A/N: There's very little information about Feast Day, so I made it up!
Lothering – Twenty First of Cassus 9:27 Dragon
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"BETHY!"
Her name being shouted into her ear made Bethany sit bolt upright in bed. "What?" She asked sleepily, and looked at her brother and sister blankly, trying to work out why they were so bloody cheerful.
"Time to get up." Carver prodded her.
"It's still dark outside." She groaned. "And it's cold. My bed is toasty warm, I want to stay here."
"Well, you can't." Marian yanked the covers away and threw her clothes on top of her. "It's Feast Day Sister. A day for joy, and being with our family, having so much food we explode, giving and receiving presents. And waking up before dawn in the bastard freezing cold to prepare some of these things, and if me and Carver have to do it, then so do you."
"No." Bethany grumbled, and collapsed back onto her bunk. "Can't make me." She grabbed the dress that had been thrown, and pulled it around her like a blanket.
"Oh really?" Her sister asked in a tone that said, 'Challenge accepted'
Before she knew it she was being straddled by Marian, who grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head. For a moment she thought she was still asleep, because this had happened many times in her dreams. The fact that her sister's face was now only a few inches above hers, and Marian wasn't wearing anything on her lower half, except for her small clothes, made Bethany's breath catch in her throat. But then she felt her side being tickled by Carver, and any bubbling, anxious feelings her body was experiencing were immediately dissipated by that.
"Get off!" She squealed loudly, kicking her legs and trying to squirm away from the torture.
"First you have to submit." Her brother told her.
Tickling was a weakness for Bethany; she almost always caved within seconds. "Okay. I submit!" She yelled, and then relaxed when Carver ceased his abuse and Marian let go of her arms. She gave both of her siblings a stern look, and asked, "Why are you two always so cruel to me?"
"It's in the Siblings Rule Book." Her sister gave her a soft smile as she sat up. "Rule number two: Any and all opportunities to torture a younger sibling, must be taken advantage of."
"But Carver is younger than me!"
"By half an hour." The boy sulked.
"Still means I'm older." She stuck out her tongue.
As her brother moved his hands towards her in an attempt to tickle her again, Marian swatted them away, and pointed a finger at him. "No, play nice."
The three of them turned to the doorway when they heard a cough. "I assume that the two of you are done harassing your sister?" Their mother received nods in response and she sighed shaking her head. "Carver, could you chop some wood please? Marian, the goose needs plucking as soon as possible, if you could do that once you've released Bethany. Thank you. And Bethy, it's time to get up." Then she left the room.
"I have to use your mill gloves." Carver told the eldest Hawke as he stood up.
"Why? Where are yours?"
"Lost them."
Marian made a 'tsk' noise. "I suppose it's lucky for you that you have tiny girl hands so you're actually able to borrow them."
"I do not have girl hands; it's that you've got shovels where hands should be."
"Mmm hmm." Their sister smirked, and Carver grunted as he snatched the gloves from the dresser and stormed out.
For the entire exchange between her siblings, Bethany hadn't taken her eyes off of Marian.
She had always found herself drawn to the way her sister carried herself. As children she envied how graceful Marian was, even when beating up Carver, Bethany considered herself clumsy and awkward and wished that she could be just like her sister. Of course, recently, she had been watching for entirely different reasons.
For half a year, she had been captivated by Marian's curves and bumps, but also her face. In fact, that was the thing she found herself staring at the most. Many people, when first meeting Marian, would be intimidated by her, before she'd even spoken. Bethany had tried to see what it was that made everyone so wary, and she came to the conclusion that it was her facial bone structure, and the intensity of her eyes. The combination of those two things could, she supposed, be described as severe. She never thought of her sister that way though, she saw someone who was soft and kind.
But since Father died, the light in her had dimmed. She pretended that she was fine, except at night, when they had gone to bed. She only allowed Bethany to see how she really felt.
"You have the easiest task it seems." Marian said with a quiet chuckle. "I would rather it if you had to pluck a goose, and all I had to do is get dressed."
"It is actually not that easy right now. As you still have me trapped."
Marian looked at how she was still straddling her sister and gave her a shrug. "You're very comfortable." She told her, then linked her fingers with her sister's and lowered herself down, resting her head on Bethany's chest.
Marian's soft breathing was caressed over her skin, and she attempted to cross her legs, which she managed to do, but that in turn made her sister move further up her body, and lips were now touching her collarbone. Her usual trick to try control what was happening in the pit of her stomach was to clench her fists repeatedly, but she couldn't do that because Marian was holding her hands. So she went with her second option. Recite the Canticle of Transfigurations in her head.
She'd just finished the first verse, when Marian spoke.
"We have to make today special Bethy. This is our first Feast Day without Father, and Mother needs to know that she can rely on us."
"I know." She said and brushed her thumb over her sisters palm.
"Your heart is beating so fast." Marian lifted her head and frowned. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine."
Her sister let go one of her hands and placed it on her forehead. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course I am."
"You don't feel like you have a fever."
"That is because I don't have one."
"There has to be a reason why your heart is racing."
There is, but I can't tell you because you'll never speak to me again. "Maybe it's because someone is lying on top of me, preventing me from breathing as easily as I usually do."
Marian lifted herself up on one elbow, still wearing her frown. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because," Bethany grabbed her sister's nightshirt, pulling her back down. "I'm willing to suffer a little for the people I love."
Neither one of them moved or spoke again until Carver came back into the room, and told them to shift their arses.
"I don't understand why we have to have Feast Day on theSatinalia solstice." Her sister said as she put on her trousers. "There's a solstice in Summerday season, why can't we have it then? When it's nice and warm."
"Tradition?"
"It's a stupid tradition." Marian looked around the room with a furrowed brow, as if she'd lost something, then pouted and walked out the door muttering something about gloves.
Once she'd got dressed, Bethany walked out into the kitchen where Mother was preparing the vegetables, and Lug was sitting next to her.
"What would you like me to do?" She asked.
Her mother looked up at her with a smile, and patted the chair next to her. "Come help me peel these. I'd ask your brother or sister to do it, but they're both so over zealous and end up wasting half the vegetable by hacking at it like it's their sworn enemy."
Bethany laughed as she took a seat, and gave the Mabari a fuss. "Someone's going to be getting a whole lot of bones later. Yes you are." The hound wagged his tail happily, and gave her a gentle woof.
She picked up a knife and looked at the table, which was full of carrots, potatoes, cabbage, peas still in their pods, and parsnips. Just the thought of peeling all of them, gave her hand cramp. But it was worth it.
She loved Feast day ever since they came to Lothering, before then it was just another day. They moved here only a month before the festival, and none of them thought they would be celebrating, but on the morning of Feast Day, their neighbours came knocking on the door and told them that everyone had made extra food especially. Marian and Father were suspicious, Carver was excited at the prospect of free food, and Mother smiled and accepted graciously. By the end of the night, no one had their doubts that this was the place they belonged. That this was their home now.
For Bethany, that first festival was the one she held closest to her heart, because it was the first time she had ever seen her whole family relaxed and happy.
This year was going to be tough though. It wasn't just Marian that was putting on a façade, they all were. Mother still cried at night, and she'd even caught Carver doing it. Sometimes she just wanted to stand outside and scream. Scream at the Maker for breaking her family. Scream that it wasn't fair. Father was the soul of the family, without him everything seemed so empty.
But she didn't.
This year was going to be tough, but she was determined to make it bearable.
"Who is making the puddings this year?" She asked as she placed a potato she had peeled into a bowl.
Her mother paused briefly as she thought. "The Chardon's and Thatcher James."
"Oooh, that's going to be awkward. Marian doesn't like Bess Chardon."
"I'm sure she'll be civil today. I'm not sure why she doesn't like her though, Bessie is such a nice girl, wouldn't hurt a fly."
There was a bang at the door, followed by Carver yelling, "Let me in." And Bethany got up to open it.
Her brother's face was obscured by a large pile of wood, and she took a few from the top so he could see where he was going.
"Thank you." He grinned then slowly moved towards the hearth and dumped them unceremoniously onto the stone.
"Carver, how many times?" Their mother scowled.
"Sorry, they were digging into my hands."
"Maybe next time you could make two trips, instead of attempting it all at once."
"He couldn't do that." Marian said as she walked in. "He has to prove that he's manly."
Bethany turned to look at her sister, and hurled the logs she still had in her arms on top of the pile already made by her brother when she saw blood coming from Marian's lip. "What happened?" She asked, walking to the cupboard they kept the bandaged in, and pulled out a small cloth.
"There was a particularly stubborn feather."
"She punched herself in the face." Their brother snorted.
Bethany heard her mother chuckle as she dampened the cloth in the water basin, and made her way to the patient. "Hold still." She ordered when Marian jerked her head away.
"Okay." Her sister mumbled.
"You've always got to get into a fight haven't you?" Carver said as he picked up a parsnip to peel it, and had it smacked out of his hand by Mother. "Even with dinner."
"But at least I won!" Marian held up the bird triumphantly.
Bethany pushed down the arm holding the plucked bird so it didn't hit her in the face. "My hero." She said sarcastically.
Her sister leaned in and whispered, "Always." In her ear.
She wiped as much blood off the cut lip as quickly as possible, and gave her sister a brief smile. "All done." She said, and went to rinse the cloth out, squeezing the rag over and over again in the water.
With arms full of delicious smelling food, the four of them left the house at midday to make their way to the Chantry. As soon as they walked out of the door they came across Thatcher James and his son Arden, Lug ran over to the young James boy immediately and started bouncing around him.
"Your son has certainly got a friend in the hound." Mother said, watching the two play.
Thatcher laughed. "I agree. He keeps telling me that he hopes a Mabari chooses him one day."
While Mother and Thatcher talked, Bethany noticed Carver starring over at the stables, when she followed his gaze she saw what he was looking at.
Her brother often bragged about spending a lot of time with quite a few girls, that he didn't actually care about, and she used to get angry at him about this, and he'd tell her to mind her own business, and bugger off. She used to worry that he was going turn into one of those caddish men that would leave a woman when he got bored, or if she got into trouble. That is, until she spotted him loitering around the stables one day with a bunch of roses in his hand, so she snuck up and hid behind a tree and saw him present the flowers to Marly, an elf girl who lived in one of the small barns on the outskirts of the village.
When she questioned him about it that night, she expected him to say that she was yet another one of the girls he was friendly with, but he admitted that they were courting, and that every time he told her he was going to see some random girl, he was actually going to see her. Marly's father didn't like her spending any time with humans, let alone anything of a more physical nature, so they had to meet in secret. Marian had walked in during the conversation, and he begged them both not to tell anyone. Not even their parents. Both sisters swore they would tell no one.
"Ree." She nudged her sister without looking.
Marian inhaled loudly. "Careful Bethy."
When she turned, she remembered that her sister was carrying the goose on a large platter, the cooked bird was sliding a little and she quickly put a finger on it to prevent any messy accidents. "Sorry."
"No harm done." Marian watched the goose intently for several seconds, just in case it decided to make a run for it, and when she was satisfied, she gave Bethany her full attention. "What was it you wanted?"
Bethany pointed and when her sister realised what she was pointing at, she smiled. "Brother!"
Carver spun around and glared at her. "What?" he snapped.
Ordinarily, Marian would react to his tone of voice, but this time she didn't. She moved close to him and said, "Swap with me."
Their brother looked down at the greasy plate in her hands and then to the bowls he was carrying. "No." He answered simply.
"I'll make it worth you while."
"You haven't got anything I can't already steal off you."
"I wasn't thinking about any kind of object. Marly's father is in charge of the mill right? Well I know for a fact that he's working today, and he's supposed to be finishing in an hour. You swap with me, and I will make sure he's there for another three."
"How?" He asked with genuine curiosity.
"I know that mill like the back of my hand; I also know there are certain things that can make the wheel stop working inexplicably. I do it sometimes when the dust starts hurting my chest, and the sod won't give us a break."
"How do I get out of the feast?"
"We'll cover for you." Bethany told him.
He bit his lip and frowned. "Why would you do this? The Chantry isn't that far away, you are perfectly capable of carrying it there."
"Why does it matter why I would do it?"
"You're never this nice to me, what are you up to?"
"Nothing!" Marian's yelled, and then sighed. "Carver? Do you care about her?"
"Yes." He answered without hesitation.
"Then for a few hours you can be with someone who makes you happy. After what we've gone though over the last few months, we all deserve to have that. Whether you like it or not Brother, I do actually love you."
"I love you too." He said putting the bowls he was holding down on the ground. "Thank you." He relieved his sister of the platter and carefully walked in the direction of their mother.
Marian picked up the dishes and looked at Bethany. "Is there anyone you'd especially like to be with? I can make it happen. I'm like the Feast Day fairy today."
"I'm already with who I want to be with."
Her sister gave her a wide smile. "Me too."
The Chantry looked like it did every year, with red, green and gold decorations all along the walls and ceiling. The pews had been moved to either side of the many large tables that filled the hall, and the tables were decorated with coloured candles and holly. Even with her childhood behind her, Bethany felt happy when she saw it in all its colourful splendour.
Carver made it back in time to open presents. She and Marian had told their mother that he was feeling unwell, and when he came back a few hours later, he said all he had needed was a nap, and now he felt better. She couldn't tell if their mother believed him, as he looked far too happy for someone who was supposed to have been sick.
He ducked under the table and came back up with a sack and placed it on the table. He looked to Mother, and she nodded. The handing out of the gifts had been Father's job, and now it was his turn.
He removed the presents from the bag and carefully put them in four neat piles of three. He picked up the first lot and handed it to Mother, then Marian next, then Bethany and finally himself. None of the gifts were expensive or extravagant, they were simple tokens from a family that loved each other. And that was enough.
It was well after sundown when they finally finished every course of the meal, and people were either ready to go home, or go to the tavern. She, Marian and Carver decided that they needed to loosen every item of clothing in the comfort of their own house, while Mother took up the offer to have a drink with the Chardon's.
The evening was brisk, and Bethany rubbed her arms to warm up. "I'm so stuffed."
"Me too." Carver said. "But that doesn't mean I can't make room for some of Thatcher's pudding when we get back."
Her sister made a retching sound. "I couldn't even look at food right now, how can you eat more?"
"I'm a growing lad."
"Keep that up, and the only thing that'll be growing is your stomach. And then I will call you Lard-arse."
"Not going to happen." He said airily.
"Well, you must've had a nice time earlier. You're not even rising to the bait." Marian laughed.
"I did." He answered, and put an arm over his older sister's shoulder.
"Glad we could help."
"So, what did you do to the mill?"
"I'm not telling you that. If I do, you'll be using it all the time, and then he'll catch on. And we'll both be buggered then."
"Fair enough." He removed his arm, and ruffled Marian's hair. "Last one to the house cleans the dishes." He shouted, and ran off.
"I'm not running." Marian said. "I can barely walk."
"He cheated." Bethany pointed out.
"He did!"
"He'll pay for that."
"Yes he will. But not right now. All I want to do is collapse somewhere. I don't even care where."
By the time they got home Carver was already tucking into the pudding. "You lose." He said with his mouth full, and a bit of fruit fell out onto the table.
Marian said nothing, she just slapped his forehead as she walked passed him and headed towards their bedroom. Bethany wagged her finger at her brother and he grinned in response, showing her his dessert covered teeth.
"Lovely. Thank you for that."
"You're welcome." Came the muffled reply.
"You know, Lug came in after us, so technically, he was the last one in. He should do the dishes."
"But he got no fums."
"Yes, thumbs do help."
She went into the room her sister had entered and saw her laid out in the middle of the floor, with her shirt halfway over her head.
"That looks cosy." She said sitting next to Marian. She took that opportunity to look at the exposed skin, without her sister noticing.
"It isn't. Apparently it needed more energy than I actually have to take it off."
"Would you like me to help?"
"I would forever be in your debt My Lady."
She put her hand on Marian's toned stomach for a moment, before taking hold of the hem and moving it up and over her head. It would've been easier to pull from the sleeves, but temptation got the better of her.
"Much obliged." Her sister said once she had been freed.
Bethany got up to fetch Marian's nightshirt and held it out.
"You're going to have to help me up."
She knelt down, taking her sisters hands and yanked her into an upright position, then lifted her arms and dropped the shirt over the appendages.
"You're too good to me."
"Yes I am." Bethany replied.
Carver walked in and quirked an eyebrow. He placed a bottle and three mugs onto the dresser, and then grabbed hold of Marian and put her on the bed in a sitting position.
"I could've done that myself."
"Really?"
"It might've taken me a few hours, but yes."
"Now you don't have to worry about it." He smiled and fetched the bottle and mugs and handed one to each sister.
"What's that?" Bethany asked cautiously.
"The wine I stole from Dane's."
"Is this the one from before, or are you back to the thieving again?"
"Before." He replied, taking a seat on the bunk and pulled out a knife to break the seal.
Bethany looked to Marian for answers, but her sister spread her hands in confusion. "Carver, what are you doing?"
"Trying to get this bloody wax off."
He finally accomplished his task and poured out the wine into each cup. He cradled his for a while and it looked like he was building up to something, and the two sisters waited silently.
"I miss him." He blurted out. "Every day. Sometimes I don't think about him until I go to bed, and then I feel like I've failed him because I didn't remember him earlier. What kind of a son forgets his father? I try so hard to be strong, but there are times when it gets too much, and I can't breathe." He hung his head low, maybe from shame, or perhaps weariness.
"As if you're being buried alive."
He turned to Marian. "Yes."
"Carver, you aren't alone in this." Bethany told him as she took a seat next to him. "None of us are. We each gather up all the strength we can, but it isn't always enough. We're a family damn it! Father told us we were stronger together than apart, so from now on, we have to stop pretending that we can handle it alone, and ask the people we love for some of their strength. Okay?" Her tangent was directed to both siblings, and they both agreed to her terms. "Good."
They knocked their mugs together and downed the liquid in one.
The rest of the night was spent drinking, talking and toasting the man none of them could forget.
