Serpentis Family/Gregor Eyolf/The Memory Remains
The rituals were long and lasted until the winter, so it was inevitable that the few people were leaving the temple to seek shelter in their homes. The proximity of the sea turn the nights terribly cold along the winter. But Gregor was the last one to leave the temple. A majestic place of faith that he had built and where his wife was buried with honors of a Queen. The only remembrance he have were now the memories and a large white statue over the altar. Like a Goddess. There he knelt and prayed a last prayer.
Despite the commotion and grief, the life in Abilotiel continued. The monsters were still emerging from the swamps and the soldiers were still defending the palisades. During the day the common man still had a lot of work, much more arduous during the winter. But when the night arrives, they ran for shelter, to the warmth of the fireplace and of their wives. On that cold night, leaving the temple, Gregor knew that he would never enjoy that comforting warmth again. Alone under the dark night he instigated the fire of a torch to light his way and grabbed the handle of the sword that rested in its sheath. It was cold, but soon he didn't care anymore.
A memory, burning like the sun, took the old hero's mind. It was his first winter in Abilotiel still under the banner of Papania. Isular, his former region was completely different. In Isular everything was green while in Abilotiel everything was brown and gray. The children enjoyed playing in the mud, but the young wife was accustomed to going out to pick up some flowers in the fields. In Abilotiel she ended up a prisoner of her home, awaiting the return of her husband. And it got worse when she knew that there the monsters appeared constantly from the swamps and that the palisades and people needed to be protected. She knows that the hero would always be there to fight. Moreover, he was a busy man and Lord Gold of Papania. But most of all, she was always very worried about the fact that he could go south to fight real wars like the ones he fought for Ikalak when he was younger. With the winter and the need to be closer to defending his own lands in peacetime, Gregor had brought some bureaucratic employees to work with the food distribution and left the Captain to take command of the troops that guarded the palisades. The Hero back home to his family and wife.
On a cold night like that one, Gregor had ended all his activities and returned home with his stomach growling for a good meal. And he was surprised when he opened the door and didn't hear or saw the kids running to hug his legs and hang themselves in his strong arms. He smelled the stew and heard the fire crackling in the stove and at the fireplaces, but couldn't hear the breathing of his wife and children. Silent, he held the handle of a dagger attached to one of his bracelets and walked into the main bedroom, pushing the door. If the monsters had been there, he would know. There would be blood everywhere. Perhaps some bandits... or worse, the work of an Infiltrator. He was ready to pull the dagger when he stopped at the open door and smiled. The room was lit by a hundred candles and his wife awaited for him with a garland of flowers in her hair and naked, wearing only a bear fur coat that he gave her as a gift to resist the coldest winter nights.
Beautiful Wife: "Drop your weapons, M'Lord... and come to dance with me!"
Gregor smiled and was attracted by the young wife. Then the bodies were united and the lips brushed with desire and longing. She was short and he was a great warrior, tall and strong. And even a little awkward, he danced with her. A slow and comfortable dance. The hands came down under the bear fur to touch the warm skin of his women. He heard her voice, singing beautifully in his ear:
Wintertime winds blow cold the season
Fallen in love, I'm hopin' to be
Wind is so cold, is that the reason?
Keeping you warm, your hands touching me
Come with me dance, my dear
Winter's so cold this year
You are so warm
My wintertime love to be...
He remembered the dance. The hot skin. The embrace and the voice of his wife. The union in the cold night. He remembered that winter. All was lost now. Only the memories remains.
