Post by Brandwyn on Jul 18, 2012 14:00:15 GMT -5
Heather noticed Enya was acting a bit reserved and so she kept an eye on her. She wondered if her apprentice was having issues being around a lot of people. If so, she was going to have to get her over that phobia and it wouldn’t be easy with the plague ravaging the countryside. Everyone would soon be avoiding everyone else, just as her family was doing.
They entered the house, Heather behind her father and Enya on her heels and Heather’s mother swooped down on them giving both the girls a big hug. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Enya, my apprentice as of about a week or so ago,” Heather answered her mother who was sizing Enya up.
“Little sprite of a thing, isn’t she?” Heather’s mother smiled, taking Enya’s hand and leading her to the dining table that was just beyond the end of the counter in the huge kitchen. The table could easily sit 12 people and with a bit of squeezing could probably hold 14 or 15 people if you didn’t need elbow room. “what you need, my Dear, is some sweet cakes to get some meat on those bones.”
Heather sat down next to Enya and suddenly there was a large plate of little tiny pies and two big mugs full of cold milk in front of them. The pies were of a variety of things from fruits to meat to cheese. Heather picked out one made from egg custard, her favorite and urged Enya to have what she wanted.
After a huge mouthful and a gulp of milk, Heather noticed an envelope on the mantle of the fireplace that took up most of the end wall of the dining room. “Is that what I think it is?” She jumped up and went to it.
“That is from Ben, Dear, and you should have told us,” Her mother admonished her, but there was a smile behind her eyes. She gave Heather another big hug, “Congratulations! I had always hoped it would be him and not that tall plainsman you always seemed so interested in.”
“Mother!” Heather rolled her eyes and then snatched down the letter. “I can’t believe he told you and why didn’t he wait for me? Did he say where he was going?” She scanned the contents, her heart racing and her face flushed. They’d just left the Gathering Grounds a few days ago and she couldn’t believe how much she missed him. “How the heck did he get here before me?” she muttered again as she read…
Heather,
Since you left the Gathering early, I didn't get the chance to tell you that I am staying with the Corp for a little while longer. I settled it with Crowley: I'll stay till things have settled down around the Kingdom--although, when are things really actually settled? As they say, a Ranger's work is never done--from the day he's apprenticed to the day he retires. I made one condition for staying, however: Dalin, as you know, got his silver leaf last night, and is now a full-fledged Ranger. I requested that he take over the duties for my previous fief, and that Crowley turn me loose. As a loose Ranger, Heather, I can go where there is a need--or where I chose, if there is no need. I hope to see you before the next Gathering.
With all my heart,
Yours,
Ben
“Well now how am I supposed to find him or know where he is?” Heather said crossly to herself. She read the letter through two more times before she held it to her breast for a moment and then carefully placed it back in the envelope and then into her courier satchel on her belt that housed her Ranger orders and flopped into her chair again. “Did he say where he was going?”
Her father sat down across from her and said thoughtfully, “I think he mentioned Marshwood, didn’t he?” He looked to his wife who nodded confirmation. “So when were you planning on telling us the good news?”
Heather looked from one to the other of her parents, “Well we just decided to get married right before the Gathering broke up early and then it was total chaos. Enya and I have been chased around the countryside by pirates and had to detour to get back here. I can’t believe he didn’t stick around to wait for me and I was going to tell you right about now, but it seems he beat me to it.” She pinned her father with a stare, “I take it you still approve, even though it has been some years since he asked for my hand?”
“Well, he didn’t exactly ask so much as I figured out a long time ago he was the one you’d chosen. I can’t believe it took the two of you so long to figure it out.” Her father shook his head. “Yes, I approve, but I told him the same thing I told your brother-in-law; I get to give my daughter away at the wedding and if he ever harms you, ranger or no, there’s not a place on this earth that he can hide from me.” He gave Heather an instense look, “and I’ll say the same to you, Young Lady, don’t you ever hurt him either. You’re not too big or important to take over my knee and give you a good spanking.”
“Of course I won’t hurt him, Dad, don’t be silly.” Heather knew her father was serious, but she had no intentions of breaking Ben’s heart for her own would be just as broken. “I love him Dad, and you’re right, we are bloody fools for taking so long to admit it.”
“So you will be settling down and starting a family and giving up all this silly ranger business,” Heather’s mother smiled and then cupped Heather’s chin with her hand, turning her head from side to side examining the bruises. “and Thank God, for you are always looking like your brother’s with your face all marked up every time we see you, and is that blood on your shoulder?” She asked in alarm, pulling back Heather’s cloak to reveal her blood stained shirt over her shoulder wound.
“Shoot, I thought it had stopped bleeding. I wonder if there is still part of the head of that crossbow bolt still in there.” Heather muttered, “It’s nothing Mom, and no, I am not giving up being a ranger.” She saw the look on her Mother’s face. “At least not for a good long while,” she amended. Her mother just stood over her, arms now folded and a wooden spoon covered in drying biscuit batter clutched in one hand. Heather eyed the spoon warily, “Ben and I agreed to wait a year before we get married, after that who knows what’s going to happen.” She really wasn’t sure if she would stop being a ranger then or not, but her mother didn’t need to know right now. Her answer seemed to have appeased her mother for the time being.
“We’ll talk about this later. Go get cleaned up for dinner and let me know if you want me to look at that wound.” Her mother ordered as she returned to the stove to check on the food.
Heather stood up and motioned for Enya to follow, “Let’s go see what state my old room is in.” Heather led her to a large bedroom that had two full-sized beds on opposite sides of the room and a large fireplace on the wall opposite the door. The view from the windows overlooked that huge horse pasture behind the house which was full of mares and foals. Heather closed the door behind them and sat down on her bed and gestured toward the other one.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you about Ben, I wanted to tell them first that we were engaged. But don’t worry, Ben and I talked about it and I am not planning on giving up being a ranger, we just have to work out a few details, especially where children are concerned.” Heather stood up and went to the wash stand and splashed some water on her face and dried it off.
“You seem sad, is something bothering you?” Heather asked her apprentice. “I hope my family is not too overwhelming. They can be rather intense at times.”
They entered the house, Heather behind her father and Enya on her heels and Heather’s mother swooped down on them giving both the girls a big hug. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Enya, my apprentice as of about a week or so ago,” Heather answered her mother who was sizing Enya up.
“Little sprite of a thing, isn’t she?” Heather’s mother smiled, taking Enya’s hand and leading her to the dining table that was just beyond the end of the counter in the huge kitchen. The table could easily sit 12 people and with a bit of squeezing could probably hold 14 or 15 people if you didn’t need elbow room. “what you need, my Dear, is some sweet cakes to get some meat on those bones.”
Heather sat down next to Enya and suddenly there was a large plate of little tiny pies and two big mugs full of cold milk in front of them. The pies were of a variety of things from fruits to meat to cheese. Heather picked out one made from egg custard, her favorite and urged Enya to have what she wanted.
After a huge mouthful and a gulp of milk, Heather noticed an envelope on the mantle of the fireplace that took up most of the end wall of the dining room. “Is that what I think it is?” She jumped up and went to it.
“That is from Ben, Dear, and you should have told us,” Her mother admonished her, but there was a smile behind her eyes. She gave Heather another big hug, “Congratulations! I had always hoped it would be him and not that tall plainsman you always seemed so interested in.”
“Mother!” Heather rolled her eyes and then snatched down the letter. “I can’t believe he told you and why didn’t he wait for me? Did he say where he was going?” She scanned the contents, her heart racing and her face flushed. They’d just left the Gathering Grounds a few days ago and she couldn’t believe how much she missed him. “How the heck did he get here before me?” she muttered again as she read…
Heather,
Since you left the Gathering early, I didn't get the chance to tell you that I am staying with the Corp for a little while longer. I settled it with Crowley: I'll stay till things have settled down around the Kingdom--although, when are things really actually settled? As they say, a Ranger's work is never done--from the day he's apprenticed to the day he retires. I made one condition for staying, however: Dalin, as you know, got his silver leaf last night, and is now a full-fledged Ranger. I requested that he take over the duties for my previous fief, and that Crowley turn me loose. As a loose Ranger, Heather, I can go where there is a need--or where I chose, if there is no need. I hope to see you before the next Gathering.
With all my heart,
Yours,
Ben
“Well now how am I supposed to find him or know where he is?” Heather said crossly to herself. She read the letter through two more times before she held it to her breast for a moment and then carefully placed it back in the envelope and then into her courier satchel on her belt that housed her Ranger orders and flopped into her chair again. “Did he say where he was going?”
Her father sat down across from her and said thoughtfully, “I think he mentioned Marshwood, didn’t he?” He looked to his wife who nodded confirmation. “So when were you planning on telling us the good news?”
Heather looked from one to the other of her parents, “Well we just decided to get married right before the Gathering broke up early and then it was total chaos. Enya and I have been chased around the countryside by pirates and had to detour to get back here. I can’t believe he didn’t stick around to wait for me and I was going to tell you right about now, but it seems he beat me to it.” She pinned her father with a stare, “I take it you still approve, even though it has been some years since he asked for my hand?”
“Well, he didn’t exactly ask so much as I figured out a long time ago he was the one you’d chosen. I can’t believe it took the two of you so long to figure it out.” Her father shook his head. “Yes, I approve, but I told him the same thing I told your brother-in-law; I get to give my daughter away at the wedding and if he ever harms you, ranger or no, there’s not a place on this earth that he can hide from me.” He gave Heather an instense look, “and I’ll say the same to you, Young Lady, don’t you ever hurt him either. You’re not too big or important to take over my knee and give you a good spanking.”
“Of course I won’t hurt him, Dad, don’t be silly.” Heather knew her father was serious, but she had no intentions of breaking Ben’s heart for her own would be just as broken. “I love him Dad, and you’re right, we are bloody fools for taking so long to admit it.”
“So you will be settling down and starting a family and giving up all this silly ranger business,” Heather’s mother smiled and then cupped Heather’s chin with her hand, turning her head from side to side examining the bruises. “and Thank God, for you are always looking like your brother’s with your face all marked up every time we see you, and is that blood on your shoulder?” She asked in alarm, pulling back Heather’s cloak to reveal her blood stained shirt over her shoulder wound.
“Shoot, I thought it had stopped bleeding. I wonder if there is still part of the head of that crossbow bolt still in there.” Heather muttered, “It’s nothing Mom, and no, I am not giving up being a ranger.” She saw the look on her Mother’s face. “At least not for a good long while,” she amended. Her mother just stood over her, arms now folded and a wooden spoon covered in drying biscuit batter clutched in one hand. Heather eyed the spoon warily, “Ben and I agreed to wait a year before we get married, after that who knows what’s going to happen.” She really wasn’t sure if she would stop being a ranger then or not, but her mother didn’t need to know right now. Her answer seemed to have appeased her mother for the time being.
“We’ll talk about this later. Go get cleaned up for dinner and let me know if you want me to look at that wound.” Her mother ordered as she returned to the stove to check on the food.
Heather stood up and motioned for Enya to follow, “Let’s go see what state my old room is in.” Heather led her to a large bedroom that had two full-sized beds on opposite sides of the room and a large fireplace on the wall opposite the door. The view from the windows overlooked that huge horse pasture behind the house which was full of mares and foals. Heather closed the door behind them and sat down on her bed and gestured toward the other one.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you about Ben, I wanted to tell them first that we were engaged. But don’t worry, Ben and I talked about it and I am not planning on giving up being a ranger, we just have to work out a few details, especially where children are concerned.” Heather stood up and went to the wash stand and splashed some water on her face and dried it off.
“You seem sad, is something bothering you?” Heather asked her apprentice. “I hope my family is not too overwhelming. They can be rather intense at times.”