Leaves

Gathering

"I'm so glad you came Emma, I was starting to think you weren't going to come. I know you needed something new for your market stand as things have been a bit slow lately, so I've been standing out here keeping my sheep from that patch. Who knew that those pretty things were so valuable? I hope it helps you out some."

Old man Litters shuffled from side to side as his bad leg started to bother him, causing the shame I was trying to ignore only to grow. He stood here protecting those mushrooms for me and I left him waiting. Would have left him waiting all day if it wasn't for Raike.

"I'm sorry for making you wait so long, how about after tomorrow's market I bring you and your wife some of that pain-soothing balm you both like so much? You know the one with the chamomile in it?"

"Ah, no way! I know those balms are the only thing keeping you afloat right now. I couldn't take that from you!"

He shuffled away with his face scrunched up as if my offer offended him. His weathered face from years of being out in the sun tending to his sheep squished even more. Causing the wrinkles he already had to multiply. His frown of disagreement quickly shifted into a face of pain as in his shuffling he moved too much weight onto his bad leg.

A few years ago while searching for one of his sheep he got into a fight with a bear who had been about to have his sheep for dinner. Thankfully the bear ended up as a new blanket and meal but Old Man Litter's leg got torn up badly from the fight. He'd never been able to walk fully on that leg again without some form of pain ripping through his leg.

"Well, with these mushrooms you've been guarding so valiantly, I'll be able to make some face creams that the ladies of the castle love so much. And as you know, with the new decree of the king looking for a queen this year. All the ladies of the court will be looking to do anything to catch his attention. So I think one pain balm for multiple face creams is not even comparable, don't you think?"

He shuffled back onto his good leg making his huge frame tilt slightly, but it didn't take away from how well-built and strong he was even in his old age.

I wiggled my eyebrows and gave a silly face at him as I shimmied up, slowly earning a smile out of him. He gave a small nod before turning and limping over to the makeshift stand he'd created to keep the sheep from eating the mushrooms. My heart twinged again at my own selfishness as I walked over and picked up his cane he'd forgotten in his earlier excitement to show me the mushrooms.

"I'll bring your balm over after the market tomorrow. Make sure to tell your lovely wife to save a place for me at the dinner table won't you?"

He gave a hearty laugh, "I never said you could stay for dinner?"

"Now you know Mara will not have me leave your house without feeding me seven times over." I gave him a look of playful disbelief before slyly taking down the stand and walking it over to the wagon before he could disagree.

Making sure to leave his cane by his side.

It was now his turn to look at me in fake disapproval, for I knew he was a stickler for being chivalrous. He was always fussing about men having manners no matter what status they were born into.

"On that note, I'll see you tomorrow! See you later old man!" waving at him I turned and walked away.

"You know I have a nephew I would love for you to meet?" he shouted, laughter clear in his voice.

"So you've told me! No thanks!"

"His loss!" I joined in as his hearty laugh echoed from behind me.

Old Man Litters is so heartwarming.