The weather had turned cold almost overnight. It had been a dramatic drop in temperature between the harvest and now, but the chill in the air did not prevent Blaecwyn from sitting on the river bank with her best friend.
To any passers-by, the scene would seem like a painting of contrasts. The coarse grass that coated the landscape was, in some places, churned to mud by the passing of the herds. The trees on the opposite side of the river stretched up to the moody skies like skeletal fingers, to which only the occasional golden leaf still clung. Seated on a small verge of dark sod overlooking the swift white water were two girls, closely side by side. The first was large, broad of shoulder and back, with a wily mop of bright red ringlets spilling down to between her shoulderblades. Her companion, a smaller and much more fine-boned figure, sported a sleek waist-length mane of hair as black and tidy as a ravens wing.
"What do you want to do when you grow up?" asked the dark haired child, her voice pleasant and light.
"I want what any girl wants," replied her companion affably. "To get married and have children and a house all of my own! What about you?"
"The same," the smaller girl replied. "I don't know who to, though. Daddy has decided that I'll wed a rich man with his own herd, but I don't care if he's rich or not. Elward is nice."
The red haired girl rolled her eyes and smirked, giving her friend a gentle nudge in the side with her elbow.
"Elward is an idiot who still wets his bed."
"Oh Blaecwyn!" her friend giggled. "Does he really?"
"His ma washes his sheets every day, so I think so," Blaecwyn replied uncertainly, then shrugged. "Who else do you like, then, Anoura?"
Anoura remained quiet for a time as she thought about it, then bit her lip as s blush crept up over her pale cheeks. "Leoric is nice."
Blaecwyn blinked, then laughed. "My brother? You like my big brother? He's such a wuss!"
"Yes, but... he's so handsome and gentle and his smile..." she trailed off, sighing dreamily. The moments passed in silence as both girls considered the attributes of Leoric, then Blaecwyn shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, only found herself beat to it by the other. "Who do you like then?"
"No-one," Blaecwyn replied firmly. "All the boys around here are so stupid!"
"What about Angulf?" Anoura asked with a teasing grin as she poked Blaecwyn lightly in the ribs. "All the girls say he's the best looking one in town."
"Your brother is a twerp," Blaecwyn drew herself up haughtily, folding her arms across her chest. "When I get married, it's going to be to a real man. Not to a girl in a boys body."
As if the very mention of him had summoned him to their position, Angulf came stalking up behind them. He stopped less then two feet away, planted his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest importantly, then bellowed at the top of his voice.
"Anoura! Father says you have to come home. NOW!"
Anoura flinched at the unexpected shout, giving Blaecwyn a sheepish look before twisting her body to stare over her shoulder at her elder brother questioningly. In constrast, Blaecwyn just turned to level a stern and unamused glance to the boy before turning away again disinterestedly.
"But it's not yet suppertime," Anoura protested meekly. "Mama said I could play out until then."
"Well, father over-ruled her," Angulf looked sterly down at his younger sister before shooting a glare at Blaecwyns back. "He said you're to come home right away and that you're not allowed to play out again for another month."
"But why?" Anoura cried. "I haven't done anything bad!"
"Father doesn't like you playing with that brute," he replied, pointing an accusing finger at Blaecwyn. "Now come on, we have to go home."
Blaecwyn, upon hearing those words, pushed herself to her feet and turned to face the older boy. She balled her fists and glared balefuly.
"Brute, am I?" she growled. "I'll show you brute, you stuck-up, snivelling, panty-wearing old trout!"
She took two steps forward, a grim smile playing on her lips. Angulf held up his hands in a warding motion and quickly stepped backwards, apparantly not so interested in insulting her now that she was facing him. Anoura, however, quickly headed off any trouble by darting between the two and putting up her small hands to Blaecwyns shoulders.
"I'm sure he didn't mean it," she spoke hastily. "Please don't hurt him. It'll only make more trouble!"
Blaecwyn grumbled under her breath, but subsided at Anoura's urging. She watched with a great degree of annoyance as Anoura smiled, then turned to leave with Angulf.
