Ashes and Storms (October 2996) {Runa}
Feb 16, 2018 21:10:30 GMT -5
Post by Ceolmund on Feb 16, 2018 21:10:30 GMT -5
“I will miss you, too.”
Ceolmund nodded. There was nothing else he could do. He felt the emotion of the past night beginning to well in him and pushed it away, though it also meant that he finally looked away from Runa. He straightened and put a hand on her shoulder. If first goodbyes were difficult, second goodbyes were excruciating, and he had not even expected to see Runa this day.
“I’ll write you. Hurry now, sweetheart. Bear will be looking for you at the gate.”
Beorhtric would be waiting for him, he knew, he could rely on his friend for that. It would be a blessing to be able to ride with him. A friend he could share the long nights with, whether in fair weather or foul. A friend he could trust.
He gave Hildred a passing look, knowing if he said a thing to her first, his Mother would make him regret it.
“Mother.” He took a few steps nearer to stand in front of her. “I have to--” He tried to lean down to her to offer a light embrace, but before his hands were on her shoulders, Elin had leaned back and away from him, turning her head. “...go...” he finished, frowning.
“Don't touch me,” Elin spat, not turning to look to him again until he had straightened up, his brow furrowed. “Not after you kissed that scrawny, ugly, wretched... rat-boy. Not after you touched it.”
Ceolmund's nose crinkled, and he looked swiftly to Hildred, his face falling, then stepped to the side, putting an arm around Hildred herself. He didn't have anything left to say. He owed Hildred everything. For caring for him these past years. Giving him his friends. His Runa. All he could offer to her was a hug in return.
“Don't forget to take your bread with you,” Elin offered, turning again to watch Ceolmund as he hugged Hildred. “The loaf I made you.You can have it for supper.”
Ceolmund turned, looking down to the cot with a frown.
Elin continued, “I baked it special, a little swallow inside. You cast your Mother aside like you are, and that's what you get.”
Face contorting slightly, Ceolmund looked confused. “Th-the bird?” he asked. “The one I carved?” The little swallow he had gifted his Father, shortly after he had broken his arm and Ceorl had taken him to the healers, when he had been a boy. It had been his first true carving, and Father had kept it on the mantle. Elin only smirked at him.
“Eat your own ash,” he muttered to Elin, then wheeled around. He took a breath and looked back at Runa, softening his gaze and trying to still his shaky breath. He went for the breakfast she had offered, tying up the cloth to carry it with him. “Th-thank you,” he whispered.
With a quick glare to Elin, he turned back to Runa, lifting his free hand gently to her cheek, and leaning down to press another hurried kiss to the other side of her face. “Sweet Runa,” was all he whispered before swallowing heavily and making quick paces to the door. Still, he could not help himself and he glanced behind to her one last time before he forced himself back into the brisk morning air. The stars were fading in the sky as he started in a quick jog back to his Mother's house.
Ceolmund nodded. There was nothing else he could do. He felt the emotion of the past night beginning to well in him and pushed it away, though it also meant that he finally looked away from Runa. He straightened and put a hand on her shoulder. If first goodbyes were difficult, second goodbyes were excruciating, and he had not even expected to see Runa this day.
“I’ll write you. Hurry now, sweetheart. Bear will be looking for you at the gate.”
Beorhtric would be waiting for him, he knew, he could rely on his friend for that. It would be a blessing to be able to ride with him. A friend he could share the long nights with, whether in fair weather or foul. A friend he could trust.
He gave Hildred a passing look, knowing if he said a thing to her first, his Mother would make him regret it.
“Mother.” He took a few steps nearer to stand in front of her. “I have to--” He tried to lean down to her to offer a light embrace, but before his hands were on her shoulders, Elin had leaned back and away from him, turning her head. “...go...” he finished, frowning.
“Don't touch me,” Elin spat, not turning to look to him again until he had straightened up, his brow furrowed. “Not after you kissed that scrawny, ugly, wretched... rat-boy. Not after you touched it.”
Ceolmund's nose crinkled, and he looked swiftly to Hildred, his face falling, then stepped to the side, putting an arm around Hildred herself. He didn't have anything left to say. He owed Hildred everything. For caring for him these past years. Giving him his friends. His Runa. All he could offer to her was a hug in return.
“Don't forget to take your bread with you,” Elin offered, turning again to watch Ceolmund as he hugged Hildred. “The loaf I made you.You can have it for supper.”
Ceolmund turned, looking down to the cot with a frown.
Elin continued, “I baked it special, a little swallow inside. You cast your Mother aside like you are, and that's what you get.”
Face contorting slightly, Ceolmund looked confused. “Th-the bird?” he asked. “The one I carved?” The little swallow he had gifted his Father, shortly after he had broken his arm and Ceorl had taken him to the healers, when he had been a boy. It had been his first true carving, and Father had kept it on the mantle. Elin only smirked at him.
“Eat your own ash,” he muttered to Elin, then wheeled around. He took a breath and looked back at Runa, softening his gaze and trying to still his shaky breath. He went for the breakfast she had offered, tying up the cloth to carry it with him. “Th-thank you,” he whispered.
With a quick glare to Elin, he turned back to Runa, lifting his free hand gently to her cheek, and leaning down to press another hurried kiss to the other side of her face. “Sweet Runa,” was all he whispered before swallowing heavily and making quick paces to the door. Still, he could not help himself and he glanced behind to her one last time before he forced himself back into the brisk morning air. The stars were fading in the sky as he started in a quick jog back to his Mother's house.