Lies and Fieldtrips, chapter 2

“…Well, your grandparents are staying until dinner, they surely will be still here when you finish your classwork.” It’s not like he wouldn’t pay for it if needed, but he had five children, a wife and a barn to support, so yes, any saving they could make was more than welcome. Besides, that child really needed to improve those awful and embarrassing notes.  

“Good,” the little boy couldn’t help smiling a little as he washed the first dishes. He hated doing domestic chores, but he was quite glad he had earnt the permission he was looking for… kind of…

“What is it about this girl you like so much?" His father just had to ask. he was always telling the child to stay away from her, and yet they were like glued to each other once again every time he turned around. "She is just an ill mannered ruthless child. Why do you insist in spending time with her?” Mikael had spent every minute since Esther gave birth for the first time to raise decent children, didn’t want a rotten apple kid to ruin that.

“...She’s very nice,” the little boy answered after a moment, and it was the truth, she was a very nice person, but she also was funny, interesting, smart, bold, generous and charming. She was so cool she got along with all his siblings and hung out with them all the time just as him.

“She might be,” Mikael highly doubt it, to be honest, “But she’s not the kind of person I want any of you spending your free time with. She’s not a productive person, she’s always wasting time fooling around and daydreaming.” It was hard not to bite his tongue, that’s just what Niklaus did too…

“She is very productive…”

“Is she? Enlighten me.” Mikael rolled his eyes.

“She trains all the time.”

“Trains for what?” Now he frowned really confused. Some of the children from the village practiced hunting and fishing so they could help at their homes with simple tasks like catching a squirrel, a rabbit or some fish for the meals… Maybe that’s what the foolish boy was talking about.

“We train all the time.”

“Niklaus, you know that while it is alright for your siblings and you to hunt and fish whenever you are allowed, I want you practicing combat and fighting mainly.”

“…Yes, that’s what I am telling you, that we train all the time.”

“…Do you mean to tell me you spend your training time with her?”

“We all do. Finn, Elijah, Kol, Rebekah, Aslaugh and I train together all the time,” that’s what he’d been saying since the beginning.

Of course, the man was not pleased to hear that… The boy jumped back as his father smacked his hand on the hut’s wall.

“You do know very damn well what’s my opinion on the matter!”

“On what matter?”

“Weapons and fighting are not for girls.”

Now the kid frowned back, clearly not getting it.

“…But Rebekah....”

“She is different.” She was his daughter, she needed to know how to fight and how to use weapons just in case.

“It doesn’t make sense, a lot of women go on navigation and battles.”

“…Yes, but not all women.”

“Well, Aslaugh wants to go, to be a shield maiden.”

“What’s wrong with that girl?!”

“I don’t understand…” his dad just didn’t have any kind words in his opinion of the girl, but shield maidens were honorable and respected warriors.

“All right,” the man replied an instant later, dangerously calmed. “Let’s pretend you and thiss girl contract nuptials.”

That did earn him a grossed out expression. Despite enjoying Aslaugh’s company, Niklaus was just ten, and not even half interested in girls and girlfriends as Elijah was on that age.

“Eugh!”

Mikael was certainly relieved, but ignored it in favor of continuing stating his point.

“Anyways, you are married with this girl, and naturally you start having children. I assume you will want to go on navigation and battle with your people.” The child nodded, that was pretty obvious, “And let’s pretend your so-called wife wants to attend too. Who do you think will take care of your house and children while you are gone?”

“…Well, if you are friendly and nice enough, you can always ask your neighbor.” The child answered so naturally and innocently that Mikael felt the urge to slap some sense into him. Fortunately, he refrained himself.

“I do not want you spending time with her, Niklaus, and that’s my last warning. Am I being clear enough?” the child nodded his head, looking at him cautiously with big blue confused eyes… which only unnerved Mikael even more. That stupid look on his face was not Esther’s or his at all. “You know what? Just go to your room.”

“But I thought you had said you wanted to me to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen.” Niklaus could not help himself.

Mikael had to take a deep breath. Seriously, that boy was always questioning his every word.

“Well, now I am telling you I want you to go to your room and stay there until I call you for dinner.”

For once the boy actually thought before talking. Napping in his room was way better than cleaning the kitchen.

“Yes, father.”

Mikael sighed relieved. Thanks Odin.

“Fine.”

However, the hut’s door was opened before de boy could make it to the living area.

“Well, finally.” Mikael didn’t hold back his words. “Look, boy, who remembered she has children to feed and to take care of.”

The blonde woman at the entrance couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

“Was there any emergencies during my absence? Did anyone die? Because otherwise, I don’t know why is this such a big deal. I was spending time with my friend.”

“Well, it is a big deal because you should be at your house fulfilling your duties as a parent. I have already done that for you for about a year, how long do you plan on keep being an awful mother?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, those kids are yours too, so stop talking about it as if you were doing me a favor.”

“Yes, but it is your function as their mother.”

Esther let out a bitter laugh in return.

“Is that so? Because that whore, Thyra, you enjoy so much spending your time with does not take very good charge of her household either.”

“…First of all, she is a fellow warrior I go on navigations and into battle with… She is also the teacher of the village, so yes, I spend time with her since the five of my children take classes with her.”

“Yeah, yeah, right… What are you doing just standing there?” She finally spoke to the boy a few feet away. “Go play or something.” She was really not in the mood for having the kids around.

“…But father said…”

“And I am your mother and I am saying you should go play outside.”

The child tried to look as calm as possible while turning to his father for confirmation. Unfortunately, Esther’s entire attitude had put the man in a foul mood.

“Why the hell are you still here? your mother told you to do something.”

The child didn’t lose a second before darting outside. It was so stressful being in the same place with both his parents since they had found out about his mom’s infidelity… Mikael had never had a very good temper, but that particular situation had just worsened It. Even though it was sure they would get caught eventually and inevitably, Niklaus just couldn’t wait to be away from all that drama and tension for the entire morning and afternoon next day.