Across the Sea: Chapter VI

Here we go! 😄😄😄

CHAPTER SIX: PROPOSAL

It was ninth moon. Esben had turned eleven the month previous, and time wore on rather slowly. It was not a bad thing. The children enjoyed their time with the Helmers. But they missed home. An occasional letter from Madia to Esben and Emerald was hardly satisfactorily. Even Arundelle’s letters never gave Artham all the satisfaction he required, though he did find himself feeling rather funny inside when he received one of her letters.

The children had to do their THAGS daily, so on this day Esben sat at the kitchen table drawing, Emerald sat in her room practicing a song, and Artham was on the couch reading. But soon he was up and out of the house with his training exercises of the sword.

Danniby wanted to speak to the children about something that day. He had fallen very much in love with Illia, and he wanted to know their thoughts regarding him marrying her. The one thought that troubled him the most was if they could ever accept him as a father. You see, he believed Illia was their mother, but more on that later.

He strolled upstairs to Emmy’s room where he heard a beautiful verse of a song being sung.

“Hold on fast, my darling.

Hold on fast my dear.

Though the times be weary, He is always near.

He’ll give you back your land and more

Now sleep in quiet peace.

We’ll all be reunited soon,

So rest please, darling, sleep.”

“That was beautiful, dear Em.”

Emerald blushed when she heard Danniby’s voice, but she smiled in spite of herself.

“Thank you, sir. Can I help you with anything?”

“Well, as a matter’o’fac’, I have a question fer ya.”

“What is it?”

“I love yer ‘untie very much, and I would like to know if it’s okay with you ta…ta ask ‘er to marry me.”

Emerald’s bright blue eyes opened wide. She smiled, clasping her hands together with an exclamation of delight.

“Oh yes! yes! I would love for you to! Oh yes! Please, ask her right away!”

Danniby laughed. “Well, I gotta ask yer bruthers  first.”

“Well then hurry up and do!”

Danniby smiled, kissed the top of her head, and walked downstairs and into the kitchen. He saw Esben sketching out a lovely little drawing of the dragons.

Danniby placed a hand on Esben’s shoulder.

“You almost done with that there? I have somethin’ important ta ask ya.”

When Danniby asked, Esben was rather suspicious at first, wondering why Danniby would want to marry his aunt. But eventually, he became happy (ish) and told him it would be fine, though he watched Danniby with a sober face as Danniby walked out to go talk to his brother.

Artham was going after a manikin his aunt has fashioned with his sword, every cut and slice perfectly articulated. He looked like a young man already, not merely a thirteen year old boy.

But these last few months had matured him. Now he was more of a man than he had ever been, and less of a child. Danniby felt for the boy. He knew a bit of the responsibility Artham had….knew it was hard to bear.

Artham turned when he saw Danniby, and sheathed his sword.

“What are you doing out here?”

“I had somethin’ to ask ya…but if now’s not a good time…”

“No. What is it?”

“Well, I was thinkin’ ‘bout marryin’…..Illia.”

Artham’s brows went up. He felt a bit reluctant at first. When he asked why, Danniby said because he loved her. Artham could see the truth in his eyes. He knew Danniby’s motives were pure. But he did not want to give up his aunts sole attention to some other person.

       And yet…to say no would be selfish and wrong. “What did my siblings tell you?” Artham asked.

       “Oh, they said they was fine wid it.”

       Artham sighed, and kept thinking. Could he accept Danniby as an uncle? He doubted that a bit….but maybe he didn’t have to. He knew Danniby made his aunt happy, and he knew Danniby’s motives were pure. Danniby was a good and trustworthy man. If his aunt was going to marry anyone, it might as well be this man….this good man.

       Artham was not happy about this engagement, but he was satisfied. “Yes. It’s fine with me. And I…..I appreciate you asking.”

       Artham smiled, and Danniby thanked him and bowed. Artham inhaled and exhaled deeply when Danniby left, and then went back to his training.

       That evening at dinner, Illia had no idea what was about to be asked of her. She just knew she was tired and not feeling well. She had had a cough since the festival two months ago, and she was doing her best to hide it, even if Yamsa knew. But Yamsa was one thing. The children or Danniby was an entirely different one.

       “Oh, Artham, that reminds me. You’ve got a letter from Arundelle again,” Yamsa said at some point in the conversation. Emerald sighed dreamily, and Esben chuckled. Artham flushed a bit, but thanked her for telling him. Dinner passed by quickly. Danniby’s mind was occupied with thoughts of how he should ask Illia to marry him. He wanted it to be proper.

Artham was given his letter, and he was embarrassed by the way everyone looked at him when he opened it. It was a simple, sweet letter. Let me give you a small portion of it.

We all miss you so much. I wish you could have been here for my twelfth birthday. And I’m sad that I’ll miss your fourteenth. Know we are waiting for you very expectantly.

Your Friend,

Arundelle

It made Artham feel warm inside to hear from Arundelle, and it made it him feel that everything was alright in the world, even though it really wasn’t.

After the children went to bed, Danniby asked Illia to go for a short walk with him. She agreed. They went outside and walked in the moonlight, enjoying each other’s company and the clear night air.

“Ya know, Illia. I have somethin’ to ask ya.”

Illia froze. “What?”

“Illia, I care about ya a great deal. And, well, I ain’t overly great with words, but uh,” Danniby slowly walked in front of her and took her hands in his, “will ya do me a favor and be me wife?”

Illia’s eyes widened. “Oh Danniby…”

“I already cleared it with yer young ‘uns. And I understand it might be hard for them to accept me as a father.”

Illia looked up confused. “Father? Oh, Danniby I’m not their mom. I’m their aunt.”

Now Danniby was confused. “Well, why do you have ‘em?”

“Well I—“

But her heart fairly split in two, and she burst into tears. The whole story came out. The truth was revealed, and she poured forth her grief about her younger brother’s death, and how it was all her fault, that she should have gone with him, and what a terrible example she was to Artham.

Danniby listened quietly, and when she was finished, he pulled her closer to himself and calmed her. “Hush darlin’. It ain’t yer fault. He told ye to stay. It’s all in the Maker’s plan, doll. Don’t fret over what you can’t control.”

Illia’s sobs lessened as she rested her head on Danniby’s chest. Those were words her tired spirit needed to hear. She had been holding it in, and how good it felt to let it out.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Yes what?”

“I’ll be your wife.”

A lovely, fluffy chapter! 🥰

I guess it’s time we do some happiness ey? 😂

Hope you like!