A Tinn’s tale

utside, it was nearly winter and cold had come across the land of Tinn. The novemberwind rushed over the leafless trees and it was quite chilly.

Inside, however, the fire crackled cosily and the warmth spread all over the Paral house. It was the smell of omelettes and the hearth-fire that made Robyn feel at home. And she needed it right now.

 

She was supposed to marry within a few years. Actually Robyn liked the idea of having a family of her own and being a mother. She only wished the boy who her parents had chosen, was a nice one.

Robyn was sitting in front of the fire, waiting for the boy to turn up. His mother would come with him as well, his father wouldn’t- as he had been quarreling with his son. That was all she knew.

 

 

Jantine sat down next to her daughter.

‘What is it? Are you nervous?’

‘Hmm.. well.. This boy, right, do I have to marry hím? I don’t even know him- what if he turns out to be dumb!’

‘Well, I know for sure he isn’t dumb,’ Jantine smiled, ‘and if you really dislike him, er, we’ll see what to do.’

Robyn managed to put a small smile on her face.

 

 

They heard bouncing on the door. ‘Shop!’ called a womans’ voice.

‘There they are, now,’ Dorus came out of a door and smiled to the women on the couch. He headed to the door and swung it open. ‘Come in, come in!’

A boy and a woman stepped inside the warm house. Robyn recognised them all of the sudden. It were, ofcourse, Karline Parlanti and her son Frank. Frank let his eyes wander through the house. They stopped by Robyn and he smiled. Robyn blushed.

 

 

‘So, hello,’ said Karline with a bright smile. ‘Nice to meet you, Robyn.’

As if they hadn’t met earlier.. Robyn smiled at her. When she was young, she had seen Karline and her husband - although they had been very busy with their farming - and she had met Frank too. He had been a bit younger than her, but mostly kind- when he didn’t tease her. They met at school but they weren’t really friends. Somehow Frank was intrigueing her. Once he had a rabbit with him at school. He was proud and told everyone his rabbit was called Plush and he had found it by the crops. The teacher, lady Lewis, asked if the rabbit could go. But Frank had just smiled. ‘He’s my friend!’

 

 

‘We’ll let you two alone,’ Jantine said after a small babble and got up. Robyn tried to catch her hand, but she smiled.

‘Get to know eachother a little better. Please sit down, next to the fire, Frank.’ All Robyn really knew about Frank was his Plush and the farm.

The parents went to another room. Since there was one big kitchen-livingroom with hearth-fire and a couple of other, smaller rooms with their beds, Robyn wondered what they were going to do now. Probably talk, about the dowry and such.

 

 

‘So…’ All of a sudden, Frank began to talk. ‘I didn’t know it was you!’

Robyn smiled (could she do anything else today, she thought). ‘Me neither.’

‘Although I was expecting something when my mother was going this way.’

 

‘Why is your father not here now?’

Frank sighed. ‘My fault. It’s all my fault. You see, I’m the first-born son- I was supposed to be the heir.. but I’m not. Not anymore.’

Robyn raised her eyebrows. ‘Why not?’

‘I had a row with him. He expects me to be a great son. But I can’t. I wanna think on my own, you see. I’m obstinate, they say- but he’s too. And now he doesn’t trust me. You see?’

 

‘I see.. Hey but- how’s Plush?’

Frank frowned for a moment. ‘Oooh, that plushy little rabbit?’

Robyn laughed. ‘Yeah, that one. You took it with you at school one day. It was a cute thing.’

Frank grinned too. That one.. It was two years ago. I was young, you see. Why do you remember that? Oh well. I, er, I’m sorry to tell you- but he died.’

 

 

Frank told her about the farm and what their life together would be like. Since he wasn’t the heir they would have to build their house. But that would be no problem at all, in fact it was really nice. Dorus could help and they would organize everything themselves. They would start a farm and live happily with eachother. Robyn listened and beamed. She was so lucky with him. Two years till they would marry, and then life would really begin.

But how wrong they were..

 

 

When they parted, Frank gave her a sweet kiss on her fingertips.

‘We will soon meet again, milady.’

Frank was a bit eccentric, Robyn had noticed. However she nodded and waved him and his mother goodbye.

 

 

Merle had come out of her hiding place - probable she had been in Robyns bedroom, painting - and stood by the fire, grinning.

 

‘Cute boy, Robyn. Is he nice?’

Robyn ran towards her sister and poked her.

‘You know him right? It’s Frank. I’m lucky- he’s cute. But a bit eccentric.’

‘Frank? Really? You lucky girl, Frank’s been like, a friend. I didn’t recognize him.’

‘Neither did I! He has changed, hasn’t he?’

 

Merle hugged her. ‘I am so happy for you. And I only hope within three years there is a boy somewhere out there, whom our parents will meet and think: that’s a good husband for Merle!’

‘He has still three years.’

‘Yeah.’