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With a grin on his lips, Aiden takes a moment to let both that delightful image of her, and his body's reaction, fade a little before getting out of bed. Rolling his shoulders, he goes through a series of upper-body stretches, before heading out into the living room, and taking care of putting a haunch of meat in the Shadow's large bowl, greeting the wolf playfully, and heading to the bathroom before coming back to the kitchen.
The smell of breakfast being readied, and the sight of his wife preparing it, brings a warm smile as he comes up behind her and slips his arms around her.
Emma humms appreciatively as she feels his arms come around her. Having learned her lesson last time, and not wanting to keep anything from him again, she points to the spice rack that hangs on the wall. Even though it's not as high up as the whiskey that sits on top of the cabinet, it's still out of her reach, "With everything that happened last night, we forgot to rearrange the kitchen. I honestly don't know what I was thinking when we were fixing up the kitchen in the first place. I didn't have to climb all the way up on the counter this time, but I did have to climb up onto a chair to reach my spices." Making sure that nothing on the wooden stove was in danger of burning, Emma turns in his arms to face her love.
While standing there in her pink nightgown and robe, she gently brings a hand up to his cheek and leans into him, softly kissing him on his full warm lips. Pulling back a bit to look at him she gives him a sweet smile, "When we're done with all of this, and we have everyone back home, we will use part of that magical weekend to rearrange this entire kitchen, so that everything I use on a regular basis is within reach. Then I promise I will never climb up on anything dangerous again. I love you and I don't want to do anything that is going to intentionally make you worry about me unnecessarily." Wrapping her arms as far around her beloved as they would go, she hugs him almost fiercly before letting go.
Turning back around she quickly wipes at her eyes, "Why dontcha take Mr. Shadow out to do his business while I finish making breakfast love? You want me to boil some water for tea to warm you up after you come back in?"
"Absolutely, love. We'll rearrange it to be exactly what you need." Aiden replies, holding her close after a deep kiss.
"Yes, some tea would definitely be good." he says with a smile. Heading back to the bedroom, he quickly pulls on pants and a shirt, grabbing his cloak by the door as he heads out with Shadow, giving his companion a chance to stretch his legs, and answer the call of nature.
After about ten minutes, they both come in, with Aiden heading to check on their weapons and travel gear, while Emma finishes getting breakfast ready.
Emma swoons slightly from the kiss, before getting back to work on the food. She seasons the breakfast sausage with some garlic, sage, and rosemary, while adding small chopped pieces of apple and cinnamon to cook in it, along with just a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor of the fruit. While the sausage is cooking, she slices her homemade bread to toast it in the oven, and mixes the eggs together with a little milk to make them more fluffy, and adds a little salt, pepper, chopped mushrooms, cheese, and diced red bell pepper, before pouring it in the pan with the leftover small amount of fat and bits of cooked venison sausage. She cooks it up as a large omelet, and cuts it in half for them to share.
As the food is getting close to being ready, Emma fills the kettle and sets it on the stove to heat up. As she waits for the water to heat, she puts the honey and a jar of her Ma's plum preserves on the table.
As Aiden finishes checking on their weapons and supplies, Emma gets the food plated up, and a cup of chamomile jasmine tea with honey and lemon for the both of them.
As she finishes setting the table, Emma calls out to Aiden, "It's ready honey!" Right before he comes in, Emma adds some honey, chopped walnuts, and just a sprinkling of brown sugar to the bowls of apple and cinnamon porridge.
Not hearing a response, Emma wonders if he's outside che king on their tack supplies.
Emma goes to the back door and opens it to call out to her beloved, "Breakfast is ready Love! Come and get it while it's hot."
Looking up from where he just finished checking their traveling supplies, Aiden smiles, heading back into the house, his hunger awakening to the smells of a wonderful breakfast.
"MMM, that smells amazing!" he says with a grin, and they head to the table. His wife's cooking was easily one of the great pleasures of life.
Emma smiles at the compliment, "I had to use up some things since I didn't know how long we would be gone, and I wanted to make sure we had a good breakfast before heading off to face who knows what." She replies, while taking her seat at the table.
After a prayer of thanks and safe travels, while asking for protection for those left in the village, Emma serves up the food.
In between bites of food she says, "After we're done I'll get dressed, and then we need to go to the town meeting before heading out."
When they finish eating, Emma quickly cleans up before heading to the bedroom to get changed into more appropriate attire.
She packs some changes of clothes, and other necessities before heading back out to the living room in her traveling Cleric's vestments and boots. Her hair is tied back in a curly ponytail, with some stray strands of curls framing her face.
Emma hears a light rapping at the door for a moment before it becomes a more determined knocking.
Gathering together the rest of their gear, Aiden opts to wear his armor, partially to be prepared should anything else occur suddenly, and partially for the effect on those who counted on people like him and Emma to make them feel safe.
Setting her things on the couch, Emma goes to open the door.
Shadow raises his head, getting a nod from Aiden, he pads over to the door alongside Emma.
"Coming!" Emma hollers out as she crosses over to the door. Smiling as Shadow joins her at the door, Emma places a hand on his big soft furry head as she opens the door.
Rosie stands at the door, still in her dirty clothes from last night. Her sleepless eyes meet Emma's. "I'm going with you."
Shadow takes in the sight of Rosie at the door. Seeing and smelling no threat as he looks past her outside, the wolf moves away from the door before settling down in the living room.
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Putting a hand supportively on her arm, Emma nods, "I understand, but it might be a rough trip. You are going to need some rest, and a some clean and comfortable traveling clothes before we leave. We're getting ready to head to the town council meeting. Go home and get some rest. Once the meeting is over, and we're ready to go, we'll come by to get you. Okay?"
"No, I can't sleep in that house with Ma and Pa like that!" Rosie protests.
With a look of understanding on her face, Emma pulls Rosie in for a comforting hug, "Alright, alright...it's okay. Why don't you get a nap here after grabbing a small bite to eat? I have plenty of leftovers from breakfast. When we get back from the town meeting, I'll go with you to get your clothes and things from your place, and you can bathe and freshen up here before we go. Does that sound better?"
Rosie nods wordlessly.
Having finished with all of their gear, Aiden walks into the room in time to hear the latter part of the exchange. Sharing a look with Emma, he simply nods, grabbing his bow and slipping it iver his shoulder.
" There's fresh wood in the fireplace so you should be good until we get back, just lock the door behind us and get some rest."
Stepping back, she releases Rosie from her embrace. Emma acknowledges Aiden's look before turning her attention back to the young lady, "I promise we will get them back. For now though, I just want you to concentrate on taking care of yourself. We'll see you when we get back. There are extra pillows and blankets in the closet if you need them."
Looking back at Aiden she says, "We better get going love, I know everyone probably had a rough night." Emma gives Rosie another quick reassuring hug, before heading out the front door."[/b]
With a nod, Aiden heads out with Emma and Shadow, closing the door behind them as they head to the town square.
As they head to the dining hall at the Chapel, where they hold all their town meetings, Emma looks up at Aiden, "So, I guess Rosie is going with us to find this carriage thing. Are you okay with that, or have any thoughts about it?"
"It's likely to be dangerous, so not thrilled about putting her in danger, but I understand her not wanting to stay in a house with her parents like that." Aiden says, as he considers the situation. "And there's undeniably some magic to her singing when she puts her heart into it. Maybe that will be helpful somehow."
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Emma nods, "There is definitely more to that girl than meets the eye. I'm not particularly thrilled about her going either, but she's sixteen and has a mind of her own. Plus, I really don't think she was willing to take 'no' for an answer. As soon as I opened the door she just said she was coming with us. Like as a statement, there was no question in her mind about her going, it was a fact. Besides, I just couldn't say no after seeing her like that." She says, knowing that if she was in Rosie's shoes, she'd want to go to and be active in getting her family back.
Realizing that her own Pa is one of the many that they have sort of lost to the awful carriage has her wiping a stray tear away as they reach the doors to the Chapel's meeting area.
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Aiden squeezes Emma's hand as he pushes open the Chapel meeting area doors. The town needed their vicar at the moment and talking about her worry for her Pa would only crack her resolve. They could talk about it later.
Emma takes a breath and nods, signaling Aiden that she felt his reassuring squeeze of her hand, as well as interpreting it's meaning. Not everything needed words, she knew that now was not the appropriate time to deal with her own feelings. Their friends and neighbors needed them to be strong and help them get through this difficult time.
As Aiden opens the door, she takes another steadying breath before bracing herself and walking inside, Shadow and Aiden following closely behind her. Emma gives the remaining folk a supportive smile as she makes her way to the front table. Sitting in her seat, Aiden and Shadow take up their positions on either side of her.
Looking out over the much smaller than usual number that are gathered, she feels a pang in her heart, and a stronger urge than ever to get back what was taken from them, and to met out justice to those that deserve it.
Once the room has quieted, Emma stands, "I know that we are all hurting right now, as well as angry, confused, and scared about what happened last night. I want to assure you that Aiden, Shadow, and myself, are going to find this carriage, the one responsible for taking our friends and loved ones from us, and we are going to do whatever we have to in order to bring them back home! I will let you know that Rosie came to me a little while ago, and let me know she was coming with us. I agreed to allow her to come with us, because I believe it will be better for her to remain active, than sit at home and worry about her folks. Now that I have told you what our course of action is, does anyone have any thoughts, concerns, or feelings that they would like to share? If you do, I would really like to hear them. You all know how much I value and care for each and everyone of you, so your thoughts, feelings, and concerns matter to me." Emma sits back down, signaling to everyone that she is done speaking, and is opening the floor for questions, comments, or anything else anyone feels like sharing.
Emma notices that Priscilla is conspicuously absent.
Clyde, the eldest of the Beedle's sons, raises his hand. "Vicar, I'm a fair hand with the sword. My Ma, Pa and little brother won't be helped by me sitting around here, so I'd like to go with."
Alfric and Godric nod in agreement. "Aye, he's as trustworthy as they come."
"Hannah and I will take care of the young ones," Paige says, rubbing her swollen belly.
Ozzie, a traveling author who occasionally comes home to Rosewood, clears his throat. "Cyril and I can dole out the harvest and tend to the village's needs. We've already got Alfric and Godric to keep things quiet around here."
EMMA nods at everyone's input and offerings of help. It made her heart swell with pride at how everyone in their little community came together to help out.
Standing once again, Emma looks out over the small crowd with great fondness. Noting Pricilla's absence, she makes a mental note to go check on her.
Emma gives everyone a grateful and heartfelt smile, "Thank you all so much for all that you do, and are willing to do for our community. You will never know how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you." Taking a deep breath to control her emotions she continues, "Clyde, thank you so much for volunteering your time and skills to help us, we gladly accept your offer of aid. After we adjourn, go back to your home and gather whatever you may need for the journey, and meet us back at our home. We will be leaving as soon as possible."
Looking back at where Alfric, Godric, Ozzie, and Cyril, "Thank you all so much for your service. If possible can someone tend to the roses for...for him? They'll need to be covered soon. When we get to the next village, I'll see how things look there and if possible, I'll ask if a few people can come down here to help and ease the burden a little."
Looking back at Paige she says, "Thank you both for helping with the
children, but Paige...you are pretty far ahead in your pregnancy, so be careful and allow my Ma to help out when she can. I don't want you doing anything to put your baby at risk."
"Alright, anymore questions or comments before we bring this meeting to a close?
The crowd murmurs softly but nothing else is said.
Emma looks over at her husband, "Is there anything you can think of that I missed love?"
"That covers it pretty much." Aiden replies, running everything through his head. Giving Clyde a nod of approval at his volunteering to help. A strong sword arm would likely be needed to deal with whatever they were hunting.
"We should get underway with as much daylight ahead of us as possible."
Emma nods, "Alright, thank you all so much, and we'll be back as soon as we can." Emma dismisses the meeting with a prayer for protection and safety.
As they leave the Chapel, Emma voices her concer for Priscilla, and heads over to where Priscilla lives.
"Hopefully she's just somewhere trying to divine some clue about what happened....though it would be very like her to wander off to look into things by herself." Aiden comments as they head to the witch's abode.
Emma nods as she sighs, "That's what I'm afraid of. She was really upset last night. I think she's blaming herself for what happened last night. If we can't find her, we're going to have to leave as soon as possible, and try to catch up to her." She says, as they approach Pricilla's home.
As they approach, Aiden tries to keep an eye out for any sign of unusual activity.
As they near Pricilla's home, Emma keeps an eye out for anything unusual or out of place as well.
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Everything at Priscilla's appears to be in order, except for her cart not being present. Perhaps she left it at Ervan's.
Emma knocks on the door just in case she merely overslept.
There is no response.
"Let's go by Ervan's real quick, and see if she stayed there with her cart last night." Emma says to her love before heading to Ervan's as quickly as possible.