“Can you please tell me about how you preserve your food during winter, Mrs. Fabron?” Matt felt he was dreaming, lady Frey’s fiancé, an imperial prince of the Fey Danan empire, was eagerly talking with his mother about her life on a farm.
“It is nothing special, we had a big underground cellar, we would store salted meat, dried food, and other things like that. Do you do it differently in the north of the empire?” his mother was not comfortable, but the prince was too familiar, she was getting used to speaking with him, not like his father.
“I heard you specialize in crafting tools, Mr. Fabron” lord Lunebleau was kind and serious, he tried to encourage his father, but his father had never been good with words, and he was a real supporter of house Lunebleau.
“I do, my lord. I confess I never liked making weapons, so I placed my craft in the other things” his father was adamant in not making weapons, he could had made better coin, but he would not change his fact. Some of the other smiths had always looked downed on him, but his steel was good, and he had a knack for making personalized tools.
“Yes, we were trying to make a grill, and your name was suggested for the work, I understand you are working on it?” he saw his father almost choked on the beer he was drinking, he did not know the castle had requested something for his father.
“I am sorry my lord, I don’t know, a grill, you say?”
“A grill is a metal grate, where you place firewood beneath and cook directly over it, it is a custom from the north of the Empire”
“I didn’t know it was for the castle my lord, I can have it ready by tomorrow if you need it” his father was about to get up, but lord Lunebleau stopped him.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Fabron, I am glad it is in good hands” his father nodded rapidly, Matt could not do anything for him, on a table next to them was his sister. She was nervous, but she like his mother managed remain composed.
She was showing her work to lady Frey and princess Luna and Vania, she had been nervous when she had presented the clothes to everyone. The prince was surprised and assured her it would be a success with orcs, he offered to take them personally. After the initial commotion, lady Frey and the two princesses were still talking with her about them.
“I like how well made they are, the north uses rougher fabrics, it makes more durable clothes, but your work assures the resistance on the clothes while being softer to the touch, fey clothes are nice, but they are durable enough for orcs” Princess Vania said with interest in his sister work.
“T am glad you noticed it, its one of the things my master suggested, I am confident in their durability, I am nervous to see how they are received” his sister was nervous of talking with the princesses, but she carried herself properly.
“They are different than what you imagine, right?” lady Lea said to him, after dinner everyone took different directions, his little brother Victor was playing with other kids from the farm, his brother-in-law choose to watch the young Victor, intelligently. He had taken a look at the farm to try to calm down, but now lady Lea was in front of him.
“I am sorry?” he hated looking so stupid in front of lady Lea, she was well regarded among the armsman, her father Sir Lois was good with them, and she often talked with them. She was known to bring late night snacks for those on guard, he had suffered her kindness once, the problem was, how easy it was to get interested in her.
“The Lunebleaus, I have grown with them, they make you forget they are our lords; I am glad the prince is like that, your family is incredible, armsman” lady Lea dark chestnut hair was tied with a silver brooch, he understood her words perfectly. He had felt ill after the prince had invited them, when he had gone and talk with him after seeing his duel with his sister, he was about to faint, the castle was going to send a carriage for his family, they would spend the evening at the Lunebleau farm.
“Thank you, lady Lea, we were all nervous about this”
“You don’t have to, it is Aedrik’s fault, well to an extent our own as well” lady Noelle entered their conversation, Matt was already having trouble with lady Lea, now, his legs were failing him “We should not have mock him on the parade”
“I should have answered the prince, but honestly, I never expected him to recognize me”
“That’s the thing, prince Aedrik is too perceptive, and for all he is polite and well mannered, he truly does not like social etiquette” Matt was surprised by the open comment about the prince by lady Lea, he closed his mouth, she was right, but he truly liked the prince.
“I am sorry armsman, I could not help but tease you, the prince does have a way of making himself likeable” Lady Lea mischievous smile crossed her beautiful, tanned skin. He nodded; she was messing with him.
“Come, armsman, you are not on duty, you are our guest” lady Noelle and Lea brought him back to the main table. He had been standing from it, as if he were on guard duty.
“Madame Dumont sent a cream tart, please come to the table” as they were heading to the large table that had been set outside below a large tent, it was below the shadow of the main house in the Lunebleau farm, the largest in the region. Lady René was cutting the cream tart, that was the thing that had him on the edge, not only where they invited to have dinner with them, they have truly hosted his family.
Everyone one of the individual conversations ended, they all turned for dessert, even his brother-in-law had left the children playing, to get some of the beautiful tart. He knew how good of a cook was Madame Dumont, it was one of the best benefits of being and armsman of house Lunebleau.
“Let me help you, lady René” lord Pan, the prince fey cousin, was distributing the tart slices, he could not help but stare at the beautiful face of the fey, his brother-in-law had a perpetual look of caution whenever he looked at the prince cousin. He was prettier than many ladies, in his opinion.
“Thank you, René, you are in for a treat Mrs. and Mr. Fabron, madame Dumont cream tart is outstanding” lady Lunebleau said as the tart was being distributed. His sister was going to sit close to their mother, but lady Noelle and Frey placed her close to them, much to his brother-in-law concern.
His father was still seating close to lord Lunebleau, they have finally been able to pass by the initial awkwardness and were talking much more relaxed, lady Lunebleau rescue his mother from the prince and brought her close to her and madame Emeryn. That left fee choices for him, the prince saw his indecision and politely, pointed at an empty chair to his side, the other choice was next to his sisters, he almost sprinted for the chair next to the prince before his cousin took it.
The cream tart set the discussion on the table, when they had arrived, they all had made a small tour around the beautiful farm, it was a less than an hour from Lune de Neige, the northern farms extended on the valley, the main source of food from the Lunebleau demesne, his mother was born on a village not far from here.
The conversation turned towards the coming wedding, his mother and sister tried to be as reserved as possible, but they were being part or witness to the social event of the year. The princesses were being filled about the details since they had arrived, so they had a chance to hear all about it.
“Have you considered where would you go after the wedding?” the question somehow went through the entire table and different conversations, it was lady Danielle who had said it, he was sure it was meant to be a more private question, the face of lord Lunebleau was contorted.
“We wanted to visit the cascades du Gavarnier for a couple of days” lady Frey response was not as certain as she hoped, as she noticed everyone had turned to them, lord Lunebleau face got back some color after hearing that lady Danielle was asking about the immediate days after the wedding, but the topic was in the air.
“They are incredible, I am sure you’ll like them Aedrik” lady Danielle added hurrying her words.
“I have been looking forward to them, Frey has talked about them constantly” the prince said much calmer than his fiancée “Frey tells me this is the best season to visit them”
“It is, they froze during winter, it does have a different charm, but they are a sight to behold” lady Lunebleau intervened, the conversations along the table continued their courses, he was part of the original conversation by virtue of sitting next to the prince.
“I think your form has improved lately, armsman, has any of the knights offered to make you an squire?” the prince question startled him, it was true that after losing to lady Siv, he had been training harder, the first time he shared the training ground with the prince, he had encourage him to practice differently, it was not easy, but he felt it had paid off, hearing about it from the prince was enough, no knight had notice him, but the prince had acknowledge him.
“None, yet…” he responded, the prince had said he would make it, he needed to start believing it himself.
“That’s not true, several knights had been discussing about it, I heard my father talking with lord Lunebleau about you” lady Lea interrupted, he tried to remain as composed as possible.
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“I screwed my night rotation the other day, it was probably that, lady Lea”
“Lady Lea is right armsman, the last candidates for squires are all on my desk, your name was dropped by several knights, keep it up” he truly hoped his smile had not betrayed him as lord Lunebleau spoke.
“Thank you my lord, I hoped to earn my place, I… am grateful for having met prince Aedrik and for how you’ve treated my family, but I truly wished to earn my right” he felt the kick from his mother beneath the table, he was being rude, they had been invited because of the prince, and now he was asking lord Lunebleau to only consider him as a squire because he deserved it, not because the prince had taken a liking to him, he understood his mother reaction, but the prince had respected him, he did not think the man would ask lord Lunebleau to make him a squire, but perhaps his lord had did it to please his son-in-law to be.
“Well said armsman, I am glad to see there still those who care to keep chivalry alive among the young. Worry not, you made yourself noted, I see now their appreciation is well placed”
“We could use a squire like you for house Beaumont, armsman” lord Percy words startled him.
"See that is my point exactly, young people don’t respect the importance of an armsman oath” lord Lunebleau made lord Percy sit back with his mouth closed “You’ll be notify soon armsman, you earn it”
“Thank you, my lord” he bowed as low as he could, he had dreamed of becoming a knight since he was a child, he had never said anything, he had helped his father on the forge, but when he turned 16, he joined the city guard. Many said he was too old, it did not matter, he had a chance.
Lord Lunebleau dismissed him with his hand, he turned and saw his father face a stoic mask, they would talk about this at their house later, his mother on the other hand was about to cry.
“To armsman Matt” prince Aedrik raised his glass, he was about to protest, but everyone at the table had raised theirs. He grabbed his with trembling hands, he steadied his heart and lift it as well.
“Have you talked about what you will do after the wedding?” Lucy as she looked at the bright sky sitting at the wooden fence.
“We have, we will stay for a few days then we will head southeast” he was leaning on the same fence, he had wanted to walk around the farm, and Lucy had come along after the Fabron’s had left.
“And then?”
“We will head north; I have already accepted the high council proposition”
“Not fathers?”
“I will do my duty, but I will prepare the north for its own council” he and Frey had talked about it, he wouldn’t have accepted if she was not with him… they would do it together.
“I like her, she is smart, kind, honest, and she bring the best of you” he turned and saw his sister looking at him attentively “Is she prepared, are you?”
“We’ll see”
“You need to talk about your plan, with her family, lord Lunebleau almost passed out when Danielle asked about your plans for the day after the wedding” he felt ill remembering the face of lord Lunebleau.
“They know, it’s been too fast for all, but you are right, I’ll talk with Frey”
“Why did you invited the poor armsman family to the wedding?” her sister asked curious, for all she was free spirited, she was still a princess.
“Because I owed them, because I like them, because it’s my wedding” his sister held his stare, until they both smiled “Today’s dinner was for repaying kindness, I invited them because I truly liked them, is it so strange?”
“It is in Loire by the looks of your in laws, it is also in the empire, but I don’t think is strange coming from you, and Frey seems to share the sentiment”
“Have you talked with Luna about where she will go?”
“We have, I suggested she moves around with us, Vania insists on having her stay at Danan, any ideas?” everyone one of the imperial siblings have been pressuring the emperor to allow Luna to travel to another region, like they all did.
“I had considered the same, but she should go to our new eastern border” his sister tilted her head with surprise “The fall of Faerun left to much bad blood, the lands we took from the warring hills present an opportunity, with the new divisions of land, even a small part of Zel will be part of it, Luna could start easing the tension, and the orcs than joined will take care of her, so would the eastern army”
“You’ve been putting some thought behind this, why haven’t you told me?”
“I had not considered until I spoke with Frey about accepting taking over the north, I considered moving to the east, but after talking with her, we settled for the north, but it made me realize Luna could head east”
“Perhaps, I am not sure if she would want to, but I guess anywhere but home is good for her I her mind” Lucy sighed, she cared deeply for their youngest sibling “Is she ready? Should we really let her go? How trustworthy are the orcs? The eastern army?”
He could not help but smile at the curious overprotective response of his sister, for all she appeared carefree, she was too apprehensive regarding her siblings, specially the youngest.
“I think it’s her choice, it its our job to support her, that’s it”
“A little off coming from you when you came here instead of Vania”
“That’s different, she could not fulfill the duty we needed, not here at least”
“You know about her, since when?”
“It does not matter, she needs to talk with father, she will do her duty if needed but there is no need for that, she already does”
“You think he will understand?” he saw his younger sister, still looking at the bright night sky, he loved how despite how confident and open she behaved, she did not try to hide when she had doubts.
“I don’t know why you think he does not know?” his sister head turned to him, her vertical pupils wide open, he smiled at her “Come, we should get back”
“Why haven’t you said anything? She has been suffering for nothing?” his sister jumped in front of him.
“Lucy, Vania is aware father knows, I know she is suffering, but it is because she is not sure, I can’t offer her advice, I feared the moment of meeting my kismet, and then I met Frey and I was scared to death, I cannot offer her advice, I offered to come to Loire because I could give her more time. I think that is the only thing we can do, let her know we love her, that it changes nothing, the rest if up to her, don’t you agree?” his sister looked at him frowning, thinking, he could see the process on her head, her expression changed from frustration to weariness.
“You suck, you should have told me about this before” she said after letting a long sigh.
“I have been thinking about it for a while, but I could not put it in words, not until I met Frey, I am sorry”
They both started walking along the orchard, he was impressed by the layout of the farm, it was made trying to utilize every space available. The farm provided enough food for the castle, it was under direct control of house Lunebleau.
“You and Frey need to talk with lord and lady Lunebleau” he stopped, he and Frey were aware of that, moreover her parents knew she would go with him to the Empire, but everything had happened too quickly, not enough for him, but they were very close.
“Yeah, I am worried still, Frey loves her home, I hope she adopts the north as her own” he had been becoming more nervous about it, Frey was determined, she was ready and set for their future, he just wished he could make it easier for her.
“I am a little envious, I love the Empire, I can’t imagine being away too long form the golden meadows of Enora, but she has the same connection aunt Alba has with the Londen Forest, and yet I feel she is someone who would make her home wherever she was”
He looked at the bright and open sky of Loire, the land was beautiful, hills and open greenery till the eye could see, she would like the northern plains, the rest… he hoped she would.
“Right, good thing we are getting married before she reconsiders my proposition then”
“There you are, I was worried” Frey said smiling as she spotted them, she looked mesmerizing under the sweet light of dusk, he could never get tired of looking at her “You said you fancied farming, but I did not expect how much, my grandfather loved the farm, he made it what it is today”
“Truly? I was wondering who had planned the layout, it is incredibly well thought, I was going to ask you about it”
“My grandfather invested in our fields, my father told me there was a food shortage, he was adamant in prevent another for happening” he knew Frey had never met her grandfather, he had died before her parents had married.
“He made use of every space available, different crops ensure a rich soil, his watering system is simple, effective. The orchard is also a nice addition” he had studied farming, this would not have been his first option, but something told him, Frey’s grandfather had tried different things until the current inception.
“Not to mention it is also pleasing to look at” his sister added, he nodded, it was true, there was clearly a plan an intention on how the farm was built.
“I am glad you liked it, my father comes from time to time, but it is my mother who keeps an eye on it” He had noticed how the farm personnel saluted Frey’s mother, they respected their lord, but it was lady Lunebleau who kept over the place.
“We should get back, the guest will start arriving, tomorrow” the royal duke and his wife as well as lord Beaumont and his wife, Frey took his arm, as they went with the rest.
“It was a evening to remember” his mother said as they went inside their house, his sister had come with them, her husband went to their house, his father had drank a little too much and they to tend to the forge early in the morning.
“The orchard was amazing, Luke and Armand are fun, may I invite them to come play with me mother?” his little brother Victor had spent the entire evening playing with the kids of the farmhands.
“I don’t see why not; we’ll invite them to stay over whenever they come to Lune de Neige” his brother eyes went wide with excitement at his mother permission.
“House Lunebleau is made up of good folk, lady Frey chose well in accepting the prince proposal” his father was red all over, he could not hold wine as good as lord Lunebleau, but he was grinning.
“They are something else… the prince offered to take my work, I don’t know how to express my gratitude” his sister was worried, she had worked really hard in lady Frey’s proposition, her clothes were well received, he saw her mother looking at Agnes with reservation, he would have said something to his sister, but the prince offering to take the clothes himself was something he had not doubt the prince would do as he said.
“Matt, congratulations, you are going to become and squire” his mother eyes were swollen, she had been her most staunch supporter.
“You heard if from lord Lunebleau, you earned it son, you did it” his father hugged him fiercely for a moment.
“I will talk with lord Lunebleau, I want to offer my oath to lady Frey” everyone went quiet.
“You are going to be accepted as a squire, I understand you feel indebted to the prince, but there is no need for that, you are an armsman of house Lunebleau already” his father was the first to reply.
“Matt, you are no knight, I don’t think you can offer your oath to lady Frey” his mother eyes were filled with worry as she looked at him.
“I understand Matt, I think I do, lady Frey has my respect, but you’ve are to become an squire, you will serve under knight to become one, perhaps after you’ve become one, you could propose the idea to lord Lunebleau” his sister also looked at him with concern.
“I know, I will make sure to let lord Lunebleau I meant no disrespect, but lady Frey will go to the Empire with the prince, but she is part of house Lunebleau, she will not be sent alone, I want to offer myself, I know I am not the best candidate, but I would like to return their kindness.
He had been thinking about it, after lord Lunebleau had said he was going to become an squire, his resolution had not changed, but his nervousness did. His family was right he was not even an squire, but he had found the courage to speak with master librarian Emeryn, she told him being and armsman was all it was needed for him to offer his oath to lady Frey.
“I see, then I’ll accompany you son” he was startled by his father response, he was a very stoic and practical man, his response was something he had only hoped.
“Thank you”