Ferds Of Time

Frostcall Festival

Chapter 3

Frostcall Festival

The atmosphere was calm and tranquil, as the festival attendees were singing and chatting amongst themselves, a soft layer of snowflakes drifting from the sky and instantly melted away as they reached the blazing fire. The snow, even in such small amounts, offered a contrast to the warmth of the fire, providing a crisp and refreshing feeling to the evening. The air was filled with the savory aroma of meat and vegetables roasting over the fire, the mouth-watering scent permeating the entire area. The sizzle and crackle of the food being cooked over the scorching flames added to the ambiance, as did the hungry rumblings of stomachs.

Alron took a huge bite of the succulent hare meat that Beor had hunted, the tender meat filling his mouth and exploding with flavor. He sat there, eyes wide as he watched the fire and the people dancing around it, including Freya who was having the time of her life. The drums played louder, their booming beats providing a steady rhythm for the gathering. The lutes and flutes joined in, creating a slow yet quickening symphony that was perfectly in sync with the drumbeat. Freya, caught up in the music and the atmosphere, took each step in time with the drums, her movements smooth and graceful, her eyes sparkling. Together with two other girls, Freya danced in perfect unison. Her dress swirled and spun with each twirl and step, the fabric billowing as she moved to the music. As the music from the flutes played, Freya raised her hands above her head, clapping along to the beat, her eyes gleaming. Alron was captivated as he watched Freya, his eyes fixed on her every movement. There was something almost trance-like about the way she danced, her body moving in perfect harmony with the music and the other girls. She was mesmerizing, and he found his own body swaying slightly in response to her dance. Alron was snapped out of his trance by a sudden pat on his back, causing him to jump in surprise. He spun around to see Beor standing behind him, a sly grin on his face.

Beor patted his back once more, chuckling at the sight of Alron's surprised face. "Still eyeing her out, eh?" he teased with a smirk. Alron fumbled for a response, his face growing warm as he tried to deny the accusation. "I-I, uh...I wasn't... just..." he mumbled, tripping over his words. Beor chuckled once more as Alron struggled to respond, realizing that he wasn't going to let the matter go. "Come on, just go and ask her for a dance," he urged, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Alron glanced at Freya, who was still dancing with the other girls, her face flushed with exertion and excitement. He swallowed hard, a mixture of nervousness and excitement bubbling up inside him. Alron tried to distract himself from his nerves and focused his attention on Beor, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "What about the mayor and his daughter? I thought you would be with them." Beor shrugged nonchalantly, his expression not betraying any hint of shame or embarrassment. "Eh, I did my time with them. Thought I'd take a bit of a break, talk with you all, you know?" Alron furrowed his brow as he looked at Beor, concern written all over his face. "Is everything okay?" he inquired, his voice betraying his worry.

Beor must have sensed Alron's concern as he gave a scoff. "Nah, don't worry about it. Everything's fine. Just wasn't feeling it anymore, that's all," he said dismissively, but the way he shifted his eyes told Alron that there was more to the story than he was letting on. Beor's smile widened as he spoke. "Yeah, the mayor and Finja are talking to mom about our wedding right now," he said with a hint of pride in his voice. Alron's eyes widened with surprise at the news. "Wait, really? You're getting married?" he asked, his voice raising an octave. Beor chuckled as he puffed out his chest, a look of pride and self-satisfaction on his face. "Yep, I guess I am," he said, his voice filled with confidence. Alron's mouth hung open as he took in the news. "I can't believe it," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're getting married..."
Beor chuckled once more, his expression suddenly growing more introspective. "Honestly, I thought I was a goner too," he admitted. Alron raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" he asked, leaning in closer to hear more. Beor paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Honestly, I really thought I was going to mess everything up. I mean, the town's beloved mayor's daughter," he said, a hint of self deprecating humor in his voice. Alron chuckled, sensing Beor's nerves. "Yeah, I bet that was a bit intimidating," he said, trying to ease the tension.
Beor looked past Alron, his eyes fixing on something behind him. "You better ask Freya for a dance before she asks you," he teased, a smile creeping onto his face. Alron turned around and his eyes widened in surprise as he saw Freya approaching, a huge grin on her face. His heart skipped a beat as he met her gaze. "Hey Alron," she said, her voice a little breathless as if she'd been running. "Mind if I steal you for a dance?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Beor laughed loudly as he saw Alron's flustered expression. "Just take him, he's all yours," he said, teasingly shoving Alron forward towards Freya.

Alron stumbled forward a step, his face flushing red as Freya grabbed his arm and led him towards the dance area. As she led him towards the makeshift dance area, Alron felt his heart racing in his chest. He felt both excited and nervous at the same time, torn between the thrill of being close to her and the fear of saying or doing something stupid. Soon, they were standing among a group of other dancers, the music from lutes and flutes providing a soft and elegant backing beat. The smell of roasting meat mingled with the crisp night air as the bonfire crackled behind them. As they danced, Alron found the courage to ask a question that had been on his mind for a while. "So, why me? Out of everyone here, why did you ask me?" he inquired, his eyes meeting hers. Freya gave a coy smile, her eyes sparkling in the firelight. "Why do you think?" she asked, her voice light and playful. As they danced, Freya spoke, her words soft and heartfelt. "You know, when my parents passed away, you were the first person I met when I came here," she said, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and fondness. Alron's heart ached as he listened to her speak, feeling the weight of her words. He held her gently, listening intently as she continued. "You, Beor, my aunt and uncle... you're all I have left," she said, her voice trembling slightly. As they turned together, Alron suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, surprising her. Freya froze for a moment, caught off guard, but then melted into the hug, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. They stood there for a moment, the music and chatter of the festival fading into the background. All Alron could hear was the sound of her soft breathing and the steady beat of his own heart. He could smell the soft, sweet scent of lavender in her hair, mixed with the scent of the bonfire and roasting meat. It was a soothing, comforting combination that made his head spin.
After a moment, Alron gently let go of the embrace, reluctantly pulling away. He looked into her eyes, his own filled with a mixture of affection and uncertainty. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tender. Freya nodded, a shy smile on her face. "Yeah, I'm alright," she said, her voice a little shaky. She took a step back, straightening out her dress and looking up at him. The light of the bonfire made her eyes gleam, and Alron felt his breath catch in his throat. Freya chuckled as she took a step back, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That was awfully bold of you," she teased, a playful smile on her lips. Alron chuckled nervously, feeling a bit embarrassed by his own actions. "Yeah, sorry about that," he said, running a hand through his brown hair. Alron chuckled and shook his head, finally regaining some of his composure. ".
He extended his hand towards her. "Well then, milady, may I have this dance?" he asked in a broken tone, bowing slightly in mock chivalry. Freya placed her hand in his, chuckling at his attempt at gallantry. "You may, good sir," she replied, curtsying jokingly. As they began to dance once more, the music and conversation of the festival gradually returned to their awareness. As they danced, the rich smells of roasting meat filled the air, the scent mingling with the scent of burning wood and pine. It created a soothing and nostalgic atmosphere, bringing back memories of countless other festivals held in this very spot. Freya and Alron continued to chat and dance together, their conversation ranging from lighthearted banter to more serious topics as the snow continued to fall.

As the sun finally disappeared behind the horizon, casting the town into darkness, the villagers began to gather around the makeshift tables set up by the bonfire. Freya and Alron continued to twirl and spin, the soft glow of the fire casting shadows over their faces. The smell of roasted meat and vegetables grew stronger, making their mouths water.

Freya's stomach grumbled, and she let out a whine. "Let's go eat nowww, I'm hungryyyy," she complained, her voice adopting a playful tone. Alron chuckled at her exaggerated display of hunger. "Alright, alright," he conceded, leading her towards the tables. They made their way through the gathering crowd of villagers, dodging drunken men and laughing children. Finally, they made it to the long row of tables that had been set up near the bonfire. Roasted meat, vegetables, and various other food were piled high in platters, the sight making their mouths water. Alron left Freya by the table and headed over to the roasting meat, where several older men were tending to the spits. He grabbed two plates and sliced off a large portion of meat for each. He also added some roasted potatoes and vegetables, balancing the food carefully on the plates.

He then made his way back to Freya, who was waiting eagerly. "Here you go," he said, handing her a plate. "Careful, it's hot." "I know, dummy," Freya laughed, playfully rolling her eyes. "You don't have to care that much, you know." Alron rolled his eyes, playfully offended. "Excuse me for trying to be polite," he said, mock indignation in his voice. Freya chuckled, unrepentant. "Just saying, I can take care of myself," she replied, sticking her tongue out at him. Alron smiled, his mock offense melting away. "Oh, I know you can. But what's wrong with a guy wanting to treat a girl well?" he retorted, raising an eyebrow. Freya chuckled again, her tongue still stuck out in a cheeky smile. "Nothing wrong with it, I suppose," she admitted. "But sometimes it's nice to indulge a man's need to be chivalrous." Freya spoke with her mouth full, her words coming out a little muffled. "I had fun today," she repeated, her smile soft and genuine.  A warm feeling spread through Alron's chest at the sight. He couldn't help but chuckle at the way she spoke, her cheeks puffed up with food and a sprinkle of sauce smeared across her chin. Alron nodded, the smile on his face growing wider as he looked at Freya. "Me too," he echoed, his voice soft. He leaned his head on his hand, his elbow propped up on the table as he watched her. He felt strangely content, simply sitting with her in comfortable silence.
Alron and Freya were interrupted as Freya's aunt came towards them. "Hey," she said, a warm smile on her face. "We're heading home now. Will you come with us or with Helga?" "I'll travel with Alron and his family" Freya responded in a respectful tone. Freya's aunt nodded, understanding the unspoken message. "Alright, dear," she said, gently placing the spare house key into Freya's hand. She placed a loving hand on the girl's shoulder and smiled warmly. "You behave yourself, and take care of each other," she said, her voice gentle but with a hint of firmness. Alron observed as Freya's aunt walked away, disappearing into the throng of villagers. He turned back to Freya, a curious expression on his face. "You've never stayed this late into the festival before," he remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice. Freya swallowed a bite of food and pointed her fork at Alron, a cheeky smile on her face. "Well, the Wizard is going to perform tricks," she said, before stuffing another bite in her mouth. She then added, her voice softer, "And it's fun to be with you, I suppose." A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as she spoke. Alron glanced around, looking for the familiar sight of the Wizard. "Oh yeah, the wizard is here," he said, his eyes scanning the crowd for the distinctive figure of the old man. He craned his neck, looking for any sign of the Wizard or his tall, wooden staff.

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