3 The Meal

My father's sudden loud yell caused me to jump. "Dad….So ummm how long have you been there?"

"Long enough Adoh...we will talk after dinner." His reply was quick and sharp as always. After going in, we all sat down at the table which was covered in food. My favourite was there, lamb shanks covered in my mum's lamb sauce. This dish was divine. Better than divine. It was not even fit for the gods to eat, in my opinion and yet I get to eat it. There was also a salad dish with little pieces of cheese in it which was then covered in a bit of yellow oil and some herbs to enhance the taste. It was so colourful with reds, greens and oranges all in a slight yellow shine. There was also a beef dish, a chicken dish and finally a potato dish.

"Why is there so much food, mum," I asked in a confused manner. I couldn't understand. Normally there was only one dish when we had our meal but now there was a feast.

"Well you are going are you not?."

After she said that I froze. All that went through my mind was how did she know. I only told my brother and the merchant who I was going to travel with to the city. I looked at my brother. If my eyes could kill he would be dead a thousand times over. After all it must have been him who told her.

My mother seeing my gaze just smiled at me then in a light cheery voice she said "Your brother didn't tell me anything. It's a mother's job to know what her son wants to do and where he is going. Plus we mother's have got a mother's instinct. It really does help us when it comes to our children."

Then my father quietly mentioned, "Plus the merchant told us."

My mother who seemed to have ears like an eagle at that moment, "What are you talking about?" She glared daggers at my father. Then the two began to argue with each other but with massive smiles on their faces. "I love you honey."

"I love you too, sweety."

Then I realised something at that point, "Why did you sound angry earlier dad."

"Well if you cant let your family know that you are going. How are you going to survive in the army fighting demons and other kingdoms soldiers?"

"That's enough about this talk of demons and war. Lets eat first," my mother had that look. That look where if you argue you will be doing something bad. Last time she had that look my father ended up cleaning out the village pig sty, the chicken coop and finally the toilet which was shared by nearly everyone. Then when he got home, he wasn't let in until he didn't smell of poo.

Remembering that we all stopped talking and got straight back into our meal. I took mainly my favourite but a little bit of the others as well. While eating we talked about our days and other miscellaneous subjects. It turned out my dad had been at the inn meeting an old friend of his, who lived in the city. So I had somewhere to stay while I was waiting for the recruitment day to begin.

Once we had all finished my mum asked me to help her clear up and wash the dishes. So once my father and brother had moved away to do something else. I began to clear up first, I started by taking the plates and the mugs off the table after all we were not wealthy enough to have glasses. Then I wiped the table down with a cloth. Then started to wash the plates up in some warm water. Once they were clean, I then dried them up. "Adoh come sit in here with me, I want to talk to you."

I went to the table and pulled a chair out to sit down on. "You want to talk about me leaving don't you? Just know that I won't be changing my mind."

Just like earlier she smiled. After a slight pause, "I'm not going to try and stop you, I know you really want to go but be careful. I will not be one of the mothers who buries their own child. What I want to tell you is don't say to anyone that I have the same colour eyes as you. It will bring a lot of trouble to me and your father. Also we will always be here for you, no matter where you are or what you have done we will be here for you. This will always be your home….. Now go find your father, he wanted to say something to you as well."

Stifling a sob "Mum," I gave her a hug, we stayed like that for a few minutes.

"Now off with you." She gave me a light tap on the head as I left.

I walked to my father's study guessing that was where he was going to be. His door was left just slightly open. As I went in the door gave a slight creak. He was standing by the fire, his black hair was just let loose so it was laying on his shoulders. After I closed the door he turned, hearing the slight bang as it closed, then he looked at me. His green eyes felt like they could see all of my secrets. We stayed like that for a minutes. Feeling nervous from how he was looking at me I decided to talk first. "So mum said that you wanted to talk with me."

He let out a soft sigh. "Are you sure you want to go and risk your life on the battlefield? Take lives and see your friends be killed and mutilated all around? Can you deal with the pain? The pressure?" He paused letting out a breath. "Of course you are. Come here I have something I want to give you." As I walked closer to him. He grabbed the box that was sitting on top of his fire. It was an old box. It had scratch marks all over it, there was a slight chip in the side. The latch that held it down looked worn as well. As I was watching he opened the box. Compared to the outside the inside looked nearly untouched. There was a cushion inside made of what looked like silk. On the cushion was a badge in the shape of a dragon head. It was made up of a black metal and had some red jewel probably a ruby as its eyes.

"This is a dragon medallion. Only show it if you get into trouble, the owner of the medallion which will be you has the power to command anyone to fulfill one wish. So use it wisely."

After he passed it to me, I felt some markings on the back, it read 'óir an té a rinne fiúntas mór.' It meant, 'For he, who did great merit.' It was in the old dracionite language.

"Now go to bed, you have a big day tomorrow."

"Goodnight dad."

I then walked through the house back to my room. After putting the medallion down on the notice for military recruitment that I got from a passing ranger. I got into bed. I feel asleep thinking about my mother and her smile from dinner.