1333 - A Scar is Born
The winter began like any other winter they had lived through before. The Chapman men huddled next to the fire during the day alongside little Bercthun who curiously played with the various wood carved toys inside the timber home, gently being watched by Osuald and Byrhtnoth. But with the early days of 1333 came tragic news.
CW: child death, illness, mourning, depression.
It had been difficult to stay in touch once the blizzards remained steady throughout the thick of winter but August found a safe time to arrive and inform the Chapmans of a passing. He asked to be let inside, preferring if Byrhtnoth was seated when he told his news, and talked about what he and Linyeve witnessed for the last month or so.
Some time after their gift giving celebration February began to suffer from a cold. Linyeve scolded her and blamed her immature decision to sneak off and look at the chickens that night and thought she had frozen herself into illness. It only took the child two more weeks before she would experience the worst fever of her life and eventually her body gave out from the stress.
August was right, Byrhtnoth needed to be seated as he listened to this, and he buried his face in his hands. How much more grief can this old man go through? He wished he had been closer to his granddaughter but he was thankful enough to give her one last hug before succumbing to an excruciating death. Through holding back his tears Byrhtnoth thanked August for finding the time to alert them of her passing and asked to pass on his deepest condolences to his daughter. February would have been ten years old in just a month's time.
Memories flooded back of how Linyeve behaved after the loss of her previous child, October, and he grew concerned that she would slip into an even worse bout of grief and depression than before. He quietly brushed on the topic with his daughter's husband and he let them know,
"She is, to everyone's surprise, handling it very well. I think she is just trying to hang on the best she could and put all of her remaining energy in making sure that Friðegyð lives to at least see her tenth birthday. If she also fails to survive... I think that is when we will finally lose her."
The facts were harsh but they were the truth and they all swallowed their grief and prayed that it wouldn't come to another death. Little white haired Friðegyð, the one and only remaining child of the Dodsons. What did her future have in store? Only The Watcher would know...
CW over.
Once the shock of another death in their family wore off they found solace in the small joys in life once more. Bercthun was an extremely chatty boy and wanted to learn about everything around him. They kept up conversations with him daily but stayed weary with the extreme frosts outdoors.
And such frosts attract opportunistic vagrants when the Chapmans faced an unwelcome visitor. A hooded figure, starkly contrasting against the pale snow, found its way onto their farmland and bumped into Byrhtnoth as they made their way to the front door. He answered with a deep tone,
"What do you think you're doing?" and watched the thief cower for a brief moment before launching onto him and shouting,
"Give me everything you've got!"
Osuald overheard the commotion and ran out, watching from aside, and had one foot ready to join in to the physical struggle. With a quick hand gesture Byrhtnoth had the thief locked in place with a hand behind their back joined by painful yelps. Byrhtnoth spat out a gob of blood and spit as he pinned the vandal onto their knees and soon they heard a laugh.
A gaudy chorus, sniveling and shrewd, echoing from the throat of a man by the name of Arron. Osuald's stomach flipped for he realised it was his new love's old love, Marissa's abusive husband. Was he aware that he had bedded his wife? Or was this just some sick coincidence?
Before Osuald could finish his anxious thoughts his father pushed the thief back towards Arron and yelled out,
"DON'T YOU DARE COME BACK TO MY LAND EVER AGAIN!"
He stood proud with his hands on his hips and a freakish snarl plastered on his face and watched as the hooded person scrambled through the snow to find their footing. Arron stopped his laughter and squinted his eyes in Osuald's direction, spitting on the ground in disgust, and began to run off with his partner shouting behind him to wait up.
As soon as the criminals were out of sight Byrhtnoth released his tough facade and hunched forward in exhaustion. Osuald immediately ran to aid his father and caught him before his knees buckled under him. His father chuckled and said as he steadied himself,
"This really showed that my body is not what it used to be years ago."
"Please father," begged Osuald with deep worry in his tone, "next time there's an intruder let me handle it. I don't even want to imagine what could happen to you if they come back again."
"You're a good boy, Ozzy. I forget just how grown up you've become." He was fully upright now, still clinging onto his son, and sighed before finishing his talk,
"Can you bring your old man to bed? I need some rest after such an encounter." The men decided it would be best for Byrhtnoth to rest and take a nap inside the timber home. Not only was it warmer due to the wooden structure but he was happy to be present near the adorable noises that Bercthun would make as he played upstairs. Osuald obliged and abided to his father's suggestions and was delighted to see him show up for dinner several hours later.
Once Osuald deemed his father had made a fully recovery from his sudden brawl several days later he packed himself up and knew it was time to venture to Marissa up into the mountains and deliver her another parcel of produce. That was his main reason to visit her but he had also deeply missed her and he knew her smile would warm him a thousand times more than any roaring hearth could.
The journey to the dilapidated abode went by quicker each time he made his way up there and even through the slight drizzle of wet snow that fell from above he arrived relatively dry and safely. Marissa seemed to be busy with something inside as she didn't meet him with an open door as he dismounted from his steed but it was no worry to him. He approached the sturdy wooden door and pounded it in expectation.
His fiery-haired maiden emerged from within, a smile quickly growing across her face once she realised who had arrived to her front door. She extended out a hand to greet him formally but as soon as they both stepped inside and the door was shut tight she threw her arms around Osuald and held him in an embrace for a moment.
As soon as she pulled away and they stood before one another Osuald had a quick glance around and noticed that Kristoffer was nowhere to be seen once again. The home was small and there were few places for the young boy to be hidden inside and so Osuald shyly kissed his girl, excitement flowing through him as if it was his first love all over again.
After his previous encounter with Marissa he grew to miss Lana less and less. When he would catch himself on the lack of thoughts of his late wife it most definitely panicked him and he found confidence in speaking through these feelings with his father who assured him it was only a natural part of the grieving process. You never forget those who were no longer with you but the pain grows dull over time, especially if you have a brilliant distraction such as another youthful lady by your side.
"How was your journey here?" asked Marissa, breaking Osuald out of his brief ponder on his feelings towards the girl before him.
"Not a bother at all," he answered, becoming fully present in the moment. "The weather is finally growing warmer and the snow seems to have ceased to fall. Soon you won't be freezing yourself to near death here!" They chuckled together.
"Here you are, another batch of the finest Chapman produce for my lady and her boy," continued Osuald as he presented his parcel he brought from home. Marissa graciously accepted it and set it down on the table on the same exact spot she had done many times before.
"I am endlessly thankful that you can spare some of your stores for Kristoffer and I. You care for the boy even though he is not your son, I'm not sure I can ever repay you for your kindness." Marissa blushed as she stood closer to Osuald and he grinned before he replied,
"If I didn't bring you these vegetables then someone at the market would have bought them from us. You deserve to be warm and well fed, and so does Kristoffer. He's a wonderful boy and you have done well with what cards you have been dealt in life thus far." Those words made Marissa choke up slightly and she couldn't help but give the man a kiss on the cheek as a thank you.
As Osuald thought about Kristoffer he couldn't help but think of his father, the man who stood and watched as his colleague attempted to rob and attack his own father. He knew he should mention something to Marissa but also knew it would ruin the loving mood that was present. Still, it had to be brought up,
"I apologise for changing the subject but... do you know the whereabouts of Kristoffer's father?" Marissa's face dropped and she scoffed as she thought of Arron. She barely wanted to talk about him, let alone say his name, but she understood that there was good reason for Osuald to mention him.
"I do not keep up with what he has occupied himself with but last I've heard about him was that he had found himself amongst cruel men. Why... do you ask, Oz?" Her posture grew more tense as she straightened her back but Osuald persisted.
"Strange coincidence because, well... he had attempted to ransack my home with a hooded partner merely days ago. My father had to fight his friend off while he stood, watched and laughed." Marissa's brows furrowed the longer she listened to Osuald and as he finished she rolled her eyes in disgust of what she heard. She began to look around the room with frustration before deciding to turn around and face the window behind her.
"Despicable wretch of a man," she muttered through gritted teeth and worked through the aggressive emotions that brewed inside her. Osuald gave her a moment to feel before asking something that had been weighing him down,
"Are you aware if he knows of our relations? Did he attempt to target me on purpose or... was it merely happenstance?" He did not take any step closer to his lady, he wanted to give her the space she required, and it ended to be the right decision as she turned to look at him quickly.
"I don't think so." Her eyes drifted to the floor, pondering further before speaking once again. "I do my best to not travel past the places I know he frequents and I do my best to spend my time up in these mountains as long as I can. He has not seen Kristoffer in years either so I pray it was merely a coincidence, Osuald." No pet name, she was serious. He finally took a step towards her, hands still by his sides. She sighed and released her anger,
"I'm sorry he attempted to cause harm to your father."
"You did not force him to commit to such acts, you have nothing to apologise for," assured Osuald, taking another step towards his love.
"But what if one day he does attempt to harm you... what if?"
"What if?" repeated Osuald, now merely inches from Marissa. "I will stand my ground, protect my father, protect Kristoffer, protect you. Whoever he may think of harming, I will not let him touch you ever again."
Like water dousing a fire Marissa's worries seemed to dissolve in her mind as she listened to him speak. The corners of her lips began to curl into a soft smile and Osuald placed his arms around her waist, clasping his hands together on the small of her back. The warm feeling returned, their blood flow quickening inside their veins with every touch, and Marissa reciprocated the affection by placing her hands on Osuald's neck and face.
She stood and analysed the man before her. He had rugged features, a large and defined nose and thick eyebrows, yet there was a genuine softness to every expression he presented her. Arron had never given her the look that Osuald shoots her way time and time again and she felt everything she thought she would never feel when in the arms of Osuald. And then it escaped her lips,
"I love you, Osuald." Words you cannot take back, they lingered in the air, echoing lightly against the wooden walls of the hall they stood in. She remained eye contact with him and couldn't believe how his face could grow even more loving once he heard the words.
"I love you too, Marissa." Not a single shake was heard in his voice, only smooth and dulcet tones as he moved his mouth to form the romantic phrase. What followed after was sweet silence, the most comfortable lack of sound that either of them had experienced before.
CW: Descriptions of kissing & sex.
Osuald began to guide one of his hands up her back slowly and Marissa stroked his fair skin on his cheek as they continued to look at one another. Soon her hand glided down his left arm and she broke eye contact. She turned her head to the right and presented her neck, gently pulsing with anticipation, and Osuald seized the opportunity to begin to kiss it tenderly. Marissa's eyes fluttered shut and she inhaled sharply, her body flowing with sudden arousal.
She confirmed to Osuald that they were alone inside the building as she let out a whimper of pleasure and he gripped tighter onto her waist, battling the urge to throw her onto the bed in an animalistic way once more. No, this time he felt sensual passion run through him; he wanted to be natural yet calculated rather than rash and spontaneous. He came up for air from her beautiful neck and stopped his lips near her ear.
"I want to show you what I have learned about your body," he announced in a suggestively low tone and Marissa began to smile, eyes still closed. She turned her head until her mouth was pressed against his ear and breathed into it,
"Then show me." He pulled away slowly and squatted down before lifting Marissa up into the air. She squealed in surprise but positioned herself comfortably to hang from his neck and clasp her legs around his torso as she was supported by his large hands around her thighs. They engaged once again in deep emotional eye contact as he walked closer to the crackling fire on the other end of the room and pressed her back against the lukewarm stone wall.
Marissa gasped and smiled mischievously before commenting, "Oh, you wanton man." Their lips met in a passionate smooch and Osuald grew comfortable in holding his girl while placing some of her weight against the wall, she continued to support herself with her arms on his shoulders.
"Hold on tight," he whispered as he began to glide one hand down to undo some of their clothing that proved to be an obstacle between them. After plenty of adjusting and unbuckling the lustful pair had easy access to begin their lovemaking and between the balancing of Marissa in his arms and the rising titillation Osuald applied his learned explorations from a few months ago, making the room fill with erotic groans and moans alike.
Their rigorous act grew in speed once more until they reached the finish line and Marissa couldn't hold it in any longer. Her body felt electrified, all concentrating inside her abdomen and shooting out into every limb, and she felt like her head was going to explode from a thousand emotions. She exclaimed proudly and Osuald followed suit, both hands gripping to hold his lover upright as he finished also.
They fell into each other, resting their faces against a shoulder each, and soon Marissa felt her body come back to earth and touch the floor on which she stood on again. Her legs began to buckle from the exhaustion of pleasure and endurance so Osuald folded his legs to sit upon them while his girl sat atop of him.
It wasn't so much of a visible mess but they felt filthy from sweat and other bodily fluids to which Marissa giggled about when she mentioned it first. She wondered if she should tell Osuald just how amazing he made her feel minutes ago, something that she had never felt before in her lifetime, but ultimately just decided to offer him a bath before he returned home. He quickly accepted, how could he not?
CW over.
Once the water had heated plenty in a large kettle over the fire Marissa set up their bath to share together and they took turns bathing one another, washing off the last quarter of an hour that they experienced together. They swapped washcloths, reaching in places they wouldn't always reach when bathing alone, and exchanged a kiss or two in between.
Most of their soak was unspoken but compliments were traded as they continued to study each other's appearances. Osuald was surprised to only notice Marissa's stretch marks from pregnancy in that moment and she noticed just how ridiculously hairy he really was. As soon as they were done Marissa helped him dry off and vice versa.
Osuald knew he had to venture back home soon but a question lingered in his mind, the same one he had every time he had to leave his beloved: what were they? It had been a full year since they began this intimate relationship and he didn't feel as shy to ask anymore, and so he did.
"Marissa," he began gently, a smile plastered on his face, "what am I to you?" She tilted her chin down and looked up at him in surprise.
"What do you mean, Oz?"
"I mean... who am I to you? Am I your lover? A friend? Something else that I cannot figure out?" She began to fix the collar of his shirt as she thought about it deeply.
"I do not know who you are to me, to be completely honest, but one thing I know is that I am your paramour." He remembered that well, Marissa was still legally tied to Arron and the church had denied her a divorce many a time, so the title was a perfect fit.
"If you are my paramour, then may I be your beau?" He had heard the term used somewhere before, not exactly in a very positive sense, but if they were being true to their titles it only felt appropriate. Marissa breathed out as she smiled,
"I give you permission to be my beau." They sealed their titles with a solid kiss, lingering and flavourful, and pulled away for Osuald to dress in his winter tunic once more. It was always a bittersweet moment for him to fully dress and leave her alone here but he hoped that by the end of this year things would be different for them. Only time will tell how their fate will fall into place and he had the patience of a saint.
With a farewell kiss and an appropriate see off Osuald mounted Sylvian once more and trotted down the mountain back towards Lughaven. He promised that he would return once again to his new love once the snow had finally melted away from his farm and with thoughts swirling of Marissa and only Marissa on his journey home he was home before he could realise it.
As he dismounted from Sylvian and brushed off any remaining snowflakes from the outside he expected his father to be lingering near the kitchen but he was nowhere in sight. He called his name out and no response once more, perhaps he was minding Bercthun in the wooden home next door? Indeed he was.
Byrhtnoth had just finished giving his grandson a playful bath and was drying off the tot with a soft sheet. They greeted Osuald as he presented himself through the doorway and Bercthun reached out with glee, beckoning his father to meet him in a hug. Once he was dressed he lifted him up high and tall and tickled him to get a joyful giggle out of his body and began to ask how their day went.
The Chapmans occupied themselves with the usual evening routine of making sure all of the chores were out of the way, feeding each other a warm dinner and putting Bercthun to sleep in his cot. A little while longer and the boy will need a bigger bed to sleep in which has been perfectly set up upstairs inside the main farmhouse.
Once it was almost time for bed Osuald asked his father for a quick chat. Byrhtnoth had been anticipating for his son to talk to him after his meeting with Marissa and hoped for only good news; he could clearly see how incredibly happy she made his son and as a father he wished for nothing less.
Osuald began with mentioning that he had delivered enough produce to last the rest of the winter and that Kristoffer had not been home when he arrived. Byrhtnoth commented how he was sure the pair appreciated the solitude followed by a wink and Osuald's cheeks reddened from the innuendo his father implied. He quickly moved on to inform Byrhtnoth of their status,
"I finally found the courage and time to ask Marissa what we meant to one another." His father's eyebrow rose in suspense and waited for his son to continue. "We are not exactly courting, as Marissa is still seen as a married woman by the church, but we have promised to commit to one another."
"As I had expected," said Byrhtnoth with a pleased tone, "I was hoping you would announce such news to me this evening. Congratulations, Oz!" His son smiled and accepted his praises, breathing out a sigh of relief from being transparent with his closest family member.
"Only thing I must ask of you, could you please keep our union from other's for the moment? With the situation with Arron and other uncertainties I'd rather have less people know about it until we figure out a way to make it all official."
"Of course, my boy! Your wish is my command." They stood together in near the fire and listened to the logs crackle from the heat. "I believe it won't be long before you invite her and her son to live with us here."
Osuald was quick to fulfill his promise to his paramour and saddled back up onto Sylvian's back once he planted his first seeds on his farm. A blanket of snow still remained on the peaks of the Praaven mountains but the many valleys had warmed up enough to melt the sleet away and welcome new life into the soil.
His father's words rang in his mind, it won't be long before you invite her to live with us, when was this appropriate to do? He had no plans to confirm such a momentous decision just yet and arrived to the crumbling ruin of a fort with only the longing for his love's kiss deep in his heart.
This time around Marissa had been counting the days for him to return soon, paying attention to any sounds of galloping hooves along the ground surrounding her ruin. On her walks to and from the city she could see the Chapman farm high up from the mountain and grew impatient once she noticed the untilled field, brown and lacking snow. But now he had finally arrived and she could not wait any longer to throw her affections onto her beau, embracing him outside before he could step one foot in the door.
"I've missed you dearly, Oz. I couldn't hold back until we went inside." She felt the need to admit her feelings before panic could set in but Osuald's demeanor stayed calm and collected, responding back with,
"I appreciate your love, Marissa. I've missed you dearly also." To continue their greetings with a kiss he decided it would be best away from the persistent snow and once the door was shut he planted one on his love's lips. He felt a little uncomfortable when he noticed that Kristoffer had been sitting on the bed at the end of the room but greeted him respectfully nonetheless.
"He knows that I love you, no need to hide any petty affections around him." Kristoffer didn't care much to talk to Osuald anyway so the man's awkwardness subsided quickly, his hand holding on tightly to one of Marissa's as they stood near the entrance.
"How have you been faring since we last spoke?" began Osuald as he grew slightly perplexed about Marissa's appearance. Something looked different about her yet everything looked the same. Her hair may have been looking more vibrant in the sunlight that shone through the window at the time but there was something else...
"I have been just fine, Osuald. Growing a little sick of this place with each day but doing well overall." She left her sentence with an unfinished note and Osuald stayed quiet, expecting more from her.
"Actually, I do have some news to share with you." There it was, Osuald's gut feeling wasn't false.
"Do I need to sit down for this?" he jested and Marissa shook her head as she let out a laugh before quickly growing quiet again, hesitating to reveal the truth yet eager to speak.
"I think that... I may be pregnant." Osuald's jaw dropped, he had expected this to happen sometime soon but not this soon. There was plenty of opportunities that they shared together for Marissa to fall pregnant, quick flashes of naked memories flooding his mind in response, but this was nowhere near planned to happen. Regardless of his shock Osuald finally swooped the mother-to-be into his arms and chuckled with delight.
Once he placed her back down and inspected her once more he finally realised what was different about her: she had a glow. By The Watcher, the pregnant glow did not falter. He placed his hands gently on her cheeks and smiled from ear to ear before kissing her once again in awe.
"You're pregnant," he confirmed as he processed the information. "How long have you known?"
"I had an inkling in the first month of my child-bearing but once I failed to bleed the next month I knew something was different." As she finished explaining herself the pair's smiles grew wider once again. "I'm pregnant!"
It felt like they were the only ones in the room, all manners and expectations flew out of the window. Osuald looked down at her belly, still so small yet ever so slightly rounded, and knelt down to its level. He gave the little bump a kiss and rubbed her abdomen with love. As he rose to his height Kristoffer made it known that he had been listening to their conversation, distracting himself from a playtime he occupied himself with on the bed,
"Two months ago you gave mama a seed, didn't you Osuald?" The adults stood gobsmacked from his comment, it was exactly the same beliefs that Osuald had when he was Kristoffer's age so provided him an answer,
"I guess I did, Kristoffer. Yet I never expected for the seed to take root so fast." The couple exchanged loving and knowing glances before being interrupted once more.
"But aren't you a farmer? How did you not know that the seed would grow?"
"That's enough questions for now, Kristoffer," warned Marissa sternly. Osuald did not see anything wrong with his curiousity but did not interfere with her parenting. The boy huffed and turned away from them to continue playing alone at the end of the hall.
"Well I can't just leave you here now that you have told me this," recognised Osuald. "We will be a family when this child will be born many months from now and families live together... would you be comfortable to live at my farm with your son?"
Marissa had been hoping that Osuald would invite her onto his farm for months now but knew she couldn't rush him on a decision he ultimately had to make himself. But she would be lying to herself that she wasn't ecstatic, the day had finally arrived and she would at long last leave this dump of a sanctuary behind. She acted coy before she grew excited as she asked,
"Are you sure your father will approve of this decision? He is still the rightful owner of your farm while he is alive, is he not?"
"He is indeed but we have spoken about this decision before. I honestly believe he will accept you and Kristoffer with open arms in our home, he has pitied you for your living conditions for some time now and sees you as one of his own children. Journey down with me on the horse and settle inside our home."
And that is when Marissa squealed with joy, throwing her arms around Osuald once more. Kristoffer had stood up from the bed after hearing the proposal and Marissa began to explain to her son what they were about to do. There was little to pack up inside that home but she carried some valuables that belonged to her and stowed it away into a satchel.
Osuald mounted Sylvian first then helped Marissa sit behind him. Kristoffer had never ridden on horseback before and showed worry as he hesitated to get close but with great encouragement from the adults Osuald grasped him with one arm and seated him in front of him. Sylvian whinnied in surprise from the sudden weight on his back but Osuald voiced that it would be a quick journey down. They all held on tightly and said their final goodbye to the abandoned fortress, abandoned for the last time.
Kristoffer grew to love the breeze that accompanied a gallop down the paths that grew from an icy white into an earthy brown and enjoyed the sound of the horse's hooves as they clopped over the Lughaven bridge. He was sad for it to end as they approached the towering stone farmhouse and asked Osuald if he could bring him on horse rides again soon to which the man promised to do.
"I know there will be a lot to get used to," began Osuald as he dismounted first, helping his passengers off the horse safely, "but we will take it one day at a time. Welcome to your new home!"
They entered through the side door of the indoor stables and were immediately greeted by the warm air and slight smell of horse manure. Osuald was very much used to the natural scent but Kristoffer couldn't help but scrunch his nose in disgust.
"Eww, what's that smell?" he exclaimed. Marissa placed a hand on her son's shoulder, trying to hint at his bold manners and make him stop, while Osuald gave the boy a genuine answer,
"What you're smelling is horse poo! When they need to go they go inside the stable, which is the room you're standing in." Kristoffer's expression was one that looked unsure and Osuald tried to assure him further, "don't worry, you can't smell it in the other rooms of the house."
Their chatter alerted Byrhtnoth of their presence who had been resting in his bed as he awaited his son's arrival. He was unaware that he would be bringing Marissa and her son over from the mountain fortress and so he was very surprised for them all to be standing inside the kitchen space. He formally greeted his guests and waited for Osuald to explain why they arrived as a group.
"Father, I had invited Marissa and Kristoffer to join our family and live under one roof. I hope you are happy with my decision."
"Of course I am, my boy!" smiled Byrhtnoth as he walked closer to the group. "I'm delighted to know that you will be in safe hands with us and comfortable and warm inside our home." He addressed the mother and son and they extended their thanks to the older man with Marissa making sure her son expressed his generosity also.
"We actually have another piece of news we'd like to tell you, father." Osuald gestured to Marissa to reveal the news to his father, he only felt it appropraite for her to make the announcement as she was the one who carried their child.
"I believe I am pregnant with Osuald's child. Your son couldn't bear with the thought of us living apart as we were soon to become a family." She beamed with a precious smile as she spoke and Byrhtnoth gasped delightedly, taking several steps towards the mother and extending his arms for an embrace. Marissa graciously accepted and admired the man's loving acceptance of her and her son's presence in their home.
"That is fantastic news! Congratulations, both of you!" They all stood with large smiles plastered across their faces with the exception of Kristoffer who's head spun around, looking to every corner of the room he stood inside, and sniffing occasionally in an attempt to identify more smells that surrounded him.
"I'm sure you worked up an appetite on your journey back here, would you like a helping of fish stew?"
"Fish?" asked Kristoffer quietly to his mother. He didn't seem to be a fan of the meal but Marissa urged him to eat as much as he could before answering,
"We would love some, thank you for the offer."
They all sat down at the table and waited for their helping as Byrhtnoth spooned each member a full bowl of the somewhat perpetual stew they cooked above the hearth. Once it was placed before them the aroma of warm fish with some root vegetables and few herbs wafted into their nostrils. From the smell alone Kristoffer eased up on the idea of a fish stew but remained wary of the predicament he was in; all of what he was experiencing was too much of a change for the little boy and it would be another few weeks before he would start feeling comfortable.
Over dinner Osuald spoke about his duties on the farm, the many hours he would spend tending the crops especially the closer they got to summer, the maintenance of the farm animals and intermittent fixing of various appliances around the home were just some of his responsibilities in life. Byrhtnoth urged that Marissa not hurry with committing to her duties as a housewife just yet instead for her to settle down on the farm and learn where everything lay around the home. Osuald asked Kristoffer if he would like to help him with the crops and the only answer he received was an undecided shrug.
The family spent the rest of their evening inside the timber home and socialised with Bercthun who was squealing with delight when he saw Osuald once again. The youngest boys spent some time playing by the dollhouse while the adults got to know one another further and before they knew it it was time to prepare for bed.
Byrhtnoth assured the couple that he would spend a few nights sleeping inside the wooden home with Bercthun while the others settled in the main home. It had been a tradition started between Osuald and Lana where the mother had to sleep away from her husband but it would only begin after she had given birth. Since Kristoffer was not his child, and Bercthun was not her son, they indulged in the few months they would have together to share a bed upstairs in the farmhouse.
Kristoffer identified the single bed he had slept in after their gift giving party and claimed the bed to be his own. Marissa helped the boy get ready for bed and bid him goodnight, assuring him that she was sleeping in the next room over and to not hesitate to call her over if he had any qualms. After a stimulating and change-filled day the boy fell asleep within seconds and the young couple had some time to relax and chat before sleeping also.
They snuggled up on the bed and Marissa rested her head on her love's shoulder, their fingers interlocked as they held each other's hand. Osuald guided their hands to rest on Marissa's belly and he quietly spoke about the miracle of life.
"It feels like everything is happening so fast but I'm so happy to have you here with me."
"It's definitely a lot to take in but I think it's going to be a very good change for us," responded Marissa quietly. Their faces were illuminated by the warm glow from the fire before them, a dwindling hearth that connected to the one that sat just underneath it downstairs, and basked in the silence that surrounded them. It was silent up in the mountain also but it was a different kind of stillness here, one that made you feel content and wanted, everything that Marissa desperately wanted to have for so long.
Osuald eventually broke the peace they lay in as he said,
"My eyes are beginning to flutter shut, I think it is time for me to go to sleep." He pulled his arm away that was wrapped around Marissa and rubbed one of his eyes. Marissa, although enveloped in the contentment in that moment, realised how tired she was also and agreed to unmake the bed and prepare for slumber.
No matter how much they adored to engage in skin to skin contact under the sheets they knew that they must sleep in a night tunic at all times, a decision that was final as long as there were children present inside the home. That didn't mean that they couldn't find their hands under the clothing layers once they lay horizontal and so the lovers did just that. The beau and the paramour, finally together and settling down for the long haul.
The Chapmans greeted the summer with a new family on their farm who adapted to their style of living very quickly and fondly. Before Marissa escaped the cruel grasp of Arron they had briefly lived on a smaller farm on the outskirts of the castle walls, the very same one where Osuald had stumbled upon Marissa where they stopped their communication many years ago. With that short experience they were aware that farm living was completely separate to city living and it did not bother them for a second.
In time Marissa became the primary cook in the family but openly incorporated some Chapman family techniques and recipes into her cooking. Kristoffer was delighted to eat his mother's meals as he was more fond of them than what Byrhtnoth had made for him to eat. The boy had a few complaints in his first month on the farm but soon grew accustomed to his new lifestyle.
The biggest downside for Kristoffer was that he began to see his grandmother less in the city; there was less reason for him to leave his mother's side and it was a longer journey into Praaven from the Chapman farm. He grieved lightly at every denial that his mother gave for visiting until she grew to be a distant memory.
What distracted him the most was the abundance of toys that littered the home where he now lived. The generational rocking horse was his favourite but he also appreciated the moments of make believe that he shared with Bercthun at the dollhouse. The children had a significant age gap and sometimes found to be bored of each other but when Bercthun could keep up a good conversation about Kristoffer's interests that's when they had the most fun.
And speaking of Bercthun he was overjoyed to have Marissa in the home as she slowly begun to recognise the boy as her own. As they made it halfway through the year, with several months gone by, Bercthun called her "mama" for the first time. She attempted to wave it off and keep a straight face but her heart skipped a beat to hear him accept her as his new parent.
Her heart ached for the tot as she couldn't fathom what it would be like to grow up without a mother. Even with the betrayal through betrothal that her own mother committed she thanked The Watcher for having her close during her formative years and happily accepted the role of providing motherly love to little Bercthun.
She didn't forget to save some love for the baby that was slowly growing inside of her and she began to loosen the tightening of her corset with each week that passed them by. She knew she should find the time to acquire a new wardrobe but with funds short after the winter she held out until the harvest months before finding her way to the tailors. Other than that her pregnancy was progressing smoothly and calmly.
Osuald worked on the farm's crops alone this year but hoped he would someday get Kristoffer on board to at least use the watering pot alongside him. This year's summer was more of a wet one and in a way it proved to be quite useful as he worked alone yet he did not love the many wet days where he had to dig away as it lashed from above.
And soon summer was coming to an end. Marissa had spent most of her time inside the confines of the Chapman farm as she still had deep worries that Arron or his entourage would find their way back to her and plan to harm her or her new family. Osuald worried for her sanity in those moments and devised an outing for the family to enjoy as he brought it into conversation one morning over breakfast,
"How do you feel about finding a day to travel to the Mahlsberg festival ground and bid the summer farewell?" Marissa's eyes darkened with fear but Osuald stood his ground. He understood her concerns but he was so sure that their time away from the farm would do her wonders.
"I-I don't think it's such a good idea for me to leave the farm," she finally spat out.
"It would only be for a few hours, my love," reassured Osuald, sliding his hand across the table to meet hers. "Besides, my father and I have been attentive to any sign of your husband or his thieving friends along the roads to and from the city and we haven't encountered any of them in months."
What he spoke was the truth, perhaps they decided to depart from this land and settle elsewhere in England? Or maybe they had sneaked onto a ship that was heading towards lands unknown? She would never be certain if she confined herself inside these stone walls and pondered at how good of an idea this was.
"When was the last time you brought Kristoffer to a faire"? asked Osuald, breaking Marissa out of her deep thinking. She breathed out slowly and couldn't think of the year she did such a thing.
"To be honest, I don't think I ever brought him to a festival. He was too young in the past and then I subjected him into hiding..." She felt a twinge of guilt rise in her heart. Did she inadvertently prevent her son from enjoying the small joys in life such as the games, food and atmosphere of a seasonal festival? She placed a hand on her ever-growing pregnant belly as she stared down at her breakfast which was slowly getting colder.
"Well let's make his first experience today. I'll stick close by to both of you, I swear on my own life that I will not let harm come your way." Osuald's reassuring words and tone finally made Marissa agree to his great plan and they finished their breakfast with enthusiastic descriptions of the activities and meals that the fair ground should have coming from her loving husband.
When they cleaned up after their morning meal they shared their plans with Kristoffer who looked perplexed for a moment before clapping with joy as he grew excited to play some of the festival games. The young boy begged to ride their horse again and sit in the front and Osuald found it difficult to say no to the chap. Afterall, it would let them reach their destination quicker which would be a win-win for them all!
To their slight misfortune as they reached the fair ground a drizzle broke through the clouds above them. It was a normal occurrence as summer crept into autumn but they all did their best to not let the weather ruin their fun. They reminded Kristoffer to not run far from their sight and he stood with his mouth agape as he took in the sights surrounding him.
A lone lute player stood on a small stage on one end of the ground with many happy patrons slinging tankards and singing along to the folk songs everyone knew. Along the perimeter were various stands with pies, bottles and various confectionaries and soon they reached the games. One that caught Kristoffer's eye was the horseshoe toss and Osuald comfortably paid the fee to play and attempt to beat the high score.
Marissa wouldn't stop peering over her shoulder in the first hour of their time there but Osuald continued to ground her in the moment by holding her hand gently or pressing a shoulder against hers, especially when Kristoffer was taking his turn throwing the metal horseshoe and often missing the stick in the ground.
Everything all seemed to be going well and eventually Marissa loosened up enough to throw the fear of Arron out of her mind and her only worry grew to be the rain that down poured harder with every hour. Kristoffer begged for one more game before they would retreat to a tent to dry off and have a meal to warm themselves up with. That is when the group felt like they were being watched...
A man, several metres away slowly began walking their way. He had been pacing for a moment before ultimately deciding to go for the confrontation and Osuald spotted him in the corner of his eye when he was merely ten metres away. He muttered a "oh no" under his breath which Marissa caught attention of and glanced in the direction which he was staring towards and saw him: Arron.
Kristoffer had finally threw the horseshoe in a perfect angle to have it catch and spin around the thick stick and cheered at his success, waiting to hear the praises from his mother and Osuald. He felt hurt for a moment before he noticed their attentions being elsewhere and was the last to notice Arron, now only five metres away. The man's pace increased and Kristoffer hid behind his mother, fingers clinging on tight to her green dress. Osuald took several steps forward and puffed his chest up on instinct.
"Don't take another step," warned Osuald and Arron did not care to follow his demands, taking a large step forward in spite. His voice was gruff but his tone methodical and he tried to gain access to Marissa.
"Hey, what's the matter? I just want to speak to my wife. What are you doing in her company anyway?"
"That's none of your business, Arron." Osuald spat his name out with vitriol and the man began to cackle.
"Oh, so you know my name? Has she been talking about me much?" That same sniveling chortle, so grinding on the ears. Marissa's anger was too much to handle and she stepped in,
"In your dreams, you wretch. Get out of my sight." She had taken a step to the left, revealing herself from behind Osuald and Arron's expression changed dramatically. His face once looked confident and eager which twisted into shock and disgust.
"Are you pregnant?!" Arron's voice echoed slightly across the field and gained the attention of some on-lookers. People were always willing to pay attention to any public drama those days and some stopped their actions and waited for what would happen next. Kristoffer noticed these new peering eyes and tugged on his mother's skirt, asking to go home.
It was evident that this new information was brewing something dastardly inside his chest and he began huffing and stomping towards Osuald. Marissa and Kristoffer took another step back yet Osuald stood his ground, squaring up to the angry man.
"That better be mine and not yours," hissed Arron as he waved a finger at Osuald's face. "So help me Watcher, I will pull out your insides if I find you have laid with my wife!"
"She is not yours anymore, you made sure of that when you beat her!" Osuald loudly defended his love and Arron's brows grew closer together with anger before relaxing as he came to a new realisation.
"You're the Chapman lad... aren't you?" He had finally recognised him. Osuald couldn't tell if he had sweat running down his forehead or if it was the rain that had began to pour down even stronger from above. "Your old man stopped my mate from doing his job!"
"If your friend's job was to rob us clean then I'm proud that my father stopped them in their tracks!" The verbal spat was getting far too heated and too many people had now gathered at a distance to overhear what was happening, whispering amongst themselves about the scene.
"And now you've gone and knocked up my wife you son-of-a-" He growled louder as he stepped closer and placed his hand on his hip where he produced a dirk. In the action of Arron pulling out the short dagger from his belt a flicker from one of the nearby fires glimmered across the blade's edge and caught Osuald's attention and prepared him for the first dodge.
CW: physical alteraction, blood, wounds.
He jumped back, pulling his stomach in to protect himself, as Arron jabbed his first blow before attempting to thrust his weapon a few times more. Gasps broke out surrounding them as Osuald continued to dodge his stabs. The weaponed man grew tired of failing and instead began to swing his blade around which finally nicked Osuald's skin.
Arron's arm waved from side to side and flew in various angles and heights, slashing Osuald's chest and arm first. The shirt that the newly wounded man wore obtained cuts with red splotches slowly bleeding through the cream fabric. His blood looked more dramatic than it normally would as the continuous rain flowed it down his skin and further through his clothes.
Marissa began to shout out for Arron to stop while keeping her distance and Kristoffer whimpered behind her, his mindset on his father changing forever. Osuald braved his first few cuts before finally grabbing a hold of Arron's swinging arm. He attempted to push it back but instead endured a sudden punch to the face and stumbled backwards.
Osuald fell backwards and smacked his head against the damp grass, receiving more pain other than the stinging cuts that littered his chest and forearms. As he opened his eyes he watched Arron leap down onto him and was fast enough to stop him from further stabbing him by clutching his arm above him, using every drop of adrenaline that surged through his body to push him away.
Marissa pressed her son to run to the nearest guard that was stationed around the perimeter of the festival grounds but stood rooted in the same place as she simply could not look away. She continued to shout for the men to stop and for Arron to spare her new love but her screams only fueled his anger further.
"Give up, knave," snarled Arron through his teeth, one hand on Osuald's limp arm pinning him down, and his bladed hand being shakily pushed back by his prey. There was no winning by pushing downwards so he whipped his hand left and right, lacerating Osuald's cheek in the process.
As the targeted man endured more injuries he shouted back "never!" and with a dexterous maneuver he somehow found himself in the dominant position with Arron on his back and Osuald crushing him from above. The scene of his father defending his home sparked in Osuald's mind from earlier in the year and it was the last push he had to overpower Arron and throw his weapon to the wayside.
By the time the guards arrived to the scene Arron's blade slid along the wet grass and Osuald began to throw several frustrated punches to Arron's face. The once eager instigator now lay submissive, quietly accepting each blunt blow, and Osuald towered victorious with tired and aggravated groans following each punch that met his enemy. The authorities disbanded them but could clearly tell who the perpetrator was and apprehended him thoroughly. Osuald coughed out his pain and Marissa finally came to his side with tears in her eyes.
"Are you alright? Do I need to call for help?" yelled out Marissa as she stroked away any blood that continued to drip from the cuts on his cheek. The rain failed to cease during the kerfuffle and the family stood drenched, hair clinging to their skin and their clothing feeling heavy on their bodies.
"Let's just get home," wheezed Osuald as he watched Arron be led away. The guards alerted them that they had plenty of eye witnesses to write up a report to the king and so they excused Osuald to travel home and tend to his wounds. The horse ride home was one of agony and discomfort and Byrhtnoth was in a state of shock when he saw the condition of his son as they stepped inside the home. Marissa continued to sob uncontrollably and Kristoffer silently watched the situation unfold around him but they all put their attention towards Osuald's injuries.
CW over.
Byrhtnoth took the initiative to guide his son to the bath where he would wash away the dirt of his battle and clean his wounds accordingly. As the men began the cleansing Marissa did her best to try and calm her son, telling him paragraphs of assuring promises of safety and letting it be known to him that nothing was his fault in the battle that ensued. She reminded him that it was up to the king of Praaven to decide his father's fate and they would surely hear about it soon.
"He is not my father," blubbered Kristoffer through his trauma, "his name is Arron and he will never be my father again."
Marissa helped her son change into some dry clothing and settled him next to Bercthun who was confused from the commotion downstairs. She hoped deep down that some play would help him process the events from the afternoon but she had to rush and assist Byrhtnoth in aiding Osuald.
She met them near the fire, Osuald still hunched and tired in the bath, and his father was patting his cuts and bruises on his arms dry. He noticed her presence and voiced a question her way,
"Can you bring us some fresh linens from the farmhouse, love? It's time to bandage him up, he's almost fully clean." Marissa nodded with a vacant expression and her legs guided her to the storage where most of their cloth would be. As she walked she felt a gentle kick in her stomach and was suddenly reminded why this scrap even happened in the first place: the baby to be.
Was she foolish to fall pregnant so soon? It had been about five years since she left Arron's grasp but things still felt too soon sometimes... was she really at fault for it all? If Marissa didn't show up in Osuald's life once more he wouldn't have the cuts that would scar him for his lifetime. He wouldn't have had to look Arron in his crazed eyes as he attempted to kill him. He wouldn't have had to feel the thought of 'am I going to die?' cross his mind that day. The guilt grew and swirled in her chest and she felt like she could cry at any moment.
And then she was in the same room as the men again, Osuald looking more exhausted than ever before, and Marissa was instructed to rip the gathered linens into strips while Byrhtnoth wrapped the bandages around his son's wounds. The cuts continued to soak through the wraps but now at a steady and declining rate and he was one step closer to healing. She sat on the edge of the bath and her beau lifted his head to look at her.
He smiled, a weak but soft smile, and sat quiet as his father moved his arms around him while he tightened the linens in the affected locations. And then it all came back to Marissa, the guilt slightly dampening under all of the positive memories that they had experience in this last year and a half.
The many intimate and warm moments they had shared so far, the confiding of their deepest and darkest moments of their lives was something she couldn't trade, he was to be the father of her child. Byrhtnoth placed Osuald's right arm down as he finished bandaging it and the wounded man extended his hand to hold Marissa's. It was then that her tears fell down her cheeks and she looked away with a wince, biting her lip in an attempt to not fall apart.
An unforgettably warm touch was all that made Marissa feel like she could crumble into a million pieces, a feeling of love that she still couldn't believe was at her fingertips. She looked back with her eyes reddening from her silent tears and watched as Osuald slowly brought her hand up to kiss it and she exhaled shakily. Soon Byrhtnoth completed his first aid and stepped back to hand Osuald a towel to dry himself off.
He donned a new pair of pants but refrained from wearing a shirt, letting his wounds freely breathe through his bandages. There was little they could do about the lacerations on his cheek and it hurt for him to smile but he did it anyway, the cuts closing the gaps with dry scabs as the night went on. Byrhtnoth promised to clean up and urged Marissa to bring Osuald to rest in his bed for the rest of the night and she did just that.
Once the pair reached the upstairs bedroom Osuald stopped near the fire, taking Marissa's hands in his, but she feared looking into his eyes for she would completely fall apart and sob with regret. Her breathing quickened as she attempted to steady the emotions conjuring up a storm inside her body. Her eyes wandered up his arms, the linens turning a light crimson in erratic stripes underneath, and her gaze stopped just under his chin.
"Marissa," began Osuald with a huskier voice than usual but she did not waver, her eyes fixed onto his chest. "Please, look at me," he pleaded and she couldn't deny his desires. She closed her honey brown eyes for a moment and opened them to look at his face, her gaze immediately drifting to his only open injury left on his cheek.
"It's alright," assured Osuald, "what matters is that I'm alive, right?"
"He hurt you." Her voice shook harder than she had expected and she hated that she presented herself so weakly. Osuald began to wrap his arms around her to comfort her and she continued to cry out,
"He hurt you, he tried to kill you! He tried to kill you, Osuald. What will he do next?!" Her tone grew terrified as she confronted her new reality, feeling like she got dealt the worst outcome from this situation.
"His fate will be decided in due time. King Sidgurd is very close with my family so I hope he brings justice to this crime." Marissa began to sob and fought every fibre of her being to steady her breath. "But I am alive, I'm here with you. We survived."
She pulled away to look at his cuts again and guided her fingers to graze along the skin next to the wounds, hot to the touch and raw in appearance. Osuald cringed slightly from the sensation and commented,
"Methinks it's best to refrain from touching any of my wounds at the moment. Matter of fact... just holding you is shooting searing pain up my arms." Marissa began to apologise and try to pull away and let his arms rest but he promptly resisted.
"I want to hold you, at least for another minute." The knowledge that he loved her through his pain was too much for Marissa. How could a chivalrous man such as Osuald ever love her so deeply? She kept her hands on his shoulders and leaned in to kiss him passionately, a single peck that lingered on his lips as she transferred her indebtedness onto him. His brows furrowed as he tightened his grasp around her, slices of his flesh feeling pricked by thorns, but it was no matter. He loved his paramour, he loved his partner, he loved his soon-to-be wife.
The months that followed after the fight between Osuald and Arron were ones of healing and moderation. Osuald's injuries began to heal and tighten up adequately and there were no infections present, the biggest fear that Byrhtnoth had for his son. He would change the bandages for his son daily, reusing the same linens multiple times by washing and drying them until they were falling apart.
Brisk rains continued to shower the lands throughout Praaven which in turn eased any work to be done on the farm. Byrhtnoth was urged to stay at home and only help out with the harvest once the time was right and Osuald waved off any signs of weeds springing up at each crop, assuring the family that the plants would survive a sprinkle of neglect.
Marissa sat on the edge of her seat as she awaited any news from the keep on the decision of what the king was to do with Arron. Through an announcement from the town crier at one of the villages she overheard that they would be announcing his fate in a fortnight and so she made sure to be present on the day they revealed the long awaited news.
It had taken King Sidgurd two weeks to get around to deciding Arron's fate and once he did his verdict came swiftly. As his advisor spoke Osuald's name he asked to confirm that it was the Chapman family that he was so indebted to and made sure to give Arron the harshest sentence that his council could give the criminal. After a short deliberation it was determined that as Arron was never successful in murdering Osuald he would not be put to death but he would be stripped of any allowance to own land or work for himself.
He was swiftly sent to be living the rest of his days as a farm hand on one of the fields near enough to the city walls and would endure weekly inspections by the king's guard, making sure he was not to be wandering where he shouldn't be. Marissa was outraged that she would still have to breathe the same air as the man who so cruelly abused her and attempted to murder her true love but had to come to terms with what was announced before her. Her fear deepened when news broke out that Arron's villainous friends attempted to break him out of his confines as a farm hand but were incredibly unsuccessful. With time her fears would settle but it would take years to accept.
Marissa's greatest priority now was to settle comfortably for the harvest and winter and wait out her pregnancy which was in its last month now. She was simply rotund from the baby that grew inside of her and all she could think about was how she would keep her child safe for years to come. She hated how strict she was going to become but knew that her children would be grateful for her attention while Arron lived and breathed.
Kristoffer briefly spoke on the altercation he witnessed with his mother and continued to state that Arron was no longer his father and never wanted to see him again. One morning he so comfortably referred to Osuald as 'father' as he asked how his wounds were healing to which the man comfortably answered back, quietly celebrating being fully accepted by a son which has no genetic ties to him.
And soon came the harvest. Osuald still struggled to move his arms around as much as he did before his injuries and was instructed by both Marissa and Byrhtnoth to stay resting inside the home and watch over the children. Byrhtnoth was quite delighted to use his masterful knowledge on when to pick each vegetable when it was at its ripest and guided Marissa to work well on the field.
One afternoon, when Byrhtnoth had travelled to the Tovar markets to sell a portion of their harvested produce, he stumbled upon a quivering canine. The pup was hiding in a bush and quietly whimpering and even through its fear allowed the old man to get close and pick it up. He thought he had found a young puppy abandoned by its mother and brought it home to hopefully nurse it to health and have a guard dog at home.
The dog quickly grew close to Kristoffer and he loved to run around the perimeter of their home and play chasing with it. With the weeks that followed they noticed the mutt hadn't grown an inch yet it was comfortably gaining weight so they began to assume the little pup was simply the runt of its pack. They loved her nonetheless, regardless of her stature, and accepted her into their family.
With the beginning of winter marked a milestone in Osuald's recovery: he was safe enough to remove his bandages and wear shirts on top of his healing scabs. The lacerations on his face proved to be the deepest of them all and presented as maroon slices that began at his cheekbone and went past his lip. They were freshly closed up and still had a gaudy appearance but his family grew familiar with his new appearance, taking note of each week that the scar lightened with time.
Osuald's scars and cuts were the last of his worries as Marissa became days away from going into labour. Every miniscule contraction that she experienced leading up to the due date had Osuald's stomach drop to the floor and he wondered if he would have to relive his past, relive his trauma, and watch Marissa die like he did Lana. Until finally the day was nigh.
Just as Marissa finished cleaning up after breakfast, just a week after they completed their harvest, she hunched over and felt a pain like no other. Even though she had given birth to Kristoffer seven years ago from that day the excruciating pain that labour brought felt like his birth was just yesterday. She alerted the Chapman men and they all got ready to welcome a new member to their family!
They positioned the mother onto the bed, the very same place where Lana lay just two years back, and Byrhtnoth began to guide her through every push. The old man was shaky at times and worried for her demise also but ultimately decided to place his mind into a positive space and deliver the newborn with no problem. Osuald assisted with the water and linens until he felt sick to his stomach and walked out of the room briefly.
He hunched over as he clutched his stomach in the children's bedroom, penetrating sensations of deep anxiety, fear and squeamishness sitting like a rock in his abdomen, but eventually breathed through to find himself calmer in the end. Byrhtnoth assured convinced his son that they would be just fine without his help and asked to check on Bercthun and Kristoffer downstairs. Marissa approved this decision as she wiped sweat off of her brow and so Osuald climbed down the ladder downstairs.
Kristoffer could not understand why Osuald was so fidgety and afraid for his mother, the boy had heard of labour being intense but he was unaware that it could be lethal, and so he asked a question that Osuald would thankful for,
"Do you want to play dominoes?"
"Dominoes?" Osuald breathed out, eyes darting around the room until they finally landed on the game table. "Yeah, dominoes would be great right about now."
The lads settled at the table and Kristoffer asked if he could set up the game. Once they got started Kristoffer asked him all sorts of questions, curious about topics such as asking for details about what was happening upstairs to asking what they'll be eating for dinner, and Osuald was beyond grateful for the boy being so inquisitive. His mind cleared and he was just happy to keep up the conversation along with lightly planning out a strategy in his game.
Just before the sun began to set in the sky Byrhtnoth made his way down the stairs and beckoned the boys to follow him,
"He's here! Would you like to meet the baby?"
"He?" emphasised Osuald, delighted to hear that they were to have another boy join their family. They all rushed up the ladder once more and were met with a serene scene, a mother and her baby, rocking gently and all smiles. Osuald exhaled all of the air he had been trapping inside his lungs and felt relief wash over his entire body with even happy tears building up in the pit of his eyes.
The mother raised her head, a few of her delicate ginger hairs wet form sweat and clinging to her forehead, and flashed a smile to the boys. She gently turned the newborn and presented him to the group and their faces said it all. Awe, endearment, comfort, it was all there. The peaceful silence, what a darling absence after the push and pull that this year brought them.
Kristoffer was the first to ask what his brother's name would be and the parents looked to one another. The name had been decided weeks ago but Osuald let the honours fall upon Marissa and she announced it to the family,
"Your brother will be called Brismar, the name of a warrior, a fighter, a man." Kristoffer smiled widely and expressed his liking for the name and sat on the bed with his mother as he gazed upon his new sibling. They all spent some time together before Byrhtnoth mentioned that he will get dinner started and that Marissa needed some rest.
Kristoffer went to prepare the table with Byrhtnoth and tagged Bercthun along with him. It was just Marissa and Osuald left in the room and the father placed his newborn in the crib next to the bed, delighted to see it in use once more. He didn't notice until a tear fell from his eyes but he was crying yet he was happy. He wiped his tears of joy away and Marissa stood up to meet Osuald.
"I am alive, I'm here with you. We survived." She uttered the same words that he spoke to her just weeks ago and he held her tighter, no stinging pain present unlike before, before pulling away to kiss her cheeks and lips and cheeks again. It was official, they were a family bound by blood, Brismar's blood.
Once it grew dark outside their meal was ready and the family gathered in the kitchen to share a meal. Marissa was visibly tired but she wanted to spend time with the group and replenish any energy she had lost during the labour. She was delighted to sit quietly and listen to Kristoffer tell her a story filled with characters such as witches and wizards and wondered if her mother had told him this fantasy story before.
And soon it was time for bed. Marissa lay Kristoffer to sleep in his bed while Osuald tucked in Bercthun. His son had outgrown the crib fully now and slept in the bed right next to Kristoffer's and the boys shared their room with ease. Before Marissa could hit the hay her beau decided to heat up some water and treat her to a magnificently deserved bath.
He was planning on pampering her and washing her down as she rested in the soothing waters but they were interrupted by the gargling cries from Brismar above them. Marissa had already fully submerged her naked body into the tub hence Osuald rushed to help his newborn himself, directing his love to kick back and relax.
She did just that and leaned back to slide in further into the warm water, quietly listening to Osuald creak the floorboards above her and watched the steam rise from the bath. There were many cracks between the wood panels between the two floors and so Marissa could hear what Osuald was saying to their newborn quite clearly.
He spoke to Brismar with the softest tone he could produce and heard him narrate how small and adorable he was. She heard his voice crack a few times and wondered how choked up had he been getting as he gazed upon the newborn and soon she heard the magic words that she had never heard Arron say to his own son,
"I love you."
Three simple words yet they mean the world. Osuald barely knew their son, he had only been with them for several hours thus far, and he already was so certain that he cared that deeply for Brismar. Marissa's body relaxed further, her whole body submerged and her chin touching the water she was soaking in, and she listened to the cooing happening upstairs as if it were her personal lullaby. Life felt like it was only beginning for her and she couldn't get enough of it.
