Chapter One - Edited

Soo, my fanfictions are good but i'm a little shit at anything else, so here's an attempt of combining my career and my writting - Please tell me what you think.

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The sun’s first rays stretched across the flat expanse of land before her as she sat, curled up within her cloak watching the small party make their way towards her village. Today would set the course for the rest of her life for it was her wedding day… she’d yet to see the man she was meant to marry, all she knew was that he was quite important at the fort on the other side of the flat’s; the Roman fort of Deva.

For years Esma had watched the Roman legion with her brothers watched the snaking trains of soldiers as they moved about the country; thousands of men all serving one authority. But never had she ever even thought about marrying one. It wasn’t until her father was outnumbered on the matter; they needed a marriage to form the finalities of the treaty and there was only one option. The oldest unmarried daughter by five years, the others were too young to be married yet.

The ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she looked up to her eldest brother as he sat beside her on the rise, “What brings you out here so early?” Ceolwulf asked, his dark hair whipping about in the wind, blending into her red tendrils. “Stalking your husband?”

“Debating whether to jump off and end it all now.” She deadpanned, making him chuckle and slap her leg affectionately.

“It’s going to be strange.” He admitted, “Without you . . . eighteen years and you suddenly up and leave, I always thought you’d be here to look after me.”

“How on earth did you manage for that first year all by yourself?” Esma smiled, touching her head against his shoulder.

“Ah, I had mother’s undivided attention.” He sighed, a sad smile settling on his lips.

“Lucky you, I don’t think I ever had that. Bryce is too much of a brat.” She laughed, knowing he was sneaking up on them.

“Say whatever you want sister, you know you’re lying.” Bryce stated sitting on her other side. “Scared?”

“Obviously.” Esma whispered before smirking as she turned to him “I’m going to Deva, jealous?”

“Mortally.” He smiled and the three siblings fell into silence, each to their own thoughts as the small train of Romans’ headed ever closer.

“I wish Mama was here.” Esma whispered, knowing her brother’s wouldn’t tease her, not today. “I need her.”

Ceolwulf wrapped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her against him tightly, “You’ve got us.”

“Yeah, what more could you need?” Bryce smiled, leaning his head on hers. “We’ll protect you, we always have, always will.”

“I won’t be one of us anymore; I’ll be his wife… I won’t even be me.” She whispered, grasping her twin’s hand in sad desperation for familiarity.

“You’ll always be one of us.” Ceolwulf growled pulling away and grabbing her chin. “You’re too ginger to be anything else.”

“And too angry.” Bryce shrugged, pulling at her hair as his hit him in the face, “I’m glad mine got caught, it’s easier to manage on days like this.

Esma laughed at the memory. Bryce had been weaving fences for the compound when some of his long ginger hair was caught in some sap and accidentally weaved into the hazel; the only way of freeing him from the fence was to take a sword to it.

“Where are Fyren and Ed?” She asked, realising her two babies were missing.

“Probably watching from a distance in case you start crying.” Wulf stated with a grin as they turned around and saw the youngest two, hovering just a few metres away. “Here they come.”

“Es are you sure you want to do this?” Edwin, the youngest of the five siblings asked, hugging her shoulders, “I’ll kill them for you; I can go get my bow right now.”

“I’ll hide their bodies; no one would know that they even died.” Fyren added hopefully, waiting his turn to hug their sister.

“No, that’d just cause more issues.” Esma sighed, kissing their cheeks.

They were her brother’s but they were the children of her heart. Their mother had died when Esma had been but eight summers old, Ed had been a babe in arms and Fyren barely walking. But she’d taken over the role of mother and them on as her own and well, they weren’t taking the change in their stride. In fact, they were close to having tantrums every time the marriage was mentioned.

“I don’t like it one bit.” Ed stated as Fyren shook his head, the pair were near inseparable.

“You belong to us too, not just to father.” Fyren stated, folding his arms over his chest with a dark frown over his features.

“It’s not like I’m going to be on the other side of the world, just the flats.” Esma stated, looking at her brothers who were looking all equally lost. “You’ll be able to visit and maybe I’ll be able to visit too, once I have children.”

“He won’t let you bring them here in case we steal them.” Bryce stated with a frown. “I’d always planned on turning your children into monsters.”

“Thanks Bryce.” She laughed, as the other’s all voiced their agreement.

“They’re nearly here, an hour away.” Wulf stated turning to look at the Romans. “You should go and get ready; Father wants to see you beforehand.”

“Yeah, we were meant to fetch you actually.” Fyren smirked. “Father’s nearly pulling his beard out.”

“I love you Esma, I’ve never had to live without you.” Bryce stated as he helped his twin to her feet and pulled her into a bone crushing hug.

“I’ll miss you.” She whispered crushing him back, making him chuckle at her feeble attempt.

“My turn!” Wulf stated, pushing his brother away, lifting their sister from her feet and spinning her around. “Be strong.”

“Ma.” Ed whispered, as Esma wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a hug. “You’ll always be my Ma.”

“And mine.” Fyren added, kissing her cheek and crushing her against him.

“I’ll see you before I leave.” Esma promised as she headed back towards the village, leaving her brothers on the rise watching her future husband ride closer.

Esma weaved her way through the huts of the village, greeting people as she passed, patting dogs as they sniffed at her skirts hoping for food. Her heart ached as the realisation struck that this wouldn’t be her home ever again. She’ll never have the need to run across to the rise to shout her brother’s in at night, to collect water from the well…to do anything here ever again.

“How the mind wonders.” Aethelwald laughed watching his only daughter appear from amid the huts, eyes glazed over automatically dodging animals and children. “I’d once thought I’d see you chase your own children through these huts.”

“Me too.” She admitted, letting herself be engulfed into her father’s arms. “I’m sorry I’m not going to be here, to look after you.”

“Esma, I am not in your care.” He laughed, his chest vibrating beneath her cheek. “You are in mine and I’ve failed you.”

“You’ve not failed me; you’ve got me a husband and a safe home for the future.” She stated, patting his chest as she pulled away from the childhood she’d loved.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this, we can get everyone together, the men can go and kill while you take everyone into Wales. Your mother was Welsh; her family would protect the five of you.”

“Don’t be silly, this land is yours, ours.” Esma sighed, pulling at her father’s beard. “We are the land, I’ll be fine. We’re fighters.”

“That you are. I remember the day your mother was buried; you cradled Edwin against you and took Fyren by the hand as the other two followed silently. When I finally made it home you had dinner waiting, you were only eight.” He laughed, “Now get into home, they’re waiting for you.”

Esma walked into the dark hut and was faced by the female half of the village, all with ribbons in their hands ready to prepare her for the ceremony and to share their knowledge with her. They all stopped and greeted her eagerly, sitting her on a stool and handing her a small baby.

“We’ll have to give you this advice now.” Elaine stated upon receiving a questioning stare. “Now, burping…”

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Helllo lovely readers, I'm currently editing this story to try and make it better for you - plot shouldnt change but details will be added.

Thank you for reading and enjoy xx