She let out a long breath as she stared daggers at her brother as he sat across the table from her. Those crystal blue eyes clearly saying she had every intent to kill him in his sleep when she was given half the chance. Reaching up she pushed dark red hair from her face as her mother reached out and gently rested a hand on her daughter’s arm. The extra man who sat at their table would clearly see the unease between the siblings as they all negotiated the marriage contract between Eilidh and the man her brother had brought home in the agreeance that he would marry his sister, and be rewarded with a fine dowery as well. After all none of the men in the village wanted to marry the fierce woman, and so her brother thought it best to seek someone from outside of their home village.<strong>’I swear Bjorn you’re only doing this to get rid of me,’</strong>was snapped as she stood up and stormed out of the long house. His mother gave him a stern look as she stood up and followed after her fiery daughter.<br/><br/>Bjorn reached up and ran his hand over his face as he let out a long breath. This wasn’t as easy as he had hoped it would be, and that was becoming more and more clear to him. Looking towards his new found friend he gave him an uneasy smile.<strong>’Please forgive Eilidh. She truly has our father’s blood in her veins. Once she started to prove herself he was more than willing to let her follow after him on the long ships, and as such she has set high standards thanks to him. I’m sure she’ll come around,’</strong>was said as he offered the older man a horn of mead. His mind began to work as to how he could convince his sister to marry him. He could only hope that their mother could be a voice of reason and be able to get through to his thick headed twin.<br/><br/>Eilidh stormed down to the inlet and along the way she picked up stones, and once she reached the banks she began to skip the stones along the smooth surface. She was aware that her mother had followed her, but she hasn’t stopped to talk to her as she would have preferred to be left alone. Though as the gentle woman who had raised her came next to her and stood silently she began to break as she relaxed and allowed her mind to think things over.<strong>’I don’t think I can marry him mother. After all he isn’t from here and I don’t want to leave. Not after losing father.’</strong>She turned towards her mother, and saw the familiar shine in the older woman’s eyes as she reached out and linked arms with her daughter. She turned them away from the village and began to walk along the banks as she gently scolded her child.<strong>’Do you really think myself and Bjorn would allow him to take you away? Part of the agreement is that he would garner some of our lands and holdings here, and since your brother is now chief if sits well with this man. Also, you’ve ran off every other suitor and it is time for you to consider marriage my child. It will do you good, and this man seems to know a few things that you don’t.  Learn from him and I’m sure things will be fine. Your father would have approved of him.’</strong>She watched as Eilidh’s face softened and she nodded her head. Thankfully she had always been the voice of reason with both her husband and her spirted children.<strong>’I also promise that he won’t take away your weapons and all of you freedom. Though you will be expected to take care of the household like I did for you father, and now your brother. Then we’ll find a fine bride for you twin and you both can leave this old hag alone.’</strong>The two women chuckled and continued to walk the path along the bank before turning to follow it through the woods, and then back to the longhouse.