Chapter 2

Chapter 2
The Big Move

Time passes. The quaint village a pair of lovers had run away to some time ago had not changed much, with the exception of another farm here, or a new shop on the main road. A now seventeen year old Madeline sits in the home of the town blacksmith, Mr. Filman. Outside in the workshop she could faintly hear the sound of her family’s two horses being re-shoed.
Madeline was dressed in a simple fashion, allowing her the freedom of movement required for her job, being her father’s squire. The other women in town often talked about the girl’s strange interest in weaponry, and the men would joke about her father even having need for such a service. Most knew that it was just an excuse for the father and daughter to spend time in each others’ company. She was a fairly tall girl, and of healthy frame. She had taken to tying thin ribbons in her hair, usually blue or green.
The clatter of cups on a tray announced the entrance of Mrs. Filman from the kitchen. She was a thin speck of a woman, and an obscure mate for such a large man as Ben Filman, but they were both very kind.
“So is it true that your family will really be leaving us, Madeline?” she said while serving the two of them tea. “We so enjoy having you and your brother around, and your father will be surely missed in the town council meetings.”
“Yes, Mrs. Filman. If we were to not move, we would be letting the King’s army down, and besides, think of how enjoyable it will be to have so many people around to get to know.” She thanked the other woman for the tea and sipped it. She really was glad to be going. She enjoyed the town, but she remembered a trip to the city when she was younger, and in her mind she could see all the tall buildings and shops for sweets and dresses and all sorts of things. We had such a nice time. Halen rode his first horse, and father bought me a whole loaf of honeybread, and mother…
Madeline berated herself inwardly. Don’t think about mother, silly. It does you no good, anyways. Mrs. Filman began to recount a story from her younger years concerning a cow breaking a fence and nearly trampling her. Madeline had heard it a dozen times and only half listened. Even having briefly thinking on her mother, she was still rendered a little sad. She finished her tea just as Mr. Filman walked in, untying a sooty apron from his waist.
“Your horses are shoed, Madeline. Does your father need anything else for his trip up to the city?”
“I do not believe so, Mr. Filman,” Madeline replied, “but thank you again.” She only stayed a little longer to say her goodbyes, and took the two horses, Gram and Sheila, onto the road towards her home. If she was lucky she could return for supper.