Steel Roses

Home Again

Beldon arrived back in the village that evening. The market was bustling with action - people rushing to buy last minute items while others started to close up shop - and Beldon felt disorientated by so much action; it had been a while since he had been around so many people. No one paid him any mind as he rode passed and he watched them all from under his hood, taking in the faces of everyone he hadn't seen in so long. 

A flash of red hair in the crowd caught his attention and he smiled when he saw Jean's profile. His friend was speaking to the owner of the cheese stall, trying to bargain down the price of Brie.

Swinging down from his horse, Beldon walked over and tapped his shoulder.

"Hang on a second," Jean said without looking, so Beldon elbowed him in the rib. "Ow! Look-" Jean snarled, turning around before freezing. His eyes widened. "Bel?" he muttered.

"Hello," Beldon said, pushing his hood down.

"Beldon!" Jean shouted, beaming in delight as others looked around, wrenching him into a hug and smacking his back so hard Beldon nearly choked. "Finally came to visit I see! Took you look enough!" Jean said, shoving him to arms length and looking him up and down. "Don't you look fine, so this is what you look like dressed as a rich young gentleman."

Beldon smiled slightly and Jean looked over his shoulder.

"Hey Elizabeth! Look who it is!"

Beldon looked past Jean and smiled when he saw Elizabeth. Her eyes lit up when she saw him and she waved enthusiastically. He waved back then stopped when he saw whom she had been speaking to. Christian.

He stared at Beldon for a moment and Beldon stared back, then Beldon smiled gently and nodded. Christian nodded in reply, right before Elizabeth grabbed his wrist and dragged him forwards.

"Bel! You came to visit!" she cried, throwing her arms around him.

"Just passing through," Beldon said, hugging her back.

"We thought you wouldn't come. How are the events? Is it all terribly romantic?" Elizabeth asked, leaning back.

Beldon looked at her in confusion. "What?'

"The wedding party. What's it like?" she asked.

Beldon just stared at her, then glanced at Jean.

"The party at the cottage," Jean said, and when it clearly didn't jog Beldon's memory he frowned. "Jeez Bel, where have you been all this time?" he asked with a slight laugh.

"Away," Beldon said, "I only just got back. What are you talking about?"

The others stared at him.

"The wedding, at your cottage," Elizabeth said, "There's a couple getting married there; they decided to have a country wedding. The village has been filled with wedding guests all week. We thought you were there, your entire family is there after all."

"My family?" Beldon copied, his eyes widened. "They're all at the cottage?" he said, quickly moving to his horse.

"Yes," Jean said, "You didn't know?"

"No, not at all. I thought they were still home, in town," Beldon said, throwing himself up onto his horse, a smile breaking out on his face. "I need to go back then. I'll stay with them."

"Wait, where are you been all this time if not with your family?" Christian asked, staring. "You just vanished over night."

Beldon glanced at them, the smiled. "At a castle," he said.

"A castle?" Elizabeth gasped.

"It takes more time to explain then I have right now," Beldon said, gathering the reins.