Chapter Text
Ashe’s earliest memories always took him back to a small restaurant located near the quietest streets of Fhirdiad. He remembered the steam that drifted from the kitchen, warming up the entire restaurant during the cold winters that were always prevalent in Fargus. The delicious air always alternated its scent depending on the recipe his father had decided to display that day. People often stopped by in an attempt to escape the winter chill. But they had always stayed for the wonderful meals that were prepared by his parents.
Ashe often found his mother humming in their garden as she had been watering plants and digging out weeds. She had grown many plants in that garden throughout the years and they had acquired a great array of ingredients because of them. It had always been one of her pride and joys.
When she had been with child she often enjoyed spending her time inside socializing with the patrons while they waited for their food to be served. He remembered her laughter well, it always held a warmth that was able to light up a room. And her honeyed words were able to put anyone at ease. There was always something about her that made her so approachable to many people.
Unlike his mother his father wasn’t as social and stayed for most of the time in the kitchen only ever coming out once it had been closing time. He always paid careful attention to each dish he made, always striving to improve. He didn’t like to waste anything and always seemed to find use for anything. There were times where Ashe’s mother needed to pull his father away because he had been too focused on his work that he had forgotten to work on his chores.
Ashe could never forget the love that his parents always held for each other. He remembered the times his parents stole a kiss from each other when they thought he wasn’t looking. And when they looked away from each other whenever their hands had brushed against each other as if they had still been just two school children. His father was always making his mother laugh and in return his mother made his father smile. Ashe could recite the story of how they met in his sleep. His mother adored telling him about it whenever she could.
Even as a child Ashe was able to find something endearing in it. It never wavered his admiration for his parents because they had always been hard workers. They had managed to build something together from the ground up. They always had patience with him and his little brother. And despite how busy they always were they always had time for their children. There wasn’t anything else Ashe could have ever asked for.
Unfortunately It was only natural that anything could suddenly go askew when all is going smoothly. After his sister had been born his father had fallen ill soon after. It hurt Ashe to see his father who was once able to bear anything continuously fall. His father grew weaker by each day until he was left bedridden. Ashe took it upon himself to help his mother at the restaurant. In her desperation his mother began to seek the help of healers all throughout Fhirdiad, begging them to help his father. But no matter how many healers his mother had consulted there was never a conclusive idea as to what his father had contracted.
“Ashe,” one day he heard his father call out for him as he was getting ready to work, his mother had already been downstairs preparing to open. His father had been more haggard than usual. Although he tried to hide it, Ashe could hear the sharp intake of air his father took each time he breathed. “I’d like to talk to you.”
“Do you need something father?” Ashe asked quietly, kneeling by his bedside.
His father nodded, “I’d like for you to have something. Here,” he took off a chain that had been hanging around his neck and handed it to Ashe. There was a small key on it, “look there,” his father pointed at a cabinet.
Ashe looked behind him and then hesitantly turned back as his father. The man nodded at him encouragingly.
There had only been one thing in the cabinet. The boy was struck with a sudden realization. “No, no, no,” he repeated, turning back to the man, he felt as if his heart was drumming against his ears. “But this is your most precious possession.” His father could only shake his head, “It’s yours now my boy, I know it’s in capable hands.” He took in a labored breath, “There will come a day where you will feel truly helpless, and if that day ever comes I want you to look at that book and remind yourself that you are not alone.”
He coughed, “I hope there will come a day where you can read that book to a family of your own just as your mother and I once did.”
“And when you find someone that you truly love. I hope you read it to them as well.” His father looked at him with hopeful eyes. “You won't?”
Ashe blinked away tears that began to form at the corner of his eyes. “I will.”
His father had succumbed to his illness that night; he hadn’t remembered the last time he had witnessed his mother cry so much.
Although his mother tried to move forward she had never been the same. She began to drown herself in work. Which oftentimes resulted in her neglecting her own children. Leaving Ashe to take on the role as a second caregiver for his younger siblings. He never resented her for it, he understood that it was just her grief. And he knew that his mother still loved her children very much.
And before he knew it two years had gone by, the pain that had been in the family had slowly run its course and there had been nothing left but a faded scar.
“Ellias, do you think you could dress yourself today?” Ashe asked as he held out clothes towards his little brother. The child nodded his head with excitement as he held out his hands towards his brother. Ashe smiled softly handing over the clothes giving him a small pat on the head. He looked back noticing his little sister standing in her crib and stared at him with wide eyes. She called out his name once she realized he was looking at her and she began to bounce in excitement, he laughed.
Once he had finished dressing her he lifted her off the crib and held her at his side and then took his brother’s hand and led them downstairs. He greeted his mother who was already hard at work preparing for opening time. “My someone was ready today,” she looked up towards his sister with a smile. The child called out to her and reached out for her mother. “I'm sorry darling but i'm very busy at the moment,” she frowned.
“Ashe, could you be a dear and make your siblings their breakfast? I can handle everything for now.”
“Of course,” he nodded.
Once he had his siblings distracted, Ashe quickly went downstairs to check on his mother. By now there were a few customers patiently waiting to be served. He noticed his mother had been at the dining area standing over a table speaking to an unfamiliar gentleman. He found him strange although he couldn’t put a finger as to why that was. It may have been by the manner in which he spoke, his volume strong or by the way he had dressed. He then noticed the small smile placed on his mother’s lips, it had been different from the ones usually given to the customers which were only ever polite, this one had been genuine.
After that day he began to notice the gentleman visit the restaurant every so often, always making it a point to talk to his mother each time. He always praised her meals and always seemed to pay a little over the regular price. It did take up some of her time each visit and he often had to run around serving the customers but she always lit up each time the man came around and so he never brought it up to his mother.
“Ashe dear, could you come down here for a minute.” It had been closing hours when his mother had called for him. He found that the mysterious gentleman had been standing next to his mother, his hands held behind his back. He gave him a polite nod once their eyes met keeping a neutral expression on his visage.
“This is my eldest son Ashe,” his mother introduced him, placing an arm over his shoulder. “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir…” he held out a hand, his words trailing from the lack of a name. “Erwin Fritz Glouster” the man finally spoke up, taking his hand, “and the pleasure is all mine.” He dropped his hand and continued on, “Your mother has told me a lot about you.” Ashe blinked in confusion, “oh,”
“Where is your brother and sister?” His mother asked, finally noticing her other children had not been present.
“They are still asleep,” Ashe responded.
“Ah, what a pity I was hoping to meet with them as well,” the man said.
“Do not fret, you'll see them soon.” His mother turned to him with a smile.
Ashe let his eyes wander and noticed his mother’s hand that still rested on his shoulder. His eyes widened when he noticed the ring on her finger, it had been made of gold and there had been gems imbued on the sides. In the middle of it sat a large green gem that he was not even able to name. It was something that his father never could have been able to give to his mother.
His mother must have noticed his silence for when she looked at her son she noticed his gaze on her finger. “Oh,” she exclaimed, “in all this excitement I almost forgot to tell you.” She looked towards the man, giving him a warm smile. “We have gotten engaged.”
Ashe learned soon after that the man had been a Count although it was strange to know that he had traveled from Leicester. His mother wedded the man almost immediately after the announcement. He left after the wedding preparing for the family's arrival at their new home.
When they had finally made it to Leicester the family had been beyond tired from the long trip. Arriving at the gate they were greeted by Count Glouseter and by his side were two teenage boys who looked to be around Ashe’s age. The Count took his mother’s hand upon his own.
“I would like to formally introduce you to my children,” the Count gestured towards a boy whose hair had been the same shade of purple as his own although the boy had a rather unique haircut. “This is my eldest, Lorenz.” the boy nodded, his lips held in a thin line. Then the count pointed towards the other boy whose hair was styled much nicer. “And here we have Ferdinand,” The boy nodded, flashing a small smile.
His mother greeted them warmly, “your father has spoken a great many things about you.” She turned to her children, “The youngest is Isabeau,” she picked up the toddler and picked up her small hand to wave. “My second youngest here is Elias.” The boy shyly waved, hiding behind his brother’s leg. Finally she turned to look at Ashe, “And my eldest son Ashe,” she looked back at the boys, “I hope that you all get along.”
Ashe looked at the boys and greeted them with a smile although Ferdinand was the only one that reciprocated it. He followed behind his mother and step father as he continued to talk at length about the manor. His step father’s words were soon lost on him as his mind began to drift. He was grateful for the new family that he had been blessed with.
As the weeks went by everything had gone rather well in their new home. And the family had slowly become accustomed to their new life at the manor.
“My dear, what business do you have in Fhirdiad, Is there something you are lacking here? You just need to ask.” Ashe's step father had been sitting in his study looking over some documents when Ashe’s mother had stopped by one day.
His wife shook her head, “No, Erwin nothing like that.”
“What other reason do you have then?”
“I have a few matters to see there,” Ashe’s mother responded. “I promise to you that I will return immediately after.”
The man sighed, “Does it have to do with that restaurant of yours?”
“It is part of the reason, yes.”
The man contemplated his decision for a moment and sighed, “Very well. But I will only allow you this one time you better have everything settled. I’ll be sick with worry.”
Ashe’s mother nodded, “That’s all I ask of you.”
Ashe stood at the front gate with his siblings at his side watching his mother wish his step father a farewell. “Take care of my children while I'm gone.” his mother told the man.
“Of course,” he nodded.
His mother then turned to her children, “It won’t be long I promise you but for now I want you to take care of your siblings,” Ashe nodded.
“And please look after your step father and brothers as well,” she whispered the last part so that only Ashe was the one who could hear it, he nodded once more.
“I love you.” she placed a kiss over his forehead.
He watched as his mother entered a carriage and gave a final wave to her family. She continued to wave at them until she had become a mere speck in the distance. Ashe couldn’t help but worry for his mother. There had never been a time where she had to be away from her children for long and even then she always brought them along with her wherever she went. So he had been surprised when she had told him that she was going away for business.
“Come now boys, it's time for your training,” His step-father broke the silence and ushered the boys away. Ashe turned to follow after them but by then they had already gone, the entrance to the manor shutting behind them .
It had not even been a week after his mother's departure when they received a message from a pegasus rider. Ashe had been the one to greet the messenger at the entrance, his father and step brothers being off on an expedition, left the manor to Ashe and his siblings.
“Is Count Gloucester here?”
Ashe shook his head, “I’m afraid not he’s away at the moment,” he paused, “Is there something you’d like for me to relay to him?” The pegasus rider hesitated, “is there any of his family around?”
“I'm his stepson.”
Sorrow fanned over her visage, “Then you must be her son…” she muttered the last words.
Ashe’s body stiffened, “are you talking about my mother?” he stuttered. “Did something happen to her?” worried was etched on his words.
“I’m afraid to say that your mother has gotten into an accident,” the pegasus rider hesitated but Ashe did not voice any of his thoughts as he felt dread creep over his body and he waited for the woman to continue.
“She is no longer with us.”