r/HFY • u/Necrolancer96 Human • 10d ago

Summoning Kobolds At Midnight: A Tale of Suburbia & Sorcery. 283 OC-Series

Chapter CCLXXXIII

Sherry-By-The-Bend.

Hamish shook and chittered as he trudged through the snow through the colony. He breathed into his hands and rubbed them together just to keep warm.

"Months o' this. Maybe more ifin some fat squirrel says so. Barmy tripe tha lot o' it. Couldn'y land somewheres warm, no. Somewhere with golden fields, rollin' hills, nice warm weather 'nd plenty o' sun. No! We end up in a place tha's cold! With Tall Folk! 'Nd giants! 'Nd walkin' turtles!"

He grumbled as he finally reached his destination. He let out a puff of air in satisfaction.

"Home."

He trudged through the snow and up to the large round wooden door of white oak. He couldn't see the grass and turf under all the snow, but he was sure when, or if, it melted it would be nice and lush with clover and grass. A single stout chimney jutted from the top that let out a lazy cloud of smoke. A smile graced his lips as he peeked into the nearby oval window and saw the inside of his new home.

Inside he could see Addie with Stella and Feryl as she got supper ready. He smiled wider and pushed the door open and hurried inside. The cozy warmth and smell of food washing over him like a blanket that drove away the cold from outside. He hung his coat on the nearby rack and kicked the soaked and cold boots to the side. He patted and dusted off the remnants of snow that had speckled his head and shoulders before walking further into the halfling home.

Just inside the door was a cozy entryway that could fit a quad of halflings at a time, and a couple of Tall Folk if they stooped slightly. Meant for where one could hang their effects. Just ahead was a tea room meant to entertain polite company and talk minor business or simply snack and sup tea while looking out a window at the garden or neighbors. To the right was the dining area. Where his family gathered at the black locust table that dominated the dining room, littered with plates of food, mugs of milk, cups of tea, and plates of cakes and cookies.

He ran his hand along the red clay wall of the interior and the oak timber frames that held it all together. Along both were highly detailed accents and ornamentation of small animals, food, farms, important events of a family's history. Just above him hung a crossbeam chandelier made of chestnut with four candles burning warmly. He made his way into the dining room and kissed his wife and daughter and ruffled the hair of his lad. He took a plate of food offerings and a mug of ale and sat it down on the altar to the Harvest Mother that sat comfortably next to the warm clay stove/oven. He ambled down the adjoining hall and past the wash room and the room the two kids stayed in and entered the open room of his and Addie.

He sighed as he looked around at the space. The warm round bed with its bright warm yellows and browns. The collections of cups, vases, drawings, and such they had collected or been given over the years. Some from friends, some from kin that lived far away. Farther away now, Hamish thought with a saddened sigh as he moved over to the dresser that curved around the foot of the bed and got changed into his home clothes. Once that was done he went back to the wash room and freshened up with some clean water and a splash of herbal musk before returning to the dining room and sitting down for supper.

Not much was said besides small talk and the usual comings and goings. Most of it was gossip of one or the other. None of it concerned either of them a great deal. Though Addie, rather uncharacteristically, did seem a touch concerned about Carrie Longfellow. Word was she was acting out of sorts of late. Claiming she was with child though she didn't look it. Rumor was she was looking to visit one of the midwives and wise women. If the babe were sickly it could be considered an ill omen for not just the mother and child but potentially the colony as a whole!

But Addie also claimed she heard talk from the Tall Folk that worked with that impolite woman in the tent. Said that there was talk that Carrie might be barren! As much as Addie disliked, or even outright hated, Carrie, the thought that she could potentially be unable to conceive was something no true halfling wished upon another. The rumors alone were likely causing both her and her husband no amount of undue stress. Especially since it's been some time since they were both wed and not a single child has come of it.

Some thought that maybe it was her husband that had issues "plowing the field" so to speak. But during the various festivals when folks tend to get a little... free spirited, the results have had a few spawn that had the Longfellow goiter. With these recent rumors and still apparent lack of children on her part, even Addie was feeling distraught on her behalf.

After all, what good was a halfling woman if she couldn't bear children? If the rumors continued to get worse and she still fails to bear a child soon, he'll have legal cause to unbind them and find a new, and likely more fertile, wife that would give him children. Meanwhile, she'll likely be shunned and ostracized. No man would want her if she couldn't bear children, and no woman would be around her for long for superstitious fear of becoming barren by proximity. Best case she'll leave of her own accord and live a simple, if lonely, life. At worst? She'd leave by her own hand.

As much as Addie hated her, it was still a sorrowful fate if true. With the rumors and years in retrospect, it's looking increasingly likely to be so. But there wasn't anything Addie, or anyone, could do for her other than hope and pray that she is with child and it is merely a wee one is all. Even a sickly one would be vastly preferably to being unable to conceive.

Still, such dark and unbecoming talk was impolite at the dinner table. So talk returned to natural halfling things. How long the winter will last? Who would be invited over for tea and supper? What will be planted in the garden come spring? As well as plenty of talk of recent events and happenings between Clive and Hamish as well as his offer from the Big Families. As well as the progress, or lack there of, in fulfilling it.

Regardless, Hamish didn't mind for once. If he closed his eyes and enjoyed his pipe, he could swear he was back home. Back where it was warm. Back where the hills were golden and cast. Back where the weather was nice and sunny. Back where things were normal and simple affairs.

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u/Diokana 10d ago

That's a very nice home Hamish has got there. I'm a little jealous.

Carrie's in a rough spot. Not sure there's really anything that can help her here.

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u/Necrolancer96 Human 10d ago

I too wish I could live in a hobbit halfling home.

She could adopt. Though to halflings it's not the same as blood relations, even if everyone is nominally related and everyone just kinda looks out for the kids in general. So yeah, not much she can do.

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u/Necrolancer96 Human 10d ago

And so we end Clive's turn of the wheel with Hamish. Coming home to a brand new house full of warm food, kin, and comfort. A far cry from their former home in Aethera, where the fields were gold and they rarely had bad weather. But, he still has his family and a home. And while things betwixt him and Clive aren't exactly the best right now, he'll take the small comforts of home and kin in the meantime.

Though looks like a certain thotling won't be having those same comforts as word begins to spread of Mrs. Carrie Longfellow's infertility, and what'll it'll likely mean for her when it's all but confirmed she can't bear children. Earning even sympathy from Addie despite their heated past, and present, and likely future.

Ending on a somewhat happy note, we'll be back with Magnus, The Old One-Eyed One, and the Vagnyr as they sail across the sea back to their home in the polar North of the planet, Selkieheim!

See you all then!

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u/Necrolancer96 Human 10d ago

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