“What are you doing?” Gaeded spoke, bewilderment across her face as she sat down next to her patrol in Helm’s Deep’s Mead Hall. Two of her patrol, Cynred and Rædwulf were stacking empty, or at least Gaeded hoped they were empty, tankards on top of each other. The others of her patrol were muttering to each other and sliding coins in front of them.
“We’re betting on whose tankards will fall first.” Uhtric grinned to Gaeded, sliding another copper coin in front of him as Cynred’s tower wobbled. Ælfræd, whom Gaeded was sitting next to, leaned in closer, “You don’t have to bet, Gaeded. I’m not betting either. It’s fun to watch though.”
Gaeded would shrug, taking out a few coppers, “Who are you betting on, Uhtric?”
Uhtric grinning, “I’m betting on Cynred’s tower to fall first. Look at it! It’s going to fall at any moment.”
Gaeded would look to Cynred’s tower, seeing it wobble again. She’d then look to Rædwulf’s tower, which was just as wobbly.
“I’ll bet on Rædwulf’s tower to fall first, but Cynred’s tower to fall just after. 5 coppers,” Gaeded exclaimed, placing the coins in front of her with a clink on the hardwood table.
Eadgar would call over, “Cynred’s tower will never fall!”, clearly a little more drunk than everyone else, who just seemed to be a bit tipsy.
Uhtric laughed at that, then commenting on Gaeded’s bet, “Interesting. But increases your chance of losing.”
Gaeded smirked, “Higher stakes are much more exciting.” Uhtric chuckled at that, turning his attention back to the two stacking tankards. Gaeded did the same. Each tower was wobbling dangerously, but both Cynred and Rædwulf were able to keep their towers steady enough to be able to take the next tankard on top. With each tankard, the towers got taller and taller, soon the two competitors were having to stand on the table, having to be passed a mug when they needed to put the next one on top.
“What is going on here?!” yelled the voice of Godwine, their patrol leader. Cynred, who was closer to where Godwine now stood, jumped, unsuspecting of being shouted at. That sent his tower toppling down, crashing into Rædwulf’s tower and knocking it down. Tankards flew everywhere, though Ælfræd leaned over to shield Gaeded. Once it was safe from getting hit with flying tankards, Gaeded moved away from Ælfræd, “Thanks for that.”
Ælfræd blushed, smiling a little, “Didn’t want you to get hit.”
Gaeded smiled, though it felt awkward, turning to face the carnage that was Godwine yelling at Cynred and Rædwulf for acting stupidly.
“Guess we should have expected that,” Uhtric laughed, “Though now we have the dilemma who gets the money.”
“No one will get the money!” Godwine yelled, walking up behind Uhtric. “Betting! In the Mead Hall of all places. This isn’t some backstreet tavern.” Godwine would then turn his gaze to Gaeded, “And you! I expected better of a shieldmaiden.”
Gaeded winced, “Sorry, sir. I won’t do it again, sir.”
Godwine nodded in satisfaction and then went back to reprimanding the others. Ælfræd leaned over, whispering lowly to her, “And that’s why I didn’t bet.”
