Chapter 10
Marie and Farica
Leaning against the bar in the Tavern Farica was grateful that the celebration was being held here. As grand and beautiful as the Main Hall could be, it was far too formal for her liking and she knew Tania preferred a smaller and more relaxed setting. The thing about Tania was that although she was never one to hide from the limelight she didn't like people make a huge fuss over her, especially when she felt it wasn't deserved. Looking at Tania now she didn't seem an inch of a princess that people would expect; balanced at the top of a rickety old ladder she was leaning precariously trying to hang decorations onto the dilapidated beams, while Marie who was supposed to be holding the ladder and helping, was more focused on what was going on outside of the window. Hearing Vanora gasp behind her at the situation in front of them she couldn't help but chuckle. When Tania had told Vanora that they would help set up, Farica was fairly certain that the women hadn't expected the newly found sister of the king to be 10 feet up in the air attempting some rather risky manoeuvres.
Spinning back around on her stool Farica smirked at Vanora. She hadn't known the women long but she had started to appreciate her sunny but no nonsense attitude. Hearing the tittering of children's laughter, Farica couldn't help but look up and smile at the sight in front of her. From out of the kitchen a multitude of children came rushing out, covered in mud from the weeks of rain and grinning from ear to ear, they dumped a selection of what looked like flowers atop of the bar. What was evidently meant to be additions to the flower centre pieces had turned into a sodden pile of green mush. Reminding her of her own children, who despite incredible enthusiasm quite often missed the mark, Farica couldn't help but swallow her laugh. Watching the children animatedly explain to their mother about their adventure in the nearby woods, Farica couldn't help feel the familiar ache in her heart. Subconsciously rubbing her chest she reminded herself that now that she and Tania had settled somewhere permanently her children could now join her and that she had already sent them a letter with the good news.
'You have children don't you'
Tearing her eyes off the now retreating children, Farica looked up at Vanora who had just come to sit next to her offering her a comforting glance. Vanora continued while pouring them a mug of water.
'I can tell by the look in your eyes, one mother never fails to recognise another.'
Fiddling with the mug in front of her, Farica sighed.
'I have four….I love them with every breath and bone in my body but it hasn't always been safe for them to travel with me.' Glancing at Tania and Marie Farica smiled. 'Let's just say my travelling companions have a habit of attracting trouble. Ever since their father passed away they have been safer staying with my sister in law. But now I finally have a home to bring them back to and I cannot wait till my world in complete again.
Vanora nodded understandingly and placed her hand on Faricas arm. 'Sometimes we have to make hard sacrifices to do what's best for our children. It doesn't make it easier but I have a feeling that like me, you would sacrifice everything for your children and if you ever want to talk about it, I am always willing to listen…now lets clean this bar up, its almost time for us all to get ready and I know for a fact that my 12 little ones need a good wash and scrub.'
Grabbing the left over mugs and jugs, Farica watched Vanora also retreat back into the kitchen before hearing her yell for Bors who seemingly hadn't even started getting the children ready.
Tapping her fingers on the ladder Marie was undeniably bored. Tanya as over enthusiastic as ever, had volunteered them to help decorate. Looking out of the window she couldn't help but envy the knights' as they larked around outside in the newly found sunshine. It had been weeks since the sun had been out anywhere in the South and Marie cursed her luck that she was stuck inside. She itched to ride Oskar again and to explore the trails in her new home. She had visited him several times since arriving and was pleased that their mounts were being looked after along with the Knights. But it wasn't the same as spending all day, every day, riding across the fields and poppy-dashed meadows. Shifting weight onto her other leg she glanced over to Farica at the bar. Even from a distance she could see the tired look in her eyes. Marie knew that Farica missed her children and the toll that leaving them behind had taken on her. She also knew that Tania longed for children of her own, but standing there watching Vanoras children traipse in covered head to toe in mud, she still couldn't see the appeal. It's not that Marie didn't like children, she actually didn't mind children, it was the lifelong commitment that scared her. Ever since escaping her marriage Marie had promised herself that the only commitment she should ever make again was to herself.
Looking up at Tania whose face was a mixture of concentration and determination while she stretched dangerously on top of the ladder, Marie realised that maybe she should be paying more attention to making sure her best friend didn't fall. A laugh from outside distracted Marie all but two seconds later, drawing her attention to one of the Knights whose name she had forgotten. He was definitely the youngest of them all and watching him attempt to flirt with Connie made her smile. She couldn't help but feel he had a more innocent and heartfelt feel about him than the others. If she was being honest with herself she found him rather attractive. Despite being the punch line of most of the jokes she had witnessed the knights cracking, she was impressed that he never shied away or was intimidated by the older men and was always looking to be involved one way or another. He certainly looked like he had fun streak and seeing him flirt openly with different woman convinced Marie that she wouldn't have to worry about things getting serious with him. Having made up her mind, Marie decided that she would approach him at the celebration one on one and see what he was like. Kicking the ladder to encourage Tania to hurry up she couldn't help but look forward to the celebration slightly more than she had been, after all it would help her avoid the obvious drama between her best friend and the Kings right hand man.