1335 - The Journey Henceforth
After yet another wet winter the Chapmans found themselves feeling like they were stuck in the same season for more months than they can count. There was no urgency to stay indoors and shut the doors tight as there usually is when the winter brings blizzards across the lands yet the torrential rains and strong winds kept them cooped up inside nonetheless.
Osuald made it a routine for his eldest boys to wake up at the same time as him and so he would leave his room and wake Kristoffer and Bercthun, inviting them downstairs for breakfast. Some mornings were met with more grunts than others but they quietly abided their father's new rule and met him and their grandfather in the kitchen.
One January morning Osuald noticed that their little pup seemed to have caught some fleas as he observed a little bug spring from her fur as she scratched at it with her back paw. He hadn't spent as much time caring for her and playing with her as the others in the home so when he attempted to pick her up for a bath she nipped him as a warning. Byrhtnoth took over such duty instead to which Lady happily stayed quiet through the process.
During this winter Marissa still grieved her little baby girl that she lost towards the end of last year and pondered what could have been if she survived her early demise. The one true thing that continued to pull her out of her episodes of sorrow was Brismar; he wasn't sleeping in the cot next to her bed anymore but he always called out for her in the morning when he heard her rise from bed.
The mother was enamoured with her son's raven black hair and thought of her grandmother on her father's side. She was closest to her when she was a child but hadn't heard from her much since she moved out from home and had her troubles with Arron. As she cuddled and socialised with Brismar in her arms, fixing his dark locks and pushing them away from his small face, she wondered if she should reconnect with this long lost family member.
The father of the home however had almost fully recovered from the grief of losing his daughter. He knew Marissa would take it worse than he did as she had been acquainted with Gunnell for nine months longer than he had but even with little sadness left in his heart he still pondered the same question: what could have Gunnell been if The Watcher hadn't taken her away from them so soon?
While Marissa recovered from the loss Osuald made sure to be attentive to the boys' development and manners and pushed them to help around the home while they stayed cooped up during the winter. Kristoffer remained in charge of feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs while Bercthun was tasked to make the beds and change the bedsheets once a week. The blond boy found himself to actually quite enjoy the process of cleaning certain parts of the home and subconsciously found peace in doing it a specific way every single time.
When the weather had lightened a bit Marissa found herself suggesting something to Byrhtnoth as they ate their breakfast one Sunday morning,
"Perhaps today is a fine day to finally visit the graveyard once again? It has been over three months since Gunnell had passed... I'm anxious to see if her resting place is looking adequate." Byrthtnoth swallowed as he listened and nodded, cleaning his beard from any loose food before speaking a response.
"Sounds like a wonderful plan. Would you like to bring Brismar with you or would you prefer for me to stay home and mind him?"
"I'm not sure that a graveyard is any place for a toddler," shared Marissa with a mild frown. "He is far too young for such a place, I would be very grateful if you can spend a few hours at home with him."
"It would be my pleasure," confirmed Byrhtnoth. And with that the occasion had been set, the Chapmans would make the muddy trek to the Lughaven church and cemetery to pay their respects to Gunnell.
After approving the quickly discussed plan with her partner Marissa walked to the other home to tell the boys of their venture. Although Brismar was still too young to be present around death Bercthun and Kristoffer on the other hand were not; the two boys were there for the funeral and burial of Gunnell so it only felt appropriate that they would join their parents in visiting the graveyard.
She found the children happily socialising and playing with the dollhouse and asked them for their attention for a brief moment. Marissa asked for them to wear their good shoes to venture through the inevitable mud that came after the many weeks of rain and to meet them downstairs in the next few minutes. The boys were timely in their preparation and off went the small family through the forest, across the bridge and into Lughaven.
It always shocked them just how close they lived to the small village, still so abandoned feeling after the great famine two decades ago, and kept their eye out for any familar faces as they walked by the wooden homes and towards the church in the center of the village. Lavina seemed to be tending to her children's needs yet you could hear the faint clanging of metal coming from the smithy which Bobby worked at. Frank's old home stood abandoned since the passing of his mother several months back and to Osuald the home was unfamilar, he had never once had any memories associated with the place.
And soon they stood before the monuments, monuments of lives since passed yet stone cold proof that these lives were real. Not far from Lana's mossy green grave stood the stone plaque which was decorated with the name of Gunnell Chapman. Marissa began to sniffle first and Osuald quickly enveloped her into his arms, keeping her close to his chest while glancing towards his children. They didn't seem too happy either but no tears seemed to erupt from either of them. He gave them a weak smile and gave them a look towards the direction of the church, a silent saying of "feel free to play".
Osuald continued to console his love while Kristoffer and Bercthun didn't feel it appropriate to run around much so they stood and just talked; the ground around them was mighty mucky anyway and they both knew that it would be more of a slip and slide rather than a chase and catch. The two boys found themselves wandering between the various graves and trying to read the names engraved which none of them were very good at.
Bercthun pointed out the grave of his grandmother and his many fallen aunts and uncle, it was the first time Kristoffer had seen these plaques so he asked many questions about them. The blond boy felt a bit embarrassed that he knew so little of his family but almost all of them had been long dead before his birth so he just spoke of the few facts he could recall of Olyff that he absorbed from his grandfather.
Soon Marissa's eyes became dry and Osuald couldn't predict the next thing that his partner would suggest. In order to remember their mutual daughter, and other fallen relatives alongside her, she offered to head towards the local tavern and stop by for a meal and a drink before venturing on home. Osuald did not object to such an idea, the last time he was at that pub was on his wedding day to Lana... a touchy subject still but he was ready to see how much the place had changed, or not.
The parents called their boys over and left the cemetery together and walked a short distance before they were standing at the wooden doors to the Lughaven tavern. Inside the building smelled of crackling firewood and spilled ale and it was somewhat dead inside, very few patrons littering the tables across the hall. They did not come for a party however so the busyness of the venue did not matter much to them.
They found a pleasant table not too far from the fire and not too close to the grand doors and settled down. Osuald asked everyone what they would want as a drink and decided that they would all have the house soup alongside their beverages and so he stood from the table and walked to the barkeep. It was a younger girl, he hadn't seen her before and presumed she was the daughter of the man that owned the inn, and spoke respectfully to her while he requested his food and drink.
It wasn't a long wait to receive what they had asked for, the drinks came first and soon the stew had been plated up in a large serving bowl and placed on the elevated table before her. Everyone came over individually to receive their portions and settled back down at their table. The first while they all chewed thoroughly and listened to the distant mumbling conversations that were had several tables down and soon Osuald began his moment of reminiscing.
"Bercthun, your mother and I celebrated our wedding here many years ago," he began, placing a hand on his heart in a touching way. The boy's face lit up and he turned to look his father in the face, any mention of his mother was intriguing to him and he always wanted to hear more.
"Did you really?! How long ago was that?" spoke up Bercthun. Osuald had to remember which year it was now and do some simple subtraction, he did not want to get the numbers wrong.
"So if it is 1335 today and our marriage happened in 1328 that makes it... seven years ago! You were actually born not even a year after our wedding, you were eager to join the family!" Bercthun giggled at his father's comment and Marissa listened intently, her chest warm with glee for this bonding moment between a father and son.
Marissa used to have slight envy towards Lana, it seemed that they had the perfect marriage and perfect relationship, perfect everything, but it was all taken away so soon. But with how settled she was with Osuald and witnessing how deeply his grief took a toll on his wellbeing she couldn't fathom ever being envious once again. It was becoming a distant past every year that went by and she would simply be naive if Osuald never brought Lana up again. She would forever be his first true love, even if she had met him before Lana did, and she respected that.
"And when did she die?" asked Kristoffer suddenly and bluntly. Marissa snapped right out of her blissful moment and hissed her son's name, how was he so talented at being so impolite so often? Osuald calmed her down immediately,
"No, it's alright, it's a good question to ask if not sudden. Lana passed away in 1331, the day Bercthun's brother was born. It will be a full four years without her in April..." his voice trailed off and he stared down into his half empty bowl. His mouth felt dry and so he grabbed his tankard of ale and took a swig yet the dryness didn't seem to alleviate much. He swallowed one more time and continued,
"Four whole years, huh? It feels like just yesterday yet at once like it was a lifetime ago." He finally met eyes with Marissa and she gave him a soft smile, her brown eyes emitting a darling sparkle. They spoke at each other without words, only a glance, and in it they shared their awe in how much their relationship had developed in such a short time.
They somehow went from complete hateful strangers to friends who shared some baggage to a throbbing and steamy romance to now a comfortable family unit. Osuald felt this pang of passion that he felt had been missing from their relationship the last year or so, perhaps they would have a time and place to reignite that spark once more soon enough? Marissa thought of it too but quickly found her mind drift to Brismar, the child that introduced Arron back into her life in the most violent way possible. They were safe from his wrath but the frightful question always echoed in the back of her mind, but for how long?
"I can't remember her very well," finally said Bercthun with a twinge of regret in his voice. Osuald placed a hand on his shoulder and reassured him,
"I would be surprised if you did! You were only a year and a half old, nobody remembers anything from those years of their life! And don't forget son, I don't remember my mother either as she passed away when I was a little boy too. Didn't I turn out just fine?"
It was a rhetoric question but Bercthun still looked him up and down before nodding happily. Once all of their bowls were empty the barkeep was eager to whisk them away to wash them and so they felt ready to depart on back home. They all thanked the young lady for her service and strolled on home at a moderate pace. Everything ended up perfectly timed as just as their farmhouse came into view a minor drizzle began to fall from the sky.
Inside they could hear screaming laughter sounding from Brismar and once the parents made their way upstairs they found Byrthnoth spinning his grandson up into the air and entertaining the little boy with some physical fun. In between his giddy laughter the black haired boy yelled out "mama!" and reached towards her, wiggling his arms in a hurry to be passed over.
He collapsed into her arms and nuzzled into her hair and Marissa spoke sweet little nicknames and phrases to her boy, asking her if he missed her much. Byrhtnoth reported that their time away was nothing remarkable and that their time passed without a hitch. The old man excused himself to have dinner as the day encroached into evening and the parents let him go off babysitting duty and attend to his own needs.
The evening ended with Marissa running a warm bath for her youngest while the two older boys sat and challenged each other to a game of dominoes. As Bercthun was still somewhat new to the game of strategy Kristoffer attempted to tutor him but wasn't too good at being the masterful teacher. Marissa quietly eavesdropped on their conversations as she scrubbed Brismar's hair and washed the soapy suds away with the bathwater in which he splashed in.
To Kristoffer's displeasure it seemed that Bercthun was a better dominoes player than him, the younger boy wearing a smug expression as he accrued more points than his older brother from another mother. The ginger boy attempted to keep his anger and annoyance at bay but the game ultimately ended with him throwing the remaining dominoes on his side off of the table and getting a scolding from his mother. As she dried Brismar she promptly told the both of them to prepare for bed and that Osuald would check on them within the next hour.
Thankfully there was no need for further reprimanding as after she put Brismar to bed and before she got herself a bowl of stew for dinner she peeked into the boy's room and noticed them snuggled into their beds. With this the winter had passed and soon it was the time for rebirth and reinvigorated labour.
Brismar continued to be the shining light in the growing days for Marissa and soon her grief for Gunnell almost came to fully pass. The little boy was learning new words at an astounding speed and took pride in her shared child with Osuald, often speaking about the boy's achievements with his father over breakfast.
She also continued to be proud of Bercthun as he happily obliged to any chore the adults of the home instructed him to do. He cleaned the dishes when Marissa's hands were full with other responsibilities around the home and he even made the bedding on his end of the home every morning after eating breakfast. The Chapmans adhered to typical gender norms of the time but were not cowardly men; a woman's chore was not a sign of weakness or submissiveness in a man it was merely a sign that he cared and cherished woman's work and extended a helping hand when a lady's work was too much for her.
It was never a problem as Bercthun and Kristoffer always had time to play even with the many duties that the adults put them up to, they were children after all. Although the boys enjoyed their mutual playtime at the dollhouse they quite enjoyed to have some time alone and Bercthun found particular interest in the scrappy teddy left behind from many childhoods long gone.
Farm work was back at full swing once more at the Chapman farm and Osuald spent most of his days digging, weeding and watering the many crops they could plant. The boys helped him on occasion with the farm work but Kristoffer still lacked the interest and passion that would make the work be done quicker. Osuald couldn't blame the boy, farming was not in his blood, but he couldn't help but wonder what future the unrelated boy had in store for him.
One late spring day the parents had asked Byrhtnoth to mind the three children while the parents both took off in separate directions for some tasks they had to attend to outside of their home. Osuald hadn't fished in almost six months and had been craving a delicious and traditional Chapman fish stew and so he saddled up Sylvian and took off to the nearest pond.
It felt like it had been an eternity since he found himself in solitude with the lapping waters, only a trusty steed and the various insects and small critters surrounding his seclusion. The pond he stood at too was the one where his father taught him to fish with it being the closest fishing spot to their home. Here he caught his first minnow, a darling little catch, and he chuckled to himself when he remembered his disappointment to its size.
Marissa on the other hand still thought of her dark haired grandmother often, most often when she tended to Brismar's needs and his appearance constantly reminding her of her long lost relative. With her trust in Byrhtnoth to look after her children she ventured towards the city on foot, for she was not comfortable with her skills in horse riding, and attempted to find the home which she last remembered her grandparents living in.
She could barely remember the exact street where she spent some of her summer weeks when she was a little girl but once she noticed a certain clothier store on the corner she began her search by questioning the locals about her grandmother. After a full hour of her investigation she finally found the abode and it all began to come back to her, the many games of hopscotch she challenged the other kids to and the warm evenings she spent looking out of the second storey window and out into the ocean beyond the city's walls.
The nostalgic lady finally plucked the courage to knock on the thick wooden front door and see if she could reconnect with a forgotten past. After a lengthy wait where her nervousness bubbled ferociously in the pit of her stomach the feeling subsided and changed into disappointment as a completely unfamiliar face greeted her at the door. She quickly apologised for disturbing the residents but asked about an elderly woman that once lived here and was told what had changed.
Marissa's grandmother had passed just two years ago and she felt shame for not hearing about this tragic news in the period of its happening. She asked the new residents if they knew what had happened and they shrugged, assuming it was some typical elderly complication. They suggested for her to scour the mausoleum that stood not too far from the center of town and so that was her next destination.
She eventually found her grandmother's name etched into a small plaque on the wall of the city's mausoleum and prayed to The Watcher, asking for forgiveness for her lack of attention towards her relatives and also asking for her grandmother's soul to rest peacefully. The lady couldn't fully fault herself though as she barely remained any contact with her parents let alone her grandparents. As she emerged back into the setting sunlight she sorrowfully wondered if she would ever rekindle a civil relationship with her mother who practically sold her off into an unloving marriage at such a young age?
Back at home the children were under watchful and loving care with Byrhtnoth who with his geriatric speed chased the three boys around the perimeter of the home and when he caught them he would attack the lads with a tickle. He fed them dinner when the time arose for a meal and let the eldest two run free to challenge each other to another round of dominoes once their bowls were empty.
Surprisingly Marissa returned home first and once her own dinner was eaten and she was satiated she put her sons to bed and waited for her partner to return home. She plopped herself down onto Osuald's bed and fluffed the pillow before relaxing and taking in the comforting smells and sounds of his bedroom. It brought her even more comfort when she heard the man return on horseback and open the stable door to put Sylvian back into his rightful place.
Not long after his arrival Osuald wolfed down his dinner and made his way up the ladder and into his room to change out of his day clothes, silently surprised to spot that Marissa was lounging in his bed. He attempted to speak in hushed tones as Bercthun and Kristoffer slept in the room across from his,
"What are you doing here?" he asked with thrill in his voice.
"I've missed you today," shared Marissa with a glint in her eye. "I couldn't just go to bed without speaking to you all day." Osuald's legs guided him to the unoccupied side of his bed and just before he fully relaxed he froze up and admitted,
"I apologise, I may smell a little pond-like. I had been fishing all day and couldn't pull myself away... goodness, how I've missed everything about it." Marissa quietly chuckled at his passion yet felt a bit of guilt that he had to spend more time farming than fishing.
"I hope that soon enough, when the boys are a little older, you can share the tough responsibilities of tending to the crops with them. You deserve to immerse yourself in fishing, you seem so happy doing so."
"I really am," he smiled back. "But how was your day? Any success with your grandmother?" Marissa filled him in on her lengthy findings and he passed on his condolences about her grandmother's passing. He wrapped an arm around her as to comfort her but she assured that she was fine but appreciated his gesture nonetheless. She gave him a little peck on the cheek, right next to where his healed scar had been lightening, and he seemed to slightly melt into the bed from her gesture.
CW: very brief description of kissing and flirting.
"You know what I have missed the most between us?" asked Osuald, softly speaking into Marissa's ear. A shiver flowed down her spine as his lips hissed closely and she turned her head to almost touch her nose against his. He looked blurry in her eyes with his face being merely centimeters away from hers but she amused his question with another question,
"What could that be?" Osuald's hand began to slide up their bodies to hold her hand, fingers intertwining until they locked securely in place. He began to lightly brush the tip of his nose against her left cheek, so silky soft and loveable, until he found his mouth near her ear again.
"Something that leads from a simple kiss to something greater." His breath quickened by a margin and he exhaled onto Marissa's neck. She felt her own breath catch in her throat and felt warmer than ever once his lips pressed firmly against her skin. A few more kisses followed before Marissa pulled him away, lust building in her eyes, and they launched into passionate kissing.
Osuald lay atop his mate at an angle on the bed and their lips smacked not too loud but not too quiet. Marissa's hands wandered to begin to touch Osuald's back but he found an urge of domination inside of him and he pushed her arm back onto the blanket underneath her. Just as he was ready to kiss her again Marissa's face turned into one of shock and she whipped her head to look towards the archway between the two rooms.
CW over.
The curtain that hung to create privacy was pulled back to still be open and it grew a discomfort in Marissa, what if one of their sons suddenly awoke and walked in on an intensely intimate scene? Osuald caught on and noticed the same oversight, glancing towards the doorway before gently moving Marissa's face with one hand to look in his eyes.
"Would you like me to close it over?" he proposed in a husky tone. Marissa slightly shook her head before shimmying out of the position they were in and sitting upright once again.
"I didn't want to stay here long anyway, I need to get back to Brismar and sleep close to him." Osuald bore the look of understanding yet there was a layer of deep disappointment but he let his lover free, pulling away fully and getting up to undress for the night.
"Hey," beckoned Marissa one more time, calling for his attention. Osuald looked over, his chest bare and his shirt being folded in a crumpled way in his arms. "We'll do this again very soon, and we'll go all the way. I promise you that."
"I'll hold you to it," replied Osuald, desire still building up and rising in his chest as he thought of the night in which they will finally reconnect under the sheets. Marissa blew a little kiss in the shirtless man's direction and disappeared down the ladder and into the other home.
Osuald found it difficult to fully go soft from the anticipation of rekindled romance with Marissa and tossed and turned in bed before the tiredness finally caught up with him. From that night on he eagerly awaited the perfect opportunity for privacy with his love and it would end up being several more weeks before the stars would perfectly align.
While he waited he bid his time with what was most important: making a living and feeding the family. The year had finally gone into the middle of summer and certain crops were ripe and ready to harvest, such as carrots and onions and the other various root vegetables he had sowed earlier in the year. It was always exciting in these months to begin experimenting and reintroducing specific dishes that they hadn't eaten since the end of the previous year.
Byrhtnoth was the first to chop up some of these vegetables and make his famous vegetable stew for the entire family to indulge in, calling the children and parents of the household to sit by the table as he served each person a hearty bowl of his cooking.
And some mornings Byrhtnoth would be the first to wake, earlier than his hardworking son, and his first order of business would be to check in on his youngest grandchild. He would ascend the ladder quietly as to not disturb Marissa and lifted Brismar from his cot. The dark haired child would not always be awake when Byrhtnoth would enter his room but when he did the tot would give the most adorable half-toothed smile that could brighten anyone's day.
As much as the two of them would try to stay quiet Brismar would let his toddler excitement and energy get the better of him and he would gently awaken Marissa. It was never a problem to her, as long as the sun had already began to rise in the sky outside, and she happily joined their morning fun time before spending some time alone with her youngest child.
Byrhtnoth really adored being a grandfather and he tried his best to spend time with each grandchild from each extended family but with his aging body it was best for Lavina and Linyeve to visit the Chapman stead themselves. It wasn't often but he would see Gisla, Alvredus and Friðegyð at least twice a year, most commonly when the weather was adequate for a lengthy travel for the young children.
With Osuald speaking so dearly and fondly about fishing to his father Byrhtnoth began to brew a deep longing for his abandoned craft. He pondered when was the last time he went on a fishing trip and the year eluded him and with that he came up with a brilliant suggestion. One sunny and warm summer morning, once Kristoffer and Bercthun were dressed to take on the day, he came at them with an offer.
"Have you ever gone fishing, boys?" he asked with a smile and the two brothers looked at one another before turning back with a shake of the head. The old man continued,
"How about we take the day today to go to a pond and I teach you how to fish?" Kristoffer's eyes lit up to this plan much more than when Osuald asked him to help out on the farm. Perhaps it was the fact that he would be leaving the vicinity of the farm or he genuinely bore excitement for the past time ultimately Byrhtnoth was just glad to witness the enthusiasm.
"I'd love to!" chimed in Bercthun. His grandfather pat him on the back and assured him he will start packing the fishing rods and some snacks to have in between their fishing session. The fishing trip was quickly approved by the young parents and Osuald was delighted for his father to have a chance at fishing once more.
Around midday the man and his two boys set off on foot to the familiar pond where Byrhtnoth had taught all of his children to fish at. Past the thick shrubbery and along the dusty roads they soon found themselves at their destination and they all breathed in the smell of the still water paired with the particular smell that a warm summer's day presented in Praaven.
Nothing had changed yet it felt like so much had to Byrhtnoth. The size of the pond remained the same and the vegetation was all of the same kind, only the trees had expanded out new branches and leaves above them, everchanging and appreciated. A light drizzle began from the sparse clouds that floated over their heads but the Chapman's spirits remained high and so Byrhtnoth began to show the boys how to cast their lures into the waters before them.
Kristoffer proved to be a more 'watch and learn' type of person while Bercthun eagerly asked many questions, from how to reel in the line correctly to which fish were due to bite his hook. Byrhtnoth hadn't shared his knowledge on angling in years, Osuald had learned everything he could from his father, and so he relished in being the wise old man that was revered by the youth in his presence.
The slight drizzle brought in a curiously cold breeze that blew in through the cracks and splits in the timber home where Marissa resided. She had just put Brismar down for a nap and stood close to the fireplace next to her bed, rubbing her fingers together close to the flames in hopes of reaching the perfect temperature once more.
In the hut across the way Osuald was taking a bath after his arduous day working in the fields. He was delighted to scrub the grime off from under his various folds and wet his hair with the sudsy water before swiping the cloth that hung from the side of the bathtub to begin drying off. He donned his yard clothes for he did not have the oversight to take fresh clothes with him to the farm and so his next plan of action was to change into something cleaner in his bedroom.
When he finally walked back towards the farmhouse and entered his room up the ladder he found Marissa, once again in wait but now this time near the fire, and immediately questioned her company.
"What are you doing back here, my love?" referenced Osuald to just a few weeks back when he was surprised to see her in his room.
"I just can't seem to get my hands warm," she spoke softly, mysteriously softly, and rubbed her fingers together as she did in the timber home. "There's a breeze going through the land and it was well felt in the other home... I wondered if your fire would finally warm me to the core."
"Let me help with that," said Osuald as he took steps closer to Marissa and took her hands in his. Her fingers were definitely colder than his so he began to create friction between his skin and hers but not enough to chafe or irritate. Their eyes met after a few seconds and smiled fondly at each other. Once the cold feeling escaped between his rough hands he asked her,
"Perhaps you need to be warmed up in other areas? Let me use my warm touch on your shoulders." He side stepped to stand behind her and gently massaged her tender shoulders and upper arms. Marissa exhaled with delight and complimented his magic touch. She closed her eyes and took joy in feeling the radiating heat from the fire on her face while loving hands kneaded the tense parts of her body.
"You know, Brismar should be asleep for another hour or so," she spoke up suddenly with a hint of rasp in her voice, a sign that she was relaxed. Osuald grunted in approval, what was she alluding to?
"And the children are far away from the home..." her voice trailed off and they were left with a hanging silence, Osuald's hands slowing down as he thought about what hidden meaning her words bore until they finally stopped.
They were alone! Had the time finally and truly arrived? Osuald's eyebrows shot up a few centimetres from this realisation and Marissa began to turn around to face him as if in slow motion. The look on her face alone rushed a surge of blood down Osuald's body and he began to lose any sense of power in his mind, another driving force spoke for him.
CW: descriptions of kissing and sex, NSFW images.
His hands glid from her upper back to her shoulders as she turned but with the lustful look that her eyes presented the man's warmed hands begin to move down on their own. His fingers couldn't help but hook onto the loose collar of her cream shirt and he traced a crescent shape of the outline of her corset. It wasn't long before Marissa exhaled with the quietest moan she had ever emitted and began to untie her corset herself.
The leather relaxed around her ribcage and soon Osuald's fingers had enough latch to pull down her shirt and reveal her supple breasts, only slightly stretched from the previous year of breastfeeding but still so gorgeous and sexy in his eyes. His pants tightened around his groin and blood continued to pump vigorously through his veins.
"By The Watcher," he voiced and Marissa was only flattered, using her own fingers which were now free from the corset strings to graze his hairy chest and slide under his linen shirt. Her hands remained on his chest and he pulled her in for a passionate kiss once more, far more heavy and sensual than the one they shared several weeks ago. They breathed groans into each other's mouths and struggled to gulp in some air in between their overlapping tongues.
Soon came off Osuald's shirt, then Marissa's along with her corset, and their hot bare torsos met together in a spark. They wandered towards the bed instinctively and collapsed on the carefully flattened blanket, only done up by Marissa just hours ago. There were still a few more layers to go before they made full contact but how important was it for them to be fully naked for this process?
"Get on top of me," commanded Marissa, sure of what she wanted and she was willing to receive exactly what she wished for.
"Yes, your highness," jested Osuald and so he flipped her onto her back, her round breasts jiggling in motion before settling in a natural position. Her mate looked down at them before following his automatic animalistic urge to kiss and play with them. Once his mouth pressed around her erogenous zones she tilted her head back into the pillows and sounded out a moan of pure pleasure.
Osuald continued to travel down her torso, leaving a wet trail of kisses in his wake, until he reached the barrier that was her skirt. He pulled away and studied it, does he slip it off of her or does he simply bunch it up before he sees his invitation inside. He occupied his hands with undoing his pants and begin to shimmy them down his legs.
"Keep them on," suggested Marissa, "and I'll keep this on too." Her hands limply began to pull up sections of her green skirt and Osuald licked his lips at what was about to come. He followed his love's wishes and slid down his trousers far down enough to have comfortable ease of access. He began to climb back atop of Marissa, moving his hips in a rhythmic flow as he parted the folds of her flowing garment and it was time for contact.
They stared longingly at each other, a look that had not been traded this deeply since before the passing of their daughter, and he made himself welcome. What followed were various sounds, movements and repositioning of their hands and legs until it all came to a head. They had never timed their escapades and they would never fathom to do so as each session they have together feels like an eternity, in the best way possible.
He filled her up with the warmth she craved, all the way to her core, and harmonised their voices in completion. Even though their act should be over Osuald's hands were not tired yet and he continued to massage and shape his lover's breasts individually which only made Marissa grip her fingers tighter into his wavy hair. Everything was perfect and it always felt like a shame for it to have to end.
CW over.
They finally lay still together, the man atop the woman, and breathed until their breathing felt steady once again. Marissa was the first to plant a few soft kisses on the side of her beau's cheek and he lazily lifted his head to meet her back with some smooches on the lips. These kisses ended up being slow, conclusive, a silent thank you for the pleasure they had just shared.
"And I had just bathed moments ago... now I've gotten sweaty once more," joked Osuald. Marissa let out a quick chortle.
"It's the good kind of sweat this time around, one that you should not want to wash away."
"You always know the right thing to say," smiled Osuald, a thought of satisfaction towards his lover's comment. He grunted as he pushed himself off of her, a sticky sound from the sweat that glued them together, and steadied himself into a vertical position.
"I actually came to my room to change into some clean clothes but this was a good unplanned venture!" He pulled his pants cleanly off finally, standing naked and unafraid before Marissa and she finally relaxed the creases on her skirt before rolling onto her side and leaning her head onto her hand. Her free breasts followed gravity and hung in differing shapes but felt softer than ever after her climax. She also found pure comfort in being so exposed to Osuald and finally spoke up,
"Who said this wasn't planned? I had been thinking of this ever since your father mentioned to us that he will bring the boys on a fishing trip." Osuald clicked his tongue in a teasing disapproving way and opened the wardrobe across from the bed to find a clean and folded shirt and pants. Marissa sat up halfway on the bed and continued,
"What hidden clothing have you got stashed away in that wardrobe?" Osuald turned to her, his new clothing in his hands already yet still standing exposed.
"Oh, a few formal shirts of mine and several dresses left behind by my sisters. There's a few belongings left from my mother that my father couldn't possibly give away also... would you like any of my sister's clothing?" Marissa was now fully standing, only a skirt decorating her body, and she approached the dresser to inspect what she saw folded and hanging.
"I think I am happy with my current outfits but... how funny would it be to try on one of Linyeve's old dresses? Do you think I'm a similar size?" Osuald opened his mouth in a shocked but amused way and tried to fish out something that he could wear also.
"Hey, I have a strange pair of my father's shorts here... he once said these were for swimming but I don't think that man knows how to swim at all!" The youthful and now immature couple began to giggle and try on these outfits. The man quickly slipped on the tight linen shorts and asked Marissa how he looked.
"I think you are more exposed than when you were naked!" she blurted out and Osuald hunched over in laughter. He gestured for her to finish slipping on the trademark green Linyeve dress and attempted to embody her personality once she was clothed.
"Osuald, my baby brother," she spoke with a lower tone than her natural one. "You look so much like father right now! You won't remember as you were not even born then but he once swam all the way to Ireland and back in those shorts! They are a family heirloom!" Osuald laughed with all his chest as Marissa gestured enthusiastically with her arms, waving them side to side and up and down. Suddenly she brings a hand to the waistband and pulls at them,
"Take them off immediately before the smell of the Irish sea gets soaked into your skin!" He began to swat away her arms and squirm from her silly taunting and so he did one better.
"Linyeve, I can't take these off of you will see me indecent! I would never do that to my darling sister." Marissa finally pulled her hands back towards her and put them on her hips. Her expression looked scheming and so she hiked up the skirt of the dress and slipped it over her head, throwing it to the floor. She was now fully naked, no skirt like moments before, and Osuald felt an urge for a second round of lovemaking come over him.
His laughter began to die down and he pulled off the uncomfortable shorts also. There they were, nothing to hide, and soon an extended limb of Osuald began to rise. His clothes that he originally gathered lay on the wayside and it only took one look from Marissa, down there and back up to his semi-flustered face, when she invited him back under the sheets. Their second round was pure fun, slower paced for they had gotten tired from their first session, and their connection strengthened without a shadow of a doubt.
The boy's first fishing trip went down in history. Once they arrived home with Byrhtnoth they rushed to their parents to ramble about how many fish they caught, what kind and just how fun it was. Marissa stepped into her parenting role and asked the boys to thank their grandfather to which they sang in unison,
"Thank you Byrhtnoth~"
The mother treated them all to a hearty dinner and continued to exchange romantic knowing glances with Osuald all the while the boys continued to speak about their experience. Life felt good again.
Whether it was the children raving about their successes, or just pure coincidence, but a hooded thief skulked their way over towards the Chapman residence once more. A young lad was lost on what he should do when he noticed the thief pass his way and stood with his mouth agape, powerless to stop what was yet to happen.
The Chapman family was far too busy and populated to ever have a thief go unnoticed and so after checking in on Brismar for the evening Osuald emerged from the timber home and found himself face to face with the cloaked dame. They stood still in their tracks and positioned their legs as if to prepare to run away but the man of the house would not let this moment go.
"HEY YOU," bellowed Osuald. "LEAVE MY PROPERTY!" He started to stomp towards the thief at ludicrous speed but could never expect the uninvited member to instantly go for violence. They turned around and elbowed the blond man in the stomach and as he hunched over they kicked him in the face. Osuald went tumbling down on his side and he could almost hear a ringing in his ears from the impact.
After this instigation the burglar called it quits and quickly departed running into the growing night. Osuald lay there and finally inhaled a gulp of fresh air, the jab into his abdomen quite literally knocked all of the air out of his lungs. He pushed himself into a seated position with his shaking arms and looked up to see Marissa and Byrhnoth appear from the large farmhouse.
Osuald tried to assure his loved ones that he was fine but described the situation just ended bluntly. Marissa's face grew pale as unearthed fears of Arron's wrath resurfaced. They knew nothing of the perpetrator for they had departed on foot too soon to get a word out of them but her mind swirled with anxieties that this person was scoping out their abode, or perhaps coming in for the kill.
Osuald finally stood up straight and achieved a full, deep breath without pain. Byrhtnoth grabbed his boy and began to inspect him for any visible damages but Osuald was too distracted by the developing expression on Marissa's face.
"Hey, hey," he started, pulling away from his father and hurrying to his love's side. "Don't you worry, it couldn't have been his doing." Byrhtnoth was finally clued in on Osuald's suspicions, and Marissa's also. He left them to their devices and volunteered to inform the children of what had happened.
"That was a simple vagrant, attempting to earn their keep by harming others. It couldn't have been him..." Osuald spoke calmly but with confidence in his voice, Marissa's bottom lip began to quiver. He finally embraced her and let her shed a tear or two onto his shoulder. He continued to rub her back slowly and speak soothing phrases to calm her down but he couldn't help and scrunch his face a little, the kick to his right cheek radiated a specific kind of warmth.
When Marissa finally pulled away she analysed Osuald's face and her sorrowful expression melted into one of concern.
"Your scar," she breathed. "It's gone red. I think it's swollen." Osuald' hand shot up to touch his cheek. It sure felt hot to the touch but he would never see how it exactly looked like.
"It sure hurts at the moment, but it's from the kick I got than anything else. These scars tend to take a long time to heal." Marissa pursed her lips, unconvinced that there was anything more to it. Osuald suspected that she knew something that he didn't and brought the hand that rested on his throbbing damaged skin and placed it gently under her chin.
"What are you thinking about, Marissa?" He spoke her name in full, he was serious. Her brown eyes looked darker under the blackening sky, a flame danced in the reflection from the torch that hung lit near the entrance to the home next to them. She stared into his eyes, words caught in her throat, and she croaked out a few vowels before deciding against it.
"It's nothing. Trust me." She turned away and attempted to fix her skirt. Osuald was unhappy with this result but knew he shouldn't pry, it would only put a strain on the rest of the evening. He would get the information out of her someday but he wasn't in any rush to ruin their romance over what Marissa seemed to hide.
And with that summer came to a head. The leaves followed the same pattern of nature, year in year out, and changed into gorgeous autumnal colours of oranges and reds. While the weather still remained relatively warm Byrhtnoth brought the boys on a few more fishing trips while Osuald finished his work on the farm, harvesting the last of the crops before October was over.
The man's time had freed up once more, the evergreen bushes on their farmland would go dormant while the other crops that once bore fruit would shrivel away and feed the dead leaves to the soil below it. He continued to tend the needs of his farm animals, giving Kristoffer a break from those responsibilities some days, and was ready to take on another winter.
When the opportunity would present itself he would lay with his lover several times more, perhaps not as passionately as that one session this year, but he was delighted to have that part of his life with Marissa back on the menu. He attempted to bait her hidden information out of her gently but she wasn't ready to crack anytime soon. When it would be important to say she will say it, thought Osuald.
The winter chill began to steadily set in but it was still comfortable enough to spend an extended period of time outdoors. Kristoffer and Bercthun continued to enthusiastically speak about their fishing days and so an idea was born in Osuald's mind. Over breakfast in early November he spoke to his sons, and Marissa as she was in the room with them.
"What do you boys think about going on a fishing journey with your father?" Both boys dropped their spoons in their breakfast bowls and began to smile, nodding energetically.
"But what if we went on a long fishing trip, setting up tents near a lake and spending several days outside near the lapping waters, sleeping under the stars?" He romanticised the experience, not only because he wanted to convince the young chaps to say yes but also because he genuinely had passion for this craft. It had been years to say the least since he had departed on a long fishing escapade. Marissa's silence to his suggestion was met as an agreement to his plan.
"How long would we be away from home?" questioned Kristoffer dryly, he clearly showed concern about being away from his mother for long.
"Only three nights," assured Osuald with a smile. "It would give us enough time to fish up enough to bring some home but to also sell at the nearest town before we come home. I'll show you boys how to build a fire and you will be cooking your own fish that you caught that day!"
"I want to go, I want to go!" yelled Bercthun, bouncing in his seat with excitement. "Are you coming too, Kristoffer?"
Kristoffer glanced towards his mother and she was standing near the kitchen fire, looking a little tired but happy nonetheless. She nodded in his direction and spoke some words of reassurance herself,
"Go, my love. You're in safe hands with Osuald and I'll be in safe hands with Byrhtnoth. You'll be back home before you know it." Kristoffer's gaze lingered on her face, analysing how much truth she truly spoke. He was convinced and so he looked back at his step-father and nodded with a small smile. Osuald extended a hand asking for a high five of approval and began to prepare for their journey.
There was a lot to prepare and triple check to see if Osuald had packed it away so the boys were sent away to play at the dollhouse. Marissa urged the boys to be as quiet as they could be as Brismar was still sleeping. He had been shifting to an unusual sleeping pattern and it was visible in Marissa's appearance; she yawned loudly in the mornings as she had to keep the dark haired tot entertained late at night.
She continued to do her chores regardless of her state of being and so she gathered all the dirty clothes and bedsheets and brought them to the outdoor washbasin to scrub them clean, hanging them neatly on the drying rack next to her. She looked to the sky and although it was overcast it appeared to not promise any rainfall and she felt confident about the boy's camping journey to one of the many lakes that decorated Praaven's lands.
And soon it was time to depart. Osuald approached the boys that still sat by the tudor dollhouse and ushered them to go downstairs to bid their mother and grandfather farewell. Byrhtnoth was excited on behalf of the boys, their first time away from the home and doing something he loved so dearly. He ruffled Bercthun's hair under his cap and asked him to bring back his largest catch just for him. Bercthun accepted this promise and waved him goodbye.
As they only have two horses and three people would be travelling Osuald decided to walk to the lake by foot with his sons. It would be a good two hour journey uphill before they reached their beautiful vista but he kept them entertained with songs and folk tales he had learned in his childhood as they traversed through various woodlands and rocky overpasses.
Their trail led them away from the river and back to it many times but once they were at the steepest incline towards their destination the boys began to groan and moan about their tired legs. When Bercthun would cry out about hitting his toe too hard against a jutting out rock Osuald clicked his tongue in annoyance and lifted the six year old boy in his arms, promising to only carry him for fifteen minutes before setting him back down again.
After the estimated two hours they were high above the various towns and villages that littered the nearby lands. When the gorgeous views opened up before them, framed elegantly between branches of evergreen pine trees, they took a well deserved break. The boys found fun in pointing out various landmarks that they spotted in the distance and jumped up and down when they spotted their home near the river.
With a little more encouragement from Osuald they finally found themselves at the site where they would set up camp, several metres away from where the mountain lake's waters slowly lapped against the wet grey rocks. A few huts and cabins lined the perimeter of the body of water and a shepherd that lived nearby extended his hand to wave at the party, they remained friendly and waved back.
Osuald hadn't set up a tent in years and fiddled with the structure of it before it stood strong and weatherproof. The boys helped him set the fur and leather tarp over the bones of their home for the next three nights and were awarded with high praise from their father. Next to set up was their fire and so Osuald instructed Kristoffer and Bercthun to find some large yet round stones to create the perimeter where the fire and ash would be contained in.
He helped them transport the rocks a little uphill from the lake basin and told them that they would only light their firewood when it would go dark or it got cold. It was finally time to begin doing what they set out to do in this trip: fish.
They unpacked their fishing rods and approached the calm and cool water before them. Far in the distance you could see how the Yara river's source fed into this mountain lake and then washed back away to go down the mountains and meander into the sea next to Praaven city. The first few hours had some unsuccessful bites on the rod but soon they got into a flow and lay their first into a wooden crate, the wriggling creatures attempting to escape their out-of-water confines.
There was much to teach the boys about fishing and outdoor survival but he was happy to learn that his father had completed the training in basics of angling, the hardest part was out of the way. Minutes turned into hours and soon enough their first day was complete, the sky growing into a gorgeous orange hue before shifting into a midnight blue.
Osuald walked back to their tents to start their fire and encouraged the boys to finish up too and see how to create a fire for themselves. He fished out some moss from his pocket and rested it under his triangle of firewood they had gathered earlier. Next was a flint and steel that emerged from their packed supplies and Osuald began to strike the two objects together to create sparks onto the dried moss.
Contact, a small flame had been lit. The boys oo-ed and ah-ed and helped their father gently blow on the burning parts of the campfire until the wood began to crack and sizzle. It was time to make dinner and the father showed the boys how to cut and gut a fish. Bercthun was a little disgusted with just how many innards those scaly creatures had but Kristoffer stood and watched closely, only wincing when he noticed how much blood was leftover on Osuald's hands.
They set up little fold out stools next to the growing flames and skewered their fileted catch onto sticks and hovered them over the fire. Osuald urged the boys to be patient and flip the fish often to get an even cooking. They continued to trade stories and anecdotes while they patiently waited for the fish skin to become taut and for the meat to turn pale.
Bercthun didn't pay close attention to his fish at one point, leaning it too close to the fire, and Osuald had to gently inform him that his fish was burning. The boy gasped loudly and raised it out of the fire, waving his stick around to attempt to extinguish the little flame that had attached to a flap of fish skin. It was still perfectly edible and so they began their meal, waiting another few minutes for the meat to become an adequate temperature to consume.
Their sleeping arrangement was to be Osuald in one tent and the two boys in the other. Once they retreated into their shelter to get changed into their sleeping apparel they set up their fur bedrolls inside, laying them out comfortably on the flattest parts of the ground below them, and prepared to sleep soon. Osuald had to tell a short story to the boys about wolves and other carnivorous animals to watch out for at night, urging them not to leave their tents until morning unless there was something dire they needed his help for. Their first night went without a hitch and they awoke to a brilliantly beautiful mist sitting over the lake's waters.
On their second day out on the lake went by much the same as the previous one, plenty of fishing and admiring their surroundings. It was on this day that Bercthun felt awkward to ask his father in assisting him to relieve himself in the bushes, it was his first time needing to be concerned with where and how his waste needed to go. Osuald would do anything for his children and it was not a concern for him and so he stood nearby and made sure everything was in order with his son.
Although the boys enjoyed the fishing experience they were still children after all and found themselves impatient with obtaining a catch at times. Their father released them from their duties but reminded them to not stray too far from the lake and so they entertained each other with a game of chasing. The boys set their lures down on dry land and ran around the bumpy hills perfectly in sight of Osuald and took turns in running after one another.
That evening ended with another fish dinner, hand grilled by each lad, and the boys participated in the cleaning of the fish this time. To garnish their dinner Osuald passed around some sliced onions and carrots that he brought from home and as they were being so well behaved he even handed out a handful of raspberries that he harvested from the last of their raspberry bushes. Another peaceful night, another job well done, Osuald was plenty satisfied with their escapade so far.
There may have been plenty going on at the lake but there was still plenty happening at the Chapman stead also! Straight after the boys left with their father on their journey up the mountain Marissa went to tend to Brismar's needs as he had finally awoken. Byrhtnoth later invited her to a friendly game of dominoes downstairs once she was finished with her child.
With each rectangular bone that was placed down onto the game table, the satisfying click echoing against the wooden walls, a yawn escaped from Marissa's mouth. Her eyes watered sleepily and she kept apologising to Byrhtnoth for her noises. He asked about her wellbeing and she tried to wave it off,
"It's nothing at all, Brismar has just adapted a totally new sleep regime. He's been waking me up before the sun has risen and is full of energy and so I need to entertain him. He goes back to sleep by the time the sun has risen so-" She began yawning again, her eyes squinting tightly shut as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Perhaps a nap would do you some good?" suggested Byrhtnoth, concerned for the overworked mother. Marissa shook her head in response.
"I'll be just fine, thank you for your concern Byrhtnoth." And she was fine that day but the next day that followed she found it difficult to keep track of all of her chores. She seemed to be forgetting clothes in the other room, missing one dirty bowl to wash and simply forgetting what she set out to do. Was this a result of sleep deprivation or something more sinister?
Byrhtnoth couldn't stand idly by and offered to mind Brismar one of the days, reminding her that Osuald's bed was empty in his absence and that she should take advantage of the peace upstairs inside the farmhouse. She felt flustered from her forgetfulness and caved in, accepting the old man's plea, and retreated to Osuald's room.
She didn't even want to change into a nightgown, she merely threw back the bed cover and collapsed onto the straw stuffed mattress, creaking the floorboard that held up the bed frame with her weight. Her eyes felt so intensely heavy and she wondered slowly when she had been this tired last time. Marissa settled on a memory of when she first ran from Arron, the memory of her heart beating so fast from the fear of being found by him, and keeping one eye open for the first few months of her being in that dilapidated fort.
What finally put her mind to rest in that large bed was the scent that lingered on the pillow under her head. Osuald, his familiar smell soaked into the fabric she covered herself with, it was intoxicating. With one quick movement of her arm she got perfectly cozy by swinging the blanket tight around her body and with each breath she inhaled the sweet smell of her lover.
Marissa was unaware for how long she had been conked out but she suddenly awoke in a sweat... did she make herself too comfortable under the thick blanket? When she opened her eyes the room felt like it was spinning and the thatched roof above her looked as if it was breathing. Then the realisation set it, her stomach churned and her throat tightened uncomfortably.
She oriented her surroundings and tumbled out and to the side of the bed which had the closest chamber pot and expelled what was plaguing her insides. She retched and heaved until he felt empty, taken aback by the smell that was now contained inside the pot she clung onto. She winced and placed a hand between her eyes and the sight before her and took a deep breath, wiping her sweaty brow with the other hand, and overheard someone climbing the ladder in the house.
Byrhtnoth appears from the ladder opening and looks her way, shuffling his way into the bedroom.
"I thought I heard that right, are you feeling fine?" He stopped in his tracks once he reached the other side of the bed but he did not sit down.
"Better," swallowed Marissa uncomfortably. "Now that I'm... empty, so to say. I apologise for you seeing me this way." She took a part of her skirt and wiped her mouth with it, dusting off any remnants that stuck to the fabric and attempted to stand up.
"I have been feeling fine today so it cannot be something we ate," investigated Byrhtnoth, a hand on his chin in thought. "Anyhow, Brismar has tuckered out and I lay him down for a quick nap, he'll probably need to be fed in an hour or so... would you like a game of dominoes?"
"Sure," smiled Marissa, one hand lightly placed on her belly as things settled deep inside of her. "I'll just freshen up first if you don't mind, I'll meet you at the table." Byrhtnoth nodded her way and disappeared down the ladder and out of the farmhouse.
The girl sat back down on the bed and exhaled a large breath, briefly looking towards the chamber pot and scowling at the thought of having to clean it. She bit her tongue and got to work with the cleaning and doing as she said she would, freshening up at a water bucket by splashing some water on her face and washing away the feverish sweat that had finally stopped.
The beginning of their dominoes game started quietly, the familiar clicks of the game pieces filling the room again. Byrhtnoth asked if she was feeling better, she nodded. He asked how she slept, she answered with "good". The conversation was dry, he let it go and let her find her bearings, and placed another domino piece down on the table.
Marissa was clearly deep in thought, either attempting to keep more of her contents down or pondering what could have made her so suddenly ill. Then the realisation finally set in and she lightly gasped with her eyes widening. It startled the old man and he slightly jumped in his seat.
"What is it?" he blurted out quickly. Marissa's cheeks reddened slightly, she did not want to talk about this with Osuald's father. Then she remembered that he had delivered her child and wasn't phased by her compromising position in that moment. She cleared her throat and looked around the room before speaking.
"I just realised... I can't remember my last bleed." Her voice grew smaller as she said what she said. Her gaze remained far from Byrhtnoth's eyes but she heard him imitate the same little gasp she did just moments ago.
"Do you think that-" he cut himself off suddenly, he wanted her to finish the assumption. He held his breath, hoping what he thought was true. Her hand went to touch her belly under the table once more and she looked down then up again, finally making eye contact with the old man.
"I think I might just be... I think I am with child again." There it was, confirmation and exactly what Byrhtnoth had presumed. He finally exhaled the trapped air in his chest and began to stand up with delight.
"Oh, Marissa!" He came to her side and she stood up also, a smile slowly growing on her face. "You have another baby on the way! Congratulations!" He pulled her in for a comforting hug before pulling away, his hands holding her arms and he smiled authentically at her.
"Well, it's still so early to say," stuttered Marissa, attempting to diffuse his excitement in the concern that what they believe is false. Byrhtnoth pressed his lips together and shook his head confidently.
"A mother's instinct is greater than any proof," he said wisely. "Trust your thoughts, love! Your tiredness and unwellness makes total sense." Marissa pieced the symptoms together in her mind and it really seemed like a classic pregnancy. It felt so strange to come to this realisation with some of her closest family members several kilometres away from home but she sighed calmly and confirmed it once more,
"I am with child." Byrhtnoth nodded at her statement and hugged her once more.
