Deirdre wasn't the motherly sort. She'd raised Ciara as best she could, but it wasn't something that came naturally to her and now her daughter was grown they were happy enough to live their own lives apart. So it was strange to find herself so drawn to Niamh, now.
They were wary of each other at first. Just how was a fox supposed to talk to a rabbit? Still, Ciara was absolutely devoted to the child and Deirdre knew that Niamh was more than willing to risk her life for Ciara's sake. That alone made Niamh worth getting to know. But as they went along, Deirdre found that she genuinely liked her daughter-in-law. Niamh was a quiet sort of girl, and maybe too fond of books for her own good, but she had a core of steel and she never hesitated to stand up for herself when she had to. She never let anyone frighten her.
The only real sorrow Niamh ever mentioned was that she had never had a chance to get to know her own mother. Bébinn had died when Niamh was only three years old and, sometimes, when Niamh was feeling down she turned to Deirdre looking for something more than just a friend. Deirdre was startled by Niamh's need the first time it happened, but she was secretly glad of it as well. It made Niamh happy and Deirdre was grateful to be wanted for something other than her skill with a sword.
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