The square was busier than when they'd arrived. When Thor and Loki stepped through the gates into the crowd, they were swarmed by citizens wishing to see them, speak with them. Eidra kept Brynn on her hip though he wanted to walk with Astrid. Brenna had firm hold of Cait's hand as they walked about the square. Colin was lagging behind a bit, observing when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Lily on the arm of her husband, Garik.
" Ah, at last. I was looking fer you in the palace. I've reports for the week and a list of requests for you to deliver."
"I'll find you tonight and get them from you before you leave. For now, we have a festival to enjoy." She nodded as Garik drew her away.
A loud scream made Colin jump, colliding with a couple of men whom he apologized to as he searched about for the source. Eidra and Helgi were hugging a middle aged heavyset woman with long dark hair. Eidra looked up, gesturing for him to approach.
"Sally, this is Colin. He's from Midgard. Ireland."
The woman held out her hand, " 'Tis pleased I am to meet ye." Colin touched her hand to his lips lightly.
"An extreme pleasure, Milady." and then his heart liked to have stopped as she spoke again.
"Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú ar an lá seo?"
Such a simple sentence and she was watching him in earnest. He sighed, "Dhéanfaidh mé go maith." caught Eidra's stare and he was thankful Loki was far enough away not to hear them.
"You know the old language?" Eidra shifted a wiggling Brynn to her other hip.
"Aye, they still teach it in school so we don't forget about it. Fergive me, Milady. I would've told you before but I didn't want to embarrass you."
Eidra pursed her lips together, "I ken. I should not have spoken another language in front of you. I was keeping things from you. Forgive me, it was quite rude."
"Not at all, Milady. Everyone has secrets, there's no shame in it."
"Mama, might we walk around." Fen was at her side with Gunnar.
"As long as you are by my side before they light the bonfires."
Fen and Gunnar smiled, melting into the throng as Eidra turned to Sally.
"I was unaware you were coming here."
"I knew ye would be here so I decided I would join ye." Sally took Eidra's arm.
"You shall stay with us the night. You should not travel the roads alone."
Colin watched a man in a white mask, sporting a striped costume walking through the crowd performing little magic tricks for the children.
"Charlatans, all they are." Loki put a hand on his shoulder, "Come with us. You needn't be left with the women and children."
Colin followed Loki through the crowd, missing Brenna's forlorn expression as she watched them disappear.
Colin trailed along with Loki, Thor and Silas for the better part of the day, a silent observer. Thor and Loki, it seemed, could scarce make a few feet forward before citizens would stop and talk to them asking all manner of questions, blessing them, wishing them good health. The vendors would ply the group with their wares and thus he was treated to a variety of foodstuffs, fresh cheese, roast venison, plover, smoked fish, sweetbread, all interspersed with a good amount of mead and ale. He had acquired a slight buzz before too long. He looked up at the sun, mollified to see it was barely halfway to the horizon.
"Scandalous." Colin muttered. Loki turned to look at him.
"What?"
Colin put a hand to his mouth. "Ah I was after giving an opinion on being slightly in me cups at such an early hour."
"A curious expression...in me cups?" Loki looked to Thor then to Colin.
"Ah slightly drunk, fer want of a better word. I believe I'll beg off the ale for the rest a the day."
Thor gave him a smile, "You are what Lady Jane would call...a lightweight."
Colin chuckled, "An' she wouldn't be far wrong, yer Majesty."
They came to a booth where a heavyset man stood behind a wooden table. Laid upon it, on linen cloth and oily parchment were large roast drumsticks. He couldn't be sure from what type of bird they came, he leaned closer. Turkey?
"Your Majesties." The man behind the counter boomed, clapping his hands together loudly, "Here now," He took the parchment and wrapped them around two of the great drumsticks handing them over the table. "You will not find finer goose in all the realms."
Thor nodded, took the legs handed one to Loki who put his hands in the air, "I have had my fill so I will share with Master Denehy."
Colin looked up at the man and nodded, gingerly taking the drumstick from Loki's hand, "Thankee, yer Majesty." He would pick at it a little then discard it, the mead was turning his stomach as well as his head.
"Your Majesty, if I might ask a question?" The man wiped his greasy hands on the apron around his waist and leaned over the table to Thor as he cocked his thumb toward Colin, "Is he one o' them Midgardians we hear tell of?"
Colin nearly dropped the leg as he listened to the man. He looked to Loki, confused.
"He is indeed, Bolan. He has only just arrived a few days past."
Bolan peered at Colin, "How many more of your kind are expected to follow, if you do not mind me asking?"
Colin was at a loss for words, looking again at Loki but he gave no indication the question was out of order.
"I am not at liberty to answer, Bolan, forgive me." Loki gave a slight bow.
"I ken, your Majesty, but tell me, are the Midgardians coming to stay?"
Colin watched Bolan wring his hands before him. He seemed in great distress and Colin made a mental not to ask Loki why when they were away from the booth.
"They will be among us for some time as they learn about our ways." Thor joined in, "I cannot say how many, if any, will remain in Asgard."
They chatted a moment longer though Bolan kept stealing glances at Colin. Finally he looked down at the cobblestones at his feet, "Forgive me, Master..."
"Denehy.." Colin finished for him... "Not at all, I..."
"You see, we have seen few Midgardians excepting the new queen. We have heard such stories for ages. Now we find you look...like us."
"Aye, we're made from the building blocks if you like. Atoms, molecules, but then you've no idea what that means." Colin felt Loki and Thor staring at him, "It's science..."
"You sound like Brenna when she tries to explain what she has learned at the Midgardian school." Silas piped up, startling him. Silas had been strangely silent as they'd made their way around the square. Colin had started to suspect Silas was less than fond of him as he looked over his shoulder to see Silas frowning.
"Silas,"
Colin turned to see Loki glaring at the young man and waited for Loki to say more but nothing else seemed to be needed as Silas bowed.
"Forgive me, Master Denehy. I misspoke."
"No apology necessary. You should let me enlighten you in the near future. The science of biology is fascinating..."
"Excuse us Bolan, we will be on our way now. Good day to you." Thor cut in as he herded them away from the booth.
Colin heard the man call out, "Good day, your Majesties." as Thor came close to him.
"Master Denehy. Our culture knows little of your science. It is only with great patience from Jane that I have kenned the simple act of procreation. Your teaching would be as a foreign language even to our most learned men."
"Perhaps it'd be wise to bring the brightest together and start from the bottom up, yer Majesty." Colin watched Loki shake his head as Thor chuckled.
"I do not think that will be necessary."
Colin tilted his head, slowing until he began to fall behind, felt Loki's hand at his arm stopping him altogether as Thor and Silas approached another booth.
"Colin, I would speak plainly with you."
Colin nodded, watched Thor speak to the young ladies at a booth selling brightly colored scarves, "By all means, yer Majesty."
Here Loki hesitated, lowered his voice, "My brother believes we should keep our worlds as far apart as possible despite what will soon come to pass."
Colin stole another look at Thor but he was engrossed in conversation with the prettier of the two maidens at the booth, "And does yer Majesty concur?"
Loki sighed, "Yes though I fear it is all but inevitable, therein am I a bit more resigned than the King, however, you must ken we will do all we must to keep Asgard as it is now."
Colin prodded him further although he was pretty certain he understood what Loki was saying, "Keep Asgard as it is? I'm afraid I'm at a loss..."
Loki's answer brought color to his face, "Hardly. You know we shun your technology. This fact be why we have taken such thorough measures to limit its use outside the portal site. You, as a liason, are an exception and even then, we are to receive each report you send to Midgard regarding this assignment for our archives. In theory, this will ensure all rules are being carefully followed."
Colin was greatly relieved he wasn't required to send his personal journal along with his reports, "You want to keep Asgard simple.." Colin squeezed his eyes shut, "No, poor choice of words...you want to avoid the mistakes Midgard has made..."
When he opened his eyes again, Loki was smiling.
"I knew you kenned...as you spend more time among us, you will come to appreciate our way of life."
"That I have already is nothing short of the truth..." Colin watched Thor turn and glance at them, "Tell me, yer Majesty...while we're speaking plainly...this..." Operation felt like the wrong word especially at this point, felt too military, "This science expedition which will soon be here, how many of yer people know about it? I was after the opinion it was to be kept largely secret, now I find the local shopkeep on the street is well aware of our coming arrival."
Loki regarded him, "Our palace is full of servants. It has always been this way and always will be so. They are so integral, their presence is oft forgotten in even the most private of settings. We discuss matters aloud, sometimes without a thought to the wine steward, the valet, the serving girl in the darkness beyond the firelight. Thus are rumors spread, secrets revealed. Likely the shopkeep knows someone in the palace. It can hardly be kept from them for long as the Midgardians will soon be here in the same capacity as you."
Thor had returned to them by now so Colin swallowed his reply.
"Come, the women bade us return before the sun set. Let us seek them out before we incur their wrath."
"Do you know to whom you speak!" Gunnar cried.
Fen stared wide-eyed at Gunnar as he faced the two older boys standing before them, laughing.
Gunnar and Fen had roamed the square for the better part of the afternoon, visiting stalls, begging a sweet on some occasions, filching a piece of fruit, stopping to watch a puppet show or a strolling magician, following a group of girls, teasing them. They had happened upon the two larger boys standing beside one of the stalls in the far corner of the square, passing them by without notice until one of the boys ran up behind Fen and gave his ponytail a thorough yank. Fen had yelped, swinging around to face his attacker who sprang backwards with a laugh and a taunt, "Look Alger, a couple of babes escaped from their nursemaid!"
At Gunnar's challenge they laughed even harder, the one called Alger put his hands on his hips, "Indeed we do. I believe it be the whoreson princeling. Second born of the second born!"
Fen watched Gunnar put his hand on the short sword at his waist, "Wag your tongue so grievously again and I shall be obliged to cut it off!"
Alger shoved his companion with a roar, "Say you so? What have we to fear from the prince of servants and his pet? Methinks were I to raise his tunic, I would find his mother's cord still afresh!"
Fen could not find his voice, try as hard as he might. He had been stunned to silence even as the words cut through to his very heart to hear his mother insulted so. Gunnar drew his sword from the scabbard with a growl, "Your father must be a troll for you do sound so base. Apologize to the Prince before I run you through!"
The threat seemed to move Fen to action and he grabbed for Gunnar's arm, "Come away, can you not see they play with us? Come away!"
"Yes," Alger chuckled, "Do run with your princess before you do yourself any harm with your table knife."
Fen could sense Alger at his back. With surprising speed, he drove his elbow backwards into Alger's gut, turned as he bent forward and drove his knee into Alger's forehead, setting him back on his behind with a grunt. Fen started forward to take hold of Alger's tunic, expecting him to call hold but the hand that shot up to connect with his lip felt far from defeated. He stumbled backward as Alger leaped up with a snarl, driving him to the ground with another well place fist...
Brenna held up a silk scarf in colors of purple and pink, the setting sun making the fabric shimmer before her. She'd broken off from the group to wander for a while before the bonfire ceremony, hoping she would spot her father and uncle so she could join them, perhaps find a chance to engage Colin, talk about Midgard though she was sure her father would nix such a venture quickly. Being left with the other women made her feel like a child even at nineteen seasons. She'd failed to find them as of yet, so crowded was the square becoming. She took a few coins from the pouch at her belt, dropped them into the vendor's hand and thanked her, then turned to continue around the square.
She'd not gone much further when she noted a gathering of people a short ways off. She could hear shouts and catcalls as she started for them. She looked around the square for her father as she neared the group, he would certainly stop any brawls.
Fen had taken a fistful of Algers hair refusing to let go even as the boy struggled beneath him. They had rolled about on the cobblestones for the better part of five minutes, the crowd growing around them.
"You horse's pizzle!" Fen shouted, blood from his split lip spattering the ground, "Your father is a Jotun! Your mother a Dokkalfari!"
"Let go of my hair, you mangy whoreson!" Alger screeched, getting his hand beneath him, shoving off of the stones below and throwing Fen from his back. "I shall prove my heritage to you when I crack your skull!"
Fen landed hard, the air rushing from his lungs as sharp stones scraped across his spine. Before he could recover, Alger had landed atop him in a turnabout. Fen had only a second to look up at Gunnar, being held at the arms by two other boys, throwing himself wildly to be free of them when Alger smacked his head hard off the cobblestones and he felt sick to his stomach as Alger raised his head to drop it down again. He would surely faint this time, hated the thought of swooning like a girl.
"You stink of the chamberpot! You are the son of a serving wench...nothing could be..."
Alger's hands left the sides of Fen's head abruptly, the result being that Fen's head dropped to the stones again. He struggled to his side, trying to hold his stomach as he looked a few feet from him to witness a sight that nearly turned his belly inside out.
Brenna knelt on the ground with Alger's neck in the crook of her arm, her other hand holding it like a vise as he fought to free himself.
"You sonofabitch! You picked a fight with the wrong worm!" Brenna growled as Alger's arms drooped, his eyes rolled up into his head, finally his body went limp.
There were murmurs in the crowd as she dropped the unconscious boy to the pavement and stood up, "Shame upon you, all of you!"
People began to move away with all haste as she stared them down, "Is there no one that could have broken up such a cruel mismatch?" The boys who had held Gunnar back had let him go as they raced away into the throng and Gunnar ran up to Fen.
"Forgive me, Fen. I could not wrest myself from those slatterns!"
Fen looked up at Gunnar, then at Brenna who stood above him with her hand out, "Are you out of your mind?!"
Fen took her hand and let her pull him up to stand, groaning in pain as he did so. Every square inch of him hurt.
"They insulted mother and father most terribly!" Fen cried, wincing as each word tore at the skin of his bloodied lip, "I had to defend their honor!" He swayed unsteadily, his stomach finally winning the war and he bent forward, vomiting the day's food onto the ground.
"You probably have a concussion. What a fool thing to do. Could you not walk away?"
Fen spit onto the ground, trying to clear his mouth, "Honor is of utmost..." He groaned again, "Importance."
"You foolish little worm."
He felt her arm around his back, "Let us find Mama and Papa, soonest begun is soonest done."
The sun was touching the ridge of the mountains when Thor, Loki, Silas and Colin located Eidra and the rest of the group.
"We must head for the bonfire. It will soon be time." Thor offered his arm to Jane as Loki looked about.
"Where are Brenna and Fen?" He felt a great tug on his breeches and picked up Astrid who locked her arms about his neck, "They should be close by, the day grows old."
Eidra scanned the crowd, "Brenna went off by herself ages ago. Fen and Gunnar I have not seen since we told them they could run about." She cast a glance at Ingrid who was also peering about the throng.
"Fen should be here. It is his passage year, he should be at my side." Loki handed Astrid to Eidra, stroked Cait's hair as she hefted Brynn on her hip, "Put him down, he is getting too heavy for you."
A shout from Thor made them all turn. Eidra's small cry was cut short as her hands flew to her mouth. Brenna, her arm around Fen's shoulder, was making her way toward them.
"Gods help me, what in Odin's name has happened?" Eidra rushed to Fen who would not look up at her.
Brenna glanced at Colin and shook her head, "He was in a fight, Mama." she kept her gaze upon Fen. She could feel her father's anger, his disappointment as he walked up to Fen and put his hands on the boy's shoulders. Gunnar had retreated to Ingrid's side, hiding from his father's steel stare.
"Fenris, answer your mother and by extension myself. How in the Allfather's name did this happen?"
Fen felt a lump in his throat and was suddenly angry all over again. Not only had he been called a babe in arms by that bitch's whelp but now he was in danger of crying before the entire family, "A boy named Alger called me a whoreson and a babe. Gunnar tried to come to my defense but the boy only taunted me further..."
Gunnar grimaced as he peeked up at Ingrid's face.
"When he began to insult Mama, then you, I could bear it no longer and I lashed out at him." Fen sniffed, wiped his nose to see an alarming amount of blood upon the back of his hand.
"You should have walked away. Instead you have lowered yourself. You have given wings to their taunts."
Loki could feel Eidra hovering at his elbow, eager to enfold Fen in her arms. Though he understood her concern, to do so in the middle of the square would only embarrass him further so he put a hand on her shoulder then, "For your punishment, you shall watch the bonfire not at my side but from the nursery window in the palace."
"Papa!" Fen cried, raising his head, "Please no! I only fought for your honor!"
Loki's heart sank to see his blackened eye, his face scratched and bloody, "You would have honored me better had you ignored the whelp and walked away from the fight. You represent the royal family and therefore must uphold the image of respect. To that end, my punishment stands firm."
Loki looked to Eidra, "Take him inside and see he is cleaned up for I have no doubt I could not convince you otherwise."
"Hardly." Eidra muttered as she took Fen's hand, felt Loki's light kiss at her temple and his whisper, "Forgive me, my heart."
She pressed herself into his second kiss before she started to lead Fen toward the palace gates.
Gunnar watched Fen being led away, flinching as he heard his father, "And your punishment shall be to stay by my side, where you can cause no more trouble this evening."
Gunnar sighed, drew himself up. "Yes Father." He saw Loki move away from them to Thor as they started to talk, heard his father again, "Did I not charge you with protecting the young prince?"
"Yes Father, I shall not falter again."
Gunnar felt his mother's hand at his back, "I promise."
Colin was unaware he'd been standing with his mouth open for the past five minutes until Brenna tapped him on the shoulder.
"Pretty intense, I gather?"
Colin jumped, stared at her, "Have you ever felt like you've stepped into another world?"
Brenna smiled gently, "You rather have."
Colin waved his hands, "No, I mean.." He massaged his forehead, "Ah damn...into another time then?"
Brenna continued to smile, Colin finally returning the same, "I rather have, aye, I ken."
"Let us find a better perspective to see the bonfires from." She took his arm, steering him from the others.
"Uh, yer...Highness..." Colin stammered as they wound through the people toward the steps leading up the courtyard walls.
"Please.." Brenna laughed, "If you call me Highness again, I shall refuse to speak to you."
Colin was unsure why such a threat sounded so dire to him but he swallowed, "Very well, Brenna, only don't tell yer father I address you so familiar."
"I will tell him it is my wish that you do. Why do you fear him so?"
They started up the stairs to the top of the wall, "Unless it is for the reason I suspect all Midgardians fear him."
Colin stopped and looked up at her, "Begging yer pardon?"
The smile faded from Brenna's face as she mimicked holding something in her hands, pointing it at him, "Bang bang..?"
Colin frowned, "I'll not lie, seeing as you seem to know...I've not been privvy to all of the classified material, not yet. They sent me here blind as a newborn kit, likely to stop me from running away in fright."
"Most assuredly but tell me.." They had made the walkway at the top, gazing out over the crowd though there were a number of citizens walking along the wall, looking out over the city, "Now that you have been here a while, has your experience been as terrible as you expected?"
Colin gazed out over the huge square. He could see far off, Loki and Thor and the others standing near the central pile of wood, addressing the crowd. A little ways off, girls laughing and circling the large pole near the entrance to the palace. "You know, dancing about the may pole was a fertility ritual, so says me grandad."
"You are artful in dodging questions." Brenna said in his ear and he had to steady himself not to stumble forward off the walkway into the crowd below.
"Aye, fergive me...no...no..I rather like Asgard though I can't say yet that it welcomes me with open arms."
Brenna steered him to the wall where she sat down with her back to the stone, patting the wooden slats beside her. "I found the same reception on Midgard."
Colin dropped down next to her and crossed his legs, watched the last sliver of the sun start to slide behind the mountains. He thought to change the subject but in light of how forthcoming the agency had been with information about his assignment, he wondered if they wouldn't tell him to shove his requests up his ass, "You say you went to school on Midgard. I can't get the image of your Da walking you into the headmaster's office and demanding he sign you on."
Brenna tugged at the hem of her dress, "It did not happen like that...I ran away."
Colin gawped at her, "Ran away? Yer yanking me chain."
Brenna sat up straight, "I took the Uruz from him while he slept and ran away to Midgard. I landed in New York City and was found by Chase..." she stopped, bit her lip, "He brought me to Xavier's school for mutants...they do not call it as such but that is what it is. Father came looking for me but I refused to leave and so I stayed until I graduated from what you call high school."
Colin watched her twist the hem of her dress as if she were trying to strangle it, "And so you stayed on Midgard, end of story?"
Brenna shook her head, "There is much more though I would know you better before I revealed the rest."
Colin looked up to the mountain as the sun winked away.
"It is painful to tell, forgive me..." she sighed deeply, forced a smile to her face and let loose the hem of her dress, "So we will talk of much more pleasant things. I had promised Papa to stay here in Asgard for a year before deciding to return to Midgard and college. I believe he thinks I will change my mind and wish to stay here."
"And will you?"
"HA!" she laughed aloud, "I will become a Midgardian nurse, you have my word."
A cheer rose from the crowd below and they stood to watch Thor toss a large torch into the midst of the woodpile, the flames licking along the pitch soaked wood, consuming the small tinder as the fire grew. Colin and Brenna clapped and hollered, joining in. Women were hugging one another, men had lifted children on their shoulders to see the bonfire. Colin could see Loki had set Brynn on his shoulder, could just make out Silas holding up Astrid while Cait stood before Jane with her hands out to feel the warmth of the flames.
"There's Vesta and Hal.." Brenna pointed further into the crowd..."Gretten...I do believe he's smiling!"
"He's likeable enough." Colin nodded, "He just pretends he's...grumpy..remind me never to tell him the story about Snow White."
Brenna giggled, "You are terrible." She turned and stared out over the city, "Come look, Colin. See all the other bonfires."
Colin leaned on the wall beside her. Below them, farther out into the distance and beyond, other bonfires were being lit in smaller squares, family enclaves, on hills, small towns. The landscape was ablaze with fire, silhouetting houses, spires, glinting off windows, throwing warm light so it seemed the whole city, the whole world was aglow. He had never seen anything more beautiful.
"Is it not breathtaking?" Brenna murmured.
Strike that.
"A wonder...you don't see such sights like this on Midgard anymore. Too much light pollution."
They were quiet for a moment, watching, listening.
"I was abducted."
Colin looked at Brenna, "Abducted? By..."
"Chase's father. He thought I could do something I was not capable of. He thought I was able to cure illness."
"Can you not now?"
She shook her head, "Healing is not the same as curing. I can heal. I cannot cure cancer or heart disease, the flu...the common cold."
"And this man thought you could."
She clasped her hands together atop the wall, "He thought I could cure his patients of mental illness. I was seeing his son, Chase who told his father about my ability, his father misunderstood and had me kidnapped."
Colin whistled softly, "And what happened to him? The father I mean."
"Prison."
"Mmm, and what of the boyfriend?"
Brenna cocked her head, "We parted on friendly terms."
"So that's it in a nutshell?"
Brenna shrugged, "All I am willing to speak of at this point...let us go find the others before my father becomes frantic."
As Colin followed Brenna through the crowd, he kept his eyes on the back of her head, scarce over a week and I'm already mooning over a girl. Has to be a record.
She reached behind her to grab his wrist, "I wanted to make sure you were still behind me.", she called back.
Colin smiled, "Wouldn't be anywhere else."
Eidra had guided a silent Fen through the dim halls to the nursery, sitting him down in one of the chairs by the fireplace. Helgi had brought a cranky Edie up to the nursery to lay her down earlier in the afternoon and was now snoring on the daybed beside her, awoke with a start when Eidra spoke, "Stay here, I will fetch a basin of water and a cloth to clean you up."
"Good gracious!" Helgi sat up, "What has happened?" then she caught sight of Fen, nearly falling from the bed in her haste to rise.
"Helgi, please take care." Eidra whispered, "Fen has gotten into a scuffle, nothing more."
Helgi searched for her cane lying beside the bed, "My child, what were you thinking?"
"He was not. Stay here. I will be back. I must get water to clean him up with."
Helgi waved at her, "I will fetch it for you." but Eidra put a hand on her shoulder and eased her back to the daybed.
"Nonsense, the basin is much too heavy for you. Stay with Fen." Eidra saw Helgi's distress, her chagrin at being unable to help, "If you will, could you find a lantern and light it? The fire is much too dim to see by."
Helgi was up before Eidra reached the nursery door. Minutes later she returned with a small bowl of water and a linen cloth. Fen hadn't moved from his position in the chair, Helgi had placed a lit lantern on the fireplace mantel and was now sitting on the daybed with her hands atop her cane.
Eidra set the bowl down on the floor in front of Fen and turned to Helgi, "I need another favor of you. Could you see if Clotho is in his rooms? I need some salve for these cuts."
Helgi rose, shuffled over to Fen, stroked his forehead, "You listen well to your mother, I will return anon."
Eidra dipped the cloth in the water as the door closed behind Helgi. She then knelt before the chair and started to wipe the blood gently from his lip, the cut at the corner of his brow, working in silence for a time, clucking her tongue as the scrapes and wounds revealed themselves beneath the blood and the dirt, finally she spoke.
"I must agree with Helgi. What possessed you?"
At first Fen said nothing, she felt him tense beneath her hands.
"Such conduct is unbecoming a royal..."
His voice wavering, he blurted out, "Mama, the boy was saying horrendous things about you, about Papa!"
Eidra put her hand upon his chest, "Peace, be still, my love. Take your time and measure your words."
Fen drew a hitching breath, "They called you a serving wench! Said Father was a Jotunn! Called us babes!"
Eidra set the cloth on the edge of the bowl and put her hands on his knees, "We must be magnanimous in our dealings with others. Do not forget, you represent the royal family, just as your father said. Heed his advice."
Fen's bottom lip started to quiver and in that moment, before her sat not a boy of twelve seasons but her baby, her first born son. She put her hand to his cheek as he succumbed to the anguish coursing within him, putting his head down on her shoulder and sobbing, his tears wetting the shoulder of her dress.
"Shh, all is well, all is well." Eidra rubbed his back, unsettled. He had been disgusted at the thought of his mother being called a servant. She wanted to tell him there was nothing wrong with an honest day's work, a job done well but she held her tongue. Even as his rite of passage approached, he was still just a young boy. With time would come wisdom.
Fen sat back in the chair, "I swear Mama, I will never forget his name. I will remember his face. Ere I meet with him again, I will restore honor to your name, I shall cut out his tongue with my dagger..!"
Eidra sat back on her heels, alarmed, hearing Loki in her son's words.
"Do not say such things, Fen! You honor me by striking his name from your memory. He is a rough youth and not worth your attention." She stood, bent over, looked into his eyes, "Promise me you will let this go."
A dark shadow crossed his face, "I will try Mama..."
Eidra kissed the top of his head as a cheer erupted in the square far below, "Come to the window, let us see the bonfires."
They walked to the window overlooking the courtyard, seeing the bonfire blazing high into the sky. Eidra took Fen's hand, squeezed it. "Now the days start to shorten, the summer is half over.."
Fen leaned on the sill of the window as Eidra clasped her hand atop his, "And soon you will be a man."
