Who: Cami O’Connell and Sam Winchester What: Middle Ages family life Where: Their house When: During the ren faire plot Warnings: none Status: complete gdoc
Having grown up in a home without servants, Camille still occasionally had the desire to prepare a meal for her family, so she’d given the cook the day off and was hard at work in the kitchen while Stephanie and DJ played in the other room, waiting for Sam to return home from performing his duties as a knight of the kingdom. She liked it when her husband was home and not out traveling on a lengthy quest.
She knew that was unusual, that some women in her position preferred their husbands to be away, however Sam treated Camille well and they genuinely liked each other. At the sound of hoofbeats, she smiled. “Your father has returned,” she called to the children, who immediately ran to the door to greet him.
*
On long days like today, Sam was even more glad than usual to return home, back to the warm and welcoming smile of his gentle wife and the warm embraces of his children. He was a simple man, not overly ostentatious, one to enjoy comfort for his family and himself. One to enjoy his family more than what an overabundance of weath could bring. He was glad to be at home, a place where he could go and be with the family he adored and his gaze would not stray to the wife of another.
“Children,” he grinned as he entered their home. He removed his riding gloves and knelt down to be eye level with his children. DJ hugged Sam around his neck and then ran back to continue his play, and to his daughter Stephanie Sam produced a pink flower that he had picked on his way home. After a moment he stood and walked over to his wife, presenting another pink flower and a smile to her.
*
“You spoil us,” Camille said, leaning over to kiss his cheek as she accepted the flower. “Stephanie, why don’t you find a jar and put some water in it for our flowers,” she suggested. The children were getting big enough to learn how to do basic things around the house and she did what she could to encourage their independence. It felt like only yesterday they’d been born and she knew it would seem like time past much too quickly when they were both ready to move out and start their own families.
She turned her attention back to the stove to stir the potatoes. “Is everything well at the castle?” she asked.
*
"All is as well as it can be," Sam said as he gave his wife a soft smile and moved away to remove his gloves. "There were a few disruptions in the village - the usual drunkard chasing chickens, a report of indecency in a public area. A couple of children stealing a few vegetables from a garden. Everything was calm everywhere otherwise, nothing very problematic." There had been a few other things involving some suspected witches, but until there was real trouble Sam had decided to let the sheriff and the others handle it. The last thing he needed was for him or his family to be cursed if the rumors were true. And, it would distract him away from home and his wife. Not that that should hold any weight with Sam.
He watched the pink flowers being placed in water and the children resuming their play. He loved to see them so carefree and full of life. A day would come all too soon when both would have to take up the duties of real life, and as strange as it was, he dreaded the day and wished the pair could stay like this forever. Sam sat himself down in a chair, and the relief he felt at being seated and not horseback was evident on his face and the way he nearly sagged in the seat. "What you're cooking smells wonderful," he said after a moment. "How was your day?"
*
Camille smiled over at her husband as she stirred. “It was lovely,” she said. “We harvested some vegetables from the garden. In addition to the potatoes, we’ll be having fresh carrots and turnips.” Having fresh food was one of the best parts of the summer. Come fall, she would can and preserve as much as possible, but winter would be lacking in fresh produce.
“I’m glad things were fairly calm for you,” she said. “I know you dislike when you have to arrest anyone.” Especially with the preacher making accusations of witchcraft against some of the women in town.
*
Fresh vegetables were Sam’s favorite. He enjoyed them more than any meat they ate, but it would seem strange to the other men, and very likely to his wife if he were completely upfront about it. It was a silly thing, but that often seemed to be the way that things worked. So he remained silent but smiled at the thought of fresh vegetables being harvested from their garden.
“The preacher did seem to have several women that he accused of witchcraft,” he told his wife, unsure if she had heard any of the local gossip about it or not. “If things continue as they are, I may have to become involved and help to make arrests.” Camille was completely right about that. He hated to make arrests, he enjoyed when everything was at peace and everything was quiet. But there were some in their village that liked to stir up as much trouble as they could. “I am most grateful that my family was at home today, and not in our preacher's eyeline.”
*
As much as she tried to avoid gossip, it was nearly impossible in their small village and Camille was very aware of the flurry of accusations levied against some of her neighbors. Like her husband, she was grateful that she and the children had no reason to be off their property and involved in any of that mess. “As am I,” she said.
She determined that the potatoes were cooked and removed them from the fire. “Go wash up while I get supper on the table,” she said. “We’ll have a good meal and talk no more of the unpleasantness in town.”
*
“You are right, no more talk of the unpleasantness of the day. We’re at home and all together now, better things to talk about at the table.” At his wife’s suggestion, Sam stood from his chair to go and wash up. On his way, he paused to bend a little and drop a chaste kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back in a moment.”