Chapter 39: Chapter 35 – Meeting the Family

"As they were but a few generations from their freedom and independence themselves, people in Vitalica mostly remained simple folks. Most still lived rural lives, as farmers or hunters, just with a far better quality of life than prior to the rebellion.

 

Probably because of this, unlike many more established nations, the idea of convoluted marriage rituals had yet to take hold there. If two adults liked each other, then nuptials were but a simple matter of agreement between the couple themselves, as well as approval from their parents. Those better off might celebrate it with a feast, usually inviting many to celebrate their joy together.

 

These simple views also extended to pre-marital relationships, which happened freely, though some of the younger generations preferred to save it until after marriage. Regardless, it was not uncommon for marriages to take place with the bride already pregnant in Vitalica." - Nasrudin bin Padra, royal court Historian of the Hassid Caliphate, circa year 40 VA.

An hour later, Aideen brought along a flustered Akeshia with her to her house. She opened the door, entered, and was welcomed with the sight of her grandfather and grandpa Aarin in his mortal guise drinking together on the dinner table.

 

Yvgenia had come along for the trip, so she was likely the one who had done the flesh regrowth for grandpa Aarin. Aideen herself could have done it, but grandpa Aarin probably didn't want to bother her. Mimia was standing behind grandpa Aarin and gave him a shoulder massage, while Yvgenia was in a friendly chat between parents with Ciarran, asking about how her daughter had behaved during her stay.

 

The Bone Lord and the Pope both raised their glasses and waved as they welcomed Aideen back. This naturally left Akeshia rather flustered. She might not be familiar with the Bone Lord in his mortal guise, but just the pope's presence alone was plenty to fluster her. Not to mention everybody else present.

 

"This be the girl my silly grandson has feelings for then?" Asked the pope, a slight slur on his words. He had been drinking his favorite brandy, and was clearly already slightly drunk. "Silly boy should've gone himself to fetch her over, not send his little sister to do it!"

 

"C'mon grandfather. You know how Faerghus is," replied Aideen as she waved back at her two grandpas. "He's always been the shy one. This is Akeshia by the way, Garrett's granddaughter."

 

"Yes… Garrett's huh? Vitalis damn it, sorry for your loss, girl," said the Pope as he sobered up somewhat. Akeshia was more flustered that the pope had not shown her any anger, but instead gave her condolences. "What Megaera did… hurt many people, but to you, she would still have been your caring grandmother. Hence my condolences to you, and to your family. Whatever judgement we might pass on to her later, would be another matter altogether, unrelated to you and yours."

 

"I thank your holiness for this grace you have shown us," Akeshia said as she curtsied as best she could, with tears brimming in her eyes.

 

"Take it easy, girl. Here I'm just an old man looking out for my silly grandson's happiness, not the Pope of Vitalica," replied Theodin with a kind smile. "Since you're here I'm assuming you're not against the idea much, aren't you? Little Aideen isn't the type to drag others around if they're unwilling."

 

"Ah, youngsters and their romances~" teased the Bone Lord from his seat across from the Pope as he chugged down the contents of his glass with a satisfied sigh. "Guess I should be congratulating you, Theodin. If both your grandkids are marrying soon you'd get your wished for great grandkids after all."

 

"Those two brats were always rather hopeless, made me wait this long even!" Replied the Pope with some irritation. "When their dad was Aideen's age Faerghus was born already!"

 

"Grandfather, I'll be taking Akeshia over to brother before you two fluster her too much," Aideen cut in from the side. "Speaking of which, where would my brother be? I don't see him around."

 

"He and Diarmuid went to the backyard. Eager for another spar, those two," the Bone Lord answered with a chuckle.

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"Thanks, grandpa Aarin, I'll be headed there then."

 

With those words said, Aideen pulled on Akeshia's hand and brought her through the kitchen - where she greeted her mother and Kestera, who were having a talk as they made some late night snacks - and out to the backyard.

 

Sure enough, there she found her two elder brothers, locked in combat using wooden training weapons. They had been so focused on their fight that they had not noticed Aideen and Akeshia's arrival. Akeshia blushed when she saw Faerghus, while Aideen shook her head at her brothers' behavior.

 

Back at the seminary, Akeshia had been one of the most talented apprentices, and they had considered her for further training, as a candidate to one day succeed the pope even. All those went to nothing once her grandmother's treachery was confirmed, and some in the seminary had even ostracized her and her family because of it.

 

Faerghus had been a shoulder for her to cry on, and had helped support her through those times, and while they had gotten quite close during those times, she had never dared to imagine him, son of the head of the templars, and grandson to the pope, would have reciprocated her feelings, as the granddaughter of a traitor.

 

At least until Aideen came over and said it straight to her face.

 

She looked up to find that Aideen had pulled out a long, thick metal staff from her storage, and held it like a javelin in one hand. Before she could ask, Aideen hurled the staff, and it landed with an audible thud as it embedded its tip into the ground, right in between the sparring brothers.

 

"You two were so happy beating on each other you didn't even notice us, huh?" Aideen said as she walked towards where her staff landed, with Akeshia following nervously behind her.

 

"Welcome back, sister," said Faerghus somewhat nervously. He was still unused to how his little sister went from the timid girl in his memories to the confident woman that strode towards him with self confidence now. His nervousness was further amplified by the slender figure that followed behind his sister.

 

"I'll be giving you two some private time now," Aideen said as she half-shoved a blushing Akeshia into a similarly blushing Faerghus's hands. "Brother Diarmuid, what do you say we get some practice in while waiting for mom's snacks?"

 

Diarmuid gulped, but nodded to his little sister's proposal, and looked at the departing backs of his brother and his loved one with some envy. Though Aideen's next words did bring a smile full of schadenfreude back to his lips.

 

"Worry not, I'll give eldest brother his share of beatings as well. After Akeshia goes home."

 

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