Chapter-1
A Quiet Beginning
It was a quaint morning in the Vale, winter was upon the land as the first dusters of snow fell upon the quaint landscape. The brown grass that had dried up in anticipation of the cold was shimmering white as the white powder landed on its dull blades. High above, the clouds churn with a promise of more to come. Alron slept soundly in the pile of hay, his body relaxed and at ease. The golden strands of hay offered a surprisingly soft surface, and the half-cut texture added a touch of homely comfort. As he lay there, the hay shifted and crinkled softly, its scent filling the air with a faint, earthy aroma. ""Alron, Alron! It's snowing!" A high-pitched voice rang through the air, jolting him from his slumber. Alron groaned and stretched, slowly opening his eyes to see a young woman perched on the windowsill, her eyes wide with excitement. "Come on, wake up sleepyhead," the woman chided, bouncing gently on the windowsill. "You have to see this!"
Alron rubbed his eyes, still waking up from his interrupted sleep. He sat up, the hay sticking to his rumpled clothes as he yawned loudly. "What's so special about the snow?" he asked groggily. "It's the first snow of the year, Alron, get up already!" Freya urged, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Alron grumbled and pulled himself out of the hay, his hair sticking up in all directions. He approached the window, still half asleep, and looked out at the white landscape. Alron leaned out of the window, the chilly morning air waking him up completely. The snow had transformed the village into a picturesque winter wonderland, and the people of Wolfur were out and about, enjoying the festivities. Children were giggling as they played in the white blanket, their rosy cheeks and laughter filling the air with joyful sounds. Parents were outside tending to their business, their faces red from the cold but their spirits lifted by the sight of the snow. Alron watched as the villagers hustled and bustled around, their arms laden with supplies for the evening. Men and women marched towards Pinechill with logs for firewood, while children carried ingredients for the feasting. Even their neighbour, Esmir, was carrying a large and fat pig for the event.
Alron turned to Freya, "What's so special about tonight?" he asked, still trying to shake the remnants of sleep from his eyes. "Al, wake up," Freya chided, shaking her head at his sleepy state. "It's the first snow of the year, meaning it's the Frostcall festival tonight! "Alron's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "Of course, how could I forget?" he said, rubbing his face to fully wake up. "No wonder everyone's so busy. The entire town will be celebrating, and there'll be feasts and merriment all night long! " The Frostcall festival was a celebration in the nearby town of Pinechill. people gathered from all around even from the nearby villages like wolfur. Freya said "Ive heeard the old wizard is coming too, do you recon' he is even more messed up than the last time?" "I wonder if he'll do those magic tricks again like when we were kids," Alron chuckled, recalling memories of past festivals.
"Nevermind that," Freya interjected, her voice full of energy. "You need to get up and get ready. You don't want to miss the festivities, do you?" "Alright, alright," Alron said, rubbing his eyes and yawning once more. "I'm coming, just tell Maa and Beor to wait for me, will you?" Freya nodded enthusiastically and scurried off, her footsteps echoing loudly as she disappeared. Alron couldn't help but smile faintly as he watched her go, her boundless energy and enthusiasm contagious. Freya was more than just a friend to Alron. Since they were children, he had harbored a secret crush on her, admiring her sparkling eyes and her infectious energy. She lived nearby with her aunt and uncle, and Alron often found himself stealing glances at her whenever she was around.
Alron groaned as he lifted himself out of the hay and stood up, stretching his limbs as he did so. His body crackled and popped with each movement, relieving the pressure that had built up from lying in the hay for so long. He took a moment to relish the feeling, the sound of his bones shifting becoming a comfort in the silent morning. Alron looked over his clothes, trying to decide what to wear for the festivities. His eye settled on a woolen shirt and brown pants that had once belonged to his father. As he picked them up and dusted them off, he couldn't help but smile faintly, still feeling a bit of the warmth from his interaction with Freya.
He changed into the clothes swiftly, feeling a sense of familiarity and comfort as he put them on. The fabric was slightly rough, but well-worn and comfortable. Alron then reached for his belt, buckling it tightly around his waist. It was a sturdy leather belt that had served him well over the years, and he felt reassured knowing that it was there to hold up his clothes. Next, he donned his cowl, pulling it over his body to provide additional warmth and protection from the cold. The fabric was slightly scratchy, but he was used to it and found it comforting, nonetheless. Alron cracked the door open and saw his mother and brother, Beor, loading a cart with rabbits, potatoes, and berries. Freya was helping them, her slim frame moving quickly as she worked.
"What's all this for?" Alron asked, raising an eyebrow at the sight. Alron's brother, Beor, let out a hearty laugh as he spoke. "Aye, I hunted these damn rabbits all night yesterday, all for the feast." Beor was three years older than him and boasted a strong muscular frame from his manual labour around the house. "Come on, enough standing there gawking. Help us out instead of leaving it all for Freya," their mother scolded, a smile on her face. Alron chuckled and joined Beor and their mother, helping them load the final items onto the cart. He turned to Freya as he worked, asking with a cheeky smile, "Your family all up and running, too?" Freya replied, "Yeah, we were already ready an hour ago."
She looked around at the surrounding area, noticing some of the other villagers who had already begun the journey to Pinechill. The path leading out of the village was becoming increasingly busy as more people left to attend the Frostcall Festival. "It seems like everyone's eager to get to the festivities," Alron commented, his eyes scanning the busy road. "We should probably get moving too," Beor chimed in, giving the cart a final push to secure its contents. "I'm starving and I can smell the food from here." Alron and Freya couldn't help but chuckle at Beor's exaggerated statement. "You're ridiculous," Alron said, shaking his head. "There's no way you can smell the food from here." Beor let out a hearty laugh and replied with conviction, "Of course I can, I've got a good nose, you fool!" His confident boasting made Alron and Freya chuckle even more, amused by his ridiculous claim. Their mother chuckled at Beor's jest and motioned for them to start moving. "Right, come on, let's get a move on now."
She then turned to Freya and asked, "Freya, will you be travelling with us or will you be joining your family?" Freya answered, "I suppose I'll just tag along with you guys. My aunt and uncle don't get much alone time together, so it's all good." She chuckled as she spoke, amused by her own remark. Alron smiled faintly, secretly pleased that Freya would be joining them. He liked spending time with her.
Beor grabbed the handles of the cart, his muscular arms flexing as he pulled it forward. Alron followed behind, pushing the cart from the back, exerting his own strength to help move it along the dusty road. The cart rumbled and creaked as they moved, its contents clattering and shifting with each movement. After walking in silence for what felt like an eternity, Alron's mother let out a soft yet teasing giggle and inquired, "Are you going to introduce us to her today?" Beor's usually composed and confident expression quickly turned a rosy pink. He shifted uncomfortably and asked nervously, "Introduce you to who?" "I know you have been meeting a fair lady Beor, no need to hide it" his mother continued teasingly. Beor's cheeks continued to heat up as his mother spoke. He rubbed the back of his neck and admitted sheepishly, "Aye, I have been meeting a girl. I meant to introduce you all to her later, after I asked her father for her hand in marriage today." Alron and their mother chuckled at Beor's embarrassed expression. It was clear that he had been trying to keep his relationship a secret, but his mother's observant nature had caught on. "Oh, so you've got a special someone, have you?" Alron teased, nudging his brother playfully. Beor's face grew even redder as Alron, and his mother teased him. He responded defensively, "Oh, shut up. It's just the mayor's daughter, nothing to make a fuss over. I didn't even think I had a chance, to be honest." Alron smiled and chuckled at his brother's embarrassed expression. It was rare to see Beor so flustered. "The mayor's daughter, eh?" Alron said teasingly. "I never thought you'd be aiming so high. You must really like her." Beor nodded, a softer expression flitting across his face as he admitted, "I do like her, and she likes me too. But it's not just up to us. It's up to her father to decide if a farm boy like me is good enough for his daughter or not." Freya chimed in reassuringly, "Don't worry. It's not like it's a very big town, right? The mayor doesn't have too many choices." Alron chuckled at her comment, agreeing with her. "She's right, you know. You're probably the best option he's got." Beor couldn't help but tease, looking at Alron and Freya. "You two would make a fine pair. Maybe you'll even try to take after Maa when I become the mayor. Ha!" He winked at Alron with a sly grin, clearly just messing around. Beor's playful jab caught Alron and Freya off guard, causing their cheeks to flush a light shade of pink. Alron retaliated by jokingly shoving his brother, rolling his eyes. "Don't be absurd," Alron retorted, "You're the one who's about to tie the knot, not us. We have no such plans in the near future, I assure you." His mother chuckled at their sibling banter, shaking her head as she observed the friendly bickering between her two sons. Beor's mother chuckled, glancing at Alron and Freya. "Well, Alron, Freya, now that we're almost there, I suppose you two might want some time alone."
She continued, a cheeky smile on her face. Alron rolled his eyes at his mother's teasing, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. Freya looked down at her boots, hiding a chuckle. Alron and Freya exchanged a quick glance before diverting their eyes elsewhere, trying to act indifferent. But there was a certain glimmer in their gazes that betrayed their true feelings.
Alron cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. "Yeah, I suppose we'll go on ahead then," he said casually, not wanting to give his mother any more fuel for her teases. Alron watched as their mother and brother continued on with the cart, leaving him and Freya to make their way to the shops. As she skipped ahead, he smiled and followed. "Alright then," he said, "Let's go check out the shops. I'm sure they'll have plenty of interesting things to look at." They strolled towards the shops, the bustle of the town filling the air around them. The scent of freshly baked goods and spices wafted from a nearby bakery, mingling with the sounds of merchants hawking their wares. Freya's eyes lit up as she spotted a colorful merchant's stall, full of intricately woven blankets and soft fabrics. "Ooh, let's go look there first," she said, tugging at Alron's sleeve.
Alron and Freya approached the colourful stall, admiring the array of goods on display. Pinechill was a modest but lively town built around a central frozen lake, with families busily moving through the streets. The crisp, cold air carried the faint smell of woodsmoke, fresh bread, roasting meat, and spices, creating a sense of tranquil ambience. The entire town had been decorated with flags made of colourful parchment and path-side shops. Alron took in the beauty of the cold and a deep breath exhaling as excitement filled his heart.
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