chapter 4: scribble

" I am glad you invited us, can I hang my coat on one of these hangers". The young lady asked with a gentle smile on her face.

She took her coat off, wich revealed a nice blue sundress.

Caelus was apriciating the view a bit to long.

"Did you loose your tongue while cleaning my boy?" Jonathan said while he hanged two different coats on two separate hangers.

"Ofcourse I havent, I was just thinking about how I should ask for a ladies coat".

He than turned his gaze back to Edith.

"May I take your coat Miss Fray, I will hang it for you."

"Look, this is how you should behave towards your guest Jonathan. The way you took our coats felt like a robbery." A tall man around his late forties said with a joking tone.

This man was Charles Fray. Next to him was his wife Leslie Fray. She gave a light punch on Charles left shoulder.

"You should praise him, last time he didn't even take our coats."

Everyone could see that Edith got her looks from her mom, but it was only her looks.

She has her fathers teasing and adventurers tendencies.

Charles Fray had the looks of a high noble but he was far from it in his younger years. He used to be an adventurer that dived in the deepest catacombs, climbed the highest mountains and drank beers from the kegs. But that changed when he met Leslie.

Leslie was from a noble family that had lost most of its wealth. They met at a bar where Leslie used to work. Charles stories were the reason why Leslie took an interest in him, and Charles liked how caring she was.

They maried with Leslie's fathers consent and started a school in the village.

"Ah thanks for inviting us Caelus, it has been a while. How is being a painter working out for you? I always liked your drawings". Leslie asked while walking towards the living room.

They al moved towards a chair and said down.

"Dad is still training me a bit so I cant really call myself a professional painter yet. But I am making improvements, so I will surpass dad in no time". Caelus anwserd with a smile.

Charles started laughing while Jonathan shook his head with a smile.

"You haven't had your first customer yet, so that is quite the big talk you have." His dad responded.

"Ah I will be the first than, I am curious on how he has improved." Charles said with a teasing smile on his face.

Than Caelus started shaking his head.

"I appreciate your offer, but I want a person that doesn't know me to be my first customer. Dad would bug me till the end of time if my first job was for a friend."

"Well wasn't I your first customer?" Edith said while looking towards Caelus.

'What is she talking about, i never got payed' Caelus thought.

"You drew me a horse, back when we still played in the forest. I gave you some of my berries in return."

The three parents on the dinner table directed their gaze towards Caelus. The young man instantly noticed that his dad wanted to make fun of the situation, so he said somthing before his old man could.

"How would I remember a scribble on a paper that I made as a kid. I promise you that I will make a propper painting for you, after my first customer ofcourse."

There was a small lie in that statement, Caelus did remember that scribble, very fondly even. It was the biggest reason why the young man wanted to become a painter.

'How can I forget that happy face you had back than'.

Jonathan than opend his mouth but than closed it.

'Impossible, is that old fart showing restraint.' This wasn't only Caelus thought, it was also the impression the 3 guest's had.'

The four of them continued their conversations until dawn reached them.

"I dont want to be rude, but what's for dinner. I am starting to feel hungry". The noble looking man said in a not so noble tone.

"Well my son might still lack in his artistic skills, but he can make a killer stew. Oh but he also tends to hurt his fingers while cutting".

Caelus was visually confused. "What are you talking about, I can't remember the ...."

"Edith could you help my poor boy, he could use the help of lady with a soft touch".

Edith smiled, knowing exactly what was happening.

"Ah we can't have him bleed all over the stew. I will cut the vegetables than."

Edith now walked towards the kitchen in a fast pace, Seemingly enjoying herself.

Caelus on the otherhand, was troubled. He than took a look at his father, who gave him a quick wink.

'I'll get you for this.'

He than gave a small glare while excusing himself to the kitchen.

"He has changed a lot since I last saw him, it's almost like I see a younger version of you Jonathan. Wouldn't it be good for him to spread his wings and find his own place in this world?" Leslie asked.

"Well he indeed acts like me, probably because he looks up to me, but deep down he has that same gentleness he had as a kid. I am certain of that, otherwise he would have left his lonely and miserable dad a long time ago."

Jonathan's gaze went from the table towards the roof.

"But the kid will be forced to venture of alone soon enough".

Charles and Leslie were concerned about his statement. They knew Jonathan quite well, they knew how much this man has been through and have seen a fair share of his despair, so their first thought were about him.

'He is not going to do something unthinkable to himself, is he?' Were their thoughts.

Jonathan saw their faces and knew exactly what they were thinking.

"No no I am fine. Who do you think I am, I would never do such a thing with a kid depending on me, most certainly right now. He needs a home to come back to."

"Wait has it be..." Charles interrupted before Jonathan finished what he was about to say.

"The boy needs to go to the capital to be knighted. The war is coming closer now and the king has 'requested' every battle capable male to partake for his sake".

"So it had finally happend." Leslie said with her left hand infront of her mouth.

Bang

"Hey what are you doing, its dangerous to push people while they are cooking. Be glad that that pot is empty". Caelus said while grabbing the pan from the ground.

Edith was laughing softly. "Sorry there is not a lot of space in your kitchen".

But both of them knew that that wasn't the reason why he got pushed.

"So how is your job going, are you saving enough money for your great adventure." The young man asked while lighting the fire of the stove.

The wood caught flame on the first attempt.

"My job is enjoyable so far, I probably need to save for another two or four years to travel comfortably. But to be honest, I could probably go already."

"Ohw, What is holding you here?" Caelus asked while looking at her.

"I could be traveling for the remainder of my life. It might happen that I die before seeing my parents again, and that thought scares me."

The girl walked towards the pan on the stove and put some cut potatoes and carrot inside.

"I am also scared of being disapointed or being underwhelmed by the world. I have dreamed my whole life about traveling, what if its not how I imagined it to be?"

"You are one of the strongest and unyielding people I know, so I wouldn't even imagine you dying before meeting your parents again."

Caelus now added the final ingredients to the pot and started steering.

"And like you said, you have been dreaming of this since you were little. There is no chance that you won't be able to enjoy your journey. The world is vast and beautiful with mystery in every corner, a perfect place for you."

The young man said that while looking at the stew in the pot, not noticing that the woman next to him started to blush.

"Now that I think of it, I also have some unfinished business here in this village. I have to resolve that before I go, otherwise I wouldnt be able to leave properly." Edith declared in a bit higher pitch.

"That's smart, you can't have any regrets before you head out. Well be sure to send me a letter before you leave, oh and be sure to send your craziest stories to me, maybe I can paint something nice from your descriptions."

"Why can't I say goodbye in person?" Edith asked with questions all written over her.

"I, I am being knighted in two months. The King has requested every man to come and protect Farum. There is a high chance that I won't see you before you leave."

Edith showed shock on her face. She instantly put everything out of her hands.

"When we're you planning to tell me this?"

She asked

"The letter came in today, I haven't had the chance to think about it". Caelus than noticed a tear on Edith's face.

She than put her arms around his body, holding him tight. "Why does it have to happen now? What are you going to do now? How long are you going to be gone for? Are you going to be okay?"

These were all great questions, Caelus didn't have the time to think about one of them. But he did think about it now, it now dawned upon him.

'Am I going to be okay?'