Naras 50
Katharina woke up and everything was as usual. The room was comfortably warm, despite the cold winds outside. Or maybe the three layers of blankets were the reason, she couldn't tell. Reluctant to get out of that comfort, she turned around and frowned, as she found the other side of the bed empty. That was unusual, as she usually woke up earlier than Erin. A short glance through the room revealed more emptiness. Maybe Einar woke him and they were out now, cutting wood or something alike. She smiled and lowered her head back onto the pillow. That also explained the ring on the nightstand on the other side of the bed, she figured. If they were out to cut wood, he would not want to risk the loss or damaging of it. She dozed off again, welcoming the opportunity to sleep a little longer for once.
Little more than an hour later, a little redhaired boy stood next to her and shook her shoulder, "Ma? I am hungry!", the boy stated and she groaned still half asleep, "Sweetie, I am sure your father is well capable of preparing a good breakfast as well, don't hurt his feelings." The boy glanced past her to the empty side of their bed and frowned, "But... where is he?"
____
Katharina wachte auf und alles war wie immer. Das Zimmer war angenehm warm, trotz des kalten Windes draußen. Oder vielleicht waren die drei Lagen Decken der Grund dafür, sie konnte es nicht sagen. Widerwillig drehte sie sich um und runzelte die Stirn, als sie die andere Seite des Bettes leer vorfand. Das war ungewöhnlich, denn normalerweise wachte sie früher auf als Erin. Ein kurzer Blick durch das Zimmer offenbarte noch mehr Leere. Vielleicht hatte Einar sie geweckt und sie waren jetzt draußen, um Holz zu hacken oder etwas Ähnliches. Sie lächelte und ließ ihren Kopf zurück auf das Kissen sinken. Das erklärte auch den Ring auf dem Nachttisch auf der anderen Seite des Bettes, dachte sie sich. Wenn sie unterwegs waren, um Holz zu fällen, würde er nicht riskieren wollen, ihn zu verlieren oder zu beschädigen. Sie döste wieder ein und begrüßte die Gelegenheit, einmal etwas länger zu schlafen.
Etwas mehr als eine Stunde später stand ein kleiner rothaariger Junge neben ihr und rüttelte an ihrer Schulter: "Mama? Ich habe Hunger!", stellte der Junge fest, und sie stöhnte noch im Halbschlaf, "Liebling, ich bin sicher, dein Vater ist auch in der Lage, ein gutes Frühstück zuzubereiten, verletze seine Gefühle nicht." Der Junge blickte an ihr vorbei zur leeren Seite ihres Bettes und runzelte die Stirn, "Aber ... wo ist er?"
The past
Moderator: Gamemasters
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
The past
Last edited by Katharina Brightrim on Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
Emptiness
The first few hours were okay. Sure, Katharina worried, but she knew that there was a harmless reason. Eating breakfast together, Einar and her chatted as usual and laughed together, even though her glance went to the door every now and then, hoping that it would just open for the tall Norodaj. But it didn't. Einar left after the breakfast to play with his friends and she left to search her husband.
The first few days were painful and full of worries. Erin had left the ring on the night stand. Why would he do that? Did he leave her? Did he leave them? She tried to calm herself. Of course, he would not. He left the house and then something happened. Something bad. Nobody had seen him leaving. She scowled at the wall, this didn't calm her at all. Her eyes went back to the ring. Why did he leave it there? The evening before his disappearance, they had sat together at the fire, cuddled together for additional warmth. They had talked about different things. The festival next week they wanted to visit together, Einar's education. Would somebody who wanted to leave talk about these things? Or was she just blind to obvious signs? She had doubts about everything. The door opened and a face that was almost as red as its hair brightened, as the eyes found his mother. "Ma! We've caught a frog! May I keep him?!" A smile forced its way on her lips, as she headed over towards the door to close it and to hug her son. "It'll certainly like the pond more than our house and you can visit it there daily, huh?"
The first few weeks passed in a blink and at the same time took forever. They had searched him around the village. Not a sign of him or a fight. No blood of somebody being attacked by a rabid animal, no fallen tree with arms peeking out on either side. Nothing. The longer they searched and the longer they didn't find a sign, the more betrayed Katharina felt. So far, she had made up excuses towards Einar. It wasn't easy for her to lie to him and to ensure that his father would eventually return to them, but as hurt as she felt, she did not want to see her son hurt. With his 7 years, he was naive enough to believe her, but also old enough to notice that something wasn't quite right with her either. Whenever her gaze became distant, whenever sadness threatened to overcome her, he would hug her and smile, until she eventually answered the smile.
_______________
Die ersten paar Stunden waren okay. Sicher, Katharina machte sich Sorgen, aber sie wusste, dass es dafür einen harmlosen Grund gab. Beim gemeinsamen Frühstück plauderten Einar und sie wie immer und lachten zusammen, auch wenn ihr Blick ab und zu zur Tür ging, in der Hoffnung, dass sie sich gerade für den großen Norodaj öffnen würde. Aber das tat sie nicht. Einar ging nach dem Frühstück um mit seinen Freunden zu spielen und sie ging um ihren Mann zu suchen.
Die ersten paar Tage waren schmerzhaft und voller Sorgen. Erin hatte den Ring auf dem Nachttisch liegen lassen. Warum sollte er das tun? Hatte er sie verlassen? Hatte er sie verlassen? Sie versuchte, sich zu beruhigen. Natürlich würde er das nicht tun. Er hat das Haus verlassen und dann ist etwas passiert. Etwas Schlimmes. Niemand hatte ihn gehen sehen. Sie starrte die Wand an, das beruhigte sie nicht im Geringsten. Ihr Blick wanderte zurück zu dem Ring. Warum hatte er ihn dort liegen lassen? Am Abend vor seinem Verschwinden hatten sie zusammen am Feuer gesessen, sich aneinander gekuschelt, um sich zusätzlich zu wärmen. Sie hatten über verschiedene Dinge gesprochen. Das Fest in der nächsten Woche, das sie gemeinsam besuchen wollten, Einars Ausbildung. Würde jemand, der weggehen wollte, über diese Dinge reden? Oder war sie nur blind für offensichtliche Anzeichen? Sie hatte Zweifel an allem. Die Tür öffnete sich, und ein Gesicht, das fast so rot war wie sein Haar, hellte sich auf, als die Augen seine Mutter fanden. "Mama! Wir haben einen Frosch gefangen! Darf ich ihn behalten?!" Ein Lächeln zwang sich auf ihre Lippen, als sie zur Tür hinüberging, um sie zu schließen und ihren Sohn zu umarmen. "Der Teich wird ihm sicher besser gefallen als unser Haus, und du kannst ihn dort täglich besuchen, nicht wahr?"
Die ersten Wochen vergingen wie im Fluge und dauerten gleichzeitig ewig. Sie hatten das ganze Dorf nach ihm abgesucht. Keine Spur von ihm oder einem Kampf. Kein Blut von jemandem, der von einem tollwütigen Tier angegriffen worden war, kein umgestürzter Baum, aus dem auf beiden Seiten Arme ragten. Nichts. Je länger sie suchten und je länger sie kein Zeichen fanden, desto mehr fühlte sich Katharina betrogen. Bis jetzt hatte sie sich gegenüber Einar nur Ausreden ausgedacht. Es fiel ihr nicht leicht, ihn anzulügen und dafür zu sorgen, dass sein Vater irgendwann zu ihnen zurückkehrte, aber so verletzt sie sich auch fühlte, sie wollte ihren Sohn nicht verletzt sehen. Mit seinen 7 Jahren war er naiv genug, um ihr zu glauben, aber auch alt genug, um zu bemerken, dass auch bei ihr etwas nicht stimmte. Wann immer ihr Blick distanziert wurde, wann immer Traurigkeit sie zu überwältigen drohte, umarmte er sie und lächelte, bis sie schließlich das Lächeln erwiderte.
The first few days were painful and full of worries. Erin had left the ring on the night stand. Why would he do that? Did he leave her? Did he leave them? She tried to calm herself. Of course, he would not. He left the house and then something happened. Something bad. Nobody had seen him leaving. She scowled at the wall, this didn't calm her at all. Her eyes went back to the ring. Why did he leave it there? The evening before his disappearance, they had sat together at the fire, cuddled together for additional warmth. They had talked about different things. The festival next week they wanted to visit together, Einar's education. Would somebody who wanted to leave talk about these things? Or was she just blind to obvious signs? She had doubts about everything. The door opened and a face that was almost as red as its hair brightened, as the eyes found his mother. "Ma! We've caught a frog! May I keep him?!" A smile forced its way on her lips, as she headed over towards the door to close it and to hug her son. "It'll certainly like the pond more than our house and you can visit it there daily, huh?"
The first few weeks passed in a blink and at the same time took forever. They had searched him around the village. Not a sign of him or a fight. No blood of somebody being attacked by a rabid animal, no fallen tree with arms peeking out on either side. Nothing. The longer they searched and the longer they didn't find a sign, the more betrayed Katharina felt. So far, she had made up excuses towards Einar. It wasn't easy for her to lie to him and to ensure that his father would eventually return to them, but as hurt as she felt, she did not want to see her son hurt. With his 7 years, he was naive enough to believe her, but also old enough to notice that something wasn't quite right with her either. Whenever her gaze became distant, whenever sadness threatened to overcome her, he would hug her and smile, until she eventually answered the smile.
_______________
Die ersten paar Stunden waren okay. Sicher, Katharina machte sich Sorgen, aber sie wusste, dass es dafür einen harmlosen Grund gab. Beim gemeinsamen Frühstück plauderten Einar und sie wie immer und lachten zusammen, auch wenn ihr Blick ab und zu zur Tür ging, in der Hoffnung, dass sie sich gerade für den großen Norodaj öffnen würde. Aber das tat sie nicht. Einar ging nach dem Frühstück um mit seinen Freunden zu spielen und sie ging um ihren Mann zu suchen.
Die ersten paar Tage waren schmerzhaft und voller Sorgen. Erin hatte den Ring auf dem Nachttisch liegen lassen. Warum sollte er das tun? Hatte er sie verlassen? Hatte er sie verlassen? Sie versuchte, sich zu beruhigen. Natürlich würde er das nicht tun. Er hat das Haus verlassen und dann ist etwas passiert. Etwas Schlimmes. Niemand hatte ihn gehen sehen. Sie starrte die Wand an, das beruhigte sie nicht im Geringsten. Ihr Blick wanderte zurück zu dem Ring. Warum hatte er ihn dort liegen lassen? Am Abend vor seinem Verschwinden hatten sie zusammen am Feuer gesessen, sich aneinander gekuschelt, um sich zusätzlich zu wärmen. Sie hatten über verschiedene Dinge gesprochen. Das Fest in der nächsten Woche, das sie gemeinsam besuchen wollten, Einars Ausbildung. Würde jemand, der weggehen wollte, über diese Dinge reden? Oder war sie nur blind für offensichtliche Anzeichen? Sie hatte Zweifel an allem. Die Tür öffnete sich, und ein Gesicht, das fast so rot war wie sein Haar, hellte sich auf, als die Augen seine Mutter fanden. "Mama! Wir haben einen Frosch gefangen! Darf ich ihn behalten?!" Ein Lächeln zwang sich auf ihre Lippen, als sie zur Tür hinüberging, um sie zu schließen und ihren Sohn zu umarmen. "Der Teich wird ihm sicher besser gefallen als unser Haus, und du kannst ihn dort täglich besuchen, nicht wahr?"
Die ersten Wochen vergingen wie im Fluge und dauerten gleichzeitig ewig. Sie hatten das ganze Dorf nach ihm abgesucht. Keine Spur von ihm oder einem Kampf. Kein Blut von jemandem, der von einem tollwütigen Tier angegriffen worden war, kein umgestürzter Baum, aus dem auf beiden Seiten Arme ragten. Nichts. Je länger sie suchten und je länger sie kein Zeichen fanden, desto mehr fühlte sich Katharina betrogen. Bis jetzt hatte sie sich gegenüber Einar nur Ausreden ausgedacht. Es fiel ihr nicht leicht, ihn anzulügen und dafür zu sorgen, dass sein Vater irgendwann zu ihnen zurückkehrte, aber so verletzt sie sich auch fühlte, sie wollte ihren Sohn nicht verletzt sehen. Mit seinen 7 Jahren war er naiv genug, um ihr zu glauben, aber auch alt genug, um zu bemerken, dass auch bei ihr etwas nicht stimmte. Wann immer ihr Blick distanziert wurde, wann immer Traurigkeit sie zu überwältigen drohte, umarmte er sie und lächelte, bis sie schließlich das Lächeln erwiderte.
Last edited by Katharina Brightrim on Fri Mar 05, 2021 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
Isolation
About two months after the disappearance of Erin Thorstar, a market took place in the small village in which Katharina and he had moved, when she was pregnant to start their family away from the dangers and treats of Illarion. Various merchants offered a big variety of wares from the most distant and most foreign parts of the world. Children ate candies or ran over the market place, as they played. Rich people wandered the streets like peacocks and the poor found ways to 'obtain' wares in the chaos they would usually never be able to get their hands on.
Katharina did not notice any of this. She barely left the house, half in the hope that Erin would return sooner or later, half because she could not stand the pity in the eyes of the people around her. The chats that died, when she approached, the nervous glances people exchanged, when they thought she was not looking. People would offer her help, as if she was invalid, as if she hadn't lost her husband but an arm. And then Einar's reaction, when she eventually told him what was going on. Tears in the eyes of her son, then the anger and the words. "I hate you.", said by a child who had just been told that his father had left them and that his mother had lied to him for the past few weeks. These words echoed through her head. She could not understand how her happy, almost carefree life had turned into this disaster within just two months. "I hate you". And then the door closed and the neighbor had just left again with her son, to "support her". The timeframes in which he lived with her became shorter and the timeframes in which she was alone became longer. "I hate you". And the words kept echoing through her head. By now, she was convinced that it had been her fault, that Erin had left because of her. And still no sign of him. "I hate you".
She blinked and looked up to the priest who sat on the opposite side of the table and looked at her in anticipation. What did he just say? Had he asked her something? Likely. She nodded, "yes", she responded to whatever it was he had said. There it was again. That look of pity and concern. "I asked you: When did you leave this village the last time? Maybe it would help you to get out for a while, to get away from this place."
Katharina did not notice any of this. She barely left the house, half in the hope that Erin would return sooner or later, half because she could not stand the pity in the eyes of the people around her. The chats that died, when she approached, the nervous glances people exchanged, when they thought she was not looking. People would offer her help, as if she was invalid, as if she hadn't lost her husband but an arm. And then Einar's reaction, when she eventually told him what was going on. Tears in the eyes of her son, then the anger and the words. "I hate you.", said by a child who had just been told that his father had left them and that his mother had lied to him for the past few weeks. These words echoed through her head. She could not understand how her happy, almost carefree life had turned into this disaster within just two months. "I hate you". And then the door closed and the neighbor had just left again with her son, to "support her". The timeframes in which he lived with her became shorter and the timeframes in which she was alone became longer. "I hate you". And the words kept echoing through her head. By now, she was convinced that it had been her fault, that Erin had left because of her. And still no sign of him. "I hate you".
She blinked and looked up to the priest who sat on the opposite side of the table and looked at her in anticipation. What did he just say? Had he asked her something? Likely. She nodded, "yes", she responded to whatever it was he had said. There it was again. That look of pity and concern. "I asked you: When did you leave this village the last time? Maybe it would help you to get out for a while, to get away from this place."
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
Tough decision
Bras 51
Katharina sat on board of the ship that would bring her back to Illarion. She had tried to find back to the life she had started elsewhere and she had failed. When she left Illarion, pregnant and overly happy about the idea of having her own small family, she would have never imagined that she would sit on a ship back to it 8 years later. Without said family she thought she would have. Einar was as stubborn as his father and decided that he wanted to stay with his grandparents. It broke her already broken heart again, but there was also a tiny part of her that was relieved. She hated that part and whenever it dared to speak up in her mind, whenever it told her how painful it was to look at a smaller, younger version of Erin, she pretended to not listen. Einar even refused to see her, before she left to return to Illarion. Her eyes watched the sparkling water, the gentle waves. It was best for her to get some distance, she lied to herself, to give it some time. In the past year, she had searched for Erin, without any success. There had to be an explanation, though. He would eventually return or send her a letter. Maybe he was even back in Cadomyr or Runewick? Her mind looped through her head, and she almost missed the first sight of the land, that had been her home for several years before and to which she now returned.
Katharina sat on board of the ship that would bring her back to Illarion. She had tried to find back to the life she had started elsewhere and she had failed. When she left Illarion, pregnant and overly happy about the idea of having her own small family, she would have never imagined that she would sit on a ship back to it 8 years later. Without said family she thought she would have. Einar was as stubborn as his father and decided that he wanted to stay with his grandparents. It broke her already broken heart again, but there was also a tiny part of her that was relieved. She hated that part and whenever it dared to speak up in her mind, whenever it told her how painful it was to look at a smaller, younger version of Erin, she pretended to not listen. Einar even refused to see her, before she left to return to Illarion. Her eyes watched the sparkling water, the gentle waves. It was best for her to get some distance, she lied to herself, to give it some time. In the past year, she had searched for Erin, without any success. There had to be an explanation, though. He would eventually return or send her a letter. Maybe he was even back in Cadomyr or Runewick? Her mind looped through her head, and she almost missed the first sight of the land, that had been her home for several years before and to which she now returned.
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
Back
The ship docked at the Cadomyrian harbor where Katharina stood on deck and looked over the desert. Before they had moved, Erin and her had lived here and it was overall a place of many fond memories. She hesitated, watching as the nearby workers unloaded crates and passengers left, sitting back down in the end. She figured that Cadomyr might not be the place where she wanted to live anymore. The memories, as fond as they were, also reminded her of what she wanted to leave behind. So when the ship set sail again, she was still on it.
Some time later, she left the ship at the next harbor, the fresh air of Yewdale flushing through her lungs. Carrying the few belongings she had decided to bring back with her, she headed towards the city of Runewick.
Some time later, she left the ship at the next harbor, the fresh air of Yewdale flushing through her lungs. Carrying the few belongings she had decided to bring back with her, she headed towards the city of Runewick.
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
Smile
"Hello Kathy, good to see you around again!", Riniao smiled happily and excited with that childish joy of his. She answered the smile with one of her own, though not being too sure that it was convincing. "Riniao, it has been a while. Happy to be back as well!" They talked for a moment, and this joyful conversation cheered her up, pulling her out of her self-doubts and relieving her of her worries. At least, for the most part. "How is Erin doing?! And where is he?!" Her smile dropped and for a moment she wanted to tell him everything, but she could not bring herself to it. She did not want to say it out loud again and she did not want to be pitied. Neither did she want to see his excitement crumble. The smile returned to her lips, as she lied, "Oh, he's back at home, looking out for Einar. They are both doing great!"
-
Katharina Brightrim
- Cadomyr
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
- Location: Göttingen
Re: The past
Katharina sat at the town meeting in Runewick and listened to the words of the Bearers, who lead the town businesses in about every sector of everyday's town-life. She didn't really mind them, most of them were actually quite friendly to her, despite her leaving Runewick with Erin all these years ago. It felt like a different life, as she sat there in Elara's hall now. But yet, she struggled. Not only did she feel fairly useless in the community, she also felt a huge emptiness. A gap that both, Erin and Einar had left, that she had no clue of how to fill it. Her eyes locked on the ring at her finger for a moment, then she glanced through the room. No longer keeping track of what Djironnyma was talking about, she watched the others being eager to support the town and make it prosper. They all seemed confident, even Titus who had recently tried to annex Yewdale for his own purposes as a counter-movement to the Bearers.
"... hospital currently not manned." As if resurfacing after a dive, these words came through to her and she frowned. Maybe... Her hand went up before her brain had caught on to what it was doing and her mouth was faster than her mind. "I could do it. Work at the hospital, I mean." She was surprised by herself. Of course, she had a few casual experiences with patching up Erin after he got wounded in a fight. Smaller stuff, a bruise here, a small cut there. And she had some fundamental alchemy-knowledges, but running a hospital... "Very well, you may try running it, lets discuss the details after the meeting.", Djironnyma said and moved on in whatever else he had to say afterwards. Katharina didn't listen anymore, as she leaned back, a light frown on her forehead. Maybe if she read up on some medical knowledge... How often would people around here actually need a medico anyway? But it could keep her busy and her mind off her own problems, while at the same time doing something for the community which had taken her in once again. The rest of the meeting babbled past her, as she thought about how to run a hospital.
"... hospital currently not manned." As if resurfacing after a dive, these words came through to her and she frowned. Maybe... Her hand went up before her brain had caught on to what it was doing and her mouth was faster than her mind. "I could do it. Work at the hospital, I mean." She was surprised by herself. Of course, she had a few casual experiences with patching up Erin after he got wounded in a fight. Smaller stuff, a bruise here, a small cut there. And she had some fundamental alchemy-knowledges, but running a hospital... "Very well, you may try running it, lets discuss the details after the meeting.", Djironnyma said and moved on in whatever else he had to say afterwards. Katharina didn't listen anymore, as she leaned back, a light frown on her forehead. Maybe if she read up on some medical knowledge... How often would people around here actually need a medico anyway? But it could keep her busy and her mind off her own problems, while at the same time doing something for the community which had taken her in once again. The rest of the meeting babbled past her, as she thought about how to run a hospital.