For the tenth time, he had nearly tripped over Fen as he made trip after trip to the wagons. He took Fen by the shoulders and swung him out of the way, planting him firmly beside Eidra who was kneeling on the floor of their bedchamber, folding blankets and setting them in a trunk.
"Stay here and help your mother." Loki let him go after a moment
"Yes, Papa."
Eidra took Loki's hand before he could swing away, "Relax, my heart. Everything shall go smoothly."
He bent over, kissed her palm and was out the front door again.
Eidra held out a hand to Fen, "Give me the coverlet on the bed, please."
Fen draped the coverlet over his head, walking to Eidra who smiled though she chided him, "Fen, you are dragging the edges across the floor, come now, lift it up."
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to see Sally standing in the doorway, watching her.
"Have you finished packing already?"
Sally shook her head, "I confess I've not. I've been thinking on what ye said last evening."
They had been sitting at the table musing about their last meal in the cottage when Eidra had been struck by a terrible thought. "Silas and Chris, we must leave them here so far away?"
Even Loki had sat there, distress clear upon his face though he tried to offer up a solution, "I will speak to Vedic on the morrow before we leave. Whosoever takes over this cottage and the land must maintain the graves as well. Does that suit you?"
Eidra had reluctantly agreed though she had made Loki promise they would visit the graves at least once every moon or so.
Sally walked over and sat on the bed, "I am staying here."
Eidra stopped moving, folded coverlet in her arms, "What?"
"I'm staying here. I'll tend to them for ye. My beloved Chris and poor angel Silas."
Eidra rose from the floor to sit beside her, "You must come with us. How can you hope to stay here alone?"
"I've decided to stay in the village with Ren. Ever since ye spoke of the move, I've thought of it. I talked to Ren and she said she would welcome the company so...I will stay here, I will keep the graves."
"Sally, we are to have a grand house with plenty of room." Eidra pulled her hand to her chest and hugged it, "You are family, my dearest friend."
Sally leaned over and kissed her cheek, "And I shall visit ye often, and ye shall visit me."
Fen had been standing there, listening to them and now he leaned over Sally's lap, taking her face in his hands. "Why do you not want to come with us, Aunt Sally?"
Sally covered his hands with hers. "My little lamb, I'll not be far away, but think of Uncle Chris here alone with no one to visit him. Ye'll ken someday."
"Will you visit us often?"
"I did not know 'twas time to rest?"
Eidra looked up to see Loki standing in the doorway, hands on his hips.
"Papa, Aunt Sally has said she is going to live with Ren. Tell her she must come with us." Fen was at his side, tugging on his cloak.
Loki put his hand on Fen's head, "Hush," Loki eyed Sally, "Is this true. Will you not be joining us?"
Sally seemed about to cry, her countenance reflected in her voice, "No, I'll be staying here. Ren is getting on in age. I could be of help to her and truth be told, I'm loathe to leave my beloved so far away where I cannot visit him whenever I like."
Loki stood there, arms crossed before him and Eidra could see he was visibly moved though he nodded, "As you wish. Our home will be the poorer for your absence."
Sally rose from the bed, walked to him and enfolded him into a great hug. After a moment's hesitation he returned it and she stepped back, "I cannot thank ye enough for all ye did for us, Loki. I'll be forever in yer debt. Sure and Chris agrees with me wherever he be." She took a deep breath then, smoothed out her dress and nodded, "I'll help ye finish packing then, 'tis getting on and ye need to be on the road if ye wish to make the manor before nightfall."
Loki turned to the sound of the front door and Sylvan's face appeared over his shoulder, "What is next to be done?"
Loki held up his hand, "Eidra, is the trunk ready to be loaded on the wagon?"
Eidra stood up, "All I must do is roll up the mattress and tie it. We will need more.."
"Eidra," Loki was as her side, "We do not need the mattress, do you recall? Our bed is there already, waiting for us."
Eidra clutched her hand to her chest, "This bed has seen so much over the seasons. Could we not bring it for a spare?"
Loki put his hand upon the mattress beside hers, "Of course, my heart, I share your feelings. We may take the bed as long as it is done in haste. Let me help you."
After a few minutes, the mattress was rolled up and tied off, Sylvan and Moran having carried the wooden frame out to the waiting wagons. Loki had enlisted the help of the two young men and their wagons to bring the household to the new manor. In exchange for their service, he had given them one of his pigs which they had chosen and brought home a few days previous when they had driven the livestock to the manor with him.
It would nevertheless, still be an arduous task to reach the manor. The wagons being on runners as of yet and laden with goods, the horses would still have a time pulling them though a new coat of snow overnight had fallen and would help the wagons slide easier. They worked feverishly by lantern light to finish loading the wagons with what they wished to take, interrupted once by a feeding with Cait of some warmed porridge. At six moons, Cait was possessed of three teeth with one coming, and a good bite. Eidra had reluctantly given up nursing, instead using the horn bottle that had been Fen's, trying to express her milk and finally giving in to cow's milk or water.
Eidra had fussed over Sally, wanting to stay and help her pack her own trunk but Sally had waved her off explaining that she had plenty of time to do so seeing as Moran and Sylvan were promised to pick her up on their return trip back to Rialo. Eventually there was nothing left to do but take a coal from the fire and put it in the tinder box so that they might light the new hearth with it.
Loki and Eidra had ridden out to the graves in the clearing before the previous evening's meal and said their goodbyes, Loki with his hands planted upon the boulder he had made Lightning to drag here. He had chiseled Chris's name into the rock in the manner Chris had told him of when he had spoken of the gravestones on Midgard and it was this name he had traced with his finger as he stood shin deep in the snow. Eidra had wiped a tear from his cheek and they had returned to the cottage for their final night under its thatched roof.
Sally walked out to the wagons with them, carrying Cait with her and Eidra was suddenly struck with the feeling that she would never see Sally again. She handed Cait to Eidra as she and Helgi exchanged a tearful embrace.
"I suppose now I shall truly be the oldest woman in the household." Helgi sniffled, cupping Sally's face in her hands and kissing her forehead, "Take care of yourself. Come for a visit when the weather turns milder."
Sally nodded, watching as Loki helped Helgi into the back of the wagon he would be driving, felt arms about her waist and hugged Fen to her, "Me little lamb. Ye be sure to help Mama with baby Cait."
Fen nodded, tightening his embrace before he turned and ran for the back of the wagon to sit beside Helgi. Eidra handed a wrapped Cait up to Helgi and then turned to Sally, her hands to her bodice, "Oh dear, I cannot bear to say goodbye for it seems too final. I will say farewell. You did so much for me, for my family. You made me see sense, restored my life to me."
She hugged Sally, trying to hide her tears in her shoulder, "I love you, my dearest friend."
"I love ye too, and I will see ye when winter looses it's hold on the land."
Sally saw Eidra into the wagon beside Loki and stood watching as they made the road, heading out of Rialo. She kept her gaze on them until no little part of them could be discerned, then sighed and retreated to the warmth of the cottage to pack her trunk.
The wind cut into the wagon fiercely. Eidra wrapped the blankets about the four of them as tight as she cared to. Cait had long ago fallen asleep with the rocking of the wagon and was now warm, cradled in her arms. They watched the road fall away behind them, Sylvan and Moran often riding their wagons side by side to talk. Eidra pulled the blanket from her face for a moment to look up at Loki.
"Do you wish to trade places with me? You must be freezing."
Loki shook his head but did not turn to her, "And I would ask my wife to take my place in such conditions? Cover up, keep warm."
"And you would play the chivalrous husband until you freeze solid? Stubborn boy."
From her angle upon the hay, she could see the corner of his mouth turn up in a smile, "Stubborn man. My treasure, if I find I can bear it no longer, we will stop to warm ourselves. For now, stay covered and worry not about me."
"Easier said than done," She grumbled but turned the blanket over her head again, seeing Helgi roll her eyes, "Stubborn boy, indeed."
The land rolled away and Eidra fell into a light sleep along with Helgi and Fen though she would jump each time the runners would find a rock or a dip, gripping Cait tight to her. She kept moving to find a comfortable position. Now into her third moon, she had noticed a slight rounding of her stomach, unexpected so soon though she reasoned that having four babies had taken its toll on her body that any change would be noticable. She shifted Cait and found another good position.
When she opened her eyes once more, she sensed the light had changed, felt Cait shift in her arms and giggle. She looked down and saw Cait pulling at the blankets around her then uncovered her head, wincing at the cold. "Loki are you frozen solid yet?"
He had raised the hood of his cloak and so she heard the reply, muffled albeit. "Yes, I will count upon you to thaw me later."
She clucked her tongue, "I am quite serious."
"So am I."
She tried to see past the front of the wagon, "How much further?"
"We are nearly there. Cover up!" He waved impatiently at her again.
She sighed, wrapped the blanket back around her and felt the wagon lurch forward as they started down a hill, moments later, turning into the path on their right. She handed Cait to Helgi who had started awake when they had turned, wrapped her cloak around her and climbed over the hay bales to the seat beside Loki.
"You should be back there. It is too cold up here," he chided her. She could see his face was red from the cold.
"We are here, soon I will be warm."
Her stomach quivered in anticipation, she felt nervous. There would be new people, new routines. She would wish to rise in the morning to make the meal for her family. Would the servants let her help? Would Loki entreat her to stay out of the kitchen, to let the servants do their chores? She huddled closer to him as they swung into the dooryard and stopped before the front door.
The manor blazed with light. A woman opened the door as she stepped down from the wagon seat and ran up to her as she turned about. "Ingrid?"
Ingrid smiled broadly, cradled in her arms was a small baby, half the size of Cait, "Is this baby Eidra?" She tickled the sleeping babe under the chin.
"It is, I put her down so that I could see to the settling of the house for you and she wailed till I picked her up. Silas says I coddle her too much."
A young boy a bit bigger than Fen came racing out of the doorway to grab Ingrid's skirt, "Mother, might I have a biscuit?"
"You may not until we have seen everyone inside. We shall eat soon. Mind your manners."
Gunnar whirled about to face Eidra and jumped back behind Ingrid's skirts. Eidra felt a tug on her skirts as well and looked down to see Fen peering at Ingrid and Gunnar.
"Fen," Loki called to him, "Come help..."
"Loki," Eidra put her hand down to Fen's hair, "Do you not have enough help with the boys?"
Loki put his hands on his hips, "Very well..." he nodded to Ingrid who curtsied to him, "Go with your mother."
Helgi had made the doorstep with Cait who now held out her hands for Eidra. She took Cait to her, wrapping her cloak about the both of them as they walked inside though Helgi halted.
"Come inside." Eidra called to her as she started for the wagons but Helgi shook her head, "If I am to sleep tonight, I shall need to see the wagons unpacked properly."
"Do not stay outside long. Loki do you hear me? Send her in ere she falters."
Loki waved at her, "Get inside."
"She has grown so." Ingrid remarked as they shut the door behind them, brushing Cait's dark wavy hair as she waved her hand, slapping Eidra's bosom.
When they entered the foyer, it was as though she was seeing the manor for the first time. Lanterns hung on the walls, silver reflectors bouncing the firelight into the rooms which had been swept and scrubbed and dusted. As she turned around, her head began to swim. In the room to her left, the library, she saw stuffed chairs done in dark green velvet, a low table between them. The shelves lining the walls had been wiped down and she smiled as she saw a small row of tomes. Loki had brought her books on his last trip. There was a divan done in the same green velvet beneath one of the tall arched windows. Woven rugs lay scattered about strategically where someone would wish to rest their feet as they sat reading.
She walked into the room. Before the fireplace to her right was a beautifully embroidered fire screen on a stand. Leaning against the wall beside the fireplace waiting to be hung above the mantle was a portrait of a young boy dressed in fine court robes, his long black hair flowing over his shoulders, his eyes the same eyes she looked into every night before bed. She caressed the gilded frame, "Look how young he was."
Ingrid smiled, "His Majesty, the King has commissioned a family portrait to be painted after you settle in to the manor."
Eidra heard Fen's yell of excitement and she returned to the foyer to see him racing back and forth in the large reception room with Gunnar.
"Boys!" Ingrid cried, "This play is better suited for out of doors."
Gunnar skidded to a stop with Fen behind him, "Might we go out of doors?"
"No, we shall be setting down to the evening meal soon. Why do you not see if you might be of help in the kitchen." She stole a look at Eidra who was smiling, "Perhaps the cook will allow you a biscuit."
Baby Eidra yawned, pronouncing her opinion of the whole affair and Ingrid put her to her shoulder, "Come there is more."
She led Eidra into the reception room before them and was pleased when Eidra's mouth dropped open. Before the hearth sat two carved chairs. She ran her hand along the back of first one, then the other, Cait gripping the dark wood and trying to pull herself forward. "Our chairs."
She walked around them, reading her name carved into the dark wood. "So many wonderful nights were spent in them."
"And many more shall follow." Ingrid finished.
Despite the promise of a meal, it was well past sundown when the wagons were finally emptied. The trunks were brought into the foyer, their bed, which would now be used as a spare, was placed in an empty bedchamber, the animals were fed and taken care of for the night. Only then did everyone assemble in the dining hall, for Eidra could see the large room as nothing less, at a long table to eat.
The cook was a short, stout man, bald but with a dark close-cropped beard, piercing brown eyes hooded under a low brow, stern though the laugh lines about his eyes belied a merrier temperament than was first perceived. He watched the small group assemble at the table, his arms crossed,
"I will have you know that I have waited this meal for far longer than is proper."
Loki was last at the table, following behind Moran and Sylvan. He spied the cook and stopped short eyes narrowed, peering hard at him. "I know you."
The cook gave a gloomy smile, "You know of me. I will wager you do not know me at all."
Eidra watched the exchange, looking to Ingrid and shrugging.
"In King Freyr's castle, you were a server. Many seasons ago." Loki towered over the man who nodded.
"I was indeed. I learned my trade and set to traveling, I ended up in Asgard,was called upon by the King and found myself in your employ now sit down so that we may serve." He motioned to Ingrid who was in the process of handing the baby to Gunnar when Helgi held out her arms, "Here now, let me tend to her."
Ingrid smiled, handing a sleeping baby Eidra to Helgi, following the cook back into the kitchen.
Loki sat down beside Eidra, elbowed her, "He is a dwarf." to which Eidra turned about to stare into the open doorway of the kitchen then back to Loki.
"Is he not a bit tall for a dwarf?"
"Human father, dwarf mother." the cook was behind her chair with a large roast in a cast iron pan which he sat on the table before them.
Eidra reddened, "Forgive me."
The cook laughed out loud, "Milady, never beg the forgiveness of a servant. They are at your disposal."
Eidra watched him cut the roast, pulling Cait's hands away as she tried to reach for his apron, "I too am half human." She half whispered, he raising an eyebrow but continuing to slice the meat, "And is it not allowed for a servant to beg the forgiveness of another servant?"
The cook's cutting slowed and he reached for a plate, "So it is true. I have heard tell about you."
Eidra handed him another plate from the stack before him and he rolled his eyes, "I serve you." he caught Loki staring at him, "And you, your majesty."
"Your name, what is it. I cannot continue to call you cook."
"Gretten is my name but cook would suffice." He continued to serve the roast, interrupted only by the sound of the front door opening along with voices. Everyone turned to see who would walk through the archway into the dining hall save Gunnar who jumped up from his chair, "Papa is here!"
Silas strode into the hall, making a low bow to Loki who was now standing, "Your Majesty, I was delayed at the palace. I have brought two new servants with me, Hal, he is to be your valet."
A young man, thin with light blond wispy hair, tall but not as tall as Loki, stepped forward, bowed deeply then stood and straightened his tunic and vest. "Your Majesty,"
"Sire, he is none other than Clotho's grandson."
Loki saw Hal turn bright red, stammer, " 'Tis..t..true."
"And his wife, Vesta, who will keep house." A timid young brunette in a long gray dress appeared from the shadows, trying to slip her hand into Hal's. He immediately pulled away from her with a stern look, tilting his head towards Loki. She curtsied, a little off balance, caught herself and curtsied again.
"Come sit and eat." Loki waved them to the table, Hal finally taking Vesta's hand and guiding her along.
Loki took Silas's forearm and laid his hand on Silas's shoulder, "It is good to see you."
By the end of the meal, Fen and Gunnar had fallen asleep in their chairs, Cait was rubbing her eyes and baby Eidra was curled up in Ingrid's arms. Loki lifted Fen up, nodding to Gretten whom he had insisted join in the meal with them. Gretten had grumbled that it was a highly irregular practice but had bowed to Loki's wishes. "A fine meal, Gretten."
"I am glad it pleases your Majesty." Gretten started to clear the table with Ingrid and Vesta.
Loki and Eidra bid Silas good evening and headed up the stairs to their rooms.
Eidra placed Cait with some hesitation in the new crib that had been brought from the palace and quickly set to making Fen's bed while Loki waited, sitting on the window sill in the nursery. "Imagine having all this room." She looked about, spying Cait who was now sitting up, peering through the carved spindles with a low whine. "Are you sure this is not all too much?"
Loki laid Fen in his bed, covering him with the blankets and tucking them under to keep the cold out, then he crossed the room to the crib where Cait was trying to pull herself up to stand though her legs were not yet ready. "It may seem so now but we shall become used to it."
He felt the front door close and walked to one of the windows. Silas had lifted Gunnar to sit on his horse. Ingrid was already mounted on her own steed, baby Eidra in a sling before her. They waved to Hal and Vesta who were headed along the snowy path to a small cottage, a trunk carried between them. "I wonder could I not convince Silas to build a cottage closer so that they would have no need to travel so late at night?"
"You could try." Eidra had walked to the crib and was now watching Cait smile up at them when she put a hand to her mouth. "Oh my, the tinder box."
"Is on the hearth in the receiving room but it is so late to start a fire."
Eidra lifted Cait from her crib, "We could make a small one, until she falls asleep."
A moment later, they were seated before the hearth in the receiving room. Loki had touched the coal to the dry tinder beneath a couple logs, blowing on it until the tinder lit.
Loki sat back in his chair, arm stretched across to touch her elbow, "On the morrow, I must travel to Asgard. There is much to be done. Thor wishes the children recognized soon and you are to be given title as well."
"Then I am to be left here alone on my first day to run a household?" she stroked Cait's hair, watching as her eyes started to close.
Loki turned his head to look at Eidra, "You knew this when we agreed to move. I will be back and forth to the palace, and so shall my family. You, the children.."
"I only wish we had time to settle in first."
Loki caressed her arm, "Everything shall even out, we will be settled."
Eidra stared into the fire, "Were it that Brenna were home, I could be content."
"She will come home eventually. She will see how things have changed and she will never wish to leave again."
Eidra kissed Cait's head, "I can hardly wait."
