Running along with the Rhonwens

Life had been good for the Rhonwens since they moved out of the castle. Mairi had born a pair of twins, whom they named Vaughn and Wren.

Owain, the eldest son, took over Aris’s job of helping Leal with the farm. The two men spent many happy hours tending the plants in the garden. The family’s survival depended on it.

Aris helped her mother tend to the house, and helped with the twins.

Life was busy and good and time passed quickly. Almost too quickly. Before Aris knew it, she found herself talking about husbands with her mother.

Wren and Vaughn played in the background as Mairi and Aris talked. Aris had never paid much mind to boys. There had always been so much work to do at the farm. She was needed too much here.

“Aris, there are plenty of hands to help with the work now. Wren and Vaughn help so much with the housework. Your father had Owain and it really is time for you to consider being married.”

“I don’t know,” Aris replied. “There’s still so much I could help you with.”

“By the time I was your age, I was married and had already had you and Owain was on the way.”

“But I don’t know anyone, Ma. I don’t know of any men who would want to marry me.”

Mairi laughed. “Well, that’s what the matchmaker is for, sweety. The merchant’s daughter got a fine husband from the matchmaker. I don’t see why we can’t do the same.”

Aris shrugged, and Mairi sighed. “Well, think about it anyway. You’ve heard the priests at the other weddings. ‘It’s not good for a man to be alone.’ I would think it would be the same for a woman as well.”

Aris had determined that she wouldn’t think of it any longer after that day, but the thought kept creeping back into the forfront of her mind.  Her brother would mention is interest in one of the merchant’s daughter.

Then her mother’s half-brother Tanner got married, while her mother’s half-sister Saraid had given birth to a baby girl (with much speculation over who the father was).

Finally Aris could stand it no more.  She told her parents to summon the matchmaker.  She was ready to be a wife.

The matchmaker arrived, and Aris tried to quell the butterflies in her stomach.  She’d recently seen Innes Flannen’s soon-to-be husband.  He was handsome and loved Innes from the moment he saw her.

Aris wondered what her future husband would look like.  Would he have dark hair like her?  What color would his eyes be?  Oh, she hoped that he would love her, and think her pretty!

Mairi and Aris met the matchmaker.  Aris was shocked when the matchmaker demanded a fee for her services, but Mairi handed over somemoney without batting an eye.  Aris guessed that her mother had known about that.

“I know just the man for you, dearie!  He needs a good wife, someone to feed him, and keep his clothes clean.  You need a husband, one strong enough to provide for you.  I’ll send him over tomorrow to meet you.”

Mairi told the matchmaker to send him over at dinnertime the next day.  They would get to know him over a good meal.

Aris was so excited.  She didn’t realize until late that night that she never even asked for his name.

The next day, Aris insisted on cooking the entire meal herself.  She wanted to impress her new husband.  What would he be like?

The time arrived and Aris nearly screamed when she heard her father talking to someone outside.  She couldn’t tell much from the voice.

The door opened and a man came in and sat down at the table.  Aris felt her heart drop and she turned away.