festival

The night was fun, music and dancing, there were people singing and laughing. They had food and drink booths set up, even games for the children. Gwen loved every minute of it. The town square was colorful, decorated with ribbon and cloth. As she was admiring them, out of the corner of her eye she saw Emily. She grabbed Edwyn and they ran to catch up to her.  He saw the way she seemed to light up like a shining star when she saw Emily across the town square.

"Gwen" Emily shouted across the square, once they got closer. She saw that James was there good it would not be weird. Edwin would be able to talk to James. James stood there for a moment then he recognized him. As Gwen caught her breath, James spoke up first.

"Edwyn, right? I have met you before in the blacksmith store." James informed him in a friendly tone.

"Yes you are right, my father owns it. I remember you as well horse shoes right? Three sets, two stallions and a mare?" Edwin recited his order from last week.

Emily was amazed. "How in the gods did you remember that?"

"Simple, it was the last order before Gwen walked in the store with a dagger and kissed me." 

In minutes the two girls were talking of the upcoming wedding. James offered to buy Edwyn a drink over at the tavern so the women could talk a while. Edwyn told him to lead the way my friend. James let Emily and Gwen know where they would be at what they were doing. Emily told him to take Edwin for a drink not the whole night. They were not yet married but she knew her husband to be quite well.

They headed for the tavern at the end of the town square. The two of them made it through the crowd quickly, and went into the pub and sat close to the front door. James ordered two mugs and a pitcher.

"Cheers my friend." James toasted.

He smiled. He was not anti-social; he just had not made a lot of friends. He was quiet but seemed to be a little more open. He liked James. He seemed like a nice right fellow. He was having a few drinks with James when a voice bellowed behind him.

He turned around to see Angus, Gwen's father standing there. The man looked infuriated.

"Yes sir?"

"Are you here with James? I thought I saw you come to my house and pick up my only daughter or am I to be mistaken?"

James jumped in to help right away.

"Sir it is my own doing not his. Gwen and Emily are in the square talking of girl things, our wedding. I wanted only to be a proper gentleman and give them their privacy."

Angus stopped for a moment and thought about what the lad had said. He bent his head down and looked at Edwin with sympathy.

"I am sorry Edwin; Gwen has not seen Emily much since the engagement was announced. I suppose no harm, and I understand, you could drink a barrel before they were done talking." Angus joked with the two younger lads.

The two finished their drinks quickly and headed back to meet with Emily and Gwen. James whispered to Edwin, "Hey I bet they did not even notice that we were gone." Edwin and James both started laughing at the same time.

Gwen noticed them coming back to meet with her and Emily. She saw him having a good time and laughing with James. She was thrilled. It would be nice if those two became good friends as well, she thought to herself that was I could see Emily once in a while. Even though Gwen had a blast with all of them, her mind kept drifting off to the rude girl in the forest from a few days ago. She kept trying to block the thoughts out of her mind but she could not do it. 

                                                         Every time she tried she would see the nasty rude wench. She kept looking around the festival wondering if she would be showing up here. Is that why she could not get her off the brain? She looked around quite often during the festival but never saw the girl. Maybe she did not live around here she thought. She had gotten a very disturbing vibe from the girl. Gwen knew she needed to stay clear of this girl. 

She would have to discuss this with Maggie if these little visions continued to happen to her. Maggie might be Abe to make sense of it if anyone could it would be her. She blocked it from her mind. She wanted to have a good time. James was a lot of fun. Gwen could see why Emily enjoyed his company so much. He was a real character, funny, smart. He was having fun with the three of them and Gwen noticed it.

 She was happy to see him making friends and having a good time. She was also glad to see Emily so happy. She and James had met three years ago and they have been inseparable ever since that day, in the market place. Gwen smiled at the memory when the two girls were shopping he came up to Emily to find out who she was.

Emily was to be married the week of the great summer festival. Gwen knew Emily could not wait for it.

Gwen was getting excited for her friend. She thought it would be a lot of fun. Gwen and Edwin stayed at the festival together long after Emily and James had left. Gwen turned to Edwin, just looking at him for a long moment.

"Did you have a good time?" she asked him in a softened tone.

"Yes I believe I did I enjoyed hanging out with your friends Emily and James they were a lot of fun. "He admitted to her.

"Did you have a good time too?" he quickly added.

"Oh yes I had a wonderful time with you." Gwen told him and smiled.

He bent down and kissed her softly. A slow gentle kiss sending shivers up her spine, a chill so deep it struck to the soul. Her senses were in overdrive. Was this love she thought to her? She did not know she had never been in love before. 

The two of them enjoyed the long slow walk back to Gwen's cottage. It was a gorgeous night for a walk. They enjoyed walking under the bright light of the moon and the twinkle of the stars. It was perfect. A perfect night for a perfect day. Once the two of them made it up the hill to the cottage, she thanked him for taking her to the later spring festival. They noticed something else as well. Gwen's father was awake waiting for her. This was probably not a good thing Gwen thought to herself. She squeezed Edwin's hand for luck and moral support. 

She quickly hugged him and whispered that it would be okay. Edwin was not so confident that things would be. He didn't want to make a bad impression with her father. When Gwen opened the door and brought Edwin with her, Angus just glared.

"Father you did not have to wait, really." Gwen tried to say to her father.

"It is alright young lady, I need to speak to Edwin alone a minute, tell him good night." Angus ordered his daughter forcefully.

She immediately out of fear told Edwin goodnight and ran to her bedroom as fast as she could. She could not believe her father did that to her. She played on the bed and cried a little. Angus just stared at Edwin.

"Sir I do apologize for having Gwen out this late." He hoped not to anger the man any further than he was at this moment.

"I see "Angus spoke through his clenched teeth. He paused for a long time before continuing on. "I wish to speak of other things."

Edwin tried to keep his calm, his nerves were shot his heart was beating too fast he could hear his heart beating faster than normal.

"Yes sir?" he answered quick and with respect.

"Sit down boy." Mr. M.C. heady barked the order to him. He did not care for being ordered around by anyone but did as he was told. He wondered what he could have done to upset the man. He was sure he would find out by the end of this visit.

"What did you wish to speak to me about sir?" He asked in a nervous tone.

"What are your intentions with my only child?" Angus asked in a stern voice, demanding an answer.

"I care for her sir, very much so." The words stammered out of him. He was pale and a little scared.

"Have you been fornicating with my only daughter?" Angus asked with a look of fury.

"Of course not sir, I would not do that. I care for her too much to hurt her like that."

"You not?" Angus asked puzzled by the boy's integrity.

"No sir I am still getting to know her. I will not do her any wrong this I will promise you sir." Edwin vowed to him.

Angus was filled with a sense of relief; he had a gut feeling this boy being honest with him. Angus knew the kid was from a good family. He sat and then poured a glass of scotch for himself and the young man. After a drink with Angus, Edwin went home for the night. He was glad to have all of that cleared up with Angus.