Chapter 5 Equinox celebration

Rose opened her eyes and stretched. Inconspicuously so as not to wake Erick. She went to the kitchen and just like yesterday, began to prepare food. Around eight, she woke him up straight to breakfast.

"Mm-it was a delicacy. That´s nothing new. But to the point, I have a task for you. It's the week of the equinox, so there will be celebrations and I need you to come with me. If you aren´t cooking anything now, we could go to the market to buy some fabrics and then have some clothes sewn for you, because you shouldn't be going anywhere with pants and especially not in the ones you're wearing right now. "

"It would be great to get some fabric but I don't need a seamstress. I can do it alone. Which reminds me, the tunic you wore yesterday it´s falling apart. Shouldn't I sew some new ones for you?"

"It's up to you. Do you have anything else to do here or can we go?" Their faces were so close that she could feel his minty breath on her cheek.

"Let's go," she smiled at him blushing.

He slung a fur coat over her shoulders and kissed her hair. She curled up in the cloak, accepted the offered frame, and they went out.

"It's strange how he treats me. He's so nice but he doesn't want anything from me. The way he touches and kisses my cheeks, hair and the back of my hand. It's normal here in the north. In our city, if a man grabbed a woman´s hand or kissed her on the lips or even touched her waist, as Erick likes to do, he would be sued for sedition. But no one has a problem here with it. It is so pagan. But when I think about it like that, it suits me quite a lot. It's not so uptight here and the fact that women can fight and don´t have to get married immediately and can be free is amazing. If the marriage does not suit them, they will divorce and the man will still have to return their dowry. That is so progressive. Unlike us, where all women were forced to give birth and give birth and another and another. I'm fine here, it's a shame my family can't be with me. But they're in a better place now." A lonely tear rolled down her cheek.

"What are you thinking about?" Erick asked her and wiped a tear from her cheek with his rough thumb.

"The past," she replied softly.

"Your brother?"

"Yes."

"What was he like?"

"His name was Adrian and he was nine. He had brown hair from his father and green eyes from his mother, just like I have. He loved to play with a wooden sword and wanted to become a great warrior who would kill monsters and save maidens in trouble. It was my darling. After his mother died, I was both his sister and his mother."

"I'm sure he loved you as much as you love him." He stroked her cheek and smiled. "We're here already."

The market was located in the middle of the city and there were a lot of people in the morning. First, they went around the food stalls, and Rose bought supplies for later. And then there was the fabric shop. Erick took her hand and they went slowly inside.

Rosalie was stunned by how many beautiful colours were there to choose from. She let go of Erick´s hand and started to touch every exotic fabric she saw.

"They are so delicate yet so warm. And those colours. I have never seen such a variety and saturation. It´s gorgeous."

"Not as gorgeous as you sweetheart." Erick touched her cheek lovingly. "Choose anything you like."

Pretty much right after he said it both of their eyes ended on a mossy green velvet fabric. Erick put the cloth next to Rose's face.

"It makes your eyes, even more, brighter than usual. If you wear this, no one will be able to keep their eyes of you." After a quick thought, he added: "Please get some more fabric for the clothes you will be wearing at home."

In addition, they chose a creamy cloth for the petticoat and fabric from which Rose wanted to sew things for normal wear. She put the bought stuff and food in a basket that Erick had taken from her like a gentleman.

When they were home, Erick told her, "Don't cook anything. I'll go fishing and catch some trout. When I get back around lunch, we'll have them fried in butter. In the meantime, start sewing the clothes." He dressed and left.

Rose went outside and started to draw her design into the mud with a stick. A classic top surrounding her waist with a slightly bigger neckline that showed her collar bones and peaks of her breast and was lined with fabric roses. The sleeves were long, finished with ruffles made from the same fabric as the one on the petticoat. And the skirt was simple, flowing, slashed on the thigh to show the creamy petticoat. The same fabric formed ruffles on the hem of the dress. She smiled over the picture and began to measure the fabric.

※

Around lunch, when Erick arrived, everything was measured, cut, all she had to do was sew everything together. She was sewing together the petals of a rose, which she had cut out from the fabric. Erick entered the room and saw her leaning over the table where everything laid. He placed his palm on her shoulder.

"It's beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

"But they're not done yet. Thank you very much for all the stuff. "

"I should rather thank you for going there with me at all. After all, you will meet a few familiar faces there. "

"You mean Bard and Jarl Murtagh?" I will deal with them."

"I think they'll leave you alone. You should have seen Murtagh´s face when I came to see him about how they cared for you. I've never seen him so scared." He chuckled.

"I finally caught a salmon. Will it be alright for you?"

"Of course. How do you want to prepare it? Just with a little salt or do you have any other wishes?"

"I do have one but it's not about food, so I'll keep quiet about it." He smiled devilishly at her. "At least for now."

Her cheeks were red from his comment. "I'll just sew this rose so it doesn't break apart and will prepare lunch immediately."

After lunch, she went back to work. She worked until the evening when the dress was finally ready. She put them on and turned around. The skirt lifted beautifully and danced in the air.

She kept her red hair loose, as it had been before because she wanted to do something with it only before the party. Everyone hated it and criticised her for it but she didn´t like to have to do her hairstyles, so she usually braided them only when they would otherwise get in the way.

She came to Erick with a smile and turned. "Can I go like this?"

Instead of answering, he stared at her with his mouth open.

"I saw a red-haired Valkyrie." He began looking for a fatal wound.

"So you like it?"

"You have been beautiful even in just my shirt and those horrible baggy pants, but now you're perfect. But it's clear to me that everyone won´t be able to stop looking at you and all of them will have inappropriate thoughts." He touched her shoulders gently but firmly to make her look him straight to the eyes. "Don´t leave my side. Even if it is just for a small moment."

"I promise." She said, her cheeks blushing from their closeness.

Erick has figured out that he is making her slightly uncomfortable. "Please take of that dress, so you don't ruin them and come to bed. It's late."

She did as he said and laid down next to him. She moved to the edge to touch him as little as possible and soon fell asleep.

※

Erick watched her sleep. An angelic expression on her face, her red lips slightly parted, he wanted to kiss them but that would wake her up. She clung to him in her sleep. Her head was on his chest, her hand slung over him, and her thigh rubbed against his lap. He promised her he wouldn't force her to sleep with him but he had no idea if he could last any longer. She was so beautiful, he stroked her hair chaotically strewn across his chest. One of the strands tickled his neck. She mumbled something and shook.

"What's going on, honey?" He asked her, pushing her even closer.

※

Rose found herself at home, by the river, where she was doing laundry. It was a beautiful sunny day and the rays tickled her skin. She smiled because she was done. She ran home and went to her father's study for the book she was reading.

She loved reading, even though she had only read five sentences most of the time before she had to do anything again. At work, she was creating how the book could go on and had fun with it all day. Moreover, this system of hers had another advantage. She had read the book for a year, after all, it was a luxury item that no one had. Her father always brought her a book as a travel gift.

She opened the door and saw blood, a pool of blood coming from two still warm bodies. They belonged to her father and brother.

"No, no, no, no, no - please don't. It just seems to me, it must be just a dream. You can't be dead. No!" She cried.

"Wake up, Rosalie. Come on, my darling, wake up," whispered the air around her.

She concentrated and woke up from a nightmare. She held on to Erick, like a tick, refusing to let go, tears rolling down her cheeks. Erick whispered in her ear sweet nothing, but it wasn't going to be alright. It was not just a nightmare but a memory. A torturous memory that will bother her all her life. Erick continued to hold her in his arms and wipe her tears with kisses. After a moment, she stopped shaking and looked up at him and smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry I'm so pressed against you. I'll pull away right away," she whispered.

"It's okay, I am enjoying it." He kissed her lightly on the cheek.

She smiled at him.

"Sleep," he whispered in her ear.

※

The days went on. Rose took care of the household and sewed in her spare time. On Thursday, Erick went hunting with the other jarls and the king to have meat for the feast. He didn't return until the next afternoon, holding something behind his back.

"I brought you something, guess what it is," he told her with a smile.

"Meat to cook for you?"

He chuckled. "Well, that too. But it is something else. Close your eyes and give me your hands. "

"There was a wolf, who has attacked me but I was able to dodge him. I have brought you it´s coat so you wouldn't be cold all the time. It's funny that you're shivering in front of the stove, where it's too hot for normal people but I don't want you to catch a cold for me." He slung a beautiful white fur over her shoulders.

"Thank you."

"Oh, I may have just made a mistake. Now I won´t have to keep you warm by getting really close to you."

※

It was Saturday, and the feist was supposed to start in the evening.

"There will be a lot of food in the evening, so we'll only have something small for lunch. We should bring something with us, like those little meaty pies. The ones you baked on Tuesday were perfect."

"Okay, I will make some right away, but please don't eat them before tonight. Or maybe, I can make two batches. One just for you. "

"I love you, you know just how to make me happy."

"With food. Well, if I continue cooking, you will be happy your whole life. "

To be sure, she baked four batches, after all, the whole town was supposed to be there. When she was done, she went to wash up because she was covered in flour. She put on her clothes but she couldn't lace them up from behind. And so she came to Erick.

"Erick, could you please help me a little bit?" She asked.

"Sure." He walked over to her with a smile and began to lace. Whenever he touched her, it felt as if electricity was flowing through her body.

She thanked him and went back to the bedroom, where she began to comb her hair. She simply tangled the bangs back, where she tied her hair in a bun. A moment later, Erick came to her telling her that it was time to go.

※

Rose tossed the fur over herself, which she sewed into the shape of a jacket, and was instantly enjoying the warmness it was providing. Erick offered her a frame. They walked through a beautifully decorated city. There were colours everywhere. Laughing children ran through the streets and played tag. The air was saturated with scents, spices, and food. Rosalie rested her head on Erick's shoulder.

"We'll be there soon," he told her.

In a moment they were in the meadow where the party was taking place. A huge fire blazed in the middle. There were several tables of food, where Rose brought her mini pies. Music was playing here. Erick looked at her and nodded at the musicians.

"Are you coming?"

He took her hand and led her to the dancing floor. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She found out that Erick could dance great. They were a maximum of a few inches apart. They looked the other person in the eye. The outside world ceased to exist for them. Suddenly the music stopped playing and someone came to them.

He was a man, in his thirties, with long flax-coloured hair with several braids entwined and a thick beard, also adorned with braids. And I huge belly.

"Erick, I had no idea you were coming. And who is this beauty? Won't you introduce me?"

"Sure, Rose, this is His Majesty, King Arthur III. Arthur this is Rose, my beloved."

Rosalie took her skirt in her hands and did a little curtsey.

"Ah, she's cute. If I wasn't married and she didn't belong to you, I would already make her queen. "

Another song started playing.

The king turned to Rosalie and asked charmingly, "May I?"

"Ehh, of course," the girl stammered.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. Too close. Her breasts rubbed against him. If it wasn't for him being the king, she would have kicked him and fled, but she couldn't.

"Where are you from, Rose?" He rolled her name on his tongue with pleasure emphasizing the letter R.

"From much warmer regions."

"Specifically?"

"The Frankish Empire."

"And how did you even get here?"

"They attacked my village, killed them all, left only those for whom they had some use. They simply sold us into slavery. "

"That's how far you got."

"Please, please, please, let that song end."

Her wish came true and the song really ended. Rosalie apologized and went to see Erick. He was just talking to a couple. He introduced the woman as his sister Ceana and the man as her husband and at the same time his best friend Baodan.

Ceana had beautiful, long brown hair and blue eyes like her brother. And her smile. When she smiled, everyone´s around her heart jumped with joy. On her head is a crown of moss, twigs and wild berries. She held Baodan's hand.

He was every inch a warrior. High, broad shoulders. His hair was light brown, shaved on the sides and braided.

Baodan looked at Ceana and said, "You have lost."

"What were you two doing again?" Erick asked with a laugh.

"We bet how long you'll be an old bachelor."

Erick looked hurt, of course, he was just playing it.

Rose began talking to the couple and in a moment, they were best friends.

There was mead everywhere, so there were drunken chants in the area. Erick invited her to dance a few more times and then they went home.