A Legacy Continues...
Adrian sat in silence as he watched his mother stir a boiling pot situated above the hearth. Dazzling arrays of color from the cottage upper window spotted the table he was seated at as the sun sank slowly below the horizon. This caught his attention for a bit, sliding his hands back and forth over the spots of light as they swept over his skin.
The clang of tableware brought Adrian back as Lisa reached into the cupboards nearby, producing two bowls and spoons meant for their supper. She then dipped a ladle into the pot and poured its contents into one of the bowls, placing it before Adrian along with a spoon. Eager to eat, he scooped a piece of meat from the stew and brought it towards his mouth.
"Blow on it first, Adrian. You don't want to burn your mouth," she reminded him firmly.
He did so reluctantly, finding it was still too hot as he chewed on the meat. As he sucked air to keep his mouth from burning, his mother seated across the table from him with her own bowl of stew.
"It's still too hot," he said after finally swallowing.
"Then we'll have to wait until it cools a little, won't we?" she pointed. Laying a finger on a remaining spot of light, she started to quiz Adrian on the properties of light.
"What's causing this phenomenon?"
"It's the leaded window above us! The sunlight's coming at an angle so its direction is being changed through multiple surfaces within the glass. It then separates the sunlight into these colors!" he proudly exclaimed.
"Very good, Adrian!"
Finger still on the spot of light, his mother brought the rest of her hand on it—before dragging it away as Adrian did earlier. Excited at the possible invitation of a game, he placed his own hand on the spot but kept it still this time. His mother's hand came back atop his, prompting Adrian to put his other atop hers.
They continued stacking their hands onto the spot until the light shifted next to Adrian. His mother conceded the game with a playful sigh as he giggled at his victory.
"We'll try the stew again when that light leaves the table, sounds good?"
Adrian nodded. He fished out a slice of carrot with his spoon and blew on it as the light slipped away. Taking a small bite, he found it was now the perfect warmth and proceeded to eat the rest of his stew.
"Delicious!" he mustered in-between spoonfuls.
"I'm glad you like it," his mother grinned as she worked on her portion of stew. "Now finish quickly, there's something I want to show you after this."
...
Once supper was done and the table cleared, Lisa led Adrian up to the solar. In the center was a large wooden chest that Lisa opened, kneeling as she did so.
Adrian was somewhat familiar with the chest but never dared to peek lest he gets in trouble for going through others' possessions.
Straightening up, Lisa pulled out a sword and shield from within the chest and turned to Adrian.
"These have been with the family for generations. They're heirlooms crafted where the rivers Rhine and Mosel would meet—where our ancestors came from long ago before settling here."
The shield was ornately decorated: with the wings of a bat and a wolf charging forth on all fours around a cross fleury of unequal length. Completing it was the brilliant red background and a sharply defined silver border.
Lisa unsheathed the sword from its scabbard, revealing a thin-bladed longsword.
"When I was your age, your late grandfather trained me on how to defend myself by the sword. He figured it was an important skill to pass on much like his father did and so on."
She turned the weapon in her hand as she spoke while Adrian stood mesmerized.
"However, for the average traveling peasant, carrying these is an inconvenience at most because of their size and required permission to enter settlements with them in times of peace. And so I have always kept a dagger on myself when I traveled in case of robbers or other dangers on the road."
She sheathed the sword back and placed it along with the shield into the chest again.
"Your father will return home tonight from his travels, and we'll depart for the castle before the crack of dawn."
Lisa gave a nudge to Adrian towards the direction of his bed-chamber. "Come now, we have a long day tomorrow."
He turned his head for one final glance at the chest before heading off, his mother trailing behind him.
...
"Do you think I'm ready to learn?" Adrian was being tucked into bed as he popped the question.
"I believe so. We'll begin your lessons once we arrive home," Lisa stroked his head while she sat at the edge. "When you're shown to be capable enough, the set will be yours."
"Really?"
"Yes, Adrian," his mother grinned. "It's meant for you!"
"But then you won't be able to protect me anymore whenever father's out," he pouted slightly.
A pensive look grew on Lisa's face as she took in Adrian's words.
"And that's why you need to learn how to protect yourself. I won't always be there for you and there will be times when your father isn't either. Do you understand?"
"Yes, mother," he said softly.
Lisa cupped her son's face. "You and your father mean the world to me, and I want you both to be able to carry on when it's time," She smiled warmly again. "I love you, Adrian."
"I love you too, mother."
She kissed him gently atop his head before getting up from his bed and standing at the doorway. After saying their goodnights, she closed the door and left for her own bed.
...
Unable to sleep, Adrian snuck out of his bed once he was certain his mother had fallen asleep. He tiptoed down the stairwell to sit at the dining table to listen and wait for his father's arrival.
There was a small knock sometime after midnight just as Adrian was beginning to doze, jerking him awake.
The entrance door opened and Vlad stepped in to see his son sitting attentively as can be.
"What are you doing up at this hour, Adrian?" he admonished in a hushed tone. "It's well past your bedtime."
"I couldn't sleep. Something's been bothering me, and I thought you could help."
His father softened considerably, dropping the sack over his shoulder onto the table. He lifted Adrian, who clung onto a shoulder. "Let's get you back to bed first."
They moved quickly through the cottage at an inhuman pace without waking Lisa. It had all been a blur to Adrian by the time he realized this. Vlad sat beside him as Lisa had earlier in the night.
"Tell me what's been bothering you."
"Mother showed me her family's set of arms and is going to start teaching me sword fighting when we get home. She said she won't be always there for me and that's why I have to learn."
Adrian fiddled with the bedsheets as he continued. "I know she means she'll die someday, so I have to be able to stand for myself... But I realize I don't understand what'll happen when she does."
He was keeping his eyes down now as they shifted down back and forth. "I mean… I know death is defined as everything in the body stopping completely and the remains will break down shortly after, but then what? Will she go somewhere or become something else? What'll happen to her, father? Tell me—"
The youth was shushed of his questioning with a tap of a claw to the mouth. "What you're asking cannot be answered all at once, my dear boy," Vlad finished tucking his son in.
"It is getting late and you must rest while you can. And so…"
He began to lull Adrian to sleep with a lullaby Lisa sang often; as the boy's eyes slowly closed, he leaned in as he added a verse of his own.
Someday we'll be gone
But lullabies go on and on
And in your heart
That's where we'll always be
Kissing his son goodnight, he slinked into the shadows towards the door as he watched him sleep for a few moments before closing the door.