Hard Winters RPG

[Folwren]

With Léof’s arms around his middle, Eoghan reached out both hands and laid them against the mare’s side. Cinderfoot switched her tail about, but Eoghan barely flinched as it hit him across the face. His mouth opened into a little ‘o’ and his eyes widened as he felt the stretch and movement of the foal inside the swollen belly. He turned his head to look up at Léof and a slow, huge smile spread across his face. He looked back at the mare and kept his hands splayed on her side.

They stood thus for over a minute until Léof set Eoghan back down. The boy stood to the side while Léof finished checking her over. Although he said nothing as he watched, the child stood with a thoughtful air about him, and it was clear a thought was growing and hatching in his mind.

At length, when Léof was almost finished with his work, Eoghan finally found voice for what he had in his mind. “Do you think the baby horse could be mine?” he asked. “Papa says I am to learn soon to ride. I need a horse.”

Ruari and Saeryn

Ruari drew back and looked at the flowers in Stefnu’s hand. She tilted her head a little to one side and narrowed her eyes in consideration. She took another step back.

“I don’t like flowers,” she announced, and turned away and climbed up onto the bench.

She had scarcely returned to her original position when Saeryn re-entered the kitchen. “Are those oats about done?” she asked Ledwyn. Then, looking around and catching Stefnu’s rather displeased, even hurt, expression, she stopped in her tracks and asked, “What is the matter?”

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Stefnu felt deep disappointment at being rejected by Ruari; she had imagined the little girl would like the flowers. But it seemed this was not the case. At least not now, who knows if it wasn't just her mood at this moment?

"What is the matter?" Lady Saeryn asked.

Stefnu looked at her, forcing herself back to smile.

"Ah well," she said, laying the flowers back on the empty shelf. "Ruari wanted to make her porridge more special, I suggested making it prettier with some flowers. I should have known it was not her thing," she finished, smiling apologetically.

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine nodded. "I will hold court today and this will be announced." His head jerked and his brow furrowed; he looked at Scyld with concern. "This could be harder for you than it might otherwise be, because of your name. I do not think that I want to share the secret of your name, everyone else calling you Nydfara. Even were you to choose to be Nydfara henceforward, I do not want to own the secret with you of your former name. If you are to be at Scarburg, you must be Scyld, and that must be explained to the folk here, and they must be told the truth. I do not see another way. What say you?"

Scyld nodded slightly; it was awkward - everything about this conversation and Eodwine's coming announcement was awkward. But he had given this matter plenty of thought himself, and wasn't it partly fear of his true name being revealed that had driven him to Linduial? Though it had not occurred to him to continue using Nydfara as his name. "It shall be as you say," Scyld answered. "I think I shall go by Scyld again, though if there are any who would prefer to still call me Nydfara, I would not mind."

Eodwine smiled with a cock of his head. "That is fair enough." I can think of one young lady among our folk who may prefer it as a term of endearment, he thought to himself since she knows him better than most by it. "But we need to work out before then what need be said and what need not. I would that you and I agree on it now."

Scyld considered a moment what he might prefer left unsaid to the Hall at large before a realization struck him. Though he doubted Eodwine meant it as a trap, Scyld could see the question as nothing else. If he asked for anything not to be shared, it would be to make himself look better by hiding something. Eodwine had made his thoughts on duplicity quite clear; Scyld did not wish to be seen as immediately falling back into his secretive ways. "To me, it seems clear that my role in both the kidnapping and rescue of Lady Linduial must be told," he said. "Beyond that, you know your folk better than I; what do you think they deserve to know?"

Eodwine smiled. "If you are willing that these things be told, then I can think of nothing that need be held back. I shall tell Thornden and the others to ready for court today."

"I am willing," Scyld said. Not entirely true, but what else could he say? He had not expected anything he told the Eorl to remain secret anyway.

"Good. I will see the thing arranged, for later today. Now I must see to affairs around Scarburg, I have been too idle of late." Eodwine rose, bid Scyld good parting, and left the Mead Hall.

[Firefoot]

Leof thought for a moment for a tactful way to answer the boy's question. He did not wish to hurt Eoghan's feelings, but it would be many years before he was experienced enough to raise and train a young, spirited horse.

"Well," said Leof, "It will be several years before Cinderfoot's foal will be old enough to ride, and training a young horse also takes a long time. Wouldn't you rather have a horse that you could start riding now?"

[Galadriel55]

Ledwyn had no time to speak to Lady Saeryn quietly about Ruari’s brash attempt. Saeryn’s manner was brisk and commanding, and Ledwyn felt herself turn away to check the oats boiling in the pot, though she sensed it would be better to speak now.

But when Stefnu spoke, Ledwyn’s anger blazed. This surprised her, for she did not oft seethe at past remarks and never flew into a rage. She put her spoon down harder than she meant to, splattering oatmeal on the table. She would wipe it later, she decided.

“The oats are still too hard, Lady Saeryn,” she said stiffly. “Your daughter was beseeching me for honey, and when I refused she turned to others.” Now Ledwyn was beginning to regret her outburst. Was she tattling on a child who did not even live to one fifth of her age? She felt like a little girl; she could not even bring herself to say Stefnu’s name. She wanted to finish this quickly and quietly. “I do not think breaking your fast needs to be more special in any way than it is every day. No matter how little a girl is,” she added to Stefnu, with the last of her bitterness.

[Folwren]

Saeryn sent Ruari a warning glance. The little girl tilted her eyes downward and pretended she had not seen it. “Ruari doesn’t need her porridge more special, anyway,” Saeryn said, pointedly. “I agree with you, Ledwyn,” she said. “Perhaps Ruari has been too privileged of late.”

“The men are hungry,” Saeryn said, a little more cheerfully and dismissing for the moment Ruari’s rather too forward behavior. “Rowenna is already out there serving water. Ledwyn and I will take out the bread. Stefnu and Kara, follow with the porridge when it is done.”

They each picked up their burden and went out into the hall. Modtryth and Brith picked up stacks of bowls and wooden spoons and followed them. Ruari watched them go, her hands folded on the table in front of her. Stefnu and Kara stayed by the stove, stirring the two pots a minute or two longer, then they too went out. The door closed behind them and Ruari took a long, slow look around.

Slowly, she climbed down from the bench. She found a three legged stool in the corner and dragged it over to the shelves. She climbed up and carefully surveyed each shelf in sight. She saw what she looked for without much delay and reached for the pot of honey.

[Folwren]

Eoghan considered Léof’s words solemnly. After careful thought, he nodded his agreement. “Yes. Is there a horse here I could ride?”

Before Léof could answer, the bell in the courtyard was rung, signaling breakfast served. Eoghan turned his head and momentarily the thought of a horse was put from his mind.

“Breakfast is ready!” he cried, a little too loudly. Cinderfoot raised her head and for the briefest instant the white in her eyes showed as she stared down at Eoghan. The boy grimaced apologetically. “Sorry,” he said more quietly.