There they stood, the three of them. Meadwine, Meadowyn and Ægáldred were lined up before their father in the main hall of his house. Their clothing was wet and there were many food substances upon their cheeks and in Meadwine's beard. Ægáldred had no beard in those days, for he was only a lad of thirteen winters, Meadwine and Meadowyn not being so much older than he were still living in their father's house.
Meadred, their father, seemed rather angered by the state of them, and he wished to know what had happened. "Meadwine," he said, "My eldest son. Tell me what happened," he demanded, but Meadwine was quiet. Meadwine was unshaken by their father's demand and did not fear him, nor punishment. They exchanged looks of challenge, but Meadred was no man to be patient in times as such. "Very well," he said, "Meadowyn, my eldest daughter. Will you not tell me what happened?" Then Meadowyn was thoughtful, for she did not wish to speak things that would anger Meadwine. She was torn between speaking truth to her father and the trust of her brother that she thought would fade if she were to answer the question. Nonetheless, when words came to her she looked upon her father and opened her mouth to speak. "I will tell you, father!" Ægáldred quickly said ere Meadowyn could speak.
Then Meadred went to stand before Ægáldred, eyeing him with disapproval and doubt. His head tilted and his long beard swung. "Ah, my second son," he said, "Seeing that my two eldest have bitten their own tongues I will hear your account of the matter. Speak."
"Father, Meadwine and Meadowyn said that they would show me what the folk in the tavern are like, and that they would buy me a few drinks while we are there. I do not know where they had gotten the coin for it, but I dared not ask. I confess, father, that I was curious. I wished to venture into the tavern as a man, as Meadwine would."
Now at those words it seemed that Meadowyn looked to her right to behold Ægáldred with a strange look, Meadwine leaned forth so that he could see beyond Meadowyn and gave Ægáldred that same look. Though he was not oblivious to their looks.
"Aye, as a man! Though I enjoyed the mead it did not sit so well with me, for it made my stomach feel queer. The Farrier's son came and sat with us, he was drunk, father, he had gone deep into his cup and in his witlessness he sought to have me drink many more than I wished. He persisted until Meadwine bid him leave. However, when he left he went to his fellows yonder at the bench across the way from us. He spoke loudly to the lads who say there; he said that Meadred's children where whelps who could not drink, and that I was worst of them. Now, father, I would not hold Meadowyn accountable for what followed:
She took her tankard and she cast at the back of the Farrier's son's head with good aim. However, he and his lads came to us and they were more than us, threatening us with deeds of thuggery, though we did not flee. We stood before them and warned them that they should leave ere we grow angry and set them straight. They were all drunk, but they laughed. We were unshaken and stood firm, then the Farrier's son took a pint of ale and poured it over my head. And that was when we got angry!
We cast forth our fists and they were shocked, drunken-folk cannot fight. We sent some of them to the floor, but some few of them stood. They grabbed any pitchers and pints and they cast the drink at us to dismay us, but when it failed then they took food and begun to cast it us! Ere they had fallen we were all wet, yet we tasted well - I believe!"
Then Meadred gave Ægáldred a look that made him feel as though he shrunk. For he was not impressed by the jests, or appeared so. There was a nail-biting silence and they all gazed upon Ægáldred. They would not speak without their father's leave. Then Meadred seemed to laugh and he ruffled Ægáldred's hair, for in those days he still hoped that Ægáldred would be great when he comes of age. "Good lad," he said to him, "Now, why was it that the youngest of you needs to tell me what had befallen, why can my eldest son and daughter not speak with their father? Or are they ashamed of good deeds?"
It took a while of hesitation ere Meadowyn alone spoke, "Nay, father, we are not." She said to him and glanced over to at Meadwine who was silent, though Meadred was content with her answer. "Good lass." Then he stood before Meadwoyn and Meadwine, "However," he started, "You disobeyed me by not speaking when I had asked it of you, and for this I must punish the two of you. You, my eldest son are to go to the stables and and give your aid to the stable-boys for a day after you have cleaned this mess from your clothing and face. Meadowyn, you are to help your sisters with what ever chores they are given by their mother."
"But!" She said quickly, though Meadred's face changed as he continued, "You will do as you are told!" He said, and she fell silent, lowering her gaze and there was an ire brooding within her eyes.
"Now go wash, the three of you." And then they were off to the Grimbrook. Though Meadowyn was angry. Once they left the gate she began to speak, "None sense, rubbish, unjust!" She began, "Why is it me? Why do I have to sit with those two and harken to their speaking of men while they see to their dresses. I cannot stand it!" She growled, "Why can I not go to the stables instead!?" Meadwine gave her look, but left her question answered. Neither Ægáldred, nor Meadwine wished to answer to her ire, and they kept silent. Once they stripped of their clothing and were at a quiet end of the river where they walked into the waters. Meadwine looked upon Ægáldred, "You sound mighty in your tales, brother." He said with a bitterness in his tone. Though Ægáldred looked away, those words were enough to disheartened him.
Then they bathed in silence, save for Meadowyn who sometimes spoke curses of being a woman in her ire, muttering the word lass bitterly.
