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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 15:45:19 GMT -5
"Not really, no." Joshua shrugged. "Honestly, it's no big deal. Are these edible?" he said, picking a berry from a bush. It was the only thing he could think of to do to change the subject.
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 15:49:09 GMT -5
Amelia stared at Joshua for a few minutes, seeing his discomfort. She blushed, realizing she'd been pushy about the matter, and turned away, staring at the berries. "I think so, I was never much of an outdoors person," said Amelia quietly, plucking one, "Robby's eaten everything in the area. He and Johnny had a contest. They're both alive, and well, so I don't think they're poisonous."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 15:52:12 GMT -5
"Good." Joshua smiled, eating the berry and lying back. "Is it just me, or is it getting darker now?"
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 15:53:19 GMT -5
"Yeah, it's almost evening! We should head back!" said Amelia, realizing how quickly time had gone by, "Do you want to stay for dinner? Robby will be there, and so will the rest of the family."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 15:55:39 GMT -5
"That would be lovely." Joshua grinned. "Again, as long as its not too much trouble."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 16:02:00 GMT -5
"Please. Mum should be cooking, and after the torment of eating Vicky's food, you deserve some kind of meal to fill you up," said Amelia, standing up and offering Joshua a hand, "Let's walk home."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 16:03:35 GMT -5
Joshua grabbed Amelias hand, grinning widely. "As long as I don't die, that sounds amazing."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 16:06:34 GMT -5
Amelia helped pull Joshua up, laughing. "What a brave young lord you are! Shall I protect you?"
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 16:16:28 GMT -5
"I'm sure they'll be no need. I know I won't need to introduce myself again, though... I'm sure Vicky will have told your whole family who I am by now. They're probably sharpening their knives in case I make any moves on you."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 16:18:06 GMT -5
"Kent and Johnny will be, daddy will be busy trying to decide if you're out for our land, and mum will be discussing your family and our relationship with Vicky," said Amelia, rolling her eyes at how predictable her family was, "Robby doesn't come home until the sun's down, so he won't know."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 16:21:02 GMT -5
"So I have two to look out for, as I have no intention of stealing your land from you." Joshua laughed.
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 16:31:33 GMT -5
"Daddy thinks everyone's out to get him," explained Amelia, looking down again, "He was cheated once by a witch. She stole all mum's jewelry , and gave him something nasty that killed his ability to have children. Ever since, he hates them, and anything to do with them."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 7, 2012 16:43:50 GMT -5
"That's awful!'" Joshua gasped. "I'm surprised you don't support this decree after that."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 7, 2012 16:52:57 GMT -5
"Well, my family does," said Amelia, brushing her hair from her face, "But I've always been the black sheep." In truth, she couldn't support the decree! Just imagining herself trying to hunt down other's like her, she couldn't picture it. If her father had ever found out, she wondered what he'd do.
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 8, 2012 3:56:18 GMT -5
"Im the same." Joshua rolled his eyes. "Are you cold? You're shivering."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 8, 2012 7:02:15 GMT -5
"A little," said Amelia, the most of of her 'shivering' actually shudders as she considered what her future with her family would be like when they turned into Witch Hunters. It was extremely depressing, but she forced herself to smile as she turned to Joshua, "So, if we're two black sheep then I suppose we shall have to form our own little club of sheep?"
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 8, 2012 7:09:01 GMT -5
"Have my coat." Joshua said, taking it off and draping it around her shoulders. "It's dry, so it sould be warmer. Is it a herd of sheep? We can be a little herd, that sounds good." he laughed.
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 8, 2012 7:50:11 GMT -5
"Yes, we shall be a small herd," said Amelia, accepting the coat with a laugh, "Just you and I, and this lake shall be our pasture!"
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 8, 2012 8:19:05 GMT -5
"What a brilliant idea!" Joshua laughed. "We must get right on that."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 8, 2012 8:29:34 GMT -5
"I'm filled with briliance," teased Amelia, as they neared her house. Just up the hill now. Since no one was staring but Vicky and her mother, she assumed the men had no idea she was bringing a guest, and she shared this idea with Joshua.
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 8, 2012 8:42:53 GMT -5
"This could go one of two ways then." Joshua grinned. "And one of them involves me being killed."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 8, 2012 11:13:26 GMT -5
"Killed?" said Amelia, as they reached the door, "Oh possibly brutally maimed, but don't worry, I'll protect you by cowering."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 8, 2012 17:40:53 GMT -5
"That's reassuring."Joshua smiled wryly. "At least it would have been spectacular."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 9, 2012 8:15:37 GMT -5
Amelia laughed as she knocked on the door. From outside the house, you could hear the sounds of bustling conversation. There was some laughter and a little bit of yelling. The home smelled of something cooking. Amela identified the smell of her mother's own recipe for meat stew. Several meats, chicken, boar, pork, and probably a bit of bear were mixed together into a delicious broth.
As she began to feel nervous, entering her home in simply a petticoat used for swimming, and a man's jacket, she realized how much her brothers would infer, and how wrong they'd be. She wasn't sure what to do, move closer to Joshua, or maintain some distance. Before she cold figure it out, the door opened, and to her relief, it was Vicky, who looked upon the picture with a triumphant smile, as though she'd planned it all out. Vicky ushered them in, and as Amelia predicted, all conversation stopped as Vicky fussed over her and Joshua.
"Oh you poor dears must be freezing!" echoed Vicky's voice around the room, since nobody else spoke.even the twins were quietly guaging the silence.
Amelia glanced around the house. Kent was at the dinner table, a knife in hand as the tall, burly man chiseled some wood. His dark eyes seemed to dart detween his baby sister, and the strange man beside her. His ears were turning red, the tell-tale sign of anger. Towards the stove, her mother was cooking. The petite woman was a rather round woman, with frost white hair and wrinkles in her face. She simply waved to the two, and her eyes sparkled with delight. Beside her sat Amelia's father, a balding man with a hardened face. He was tall and strong, from years of farmwork, and well-tanned. He was eying Joshua more than Amelia, as though sizing him up, but was otherwise relatively calm. It wasn't unusual he wasn't speaking, he hardly did. Over by the other wall, was the twins, who were being entertained by Johnny. Johnny was a smaller boy, more slight in figure, but he made up for that with his strength. His dark hair was cropped short, and he had the signs of a man trying to grow a beard. His hand was made up as puppets, in figures of a dog and bunny. He'd been giving the twins a puppet show, but now, now he was glaring furiously at Joshua, and his fists were starting to clench. The twins sat before him, trying to comprehend the sudden silence in their house.
"I'm home," said Amelia weakly, as everyone but her mother stared.
"Who's your friend, darling?" asked her father, quietly. Still a better reaction.
"This is Joshua, Joshua Herdsman father," said Vicky, for Amelia.
"And how does he know Amy?" asked Johnny, glaring daggers at Joshua.
"He's a friend of mine, Johnny," said Amelia, stepping slightly in front of Joshua, both for his sake and Johnny's blood pressure.
"Welcome dear!" called out her mother, purposely ignoring the tension in the house, "Why don't you two get changed? I'm sure those clothes are dirty from swimming!"
"Swimming?!" called out Kent in shock.
"Brilliant," said a Vicky, grabbing the two by their wrists, "I'll help! Come one you two!"
And with that, they were led away towards Amelia's room, leaving her family to digest what had just happened.
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 9, 2012 8:27:47 GMT -5
Joshua followed Amelia and Vicky, biting his lip.
"I see what you mean." he muttered. "I thought they were going to kill me! Your father didn't look too angry, though. Mostly just your brothers."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 9, 2012 8:48:29 GMT -5
"Did you not tell them anything?!" asked Amelia, as they entered her room, "Joshua's right! They looked positively livid!"
"Oh yes, you wait until someday when you're married! Marriage is not based on truth! It's based on keeping your partner happy!" snapped Vicky, pulling out a dress for Amelia, "I am sorry, Lord Joshua, but her brothers are fools. I swear, at least Robby's not home yet!"
"Thank the lord for small miracles," said Amelia quietly, turning to Joshua, "Sorry if they scared you, they're.. Enthusiastic. Are you sure you want to stay? Vicky can help sneak you out."
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 9, 2012 9:10:08 GMT -5
"It's fine." Joshua laughed. "I'm sure it would probably be even worse if you snuck me out anyway."
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 9, 2012 9:23:38 GMT -5
"Oh what a sensible young man," gushed Vicky, glaring at Amelia for even suggesting the idea, "Here you two are. I already had some clothes of Robby's brought in here. They're a bit older, since he outgrew them now that's he's 18, but they should fit Lord Joshua. Now, Amelia, get dressed and hurry up! We have to pacify those idiots!"
"Alright, alright," muttered Amelia, "I'll change in your room, feel free to change in here Joshua."
And with that, the two women exited, leaving Joshua alone to explore Amelia's room. The chest with Amelia's clothes was still and atop lay a few old knitting needles. The room was mostly plain, and there wasn't much for Joshua to look at. However, just under the pillow where Vicky had laid Robby's clothes was Amelia's wooden wand. The stick was intricately carved, and sat under the pillow, in a rather dangerous position.
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Post by eskimoRock on Sept 9, 2012 10:09:52 GMT -5
Joshua sat down on the bed and leant over to examine the clothes. They seemed to be around his size, so he stood up, accidentally pulling the pillow off the bed and onto the floor as he picked up the clothes. He moved to put the pillow back, and froze. Sitting on the bed was unmistakably a wand.
Joshua gasped, staring at the wand. Why would Amelia have one? Was she a witch? She certainly hadn't acted like one in the time he'd spent with her...
"What is going on here?" Joshua whispered.
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Post by G. Novella on Sept 9, 2012 11:34:42 GMT -5
Amelia knocked on the door, now dressed in a simple brown dress. Her curly brown hair was pinned up behind her, and Vicky had left to calm down her brothers. She waited for Joshua to answer the door, excited by the prospect of introducing him to her family.
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