Midsummer was proving to be a fine day for celebration. Though Frederick was hesitant is taking the day off, he was enjoying the day spent relaxing. Breakfast was a sweeter porridge heaped with berries, and lunch was fresh vegetables that the garden was finally producing.
Dane was having an axe throwing contest, of which Anne was doing spectatularly. He was just adjusting the placement of her feet when he saw Frederick watching and waved.
Dane was having an axe throwing contest, of which Anne was doing spectatularly. He was just adjusting the placement of her feet when he saw Frederick watching and waved.
Matilda was overseeing the food being laid out, and keeping Alys firmly tucked into a chair.
"Please, Matilda. I can help with the food at least. I am not crippled-"
"No, no, no," Matilda said firmly. "I will not have you straining yourself. You sit and enjoy the day, look at the lovely sky." Alys shook her head and sighed. Tobias wrapped his arm around her in comfort. He had failed at the axe throwing competition early on and was enjoying being within arms reach of the food table.
"Just try to enjoy the day, honey," Tobias said. Alys sighed and tilted her head back.
"Please, Matilda. I can help with the food at least. I am not crippled-"
"No, no, no," Matilda said firmly. "I will not have you straining yourself. You sit and enjoy the day, look at the lovely sky." Alys shook her head and sighed. Tobias wrapped his arm around her in comfort. He had failed at the axe throwing competition early on and was enjoying being within arms reach of the food table.
"Just try to enjoy the day, honey," Tobias said. Alys sighed and tilted her head back.
Jeremiah later found his fiddle tucked away into the winter clothes, and brought it out for the day. He was not a terribly skilled player, it being his father's fiddle, but he could scratch out a jaunty tune for the day, and Midsummer's day was really no celebration without music.
Tamora and Edward were spinning each other around to the tune and having a gay time while the others lurked by the edges. Joseph eventually danced with both of his sisters and this broke the unease of dancing amongst the youths.
Tamora and Edward were spinning each other around to the tune and having a gay time while the others lurked by the edges. Joseph eventually danced with both of his sisters and this broke the unease of dancing amongst the youths.
Maud watched from the side, sighing. Midsummer was always a great celebration in Eastdelle. Though the city was poor, the residents knew how to make a good party. There would be a great dance in the pub, and horses would be raced just outside the city limits. The food... Maud's stomach rumbled a little at the memory. Tables heaped with sticky buns and roasted meats... Though Maud was not an often partaker of spirits, she would have a few drinks that day, to celebrate the summer day.
Today as well, Maud had a mug of ale from the cask they had brought here so long ago, and she partook in a few more mugs by the evening. So many, in fact, that the smell of spirits hung on her and she could hardly smell the reek of ale off of Jeph when he sat by her.
Today as well, Maud had a mug of ale from the cask they had brought here so long ago, and she partook in a few more mugs by the evening. So many, in fact, that the smell of spirits hung on her and she could hardly smell the reek of ale off of Jeph when he sat by her.
"Did you drink?" she asked. She rubbed her head. "I thought you stopped."
"Today's a special day," Jeph sighed, relxing. "Midsummer is for celebratin', not for rules." Maud nodded.
Before them was the day celebrations winding down. Jeremiah was still playing the faithful fiddle, and many of the children were dancing together in a group.
Maud watched with amusement as Anne danced by Alistair, Jeph's son. The two seemed to have an energy between them. Their eyes watched each other too often now. Raising an eyebrow, Maud was trying to decide if it was anything of concern when Morrys twirled a giggling Anne into his own arms.
"Did you see?" laughed Maud softly. "My daughter..."
"Today's a special day," Jeph sighed, relxing. "Midsummer is for celebratin', not for rules." Maud nodded.
Before them was the day celebrations winding down. Jeremiah was still playing the faithful fiddle, and many of the children were dancing together in a group.
Maud watched with amusement as Anne danced by Alistair, Jeph's son. The two seemed to have an energy between them. Their eyes watched each other too often now. Raising an eyebrow, Maud was trying to decide if it was anything of concern when Morrys twirled a giggling Anne into his own arms.
"Did you see?" laughed Maud softly. "My daughter..."
"Hmm?" Jeph murmered. He tilted his head back a forth to watch Maud in the light. She was chatting about her daughter and ... something or other. It was a pretty night, with the firelight glinting off of everything. It made the woman's hair shine something fierce. She had it all bound up like her everyday dress. Why didn't she let it down for this holiday? It was too rigid for any fun it be had.
"-And then -wait, what are you doing?" Maud felt her hair being tugged before it tumbled out of her bun and braid. She rounded on Jeph who was grinning wickedly. "What do you think you're doing, sir?" She shook her finger at him. "Now it'll be all tangled tomorrow." She tried to pull it back and saw Jeph slip the tie into his trouser pocket. "Enough being silly, now give that back!"
"-And then -wait, what are you doing?" Maud felt her hair being tugged before it tumbled out of her bun and braid. She rounded on Jeph who was grinning wickedly. "What do you think you're doing, sir?" She shook her finger at him. "Now it'll be all tangled tomorrow." She tried to pull it back and saw Jeph slip the tie into his trouser pocket. "Enough being silly, now give that back!"
Maybe it was an accident, or maybe it was a staged event, but when Maud went for her hair tie, and Jeph was playing keep away, somehow it ended a little differently. Maud drew back, flushing at the kiss.
"Why don't you leave it down," Jeph reasoned. "It's so nice." Maud's face flushed at his compliments, or maybe it was the kiss as well. Then there was another kiss, and another. Then more things began to happen, it was starting to become a blur for Maud. Jeph would later tell her, softly, in the night, that she had her own determination in the matter, a certain fierceness that he had been wanting for sometime. Maud sighed and crept closer to him in the rough country bed.
"Why don't you leave it down," Jeph reasoned. "It's so nice." Maud's face flushed at his compliments, or maybe it was the kiss as well. Then there was another kiss, and another. Then more things began to happen, it was starting to become a blur for Maud. Jeph would later tell her, softly, in the night, that she had her own determination in the matter, a certain fierceness that he had been wanting for sometime. Maud sighed and crept closer to him in the rough country bed.