Littew Temper Tait-rum [February 3010] (Runa)
Oct 28, 2017 13:39:48 GMT -5
Post by Ceolmund on Oct 28, 2017 13:39:48 GMT -5
The February day was cold, yet not bitter, and streaks of sunlight were breaking through the clouds overhead, shining down upon the frozen plains. For a change, the wind had somewhat settled. It was likely the finest day the middle of winter would have to offer the hill city, just cold enough to keep the mud frozen to the earth, yet warm enough that the air did not bite and sting and freeze your eyelashes when you blinked.
A tall figure moved through the street on long strides, a small girl seated atop his shoulders increasing the height by even more, and a woman beside him. The little one was hunched over his hair, little hands fastened around his chin, and Ceolmund had her ankles by both of his hands to keep her secure as she wiggled about. The girl was bundled up in as many woolen layers and stockings that they could wrestle over her, a new pair of shoes fashioned by Amalric; and even Cynburga had taken a liking to the way Ceolmund talked of the tiny charge, and had taken it upon herself to fetch a basket of cookies down to the Healing Hall in the previous weeks just to meet her. She had knitted her a new woolen hat and mittens to keep her ears and hands warm and cozy.
“Don't let her snag those mittens on those swords of yours... I saw that little wooden one you were carving!” Cynburga had demanded knowingly, and Ceolmund had agreed not to let her snag the mittens on swords. He thought on the little wooden practice sword he had fashioned at his home, waiting until her healing had come along a bit further. He would have to have Runa make her a second pair of mittens to wear for winter swordplay, so that his answer to the old neighbor lady would not have been dishonest.
It was Ceolmund's last day in Edoras before his Eored once more departed to the Eastfoldeon a special mission; that of which was to send one final scouting party out to search for a farmstead that had been presumably ravaged by orcs. Paega's family was still missing, the earlier searches had turned no results and had been called off; though Ceolmund had convinced the Marshals that they should take one last sweep over the further reaches of the Folde. Even if they did not come upon the farm, there would surely be some orcish activity to diminish in the region, and it would be worthwhile.
Soon Paega would be well again; healed enough to move on from the Hall, and she would need a place to go. If she had no family to go to...
Ceolmund did not wish to think too far on the future. It was still distant and depended upon this ride out, but he would not allow himself to think on the little one as his daughter yet. He had hopes he would not need to do so; and though he had still become incredibly attached to her, it would do no help to his soul to claim the child and then lose her again to her family. As much as he wished to find her family; it would now be difficult to say goodbye should they find them and have even a loving home to send her to.
At the very least, he had this morning, for he had nudged and nudged Oda to allow the little child's release to him, only for a short breath of air. He would not let her run and exert herself. He had promised to carry her the way down and back, and to sit upon the horse with her and only walk a few gentle circles through the corral. He would not keep her out long, and today was no better day. Paega had been looking forward to it for weeks, and he had a promise to keep! It would not do make her wait until he returned again to the city. He might be gone for two weeks or four, depending on what they should find upon the plain.
Yet he did not wish to think on his departure. His world had changed in a heartbeat since his last trip upon the plains, and he had never felt such a bitterness laying hold of him on the day before taking up his duty ever before. If only the earth were a kind and peaceful place; as some of the stories he had heard told by the hearth in his childhood, and the people of Rohan did not require his defense... that he might not need leave...
He had been married now for a month, and never had his days been filled with such life and joy as they had been with his new wife by his side. The first two weeks after their marriage Ceolmund had been healing from the injury he had taken on his previous ride. Hildred, Oda, and Adelais had busied themselves about the Healing Hall, gladly and willingly taking on the extra shifts required that Runa might be allowed to stay home with him and enjoy their wedding mead. The man had mused that he would have to thank the ladies somehow... when the spring came again, he would gather flowers for them all; enough to fill the Hall if he needed to do so. Except beyond the ruckus that Elin had caused, and the day that Beorhtric had come to their home; those first weeks had been pure bliss to him.
When his wound had healed enough to allow him to begin working on the training grounds once again, Runa had also returned to her work at the Healing Hall, and though they spent their days apart, they came together again in the evening at home, greeting each other gleefully as if they had been apart for many months. Home was finally a place that Ceolmund longed to be. It no longer served as only a shelter from the weather and a place to sleep, but there he had a warm and laughing wife with which to spend his time. He was loathe to leave her; even if it were only for a short while.
“Littew Tait wants to gallop in the cowal too, Coleymond.” Paega was pressing the nose of a little wooden horse against his cheek while she gripped him. His father had carved several little pieces for her in the past weeks and her collection was growing, but always the favorite was the first one made of the blackest ebony wood he could find; a piece of wood that had come from the distant southlands. His father had taken it special from his collection, and carved between the orders he took in his shop.”A Littew Tait!” Paega had immediately exclaimed upon receiving the gift. Ceorl had said it was a late gift for Yule, though it seemed each week he had a new horse ready for her, as if gifting the little charge that Ceolmund and Runa had come to easily love would help to make up for all the havoc Elin had caused them.
Paega could gallop the horses upon her cot in the Healing Hall and entertain herself for hours with them; mussing her bed over and over again to make them little rolling hills and valleys and paddocks. She was growing more and more active by the day and keeping the healers busy. Though she was a good girl, she was very young and often forgot the directions she had been given... namely; “Stay in bed.” She certainly had energy, and Ceolmund was glad to have a chance to spend time with her outside the Halls. Perhaps almost as glad as Oda was to have a bit of her morning without the constant slew of questions that seemed to come forth when she was awake.
“We won't be galloping yet this time,” Ceolmund answered her. “We have to save the galloping til the next, and you are feeling better yet.”
“But can I watch Tait wun?” she asked expectantly.
“I promised Oda I would not let you loose among the stables, so I will not be galloping today either,” Ceolmund answered her, smiling. “But I am sure Runa will love to have her turn; and this time we can watch her gallop.”
Ceolmund was beaming, and looked down to his wife beside him as they came in sight of the stables. He had meant to bring Runa to the stables weeks ago, yet once they were both home from their duties, it was always so difficult to leave the house again; the days had been cold and dark, and the house was warm. There were so many other things to do there. Ceolmund had come to see to Tait when he needed to during the work days, yet his evenings were for Runa. Soon spring would come though; and summer behind, and the days would stay light longer, and the weather would not be so harsh. There would be plenty of daylight left after work to take his sweet wife riding upon the plains near Edoras; pehaps down to the river, or beyond toward the roots of the Starkhorn. Once spring was here, Ceolmund would take his yearly trip with Cenric and Sunnifa, to gather the young saplings from the edges of the forest that his father and sister would work into their bows for the year. Certainly this year Runa would join them, and it would be a pleasant day trip. There would be plenty of time for galloping.
A tall figure moved through the street on long strides, a small girl seated atop his shoulders increasing the height by even more, and a woman beside him. The little one was hunched over his hair, little hands fastened around his chin, and Ceolmund had her ankles by both of his hands to keep her secure as she wiggled about. The girl was bundled up in as many woolen layers and stockings that they could wrestle over her, a new pair of shoes fashioned by Amalric; and even Cynburga had taken a liking to the way Ceolmund talked of the tiny charge, and had taken it upon herself to fetch a basket of cookies down to the Healing Hall in the previous weeks just to meet her. She had knitted her a new woolen hat and mittens to keep her ears and hands warm and cozy.
“Don't let her snag those mittens on those swords of yours... I saw that little wooden one you were carving!” Cynburga had demanded knowingly, and Ceolmund had agreed not to let her snag the mittens on swords. He thought on the little wooden practice sword he had fashioned at his home, waiting until her healing had come along a bit further. He would have to have Runa make her a second pair of mittens to wear for winter swordplay, so that his answer to the old neighbor lady would not have been dishonest.
It was Ceolmund's last day in Edoras before his Eored once more departed to the Eastfoldeon a special mission; that of which was to send one final scouting party out to search for a farmstead that had been presumably ravaged by orcs. Paega's family was still missing, the earlier searches had turned no results and had been called off; though Ceolmund had convinced the Marshals that they should take one last sweep over the further reaches of the Folde. Even if they did not come upon the farm, there would surely be some orcish activity to diminish in the region, and it would be worthwhile.
Soon Paega would be well again; healed enough to move on from the Hall, and she would need a place to go. If she had no family to go to...
Ceolmund did not wish to think too far on the future. It was still distant and depended upon this ride out, but he would not allow himself to think on the little one as his daughter yet. He had hopes he would not need to do so; and though he had still become incredibly attached to her, it would do no help to his soul to claim the child and then lose her again to her family. As much as he wished to find her family; it would now be difficult to say goodbye should they find them and have even a loving home to send her to.
At the very least, he had this morning, for he had nudged and nudged Oda to allow the little child's release to him, only for a short breath of air. He would not let her run and exert herself. He had promised to carry her the way down and back, and to sit upon the horse with her and only walk a few gentle circles through the corral. He would not keep her out long, and today was no better day. Paega had been looking forward to it for weeks, and he had a promise to keep! It would not do make her wait until he returned again to the city. He might be gone for two weeks or four, depending on what they should find upon the plain.
Yet he did not wish to think on his departure. His world had changed in a heartbeat since his last trip upon the plains, and he had never felt such a bitterness laying hold of him on the day before taking up his duty ever before. If only the earth were a kind and peaceful place; as some of the stories he had heard told by the hearth in his childhood, and the people of Rohan did not require his defense... that he might not need leave...
He had been married now for a month, and never had his days been filled with such life and joy as they had been with his new wife by his side. The first two weeks after their marriage Ceolmund had been healing from the injury he had taken on his previous ride. Hildred, Oda, and Adelais had busied themselves about the Healing Hall, gladly and willingly taking on the extra shifts required that Runa might be allowed to stay home with him and enjoy their wedding mead. The man had mused that he would have to thank the ladies somehow... when the spring came again, he would gather flowers for them all; enough to fill the Hall if he needed to do so. Except beyond the ruckus that Elin had caused, and the day that Beorhtric had come to their home; those first weeks had been pure bliss to him.
When his wound had healed enough to allow him to begin working on the training grounds once again, Runa had also returned to her work at the Healing Hall, and though they spent their days apart, they came together again in the evening at home, greeting each other gleefully as if they had been apart for many months. Home was finally a place that Ceolmund longed to be. It no longer served as only a shelter from the weather and a place to sleep, but there he had a warm and laughing wife with which to spend his time. He was loathe to leave her; even if it were only for a short while.
“Littew Tait wants to gallop in the cowal too, Coleymond.” Paega was pressing the nose of a little wooden horse against his cheek while she gripped him. His father had carved several little pieces for her in the past weeks and her collection was growing, but always the favorite was the first one made of the blackest ebony wood he could find; a piece of wood that had come from the distant southlands. His father had taken it special from his collection, and carved between the orders he took in his shop.”A Littew Tait!” Paega had immediately exclaimed upon receiving the gift. Ceorl had said it was a late gift for Yule, though it seemed each week he had a new horse ready for her, as if gifting the little charge that Ceolmund and Runa had come to easily love would help to make up for all the havoc Elin had caused them.
Paega could gallop the horses upon her cot in the Healing Hall and entertain herself for hours with them; mussing her bed over and over again to make them little rolling hills and valleys and paddocks. She was growing more and more active by the day and keeping the healers busy. Though she was a good girl, she was very young and often forgot the directions she had been given... namely; “Stay in bed.” She certainly had energy, and Ceolmund was glad to have a chance to spend time with her outside the Halls. Perhaps almost as glad as Oda was to have a bit of her morning without the constant slew of questions that seemed to come forth when she was awake.
“We won't be galloping yet this time,” Ceolmund answered her. “We have to save the galloping til the next, and you are feeling better yet.”
“But can I watch Tait wun?” she asked expectantly.
“I promised Oda I would not let you loose among the stables, so I will not be galloping today either,” Ceolmund answered her, smiling. “But I am sure Runa will love to have her turn; and this time we can watch her gallop.”
Ceolmund was beaming, and looked down to his wife beside him as they came in sight of the stables. He had meant to bring Runa to the stables weeks ago, yet once they were both home from their duties, it was always so difficult to leave the house again; the days had been cold and dark, and the house was warm. There were so many other things to do there. Ceolmund had come to see to Tait when he needed to during the work days, yet his evenings were for Runa. Soon spring would come though; and summer behind, and the days would stay light longer, and the weather would not be so harsh. There would be plenty of daylight left after work to take his sweet wife riding upon the plains near Edoras; pehaps down to the river, or beyond toward the roots of the Starkhorn. Once spring was here, Ceolmund would take his yearly trip with Cenric and Sunnifa, to gather the young saplings from the edges of the forest that his father and sister would work into their bows for the year. Certainly this year Runa would join them, and it would be a pleasant day trip. There would be plenty of time for galloping.