Changing from her dress into her night clothes, Deedee smiled as she recalled the events of the night. Dancing with Thy and racing her brother to finish a tall mug of ale made tonight's party one of the best of her life. Hearing a soft knock on her door, she calls for the visitor to enter, knowing that at this late hour, it must be her brother. She turns to him preparing to continue the onslaught of teases over his loss to her in their drinking contest, but is rendered speechless by the sight of him.
Standing in the dim candle light, he appears pale and is visibly shaking. Rushing to his side, she demands to know what is wrong, what has happened. He does not answer, but only raises his eyes from his interwoven fingers to meet her own. There, seemingly etched into his very soul, is her answer. Her dearest Papa, the core of her world, has left them.