Chapter Text
Stepping outside I take a deep breath of fresh air, the sun warming my face and wind blowing through my hair that’s covered by a neat, white bandana and tied behind my neck. The sky is bluer than ever, the perfect day.
Holding my basket I check my list of items I need to get today
-Eggs
-apples
-Milk
-flour
-potatoes
-Carrots
-Some water from the nearby creek
I step on the pathway in the village and start walking to the market.
Walking through the market, everything seems a little different. It’s the perfect day and everything seems normal, but it has somewhat of a foreboding feeling, like the calm before a storm. I shrug it off and walk up to the farmer’s stand.
“Good morning Mr. Brown!” I greet. He looks up and gives me a smile back “Good morning Fleur! What would you like today?” I check my list again before I look up. “Do you have any potatoes, carrots, eggs or milk?” I ask. The farmer nods and puts some carrots and potatoes in my basket. “Yup! Fresh batch. My wife’s the one who gots the animal products though.” He responds. “Thank you Mr. Brown! Tis’ a beautiful day, is it not?” He smiles and nods and I wave goodbye before I start walking to the farmer’s wife’s stall.
As I walk up, I can hear bits of a conversation she’s having with someone.
“This isn’t any good. We must be careful, if we have the threat of an attack right here in the village.”
“I can’t believe how one king’s issues and stupidly results in this!”
Upon walking up to the stall the farmer’s wife quickly puts on a smile. “Good morning Fleur!” She happily greets me, but I feel the feeling I felt before strengthen. “Good morning Mrs. Brown. What’s this I hear about a war?” I ask. “Oh nothing child! You mustn’t worry about adult problems.” She assured me, which dosent really work but I pretend it does. “Now what is on your list today?” She questions. “May I have some milk and eggs, please?” She frowns at that. “I’m very sorry Fleur, a man just came and asked to buy all the eggs and milk. Real greedy fellow he was!” She responds. I sigh, thanking her anyways and turning to walk away. “But,” she starts, making me turn back. She looks around before reaching into something behind her stall. “I did save some for you. Can’t be disappointing my best customer now!” She says with a warm smile as she slips a dozen white eggs and a decently sized glass bottle of milk. “Wow, that’s very kind of you! Thank you!” I reply. “Alright then, finish that list and get along home, yeah?” I wave her goodbye and walk away. After getting the apples from the family of another kid my age, I start walking away from the village
I sigh in relief to get away from the tenseness of the village when I get to the creek. I sit by the creek, setting my basket down and relishing the smell of the forest, mossy yet fresh. I then take out a glass jar and scooping up some water from the creek, putting the jar’s cap on then setting it back in my basket, and I scoop up some water in my hands, drinking it and washing my face.
For a bit I just sit there, peaceful.
But that was until I notice a figure, hiding in the bushes right on the edge of the forest, just watching. Watching me.
I stare back at them before I stand up and shout
“Hello? Who are you?” I shout. The figure just runs off and disappears into the forest.
Okay yeah that’s the end of relaxing!
I quickly get up and grab my basket and scurry off home, not feeling safe anymore.
When my house comes into view I see mother watering our flowers. “Mother! Mother! Inay! Inay!” I call out, stopping in front of her panting as she looks up. “Child, why must you hurry home? Did something happen?” She asks me. I think about what just happened for a moment before I shake my head no. “No! I just thought It would be good to um… go home.” She looks at me with the look of her knowing I’m lying, she doesn’t have a chance to comment on it, as she sees farmer brown, walking up to our house to us. “Hello Fleur.” He greets me before looking at Mother. “Pardon me, but may I speak to you? It’s about the recent… news.” Mother nods before looking at me. ”Fleur, please go and go to your room. Dinner will be ready soon.”
“But mother—“
“Go, Fleur.” she says in her serious voice. I quickly go into the house, set the basket down and head up the stairs to my room. I don’t stay there for long though, eventually sneaking out of my bedroom and sitting on the stairs, hiding behind the railing. Their conversation is quiet at first, then I hear my mother raise her voice. “I’m not sending my child away!” I hear my mother protest. “Patay, there’s a chance for a war! A HUGE chance at that! We don’t have much time, it could be here tomorrow morning! And you know how foolish the king is.” I hear Mr. Brown reply. “Well, the king can come in here and take a piss in my sock drawer for all I care! Fleur is MY priority, not yours.” My mother argues back. I hear Farmer Brown sigh and walk somewhere, to the door I presume, since it got a little quieter. ”fine, have it your way. Just be warned of what’s to come.” The door slams and I hear mother sigh, not at all happy. “Fleur, Go. To. your room. I’m not in the mood.” I quickly scurry in my room and close the door before she can get agitated any longer. Too bad she forgot about dinner. Luckily, I have some crackers stashed in my beside drawer just in case.
I nibble on the crackers I have while staring out my window. Once I’m done, I don’t bother to change into my nightgown, I just lay down in my bed and close my eyes to doze off.
Today was a strange day.