Eorling Mead Hall

[Folwren]

Thornden smiled and drew back a moment after Stigend asked his question. His arms came off the back of the chair and his hands wrapped around the sides. “I haven’t done very much building, really,” Thornden said. “But I would be willing to put my mind and hands to it, if you’d be willing to try to teach me.”

His small smile was returned in full from Stigend. The carpenter was glad to hear that. Thornden then asked what all had been done that day, and the two men began to give a detailed account. Garstan had apparently finished most of the stonework. The ovens were completed and all that was left was to place a few more stones in the hearth, so that it extended some three to four feet from the fire place in a half circle.

“Ran out of daylight today, or I would have done it all,” Garstan said. “It won’t take very long at all.”

Stigend then explained what he had done. More work on the beams and other wood that would soon begin to be put in place. Thornden listened with interest and when Stigend had done, he asked another question.

“So, tomorrow, you say, you’ll be in need of a few steady hands?”

“In a day or two, anyway,” Stigend corrected.

“Good. Well, then, unless Eodwine has need for me elsewhere, I will be more than happy to help you.” He stood up as he spoke and moved the chair from beneath him. “Thank you very much for the account of today. I hope all turns out well with your children. I am going to make certain that my own two charges are getting ready to turn in and then I think I will do so myself. Goodnight.”

The two men said goodnight as well and Thornden turned and left the hall. He went slightly and quickly upstairs and opened his door softly to see if Javan had gone to bed. He had, and he was sound asleep, snoring softly as he lay on his back. Thornden left again at once and went back down stairs to Lys’ room. This bedroom was empty and the bed still made.

“He must still be outside!” Thornden said quietly to himself as he went back out. “I’ll look to see.” He did so accordingly and upon exiting the building saw Lys almost at once, seating with his back against the wall and his head tilted upwards. Thornden stopped and looked, somewhat surprised to see Lys sitting alone. He approached in a moment and knelt on one knee in front of him. He touched the boy’s hand and Lys looked down. “What are you doing out here?” Thornden asked. “I thought that by now, you’d be in bed, what with everything you’ve done today. Aren’t you worn out?”

[Celuien]

Thornden walked away, leaving Garstan and Stigend alone once more.

"We still have the matter of Garmund and Cnebba, Stigend. I do not like Garmund's jealousy and would have this settled. It has been hard on him, maybe, to live here after we had been wanderers for so long, but I had not thought it would be so. I do not think that he means to be angry with Cnebba. Neither do I think that Cnebba means to make Garmund angry with him."

Stigend added, "The worst of it is that they were friends at first. I was glad to see their friendship, all the more so because my family has found few friends before now. I too would see this ended."

Garstan cried, "Then let us have an end to it tonight! My headstrong boy will not tell me his mind, but he will tell Cnebba. And Cnebba should tell Garmund his answer. Maybe when they have spoken they will see the folly of this rivalry."

"And if they do not?"

Garstan frowned, not liking his answer. "Then I fear that our children must be kept apart for a time. Until they learn to miss each other's company and are able to behave well together again. Shall we gather the two of them and meet in our rooms?"

[Nogrod]

"I do agree with you on this one. We should all talk this over, not just us two, but all of us, everyone... and tonight if possible. The sooner the better." Stigend said looking at his friend to the eye. Garstan nodded in return.

"Would you three come to our room upstairs? We have more space in there and if I recall it rightly you haven't visited our quarters as a family yet?" Stigend added, now already smiling a bit, an assuring look on his face.

"We will accept your invitation. We'll be there in a moment." Garstan replied and turned to leave.

"By the way. Let's also think of different solutions to our problem too? If we could give Garmund and Cnebba a challenge that would force them to trust and count on each other? That might make them friends again, even stronger friends as they were. I would be very happy to see that. But it might make it even harder for us to bring them back again if it goes wrong." Stigend called after Garstan who was already on his way.

Garstan stopped and turned to answer after a second of thought.

"I'll promise to think of a challenge. It sounds good indeed - if we just can come up with a good one... See you soon!" Garstan called Stigend and continued towards his quarters.

Slowly Stigend turned around too and started climbing the stairs wondering what Modtryth and Cnebba had been talking about meanwhile and what would be the mood in there as he would enter their room.

[Thinlómien]

Cnebba sat on the floor, playing with his favourite wooden horse made by his father. Modtryth sat on the bed, patching Cnebba's old trousers. Both were in deep thought.

"Mum?"
"Yes, Cnebba?"
"What's going to happen this evening?" He was trying to make his voice disinterested and indifferent.

Modtryth laid her work on the bed. "Once your dad comes, we must discuss." Cnebba turned around to face her, still holding the horse. "Me too?" "Yes, you too, Cnebba." She made a little pause before continuing. "And eventually, we three will discuss with Garstan, Garmund and Léodern." Cnebba made no reply, but turned his back to his mother again, and started playing again.

Modtryth sighed and took up the needle and the cloth.

[Kath]

"Then I will demote her to head cleaning girl, and make you hostess. That is my thought." He sighed. "And maybe a bad one. I have let my own wishes get in the way of what is best, and I am sorry for it. I think we will all three of us do well to sleep on this and speak more of it later. Good night, Kara."

Shocked at Eodwine's words it took Kara a moment to realise he was leaving, but as his good night fell she jumped up from her seat and took his sleeve between her fingers to gain his attention and stop him. Of any talk that had gone by tonight this was the most startling to Kara and she was determined to put an end to it now.

"My lord, I agree that sleep would do us all well, but not if all it will do is encourage this latest thought. If you demote Saeryn now it would be as though you were punishing her for not wishing to marry you."

Eodwine's mouth opened in protest but Kara barely noticed, agitated as she now was, and she swept on.

"Even if that is not your meaning the gossips that speak of your every move will certainly make something of it, and Saeryn too will be hurt by such a decision. She has thoughts to leave, Eodwine, you know that. Treating her like a, a child will only encourage those thoughts. If she believes she isn't wanted here or that she is a burden to you she will not stay."

Kara paused a moment to let Eodwine absorb what she had said and to give herself a chance to calm down. She was aware that her words could be seen as insulting and she had no desire to offend the man who had given her work and a home and made her feel so welcome. Still, it was important he understood what would happen if he went through with something thought up in the heat of a moment.

Softer now, with humour in her voice, she continued.

"And as for making me hostess? I have no noble blood in me and would not have the first idea of what to do. I like my position well enough thank you, lord. In any case, Frodides would have your head if you took me away now when she has just got used to sharing her kitchen. She likes Saeryn but would not take kindly to training another girl up from scratch just when she's done hammering her wisdom into the last one."

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine listened to Kara's sudden outpouring of words with a mixture of shock and subdued delight. This girl had hidden a lot of spunk up until now. It was obvious that having spent so much time with Frodides had added some spice to the girl's delivery, and Eodwine liked that too. He liked most of all the common sense and earthy, homey wisdom coming from Kara. Now she was waiting, with some mild shock at her own forwardness, for his reaction. She seemed just a little frightened.

He smiled. "This is why I wanted you to stay and listen, for I do not wholly trust myself in matters touching the lady Saeryn. You speak sense. And a fine cook and ruler of the kitchen you'll make if and when Frodides decides to bequeath the title upon you. I will take your advice, Kara, and make no decisions in haste. You are right about Saeryn, I deem. We shall see how she acts on the morrow.

"I fear that the words of the Queen today, as well as those of the King, have tripped me up a bit, and I am as unsettled as a foal trying out his legs for the first time. A good night's sleep it is, then, and I want you to see yourself to bed in not too long a time either! And now, good night, and pleasant dreams!

"Unless there is anything else?"

[Kath]

Blushing at the unexpected praise as well as in relief that she wasn't being sent packing for so boldly arguing with the Eorl Kara shook her head. The mention of the King and Queen had her curious but she could see the tiredness in Eodwine's eyes and was sure that her own reflected the same.

"No, lord. I'm glad that you will take the time to think this over but you are right, it is time to sleep, and I will do so just as soon as I've got this kitchen in order. Good night, and sleep well."

Eodwine smiled at her, his gaze sweeping over a room that no doubt to his eyes seemed sorted for the night already, but he made no comment. Nodding to her he left.

Truthfully there was little to do. The preparations for the morning had been done before Frodides left for the night, and Kara had finished her tidying up before sitting down for the intense conversation that had just gone by. She knew though that she needed to relax before she tried to go to bed or she would be up all night, and washing the table tops would do that nicely.

Gently she smoothed the cloth in circles, nodding and wishing a good night to those who wandered past or through the kitchen on their way home or to bed, until at last she felt calm enough to sleep. She blew out the few remaining lights and made her way upstairs.