As morning dawned and I'd awakened, stretching after getting up for the cold, uncomfortable floor. As I'd looked towards my bed, where Nelwynn was laying last night, I'd noticed it empty, worried that perhaps she'd run off, as she did in the past, I'd rushed to the main room of the house. On entry, I had seen that she was besides my mother, assisting her with her duties. When Nelwynn had noticed me, she simply turned her head, ignoring me.
Seeing that Nelwynne had not ran away, I was filled with relief. I'd thus turned my attention to the table, where father sat, waiting for breakfast, still depressed about what I'd said yesterday. Thus, I'd motioned towards the table, taking a seat opposite of him before softly apologizing.
"Father, I'm sorry for what condact I'd portrayed to both you and mother yesterday."
Father remained silent, leaving a cold gaze at me. Mother of course had heard my apology, and thus interjected herself.
"Oh, Landyn, you don't need to apologize, but... you can't speak of what you'd said yesterday. I don't want them to take you Landyn!"
Mother had put her arms around me, hugging me with her toil-hardened hands, crying as she did. Mother truly feared that ny saying what I did yesterday could well be enough to warrant my execution. Thus, I'd returned the hug, comforting my mother before I'd resolved.
"Mother... You needn't worry. They'll not take me away, and I won't allow for them to take you, or father, or even Nelwynn."
Nelwynn had remained where she was before mother had rushed over. Her arms shaking, and I could hear faint sniffling from her. She then turned herself to look at me before coming over to hug both me and my mother. As she did so, she quickly blurted out.
"You idiot!"
During all this, father remained at the table, before giving his response.
"You've no need to apologize Landyn... What you said was the truth, however, it is a truth that we must toil under."
On hearing father's response, I'd realized it best not to counter him. As to do so would not only sour the mood once more, but would serve to only invite further chaos. Thus, I'd contented myself with the outcome, with both mother and father becoming more conscious of their class, and with Nelwynn no longer angered with me.
As mother and Nelwynn had finished making today's breakfast, I'd sat at the table, eagerly consuming the meal they'd wonderfully created. After I'd finished, I thanked them both for the meal, before heading out to the smithy to gather the nails, while father made his way to the woodworker to gather the wood for Nelwynn's room. As I'd arrived to the smithy's hut, I was greeted by an elderly man, hammering away at a horseshoe. As he'd taken notice of my presence, he cheerfully greeted me.
"Welcome, Landyn! Need new shoes for the mule?"
The elderly smithy began to laugh, before taking firm interest in my reason for visiting him. Thus, I'd quickly given him my answer.
"Not at all, I'm here for some nails. I don't suppose you can make some, or have some to spare?"
"Nails? The ones on your hands not good enough? hahaha!"
"No, more like the nails needed for construction, I doubt my nails will be of much use for such an endeavor."
Hearing my retort to his joke, the smithy's smile turned to a plain, more serious expression. He'd then proceeded to ask me just how many nails I'd need.
"About 60, maybe a dozen or two extra, how much would that charge me?"
"60? That's quite a few, but I could do it, as for the costs, 2 silver coins should do it."
Hearing his price, I'd taken out 3 silver coins from my pouch before handing them to him. Seeing the third coin, the smithy then looked at me puzzled, before asking why I'd paid an extra silver coin.
"Why the extra coin Lad?"
"2 silver for the labor, one silver for the resources."
I'd answered him rather matter-of-factly. Thus, he'd taken the three coins and put them off to the side, while he began to put the horseshoe away before making his way to his small forge. He'd quickly returned with a handful of nails, informing me that he'd begin producing the rest immediately. The nails were of about average quality, made purely of iron, with some rust taking effect on a few of them.
I'd simply put the nails into the pouch with my few remainibg coins, before thanking the smithy and ibforming him that i'd return for the remaining nails tomorrow.
"Thank you sir! I'll return to you tomorrow for the remaining nails"
"No worries lad, I'll work extra hard to get you those nails."
After our brief exchange, I'd headed back home, where father had already brought along some of the lumber. As I'd made my way to him, I'd ibformed him that I had a few nails, and could get the remainder by tomorrow. Father had nodded, before instructing me to begin construction of Nelwynn's room with what nails I'd had now. Thus, I'd begun hammering away, laying out the basic foundation for Nelwynn's room within a few hours.
Two planks line the sides of the room, connected to the house, while a larger lumber beam had remained at the corner to act as a support. The remaining nails were used to have some lumber outline the roofing, and to outline the doorway. Though I'd not had any hinges or handles for a door, I'd still had plans to eventually provide a door for Nelwynn's room.
As the sun began setting once more, I'd enjoyed another peaceful meal with my family. Once more, I'd enjoyed Nelwynn's finely crafted meal. And once more, I'd thanked both her and mother for the meal they'd prepared. Finally, I'd headed to bed, with Nelwynn once more sleeping at my side.