Brothers Sisters and Lovers
Marz stepped back a pace and whipped sheen of sweat from his forehead, a futile action since the heat of the forge soon brought it back. His eyes were fixed upon the nearly completed engagement band that now glowed white hot in the heat of the forge fire. He had started making it not long after arriving home from seeing Mara on her way back to Taladas; it was now almost four o'clock. All that was left to do was the final shaping and then it would have to be left to cool and after that the fine detailing could begin.
He took a drink of water before stepping up to the forge again. He used a pair of iron tongs to remove the ring from the heat and set it upon the anvil. He reached for one of his smallest hammers and gently tapped the surface. This done he used a pair of curved tweezers to smooth the edges. Once he was satisfied with the shape he placed it in a bucket of cold water, there was a hiss as the hot metal met the water and a small cloud of steam followed it.
After a few minuets he took the ring out and placed it in the palm of his gloved hand. It was perfect. He smiled and set it down upon the near by table. Marz put out the forge fire and cleared away all of his tools before sitting down to do the engraving. He left the outside of the band just as it was but on the inner side he engraved: To Mara my dearest love. Marz sat for long moments marveling at his work, his thoughts eventually straying to the woman he loved and the difficult task that she had ahead of her. If Kalas did not give his blessings it did not really matter because Marz was determined to marry her with or with out it. But it would be much better for them if he did, for them and their future children. Marz heaved a sigh.
"Please Mara my love help him understand"
* * *
Mara had walked slowly to the Farmers Way, expecting the two to be there having a few drinks, but they weren't, meaning they had gone home, some where Mara wasn't certain she was ready to go to yet. So she had walked the market place and stopped in on some friends all the while thinking on what she was going to say to Kalas. She dreaded the thought of not having him by her side on her wedding day because she loved him just as dearly as Marz, but she had come to wonder if his love for her had faded or become lost in his attempt to be both father and mother to her and Khurn in the years since their parents passing. She knew in her heart that that was untrue, but her head told her something else entirely.
With four o'clock only fifteen minuets away she decided that she had waited long enough. She climbed into the saddle of her horse and rode at a steady pace for home.
Arriving at the house she walked the horse to the stable before going to the front door. She took a deep breath and knocked, not wanting to walk right in, as she normally would have for fear of not being welcome. It was Khurn who opened the door. He smiled at her.
"We were beginning to think you wouldn't be coming"
"Marz thought it would be a good idea and I agreed"
"Well remind me to thank him when I see him again. Come in" he stood aside to allow her to enter. Kalas sat at the kitchen table, his eyes upon his clasped hands.
"Khurn could you leave us for a while? I'd like to talk to him alone first. Alright?" Khurn smiled and nodded.
"Alright, I'll be outside then"
"Thank you"
"Just call when you want me to come back in" he smiled at her again before stepping out, closing the door behind him. Mara took a deep breath before walking to stand near her eldest brother, waiting for him to say something, or to at least move to indicate that she should speak first. But he remained just as he was, unmoving, not looking up at her. Just as Mara thought it fell to her to say something Kalas spoke at last.
"I'm sorry Mara. Khurn and I had a talk on the boat ride back and it made me realize just how hard I've been on you, on the both of you and I'm sorry. If I had just listened more instead of always having to be right all the time this whole mess might have been avoided" he looked up at her then and she saw the beginnings of tears in his eyes. "But I did it because I love you Mara, I don't want to see you hurt. You understand don't you? Please say you do and that you don't hate me. Please" there it was, the brother she knew, the brother she loved, no sign of the over baring all controlling man that she had seen earlier that day and the day before. She felt tears in her own eyes as she rushed forward and leaned down to put her arms around him.
"I do understand Kalas and I love you for that, I could never hate you. I didn't mean it when I said that and it hurt me to think that I had said it at all. You're my brother Kalas, I'll always love you" Kalas's tears ran freely down his cheeks as he placed his own arms around his sister and held her close.
"But there is some one else in your life now isn't there?" he asked, still holding her. She nodded.
"Yes, and I love him. He wont hurt me Kalas. He loves me and wants me to be his wife and I want him to be my husband. Please Kalas, if you really love me like you say you do and if you want me to be happy, please say you will respect my decision and make amends with Marz. Please brother, for me?" a small smile tugged at Kalas's lips.
"Ah my dear sister, you need hardly ask. I would do anything for you. I hope that you and Marz will be very happy together" Mara stepped back to place her hands on Kalas's shoulders.
"I know and thank you Kalas" he nodded and patted one of her hands before shifting his eyes to the door.
"Let Khurn in, I think its time we all had a talk" Mara nodded and walked to the door.
"Is it safe?" asked Khurn with a grin. Mara returned it and nodded.
"Yes its safe you can come in now Khurn" the white Minotaur chuckled and walked into the house, Mara closed the door behind him and joined both her brothers at the table.
"Have a seat you two" Kalas waved absently at the two empty chairs, which they took wordlessly.
"Have you considered the fact Mara that since Marz is a soldier that you might be made a widow not long after becoming a bride?"
"I have and so has Marz. His uncle is a general and he has asked him for permission to leave the army" Khurn's eyes widened.
"You don't say?"
"And what does he plan on doing for money then?"
"He wants to make his living as a silver smith. In fact he's making my engagement band and wedding ring"
"I see" Kalas did not sound impressed. Khurn turned to him.
"What's wrong with that Kalas? Its one of the few jobs I can think of that would befit a former soldier besides that its good work for good pay" Kalas nodded slowly.
"That's true, and there was nothing wrong with it I just found it interesting that's all. When will the wedding be Mara?"
"Oh well we hadn't really gotten that far yet but I was thinking perhaps the last day of summer"
"Plenty of time to mend our ways then, eh Kalas?" Khurn laughed, his brother returned it, or at least made some effort to.
"No time like the present though to my way of thinking. What say you Mara?"
"I agree. Why don't the both of you come and spend diner with us?"
"But that would mean you having to take the ferry twice in one day. Why not send an invite to Marz and have him come here? Besides that I'm sure we would all be far more comfortable in this humble kitchen then in the grand dining hall of the Stoneshield family home. What say you Kalas?" the older Minotaur nodded.
"I think that's a very good idea. Mara?"
"Alright"
"Very well then Mara get writing while Khurn and I get some things together to make diner"
"For me to make diner you mean" Mara chuckled as she rose to her feet. Kalas shrugged.
"Same difference, now get writing or else he wont arrive until the breakfast hour" Kalas smiled and watched Mara as she walked into her room and closed the door.
"Quick Kalas you get the chains and the padlock, I'll start hammering the boards into place," said Khurn as he rose.
"Oh shut up" replied Kalas as he gave his brother a light punch on the shoulder. Khurn laughed and followed his older brother around to the back of the house where the cold cellar was located.
* * *
Marz had since moved into the main room of the house and now sat before the fire with a mug of ale in one hand and the other upon the armrest. The ring sat upon the table in front of him, the fires light reflecting off its perfect surface. It was now nearly five thirty and he was growing worried. What if Mara had not been able to get through to Kalas? What if he had…no Marz could not quite bring himself to believe that he had shut her up in her room. Khurn would never have allowed it and besides that Kalas was not that kind of man. Despite his less the friendly behavior as far as Marz himself was concerned he knew that his future brother in law as a man of honor and that he loved his sister far too much to take such drastic action.
Just when he was about to give up on getting any word from her that night a knock came to the houses main door. Marz rose slowly to his feet and took up his scythe. He walked to the door and put one of his hands on the knob.
"Who is it?"
"A messenger sir. I have a letter for you from Taladas" Marz leaned his scythe against the wall and opened the door to receive the letter from the young chocolate colored Minotaur.
"What do I owe you?" the young man smiled.
"I wouldn't think of touching one copper piece of your money sir, good day" he bowed, turned and began walking back to town. Marz shrugged, closed the door and walked back to retake his seat before opening the letter:
My darling Marz
Kalas has consented to our marriage and gives his blessings. He wants you to come to dinner tonight and make amends. I know its short notice but he wouldn't have it any other way and besides that I think I agree with him. It is best to strike while the iron is hot. By the time you arrive dinner shall be ready and waiting for you.
See you soon love Mara.
Marz smiled and read the letter twice over again to be sure he wasn't just imagining it before drinking down the last of his ale and heading upstairs to change into a black shirt, black leather kilt, boots and a silver belt. He left a note for the fire to be put out and the house locked up securely before he left. He saddled up his horse and rode for the docks, his heart soaring.
* * *
Standing outside the door of the house that his beloved shared with her brothers for the first time in his life Marz felt fear, it was small but it was there, nagging at the back of his mind it made him hesitant, made him almost wish he hadn't come. But then he remembered Mara, how she was waiting for him on the other side of this door. He braced up and knocked three times. Mara answered the door and she smiled at him.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come"
"Now you should know better then that Mara. I wouldn't have missed this for anything" he returned her smile.
"Come in then" she stepped aside to allowed him to enter. He walked in to see Kalas and Khurn standing side by side in front of the table; both dressed similarly in blue doublets and dark leather kilts. Khurn smiled at him, walked forward and offered his hand.
"Welcome to our humble home Marz, good to see you again" Marz took hold of his hand and nodded.
"You as well and thank you for having me"
"Don't mention it" he let go of Marz's hand as Kalas walked forward.
"Hello Marz"
"Kalas" the elder Minotaurs expression remained perfectly blank as he offered his hand. Marz too it and Kalas smiled at last.
"Welcome" Marz returned his smile"
"Thank you" Mara smiled at the both of them.
"Well come on lets sit down and eat before the dinner gets cold" Kalas let go of Marz's hand.
"Right you are my sister, after you Marz"
"Thank you" the black Minotaur walked to the table and took a seat. Mara sat next to him, Khurn took a seat on her other side and Kalas sat at the head of the table. All helped themselves to roast chicken, potatoes, carrots, gravy and bread. Mara left the table to fix a pot of tea, which she set upon a table before retaking her seat. Kalas was the first to pour himself a cup and took a sip before turning to Marz.
"My sister tells me you want to take up smithing as your trade, is that so?" Marz nodded.
"It is"
"How did you learn?"
"Oh I spent a lot of time with the local silver smith in the city where I grew up on Mithas. Once I was old enough to be near the forge I kind of became his part time apprentice. Part time because I made my career as a soldier. But I learned enough to make a living at it once I leave the army"
"Are you sure?" Marz half smiled and took Mara's engagement ring from an inner pocket of his shirt.
"See for your self. Does that look like professional work to you?" he tossed the ring to Kalas who caught it and looked it over.
"It does indeed. You did the engraving too I suppose?"
"Naturally" Kalas handed the ring back to Marz who then turned to Mara, whose eyes were fixed upon the ring, which he handed to her so she could read the inscription. She smiled at him as he took the ring from her and placed it upon her finger. Mara leaned forward and kissed Marz on the cheek before returning to her meal. Khurn side glanced at Kalas, smiled and winked before taking a drink of his tea.
"Mara's said she might want to have the wedding on the last day of summer. What do you think of that Marz?" asked Kalas.
"That sounds just fine to me. It can't come fast enough in my way of thinking. I am grateful to you Kalas for understanding how much I love your sister. I'll make a good husband for her I promise"
"You had better or else nothing in either this world or the next will stop me from ripping you apart"
"And I would not resist not in the slightest. I'd do all in my power to aid you in your goal. I would rather die then live with the knowledge that I had brought her pain in anyway" Kalas smiled in spite of himself.
"Marz I think you and I are going to get a long just fine" Khurn laughed and the other three joined him. The rest of the night was spent in a similar manner. After the meal they all sat around the fireplace drinking wine and exchanging stories of their pasts. When the hour approached midnight Marz stood up from his seat and stretched.
"Well I think it's about time I took my leave"
"I think I will agree with you on that" said Kalas as he too rose from his seat; Khurn and Mara did the same.
"One question remains though. Will you be coming home with me or staying here Mara?" she thought for a moment before taking hold of Marz's hand and smiling.
"I'll go with you" he returned her smile and looked to Kalas.
"Is that agreeable with you Kalas?" Mara looked over her shoulder at her brother, doubt entering her heart, but it soon dissipated when she saw him shrug.
"It is Mara's decision not mine" he smiled at her and she returned it.
"Well then in that case" Khurn stepped forward and offered his hand. "Good night Marz, Mara, a safe journey home" Marz shook Khurn's hand.
"Thank you"
"The same from me" Kalas took hold of Marz's hand.
"Good night you two, we'll be in touch," said Mara, the brothers nodded and stood side by side, watching the two as they turned and walked out. After a few moments of silence Khurn turned to Kalas.
"Well brother what did I tell you? Marz is a good man, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would but I'm still not all together sure that I approve of this whole thing"
"Your not going to cause trouble again are you? I thought we had settled all this"
"We did and they'll get no trouble from me but I can tell you this Khurn that Marz still has a long road a head of him if he wants my trust, a very long road indeed" Khurn sighed and muttered something about not being able to teach old dogs new tricks before walking silently to the room he shared with his brother suddenly he felt tired.
* * *
"I think that went well don't you?" asked Mara as the two stood together later that night upon the stern of the ship that would take them back to Mithas.
"I do, the evening went very well"
"Perhaps a little too well to your way of thinking hum?"
"Perhaps" he side glanced at her and smiled as he placed his arm around her and hugged her close, "But it doesn't matter now. All that matters now is that we have your brothers blessing and by this time on the last day of summer you will be my wife and I will be the happiest husband in all of Mithas" he kissed her then and she returned it while above them the stars glittered and shown in a moonless sky.
