Serpentis Family/Erik Eyolf/Commoner's Compendium - Part IX
Trinbar - Southern Farms
The strong sun spread his golden shine over the barley fields. Edward watched the work of few farmers, his employees. It was funny how even there was a quietly hierarchy established among them. Everyone and everything there belonged to the Marquis of Trinbar, but he was the man who went to the town receive the gold to invest, to buy seeds and tools. And was he who paid the taxes when the Seneschal visited his lands. All of them were protected and were working under the command of Lord Erik Eyolf Serpentis. They had few rights that guarantee their security and survival. And indeed, had many duties. They paid taxes and only a small part of what they produced stayed with them for the survival of their families. All the rest belonged to the Lord. But the life in Trinbar was calm and pleasant and they rarely had complaints. They weren't rich, but with few coins they could buy a good variety of food, clothes and utensils in the town markets or beyond the bridge.
Edward could be considered a lucky man. He had a good portion of land to cultivate and wore with great honor a medal he had won of the Marquis for having produced the tastier malt of the region in the last year. A portion of what he produced was also used to make a delicious bread and even the remains was sold to the fishermen as bait for fish or to feed the horses of the local Scout Guild. The sun was smiling for him.
In the harvest season, the people carry the large wicker baskets and threshing the grain. The women wore their best dresses and a Priestess was requested to celebrate the ritual. Edward always offers a small portion of the best grains and the women roasted a special bread. Then, they burned these gifts as an offering to the Holy Father and Elune, singing songs of thanks to the Sun and the Moon. The dances and celebrations ever happened on his property after he received the medal and he was now the farmer's voice when the Seneschal appeared to inspect the fields and collect the taxes.
That was a tiring day. In those afternoons all he wanted was back to his house and to the arms of his wife. In the Dark Ages the night was sacred. It was dangerous to stay away from home at the time of witches, monsters and superstitions when it came to life. Then, the workers followed in long processions leaving the fields. Following the trail, Edward soon could see his small property. The smoke escaped from the chimney in dark spirals. The candle light shining through the windows. At the dor was an elaborated coat of arms: a shield divided into three parts. A snake, a symbol of protection assigned to Elune and finally the symbol of the scythe and barley, indicating that there was living a farmer under the command of Lord Erik Eyolf Serpentis, protected by the Godess.
When he entered the house, two little girls rushed toward him. They had hair like the golden fields under the sun and blue eyes like a clear sky. Those girls were his greatest pride. They were only humans, but perhaps that beauty could conquer the heart of an elf like Lord Erik. Edward hugged his children and took them back to the rug at the fireplace where a stew was steaming. The girls played with rag dolls of straw hair. The man even had time to react when his wife pulled him into the corridor taken by the darkness and kissed her lips.
Wife: "Put your hand here on my belly and feel."
Edward: "What?"
Wife: "You're a fool, Edward! I'm pregnant. Again!"
Edward: "By the God!"
Wife: "No... by the Godess! You know!"
With hearts full of joy, the couple involved in a sweet embrace. Tears permeated their eyes.
Edward: "Give me a boy! You made me the richest man of this world. I love you, my beautiful darling... sun of my day!"
Wife: "I love you too, Edward!"
And out there on that perfect night a drunken bard sang under the silvery full moon:
It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright...
You know I work all day to get you gold to buy you things
And it's worth it just to hear you say you're gonna give me everything
So why on earth should I moan, 'cause when I get you alone
You know I feel alright...
When I'm home everything seems to be right
When I'm home feeling you holding me tight
You know I feel alright...
