"Check it out Elias! I finally got one on the pole!" Eva said happily.
"It only took three tries," Elias teased.
"You haven't even got one yet!" Eva retorted, grinning. She loved their weekly night out at the local tavern. She thought back to the first time they went to the tavern, Eva had been really nervous they would be thrown out. They were old enough to go, but it had still seemed very grown up and too good to be true!
"Watch how it is done!" Elias boasted, tossing his horseshoe and missing completely.
"Do you want me to show you how not to miss?" Eva fired back, giggling. Elias responded with a mock glare then said "Oh I give up, you always beat me. Let's have a drink!".
"No, Elias. I've had enough and you definitely have! Come on, you can walk me home," Eva said turning toward the door.
"Of course I can walk you home, we live next to each other, daftie!" Elias mocked heading unsteadily after her. Eva guessed by the time they walked home, it would be another night she would have to put Elias to bed. He really did not know when to stop. It was only one night a week though so she didn't really mind.
As Eva and Elias arrived at Elias's house, they were greeted by a familiar scene. Lissie had clearly just arrived home herself and Luke was telling her what an unfit mother she was. Eva thought how terrible it must be to have a marriage like that, but there was no escaping it. Married couples that split up were pretty much outcasts in the eyes of the Church and shunned by the village folk as a consequence.
Eva got Elias through the door. The fresh air on the walk home had made its mark and he was almost asleep stood up. She steered him through to the bedroom and onto his bed. Elias was going to have a rather sore head come the morning.
Elias sleepily pulled off his top and mumbled something incoherently before drifting off.
Eva looked down at him as he slept. She couldn't help but notice how much he was changing. He was still very skinny but he was getting quite tall and as she looked at his bare chest, she started to feel a little flushed. Suddenly uncomfortable, she gave him a last look, smiled softly at his peaceful face and walked the short distance to her house. Lissie and Luke were still arguing and paid her no attention as she left.
Back at home, she tucked into a plate of vegetables from the local farm. The summer was always a time where hunger was a little less throughout the village. She thought about Lissie and Luke. Their marriage had been arranged by their families. Luke had once had a fair amount of money from his work as a brewer. Lissie had not been opposed to the marriage, imaging herself to one day be walking amongst the nobles, and Luke was in awe of her beauty. Unfortunately, Luke got overfond of his own produce and gradually lost his trade. With the work gone, the money went too and when the money went, Lissie all but checked out of the marriage. Now Luke worked as a butcher but was still fond of a drink, spending the little money they had on it. Twice Lissie and Luke had nearly been evicted for not having enough money to pay their taxes.
Eva thought of her own parents. They had been together over fifteen years and were still so obviously in love. They hardly ever argued and were always kissing each other. Eva felt lucky to have her parents and hoped that one day, she would have a marriage like theirs.
By the time Eva was finished eating, she was desperate for her bed. As she settled off to sleep, she found her mind drifting again and again to Elias, sleeping on his bed, and that night, she dreamed she found the treasure he always talked about when they were younger.
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