Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.
Ch 8 - Turning about, Returning to Center
As Francis and Henry were cleaning up later that day, Francis caught the eye of his friend outside the window of the shop.
"Was there anything else you needed father?" He asked, known that his father could probably hear the unspoken question he was withholding.
Smiling at his son's eagerness to leave, he couldn't blame the boy. Just eleven years old, his son was loyal and a good worker, but indeed still a boy. Guessing that Francis desired to go meet some of his friends he bid him leave for the day but make sure to remind him to be back home by dinner.
Francis called his thanks over his shoulder as he left the shop. After all, what was the fun in a hard day's labor if not for the possibility of some fun later.
That night as with every evening following a day of work ,he, Mary, Claude and Elisabeth would be receiving lesson on reading and arithmetic from their mother while the young ones were occupied by their father.
It was one thing that their mother was quite firm on.
Francis knew that he was quite lucky, and as he and Bash went to find the others he said a quick prayer of thanks.
He was enjoying the stretch of his legs after a day of puttering around in the relatively small shop. The job of a blacksmith certainly was physically laborious, but also repetitive. Allowing his legs to roam free was a much appreciated treat after a long day.
Meeting up with some of the others from the village they began walking to their destination together. Today it would appear that someone had brought a ball with them and so that the group would be playing football. Not Francis's favorite game per say, but it was better than trying to sit through lessons with too much energy and no way to spend it.
He and Bash had been friends since they were young. Although Bash was five years older than him, he had never been one to care much about age or to hold it over anyone who was younger.
Bash was unusually gentle, a kind soul in a world where men were made to be calloused and insensitive at best, hardened and crude at worse.
It was nice to find another that enjoyed both the exertion of boyhood and the pleasure in showing care for others liberally…not that that had prevented them from together pulling plenty of pranks on Francis's sisters.
With Mary, Elisabeth, and Claude being the eldest next to him, Francis often felt outnumbered, and it was nice to have a companion interested in something besides worms and sweet rolls.
Speaking of whom, it would seem that father had not been far behind them as his three oldest sisters were also making their way towards the group, though they also Hercule and Margot with them which was a bit unusual.
Generally speaking, it was best to play away from the town so they did not get in anyone's way. As such they often met as the girls did not have to travel as far, after bring pushed out the door by their father who would have taken over watching the little ones while mother made supper.
Mary in particular loved playing with the boys, and she never let her skirts get in the way of playing as rough as they would. Claude and Elisabeth rarely joined in fully and today would likely be staying back to keep an eye on his youngest siblings along with any of the other girls who showed up. Most of the girls preferred to let the boy have their fun and watch from a distance.
As much as he appreciated Bash he admired Mary. Like his mother she did not fulfill the precise expectations of what their little world imposed, but unlike his mother her temper seemed to flow straight out of her red locks, often unchecked.
Not that his mother didn't have a temper she did, but she must have learned to control it over the years…at least around them.
Some of the boys groaned watching Mary approach.
She had flattened many of them he knew, and those that she hadn't were suitably scared.
Both he and Bash jogged to their intended destination and tried to divert everyone's attention. In the end they all would play, Mary would knock a few of them down, probably trip on her skirts at least once, and then soon it would be time for dinner.
And if time was awasting , Francis wanted to spend no more than was necessary on uncomplimentary complaints.
-/-/-/-
By the time Catherine had gotten back to the house all the little ones were in bed for an afternoon rest and the older girls were enjoying some freshly picked berries and chatting quietly.
Deciding that a rest would do her good as well she sat and chatted with the girls for a moment before heading in. She would likely just wake up when the others were done with their nap and so was not worried about sleeping for too long.
As Mary would be studying with the rest of the children after dinner she generally made a point of shooing the girl away from assisting for most of the evening meal.
Finally putting her feet up for the first time since waking that morning, she let a heavy sigh past her lips. Some days seemed to just exhaust her, more so than usually lately.
Perhaps she was just getting old.
Closing her eyes her dreams were filled with Henry. She never regretted the family they had, but sometimes she missed the days when it was just the two of them.
Mentally scolding herself she knew that the years with their children were limited and would go by faster than she desired them to.
It was a parent's right and a parents burden to worry and be put out so, and Catherine was glad to have the opportunity to be burdened.
-/-/-/-
As Henry approached the house he counted all of the rest of his children outside enjoying themselves.
What he didn't see which he expected to was a billowing fire coming from the chimney.
Although it was a warm enough day that the wood stove would not have been needed to help heat the house, usually Catherine would have started dinner already.
They were not the wealthiest family and so their meals were not of the richest or most extravagant foods, but Catherine could be quite creative and dinner for the most part was both delicious and hot.
As per usual, all of the children ran to greet him as he neared.
Though they all wanted to show their father what they were doing while he wanted to find out if something was going on that he needed to know about. Promising to come and see them shortly, he turned to Mary to inquire about his wife.
"As you well know it was a bit late when mother returned from the shop, and decided to take a rest this afternoon." Mary began,
"The morning was somewhat chaotic and she had been feeling a bit ill of late."
Knowing that his wife liked to hide her own ills so as to now worry anyone he made a mental note to be more attentive to her in the next several days.
"Following everyone's afternoon nap she was still not awake and it hadn't been al that long, so I wanted to let her sleep," Mary finished. "I can go and wake her up now though…"
"No Mary I will do it." Henry said with a smile.
"If you would just wait here while I go do that and then take Margot and Hercule with you out to play in the fields Charles and Henry will go with me to the stream and we'll have fish tonight."
Nodding, Mary went to tell Claude and Elisabeth the plan while Henry went inside.