Bread, Thorns, and Stormcloaks

Hilda's house

I gave Hild's weather-worn door a gentle knock, then let myself in.
"Hello?"
The stocky figure of my mother appeared suddenly at the door. She looked perfectly normal; her hair was the usual thicket of straw-coloured plaits, and the linen dress that clung to her muscly frame  was pressed and clean. Only the pink tinge of her cheeks gave it away - mother was stressed.

"Eira darling you're here, finally. I sent Solveigg to fetch you sols ago!"
I smiled wryly; mother should know that asking my youngest sister to do anything was a pointless task. No doubt she had been distracted by the river, or the chickens, or a pretty stone in the short journey from Hilda's house to the farm.

"Sorry mother, a baking mishap...It's all sorted now though, don't worry!" I added, seeing my mother freeze.

"Well done Flower," a smile of relief blossomed on her kind face. "Now come and see who's here!"

She tucked my arm under hers and drew me into Hilda's living room, brightly lit by a crackling hearth in the centre. I immediately spotted my sister Ingrid warming herself by the flames. At 15, she was the tall and fair to my short and dark, possessing the Norse boldness which I had always lacked. She was smirking at me now, already taking merriment at the dress fitting which was to come. But it was then that I saw, partially hidden behind Ingrid - Freya. She'd arrived! I let out a gasp of happiness and ran to throw my arms around her.

"It's been too long sis," She smiled, pulling back and squeezing my arm. She looked good. A rounded, fuller shape, like my mothers, had become her in the last few months, and a glow appeared to emanate from within her, shining from her cheeks and her warm blue eyes. I hadn't seen her since her own 19th birthday 4 months ago, and she'd been ill then, quieter than her usual quiet self.

"Far too long" I returned the squeeze. "I thought you weren't coming till tomorrow!"

"I wasn't, but Igold was called away to Helgen for work. I didn't see the point in lounging about Riften by myself, so here I am. You know I am loath to miss out on party planning" She rolled her eyes at me and I laughed. Before I could answer, the sound of a very loud and deliberate clearing of the throat shot through the room.

"Are you going to try on this dress today, or what?" asked Hilda, eyebrows raised. She was smiling though, the crows feet at the corners of her eyes dancing as she spun around the mount on which a dress - my dress - stood.

I immediately saw the newest changes; the dress, before plainly made of linen of the deepest midnight blue, was now embellished with gold stitches, caressing the dress like the froth at the bottom of a waterfall. Gold lace now lined the hem, and the ends of the sleeves, and delicate slippers of blue peeked out from below the ensemble. It was beautiful. Too beautiful. It looked like it should be in Solitude at the palace, not here in Ivarstead. Not for me.

"Sorry Hilda. Yes of course. Wow. It's truly lovely," I forced up the corners of my mouth and willed them to stay there as my mother and Hilda started undressing me. In the mirror over Hilda's shoulder I caught Freya's eye. She gave me a sympathetic smile, and blew me a kiss. The stone of her wedding ring shone in the firelight, and I had to look away.

Get over yourself Eira, only one day to go.
Do your duty.
Smile.