Like the Tide, 3/?templemarkerAugust 10 2011, 05:44:48 UTC
riventhorn, I hope it's okay that I'm still putting this here, even though it's been several weeks. /o\ work ate me. let me know if not, and I'll repost to my journal.
***
They worked until twilight, until the cool kiss and promise of the morning dew was light in the air. They kept a bucket of water by the door, and Marcus, whose turn it was to tend the fire that night, laid his hoe against the wattle and daub of their small home and drew the rag to his skin.
It felt so very good against his sun-burnished skin, warmed from being in the light all day. No big trees here, all cleared long ago and only a stump here or there remaining of whatever forest came before. He closed his eyes for a long moment, and when he opened them it was to the first pricking of the summer storm upon them. They came fast, in the summer, rolling in from the ocean winds to crest over the downs and into their quiet recluse. Marcus watched the clouds on the horizon, and turned to catch Esca, who was still stubbornly hacking away at a stubborn root-bed they'd been fighting all season long.
"Esca," he called, "leave it. The weather comes in." He nodded backwards towards the oncoming rain, but Esca merely waved him off and continued the job. Marcus suppressed a sigh; there was little use in arguing with Esca when he put his mind to something, whether it be root-beds or long-dead Romans.
He busied himself with the household matters, exchanging his braccae for a well-worn tunic, stoking the small fire from cinder to flame. He put the water on and the barley to swell, taking some of the herbs he and Esca had dried and gathered one fine spring morning and dropping a leaf or to into the porridge. There was coney, too, and the first small carrots of the summer. It would be a humble meal, but a fine one for all the work they'd put into making it their own.
Re: Like the Tide, 3/?riventhornAugust 10 2011, 06:43:21 UTC
Of course it's okay! :) And feel free to post it elsewhere as well when you're finished, as I'm not sure how many people are still tracking this fest.
I'm so glad you're continuing as I'm just loving it--such lovely descriptions and the bit in the next part, where Marcus wonders if he is more or less of a man for loving Esca is just phrased so beautifully.
***
They worked until twilight, until the cool kiss and promise of the morning dew was light in the air. They kept a bucket of water by the door, and Marcus, whose turn it was to tend the fire that night, laid his hoe against the wattle and daub of their small home and drew the rag to his skin.
It felt so very good against his sun-burnished skin, warmed from being in the light all day. No big trees here, all cleared long ago and only a stump here or there remaining of whatever forest came before. He closed his eyes for a long moment, and when he opened them it was to the first pricking of the summer storm upon them. They came fast, in the summer, rolling in from the ocean winds to crest over the downs and into their quiet recluse. Marcus watched the clouds on the horizon, and turned to catch Esca, who was still stubbornly hacking away at a stubborn root-bed they'd been fighting all season long.
"Esca," he called, "leave it. The weather comes in." He nodded backwards towards the oncoming rain, but Esca merely waved him off and continued the job. Marcus suppressed a sigh; there was little use in arguing with Esca when he put his mind to something, whether it be root-beds or long-dead Romans.
He busied himself with the household matters, exchanging his braccae for a well-worn tunic, stoking the small fire from cinder to flame. He put the water on and the barley to swell, taking some of the herbs he and Esca had dried and gathered one fine spring morning and dropping a leaf or to into the porridge. There was coney, too, and the first small carrots of the summer. It would be a humble meal, but a fine one for all the work they'd put into making it their own.
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I'm so glad you're continuing as I'm just loving it--such lovely descriptions and the bit in the next part, where Marcus wonders if he is more or less of a man for loving Esca is just phrased so beautifully.
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