Found:
I left the house early this morning. It was for the best. I had errands to run and people to see and, had I stayed until he awoke, I may well never have departed!
The order at the blacksmith is placed, ready for pick-up in a few days. Though such a thing would take only a few hours to make, the man did have other jobs to fulfill first.
I then went in search of Dernwynn. I told her what had happened and she was pleased, if somewhat disapproving when I said that we three propose to remain friends. I know such ideas are not to her tastes, but I cannot bring myself to see Woad as a threat.
Nor can I bring myself to distrust his promise of fidelity. Given my propensity for cynicism, this may be strange, but I trust him. I trust in him. He makes me feel warm, safe and wanted, and that far outweighs any suspicion that others believe I should have until such a time as he gives me cause to feel otherwise!
With the arrival of Tilton, the conversation progressed in other ways. First is the matter of the winter festivities. It would seem that it shall not only be Dernwynn and Ruemax going along, but also Tilton and possibly his intended as well. From four to six. I wonder how well Rowan will take this news.
Another topic of interest seemed to be that of marriage. Tilton is to wed soon, young as he is, so the question naturally turned to Dernwynn and myself. She would give no straight answer, for which I do not blame her! And I... I had no answer to give.
I had broached the subject as a joke late yester eve. He seemed surprised by it, which is not the reaction I expected. Where was the wide-eyed manly panic?! I'm not entirely certain what to think of this. I'm not entirely certain what I think of the notion itself! I haven't considered marriage in any way since I fled my childhood home the night before I was due to be wed to a boy I neither knew or cared for!
But is it something that would interest me in the future?
It is a part of the normal progression, is it not? Meet, fall in love, marry, breed, die. That's how life is supposed to go, isn't it? And, I must admit, there is a certain amount of attraction to being so closely bound to the one you love. It also legitimises the children, and I know first hand how difficult it can be to be a bastard!
But is it truly necessary? Legalities are naught more than written notes filed away in a cupboard somewhere, left to gather dust until they crumble. Commitment is not about the paper, but about the people and how they treat one another. And as for the views of society... Well... I've never much cared about them!
This subject may require further thought.
