1327 - To Court a Lady
The usual dreary winter months grew to be more colourful than previous years as the youngest Chapmans had new entertainments in the form of future partners. Osuald raved on about Lana more than his sister did about Bobby but that was only because she was still a young girl, unsure if what was being planned out for her was what she wanted. These seeds of doubt didn't stop her from continuing to be friendly to Bobby and she only wanted to learn more about him.
Osuald would make trips into town on horseback to see his sweet while Bobby would visit the Chapman stead. Before his first visit Byrhtnoth met with the young lad in Lughaven and asked for his smithing services, delivering a handful of farming tools that needed sharpening and fixing. Bobby was very enthusiastic in helping him and promised to hand deliver them in a few weeks time.
And deliver he did, as one early January morning he arrived with his stock and was thoroughly praised by Byrhtnoth, with compliments such as his work being more thorough and attentive than his late father's. He was often invited inside for a warm drink or a hot bowl of soup before he hit the road again and with that started the tradition of him coming for a meal and a chat at least once a week.
One such week he arrived and spotted that Lavina was nowhere to be seen; she was usually doing her womanly duties of cleaning up after breakfast or sweeping the dusty floors but that day the home stood silent. Byrhtnoth excused her absence and shared that she and her brother had ventured to the markets to stock up on essentials like grain and flour. It was the perfect opportunity for the two men to put the facts out onto the table and discuss the details of the courting and hopeful eventual marriage between Bobby and Lavina.
"Lavina has taken quite a liking to you," started Byrhtnoth. "She's still a very young girl and she has her worries about leaving home and the like but, from what you have shown me in the short time we have known each other, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders."
"Thank you kindly, Byrhtnoth," bowed Bobby with respect, "your words mean a lot to me. I understand both of your concerns but I just hope you can believe me when I say I would never harm a hair on your daughter's head. I can clearly see that she means a great deal to you and I would never stop her from staying close to you or your family."
"I believe you, Bobby. And that is why I extend my permission to court my daughter if you are so interested. A union of our families would bring me great pride and joy and a marriage can be planned for the next year once we receive the King's approval."
"It would make me the happiest man alive," smiled Bobby from ear to ear. As soon as he uttered the words the front door creaked open and in came Osuald and Lavina, both carrying different shaped and sized satchels full of food products. They said their greetings to one another and received some physical help from the two conversing men. After the grains were stowed away into safe and dry locations Byrhtnoth excused himself as Osuald needed some help with the horses, leaving Lavina and Bobby alone for a moment.
"What were you and my father talking about while I wasn't here?" asked Lavina with a cheeky tone.
"What else is there to talk about but you, of course!" answered Bobby honestly. "As fascinating of a man that your father is the true reason why I have been coming to see you all so often is all because of you." He took one of her small hands in his and stroked it gently before he said,
"Lavina, when I come to see you, you make my heart feel full. I'm aware that there is still so much to learn about one another but I can only see you in my life in one manner... as my wife." Lavina's eyes grew wide and her breath caught in her throat. She looked down to watch Bobby's finger glide against her supple skin on the back of her hand.
"Will you do me the honour of committing to a union with me?" Bobby's voice echoed gently against the stone walls of their farmhouse and the pair studied each other's eyes. Lavina finally swallowed after a while, wetting her dry mouth, before asking,
CW: Age gap relationship, forced marriage.
"I-I don't... think I understand..." She felt embarrassed for being so naive and unknowing of these customs, she wished her father was in the room with her. Bobby chuckled as he answered,
"Well, I'm asking you to marry me. Not right away, of course! We can follow a courtship and see how things feel and perhaps, if it all goes well, we can marry next year?" Bobby's brows began to furrow from worry the more he spoke, Lavina's expression only grew to be one of concern and, even possibly, fear.
She still hadn't experienced her first bleed and there was an adult man holding her hand asking her of marriage... it all felt off. Osuald hadn't even gotten close to talking about marriage with Lana yet all he could yap about this winter was his so-called 'soulmate'. Lavina bit the inside of her cheek, trying to suppress the flood of emotions in her chest.
The fear she may have had for this sudden seriousness in her relationship between Bobby and herself felt raw but there was a lot of good there too. He was a very witty man and often made silly jokes her way, keeping her smiling and entertained in each conversation they shared. He also clearly cares for her as he has brought her and her family various gifts that he has hand crafted and even bought from other merchants. She may not know many boys her age or men that were young enough to be a suitor for her but she knew that Bobby was a kindhearted man.
"Alright," she answered in an almost silent voice. Bobby tilted his head down to try meet at her eye level and she spoke up again. "Yes... let us court." She only agreed to it out of politeness and respect, it is what her father had taught her to be: polite and respectful. The consequences of this were sure to follow but she hoped that by the time the wedding comes her feelings would be solid.
Bobby breathed a slow sigh of relief and let go of his new love's hand. He thanked her and stood there, unknowing of what to do next. Although they were alone inside the home he didn't know how much longer they had this solitude - and he also didn't want to make his lady uncomfortable - so he just went with a quick kiss on her forehead.
The young girl looked up at Bobby, scrunching her skin on her forehead where it was now wet from a kiss into a frown and tried to make sense of this situation. She knows there are hundreds of girls her age in villages across Praaven that would be daydreaming of this scenario and she tried to put herself in their shoes but there was still something gnawing inside of her. That was when the Chapman lads walked back inside.
CW over.
"Anyone feeling peckish?" asked Osuald, gaining the attention from the new couple, "I'll heat up some lunch for us, would you like a portion Bobby?"
"Sure... I would be happy to eat." As he answered he looked back at Lavina who still looked a little upset but was bravely trying to hide it behind a calming expression. Byrhtnoth stood next to the pair and pat the both of them on the back gently.
"So, what have I missed?" the father asked as he studied his daughter's face. She seemed distant, her gaze blurring into the distance and her expression blank. Bobby spoke up for the both of them,
"I had just asked Lavina for a union of our families... and she said yes."
"Oh, did you?" responded Byrhtnoth with enthusiasm and raised eyebrows. "Congratulations to you both, I'm delighted your conversation went well. Take all the time you need to settle into this new courting and wedding planning can come much later."
Her father's congratulatory chant broke Lavina out of her dissociation and she looked up at him, trying to trigger her lips to form a smile. Osuald now turned around too and asked childishly,
"You two are going to be getting married?!"
"Yes, boy," piped up Byrhtnoth with a scolding tone, "Calm right down, you'll get your chance."
"I better hurry up though," Osuald muttered as he spooned some salty porridge into a second bowl and walked to set it down on the table, inviting Bobby to eat. Lavina excused herself as she let the boys know that she thinks she forgot to feed the chickens. This was merely an excuse to get some fresh air and some space to really understand what she had gotten herself into.
Bobby left sometime after three and after dinner the family sat down for a game of dominoes. The Chapmans kept track of their winning and losing scores as they played during the cold winter months and it seemed that Osuald was winning, and that night solidified himself another point. He retired to his bed after his win but the father and daughter decided to play a non-competitive round one more time before they went to sleep also. It was then when Byrhtnoth approached the topic of Lavina and Bobby once again.
"What exactly did Bobby ask you?" he prodded as he hovered a domino piece over the table.
"He asked me about a union at first and... and I was just- it just- I was floored by the question, I had no idea how to answer it!" The truth spilled out onto the table and her voice began to wobble. Byrhtnoth took a break from thinking logically at the game and instead brought the logic to the conversation,
"But you answered positively to him, yes?"
"I had to ask him what he meant and that was when he asked my hand in marriage... I had to say yes to him." Lavina looked down again as if she was guilty and was ready to be scolded by her father but was only met with an assuring gesture from her father,
"I am proud of you for making a mature decision," he started, trying to get his daughter to look him in the eyes. "But if this all feels wrong to you, or at any point you find something about him that worries you to the core, speak up about it to me. I can always break it all off and nobody will have to marry anybody."
Lavina finally looked him in the eyes and they were misty. She attempted a smile but squinting her eyes only made her tears slide down her cheeks. She quickly pulled a sleeve down to her hand and wiped her sadness away before it got to her chin.
"I'm sorry for my tears, father. I want to be happy about this, I really do... I'm just scared."
"Rightfully so, my dear. This union will change your life, there will come many responsibilities from your marriage to Bobby yet there will be so many happy and proud moments you will experience also." He got up from his chair and kneeled down next to her, holding her delicate hands in his tightly.
"You are a young girl, you have plenty of years ahead of you. In ten, twenty, maybe even thirty years time you will laugh at these fears you once had and ask yourself, 'why was I so scared?' I know Bobby is ready to love you and provide for you, you just have to accept it. I'll be here every step of the way."
The words of reassurance reached the parts of Lavina's heart that felt the most pain and she threw her arms around her father and let out her tears, flowing freely and without judgement. Byrhtnoth held his daughter tight and continued to speak calming words to her until she felt at ease. She slept soundly that night but continued to battle her worries for months to come.
When the rainy months arrived Lavina extended a hand on the farm and learned the proper ways of caring for the crops as she also planned to own a small garden. If she were to marry Bobby she would live at his smithy and he would be busy with all sorts of orders from across the land but she would be happy to take responsibility for tending their own small batch of crops.
It was when she was pulling the weeds out from their cabbage plants did she begin to experience a new sensation. As she hunched over she felt a strange cramping and a pain in her back she never felt before. She began to think she may have slept wrong the night before or strained herself the last time she scrubbed their dirty linens in the washbasin but it all became clear when she rose to her height once more.
CW: menstruation descriptions, sex-ed.
Her face twisted into one of shock and slight embarrassment when she felt something trickle down her leg under her dress and she excused herself to go and relieve herself. Once squatted over the chamber pot inside the small hut on their farm land and took a deep breath before she looked down. She had been vaguely told about how it would all happen and look like but nothing prepares a girl to see that she is becoming a woman.
As she cleaned herself it had finally arrived, her menses. Splotches of red and pink on the fine linen undergarments she wore underneath her red and cream tunic. She continued dripping, slow but mildly painful, and she grew concerned of how she would handle herself with no knowledge on the matter.
She fixed herself and walked back out into the drizzling rain and alerted her father of the news. She wished she didn't have to tell Byrhtnoth about such an intimate matter, in this moment she dearly missed her mother even if she had no memory of her, she would know what to do without a shadow of a doubt. But now her father knew and her father especially knew she was becoming a woman of a childbearing age.
Regardless of the facts Lavina thought her father was noting down in his mind he didn't hesitate to leave their farm work behind and take a quick journey down to see his daughter and Lavina's sister, Linyeve. She was the closest of kin to Lavina who has years upon years of experience of monthly bleeds and, perhaps while they were visiting, she would share some information on what it would be like to go through pregnancy and childbirth. Byrhtnoth just made sure to remind Linyeve to not scare her sister too much in the process.
CW over.
Inside the Chapman stables Silvian was growing to be an energetic and feisty little foal but he still had much more growing to do before he could be trained to handle a saddle. Because of that Gloria still stuck closely by him and Osuald continued to venture to lakes and rivers with Beauty instead.
He had seen many destinations of Praaven with her now, the various mountain lakes, the lapping rivers of the flatlands and the salty sea by the city walls. She had graciously trotted every dirt and cobbled road just to deliver Osuald safely to where he needed to go. He made sure to treat her accordingly with apples and carrots when the supplies allowed it and she seemed delighted with each offer.
But her years were catching up to her and her legs grew more stiff as she slowed her pace with each day 1327 brought to Praaven. Byrhtnoth made sure to handle her grooming and hoof cleaning when they returned from their travels and even asked for Bobby to make a new bundle of horseshoes for his beloved steed. The bearded man and the elder equine shared their memories in their thin grey hairs that littered their heads.
Once their crops on their land were strong enough to withstand the regular storms that passed on through during the late spring months Byrhtnoth's body suffered another illness. By the symptoms it seemed to be almost identical to the influenza he suffered last year and ended up bed ridden for a week and a few days.
Lavina stepped up to be his personal physician once more and cleaned his sweaty linens and fed him herbal soups to speed up his recovery. Unlike last time his children received minor symptoms of the influenza but suffered nothing more than a cough and a single night of sweats. Osuald continued to confidently hold his own on his fishing journeys and Lavina assisted her father.
In the last week of Byrhtnoth's recovery Praaven was struck with a short period of storms and Osuald decided it best to stay home and help with the farm instead. Beauty, Gloria and little Silvian hid away in the stables and appreciated the shelter through the lashing rain and gusty winds. After a short break during Byrhtnoth's most unwell days the Chapmans found themselves back at the Domino table.
After two matches, one win going to Osuald and another to Byrhtnoth, Lavina got up from the table and remembered that it was the perfect time to feed the horses dinner while the boys set up a third game. She collected some feed from one of their storage shacks and visited the stables, putting a hand horizontally over her eyes to shield her from the darts of raindrops.
CW: animal death, mourning.
Yet she was met with an unsightly scene. She was shocked at how she and her family didn't hear the commotion from inside their home but Gloria and Silvian were panicking, panicking at the sight of a collapsed Beauty. Lavina dropped her bucket of feed and struggled to unlatch the stable door as her hands shook from the sudden rush of adrenaline.
Once the wooden door was swung open Silvian trotted out first, whinnying in response to the stress his mother was going through. Gloria didn't want to leave Beauty's side and slightly kicked her back legs in anger and sadness and shook her head. Lavina feared getting anywhere close to this large beast in emotion and merely poked her head inside the stable to confirm what she thought to be.
Beauty was motionless and growing into an unnatural colour. Her large elder body was slumped over her uncomfortably bent legs and it seemed there was no sign of life in her eyes, much like there wasn't any in Greyson's just last year. Lavina's heart raced faster and faster and before she realised that her legs were taking her back inside the house to alert her brother and father.
She stormed in and the men turned in their seats, clearly they had just finished setting up the table for the promised third game of dominoes. Lavina came to a halt once she stood between the two lads and her father began to rise out of his seat slowly, analysing the haggard look on her face.
"Lavina, what did you see?" he finally asked. His daughter's eyes darted between her family members and her voice croaked before she could say it,
"Beauty has died!" It came out louder than she had expected and she fell into her father's arms, each sob more painful than the last. Byrhtnoth looked down at his daughter before turning his eyes to his son who was now standing also. They shared a glance that was a transformation of shock, concern and sorrow and eventually Byrhtnoth pushed his daughter away from him.
"Where is she? In the stable?" Lavina nodded at her father as she wiped her salty tears and off Byrhtnoth went to check if it was all true. He pushed past the winds and thick rain that hit against his tunic and found himself at the scene, his children following only seconds after him.
There was nothing to deny, Beauty had been taken by The Watcher. Byrhtnoth knew her time would come but he wasn't ready to say goodbye. Osuald stood and tried to swallow the lump in his throat and he pat his father on the back in an attempt to comfort him through hazy eyes. Lavina continued to cry next to them and within seconds they were all sobbing in a chorus.
Gloria had ceased her ruckus in the stable and stood with her head hung low as she mourned alongside her humans while baby Silvian tried to slowly approach his mother once again, skittish of the body that lay before him.
Osuald ran out of tears first. He was mourning the fact he would never share a ride with the magnificent steed ever again but he knew his father would be feeling the hurt much harder. He knew that Beauty had been in the family for years upon years and she was probably double his age when she passed so it must have been a hard blow for him.
Byrhtnoth was a mess and accepted any comforting he received from his children, especially Osuald. As he cried on his son's shoulder he felt a sad thought cross his mind: this is one of the last touchstones he had to his late wife Olyff. He was so young when he and his wife moved into the small shack on the very same land he stood on now and Beauty was the steed that connected them to all parts of Praaven. He was happy to know that she had her own offspring alongside him and her third generation stood quietly next to her resting body now.
Eventually the rain died down and so did their cries, only the muted sounds of rainwater dripping down from the thatched roof were present. Byrhtnoth could do nothing once more at that hour and waited until the morning to alert the knacker of their fallen horse.
CW over.
The weeks following felt bleak. The scene of Beauty's fall stayed fresh in everyone's minds and everyone grieved in their own quiet ways. Byrhtnoth required plenty of alone time as he spent mornings in solitude, only his bowls of porridge and his racing mind to accompany him. Lavina painted away her feelings onto wooden canvases and Osuald stepped up to care for the remaining equines. It was a ray of light during these days to see Silvian practically be unaffected by what the little foal experienced and he continued to be a silly and fun character for Osuald to interact with.
With Gloria still committed to nursing Silvian there was no easy way to get to various fishing destinations like before and Osuald took the next several months to focus on maintaining the farm alongside his father and sister. With this sudden brush with death he felt a fear play out in his mind that his father may be the next to go in their family and he wanted to make sure he had all of the skills he needed perfected to be the best that he could be.
There were days where Byrhtnoth would take a rest in between all of the weeding and tending of the crops and sit on the stool right beside the hut, observing his children's techniques and promising to critique them if they were doing something wrong. He was proud that Osuald and Lavina got along as brother and sister, much better than Linyeve and Eddida did when they were the same age. His mind drifted as he remembered their bickering, pouting slightly at the times long gone.
So much has changed since then yet, all at once, not much at all. He finally snapped out of his reminiscing when Lavina called out to her father for the third time and asked if the cabbages were ripe for the picking.
Summer was in full swing and there was much to do on the farmlands. Every peasant family was seen working the fields if you decided to take a journey through every village on the outskirts of Praaven and it seemed to be, once again, another bountiful year.
But what's life when it's all work and no play? The summer festival provided a reprieve from responsibilities and was open for one and all to enjoy! The Chapmans were no different and joined in on the festivities to be had at the Mahlsberg festival grounds.
They arrived sometime around midday and observed all of the happenings surrounding them. There was a small show on with jesters and contortionists on a small stage on one corner of the grounds while there were plenty of market stalls and festival games on either ends of the festival also. As they all took in the sights they spotted several faces that were familiar to them.
Byrhtnoth waved towards Shavonne and Queen Dowager Mary-Anne and extended his greetings once they stood face to face. The fair maidens were excited about plenty of things to be enjoyed at the grounds but from a short conversation learned that Shavonne seemed to be growing into a rebellious streak. It was none of Byrhtnoth's concern though as she was considered royalty and shaming a royal could cause him some deep trouble.
But he continued to talk to her as if she was family, because she actually was: his granddaughter. They caught up on major family events and he told her about how he had to mourn the loss of his horse and although Shavonne didn't seem to grasp the intensity of the situation she stayed polite nonetheless. And as Byrhtnoth looked into her eyes he could see his darling Pipa staring back at him and began to cry.
Shavonne was kind enough to extend a hand and comfort the older man and ask if there was anything she could say or do to make it better and all Byrhtnoth had to say back to her was,
"Stay happy and stay true, Shavonne. You look so much like your mother and I... I miss her oh so dearly."
"I've had several people tell me those exact same words. I wish I could remember my mother just so I could agree with them." Shavonne smiled as she said those words and she was surprised to see how much comfort it brought to her grandfather. She guided him to a drinks stall and offered him a drink in memory of all the ones who have fallen.
On the other side of the festival, just as Byrhtnoth shared a heart to heart with Shavonne, Lana found Osuald standing on by his lonesome. The pair shared a friendly hug and the young boy made sure to extend a Watcher praising greeting her way. They also had a moment to catch up with nothing but positive news coming from Lana. Before they knew it a man shouted loudly next to them to the crowd to take part in a horseshoe toss to win a prize and the pair decided to challenge one another.
They cheered one another on as they took the lightly rusted horseshoes and threw them towards a metal pole surrounded by coarse sand, attempting to have the hooked object catch and spin to victory. Osuald was confident with his throwing abilities but Lana proved to be far more dexterous and ended up winning a small pouch of coins for her efforts. She whispered a plan to Osuald to spend the few coins that she won on some sweet treats and honey wine to enjoy for the rest of the day to which he enthusiastically agreed to!
Lavina met up with Shavonne and Byrhtnoth after having a gander past each stall in the market portion of the festival. The young girls giggled and began to share some inside jokes which made Byrhtnoth feel slightly left out. It wasn't a problem as he spotted Bobby in the distance and made his way to have a chat with him.
The men had a quick catch up in the distance before Shavonne spotted Bobby in the distance and asked who he was to Lavina. She confided that he was to be her husband next year and Shavonne squealed with excitement for her before resulting to childish sing songs of how Lavina has a crush on Bobby. Lavina tried to gently smack her until she stopped singing and looked Bobby's way.
He really did stand like a strong and rugged man, his arms swelling at the biceps from hours of rigorously smashing down at metal on an anvil. His smile continued to captivate her and she was lucky to have one flashed her direction when he spotted her several metres away. She did a shy wave and was met with more giggles from Shavonne who eventually pushed Lavina into Bobby's direction and so she went to meet her beloved.
She did like any courted lady would do - at least what she thought one would do - and complimented her man before asking how he was faring, commenting on his strength that bulged from under his rolled up shirt sleeves. He extended a compliment back expressing how radiant her hair looked under the summer sun and that he was happy to meet her so suddenly on a fine day like the one they shared.
Bobby spoke about how much of an influx of weapons orders he received in the last few months compared to his usual work which made him grow worried for a war on the brink but quickly learned it was for the king's guard and not any soldiers. The couple attempted a couple of cheeky flirts, with some completely going over Lavina's head, but ultimately got distracted once they noticed that there was a pie eating competition about to be held place.
Byrhtnoth, Osuald, Lana and even the Queen Dowager all were presented with a blackberry jam pie and were alerted to get on their marks, get set and eat! Their faces were slathered with the sickly sweet jam and they kept their hands pressed against the table, only eating with their mouths. Lavina began to cheer her family on and after several minutes of sloppy feasting Osuald was announced as the winner!
Once all of the contestants came up for air Byrhtnoth and Osuald shared a laugh as they looked at one another, a flood of a memory of another pie eating contest coming back into their minds when the two siblings were just kids.
Lana came to congratulate Osuald and joined in on the pie-face fun, presenting the winner with a tight hug and a suggestive smile as she playfully licked some jam off of her face. She led him to a washbasin that the festival provided and helped him scrub off any jam that he failed to wash off in a hurry.
The young pair felt an increased tension building up between them that they couldn't put into words and all Lana could suggest in this moment was,
"I want our parents to finally meet, Osuald. Please, let us visit your farm and have a discussion about something I think both of us want." All Osuald could do was nod like a boy in love and so the plans were to be set in stone once the majority of the summer work was out of the way.
CW: infant death, depression.
As soon as the harvest months began there was some tragic news that was delivered to the Chapman stead. Not too long after Byrhtnoth travelled to visit Linyeve and her children August came to deliver a notice of death: October had been taken by The Watcher.
He was shaken to the core and found it difficult to describe the scene when he spoke but all in all October suffered a fall from her crib and died on impact. He described how the home had began to become hectic the older February and October were getting and their oldest was fighting for more attention from her parents to which unfortunately they didn't notice October's dying moment.
Byrhtnoth promptly visited his daughter and found her in an episode of selective mutism. She refused to speak and seemed more distant than he had ever seen anyone before. Her father attempted to comfort her with anecdotes of how her mother dealt with each loss but it didn't seem to hit home. He left them with uncertainty but promised to himself to visit out of fear of losing his daughter.
CW over.
Byrhtnoth alerted his children of Linyeve's loss after dinner as he confessed his worries about the state of their home and his daughter's wellbeing. Osuald attempted to reassure his father that everything he said to her was straight from his heart and supported his idea of visiting her at least once a week to keep her in check.
Once Lavina came back inside after washing their laundry she offered a game of dominoes to unwind for the evening and the lads agreed to her offer. On their leaderboard Byrhtnoth was taking the lead for most wins between the three of them and Lavina shrugged when she saw that she had no hope in catching up to the top position.
Discussions on each child's future was brought to the table, specifically concerning their future spouses. Byrhtnoth directed his question to his daughter first, asking,
"It has been a full six months of you and Bobby officially being in a courtship... how are you feeling about it?"
"I'm definitely feeling better about it than when it was just finalised," confessed Lavina as she placed down her first domino. "I still worry about our age difference and leaving home so young but... I've really began to appreciate how strong and sophisticated Bobby is." Osuald snorted out a cheeky laugh but was shot down by a grimace from his father.
"I knew you'd come around," said Byrhtnoth with a calming tone. "I'm glad you've got faith in your relationship. Does this mean you think you'll be going ahead with the wedding next year?"
"I think so!" grinned Lavina. After her chat with Shavonne at the summer festival in Mahlsberg a few months back she got told about the many exciting things that she should look forward to in her marriage but was also warned of the few things that will feel daunting on her first night. Regardless she wouldn't mind to change from Lavina Chapman to Lavina Smith.
"I shall make my way to the keep before the first snowfall and receive permission for the engagement from King Sidgurd, and of course confirm with Bobby that he is still happily devoted to this union. It's your turn, my boy." Osuald looked up from his dominoes, all laid out in a straight line, and looked around confused.
"Father, I just made my turn in the game." Byrhtnoth clicked his tongue and shook his head slightly.
"Not in the game, silly," he chuckled, "It's your turn to talk about Lana!" Osuald gulped and his cheeks grew a little red.
"What about Lana?" The boy began to fidget with one of his dominoes and Lavina leaned forward to ponder her next move.
"When will I meet her parents? I can see your feelings are reciprocated and I feel it's time to discuss it in seriousness. I believe you two will be a fine match."
"Perhaps... a match made in heaven?" jeered Lavina and Osuald smirked at her attempt at a joke.
"Yes! It could be a match made in heaven!" answered their father enthusiastically, the joke completely going over his head. Lavina finally placed down her piece and gestured to her father to make his move. He analysed the best move set while he waited for an answer from his son.
"Anyway... when we met at the summer festival we did speak about you all meeting finally but never set a date. I guess now that the harvest is almost out of the way we could possibly invite Lana and her parents for a meal?" With a click of the carved bone game piece Byrhtnoth answered his son,
"That's a magnificent idea! Please extend my invitation for a hearty stew and a formal discussion when you find yourself inside the keep's walls again." Osuald nodded to his father and continued the game with another domino. Byrhtnoth looked at both of his children with glee and extended his arms out to pat them both on the back each. They flinched with surprise and looked at their father as he said,
"How was I lucky to raise such mature and level headed children? Thank The Watcher for this blessing!" He rubbed their backs vigorously and they each pushed out a mildly nervous laugh.
They were delighted to make their father happy but they both shared a feeling that they didn't exactly feel as mature as he saw them to be. Nevertheless they wore this compliment with pride and finished the game with a tie between Osuald and Lavina, an ending to their game that has never happened before! After Osuald cleared their table and went to indulge in a bath before bed Lavina caught her father for a short talk,
"How will the planning for my wedding look like, father? How much will I have a say in what is decided?"
"There's plenty that you can choose for your nuptials," described Byrhtnoth to his youngest. "Both you and Bobby need to settle on the venue you are most comfortable with and you can also decide who you'd like to invite to witness your union. One thing I think you'd be delighted to help with is your wedding cake! It has to be large enough to lightly feed each guest so be wary of how many people you decide to invite! And lastly, the dress: the father, groom or earl will gift you a celebratory gown to wear and, hopefully, you like the look of it!"
Lavina listened closely to everything her father told her and nodded politely, taking a pause to take all of the information in after he finished speaking. "That all sounds very fair, father. I'm growing even more excited for the special day now!"
That very night Lavina had dreams of her fantasy wedding, how she would wear a silk gown that glimmered in the light and how it would swirl around as she danced with her husband to the tune of their official union. It was truly a fantasy as she dreamed of a five tier cake decorated with fruits and shapes she had never seen before and she giggled silently to herself when she awoke the next morning.
Osuald arrived home one October morning and shared the news of the plans he made with Lana just an hour back to his father. As they warmed themselves with some breakfast porridge Osuald reflected on the conversations he had and the sights he saw on his journey.
Although Silvian was still months away from being mature Gloria was beginning to grant him more independence and was comfortable to venture outside the farm and gallop the roads of Praaven once again. Osuald prepared her saddle and off they rode towards the city walls once dawn broke.
It had been several months since Osuald felt the crisp autumn air while he rode on horseback and he breathed in the moment. He moved to the rhythm of the trots of Gloria's hooves on the ground and he arrived to the city quicker than he expected. He tied his steed outside Lana's home and was met by her mother, Alanna, once he knocked on the door.
After being invited in for a cup of chamomile tea and spending a moment with Lana and her mother they came to a conclusion. The parents and young girl would visit the Chapman stead for a cordial meal and a discussion of marriage and during their planning Alanna couldn't stop smiling as she listened to Osuald. They were to meet at the end of the week and with that Osuald saddled back up and began to ride on home.
Halfway back Osuald galloped past a ghost of his past. He paid no mind to her but the image of her flashed through his mind in the last half of his journey. Her auburn hair, in full glow and beauty, matching the drying leaves of autumn: Marissa.
She was taking her time walking along the dusty paths on the outskirts of the city and in her arms was a babe, not even a full year old yet. Osuald didn't get a good glimpse of the little boy's face but he had the exact same shade of ginger hair as his mother. They both donned green clothes, a shade that perfectly matched their complexion, and stayed close together as they travelled. Osuald could have sworn that he heard Marissa gasp and stop in her tracks for a moment when he rode past them but he didn't dare to turn back and see.
It was in that moment of reminiscence that Osuald suggested something to his father, "The old cow shed we have is mostly empty," he explained, "why not repurpose it into something new?"
"That's possible, my boy," nodded Byrhtnoth. "But who would do all of the work and buy the materials for the job?"
"Can't we?" gestured Osuald at them both. "I'm happy to do most of the labor but if we need an extra hand do you think Bobby would object?"
"Hrmm... but what will we rebuild the shelter into?" pondered Byrhtnoth.
"Let's take the winter to think things through and draw out a plan... perhaps Lavina would lend us some paint and paper to see this plan through?" The lads shook hands at their idea and prepared for Lana's arrival in days to come.
Soon leaves of all shades ranging from red to yellow littered the ground and were swept by gusts of autumnal wind across the Chapman farm. The wind whistled through the front door and became a white noise for the family. Lavina glanced outside the kitchen window and observed a slight drizzle begin and prayed that Lana and her parents would arrive dry and safely.
She got back to cooking over the stove and just as she added some carrots into the mix the whistling under the door transformed into knocking. Byrhtnoth made his way from the living room to the front door and put on his best smile to greet Lana and her folks.
They all shook hands in greeting until Osuald and Lana stood in front of each other who committed to a quick hug. Lavina excused herself and continued to conjure up a delicious vegetable soup in their cauldron while her father introduced himself to Alanna and Grady.
Byhrntoth was quite surprised by Alanna's complexion and politely attempted to ask about her background. She was kind to open up about her family history of how her father used to be a sea merchant from Spain and found himself settling down in Praaven's bay and soon enough she was born. Grady was a Praavenite through and through with generations of men continuing the butchers tradition and they spoke about how they were both incredibly lucky to live inside the city walls.
Alanna spent most of her youth around the fishing huts near the city but after careful and skillful deliberations her father was found to afford a small townhouse inside the city. Grady comes from a generally humble background and it was only his father, after countless generations of butchers, that successfully acquired a building inside the walls. Grady briefly spoke about Lana's mother, Constance, and seemed to feel saddened and embarrassed to speak about this topic in front of his wife but ultimately had wonderful things to say about his late wife.
Osuald and Lana had their own catch up when she first arrived but soon enough they were listening in on their parents talk and shared little snide comments at some of what their parents said. Osuald rolled his eyes when his father tried to joke about how Alanna looks a lot like her step-mother and quietly apologised to Lana to which she said,
"It's not the first time I hear that, don't worry about it."
Byrhtnoth soon shared his own story of how he met Olyff, with her parent's dying wish being to see her get married to another peasant boy and start her own family. He boasted about his success on his late uncle's land and expressed how thankful he is for his health and luck for building his life up to where it was now.
"And never forget to thank The Watcher for all that you have as it is They who materialise our successes in the first place," chimed in Grady and Alanna squeezed her husband's hand in approval. Byhrtnoth agreed to appease the pair and soon enough Lavina interrupted the conversation.
"The soup is ready and I invite you all to take a seat and prepare for your meal!" Osuald gestured to their guests to take their seats and Byrhtnoth offered them all various drinks that they had stored up to which they all denied saying a soup was a drink enough!
Lavina spooned the steaming chunky mix into their clay bowls and began to place each bowl down in front of each person. As she placed it in front of Lana and her parents she described how each vegetable she prepared was grown on their farm, from the onions to the carrots, the parsnips to the squash. She was complimented by Alanna for the delectable aroma and soon enough they all were digging in.
As their bowls emptied Grady asked Byrhtnoth if Lavina was courted to a man yet as he was very impressed with her cooking skills and he proudly shared how she was to marry Bobby next year. They wished her luck in her marriage and believed that Bobby would be very honoured to have her as a wife to which Lavina blushed.
And so the main discussion the Bacon's arrived for was finally happening over the table, Osuald and Lana's relationship. Grady instantly shared how he witnessed how much Osuald fawned over his daughter and he truly believed that she would never find anyone that would love her more than he did. Lana and Osuald shared a loving look towards one another and even thought about holding hands under the table but ultimately decided not to.
Alanna praised Osuald for his manners and devotion to both The Watcher and her step-daughter and delightfully approved their union. And finally it was Byrhtnoth's turn to speak,
"I want to thank you, Grady and Alanna, for raising such a beautiful and caring daughter. She has made my son incredibly happy while they have been friends for the last year or so and it warms my heart to hear what you think of my dear boy Osuald." Byrhtnoth began to rise out of his chair and clasp his hands by his stomach.
"It would bring me great honour and pride to see our families come together through Lana and Osuald and I would appreciate your permission for my son to court your daughter." Grady began to rise in response and soon extended a hand,
"Then it must be done as it would bring us great honour to have our Lana Bacon marry to become Lana Chapman." The elder men shook in agreement and Grady commented one last thing, "May the eyes of The Watcher observe your love with care and support and bring you young souls many years of joy, love and offspring in your future."
"Amen," agreed Alanna and everyone's eyes turned towards the lovebirds. Osuald had briefly rehearsed this with his father as he was promised this union would be a success and so he stood up from his chair and lent a hand to Lana to stand up also. He took her soft and delicate hands in his calloused ones and began to speak as he looked her deep in her ocean blue eyes.
"Lana," he breathed, "It has been such a delight to be your friend since the day you stepped into my home that gift giving day. Each time I would see you my heart would flutter more and more and now I realise that the feelings I have for you are feelings of true love. With our parents, my sister, and The Watcher as our witness, will you be my courted lady?"
His love stood and clasped his hands with a darling smile as he spoke and she wanted nothing more than to kiss and hold him tight but restrained herself the best she could. When she was popped the question she answered in a gentle and somewhat sultry tone, "of course I would," and her parents cheered. They looked to the crowd and were given the permission to share an embrace as a symbol of their union to which they didn't object to.
Lavina was delighted for her brother and clapped and cheered with respect. She cleared the table and offered the Bacons a drink before their journey home to which they denied once more. They continued to speak about the new couple and even fantasised about their eventual wedding. Alanna expressed how important it would be to her for them to marry inside a church of The Watcher and Byrhtnoth had no objections for this request.
As dusk began to roll across the horizon the Bacons bid their farewells and travelled on home as a pack. After another little clean up by Lavina the Chapmans found themselves unwinding after their chatty evening over a game of Dominoes once more.
"Congratulations, my boy," said Byrhtnoth as he pat his son on the back while he made his turn, shaking the pieces of dominoes on the table before them slightly. "You got what you deserved and I wish you only the best."
"Thanks father," replied Osuald once he finally set his domino down and gestured for Lavina to take her turn. "I can't believe how easy it was to convince Lana's parents into a union."
"Well, you did your part and made yourself very charismatic and appealing in their eyes, why would they object?"
"You truly never know what someone is thinking, what if there was some large doubt they had about me?" Osuald began to grow a concerned look on his face.
"But your fears did not become a reality," comforted Byrhtnoth, "so relish in the positives! You and Lana are courted!" Lavina cheered for her brother once more and Byrhtnoth prepared for his turn.
"When will the marriage happen, do you know?" asked Osuald.
"When the time is right," admitted Byrhtnoth as he glided his finger over his domino pieces. "But the usual is approximately a year to wait. Just continue to woo your lady, give her various gifts and, most of all, be kind."
"There was nothing less I was planning to do," agreed Osuald. His mind wandered to all of the romantic moments he would share with Lana, how he would gift her bouquets of wildflowers and baskets of homegrown produce, and perhaps woo her with a song or two when they were alone. But he was violently shaken out of his fantasy as Byrhtnoth told his son to hurry up with his turn in Dominoes.
"Ha! You lose!" Lavina eventually said, counting up to see that she had the most points at the end of the round. "Finally I get to win!" She stuck her tongue out playfully at her brother and Osuald pretended to be hurt by her action.
"Now that the game is out of the way, when are we beginning the planning of my wedding?" asked Lavina to her father.
"Sooner than you may think," replied her father with a cocky grin. Little did she know half of the plans were already set in stone and her wedding would be a gorgeous spring affair that would be talked about for decades to come...
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