Chapter 3

Sunday evening arrived and I was on my way to the Inn. I had managed to pick some ripe red apples from the apple trees growing at the furthest part of my family’s land. Mrs Gastwirt liked apples. I wasn’t much of a drinker, so mead and wine were both out of the question as potential gifts and since the potatoes were a ways away from being edible, apples were the best I could do.

I spotted the outline of the Inn as I made my way down the paved walkway. It had recently been renovated and was the most modern building/structure in the whole village. I made my way to the front door and knocked.

Since this was an Inn, it had visitors at all hours of the day and on all days of the week, it was possible to just waltz in. However, I was a non paying guest, so I felt it necessary to show some decorum.

A few seconds passed and the wooden door opened. A short plump woman, with auburn hair and warm emerald green eyes was stood in the doorway. She made eye contact with me and immediately pulled me into a strong bear hug.

“If it isn’t little Cal Hemlock, ya look more and more like your Pa every time I see ya lad.”

“Good evening Mrs Gastwirt, thanks for having…”

“Oh pish with the Mrs Gastwirt! How many times do I have to tell ya to call me Gladus!? We aren’t in class anymore Cal.”

“R-right, I’m sorry.”

“Hahahaha, ya haven’t changed a bit, come on in. Astoria is just round back, tending to that blummin horse of hers, I’ll just go fetch her, make yourself comfortable.”

With that Gladus Gastwirt scurried away. In spite of how elegant and refined her handwriting was, she was still very much a full blown village lass. The juxtaposed nature of Gladus Gastwirt was one of her most peculiar and yet endearing qualities.

I made my way inside and sat at a table. It seems the bottom floor of the inn was empty of guests, although I was certain that there was a few stragglers in the rooms upstairs.

A few moments passed and Gladus appeared from the back door, followed by a disgruntled looking Astoria. Like her mother, Astoria had auburn hair and emerald green eyes. Her hair was a lot longer than her mother's and had a youthful sheen. Unlike her mother however, her emerald eyes lacked warmth, but their sharpness complimented her genteel features well.

She had pale and blemish free skin and a mature figure. I could see why the drunken old louts of the village called her the “most beautiful rose” in the village. However, having known Astoria my whole life, I could also tell why they always added “yet thorny” after the word “beautiful” each time they made reference to her.

“Oh, it’s you. Mother why is he here?”

“Now now lass, I invited him over for dinner. Ya can’t only see each other at the festival now can ya. Are those apples?”

“Y-yeah, I picked some out for…”

“What if I don’t want to see him?”

“Oh hush now, I’ll just go and add these apples to tonight’s servings, the other’s will be along soon too.”

“Others? Who else is coming?”

But Gladus had already taken the bag of apples and disappeared to what I can only imagine is the kitchen. Astoria sat at the other end of the table and did her utmost to avoid eye contact with me. The silence was maddening, so I decided to see if the Ice Queen would return my greetings today.

“S-so, how have you been?”

“What are you doing here Cal?”

“I was invited over for dinner.”

“You don’t normally answer my mother’s invitations, in fact, you never do, what’s changed?”

“Dunno, just remembered the pouting face of a tomboyish girl I used to know and decided that I couldn’t wait for the festival to see it again.”

Following this last line, Astoria turned to me, for a split second, she blushed from cheek to cheek and then pouted and turned away in embarrassment, I chuckled.

“Tch, you love to bring up the past, don’t you?”

“Haha, only when it’s so similar to the present.”

Astoria scoffed at this.

“So, what have you got planned for the festival then?”

“Oho, so you’re finally interested in talking to me are you?”

“Hmph! I was more than satisfied with sitting in silence, YOU’RE the one that wanted to be all chummy.”

“Alright, alright, calm down.”

“Grrrrrrr.”

“Haha, sweet potatoes, that’s my contribution this time. You like them don’t you?”

“Hm, what gave you that idea? I never said that, in fact, I prefer regular potatoes, you can prepare a fine stew with regular potatoes.”

“Oh? I’ve planted some regular ones too, I’ll make sure to hand those over to you exclusively and cook the sweet ones, for yknow, people that actually enjoy them.”

Astoria looked taken aback and even a little worried at this revelation. The way she tended to have how she truly felt plain as day on her face, was adorable. It was a lot easier to tease her about it when we were children, but I was happy that remnants of this trait followed her into young womanhood.

I broke the tension by chuckling again, doing so caused Astoria’s ears to show a tinged pink colour. We sat in silence again, until Gladus reappeared with a tray of food for all of us.

She served us stew and we awaited the arrival of the other’s. I had no idea who was coming, but I was looking forward to seeing some more familiar faces.