3. The Centaurs consider their options and the paths ahead of them.

Theoderic has promised them more land than originally planned.   This is a good thing, Centaur Consensus decides.  Centaurs like to roam, being in different places at different times of the year, using different resources.  But the riverside camps along the Meuse are best for the winter.

“It is not like we can feed ourselves from abandoned farmland anyway,” Mayez says.

Phiraz begs to differ.  “Maybe, maybe not,” he says.  “The Humans plant winter crops.  There are lands in which the winter crops may have been already planted, and now the Humans must leave them.  Or maybe we can deal with them, however, Titus may get them for us, somehow.  Theoderic is in a mind to see us well rewarded, and we should not ignore that.”

“We should divide,” Thayer declares.  “A few can go with Titus, and help find our new lands.  Yet, we must also keep some with Theoderic’s troops.  We are not here as mercenaries, to be paid off for our troubles and then turn our backs.  We came here because we believed it to be the right thing to do.”

“Was it?”  Phiraz asks.

Thayer replies with certainty in his voice.  “It was, and therefore, still is.  And so therefore, we cannot turn our backs if we are still needed.  Some must go with Theoderic, if for no other reason than to allow poets to say, we were there, when the story is told.”

Those who know Centaurs know that the phrase “turning our backs” carries more meaning among them than among other races.  For Centaurs, turning one’s back is not as convenient as it is for the two legged races.  And so the words have a much stronger connotation of finality.

“I must go onward with Theoderic’s cause”, Thayer says.  “I have seen the calling of Eadoin, and I have myself driven many of you to follow it.  If there is to be more blood because of it, let it be mine.   No more than a score of us, though.”

“On the boats?” Mayez asks.  She’s seen the Swan Boats of the Elves.   Like most watercraft, they are not built with hoofed folk in mind.  Some could travel that way, but it would not be convenient, and every Centaur on a boat would displace several other passengers.”

Thayer considers this, and replies:  “We cannot well use the Elven boats, not in numbers.  We will travel along the banks with Theoderic’s cavalry.  They will take the Meuse, and so we can follow along until we reach our River Camp Eadoin has already shown us.  Then, most of use will stay there, and my twenty onward with Theoderic.  At the same time, another party with Titus, to explore the Belgica lands with him.”

Thayer asks for twenty, and twice as many hands are up.  Delicately, he chooses, who gets to go back to the camps on the Meuse, who will go with Titus and see their new lands, and who will travel with Theoderic’s army until the war is won.

Thayer leads his band one way... and the other Centaurs go another.

The Centaurs, for the most part, followed the same route as the Swan Boats, along the Meuse River.  But they did not travel nearly as fast.  The Elves do not have the good, straight roads that the Romans built, and the route alongside the Meuse is just an ancient footpath, hard packed dirt, here and there given benefit of a bridge across a stream or bog or a cut through- or more commonly around- some particularly impassable patch of ground.  The Elves rarely travel in great numbers, and rarely use wagons and beasts of burden.  But even if the Centaurs had a good road to travel on… the Elven boats are swift, and have no need for rest.

Eadoin is running more than a day behind them when he reaches Raviniacum.

They are expected, because the group that traveled in advance on the Elven boats brought word.   The people of Raviniacum turn out in what numbers they can to welcome home the Centaurs.  That includes a few non-warrior Centaurs left behind, of course, and it includes Mintha’s tribe of Hybsils, which look upon the Centaurs as kin, of a sort.  And of course it includes Apple Blossom, and the two young Centaurs in her care.

Apple Blossom doesn’t see Eadoin through the same eyes as the other Centaurs.  To them, he is a leader touched by Epona herself, sent to push the stubborn tribes of the Centaurs into the new era, and lead them through the trials of the war with the Huns.  He’s become a spiritual figure, and he’s even heard the first energetic debates over differing interpretations over what Eadoin “really meant” with a certain phrase.  But to Apple Blossom, he’s still Eadoin, the young broom handling student, all four feet still planted firmly on real ground.

Eagerly she pulls him away from the others, and they let her.  She wants to show off what she’s done.

“Our home is ready for winter,” she says proudly.  “Thatch on the roof… I needed help for that.”

Undoubtedly, she got it, because if there is one task Centaurs are poorly suited for it is thatch on a roof.

The winter crops have been planted.  The land, covered with snow, is in its sleeping phase.  Apple Blossom has been learning traditional rural “winter recipes” from Chara, and proudly sets a table for Eadoin’s welcome home feast.

"As we look for lands in Belgica, we should get to know others there, build connections with the folk who live there.  We'll live alongside them and...well, settled folk will wonder why land that could be farmed is set aside for us to roam.  The king won't forget, nor likely the children he and Aelasuria bring into the world, but in a hundred years or more, the children of those children and those that come after will have their own Huns.  Human folk are...few now, but in not so many years there will be many.  It is...best our roots run deep, that their children and ours live, play, and work together."

Eadoin is suddenly surprised at himself, considering generations ahead when he's not yet finished his own.  His day in the sun hasn't yet passed; he hopes he's at the beginning of a long and fulfulling life.

Thayer, long ago agreed as war leader, picks his score and makes for the boats.  Here, Eadoin is divided.  He's asked so many to come voluntarily into danger, all because his goddess had asked it of him.  He walks down with them to the riverside, saying his farewells to each.  He has little to offer besides his best wishes, an admonition to Thayer to bring them home safely, and a collective prayer to the gods to bring them home safely.  Epona moves the people to action, but other gods rule in the places they'll go.  Eadoin pays each His or Her due.

---

More than four score Centaurs departed Raviniacum, a little more than half that return, though Thayer's band will have passed through or close by while travelling with the army.  Besides the forest and elven approach to infrastructure, some of those following are wounded.  That they arrive within a day of the others is quite astounding to Eadoin.

If anything, the young druid adapts all too easily to the approach his folk take to leadership.  First, state what you are going to do, then why you are going to do it and why it's the right thing.  If others agree with you and think you're the leader to get it done, they go with you.  Otherwise, they seem largely to do their own thing, but leave you free to do yours.  Occasionally, Eadoin's seen others, say Mayez, argue with points Thayer has made, but no one's argued with him...sometimes gone their own way about things, but never argue.  Eadoin is a a bit amazed by the discussions of what he really meant.  There's little need to wonder what he meant by something.  It's a very small community.  "Ummm...just come ask me," he offers.  On another point, he says with a small degree of caution, "Most of the time, if someone is trying to tell you what I meant about something, it might be more about what they wished I'd meant."

Eadoin is happy to see the Hybsils, the Elves, and everyone else behind in Raviniacum, but he's almost relieved to be drawn away.  He's grown taller in his short time away, and shaggy with winter's chill.  His hair has grown long and he's sporting the first hints of a beard and mustache.  His embrace is not the sudden collision that heralded his return from the Nethershires.  Here, he just sets down his burden and folds his family close, hugging them each and together.  Apple Blossom is treated to a kiss that's a little past the near side of chaste, one that'll hold the cold at bay for a few days, at least.  Eadoin's nearing his fourteenth year and perhaps sees his betrothed in a different light than before.

The young Centaur is quite content to be trooped away in the care of his family.  For a time, he doesn't worry about whatever it is that comes next; there'll be time for that soon enough.  He admires the thatch on the sturdy cottage, what he imagines to be a garden well-tended against the season.  "Something smells good," he says.  "Have you been cooking?"

Later, after a meal, Eadoin shares some stories of what he's seen and done.  Carefully worded for the little ones' sake, he spins the tales from real to imaginary so that that Orieus can fall asleep a hero and Ocyrhoe, a short time later, a heroine.

Afterward, alone with Apple Blossom, he's less circumspect.  "Thayer and about twenty more went east towards Lucimburic with the king.  I can only hope they'll do what they can to stay safe.  They...try hard, perhaps too much so, to prove themselves."

He less sure what comes next.  "Heal those still injured, make ready for the families to come in spring, maybe help Titus to fix things in Belgica.  Theoderic's offered us more land there, room to roam a bit, really."

They listen to Eadoin’s stories.  These are not legends of old, these are “what happened out there” and Eadoin’s personal involvement drives the stories.  It is hard to get the young ones to sleep that night, they have a thousand questions.

The next day they look over the Centaur camps.  The Centaurs have started to work quickly on their winter quarters.  They know that this region’s climate has colder, snowier winters than their damp coastal forests, even though those forests are north of here, due to the higher elevation.  Apple Blossom has been through this before, overseeing the construction of Centaur home, and has lots of advice to offer- and runs into a few arguments, a result of her viewing the home building as the establishement of permanent quarters while the Centaurs, coming from a more primitive existence, are thinking temporary winter shelter.

The methods she proposes are more time consuming, harder to do, and require more resources.

Someone brings up the fact that Theoderic asked Titus to help find them some more lands, so that the Centaurs would wind up with scattered properties, and presumably travel back and forth between them.  A few of the veterans describe some of the land they saw in Belgica:  much of it was low and flat, and the finest sheep country they’ve ever seen.

People with large flocks of sheep can prosper in land like that.

But the Centaurs have never tended large flocks.

Eadoin, ever the peacemaker, splits the difference.  More resources now for less over time?  "We share our lands with other folk.  For now, let's build against the winter, but with an eye towards the spring, since all our families follow then."

He reminds those present of the old foundations, of stone walls that can stand untended for centuries.  "Roof these over.  It's quickest and they're very sturdy and warm, once they're up."  In any case, he engages whomever passes for a mason in Raviniacum or amongst the Elves nearby, just to make sure they're building in safe space, patching where most appropriate to ensure comfort, shelter, and safety.

Eadoin knows his folk aren't as clever as others who surround them, existing more deeply by intuition and stories than by innovative solutions to problems.  Elves and humans, though, have much to offer that can help the Centaurs adapt.  To the problem of herding sheep or goats, Eadoin hunts out his friend Nyvar.  He explains the troubles of moving from hunting and gathering to farming and herding.  Eadoin's good with critters of all sorts, whatever creeps, crawls, runs, flies, or wriggles through the grass.  Others of his folk, though, they'll need to know dogs and signals, moving flocks to not overgraze a pasture, how to fleece a sheep and card wool, to spin it, to dye it into colors pleasing to the eye.

At the end of the day, Eadoin returns home rather exhausted in body, mind, and soul.  There are too many things to do in too short a time, too many questions to answer, too many small things that need attending.  Small things he doesn't know enough about life to consider seem to escape his folk who so often want to fall back into familiar patterns of existence that may not suit them so well here.  He's worn down by constant diplomacy in getting a his chaotic do-as-you-want folk to think together in pursuit of a longer goal.  More resources now, yes, but less in future.  Learning to live in community with other folk rather than thinking simply how to carve out existence entirely alone is key, but so far, they've not even looked to the Hybsils for help.  Apple Blossom, it seemed, was learning, even if her nature was sometimes more akin to that of a Dwarf than a Centaur.  So practical!

Epona, grant me strength, he prays at night.  Give me wisdom and patience.. Whatever the leadership troubles he sees with Thayer, he finds himself missing the older Centaur's guidance.  He seems to understand.  Mayez, he thinks, has a different wisdom, but still strong.  For now, he sleeps in the presence of his family, but with the morning, he's up early to hunt out Mayez, to explain his points, and ask her thoughts.

Mayez is taking stock of their new home.  Like many of her peers, she is assessing the food situation, and wondering what in this forest will feed them through the winter.

”We didn’t bring much from the old grounds,” she says.  “We can fish, I think. Some Centaurs have fished.  It would be good to have winter vegetables planted… your Apple Blossom has some, but she was not expecting such numbers when she planted them.”

”Everything takes labor, Eadoin; homes, food, clothing.  I wonder if Thayer did the right thing, committing so many of us to stay with Theoderic’s troops, and still more to scout with Titus for a new home.”


* * * * * * *

Most of the Humans around Raviniacum, Eadoin quickly sees, have the same problem.  Winter is never easy for anyone here.

But Theoderic anticipated that months ago, and laid the groundwork.  The vital Meuse River is open, and while food is scarce in the Ardennes, where so many men spent their time preparing for war, the Halflings have it, and requests were sent out.

And they learn:  food is on the way.  Just hold out.

* * * * * *

Eadoin learns one more thing.  Theoderic's mother, Chara, is preparing to leave for Lucimburic.  His grandmother Entherin will be here shortly, and then they will depart.  She explains that Theoderic had planned to be married after the Winter Solstice- despite the war getting in the way, she expects he will keep to his plans.

"I am sure he would appreciate you being there as well, Eadoin," she says.  "And your family as well.  Royal weddings do not happen often and should not be missed."

Eadoin has considered the same thing, the circumstances of enough food.  He knows he could keep his family fed, but winter could be very hard.  He listens to Mayez, nods quietly.  "There were good nuts along the river trail.  The grove ran for miles.  And there's hunting and some fishing beside."

Apple Blossom's garden is enough to feed a family, as well as some others, but there's no way the little plot can feed a village, plus a band of Centaurs and Hybsils besides.  Even Treants sleep in winter; short of magics far beyond those Eadoin has, there is little chance that it'll ever be warm enough for plants to grow in the deep cold.

Still, his mentor, Apple Blossom's papa had seen ahead for them, before.  The young Centaur goes through the packets of seeds, carefully examining each, before taking samples to Zhoton, recalling that some Fey, Hybsils amongst them, have some skills at calling forth enough warmth for the green to come in the depths of the cold.

"Sir," he begins.  "We've spoken of it before, during the long walk south.  My master is Azzos, of Lutetia Parisiorum.  My Apple Blossom is his daughter and she's a fine gardener, fine as any a fella might meet."  Passing on a thorough recitation of his love and devotion toward his intended, Eadoin says quietly, "He's sent along some seeds.  Some have…been unusual, maybe even magical."

Eadoin patiently repeats his theme of living in community with others, knowing it's through such things that they've the strongest likelihood by working with those of other folk.  He's careful, knowing Zhoton is his superior, if not exactly of Eadoin's own path.  "Is there anything you might do to help, sir?"

---

Eadoin'd hoped to spend the turning of his fourteenth year quietly at home, but it doesn't seem to be bound to be.  His life is not his own, something he's long since come to terms with.  He doesn't look forward to travelling with little ones in the depths of winter.

He smiles easily to Chara.  "Apple Blossom'll be delighted, ma'am."  He considers a few moments, before adding, "It would be best if others of my folk and the Hybsils have a chance to go along as well."

Some months past, Eadoin had made a promise to Mergyon, a steward for the Duchess and Duke of Lucimburic.  He sighs out aloud when the news of the wedding makes it way around to him.  The weremink had been beyond excitement with the idea of ribbons and lace.  Apple Blossom, he knows, would have his metaphorical hide were he to dodge the commitment.  He goes to share the good  news.

Eadoin and Apple Blossom have made a discovery, one that bodes well for a trip to Lucimburic.  The two “Urban Centaurs” recall the slick, ugly slush on Lutetia Parisiorum’s streets in winter.  Wet paving stones were never pleasant for hooves- icy and wet could be treacherous.

But they see the other Centaurs, and the Hybsils, moving around, and realize none of them have a problem.  Hooves, in the world of nature, do just fine in the snow.  Often, in winter, the Humans use sleighs instead of wagons- but it’s still their horses hoofing it along.  The horses move well in the snow, and so do Centaurs.
The young Centaurs, of course, are even more delighted to make this discovery.

* * * * *

The Hybsils experience winter in a slightly different manner than the Centaurs.  Food can be even harder for them to obtain, since they are smaller and weaker by far.  On the other hand, they eat less.  Unlike the Centaurs who are mostly vegetarian, Hybsils are entirely vegetarian.

They also have Fey blood in their veins, and they are more comfortable with magic than the Centaurs.  There is magic that will make plants bloom in winter, but they use it sparingly, as they believe it can upset the balance of things.  More commonly, they use magic to give a little push to plants that will grow anyway, or to make them more wholesome.  They show Eadoin the art of mushroom collecting from willow and alder stumps- the delicious Velvet Foot mushrooms.  With a modified use of the Goodberry spell, they make these mushrooms nutritionally satisfying.

Were he to spend every waking moment casting Goodberry, digging up roots, and hunting, Eadoin could keep about a score fed, maybe even three dozen; he could manage half-again that number on survival rations, but likely many would not make it through the winter.  But there are far many more than that here, many wounded, as well as horses.  Even with the use of his magic, though, he's only one, very young, druid.  Pointing out how he can feed people is mighty grand, but in this case, people are going to need to feed one another

He tries, again, to make his case in a way that people will not just nod at him, but get it and take some ownership of the outcomes.  He understands balance in nature, has dedicated his life to it.  Eventually, his frustration bubbles over.  "Look.  I can do this a few times every day if I do nothing else.  Here's three score and more Centaurs, five score and more of you, endless Human folk, and Elves besides.  Balance can be less now, more later.  Hot and cold in equal measure, taken in the fullness of time.  Starving now or us not being able to respond hale and hearty should the Huns come is of little good and certainly doesn't serve the balance."

"Helping Apple Blossom grow parsnips in her garden in a hot frame against the cabin, offering devotions to the goddess in the Meuse and asking her kindly for her blessings of fish, water plants, and protection, and maybe asking some of the small Fey to help gather the nuts that stay high in the trees all winter won't tear down the balance beyond our price to meet Nature's demands."

As long as the temperatures remain above freezing, it's likely there'll be food.  For their trouble, Eadoin shows the joy that is sumac drupes steeped in hot water and sweetened with honey.  Also, the sumac's bark has lots of sugar.  He stays away from the toxic sorts, though he imagines the Hybsil's might be able to eat it without blinking.

Further, since the Hybsils seem to like fungi, he mentions how folk in the south have used trained pigs to find truffles since before the Romans came to Gaul.  Training a pig to snuffle out truffles hidden in the loose forest little oughtn't be foo hard for Zhoton, since he can just explain what it is he would like done.

---

As if there're any paving stones anywhere near Raviniacum!  Such things are long ago left behind.  Still, Eadoin's appreciative of the colder weather and a little snow.  It means less of the mud that's clung to his hooves these last weeks.  For once, it's nice to go about without pounds worth of extra weight on his hooves!  He takes his own family and whatever children are left at the orphanage out to build snowmen.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Thu 31 Jan 2013.

Zhoton refuses to let Eadoin despair of over the food situation.

”The Centaurs have carried a burden we did not!  You have saved many, it is the reason the Centaurs are here, I’m sure of it.  Is there not a reason for we Hybsils to be here as well?  You are not the only one with magic and knowledge of the herbs of the forest!  Do not forget us.  You will not starve with our help!”

Zhoton stamps around uncomfortable.  His eyes settle on a dandelion plant.  He pulls at it, stuffs a leaf in his mouth, and offers up a leaf to Eadoin.

”If you can keep a score fed, and I can keep a score fed, and the other Hybsils can provide for a score of  Centaurs more, we will get through the winter,” Zhoton says.  “There are still the fish, and the roots we can gather.  And partridges and berries and bullrush and dandelion.  And we will see if we can find and train a pig or two.”

Eadoin has been trained in this.  He knows the long list of edible plants, even if all he has seen of some of them is samples in his mentor’s private garden -  which is carefully disguised as a patch of weeds among rubble.   In fact, as Eadoin recalls, it more or less is a patch of weeds among rubble- the city folk have forgotten how to eat things like Dandelion Root.  Well, drink, in that case.  Dandelion Root can be brewed into a beverage.  There is also wild honey to be found, and other stashes of edibles in the winter wilderness.  Eadoin already knows he is an expert when it comes to finding things to live off of.  With the knowledge of the Hybsils, who know more of what to find… even though it may not look it, the world is a great big natural buffet table.

”The key is not to ask too much of the world,” Zhoton says.  “Look for the bare necessities.  The simple bare necessities.”

The young Centaur, swallows his concern.  It's a stopgap, augmenting the food stored in Raviniacum, in any case, hopefully in time for the arrival of supplies from the Nethershires to arrive.  Much effort had been placed into making sure something would come in late fall or early winter.

Eadoin knows dandelions well enough, is rather fond of them as food, as wine, and for their hopeful beauty since they're amongst the first flowers to push themselves up in spring.  He'll share a dandelion leaf with Zhoton, chewing a time in silence.  At the same point, he can't say he relishes a winter spent digging beetle grubs out of frozen, rotten logs.  The best green things wouldn't come until the trees started to bud out for spring.

It's the very things, such as bee hives, nut groves, wild onions, ramps, and other things growing that Eadoin had hoped the ones he'd left behind would find.  He gets the sense they've not made progress in that regard.  Further, the bend in the river near the slate quarry had once been a settlement, complete with remaining fruit trees, now gone wild.  In any case, Eadoin can see his approach to balance and Zhoton's vary.

Where Zhoton looks to the bare necessities for existence, Eadoin seeks to have a well-mannered, sustainable living.  Careful cultivation, a well-managed garden, appropriate management of water, such things as these are in harmony with nature.  Ants modify their environment.  Predators sometimes hunt their prey to extinction.  Taken as a detail, things like this seem out of balance, but they make the way for other species.  The young Centaur sees balance as the long-term management of conflicting change, but one has to live to one's nature, not just bend to one's environment.

To Eadoin's way of thinking, people exist within the natural whole.  While their motivations are far more complex than animals in the wild, every single act a person does is either sacred or profane, but whatever the behavior or motivation behind it, people are not truly able to separate themselves from nature as a whole.  Distinctions between the two are artificial, affectations of those trying to identify themselves from what they see as other.  That is perhaps the whole of his religion; do whatever that brings the most good as best you can see it.

He'd guessed the winter would be hard, but the work ahead in preparation for families coming is key, not just surviving the winter.  Perhaps Eadoin has lived too long amongst Humans, in that he sees goals beyond existing.  He looks to the future, the one further away than his own lifetime, perhaps further away than his grandchildren's grandchildren.

Quietly, Eadoin offers that perhaps the Centaurs he set tasks before he left have done much of the work of finding local resources already.  He mentions there are other ways to live beyond hunting and gathering,  but that are far less than living in cities.  He's careful here, but feels he has to stand his ground.  "We live in a settled land, Zhoton, surrounded by people who live in settled ways.  We must find ways to live in community with them; it may mean doing things in ways we haven't done them before."

Eadoin worries that the most direct way to make his point is to refer to what people think is his divine connection.  He'd have people his his words because he's said them, not because they think Epona told him to say them.  He gives a small mental shrug, then says easily, "Do your folk know how to keep honey bees?  I could show some people how to tend them, if they don't already know."  He admits, "I've been planning to keep some in Apple Blossom's garden, for honey and for making her plants grow nicely, but I've not had time to hunt a hive where I could divide the comb to get a queen and enough workers."

When that conversation seems to wind down, Eadoin changes the topic.  "Aelasuria and King Theoderic are getting married soon, in Lucimburic.  It's a few days east.  Apple Blossom and I will be going, with the little ones.  I'd like someone from your folk to go, if there's someone who would  like to.  I know it would please Aelasuria quite a bit."

Zhoton is flattered to be invited to the wedding in Lucimburic.  Not just to attend the wedding... but to see the fabled city of the Lycanthropes!  Such an amazing place!

Thrilled, he accepts.  And the start arranging a Hybsil delegation.  And very quickly, Eadoin learns that they will not be the only ones.

Theoderic has family, of course.  Not a lot... but a few.  There is his mother, Chara.  From Chara, by way of Apple Blossom (the two work together a lot) , Eadoin learns that Theoderic's grandmother Entherin will be attending as well.  And each has a small entourage... and the gang of children Rita invited... it will be very busy on the road to Lucimburic.  Very busy indeed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:25, Mon 04 Feb 2013.

Eadoin shrugs, calls that that and goes to tell Apple Blossom the happy news.  Apparently, they're going on parade, trooping to Lucimburic.  Even though he's younger than some of the children from the orphanage, Eadoin doesn't mentally count himself a child in the same way.

As he finds out more, it seems he's the one who's not in the know, that Apple Blossom and Lady Chara have the thing planned.  Like as not, Apple Blossom's figured out some way to get her intent across the intervening miles to Mergyon.  Eadoin fully expects that, someday, Apple Blossom will have organized the entire north of Gaul into administrative districts full of happy workers in red, toiling to fulfill the goals of the latest five year plan.

As his intended and the King's mother busy about at preparations for weddings, Eadoin eventually comes around to the understanding that everyone else is in the know and it's under control.  He collects Orieus and Ocyrhoe.  Given the circumstances, the best thing to do is go fishing.

Of course it is the youngsters who point out the inconsistencies:  while landing a fish, it suddenly occurs to Orieus to ask:  “Everyone is going to the wedding, but they went that way for the war.  Why would they have the war and the wedding in the same place?”

Nevertheless, no one said, “cancelled”, so as far as everyone knows, it is still on.

Apple Blossom has a more practical minded issue.  “Should we bring a present?  Is that what we’re supposed to do?  It’s Winter Solstice, so there should be presents for the little ones, too.  I think that’s more important.  Aelasuria would forgive us if we had nothing for them… Theoderic too, I’m sure, but how can we let Orieus and Ocyrhoe have their first Winter Solstice here without presents?  Do you think they would like their own tools?”

On the subject of presents, the village has been busy, including the new arrivals.  Winter Solstice, in one form or another, is celebrated everywhere- in the great halls of the wealthiest people, the cottages of poor farmers, and the camps of nomadic hunter gatherers.

Most Centaurs fall into the latter group.  For them, life does not offer much “stuff” to collect.  They have less of a generous gift giving tradition than do more settled people.  Nonetheless, they often use the Solstice as the time to bequeath some important object, tool, or simple item of decoration to the young.  This year, though, looks like it will be a “light” solstice.

Around the Centaur settlement, work slows down:  presents must be made.  Simple things: a new hat, a hand carved whistle.  Apple Blossom is of course, appalled.  At first.  Then, she relents.  It IS the season, after all.  You cannot ignore the Solstice.

Eadoin does what he can to answer the questions, but he doesn't make much more sense of their choice of wedding place than Orieus.  Later, to Apple Blossom, he replies, "Oh, we can do presents.  It's a big city full of interesting people and sights.  I've a little money, still.  Not much, but it'll be enough for a nice meal, some sweets, and presents for the little ones."

Of his own birthday, Eadoin says nothing.  He's just happy to be home with his family.  Again to Apple Blossom, he says, "It's likely we'll spend the Solstice proper in Lucimburic.  Quite a few people are going, our very own procession."

Over the intervening months, Eadoin's collected small things on his travels: a few beads, little silver charms, a bit of colored ribbon, interesting slivers of wood for whittling, an endless cache of seeds.  He spends some of his own time in idle work, the non-productive sorts of things that bring happiness amongst family, but nothing terribly practical occurs.

Beyond that, he makes ready to travel, making sure the little ones have good clothes for winter travel.  It's hard along the road in winter.  During this, he chats with Apple Blossom.  "The other families're coming in spring, the old and the little ones, and all the mothers, once everything starts to green up.  I expect some of will go to greet them and make sure thet find the way."

 For a season of celebration, Winter Solstice seems to involve a lot of work.  Chara explains what there is to be done, and Apple Blossom plunges into it with glee, dragging the young ones, and when she can Eadoin, along for the ride.

There are not only presents to be made… there are edibles.  Sweets!

For the five years of Hun rule, these things were almost unknown in Lutetia Parisiorum.  There were a few bakers who made them for the small population of Humans allowed to keep their wealth and status in return for acquiescence.  And Azzos had managed to bring in some honey every now and then.  The Orcs hated the smell of the stuff, but fortunately, to feed the Orcs the farms were needed, and to keep the farms going the bees were needed, and there was honey.

But never a lot.  Chara is in the process of baking honey cakes, pan after pan of them.   Orieus and Ocyrhoe have never seen anything like this, nor dreamed it possible.

They’re not all for the “family”, though.  Chara knows the group will not be here for the Solstice.  So many will be handed out as gifts.

It is during the honey cake production that Entherin arrives, with a small entourage of Elves, and curios Hybsils that tagged along, just to see.

And when is Eadoin’s birthday?  Most likely he’s mentioned it at some point, and Apple Blossom knows, and is not likely to let the occasion go unnoticed.

He's a Solstice child, born a cold night in the mid-winter of 498.

---

Eadoin spends a day in the kitchens, then, bringing this or that as needed.  While he's not really any sort of baker himself, he's been in enough kitchens in his time to know that the tight spaces of this one don't really suit him.  He settles to carrying cakes and loaves to cool in racks and on tables.

He makes sure the little ones don't eat too many, while at the same time enjoying the time sharing with everyone.  For his part in the preparation of the pastries, Eadoin shaves beech nuts, pounds acorns, shells whatever other nuts are handy.  There's little like a freshly shelled, roasted, and lightly salted chestnut!

At some point during the night, he asks Lady Chara, "Ma'am, when you you plan to travel to Lucimburic?"

"Very soon, now, Eadoin," Chara replies.  "As soon as Entherin gets here.  We'll go together, it's better to travel in larger numbers."

She doesn't say safer, just "better".  Not that the road to Lucimburic, which also happens to be the main artery connecting the strip of towns and villages that has until now made up most of Theoderic's domain, isn't safe.  It's always been regarded as a reasonably safe road, where the biggest complaint was just the poorly kept state of much of it.  And the fact that with  its winding along the Meuse, it is substantially longer than the perfectly straight roads the Romans built when they had the chance.

But then... Eadoin has learned that the poor infrastructure here was what kept the Huns out.  Invading this region just wasn't worth the effort for them.

Every hour there seems to be some new phase to the preparations Chara is overseeing.  Once she gets something going, she delegates- she also has the household staff to give tasks to.  With the baking operation underway, she shifts over to the issue of clothing.

She pauses, and gives the Centaurs a curious look.  "No, no," she says quietly after a moment.  "There's no kind of festive clothing I know of that would like right on you two.  Is there such a thing?  What do Centaurs wear for celebrations?"

Concerns over the danger of travelling in the depths of winter have concerned Eadoin, to be certain.  Though they'll be travelling with warriors, he's sure, but he's not sure exactly of where the Huns are in relation to Raviniacum and Lucimburic.  He has a bit of apprehension about travelling with the little ones.  Still, there's only so much one can do to against risk.

Eadoin pilfers a few lumps of raw sugar and some honey cakes from the kitchen.  These, along with Ocyrhoe and Orieus, Eadoin takes to the stables.  Though it's near the solstice, this short period before the turn of the year is one of the most holy to one of his family's patron goddesses.

Apple Blossom might argue for Rosemerta, or Ceres; Eadoin's always suspected it really wouldn't take much for his intended to ease her way into the service of those goddesses of the garden.  He makes a note to ask her about it...perhaps a shrine in her garden.  For now, though, it's near Epona's mid-winter holy day.  Besides, if it gives Apple Blossom some time to herself from the little ones, he's nothing but happy to oblige.

Eadoin offers a brief prayer at the little shrine in the stable, leaving a bit of honey cake there, waiting while the little ones offer their respects, as well.  Afterward, every hoofer in the stable and those in the paddocks outside is given a little bit of honey cake, a bit of ribbon.  He offers a prayer in thanks for the service of each, for their protection, and well being.

---

Regarding clothing, Eadoin has the same sort of reservations here he had his first trip to Lucimburic, but he's learned a fair bit more tact over the intervening months.  Before his short, stiff collared jacket, Eadoin's never really had festive clothing.  Hun's aren't rightly all that festive a folk and not so keen on the festivals of others.  Beyond that, if his experiences heading north to Lake Flevo are any sign, there is truth to the stereotype that his folk eschew clothing.  Certainly he'd gone bare himself through the warmer months of the year.

He smiles a little, then offers,"Ma'am, short the fine dress m'lord Theoderic bought when we left Lutetia Parisiorum, we've not much in the way of festival clothing.  Those will have...gotten a mite small over the months."

"When I met the Duke and Duchess in Lucimburic Master Mergyon planned to cover me in ribbons and lace.  He's my promise that should I return for the wedding, I'd bring Apple Blossom and the little ones with me."  He considers a moment, then smiles with an impish look Rita'd recognize.  "I'll repay his generosity with not just one Centaur but a couple of dozen for him to consider.  It'll be fine sport, but Master Mergyon'll have the full palette of my folk on which to express his art."