Friendship Comes In Many Forms
Summary When Roland looked at his life now and compared it to what it was like before, he wouldn't trade it for the world.
1 year earlier...
Roland stares in both shell shock and horror as the home that he grew up in and raised his family was burned to the ground.
"Sire, we must leave, the smoke is simply too dangerous to be staying close," Baileywick said coughing slightly as he gently pulls his master away from the rising smoke, and soon they were sitting at the entrance gate, watching as the fire burned out, leaving nothing behind but a pile of rubble, ash and smoking wood.
The next morning Roland was help shift through the wreckage, despite the staff and volunteers protesting, but after a sharp order, they left him alone as he carefully looks for anything that wasn't destroyed by the flames.
Looking around he finds an old picture that thankfully survived, only to brought back to the present by a scream of shock as all the volunteers and staff became rushing over to see what it was, be both curious and concerned Roland goes over, just he spots them lifting out a small and crying body from under a pile of broken brick and wood.
"DADDY!" The shout had Roland stand stunned for a second, but then soon he was sobbing and embracing his son, James his little boy somehow survived to escape the fire unharmed.
The young 5-year-old was soon checked over by a doctor and declared to be in perfect health, just a bit shaken, but Roland was just happy to have his son alive and that's all that mattered.
After everything that has happened, it was decided that for both Roland's mental and emotional health and young's James's as well that they go live in the country where the air was cleaner and fresher, mellows miles for the young child to run free and play happily.
Moving to their small summer home was strange since they haven't been there in almost 2 years since the loss of his wife Lorelei and James's twin sister, Amber, for Roland it was simply too painful and James was still asking where Mama and Amby was and at times the boy was known for wandering off in his explorations to find his sister and mother, and Roland was too racked with grief and sadness to bring himself to go, so he lets the staff that stays there to keep it clean and ready for their arrival in the future which was now apparently.
So after getting settled in their new home, Roland decided that James needed some fresh air so they went for a walk as they walked James was asking him endless questions about the things he saw and heard.
But then he asked the question that always filled Roland with sadness, but he tried to not let it show.
"Daddy, when are Mama and Amby coming to join us?" James asked absent-mindedly as he drew in the dirt with a stick, oblivious to his father's grief due to his young age.
Gently turning his son around to face him, Roland had James look him in the eye, before saying a gentle, but firm tone.
"James, your Mama, and sister aren't coming, remember they are with your Grandpa Roland and Gideon now."
It took a second for the words to sink in as James's eyes flash with sadness, "I miss them, Daddy." Roland embraces him as they tried to work through their grief together.
"HELP!" A piercing scream broke through the silence, which had both father and son running towards the screams, where they came upon a raging river and in middle of it was a girl, without giving any thought to his health or safety Roland dives in and with some strong strokes, he came upon the struggling girl, grabbing her middle as they made the difficult swim back to the shore.
Once they were back on land, James quickly rushes over to them, worried as the girl coughed and vomited the water that she had inhaled, watching as Roland rubs her back to help comfort and ease.
After about a few moments the girl was able to rest.
"What is your name child and where are your parents?" Roland asked softly.
"Sofia and my parents are dead, I live with my uncle, oh no he going to be so crossed that I went near the river, but it was an accident this time I swear!" The girl said pleading as Roland picked her up.
"Hush child let's get you out of these wet clothes before you catch your death of cold and then I will notify your Uncle okay?" Roland was gentle and soft with the still scared girl, but for the most part, she was accepting of his help, a stranger, but then his son chirps in.
"Hey, do you want to see my toys?" The girl looks at James in surprise but then smiles softly before nodding, as the trio made their way back to the cottage, after filling the large bath with fresh hot water, Roland baths the girl, just like he used to when Amber was alive, he smiled sadly when the girl played with the rubber ducky and other bath toys that originally belonged to James, but the boy didn't mind letting his new friend play with them, while James was busy reading in the small library.
After a very thorough bath and getting Sofia into some clothes that didn't fit James any longer, he sent the girl off to go play with his son, after learning that the girl's Uncle's name was Cedric and that he lived not too far from Roland lived just about half a mile by foot.
So he made the walk to where he saw another cottage similar to his only painted a dark purple with a black roof and door, he went up to the door and swiftly knocked on it and waited a few moments, but soon the door was open to reveal a tall, slim man with dark brown hair with graying bangs, large brown eyes, and large pointed nose, he was wearing a white blouse, black vest, a yellow bowtie, black knee-breeches with white stockings and heeled shoes, which were cover mostly by a long dark plum-colored robe, with only the dark leather brown fingerless gloves cover his hands sticking out.
'So this was Sofia's Uncle, it was hard to believe that these two were related, they looked nothing alike.' Roland thought but quickly scolded himself for judging others based on appearances, before getting to know them.
Before he could open his mouth to introduce himself, Cedric started to speak.
"I will save you from wasting your breath, I don't want anything you are selling, now excuse me I have to go find my niece, she should have been home about an hour ago," Cedric said the last part to himself as he shoves past Roland rudely.
"I am not a salesman, I am Lord Roland and I know where your niece is, she was rescued by me after she had fallen into a river, thankfully she is unharmed, I made sure she was bathed and given clean clothes, now she is playing with my son at my home," Roland explained stopping Cedric in his tracks, as the man looked at him in both amazement and worry.
"I apologize, I am Lord Cedric and I am forever in your debt for saving my niece, she is the only family I have left since her parents and my parents passing about a year ago and I guess I am a bit protective of her."
Roland just smiles warmly at the man, "I understand, lost my wife and daughter to fever and then just recently suffered a house fire, my son and I just moved here to get away."
Cedric winces a little at the bitter tone and wanted to make the sadness in Roland's bright and mesmerizing blue eyes disappear, but he mentally shakes himself as he tunes back to what Roland was saying.
Roland shakes his head sadly, giving Cedric a small smile, saying "But enough of such talk, let's get you to your niece and I must warn you it seems like our children are friends now, so expect them to plead for a sleepover or playdate in the future."
Cedric tried to not let the grimace show at the idea, but he knew that he would do anything to keep his beloved niece happy, even if that meant having other children in his home.
"I will survive, but I do wonder how did Sofia end up near the river in the first place, she knows that she can't swim and I have told her to never go near another large body of water without me, I swear that girl is going to be the death of me."
Roland smiled at hearing the concern and worry that all parents feel when their children do foolish or silly things, but then he remembers one troubling detail that he had a bit puzzled about.
"When I rescued Sofia she appeared to be afraid of you for some reason, Cedric."
Cedric snorts in bemusement, "I think she is more worried about my disappointment in her disobeying me, she knew my rule about going near that river and she ignored it."
"She told me that she slipped walking by it and it did rain the day before so it would be surprising if there was some mud near the edge," Roland stated.
Cedric sighs, "I believe you, but she still disobeyed me and for that, she will be punished."
Roland stiffens at hearing that, Cedric must have noticed because he quickly explains "I don't believe in hitting a child in any form, she will be put on restriction for a while in which I will deem her to allow freedom again."
Roland relaxes hearing that, looking at Cedric apologetically.
"If I know children, being on restriction can seem like torture to them, and often you want to let them off early just to get some peace once more," Roland stated with a chuckle.
Rubbing his forehead dramatically, Cedric says, "I will admit Sofia is a handful, but I swear she is worse when being punished always pushing and test my very limits."
"It's the same with James, I swear that boy is a magnet for trouble and mischief." Both Roland and Cedric gave each other a look before burst out laughing.
After collecting their composer, Roland and Cedric walked side by side each other chatting about their children and other things, until they came upon Roland's home, but before Roland step one foot up the steps, his maid and nanny, Cindy wretches the door open and starts to talk frantically and fast that it makes Cedric's head spin.
"Cindy, calm down and slowly explain to me what is wrong," Roland said firmly watching as the 28-year-old took a deep breath before repeating.
"I left the children in the backyard to play for a few minutes to go prepare lunch, but when I came back to get them, they weren't so I naturally assumed that they wondered to a front yard or back into the house without my notice, but after I searched around I realized that they were missing, I am so so sorry my lord, please have mercy on me!" The girl threw herself at Roland's feet begging and sobbing for forgiveness.
"Cindy gets up and gets a hold of yourself girl, you are still under my employment and I am not going to punish you for simply doing your job, now go back inside and wait to see if the children will come back."
The girl looked at them with great relief as she quickly straightens her clothes and wipes away her tears and goes back into the house.
Roland turns back to Cedric with a knowing expression on his face that mirrored Cedric's.
"Want to bet that they wandered off down the road?" Cedric said.
Roland nods "We have to find them, Cedric, and when I do I am going hug them and then ground them until they are 18!" Cedric cracks a smile at hearing that all too often thought that he had when it came to dealing with his niece and her antics.
Meanwhile, down the beaten path, James and Sofia were investigating the sight where Sofia claimed she slipped and fell into the river earlier that morning.
James inspects the ground near the river closely and then turns to Sofia who was sitting further away. "It's doesn't seem that muddy to me, are you sure that this is where you fell?"
Sofia gives the boy an "are you seriously thick" look before saying, "Yes I am sure James, I was singing to myself by the edge when I slipped on some slippery mud and fell into the water, I kicked my feet and legs as best as a could but since I didn't know how to swim, I did the next best thing, I started screaming at the top of my lungs, that when your Dad saved me."
James nods and then moves away from the edge to sit beside Sofia.
"What happened to your parents?" The question caught Sofia off guard a bit, but then she decided to answer anyway.
"My parents and my uncle's parents all got killed when their carriage driver lost control of the horses and it went off a cliff, they died instantly, my Uncle Cedric who I was already close with took me in, that was about 2 years ago I was about 3 years old then, what about you?" Sofia asked curiously.
James sighs, "It's only fair, I lost my mother and twin sister to illness about 2 years ago and then we recently lost our home to a fire, my father is the only family I have left, I meant I have an Aunt my father's sister but she travels a lot and I haven't seen her since I was about 2 years old, so I don't really have any idea who she is, but my Dad speaks fondly of her so she can't be all bad."
"I am sorry," Sofia said which confused James.
"Why are you sorry, you didn't do anything wrong."
"No I mean, I am sorry that you had to go through all that, it must have been scary," Sofia explained
"Yes it was, but it is in the past now, come on, I am sure that our Dads are back by now." James got up and quickly dust himself off, before helping Sofia up as well and they quickly made their way back to the house, only to see their fathers coming towards them, and they didn't look happy.
"Jameson Gideon Regium!" was shouted followed by "Sofia Miranda Morada!" making both children cringe as their parents started to scold them, but after a bit, they stopped, and soon they were hugging their respective children tightly.
As if they were in sync both Cedric and Roland pulled away a bit and said "Don't scare me like that again." making the children almost burst with laughter, but they successfully contained it as they were picked up and settled on their father's hips, much to James's dismay as he didn't want to be seen as a baby by his new friend, but when he saw how Sofia was just relaxed in her Uncle's hold, he relaxed too.
The walk home was silent, once they got home they were greeted by Cindy who was relieved that the children were unharmed for their little adventure, so she sends them all to wash up for lunch, which was grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup made from scratch.
When both Cedric and Sofia got a taste of Cindy's cooking they were in heaven since Cedric did most of the cooking, it wasn't as great, but it was edible, when Sofia told Roland and James this they nearly bust a gut laughing, thankfully Cedric didn't take any offense as he knew that his cooking wasn't that great.
"I could teach you some of my recipes, they are easy and simple, even Miss Sofia could do them herself." Cindy offers which Sofia took gladly knowing her Uncle wouldn't admit to wanting help.
After lunch was cleared away, Roland decided that the children would stay inside for the rest of the afternoon and so Sofia and James were in the kitchen learning how to make bread with Cindy, while Roland invites Cedric to his pallor for a drink and chat.
When Cedric looked around the home he was excepting it to be large, cold, and unwelcoming, but he was quite surprised at how homey and small it was, as he sat down on the comfortable dark green-winged back armchair next to Roland.
"What do you want? Whiskey Wine or Hot chocolate?" Roland asked.
Cedric thought about it for a moment and said "Hot Chocolate will be fine." Roland nods and goes to the kitchen and tells Cindy to bring in two Hot chocolates for them, but soon that changed to four as the children wanted one too and so they were all in the parlor drinking hot chocolate, chatting, playing games, and telling stories.
The afternoon flew by and soon Cedric and Sofia were staying for dinner having the remaining soup for dinner with ham and turkey sandwiches, then after dinner was done and cleared away both children were nearly asleep where they sat, making both parents smile at them, as they picked them up saying goodbye to each other.
"When shall we meet again?" Roland asked as Cedric puts a borrowed coat on the now sleeping Sofia.
"How about on Friday, we can go into town, they have a bunch of stands that sell good food and goodies for the children, and who knows maybe you'll find something you like as well," Cedric suggested.
Roland smiles, "Sound perfect, Friday it is, sees you then my friend."
Cedric nods and soon both Uncle and niece were gone down the path and heading towards their home.
Roland closes the door, he jumps a bit when he turns to see Cindy behind him with a smile on her face, as Roland hands over a sleeping James to the woman.
Cradling the child in her arms, she looks at her master with a knowing look in her eyes. "Well My Lord, it seems like you've had quite the day, but in the end, you have a new friend to keep you company also tomorrow is suppose to be stormy, oh and before I forget what should I do about Lady Amber's old room and clothes?"
Roland stiffens before answering trying to hide the cracking in his voice but failing as he says "Donate the clothes, toys and strip the bed down and clean it, any pictures or jewelry are to be stored away for now."
Cindy looks at the man sadly as she nods leaving to go tuck in the boy and get started on her task.
When he was finally alone, Roland let the tears flow silently down his face as the memories of his late beloved wife and a little girl came to the forefront of his mind.
'If anything were to happen to me Roland, please raise our son right when I am gone.'
'You have made me the happiest woman in the world.'
'I am pregnant with twins.'
'Congratulations, you have a healthy baby boy and girl.'
'Daddy I love you! Daddy plays tea party with me! Daddy James broke my doll!'
Roland clenches his teeth as the emotional agony overwhelmed him, the memories replaying in his mind, every sight, smell, sound, or sound he remembered with unfortunate clarity.
When it was found out about the pandemic of sweating sickness, Roland was quick to act to prevent any outsiders from coming into the village, making sure that everyone had access to clean water and supplies unaware that the disease was being spread by rodents, by the time he found out his wife and daughter became ill it was already too late Amber died in her sleep her small body unable to fight off the disease and his wife Lorelei lived long enough to tell him that she loved him and James and to not let their passing turn him bitter and to love and protect her only reminding child, James was kept isolated when he came down with a cold the previous day, so he thankfully didn't get sick much to Roland's relief, but that relief quickly turns to sadness as he along with his son buried their wife, mother, daughter, and sister into the ground.
For the next 2 years, Roland was going through the motions, raising his son, who had just celebrated his 5th birthday, James was happy, mischievous with a heart of gold who loved playing outside, skipping his lessons, learning how to be a lord like his father.
But soon that all changed one day, it had been a typical stormy day, with thunder and lightning striking the earth with reckless abandons, Roland was playing hide and go seek with James, as Roland was busy look for his son, that when he heard a loud crack and soon he saw to his horror the roof of his home was on fire and quickly spreading, soon he was screaming and shout for everyone to leave the building as the flames and smoke started to smother and cover the whole place, he watches as the staff made a break for it, only Baileywick saw the Roland wasn't with them and that when he ran back in and dragged the man kicking and screaming out of the burning manor.
Roland clenches his fist tightly as he forces the memories away, his son was safe, happy, healthy and that's all that mattered he thought to himself as he grabs a bottle of whiskey from a hidden cabinet.
Just as he was about to toss back a large swing of the drink he heard a soft voice say, "Lord Roland are you alright?"
Swirling around he saw a young boy around 10 years old wearing a simple dress shirt with dark brown trousers and shoes, it was his stable boy, James who took on the nickname Jimmy to avoid any confusion, who is Cindy's only son, she had Jimmy at a young age of 18 and married the boy's father who was an alcoholic that drank himself to death by the time the boy was 5 years old, Roland took them in when Cindy applied to be his Maid and Nanny for his son and when Jimmy was old enough, he became the stable boy under the current stable hand, Gillian, learning how to care for the horses and so on.
Jimmy? What are you doing up? Is your mother alright?" The boy nods much to Roland's relief.
"Mum's alright sir just came to say good night to her before I head back to the stables and my bed, but I saw you grabbing the bottle and decided to check in with you."
Roland sighs heavily, "It's just one drink..."
The boy looks at him with an unconvincing look on his young face.
"My Lord please don't think me as a fool, if I know one thing is that drinking your pains away is not the answer, my Pa was a testament to that, and think about your son, would you want him to see you so vulnerable and ill?" Jimmy asked almost pleading for the man to put the drink away.
Roland thinks about it for a bit before putting the bottle back in the cabinet much to the boy's relief.
"You are right my boy, thank you." the boy smiled and nodded before leaving the man alone his thoughts once more, looking at the picture of his late wife and daughter, he smiled sadly at them, before leaving to go to bed himself.
As it turned out Cindy was correct when both he and his son woke up the next morning, it was raining quite heavily with lighting and thunder crashing at random times.
While a normal storm like this would not bother Roland, but it did make him uneasy at times, but he had to remain strong for his son, who seemed unafraid of the noise as he happily played with his toy soldiers.
For a while, the day was quiet and eventful, but soon that peace was shattered by a loud knock pounding on his door, he waves off Cindy to go be with his son, while he dealt with who was at the door.
Opening the door, he was greeted by the sight of a soaked Cedric and Sofia, he quickly ushers them in and helps them remove the heavy cloaks.
"What happened?" Roland asked as he sent Cindy to set up the bath for Cedric and Sofia.
"The river risen and caused some flooding, right now my house is filled with water, do you mind if we stay with you a few days, I will understand if you don't and I will simply find other forms of lodging." Cedric rambles nervously.
"I don't mind, you are both welcome to stay for however long is needed," Roland said stunning Cedric a bit as he was used to being turned away by people, but Roland was different.
"Thank you," Cedric said softly.
Roland nods and has Cindy set up the guest rooms for Cedric and Sofia, while he gathered some clean and dry clothes for them.
For Sofia, it was another set of James's old clothes and pajamas, while Cedric was now wearing a light blue button-up shirt that was big on him, along with a pair of Roland's trousers that has spenders on them. and socks.
After a hearty lunch, Cedric decided to go take a nap, while Sofia went to go play with James in his room, Roland was left alone in his study to do some boring paperwork that he had been neglecting since he got here.
Grabbing his pen, he got started on the grueling task and soon a few hours went by, with only the sounds of a pen scratching on paper, the sound of the chime coming from the small clock startles Roland a bit as he looks up and sees the time.
5:00 pm it was almost dinner time when he looked out the window the storm was gone thankfully, putting his pen down, he gets up and stretched out the kinks in his back as he checks in with Cindy about dinner before making his way towards the guest room where Cedric was staying in.
Knocking on the door, Roland heard the sounds of the rustling of sheets and footsteps as the door was open to reveal a sleepy-eyed Cedric, who normally brushed hair was a rat's nest, and the dress shirt that Roland gave him was opened to reveal a slim, but well muscle body.
"Yes?" Cedric asked his voice still a bit rough from sleep.
"Dinner is going to be ready soon, shall I get the children?" Roland asked.
Cedric nods before closing the door, leaving Roland to muse for a bit about what he just saw, before shaking his head and walking towards his son's room.
Knocking on the door, he was surprised to not get an answer right away, so he carefully opens the door to see the messy room, but when he looked on the bed he saw the cutest sight, his son was sleeping next to the girl on his bed.
Quietly he goes over to the bed and gently wakes up his son and his friend, telling them that it was time for dinner, at first James whined a bit about being woke up, but he perked up at the mention of food, while Sofia was a bit easier, at first she was confused about where she was but then she remembers and soon was following James out to the dining room.
When Cedric came into the room, he was a bit more alert as they all sat down to eat a delicious roast, with potatoes and carrots drizzled in honey, and then for dessert was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
After eating and getting cleaned up once more James begged his father to let him show Sofia the stables, which after receiving Cedric's permission they ran out the stables where they were greeted by Jimmy, who introduced himself along with his master, Gillian.
By the time they came back, it was nearing bedtime, while they got a quick bath, both Roland and Cedric smiled in amusement as the children talk about the horses and what they learned about them, until they fell asleep, after tucking them in, both fathers settled in the parlor, for a bit of a nightcap which was hot chocolate of course.
"You know if for some reason your house becomes inhabitable, I will not mind if you and Sofia moved in until you find better lodgings of course," Roland suggested.
Cedric was silent for a while, but then he said "Why? You barely know me for more than a day?"
"Call me sentimental or a fool but I feel like we have known each other for years and our children seeing the love and playing with each other," Roland explained.
The silence was long and unbearable, but then Cedric said "Alright." much to Roland's internal delight as he nods with a smile on his face.
The next day, Cedric and Sofia went to go check on the house and to see if anything could be salvaged from the flood, which turned out not to be much, just some pictures of Sofia's late parents and Cedric's late parents as well.
When Roland saw that they lost everything, he decided to order a whole new wardrobe from them, Cedric tried to say that it wasn't necessary.
"I want to, let me do this please," Roland said giving Cedric the puppy dog eyes, which had the other man giving in quickly.
After that the unusual family fell into a comfortable routine of sorts, Cedric would go to work at his job in the village's Apothecary, while Roland stayed home with the children as he worked mostly from home anyways, while the children were in lessons with James's tutor, who was teaching Sofia as well.
While it wasn't at all easy at times, but they all got along just fine by the time both James's and Sofia's 6th birthday came and went it had been about a year to the day that they all met that day at the river.
When Roland realized this, he decided to do two things, one to teach both Sofia and James how to swim safely and two was to have a picnic since it was a beautiful day outside.
So after talking with the children and pleading with Cedric, soon they were all walked up the path where the river was located with a fully packed picnic basket courtesy of Cindy, the children were so excited to learn how to swim and play in the water that they were wearing along with Roland their swimsuits under their clothes.
Once the blanket was set up and under a tree, Roland along with James and Sofia took off their clothes to reveal their swim clothes underneath and put them with Cedric to keep them from getting dirty.
Cedric watches in amusement as the children and Roland were soon playing and swimming the water until they were exhausted and coming out to eat and dry off.
Sitting beside Cedric, Roland looks at his now sleeping children who fell asleep after eating lunch, content with how his life was turning out.
"You know it would almost seem like fate brought us all together." Roland mused out loud.
Cedric chuckles "Well as my father would say "Friendship comes in many forms, even at the most unusual circumstances, but that can be a good thing."
"Amen to that my friend," Roland said as they all sat together comfortable in the knowledge that they weren't alone anymore.