1319 - Return to Peace
It was an immense joy for Byrhtnoth to have a companion through the winter months, unlike the year before. Linyeve was almost an adult and they both felt comfortable to engage in mature conversations alongside handling the responsibilities of parenthood for Osuald and Lavina.
CW: light mentions of death during famine.
As they warmed themselves with a piping hot stew near one of the fires at home they would find themselves reflecting on what has happened thus far. Byrhtnoth still didn't want to tell his daughter much of what he went through during the famine but he granted her peace with the knowledge that her mother and sister, who passed away at home two years ago now, went to the other side gracefully. They comforted one another with hugs and reassurances each time these conversations were had too.
CW over.
On the last days of the icy snow across the lands the Chapmans celebrated Osuald's birthday as he grew to be five years old. It felt like a lifetime ago for Byrhtnoth since he celebrated a fifth birthday for one of his children and he was honoured to see more of his offspring make it to childhood.
Linyeve did her best to recreate her mother's honey cake recipe but when she began to insert the beeswax candles into the sponge she felt it was a bit more stodgy than usual. She sighed and accepted that she was more of a cook than a baker and turned around to lift Osuald up to reach the candles and make a wish.
Byrhtnoth met his two children in the kitchen and cheered his son on as he took a deep breath and huffed out a big gust of air, extinguishing the flickering candle flames. Linyeve placed him back down to stand on his two feet and they both looked at him with pride.
He was still a young boy but he was clearly outgrowing his childhood clothes and so Byrhtnoth made sure to gift him some new outfits. Osuald couldn't just inherit his sister's clothes as he would have looked a little ridiculous in a dress and a leather corset so he unpackaged his new attire and tried it on.
He got a couple of cream, linen, longsleeve shirts alongside a thickly woven tunic and some cloth pants to match the outfit together. He was delighted and gave his father a big, tight hug and thanked Linyeve for baking his birthday cake as they shared a slice all together.
For the first while Osuald still relished in his childhood as he played with the rocking horse, and occasionally the dollhouse with his youngest sister, while his father and Linyeve would handle any chores around the farm. It wasn't until the snow turned to sleet that Byrhtnoth would finally decide to extend an invitation to his one and only son to join him on a fishing trip near the keep.
Osuald jumped for joy as he expressed his excitement to see how his father worked to provide for his family. When he was a toddler Linyeve would tell countless stories about their father's fishing escapades and she made it evident that Osuald shared the same passion for fishing as they all did. Byrhtnoth saddled up Gloria and put his son on the back of the saddle before hoisting himself up and venturing far from the home.
Wet flakes of snow still fell from the sky around this time but instantly melted on their faces and the ground on their journey to the seashore. Once they arrived and Byrhtnoth tied Gloria to a post he started on teaching his son to fish.
Osuald got Linyeve's old fishing rod, passed down on to him from her childhood, and it was the perfect size for his growing hands. His father explained the techniques of fishing and demonstrated many times on how to cast the lure to which Osuald got the hang of pretty quickly.
They spent almost their entire day there as they were surprised to see the sun begin to set behind the magnificent buildings of the Praaven keep. They discussed how they would sell some of this fish when the markets were open again tomorrow and packed up to gallop back home with Gloria.
In the meantime Linyeve put all of her attention to Lavina once any cleaning at home was done and dusted. She was becoming a chatty little tot and she was only a year and a bit away from turning five also. She played peek-a-boo with her many times that evening and eventually tucked her into her crib for the night.
She met the boys in the kitchen and served them dinner, questioning Osuald about his first experience fishing and asking to hear all of the details possible. She truly and dearly missed going fishing with her father but she understood she had more responsibilities at home right now than to indulge in a hobby like that so she got her excitement through her brother's retelling of their journey.
Now that Osuald outgrew his crib they brought back Eddida's old bed into the room that once belonged to her and he got very comfortable there. He was only the next room over from Lavina and he would sometimes wake to her cries but she was old enough to use her words now and he didn't mind assisting her once in a while.
Spring had sprung once again and it was turning out to be a warm one. The unnatural weather that plagued most of this decade felt like a distant memory once the sun peeked from the clouds. The light showers of spring rain only helped the farmers tending their crops and Praaven felt hopeful once more.
Byrhtnoth was one of such farmers as his lands returned back to glory and he sowed his first cabbage, carrot and onion seeds on the farm across from their farm house. He took his time that day, indulging in pushing his rough fingers through the coarse earth and getting his clothes dirty, a sense of nostalgia running through him.
And as he waited for the plants to take root he tended to his three horses, getting the rest of his family involved too. Linyeve gladly brushed the older horses and Byrhtnoth introduced Osuald to Gloria,
"This girl will one day be your mighty steed, my boy," he said as he ran his hand across Gloria's mane. "Start familiarising yourself with her needs and her personality because as soon as you're tall enough she will be all yours."
Osuald was excited about this prospect and quickly took on the chores of cleaning the stables and feeding the horses, especially Gloria. When the first carrots of the season were ready to harvest he always sneaked one out to her as she neighed with joy anytime she ate one.
One afternoon, late into the spring, Frank had made his way to the Chapman stead with Shavonne in his arms. They all welcomed him in with open arms and were delighted to see the pair doing very well. Shavonne was getting close to upholding a conversation and Lavina was delighted to have another girl around the same age as her to play with.
Byrhtnoth and Linyeve took the opportunity of his visit to strike a deal of him minding the children while they head to the market and sell any produce that had been harvested so far. Linyeve promised him a hearty dinner as a thank you commenting,
"I'll make you a stew the prince had requested from me many times during my stay at the castle!" He was very impressed and awaited their return eagerly.
The rain was perfectly timed with their journey to the Tovar spring market and the father-daughter duo were a little annoyed with feeling damp on their way there. Regardless, as Byrhtnoth set up their stall Linyeve had a peruse of the various stalls that were fully displayed when they arrived and struck up a conversation with a lady from Praaven.
"My father is a wealthy merchant from inside the city's walls," she began to explain to Linyeve. "He often trades all of these precious items for gold but we have such an abundance of goblets, jewels and hunting trophies that we had to part ways with some of them."
The lady gestured with a gliding hand above the merchants table and Linyeve was stunned by the valor. She had seen wealth beyond measures inside Praaven castle but to be all placed beside each other? Never before. She closed her mouth which was agape and responded politely,
"My, oh my! Your father is very skilled in his profession. I can imagine the hurt he must have felt to part ways with some of this merchandise here."
"You're dead right," nodded the noble girl. "My mother had to step in a few times to be the deciding figure for some of these wares!" They chortled together before the lady extended her introductions to Linyeve. Her name was Lady Magda and she wore some of the brightest cloth that was available across the land. She came from a very noble and wealthy line of merchants and traders and she was even destined to be betrothed to our very King Sidgurd!
Linyeve couldn't stop herself from gasping with shock when she learned the news but quickly excused her behaviour. Lady Magda was far too kind and Linyeve did feel out of her element alongside her precious clothes and jewels but she knew Magda would be an amazing wife to the King, with his connection and drive to the peasants across the land as was clearly hers too.
The Chapman duo spoke to many folk that afternoon, some wealthy but many of the lower class, and almost sold all of their stock. Farms may have been abundant with crops around them but many folk struggled to regain the energy lost from the famine and so any sustenance was a blessing to them. They packed up when the sky began to grow into an orange hue and travelled on home to cook the much awaited king-approved stew that Linyeve promised Frank.
After the bowls were cleaned up Osuald peered at the little lizard that Byrhtnoth once caught and domesticated in his little terrarium and noticed that he wasn't moving. They all inspected the little reptile and found that The Watcher had left him lifeless. The children cried a little at the loss and Byrhtnoth definitely felt a sadness about it but nothing could compare to what he had lost and felt just a few years ago.
Life continued on gracefully for the family and the children were growing well. The crops prospered and much work had to be done on the farm in company with Byrhtnoth's usual fishing. Osuald began to beg his father to be taken on an overnight fishing journey but Byrhtnoth would argue back that his son was far too young to bare witness to the possibly harsh weather. He promised Osuald that there were only a few years to go before he could agree to such a decision.
Alongside all of Byrhtnoth's chores and parenting he still found time to visit the Praaven castle and deliver his quarterly packages of produce to the royal family. It was close to never that he would see King Sidgurd now that he inherited his title but it was no bother, he still knew deep down that their alliance was strong and he was just proud to be able to provide a full parcel now that times were less tough.
CW: Visiting graves, mourning, discussions of death.
And on one summer evening, when the chores were finished, the farm watered and weeded, and dinner consumed, they decided to finally visit their family plot at the Lughaven cemetery. Byrhtnoth carried Lavina most of the way there but let her trample along the dusty ground a little also and eventually they found themselves in the heart of Lughaven village.
There it was, the promised magnificent tombstone for Olyff Chapman. Byrhtnoth had been told by Father Bruceus that he would try his best to make Olyff's headstone a pretty one but he felt eternally indebted with this masonry piece. He burst into tears when he saw his late wife's name carved into the granite and Linyeve couldn't hold back a tear or two as she tried to comfort her father.
Osuald didn't know his mother at all, really, and he was still too immature to really understand how bad the situation had been, but to see his father cry made him want to cry too. He went and wrapped his arms around Byrhtnoth's hips and coughed out a few tears into his tunic and the family mourned the loss of their matriarch.
They also visited the grave of Pipa which was positioned in a separate plot as she went out of this world as a Bruceus. Next to her was a small stone that read Dominique's name also, her first daughter that failed to live. Byrhtnoth almost felt guilty for not seeing his daughter more before her passing but he calmed his mind on thoughts that he provided everything he could for her and more when she was still living at home.
Byrhtnoth's heart was heavy after this mourning and Linyeve could see it. She placed a hand on her father's shoulder and suggested,
"Should we go inside the church and say a prayer to The Watcher? Pray for the souls of our fallen loved ones, wish them well in the afterlife?"
Byrhtnoth nodded and they went inside. The Chapmans all sat along one pew and looked around the echoing, stone chapel. Lavina swung her legs off the edge of the pew and made it creak a little, making Linyeve place a hand on her little legs in a silent attempt to calm her a little. The eldest members closed their eyes for a moment in prayer and Osuald attempted to imitate them.
Byrhtnoth finished his prayer with The Watcher's gesture, a tracing of an infinity symbol on his forehead with his dominant hand before raising his head and hand to the ceiling. They sat for a moment before Osuald broke the stagnant silence,
"Father," he began, his youthful voice echoing louder than he expected. "Why did mother die?"
"That's... a complicated question," Byrhtnoth hesitated but ultimately he decided to be honest with him. "When you were little there was a difficult period of time in Praaven called the famine. Many people were left very hungry and your mother was one of them. Her body became very weak and, with the loss of her two children, she fell asleep and never awoke."
Osuald sat and pondered as he analysed his father's expressions. "But why did mother die?"
"That's a question for The Watcher to answer... I don't know, my love. I didn't want her to die but it seems that The Watcher had other plans." Linyeve squeezed Byrhtnoth's hand in agreement to his answer.
"Will The Watcher make you die?" Osuald's question made the room fall eerily silent once again. Linyeve shot a side eye glance to her father, afraid of his answer. Lavina started to kick her legs a little harder in her seat, a louder squeak with every kick.
"Eventually... yes. But I hope it won't be any time soon."
"How will we know when They decide it's time?"
"Hopefully there will be signs... whether it's an illness, bad luck or a clear warning. But for you, Osuald, I will try my best for it to not happen for a long, long time." Byrhtnoth ended this deep conversation with a kiss on his son's forehead and a ruffle of his wavy, blond hair.
CW over.
Osuald didn't seem entirely content with his father's answers but he was understanding the hints on moving on from this topic. The family decided their time in the church was coming to a close and made their way home once again. Byrhtnoth decided to pop into the Bruceus home just for a quick hello and to thank Father Bruceus for his generous arrangement for Olyff.
With autumn came the harvest and everyone took part in gathering the ripe crops, even little Lavina as she pulled out any carrots that peered out of the soil. Linyeve constantly praised her sister and was delighted to see her shaping up to be a little independent girl, exactly as she was when she was her age.
Osuald was getting excited at the prospects of one day riding horses every day and took his eagerness out on the rocking horse at home. He would swing back and forth and shout Gloria's name, swinging his arms around and wearing a daring expression. It was quite entertaining for his father to watch on from the adjacent room and another reminder of why his life is worth living; it's the little things that make it all better.
With most of the crops slowly becoming barren of fruit Byrhtnoth was more lenient on his children's chores. Linyeve still hadn't gone fishing once this year and so he let her and Osuald travel to a nearby lake to fulfill her year long wish. She hugged her father with immense joy and began to pack a supply bag with her brother along with the needed fishing rods.
"Please be home before sun down," pleaded Byrhtnoth. "Don't forget, the sun is setting earlier and earlier every day now so don't lose track of time!"
"Don't worry for a second, father," waved Linyeve nonchalantly, "The two of us will stay on top of it!"
They left the front door, went around the corner and disappeared behind the thick blackberry bushes that led towards Mahlsberg. Osuald questioned his sister as to which lake they were to visit and she piped up saying,
"Why not the one in Mahlsberg? There's a festival ground there with a darling little pond that we could spend the day at! It's a little further of a walk than the one's father would want us to go to but I think we should be fine."
And fine they were. They entered the unknown village and walked past the slightly different looking bungalows and gazed upon their highly decorated church. Next to this church is the festival ground that Linyeve mentioned and there was a variety of folk visiting that day.
Many merchants swindled shoppers of their coin with food, wine and festival knick knacks while others would call over festival goers to pay a fee to play a game of horseshoes. They avoided every single one of these folk and made their way to the pond they planned to stay at.
It was quite pleasant actually as at some point there was a travelling musician that stood in the middle of the square and provided some tunes to the crowd. It wasn't too loud where the Chapmans stood and they could even uphold a good conversation at the lute's volume.
Linyeve was delighted to see that her fishing skills had not wasted away with years without use. She angled up a brilliant salmon and tried to stop it from wriggling out of her hands and land back in the pond, which Osuald found highly amusing.
Once Osuald's bucket was nearly full, and his fingers tired of wrestling the fish with his rod, he begged his sister to spare a coin or two so he could play a game of horseshoes. Usually Linyeve was a strict authority figure but with the great bustle behind her and her general mood being high she decided to please her brother.
"Just don't tell father about this," she whispered. "He wouldn't be too happy to hear us spending our hard earned money on festival games!" Osuald imitated that his lips were sealed and sprinted off towards the horseshoe game attendee.
Linyeve indulged in catching one last fish before also calling it quits for the day. The sky was beginning to change colour behind the gloomy clouds above and she thought it would be best to start packing up. It was to her surprise when she heard a manly voice call out to her from a few metres away as she spooled the line back around her fishing rod.
"Are you out her alone, dear girl?" shouted over a light haired man. Linyeve squinted to observe the details of his face and noticed he was definitely older than her but nowhere near older than her father.
"No, but that shouldn't be any of your concern," she huffed as she packed away a little faster.
"I don't mean any harm," the stranger continued, closer now and talking in a quieter tone. "I just wanted to be sure you would make your way home safe."
Linyeve arched one brow and looked him up and down. He looked like a farmer but much too clean to be one; his clothes looked well kept and his face was smooth yet slightly tanned.
She had heard of tales of men swiping away young girls in the blink of an eye, especially during the famine just a few years back, in attempts of reaching agreements of coin and food but the man before her bore none such qualities. His soft smile was kind and the more Linyeve looked at him the more she thought he was quite handsome. He finally spoke up again, extending his hand,
"My name is August Dodson. I live in the center of Tovar in a cottage overlooking the market square... I feel like I may have seen you and your father walking by my home before."
She decided to shake his hand and see his strength, "I'm Linyeve Chapman. You're certainly correct, I often sell our farm produce and salted fish at that market. Perhaps our parents had met before?" His grip was tight and she could feel the various callouses that a farmer would have on his hands... seems like he just liked to keep himself very well kept.
"It could easily be a possibility," he nodded as he let go of Linyeve's hand. "What is your father's name, perchance?"
"Byrhtnoth," she announced proudly. "You may have also seen him deliver our stock to the King of Praaven himself, visiting the keep quarterly."
"My father used to do the same!" he said excitedly.
"And why doesn't he anymore?" scoffed Linyeve, ready to brag about her family's achievements over August's.
"Well, he unfortunately passed away during the famine just a few years ago, alongside my youngest sister."
Linyeve's face dropped and grew a little pale. "I-I'm sorry to hear that... it was insensitive of me to ask such a weighted question."
"It's not a bother at all," replied August with a smile. Linyeve hesitated to meet his gaze again, embarrassed at her explosive nature, but pushed past her feelings in the end.
"My, er... my mother and sisters died during the famine also. It was tough on everyone in Praaven. M-my condolences to your family."
"And to yours also." It was in this moment that Osuald came running back to his big sister exclaiming his winning at the horseshoe games against an elderly man. He grows slightly shy once he realises that Linyeve is in the company of a stranger and she does her best to make him feel comfortable,
"August, I'd like for you to meet my younger brother, Osuald. We came here to fish at the pond and enjoy the sights of the festivities behind us." She let Osuald hug her at her side as he analysed the man before him.
"Ah, fishing? I love to partake in that once in a while but I wish I could do it more often... what did you catch today?" He bent down a little to meet Osuald's gaze and watched him smile before the child ran to his bucket to show off the various types of fish he lured in this evening.
One conversation led to another and before they knew it the sun was almost gone out of view. Linyeve's stomach dropped and she exclaimed, "For Watcher's sake, Osuald! We have got to get home!" Osuald's face also scrunched into an uncertain one as he grabbed their fishing rods in a hurry.
"May I guide you two home?" asked August. "It's inevitably going to be dark soon and I was thoughtful enough to bring a torch with me to light any dark paths on the way home. Where was it that you said you lived?"
"We live just in between Lughaven and Tovar, along the river," confided Linyeve as she slung a backpack around her shoulders.
"Then it's on my way home. Follow me!" He gestured at them to move with him and they walked at an increased speed as Linyeve knew what scolding she was going to get at home.
On their journey home they learned more about each other. Osuald was more of a listener in this conversation but chimed in when he had something good to say. August shared that he lost his mother at a very early age as she passed on after the birth of his youngest sister. He lived with his father in Tovar alongside his two sisters before the famine struck, which took his father and youngest sister away from him. His other sister quickly married off into another nearby village just months after his family's deaths and he was left alone to tend to the farm.
He shared how increasingly lonely it was becoming in the empty bungalow that once housed his entire family. He quite openly admitted he was looking for that special someone to fill up his home with cries of laughter, sorrow and joy as soon as he could and Linyeve was glad to know August couldn't see her blush in the dark.
She still knew so little about him but this was the first time she ever felt what others would call a 'crush'. That Christopher boy in the keep was purely childish and platonic compared to the sudden feelings she experienced for August in this short day but was mature enough to know she had to sleep on these feelings to know for sure just how much this so-called 'crush' was true.
And before they knew it they were at the Chapman home. August complimented the craftsmanship of their home and mentioned how large it was.
"It has housed eight of my siblings, not including me," she joked, "Not all at the same time, of course, but we needed the space!"
Byrhtnoth heard their chatter and swung the door open. His face was slightly furious at first until he saw the unfamiliar young man in their company. August instantly extended out a hand and introduced himself, explaining how he just wanted to get Byrhtnoth's children home safe and that he lived in Tovar.
"My sincerest thank yous to you, August. I apologise for my children being so blind as to when the sun sets in the sky."
"It was not a problem, Byrhtnoth," August chuckled. "But I won't overstay my welcome, Linyeve can tell you all the details as to how we came to meet, but I hope to see you all in Tovar once again."
He shook hands with Byrhtnoth once more and stepped back from the group before saying one last thing,
"And please, feel free to come knocking on my door! It's the bungalow right next to the gates to the market square. Have a good night." He waved them all goodbye and minimised himself into a small glowing flame in the distance as he travelled on home.
Byrhtnoth shut the door behind himself and stared down his two children, "Before I give you both a right scolding you need to tell me all about this Dodson fella."
"I'd be delighted to-" began Linyeve before being interrupted by her brother.
"What's for dinner? I'm staaarving."
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