Caradhril perched on a barrel, slowly and cautiously chopping carrots into a wooden bowl in his lap. His brothers sat across from him, gutting the day’s catch, and listening to the youngest member of the family with amusement. “And so then Lin shot a squirrel that was jumping from tree to tree! Before I could even blink!” He explained, expression animated.
Brassion clapped Caradhril on one shoulder, grinning at his younger brother at mention of Morliniel. “I wish I had a lovely little wife.”
Caradhril swatted his brother’s hand away. “Then go find one,” He glared, choosing to ignore the oft stated implication that he and Lin were betrothed.
Tuchanar didn’t look up from where he was gutting fish. “Aye, you could at that. Findis looks doe eyed at you whene’er we bring the fish to market, she’d surely say yes.”
Caradhril cast the middle brother a glance of pure appreciation before joining in. “Findis? She’s the one whose mother is from Lebennin?”
Brassion held up both hands in defeat. “Stop, stop!” He laughed, “I’d rather her sister. There’s a fine lass. She shot a deer from twenty feet away! Now there’s a woman I would make wife.”
Arveldir tutted at the boys from the corner where he was mending a button that had ripped off one sleeve. “If you’ve an eye on her you’d best ask. D’you think I wooed your mother by standing about gossiping?”
Mithwen was in the middle of the room, stirring a pot of stew. She fluttered her lashes coyly at this statement. “Why, but your sisters tell me that you did gossip! But,” She added swiftly at the wounded look her husband cast her, “You let me know, as well. If I’d not known I would surely have married Amardor instead.”
The brothers gasped in unison at this thought.
"But then you'd not have had us!" Tuchanar pointed out.
Mithwen laughed. "Ah, no. But your father did court me, and I did have you. So if Brassion does truly wish to wed this impressive lass of his he ought to do the same."
Brassion pressed his chin to his chest, muttering in embarrassment.
"Anyway," Caradhril returned to his story, feeling that his brothers would perhaps now listen without teasing him. "As I was saying..."
