Goat Ewe (January 3010) - [Ceolmund]
Oct 18, 2017 16:23:16 GMT -5
Post by Runa on Oct 18, 2017 16:23:16 GMT -5
Ceolmund had fetched her from Paega’s bedside when he was ready to go, and Runa carefully stood to follow him. She offered the sleeping child one last look, and then a smile to her mother before she turned and followed Ceolmund into the January afternoon.
She had listened to him speak of Leofil, remarking on the strides he had taken in his recovery. Runa had no doubt the young man was going to be fine; she had, after all, seen Ceolmund return from the very entrance to the halls of his fathers two years ago. But the pleasantness it had given Ceolmund in his voice, the way it had lightened his upset regarding Paega’s words earlier, made her happy.
And it seemed the man was very taken by Paega’s recovery as well. Though, as the man continued to speak, it became very evident that the little girl’s health was not the only thing his mind was pondering. It seemed it was running ahead, and she could see in his eye a softness and adoration as he looked to her.
“You will be the best of Mothers. I had never truly considered before seeing you with Paega... this wild maiden of mine interested in Motherhood, but the way you settle that little child and care for her. I would be just as glad to see you with our own. I do hope you truly desire it, for it will certainly change your world in a way... less time at the Hall... though if my own children are anything like I was, you will still have plenty of wounds to tend as soon as they begin to toddle about...”
Despite the chilled air, she blushed warm. A small smile played at the corner of her lips, spreading until she was laughing lightly, lowly, and with the warmth of a hearth. “Well, your wild maiden does desire it. She was just always very picky about who she would be a mother for,” she hummed quietly. Ceolmund had made it impossible for her to look at anyone else. He was humble, and kind, and strong, and gentle despite his clear strength. Even when she was a child, he accepted her, saw her for precisely the way she was, and never once offered a comment on the role of a woman, or how perhaps she needed to settle herself down a pace or two.
He could have never asked for her hand, he could have gone and married someone else, and Runa knew that still no man would compare for her.
He halted their steps in the middle of the street, and pressed his lips to hers. Her heart fluttered, and eagerly, she gripped his cloak in her fingers. She almost did not allow him to pull away, but the wind snaked by her ankles and her cheek and she remembered they were outside their home. Once they were out of sight, as soon as that door was closed, Ceolmund and she could spend the rest of the evening exploring each other. She felt warm as his lips finally pulled from hers.
“And after all, we do not wish to wear out this lovely dress before next Yule. I think as soon as we get home, I should remove it, and everything else. We can pack them away safely again when we find the time eventually... Save perhaps... perhaps I may leave this necklace alone upon you. I like the shine of it.”
He was so close, and the sweep of his finger over her skin already felt so familiar. “It would be a shame if something happened to it,” she agreed in a low hum. She was so ready to be rid of it. He pulled away and wrapped his arm about her shoulder.
That was when she noticed the smoke.
“Oh, the fire. The latch must have fallen somehow.”
The fire? They had made sure to douse it before heading out, so that they would have a home to come back to. And the door was not opening?
Runa watched as he moved to the window. “Maybe we should try the back,” she suggested. He seemed to be intently searching the window pane, and the woman frowned. What was he seeing? She had been sure to leave the woolen blanket...
She gasped as she came around him and looked inside. Elin was standing there, smiling at her smugly. The fire was bright, illuminating the woman’s features in bright shades of orange and yellow. The woman very quickly set the latch to the back door all the while maintaining a smirk on her lips.
“Eorl’s flaming knickers,” Runa grumbled. “Elin, please. This is ridiculous. Open the—Elin!” Her tired plea morphed into a gasp of surprise as Ceolmund’s mother stooped and swept up the bloody linen underdress that Runa had shed her first night in the home. “Elin, stop! What do you think you’re doing!?”
Without breaking eye contact, the woman threw the bloodied garment into the fire, and smiled at the way Runa’s brow bent in anger.
“Elin!” She cried in a growl once more. Quickly, and desperately Runa turned toward her husband. “Ceol, we have to get in there. She’s going to burn down the whole house!” Elin tossed something else into the fireplace, and the already large flames surged brighter.
Now it was not Eorl’s knickers that were in flames. It was her own. Runa pressed against the window, hoping the latch would give, but it did not. Grunting in frustration, the young woman slammed her hand against the glass. “Elin! Unlock the door.”
She had listened to him speak of Leofil, remarking on the strides he had taken in his recovery. Runa had no doubt the young man was going to be fine; she had, after all, seen Ceolmund return from the very entrance to the halls of his fathers two years ago. But the pleasantness it had given Ceolmund in his voice, the way it had lightened his upset regarding Paega’s words earlier, made her happy.
And it seemed the man was very taken by Paega’s recovery as well. Though, as the man continued to speak, it became very evident that the little girl’s health was not the only thing his mind was pondering. It seemed it was running ahead, and she could see in his eye a softness and adoration as he looked to her.
“You will be the best of Mothers. I had never truly considered before seeing you with Paega... this wild maiden of mine interested in Motherhood, but the way you settle that little child and care for her. I would be just as glad to see you with our own. I do hope you truly desire it, for it will certainly change your world in a way... less time at the Hall... though if my own children are anything like I was, you will still have plenty of wounds to tend as soon as they begin to toddle about...”
Despite the chilled air, she blushed warm. A small smile played at the corner of her lips, spreading until she was laughing lightly, lowly, and with the warmth of a hearth. “Well, your wild maiden does desire it. She was just always very picky about who she would be a mother for,” she hummed quietly. Ceolmund had made it impossible for her to look at anyone else. He was humble, and kind, and strong, and gentle despite his clear strength. Even when she was a child, he accepted her, saw her for precisely the way she was, and never once offered a comment on the role of a woman, or how perhaps she needed to settle herself down a pace or two.
He could have never asked for her hand, he could have gone and married someone else, and Runa knew that still no man would compare for her.
He halted their steps in the middle of the street, and pressed his lips to hers. Her heart fluttered, and eagerly, she gripped his cloak in her fingers. She almost did not allow him to pull away, but the wind snaked by her ankles and her cheek and she remembered they were outside their home. Once they were out of sight, as soon as that door was closed, Ceolmund and she could spend the rest of the evening exploring each other. She felt warm as his lips finally pulled from hers.
“And after all, we do not wish to wear out this lovely dress before next Yule. I think as soon as we get home, I should remove it, and everything else. We can pack them away safely again when we find the time eventually... Save perhaps... perhaps I may leave this necklace alone upon you. I like the shine of it.”
He was so close, and the sweep of his finger over her skin already felt so familiar. “It would be a shame if something happened to it,” she agreed in a low hum. She was so ready to be rid of it. He pulled away and wrapped his arm about her shoulder.
That was when she noticed the smoke.
“Oh, the fire. The latch must have fallen somehow.”
The fire? They had made sure to douse it before heading out, so that they would have a home to come back to. And the door was not opening?
Runa watched as he moved to the window. “Maybe we should try the back,” she suggested. He seemed to be intently searching the window pane, and the woman frowned. What was he seeing? She had been sure to leave the woolen blanket...
She gasped as she came around him and looked inside. Elin was standing there, smiling at her smugly. The fire was bright, illuminating the woman’s features in bright shades of orange and yellow. The woman very quickly set the latch to the back door all the while maintaining a smirk on her lips.
“Eorl’s flaming knickers,” Runa grumbled. “Elin, please. This is ridiculous. Open the—Elin!” Her tired plea morphed into a gasp of surprise as Ceolmund’s mother stooped and swept up the bloody linen underdress that Runa had shed her first night in the home. “Elin, stop! What do you think you’re doing!?”
Without breaking eye contact, the woman threw the bloodied garment into the fire, and smiled at the way Runa’s brow bent in anger.
“Elin!” She cried in a growl once more. Quickly, and desperately Runa turned toward her husband. “Ceol, we have to get in there. She’s going to burn down the whole house!” Elin tossed something else into the fireplace, and the already large flames surged brighter.
Now it was not Eorl’s knickers that were in flames. It was her own. Runa pressed against the window, hoping the latch would give, but it did not. Grunting in frustration, the young woman slammed her hand against the glass. “Elin! Unlock the door.”