What can I say? AndithFest inspired me. So I have gotten three different stories posted/updated in less than a week! Hopefully this trend will continue for awhile. Meantime, you know how it is, we writers live for feedback. Actually, we're gluttons for it ;-)
Oh, and remember, this story will move over to M with the wedding. Fascination is already there.
The next day when Arnporr came to see Ead, Haerviu was waiting with her. "I thought we might ride out to see the place I have in mind for your people," he said.
Arnporr smiled but then looked at Ead regretfully. The expression was not lost on her father. "All of us, I mean. Aofie has packed a meal and we thought the family could all go and have a break before the wedding tomorrow."
Arnporr once again smiled. "I get my horse." He then hurried back in the direction from which he had come.
An hour later Arnporr reappeared with a cart that was driven by Winfrid and held some of the women that Ead has seen on the first day when the strangers appeared in their village, along with three children. As Ead and her family stared at the cart, Winfrid hopped down. "Arnporr thought that as you were bringing your family, he should bring his. These women are his sisters and the old woman is his mother's sister. The children belong to his youngest sister."
"Oh, I didn't realize he had any living family," Ead replied.
"Yes, this is his family. His sisters lost their men in battle several summers ago and his older sister lost both her sons. It is one reason, Arnporr decided on a different path. He said that if he ever did have children, he would want them to grow to be old men and not die in a stupid battle. "
Arnporr had climbed down from his horse and approached Ead and her family smiling. "My sisters are Adelais, Frida, and Linza is the mother of those little brats, Oda, Pippin, and Helmuld. The old woman is Edda." He had spoken with such fondness in his voice that Aofie was immediately taken with is obvious care for his family, making her more certain that Ead had chosen well.
Ead, made the introductions of her family, with Winfrid translating again. The woman exchanged smiles, all except for Ead's grandmother who wore a disapproving frown. She remained behind while the rest rode to the new settling place for Arnporr's tribe. Ead rode her horse with her father and Arnporr, as did her older sister. But Feidlimid and Aofie rode in their cart, also held a quickly arranged midday meal.
The sun was arching past midday when they arrived at the spot Haevriu had in mind for the new settlers. It was a nice clearing with woods on three sides and the land sloped gently to a lake that was shaped in a bow of sorts. "You could build your settlement here", he explained. "Water would be nearby and also the lake would protect you from surprise on at least one side and most of another."
"Yes," Arnporr said as he surveyed the area, a warm glow in his eyes. "We could clear some of the tress over there," he said pointing to an area at the top of the slope. That would give us a better view of intruders coming from the trees. And the wood could be used to build our structures. You have chosen wisely for us," he said as he turned to Haerviu.
Ead's father nodded his acknowledgement. Aofie called from the cart, "if you two can take a break from your planning, we women are hungry. Let's get the food from the cart and enjoy our meal in the new village." Winfrid appeared at her side to help carry the baskets of food. Luckily, Aofie had prepared too much and so there was enough to feed Arnporr's family as well as her own.
Once the fodd had been consumed, most of the women gather and with Winfrid's help chatted among themselves, learning about one another. Haerviu had stretched out beneath a shade tree and was dozing. Arnporr brushed Ead's arm and when she looked up at him, he took her hand and led her away from the others. "You like this plae?" He asked as they stood at the edge of the lake, gazing out over the calm water.
"I do," she replied. "I can imagine us being very happy here and in time, our children playing along the edge as your sister's children are doing now," she said as she eyed the three children romping along the edge of the water, occasionally stopping to investigate something they had seen in the grass or water.
"Yes, I will be happy to see our children without care." Arnporr replied. But he wasn't looking at the children. His eyes were firmly fixed on Ead instead. "It bother your father if I kiss you here?" he asked softly.
Ead chuckled as she turned to see her father sleeping under the tree. "I don't think much would bother him right now."
She'd barely gotten the words out of her mouth before her lips were occupied. In the distance, Aofie looked up from her conversation with the other women and smiled as she saw the giant man encompass her daughter in an obviously amorous hug as he kissed her. Yes, he is just the one to bring Ead into her own, Aofie thought.
Soon they were repacking the carts and turning back to the village. They came to a spot in the woods where the cart with Arnporr's people turned to go to their encampment. Arnpoor was riding beside Ead and reached across to touch her hand. She looked over to see him silently pleading, his eyes giving away his reluctance to leave her. Ead smiled mischievously and turned her horse in the direction of his group.
She heard her father calling out behind them but did not turn in response. "I'll be home for evening meal," she called out over her shoulder. And then she rode with Arnporr to his encampment.
The people, Arnporr's people and soon to be hers, looked up with surprise when she rode into their midst. One woman ran over to his sisters when they climbed down form their cart. Ead could see the animated, almost heated, conversation between the woman and Pippin. Arnporr took her horse with his and tied them to a tree, leaving Ead to watch the exchange between the women.
Winfrid appeared at her side, "The woman is Wassa. You will need to wary of that one. She has craved Arnporr since his wife died. It has not been easy for him to thwart her even though it is easy to see that he does not care for her. In fact, he has come to despise her because of her behavior. She can be very mean. Do not trust her. "
Ead thanked Winfrid for telling her this as she studied the woman and the reaction from Arnporr's sisters. "Why is she arguing with Pippin and the others?"
"They have tried to make her see that he does not want her, has never wanted her. Pippin is the most protective of him. Oda has always looked out for him but more quietly. And Helmuld is the papered one and looks out only for herself. Still, she loves her brother and will come to his defense, and yours, if necessary. I think you won the sisters as friends today. They are not blind; they see how he looks at you and you at him. Even the old woman seems agreeable to you as his woman."
Ead released a deep sigh. "I'm glad his family is happy with me as his choice. I do not want him to be unhappy in any way."
"Oh, ear one, with you at his side I see only good things for Arnporr."
Ead turned to her tutor turned friend and smiled. "Thank you Winfrid. You have not only taught me Arnporr's language, but you are treating me as a friend."
"As I told you, Arnporr took me into his clan when others turned me away. My loyalty will always be with him and with those he cares for." Seeing Arnporr walking towards them, Winfrid shot Ead a quick smile and walked away.
"You talk to Winfrid?" Arnporr asked when he stood next to her.
"Yes, he was telling me that your sisters seem to like me today." Arnporr glanced back at his sisters who were going into a tent and then scowled as he saw Wassa walling away. "He also told me about Wassa," she added. "Well, warned me actually."
Arnporr frowned and the groaned. "The woman will not stop. Winfrid was good to warn you. She keeps after me, even though I tell her I do not want her. She not give up."
"Well, I can understand why she wants you," Ead said smiling as she hooked her arms through his right one, leaning into him. "But she will have to understand that I have caught you and I will not let you go."
"She will be ugly," he said. "You be careful. Let me tell her I am caught by you." Then grinning, he held out his hands. "Little fish catch big fish," he teased, referring to a conversation they had early in their courtship about fishing.
Ead spent some time in the encampment, meeting some of Arnporr's people and with Winfrid's help, talking with them a little. All seemed welcoming. But she did not meet or see Wassa again that day.