The hot midday sun pressed down harshly against the back of her neck, the one place her fitting outfit had failed to cover. Fingers reached up to try and adjust the red tie around her neck, hoping to position it over the burning inches of skin in time to keep from earning a red, painful mark. Her long strands of hair had been pulled back to keep them out of her face while she tried to work; small blisters felt like they were forming over her callous hands as she kept the slightly bent tool tight in her grasp. With the summer months already present and the warmer weather nearly making them all sick, she had to keep a careful eye on the flourishing garden. She had to make sure to keep the weeds from overflowing and taking the nutrition from their crops; it made her back hurt, her hands bleed and blistered her skin but… at the end of the day, it was all hard work that was necessary to do.
With momma still nursing a twisted ankle from a fall in the barn, she had to help pick up the extra chores and keep things running. She was the first one up at dawn and the last one to tuck everyone else into bed, picking up things and cleaning just before she went under the covers herself. Her sisters laughed and said that it must've been all the fighting that gave her the strength and stamina to keep working; that kept her constantly moving and busy all at the same time. While they insisted on several breaks throughout the day, she had yet to do so herself… but they kept the house going and made sure momma didn't stress her ankle too much.
She actually kind of preferred to do the yard work rather than handle the housework inside; she was much better out here, dealing with difficult tasks rather than worrying about getting dishes cleaned. So perhaps her time as a soldier had given her a new found strength and helped to build up her physique… it was something she was proud of. As dangerous as it had been on the battlefield with strangers wishing nothing more than to make her die for her country, she would still pick up her weapon if there was another call for it. It was pride and loyalty that convinced her to stay with the local militia and work out the occasional rise of conflict, nothing more than a few arguments really… nothing as violent as it used to be. Which she was glad for. Those times of conflict were behind them now, and she was looking forward to a peaceful future for once.
"Nephenee! Nephenee!"
She glanced up at the multiple calls of her name, watching as three figures came bouncing through the growing fields. While they were just a mere blur for a few yards, she was already wondering what her brothers had gotten themselves into. Setting her tool aside, she waited for them to come closer and took note of the look of pure excitement on their faces. "And just what did you three get yourselves into?"
The triplets only seemed to grin back at her in answer- something she wasn't entirely sure how to take; their messy clothing only seemed to prove that they were taking a bit more fun with their chores- perhaps she shouldn't have given them the choice of cleaning the barn. They probably spent most of the day chasing around whatever kind of critters had settled in there, no doubt trying to find the biggest spider or snake or… whatever they could get their hands on.
"There's a guy here to see you." one of them answered.
"Yeah, he said he knew you." the second one added.
A brief frown caught onto the corners of her lips before she looked past them and tried to see if she could spot anyone coming up the long walk to the house; her eyes weren't able to see past the small apple orchard that stood in her way.
"He looked really cool." her third brother finally spoke. "He had a scar on his face."
She nodded briefly before she moved to wedge the small shovel into the soft dirt underfoot; keeping it in place without her hand on it. Her brothers were only nine… they really would've found any stranger to be 'cool' with little regard to who the man was. "Alright, I'll go down and meet with him, in the meantime you three go clean up; lunch will be ready soon enough and you ain't tracking dirt into the house."
"Aw, can't we go see him with you?"
"Let me just see who this man is first." she replied as she ushered the three of them back to the house before she turned to the dirt path that winded down the long opening field that took up a majority of their property. She was still surprised they had managed to find such an open and perfect lot when they moved to Melior. It was nearly two fold their last house and was even in near perfect condition… it had always felt like they hit the jackpot with it. Pushing her way through the waist-high wheat field, she emerged onto the sloping trail and slowly moved to follow it down to the road at the end of the fence, just behind the orchard field. Hands lightly smoothed out the white sundress that was fitted around her body, trying not to smear any speck of dirt that might've collected on her fingers and would've loved to stain the easy material. She tugged lightly on her dark stockings that had been slipped on to keep her legs from burning and also to keep them warm during the cooler mornings. It wasn't like she was exactly dressed to meet anybody but then again, she wasn't expecting anyone either. More than likely, it was probably just Brom dropping by for a quick visit on his way to town… although her brothers had seen him plenty of times before… and he didn't have a scar on his face either. So, who could it have been?
She tried not to let herself fall into the possibility that it was the green-haired Warrior she had found herself attached to during not one War, but two. It was only disappointment that would await her after all… while she decided to settle down and work the farm with her mother, he continued to serve with the Mercenaries. He went all over Tellius, as though they hadn't done so plenty of times before, but she had to admit that the aspect was always appealing when it came to the Mercenaries; they knew no bounds between countries and while a few of them had stepped aside to follow their own agendas, the group still traveled together now and again. They were more like legends now, although none of them would admit to such a title… they were all too humble and meek for that. And while she would've liked to continue on with them now and again, she had too many things to attend to here; her mother couldn't handle her two sisters and triplet brothers by herself without some assistance… and she didn't want to leave her wondering again if she was ever going to come back home after the War was through. Her letters home had all been saved and tied together because her mother was too afraid to throw them out.
"I didn't want to throw away the last words you could've said to me." she always remarked; a gentle smile on her face whenever she thumbed through the folded papers.
But he… well, he was a spirit that couldn't be tamed and while they shared their War-flung romance again and again, this was a time they had to make a choice. It had been almost four weeks since she had last seen him, not a long period of time by any means but long enough for her to realize the absence of his presence on some nights; to realize the lack of warmth from his body whenever he pulled her in closer to him, or the lack of laughter that followed the sometimes stupid things he said on impulse. He was off somewhere with the Mercenaries once more and she had wished him a good time and to come back in one piece- to even write if he was gone longer than expected. She figured since no letters arrived with his name on them, then he was merely enjoying himself out there. He would come back when he was through… but she had disappointed herself again and again whenever a guest arrived at their gates and it wasn't him.
It was easier to merely look at it with a clear mind and no expectations.
Besides, he didn't have a scar on his face either.
Rounding around the small orchard of trees, she reached up briefly and skimmed fingertips across one of the growing bulbs; in a month or so time, they'd be out here with baskets to collect the apple harvest. Maybe she could convince momma to finally teach her the secrets to her apple pie recipe although she imagined that the woman would merely laugh and tell her to wait one more year. Like she always did.
Her eyes eventually moved to where the trail ended out onto the road just beyond their wooden fence; her sight landing on a horse and its rider standing solitarily just to the outside of the property. She frowned once again at the unknown form and tried not to let her curiosity get the best of her. It appeared as though the figure was wearing a hood, masking his identity to start with… which was odd.
Pushing the wrinkles from her outfit once more, she moved closer to the figure until her presence eventually startled the horse into a small snort and a shake of the head. "Uh… excuse me, is there something I can help ya with?"
Her voice seemed to have caught the man off-guard as he jumped briefly before he turned around to her; fingers grasping part of the hood before he peeled it back and let the material bundle around his neck. She heard herself gasp lightly at the familiar shade of green hair that was pushed away from his forehead; the recognizable slightly chiseled appearance of his jaw and the unevenness at the bridge of his nose where it had been broken once before. It appeared as though her constant let downs and repressed expectations were finally coming back to relieve her.
"Yes, I was wondering if you could help me find someone. I knew her awhile back and the only thing I can really remember is how outrageously beautiful she was; also, she has the best set of legs in all of Tellius. Have you seen anyone like that around?"
She bit into her lower lip for a moment before she found herself lightly laughing at his act; surprised that he had even managed to keep a straight face throughout the whole play. "No, I reckon I haven't seen anyone like that around here before. You might wanna keep looking up the road though, town's just around the next corner. Someone there might be able to help ya."
Her response was enough to break his façade as a broad grin made its way on his lips. He moved close enough to her where he could set his hands on her hips and lift her off her feet. "Are you certain? Because I'm sure you look just like her. Especially in the legs compartment."
Shaking her head, she moved her hands to his wide shoulders and felt the way he spun her around; the brisk afternoon air toying with the hem of her sundress at the motion. "Boyd, why are ya wearin' a hood and makin' yourself at the top of my brothers' list?"
"What? This old thing? I got this during one of our runs in Begnion, they said it would protect my head in the sun and it does. I will give them that." he answered; giving her one more spin before he brought her in against his chest. "Now what's this about me being at the top of your brothers' list?"
"They told me some 'cool' looking man was waiting for me, one who had a scar on his face." Nephenee noted; moving her head to one side as she tried to get a better look at his face.
He turned his head slightly just the same to reveal the paste-white tissue that had formed over the curve of his jaw on the left side. "This? Nah, I got this during a minor skirmish; Rhys said it would heal completely in a few weeks, the scar is only temporary. At least, that's what he told me… he could've been lying."
Fingertips reached out and touched lightly at the mark, feeling the smooth cross of flesh and hardened tissue underneath her. "It don't really matter I suppose, those boys will find anything to talk about."
"Well it's nice to know I'm the talk of the town now." he grinned. "What do you say… we go give them something else to talk about."
"What do ya mean?" she questioned before she felt the way he moved to hold her in a more appropriate bridal style of carrying; holding her tightly against his chest as he moved back up the trail she had just taken to get down here. "They'll have a set of heart attacks if you tell 'em one of your stories."
"Great, because I have plenty."
He insisted on carrying her all the way back up the trail despite her protest for such an act. He did fill her in on all the events since his last visit; detailing their different runs and all the creative people they had ran into during their travels. There was an answer for every question and he spared no expense in skimping on the details, preferring to tell her every last bit of the action. Although when she questioned him about the horse, seeing as he didn't ride nor own one, he merely replied that it was his brother's… but wouldn't go into detail as to whether his brother knew that he had borrowed it or not. She didn't press the matter seeing as she felt she knew the answer anyways.
She looked up as the house eventually came into sight and they were making steady progress towards it. Seeing as none of her brothers were outside, she could only hope that they had actually listened to her this time and didn't decide to sneak up on them. "So… be honest, what are ya up to?"
"Well… I decided to take a break from the Mercenaries for awhile." he admitted; shifting his arms slightly to reposition her against his chest. "So, I figured if I'm going to be sticking around for a little while longer, then I should probably get to know the locals- and your family while I'm at it."
"So suddenly you decided this?" she questioned.
"Ah well, it also occurred to me that you had basically fought alongside my only family while I hardly know anything about yours. It just didn't seem fair."
She shook her head once again and made the motion to slip out of his arms, partly thankful to be back on his feet. "Normally, I would've cursed you for being so sudden… but since you already got my brothers riled up, I might as well introduce ya. They've heard plenty about ya anyways."
"So you told them about all the times I charmed you with my acts of bravery and ravished your eyes with my body."
It was difficult to hide a slight snicker from her lips as she pulled him up the front porch of the simple cottage. Deciding it would be safer to not reply, she pushed through the front door and stepped into the small room on the other side. "Momma, there's a guest here who would like to meet ya!"
"Is it that man your brothers are going off about?" her mother called from the back of the house; the sound of dishes clinging together proved that she was still standing on her injured ankle despite constant insisting of not to.
"Is it? Is it?"
The sound of feet sliding on the hardwood floors and stomping towards them only said that her brothers were more than eagerly on their way to greet her and this new guest. She offered him a brief smile and gave a slight shrug as the triplets came around the nearest corner, heading out of the conjoining living room. "Ah, yes, you could say that."
"What are you? Are you a Barbarian?"
"Where'd ya get that cool scar?"
"How do ya know Nephenee?"
"Oh come now, give him some space and quit with the roughhousing." Nephenee ushered, attempting to calm down the small crowd of boys.
He grinned briefly at the sudden onslaught of questions; laughing at how the smaller kids seemed to be fighting amongst each other to be answered first. "Nah, it's alright, I know what it's like to be in a group of three brothers and hating two of them."
She shot him a glance that told him he wasn't helping the situation and quickly ushered the triplets to move into the next room once more. "He'll answer your questions later, I promise… but first, I think momma would like to speak with him."
"So this is the fine young man Nephenee's been going off about." the woman spoke as she eventually stepped out of the kitchen in the back; drying off her hands on the dirty apron that remained tied around her waist. Her green hair was pulled back into a tight bun and revealed the long hours of hard work that formed on her once gentle face. She was a slim woman, which was easy to see where her eldest daughter had gotten her bountiful physique from. "You look exactly how she described you to be."
"She does have a good eye for details." he chuckled.
She felt a brief hint of a blush make its way across her face before she quickly noticed her sisters peek out from the kitchen; both of them were grinning before they stepped out to join in on the introductions. "Yes, this is the man I was talking about in my letters… this is Boyd."
"Ooh Nephenee, how did you manage to get such a good looking man?" her sister quipped with a playful smile.
"I ask myself the same thing too." he remarked; chuckling lightly before he felt the way her elbow made its way into his open side. "Hmph, anyways uh… well I know this is sudden, with me showing up and all, but I just got back from a run with the Mercenaries. And I figured, there would be no other greater sense of timing than right now."
"I told you he was a Mercenary!"
"You did not!"
She shook her head at the quick fight that ensued between the trio before she moved in to separate them. "I thought I told ya before that he was a Mercenary. We ran together during the Wars… he often times saved my back."
"But not nearly as many times as she saved my neck." Boyd reminded before he moved to step around where she was still trying to break the boys apart. "I get the feeling that everyone has plenty of questions but… I just want to get mine out of the way ahead of time so I don't rush anyone else later. Ah well… I can't say that I actually have this whole thing planned out in any manner, so… I'm just going to come out and say it as best I can. Ma'am, I am furiously in love with your daughter and I would like to ask for your blessing to take her hand in marriage."