Chapter 2
Festivities at Pinechill
As they browsed the merchandise, Freya's eyes widened as she took in the beautiful fabrics and blankets laid out before her, itching to feel their soft textures. "Look at all these amazing fabrics," Freya exclaimed, gently running her hand along the soft materials. "They're so soft and beautiful. I can't decide which one I like best." Alron chuckled at her excitement, enjoying her passion for the colorful display. "They're all gorgeous," he agreed. "Maybe you should just get them all." Freya laughed and shook her head, still running her fingers over the silky fabrics. "You're right," she admitted. "My uncle and aunt would probably throttle me if I came back with the entire stock. And of course, I don't have that much money to spare either."She paused for a moment, contemplating. "I guess I'll have to narrow it down to just a couple," Freya sighed and considered the advice before looking at Alron sincerely. "I suppose it's best to just buy the ones I truly love," she admitted. "But that still leaves me with quite a few options." She turned her attention back to the fabrics, deep in thought. "Which ones do you think look the prettiest?" Alron chuckled, knowing he was not the best person to ask for fashion advice. But seeing Freya's hopeful expression, he tried his best to give his opinion.
"Hmm, if you're looking for one that stands out, the purple one here is quite pretty," he said, pointing to a soft, deep purple fabric. "It looks... elegant, I think that's the word. It would bring out your eyes." Freya let out a soft, melodious laugh as Alron complimented her. She jokingly teased, "Oh, you think the fabric will bring out my eyes, do you?" A warm blush crept onto her cheeks as she looked up at him, her light brown, almost hazel eyes sparkling with amusement. Alron chuckled sheepishly, feeling a slight redness appear on his cheeks at her amused expression. He shrugged and feigned nonchalance. "Well, I was just saying what I thought," he replied casually. "But now that I think about it, your eyes are already pretty enough as it is. No fabric needed for that." Freya's eyes sparkled excitedly as she decided to buy the beautiful purple fabric. "That's settled then," she declared. "I will definitely get only this one.
She continued, a hint of pragmatism in her voice. "Besides, it's not like we get to feast on the plains goods every year. Better save some money for that as well." The merchant, a stout man with a wide frame and bulky arms, couldn't help but laugh as he listened to their conversation. His brown beard was tied in a neat knot, giving him a serious yet friendly appearance. "You two make quite the pair," he chuckled, his voice warm and gravelly. "Discussing fabrics and feasts, saving money like responsible youngins." Eric and Freya's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as they heard the merchant's remark. It wasn't the first time they had been called out for making an oddly-paired couple, and they had grown somewhat accustomed to the comments.
The merchant chuckled once again, noticing their sheepish expressions. "You both look like dear hearts," he teased. "Are you here together, then?" Alron stood awkwardly by her side, feeling a bit flustered by the merchant's comment. But Freya, ever the talkative one, spoke up without skipping a beat. "Yes, that's right," she confirmed. "I came here with Alron and his family. We're just killing some time before the feast is ready. We're looking around the shops, you see." The merchant chuckled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ah, you two lovelings should be off enjoying the food stalls instead of wasting your time with an old man like me," he gently encouraged. "Go on, go on. Don't let me hold you back from having a good time." Alron and Freya blushed at the merchant's comment, feeling a bit guilty for getting so absorbed in the shopping that they almost forgot about the food tents. Freya chuckled nervously, her cheeks still flushed. "You're right," she admitted. "We should check out the food stalls. The feast food is the best part of the festival after all."
"Aye you're right the food stalls are indeed the best, see, there to the left, they are selling venison chops with corn, plains food." The merchant spoke as he pointed out the stall he was referring to. Freya thanked the merchant as she paid him the price for the gown. The merchant chuckled warmly as he handed Freya a small pouch, containing a part of the payment back. "Here, have a discount from me," he said, his eyes twinkling with a kind yet mischievous glimmer.
Alron chuckled as well, accepting the pouch with a grateful nod. He took the bundled dress from Freya and carried it under his arm as the two began to walk away, leaving the kindly merchant to attend to his other customers. "You want to go get the venison chops he was talking about?" asked Freya placing a hand over her stomach "I'm hungry you know." Alron glanced at the direction of the food tents, mulling over their options. "Now that you mention it, the venison chops do sound tasty," he replied, his stomach growling faintly in agreement. "And it's not like we have much else to do until the feast." Alron and Freya strolled through the town, taking in the sights and sounds of the lively festivities. The scent of roasted meats and spices wafted through the air, making their mouths water in anticipation. As they moved along, they passed by various merchants selling colorful wares, children running around playing games, and townsfolk happily chatting amongst themselves. As they arrived at the stand selling venison chops and corn, Freya's stomach let out a loud grumble of hunger. The enticing scent of the sizzling meats and the sight of the golden corn cobs made her mouth water in anticipation. She turned to Alron, her eyes gleaming with a sorry-faced hunger. "Oh my god, that smells so good," she said, her stomach growling loudly once again. "I'm starving! Alron, let's get some of those venison chops and corn, please!" Alron chuckled at Freya's eagerness, his own stomach rumbling in agreement. "Alright, alright," he chuckled. "I'll buy us some." He turned to the merchant standing at the stand and ordered two venison chops and two ears of corn, one for each of them. As the merchant handed them their order, Alron and Francesca observed his heavy clothing and tanned skin. It was clear that the man was from the plains, a stark contrast to the people of the Snowspine.
Alron thanked the merchant and took their food, intrigued by the man's origins. "You're from the plains, aren't you?" he asked curiously. The merchant nodded, confirming Alron's assumption. "Yes, sir, you are correct," he replied. "I had heard about this festival from some of your folk back in Cragglin, and I was intrigued enough to visit this beautiful town. Of course, it doesn't hurt to make a profit along the way" "Now here be your venison and corn" the merchant said as he handed them both leaves shaped and woven into makeshift plates, each containing a helping of roasted venison cubes and two ears of golden roasted corn dripping with freshly roasted butter. The sweet aroma of the corn and the juicy, charred venison filled the air around them. Freya took her plate gratefully, her stomach growling with anticipation. "Thank you, this looks delicious!" she said enthusiastically, her eyes wide with hunger. Alron followed up with a question, addressing the merchent. "Did you hunt the deer yourself?" The merchant chuckled, replying, "No, no, the corn is from my farm, but the venison was hunted by a local elf, one of the dark skinned ones" Alron nodded in acknowledgment, casting a glance at Freya. She too, was listening intently, her eyes lighting up at the mention of a Moon Elf. Alron handed the merchent five silver coins and thanked him before they moved on to find a place to sit down and enjoy their food.
"How about there?" Freya suggested, pointing towards a secluded spot beneath a tree. The area was away from the hustle and bustle around them, relatively quieter compared to the shops and the lake with fewer people milling about. They made their way to the spot, taking a seat on the soft grass beneath the tree.
"This spot looks perfect," Alron agreed, as he settled down beside her. "And we have a nice view of the lake from here too." Alron set the bundle of Freya's dress next to him, gently laying it on the ground. He looked at the plate of venison and cob of corn that she gave him, his mouth watering at the sight. "Thanks," he said with a smile, taking the plate from her. He took a bite of the venison, the juicy meat filling his mouth with its rich flavor. "What do you think?" Freya asked. Alron chuckled, his mouth still partially full of venison. "This meat is great," he said, savoring the flavors. Alron paused, taking a moment to chew and swallow before replying. "Well, the venison and corn are delicious," he chuckled. "But as for elves..." He paused, contemplating her question. "We do get some visitors from other lands time to time, and I suppose there's always a chance we might encounter an elf someday," he mused thoughtfully. Freya nodded in agreement, her curiosity piqued by the thought of witnessing a different kind of magic. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," she replied. "I'd love to see a performance by someone who's not just all bones. I bet they have spells and powers that we couldn't even imagine." "Yeah" sheepishly agreed Alron as he let out as chuckle.
Alron and Freya continued chatting and laughing beneath the tree, the conversation flowing effortlessly between them. As they spoke, they slowly finished their meal, the food cold but hardly an afterthought. The sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the town and the festival participants. Freya suddenly jolted in realization, her eyes widening as she checked the sky. "Oh, crap," she exclaimed, her heart racing. "We're going to be late for the feast and fire! Alron, we have to hurry." Alron looked around, noticing that the sun had set and the sky had grown dark. "Damn, you're right," he said, scrambling to his feet. "We better hurry before they start the event without us." Alron quickly grabbed the dress and put it under his arm once more, while also throwing the leaves and cobs away into a nearby farm. He turned back to Freya, his expression serious as he spoke. "Let's go," he said, gesturing for them to start walking towards the feast area. "We gotta hurry and find a spot before all the good spots are taken." "Yeah yeah, coming" Freya and Alron hurried towards the lake, the urgency in their steps evident. As they arrived, they were greeted by the sight of a large bonfire blazing in the center, surrounded by a gathering of people. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation, the chatter and laughter of the festival attendees creating a lively atmosphere. Freya spotted her uncle in the crowd, and tugged at Alron's shirt to get his attention. "I'm gonna go say hi to my uncle real quick," she said, her voice barely audible above the noise of the crowd. "You go find a spot for us to sit, alright?" Alron nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the crowd until he saw his own mother among the people. "Alright," he replied. "I'll go find a spot for us to sit. You go ahead and say hi to your uncle." As Freya left to speak to her uncle, Alron spotted his mother amongst the people gathered near the bonfire. He made his way towards her, weaving through the crowd until he reached her side. Alron approached his mother, a cheeky grin on his face. "Hiya, Maa," he said, his voice warm with affection. "Where's Beor?" he asked, referring to his older brother. Alron followed his mother's gesture to where she indicated and saw his brother sitting next to the mayor and his daughter. A look of shock and intrigue washed over his face at the sight. "Looks like he did it," Alron's mother muttered, her own smile growing wider. The evening progressed and the sky grew darker as the bonfire roared higher and higher. More and more guests gathered around the fire, their faces illuminated by the dancing flames as the festival goers' conversation grew louder and louder. In the middle of the gathering, food was being placed on skewers and sticks before being roasted over the fire.
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