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loftl · 5 years

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8 DEC 2014 - Chapter 4

It was just past dawn when Tristan emerged from the house, fully dressed with a smirk on his face. Satisfied with himself, Tristan headed to the stables to get Enya ready for today's hunting trip with Elias and Sebastian. His brother, already there, was feeding Horse what looked to be celery. Tristan contemplated approaching his brother, apologizing about what happened in the kitchen, but decided against that. Whistling as he unlatched Enya's stall.

"I'm all set, Papa." Bash said as Tristan neared where his son stood just inside Heart's stall.

"Then go dress and we can be on our way." Tristan said laughing at his son's eagerness. Watched Bash take off towards the house not stopping once as he ran past the startled chickens.

Turning towards his brother, he saw that Elias, too, watched Bash run towards the house. A smile across Elias's face. It was rare to see his brother smile. Bash made him smile. Isolde made him smile.. though he never pointed that out to his brother, for he sure that Elias wasn't aware he'd been caught smiling at her. He was sure that Isolde was unaware of his smiles. Scratching his chin, prickly from facial hair, Tristan frowned.

He found out about his older brother's betrothal to his wife many years ago. Just after Alice died. Henry had told him and he confirmed Henry's word when he spoke to Anne about it months later. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. Though it did not matter seeing as Isolde was his wife and mother to his child, but he had a feeling that Elias knew of this arranged marriage. That perhaps, Elias, too, loved Isolde as he did. Maybe even more. He hated to admit it, but he knew that Elias would never have abandoned Isolde in their time of need. He would have stayed and held her as she cried and grieved with her. He suddenly slammed down his saddle, causing Enya to buck and whinny. Tristan grabbed her reigns and started soothing noises at her before she kicked stables apart.

"What's it to you, little brother?" Elias asked Tristan quietly.

"Spider." Tristan lied. 'Why are you lying?' he pondered and he rubbed the horses neck.

Sebastian walked into the house and saw his Mother in the kitchen preparing his satchel. He smiled, knowing she did not see him come through the door. Bash, still a child in his own right, rushed his mother. He grabbed her around the waste, picking her up and spun her around in a circle laughing at his Isolde who'd let out a scream that could have woke the neighbors down yonder.

"Sebastian Bishop!" Isolde scolded her son. Playfully slapping his arm. "Go get dressed. I've laid out new clothes for you." Bash surprised her then by suddenly hugging her. She held him close and closed her eyes. "13." She said sighing and kisses him on the top of his head.

Bash smiled at her and took off up the stairs.

Marta and Samuel, who had been passing by just before dark asked if they could stay the night since it was too dark to finish their ride home, had left after eating some warm bread and milk for breakfast. Isolde set about cleaning their room, removing the bedding and adding it to the wash she was to do later in the day. The hunting trip would take the men three days time. In that time, Isolde would be by herself on the farm, except for ole Belle. Doing the wash would take up an entire days light, so she just had to worry about the next couple of days to get through. Maybe she'd go stay with Marta on one of those days, or both. She heard Sebastian stomp his way down the stairs and out the front door. Isolde put the bedding down on the bed and walked to window. Looking out, she just could make our her son's silhouette as he made his way towards his Elias. Shaking her head, she turned on her heel and went to find Tristan. There was something off. She could feel it in her bones.

Sebastian, dressed in his new clothes that his Mama had sewn for him, was out the door headed towards where his Uncle Elias stood with Horse when he heard the strange howling. A howling unlike that they have ever heard before. They have heard it, of course, but its pained... its closer. A howl that you cannot separate as animal or man. He knows he heard it before... in his nightmares. The one's Mama sang away into the night. He shudders and the hair on the back of his neck stands up. He has a bad feeling about this hunt.

Every part of him wanted to turn and back to the house and lock all the doors. He overheard his Mother telling his Father about how she thought this hunting trip was a bad idea. And Bash knew that when his Mother had a bad feeling, generally.. something bad always happened. She had good feelings, too. Those, like the bad ones, always ended up being true as well. So why wouldn't Tristan listen to Isolde now? Bash's stomach was rolling by the time he made to where his Uncle stood

"Uncle.. where's Papa?" asked Bash.

Elias turned from Horse to look at his nephew with concern.. he could tell there was something wrong because Bash's voice was shaky.

"He's talking to your Mama. What's the matter?" Elias asked, his arms folded across his chest.

Bash looked torn between wanting to say something and keeping his mouth shut, but whatever inner turmoil he had he decided to speak his mind.

"The howling.. I've heard it before." Bash said, barely above a whisper, but Elias heard him all the same.

Sighing Elias looked around for his brother, stopping what he was doing, he walked over to his nephew. Elias put his hands on Bash's shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Sebastian, if you have any qualms about tonight's hunt, then speak to your Father. Traditions are not set in stone." He ruffled his nephews hair and turned back to Horse. "We can put off your hunting trip until after the full moon has passed."

The more Bash thought about it the more silly he felt. He was a man now.. he couldn't be scared at every shadow that skittered across the ground in front of him. Nor could he jump at every noise, big or small. So, he did what he saw Papa do in stressful situations.. he straightened up, put his shoulders back and marched over to Heart to get him ready for tonight's hunting trip. Cleaning Heart's hooves and brushing him down calmed Bash immensely. He'd completely forgotten his feelings of unease he had before and was looking forward to his first Hunt with Papa and Uncle.

Isolde was following after Tristan, still dressed in her night dress, down towards the stables. And boy did she looked upset.

"Tristan Bishop, I am telling you. Tonight is not a good night for hunting. I have a bad feeling in my gut. You all must stay home." Isolde pleaded with her husband, almost demanded.

Tristan laughed at his beautiful, yet worrisome wife, and walked over to her pulling her into a hug.

"Dear Wife, have I told you how beautiful you look when you're pissed off?" Tristan rubbed his nose against hers making her giggle, then she playfully slapped him.

"I'm serious. Husband.. the howling. We've heard it before, at the last full moon. You know what it is! Look at Marta and Samuel.. they lost poor Elizabeth after they heard the howlin," Isolde paused and looked at her husband's brother who was talking to her only child.

"Please.. I cannot bare to think of losing you and Bash. I cannot.." her voice catching in her throat, "I will not survive without you." Wiping away the tear that slid down his wife's cheek, Tristan sighed.

Sensing his wife's distress, Tristan pulled her into a tight embrace and kissing her with a passion that made the stars look dim.

"I love you," Tristan said after Isolde caught her breath.

"I love you, too," Isolde said while looking into her husband clear, blue eyes.

"We will be back by supper." Tristan kissed his wife's forehead, then her nose, and then on her beautiful mouth and turned toward his son and his brother.

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loftl · 5 years

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9 DEC 2014 - Chapter 6

It has been two days since the death of her Husband and their son, Tristan and Sebastian. Isolde felt like she should not be able to still make tears, but she did and she shed them often. Every thing reminded her of them. Needing to do something with herself, Isolde slowly got out of he bed and walked outside. It was crisp, the promise of rain on the horizon, but for now the skies remained a clear blue. Like Tristan's eyes. The thought of never being able to look into his eyes was enough to cause her undoing. Recalling that retched day that the creature took Tristan and Bash from her, Isolde cried even harder.

'When she'd started at the wheat field, shovel in hand, she had every intention to kill whatever had followed her husband and son home from the woods. Stopping dead in her tracks, Isolde dropped the shovel she was carrying. Elias slowly emerged from the wheat covered in blood. It seemed that Isolde suddenly forgot how to move her feet. She stood as if she were a statue, staring at Tristan's brother and she just knew. Isolde could see it in Elias's eyes. She knew her husband was dead.

Elias nodded his head once, silently answering her unspoken question. Isolde, no longer able to feel her body, clutched at her chest. The ground suddenly rushed up on her and the last thing she remembered was feeling Elias's strong arms around her as he caught her before her head hit the ground. Cradling Isolde in his arms, Elias carried her into the house.’

When she had awoken, it was night.. Elias sat next to her bed... her bed. Tears welling in her eyes as she ran her hand across the empty space that was once where her husband had slept. Where she had made passionate love to her husband, minutes before he left to go hunting. She rolled over, holding his pillow to her face and breathing in his scent. Isolde wept until she fainted from exhaustion.

When she woke again, a few hours later. Elias still sat in the same chair as if he hadn't moved. Upon closer inspection, she saw that his hands and boots were filthy. She looked up and met his eyes with her own. The same pain that filled his, mirrored her own. He'd lost just as much as she had that day.

"It's done." Just two words, spoken very quietly. He rose, walked out of the room and out the front door. Isolde threw back the bedding and raced out of the room and out of the house to the family plot. There, in the back where the used to be empty space, were two new crosses.

"WHY!!!" She screamed! "GIVE THEM BACK TO ME!"

"No, no, no, no, no." Isolde stood in the Family Plot weeping into her hands. It was eerily a warm night, but Isolde felt a coldness that went straight to her bones.

She dropped to her knees and put her hands on the disturbed earth and sobbed words of apologies to her husband for her harsh words she'd last spoke to him. After gathering herself, she started humming Sebastian's lullaby that always calmed him whenever he was scared and helped him fall asleep.

She'd been outside for hours. Her body now numb to the cold. Feeling stiff, Isolde stood and blew a kiss to her husband and her son. Then she headed back to the house.

Once inside, Isolde looked around her home that she once shared with her little family. A home that once was full of life and love, now overwhelmed sorrow. Wandering into the sitting room, Belle lay fast asleep on by the hearth. Elias was no where in sight. Isolde sighed as she looked out the window from where she stood. Seeing daylight start to break through over the mountains, Isolde went into her chambers to change. Marta and Samuel were to be calling.. or was that yesterday? She could no longer remember.

After dressing, Isolde went outside to start her chores. when she ran into Elias.

"Isolde.." Elias began..clearing his throat before speaking again.

"Elias," Isolde said in a monotone, waiting for what he has been wanting to say to her for days now.

"I made promises to Tristen that day in the fields.. promises that I know I must keep." He said without looking at her. "I just wanted you to know that." He turned to walk away from her, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him back.

"Elias.. I would like to know what my husband asked you to do. What he said." Isolde said with an urgency that stated her need to hear her husbands last words.

"Isolde, you have to understand.. Tristan and Bash, they loved you more than anything. And I love you. You made my brother the happiest that he's ever been, even before we lost Louis." Elias stated before sighing and continuing with his speech, "Tristan asked me to look after you. To keep you safe. He.. he told me, made me promise, to marry you."

"WHAT!! Do you honestly think that I would MARRY YOU?! My husband and son have not been in the ground but three days and already you think you can lay claim to me, Elias Bishop?!" Isolde was pissed, but mostly hurt.

She knew his words were true. Not just because Elias would never lie to her, but because this is exactly what her husband would ask of his most beloved brother. Because her husband knew, deep down, there was something between Elias and Isolde. Though she had never told her husband of the kiss, or about her short embrace. He knew. The thought made her feel disgusting inside.

If Isolde were completely honest with herself, she has been waiting to see how long it would take Dear Elias to come forth and tell her exactly this. She assumed that he would have liked to have given her more time. More time to mourn for her loss and more time for her to become accustomed to Elias's presence on the farm. Could being married to Elias be so horrid? Tristan drunkenly admitted to Isolde after Alice had died that she was meant to be his brother's wife and not his after getting back from seeing Henry. His husband also admitted to bedding another woman on his travels as well, but Isolde never spoke of the things her husband admitted to while intoxicated. She knew he only said these things because he was in pain. A pain she felt responsible for since it had been on her watch that their daughter had passed.

Sighing, Isolde lightly touched Elias's arm. "I'm sorry, Elias. That was harsh. I.." Not able to finish her words, Isolde grew quiet.

"Oh Isolde.." Elias grasped her by her arms firmly, but still soft somehow.

Isolde, I would never ask you to do something you did not want to do. If you need time, then I will give you that.. but I will honor my Brother's wishes, Isolde. I promised to protect you for the rest of my life and I intend to do just that." Elias said with such authority and assurance that Isolde was mesmerized. She had no idea the fervor Elias could muster.

Something stirred inside Isolde. It was the same feeling she always had whenever she was around Elias. She ached for his arms. The feel of them around her. Isolde stood there, feeling the strength and warmth that Elias emanated. She stared into his eyes for such a long time that it felt like she could see into his very soul.

"Yes." Isolde said very quietly, almost in a whisper. "I will marry you, Elias.."

Before she could finish he suddenly pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. She couldn't explain the rush of emotion she was feeling for this man. This man who's arms felt like Tristan's. Wrapped around her, making her feel safe. Making her feel at home. She began to weep.

"Shh. Shh.." Elias crooned to her. "We have time, Isolde. We can wait for as long as you want. Get to know each other.... Get used to each other.. it does not have to be right away."

Isolde suddenly felt so sure of her future with this man holding her, she tightened her embrace.

"Time.. there is plenty of it, we just do not know when our time is at an end." Isolde sniffled. "No, we have plenty of time to get to know one another after we are married."

Elias sighed and when he spoke his voice was deep and thick with emotion, "Isolde.. I promise to protect and honor you for the rest of my life." Taking a deep breath, Elias pulled away from Isolde and lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes.

He'd seen her face so many times. He's hugged her many times over the years he's known her, but she was his brother's wife.. that's what he'd always told himself. Pushed away the feelings he had for Isolde, because she was his brother's wife. Right now.. as he looked down on her tear stained face, she was the most beautiful, courageous, maddening woman that he'd always known. And he loved her. He knew that.. he has always loved her, he just never realized the depth of that love until this very moment. Maybe that's why he'd put so much distance between he and his brother.

"Isolde.." Elias said thickly..

"Please.. please Elias.." Isolde started to pull away from him.

"Uuh..." Elias cleared his throat and started to back away.

"No.. no, it's.." Isolde sighed reaching out to him.

"I just need time.. before.. You know.. I'm confused. I loved Tristan, love.. Tristan.." Pausing only to catch her breath. "How I'm feeling right now is confusing."

She tried to laugh, but it pained her. To her very core. Elias could see the turmoil in her eyes and it pained him that he was the cause of this.

"I'm very sorry.. I will tend to the horses and the rest of the livestock.. give you some space." He hesitated a moment and then he kissed her hand and left her to silence and her thoughts. Watching Elias walk away from her pained her greatly. Turning, Isolde headed inside. Belle at her heels. Once inside, Isolde changed back into her nightdress. She moved around her room silently cursing it's sudden vastness and cursing the too silent house. Exhausted, Isolde laid on her bed, hugging Tristan's pillow to her breast. She cried. She cried until she drifted off into a deep sleep and dreampt of her babies. Together, holding hands while running through a field of beautifully colored wild flowers. While Tristan watched them, laughing and clapping his hands. Finally at peace. Happy.

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