Ice was clinging to the window panes, creating a myriad of patterns across the surface. A biting wind whistled through the minute cracks in the frames. Joy pinned her shawl about her shoulders and shuddered lightly. She was sat amongst the tomes of the scholars stair, candle light flickering against the winter gloaming light, cascading patterns and shadows across the dusty room. In front of her lay several crisp sheets of text. Mister Leafcutter wandered over with a hot beverage steeped with tea leaves and honey.
“How’re you getting on my dear girl?”
Joy scooped up the mug and cradled it with both hands.
“I feel I am getting nowhere fast…”
“Per’aps ye should lay it to rest awhile? Ye have been here a dear time, I fear your husband may be worried ye are lost!”
“Oh, oh dear, what time is it?”
“Well it’s near sundown, we can’t have ye walking home in the dark”
She supped at her tea, gathered the papers together in no such form of organisation, much to Mister Leafcutters dismay, before flinging her arms around his now stooped shoulders.
“Thank ye, thank ye so much Mister Leafcutter, I am ever so gra-”
“Newbold, child, ye of all people can call me Newbold.”
She smiled apologetically,
“Well ‘tis true, I am ever so grateful to both you and Polly. And, if ye happen to stumble upon any records that might be useful?”
“I shall send word immediately.”
She nodded and made her way down the wending stair to the low gate. The light was dropping fast as she carefully tread to the Prancing Pony. The cold was setting into her bones and the wind brought with it an icy rain as it froze the moisture in the air surrounding it. The ground was somewhat slippy as she walked with as much care as she could, her hand resting on her swollen belly. The light of the Pony cascaded through the crystalline rain, appearing most comforting and magical to boot. Making her way through the door, the ice that clinged to her hair and eyelashes instantly melted at the sheer warmth of the roaring hearth, where she spied her husband nursing a tankard.
“I do believe we should stay here tonight, it is getting most foul out there.”
Drandr jumped at the sound of her voice, quickly casting his gaze over to the window, now dark and covered in fractals from where the hot air met the cold glass. His face began to soften somewhat.
“I do believe you are right.”
Some moons later
Outside the window, the last of winters thaw was slowly melting. Drandr was off seeking some work in the surrounds of Archet and Hjotr had been welcomed into the world. It had been a fair and lonely time, one that had been punctuated by the lack of family on both Joy and Drandr’s parts. She sorely needed company, even a mundane conversation about the weather wouldn’t go amiss and Hjotr had not yet seen the town of Bree, only the short wooded walks they would take around their homestead. She swaddled him in cloth around her and wrapped him up nice and warm, a bonnie hat resting upon his hairless head. She decided to walk to Bree, instead of taking her mare Dusty - who was gladly shifting aside clumps of lingering snow to get to the grass beneath. The air was crisp and the sun was pale and low in the sky, but there was a gentle warmth when leaving that shady copse as she ventured out from the cold shadows of the trees.
First things first, she made her way to the Pony, it was still fairly early in the morning and she knew the regulars would be getting their breakfasts but it would likely be calm and not too busy for Barliman to break off work for a time. Inside that fair inn, was just as she thought, the sound of the kitchen thrummed with life as Nob and Bob shouted ingredients back and forth. At the tables, sat only a few people before their work day and the Leafcutters were one such table.
“Joy! My dear! Oh come, take a seat!” Chimed Polly
They were halfway through their plates of crisp bacon, bread and scrambled egg.
“Oh, I don’t wish to intrude at all!”
Polly wandered over and greeted Hjotr with delight whilst gently ushering Joy to their table.
“Well now, how have ye been? And the little one, oh look at his his little hands!”
“We’re faring well, thank ye, despite that deep cold winter. This is our first day out!”
“Well, we’d heard from Miss Shadetree that all had gone well and that little Hjotr was healthy, we’ve been getting the odd bit of news from her. But, oh, so excited that he is here and to see both of yer bonnie faces!”
A general excitement was in the air as hands went to stroke cheek or hand of little Hjotr. Even Barliman allowed himself near a full hour away from the bar as he jostled Hjotr on his lap. It was a splendid morning, if not a little overwhelming for the pair.
When both began to tire, she wandered toward the market square to order some bolts of cloth and purchase a little food. She found Bonny not far from her stall, stacked high with varying coloured cloth.
“My dear miss Roseberry, well, what a pleasure it is to see ye on this fine day!” Bonny exclaimed from behind the reams of fabric.
Her eyes getting all the more cheery at seeing the little bairn bound to Joys chest.
“Good morn Bonny! How have ye been?”
“Oh, so, so… plodding on as usual. And ye, how are ye and that, that fellow of yours and your sweet little bairn?”
“We are most well, thank ye. Our first trip out, I dare say, the weather hasn’t been too kind to us.”
“Oh indeed, yes. Have ye been getting some help? Heard from the Ferngroves at all?”
Joys face quickly piqued with interest.
“Ehm, no? I don’t belie-...”
“Oh, well ye should get in touch with them one of these days, I’m sure they would be glad to hear of a new’un to th’family.”
“I don’t, I don’t believe they would spare much thou-….”
Bonny grumbled and spoke over her yet again, the mouth of a hawker of wares can always be hard to contend with.
“They still all a feuding ey? Oh that Ada, she just couldn’t let it lie. She was a lovely lady, but couldn’t let much rest. It’s a real sad tale what happened o’er that land. Broke them apart it did.”
Joy lifted up her hand in a fluster as other customers strode up to the stall. Bonny rubbed her hands together before greeting her new patrons and showing them new cloths. Joy lingered for awhile before being caught by Cymaru who nattered her away from the market, cooing over Hjotr all the while.
That Evening
Hjotr sat gurgling on Joy’s hip as she paced back and forth in the hearth room. A fire crackled, setting alight the nearby dust motes dredged up by her striding. Drandr sat, gazing into the fire with his pipe in hand listening to her woe.
“Well now, it’s just so strange. Why, why would one say such a thing?” Joy left no room for an answer whilst Drandr tapped his pipe lightly, an air of confusion creasing his forehead.
“Broke them apart, she did say. Some land or other. Tis first I’ve heard of such! My ma, we shared so much, yet so it seems she kept so much hidden.” She continued.
Her skirts billowed around her legs as she marched back and forth. A sigh of swirling smoke escaped Drandr’s mouth in exasperation, she had been talking for some time to no conclusion.
“I mean, t’say such a thing. She must know something more.”
The fire snapped and crackled as a new log was placed upon it. Drandr pulled himself up out of the large wooden chair and wandered over to her, resting his roughened hands upon her small shoulders.
“Dear wife, sit now, you will buckle the floor with all that pacing. Let us have our supper.”
He kissed Hjotr on the forehead before leading her to his chair.
* * * * * *
As evening turned to dead of night, the candles snuffed out and the hearth fire turned to embers, they lay in their bed. Joy nestled in the crook of Drandr’s arm, whilst his other gently rocked Hjtor’s carved bassinet, lulling him into deeper sleep. All was quiet except the sounds of gentle breathing and the occasional rustle of branches clacking together in the breeze outside the window. Drandr was gazing at the ceiling, whilst Joys were closed, seemingly asleep. The patterns of the branches drifted over the wood, lit by the moon. He felt Joy move a little at his side, burrowing in a little more before stillness resumed once again.
“But really, what did she mean by that?”
Drandr exhaled heavily.
“Joy, mayhaps you should simply just ask?”
She sat up in the bed, seemingly ready to head for the door. Drandr grasped her elbow.
“But please, let us rest on it…”
