The days leading up, Finn grilled into Harv the false persona he had concocted. A courtier, one from a lesser noble household and not a lot of money. A person of reasonable enough status that Harv could have met her through work, and thus, the secrecy around the engagement. Secret engagements had been all the rage last year after all. It would be easier than having Finn pretend he ever lifted a finger for manual labor.
"When in doubt." Finn said on the carriage ride over. "Tell the truth, just bend around me being male of it all. It'll be easier for you to keep your stories straight." He'd gone back and forth about using a completely fake name. "Who am I again?"
Harv knew Finn was sitting in front of him. Even with a smattering of freckles over the face and emerald green eyes, he could tell. The violet cologne alone gave it away. Finn's disguise had everyone else fooled. It was kinda eerie how shadows fell differently on his face.
"You're taking too long again." Finn sighed. "Would your parents notice if you called me by my name?"
"...probably not." His parents could never remember his friend's names.
"Alright, forget Chirstine. As far as they're concerned I'm Fynn Ashenburrow." Finn sighed. He had hoped to have more division of when he was performing and when he could be himself. It was better than getting caught.
"Which name?" Harv asked. "Fynn or Ashenburrow." Finn stared at Harv long and hard. This man had served in the court for a few years now. "For like, proper manners."
"Ah, Fynn is fine." Finn said. "I'm your betrothed after all. Your brothers must call me by my last name. Especially the clever one, keep him as far away from me as possible."
"Good idea."
"Of course it is, it was mine." Finn said.
"Are you going to be snippy the whole time?" Harv sighed.
"I have tape in places where there shouldn't be tape." Finn snapped. "I'm going to be a little short with everyone, yes." Each bump of the carriage, Finn winced. Harv felt a little guilty.
"You've every right, I'm sorry."
"And remember, regardless of what comes out of my mouth, go along with it." Finn said. This was going to be a very trying weekend.
-v-
They arrived at the farm. As soon as Harv stepped out of the carriage, he could feel how out of place they were. Finn, erm, Fynn said in the carriage and looked at him expectantly. It had been forever since he'd done proper escort duty. He looked around and kicked out the silly little ladder, and then there were their bags. He hurried back and offered Fynn his hand, which was taken gingerly as his supposed fiance stepped out of the carriage. Then he was able to get the bags.
"Harv!" His father limped over to them with a big smile on his face. Harv breathed a sigh of relief when the old man didn't turn back around for the garlic. He hugged his dad, marveling at how grayer his hair had become. "And who's this?"
"Maid Ashenburrow." Fynn curtseyed. Harv did his best to hide his shock. He never knew Finn could talk in such a high voice without straining. "It's a pleasure to meet you." His mother came bursting out of the door. Roland let go of Harv, rushing to lend his wife a hand.
"Harvey!" Clover grabbed Harv by the cheeks and pulled him down so she could kiss the top of his head. "Look at you!" She was so much thinner than when he last saw her, her hair limp and lifeless. As glad as he was he came, it was still kind of hard to swallow.
"Mom." She pinched his cheek.
"None of that. You and your father both. I'm fine." Her breathing was getting heavier again. "And you." Clover cooed. Fynn went to curtesy again, and got trapped in a hug instead. "Welcome to the family. I can't tell you how happy I am to finally meet you." Fynn clawed his way to freedom.
"Um, you too." He reached for a silver disk he had changed to his skirt to check his face. Not a freckle out of place. "Where are we to put our things?" Roland took one glance at the suitcases and laughed.
"Didja plan to build a house this weekend?" He gave Harv a playful slap on the shoulder.
"No, this is just Fynn's clothes." Harv said. Fynn glared at him. One of those bags was Harv's, full of a bunch of armory and stuff he didn't 'need' either.
"Well if you can find a place to sleep in the loft with all that stuff up there, you're welcome to." Roland said. "Otherwise, you might have to send it back."
"Send it back!?" Fynn covered his mouth, his falsetto had almost slipped. "That won't be necessary. They could make decent pillows if we're tight on space." The look of irritation was impossible to mask. Never in their deal had Harv mentioned them sleeping in a barn with other animals.
"It's fine Fynn," Harv said, "there's plenty of room up there."
"Oh, I see." Fynn tried to be dainty with his footing, but the shoes he borrowed pinched like hell. The heels kept sinking in the mud and it was hard to so much as pretend to help Harv with the bags.
"Why don't you come with us dear." Clover said, taking Fynn by the elbow. "Harv knows his way around here. We'll help you get acquainted while he loads up the loft." It was just three bags! Fynn faked a placid smile and followed them into the two room hut, wondering how a tour of this place could possibly be needed.
-v-
Overall, Fynn would rate his experience a solid four out of ten. The problem came from the little snickers and eye rolls anytime Finn tried to identify objects. His lack of 'common' sense was just oh so amusing to Harv's family. His youngest brothers were both of age now, and had gawked at Fynn's attire with appropriate reverence. There was also a nine year old running around, and Fynn wasn't sure if it was polite to ask if he was a brother Harv failed to mention, or a little nephew. Either way Fynn was awkward around children.
The only place he'd be able to be alone was in a field with a hundred goats or the hayloft, looking down at a hundred or so goats. The kitchenette was a flat row of counters and a firepit with a dining table for eating. The other room was a shared bedroom with hay stuffed the attic above the sleep quarters was the pantry, full to the brim with goods Rhodri had probably bought for them to get them through the lean harvest. It was apparently where they were supposed to be sleeping, but Harv had insisted they stay somewhere with a door sheltering them from the rest of the family. At least he had tried.
"Where's the bathroom?"
"Tub's outside." Roland shook his head.
"I mean," Fynn chose to direct his question toward Clover, "when can I… If I had to go…"
"Outhouse is across the way dear." Clover lead him with a gentle hand, but not before Fynn heard a comment about nobles peeing where they showered. "I know it's a bit of an adjustment, but I appreciate you coming all the way out here." Clover said. Fynn nodded, mostly bracing himself for the stink of an out house to join him while he tried to figure out how to peal off the layers of his outfit alone without letting them touch the muddy floor.
-v-
Harv returned to the main house before Fynn got back. His reunion with his brothers was bitter sweet. Puck was in his early twenties now, so much more responsible than the child he'd left behind. Big had taken advantage of Rhodri's connections and got a position in the tailor's guild making new patterns. His youngest brother Kenric, he barely knew, having been born while Harv was serving on the front lines. He had that rambunctious spirit that they all had at that age, so Harv didn't feel like a complete stranger, just awkward.
He was having difficulty keeping the newer additions to the family straight. One of his brothers' wives was Amelia, the other Anina, and he was already getting the two mixed up. They were both sweet, the brunette was the miller's youngest daughter and the other with flaxen hair from the tailor's guild. But the young tailor was married to Puck, not Big, and Harv craved Finn's help with keeping them straight. He was so much better at following introductions than him, even if he was worse with names.
"Your little fiance's so quiet." Puck joked. Harv nearly choked on his mead. Finn was always talking.
"Guess she's a little shy." Harv shrugged.
"That's one way to put it." His father said.
Fynn entered the house, muttering a small gratitude to his mother before joining at Harv's side. He wrapped his arms around Harv's right one and rested his cheek on Harv's shoulder.
"How early is too early to turn in?" He whispered.
"We just got here." Harv murmured back. "I don't know about you, but I'd like dinner before going to bed." So by quiet, they meant pouting. Fynn sighed, there were few options to sit down other than at the dinner table or on the floor.
"It'll take a bit to get everything set up." Clover said. Anina brought a chair over for her when she tried to fetch apples to peel. "Your father's been roasting a goat since before sunrise. We've got apple and gooseberry pie that'll be ready in a few minutes." Fynn was shocked, he'd barely been able to hear Harv, it was a wonder she could tell they were talking about food across the room. "So, how'd you two meet?"
"Work." Harv said. His whole huge family looked at him expectantly. "What?"
"...well, you're not engaged to everyone at work..." Amelia said quietly. Fynn clung to Harv tighter. Under so many watchful eyes, he couldn't help but be tense.
"Harv was in the garden doing practice exercises." Fynn fluttered his lashes. "I saw him and just knew I had to talk to him. He has one of those faces y'know, kind. We've been inseparable ever since." Fynn's story earned the appropriate amount of cooing from his family. Harv relaxed considerably, so that's what Finn meant by telling the truth. This he might be able to manage.
"Yeah," Harv said, "she gets nervous around horses, and kept asking me to escort her places." Fynn hummed in agreement like he'd hung the moon in the sky. "Even when it's not my turn to escort people." Fynn lightly pinched the underside of Harv's arm. Apparently that was too much honesty. It was kind of a relief to see his vindictive side, Finn's lovestruck acting was so good it almost seemed real.
"I just love him that much." Fynn played the whole thing off as a joke.
"How long have you been engaged?" Roland asked.
"Fourteen weeks." Fynn said without blinking an eye.
"That long?" Clover was shocked. "What's your father making Harv do to get permission, the 12 labors of Hercules?"
"Planning a wedding takes time." Fynn looked at Harv confused. "It takes twice that just to make the dress."
"What's wrong with the one you're wearing?" Amina asked.
"Philippa..." Big said, shaking his head. "First she wants a special dress to get married in, now all nobles want a special dress. The guild has an order request list a mile long." He had a grave look on his face. "And they can't be the same dress." He took a long drink of mead. "Not making that mistake again."
"Bah, if you have permission, what's the point in putting it off?" Roland asked.
"It doesn't work like that in court, dad." Harv said. "They have a bunch of traditions, and if you break one, you never hear the end of it. Lady Tremaine... what did she do again?"
"She wore Yuletide shoes at a harvest festival." Fynn shivered just remembering it. "I don't care how much you love Jesus and Christmas, there's a time and a place."
"Yeah, that was five years ago," Harv sighed, "and she's still being ostracized for it. I'd hate to see how they'd treat a lady who got married wrong."
"You'd have to live out in the forest." Fynn said. Harv forgot Leenan being unmarried had caused problems for Finn growing up.
"Uh, yeah, so it'll be... years before we can." Harv vaguely gestured. "Politics, am I right?"
"Oh at least two," Fynn sighed, "and you know the Radnars would come up with something last minute to try and make me look bad."
"Just sounds like an excuse to put it off." Roland said, narrowing his eyes.
"Amina, Puck; why don't you get the roast goat." Clover said, not liking how the two men were glaring at each other. After dinner, Harv agreed, retiring for the night early would be a good call.
-v-
Finn had looked forward to dropping the ridiculous disguise, but there were a few problems with that. First, he had been prepared to sleep on hay. The thin sleepwear would do nothing to protect him from the cold. There was also no door separating it from the rest of the barn. No way for them to discreetly plant a magical doorway without blocking access to the rest of the family barn. People would be coming and going in the morning, so in theory he could relax, but it would be extremely risky. Until he was absolutely sure no one would drop in to check on the 'happy couple', he had to keep the illusion up.
"Well, that went pretty good." Harv said, finally behind closed doors.
"Pretty good?" Finn recoiled. "They hated me."
"I'm sorry," Harv said, "it's only for a few days. Once we're out of here-"
"No, they hated me." Finn's arms were crossed. He was hunkered in the corner of the loft sitting one of their bags. "Not knowing what you call bathroom, or how I pack; that's not an act. That's just me being me."
"Well, maybe it's a good thing." Harv let his dread loose from his hair tie. "Serves them right for sticking their nose into something they shouldn't have." Harv perked up. "You should do it more."
"What?"
"If they never want to deal with my fiance, they'll never want to see me again." To Harv, it was the greatest idea in the world. No need to explain to his father years down the line what happened to 'that one girl', and all the other inconvenient conversations he'd been avoiding would go by the wayside. The look on Finn's face said otherwise.
"Don't say that," Finn said, "we're here because you worried for your mother, remember?" Finn got up. "I want them to like me." He shimmied down to the ground floor, fishing his stupid pointy shoes from the shadows. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go ask to borrow some linens, because someone thought that would be excessive."
"It was excessive!" Harv shot back in jest. Still he knew Finn was right. As much as he hated being needled about his job, and coming home less, and not wanting a wife in the first place. This whole sharayed was supposed to just let his mother go with one less worry on her mind. His brothers were more than understanding of his situation.
-v-
Fynn knocked on the front door. The night air nipped at his skin. Clover answered, a little flustered, the rest of the house confused why Fynn was bothering to knock at all.
"Sorry for bothering you," Fynn said to another chorus of confused looks, "could I trouble you for a blanket or two?"
"Of course." Clover led Fynn up to the pantry. Toward the back was all their winter goods. Finn pawed through the thin muslin blankets, he needed something thick and warm. "...You know, I had a feeling there was a reason Harv hadn't come back in a while." Finn paused, a multicolored quilt catching his eye. "I'm glad it was for a good reason."
"Hmm?" Fynn realized she was talking about him. "O-oh, um..."
"It's alright dear." She pat Fynn gently on the shoulder. Her eyes widened, as she saw the quilt.
"Would this be okay?"
"Yes!" Clover settled down a bit. "By all means." There were some other fluffy things that Finn gathered as well. She sent Fynn out into the night, and when the cost was clear, Roland came up to see if she was okay.
"What was that all about?" Roland asked. Clover turned, a thousand thoughts going through her head. She'd overheard Harv tell Fynn to act up so he could stay away from home. Before she could get to the bottom of it, Fynn had done something unexpected. "Fynn wanted to borrow the fertility quilt."