatically touched each of the twins’ hair before letting go – just to make sure they really were there. How could people die on a march for peace? That was horrible. Taking Lala down from her head, she let the little bird perch upon the back of her hand. “May the gods watch over the survivors…” Perhaps their mother would know the appropriate hymns and such for this kind of incident, for Cheila did not. She did not even know exactly what had happened. That did not mean she wouldn’t mourn the deceased that night. For a minute, while she tried to make sure in her mind that she knew Dashiell was in the house, she forgot that she did not truly wish to be in the same room as Caelia – ‘Yes you do.’ - or that she did not feel at all abandoned by her big sister. Until Caelia confirmed that she had been worried about them. “Mother worries about you,” she stated, looking up. Cheila did not do guilt trips, but she did state facts at what she saw to be appropriate moments. “When would you have visited if you had not thought us hurt?” Similarly, where others made accusations, she asked perfectly innocent questions. She wasn’t looking to upset anybody, she simply wanted an answer. Lala immediately went to pester the twins for their sandwiches. She did not want to be a part of that awkwardness.