A Song for Winter: Acts of Service

    William isn’t exactly the most affectionate person around. When it comes to displaying his love for someone romantically or platonically it was difficult for him. Words weren’t something William was especially skilled at using to express himself and finding the right gifts for people was often stressful for him. There was one thing that William was good at when it came to expressing affection, acts of service. When it came to people he cared for there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t or anyone he wouldn’t fight for them. None could question William’s loyalty to those he cared for.

 

    When William was still courting his future wife, Julia, there was a time when the shaft on her favorite spear broke. She was in absolute despair as the ash wood to replace the shaft was not easily found and there was a raid in a few days Julia wished to take part in. William traveled all night across the ice planes and into the winter forests. Amongst all the pines there had to be an ash tree somewhere to be found. As day broke through the trees a single beam of light brought William’s eyes to the perfect ash tree. Selecting the right size branch he cleaved t from the trunk with his ax before carving it into a perfect spear shaft. Traveling back home without rest William fell asleep on his feet as he handed Julia the new shaft.

 

    Once while his daughter, Jania, was still an infant she became very sick. A very specific herb was needed to heal her and the stores of this particular herb were empty. Knowing that this herb only grew at a high altitude on a mountain surrounded by an eternal blizzard, William knew he had to be the one to get it. Many volunteered to go in his place but this was for his daughter and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Climbing the mountain was difficult with William sustaining several cuts from slips on sharp rocks but he wasn’t about to give up, not when so much was at stake. Blizzard force winds cut at William as he finally reached a cliff containing the herb he sought. After gathering all of the herbs he could carry with him, William took a running start and leaped from the cliff while whistling a series of notes from the Winter Song.  Plummeting towards the ground at high speed eventually the notes caught up with William landing him softly on the ground. Hurrying back home he made it in time to make the potion Jania needed.

 

    It doesn't matter what it is or how dangerous the task is there is nothing William won’t do for those he cares about. Rather it is helping with chores or fighting a group of bandit raiders, William will be there. Always ready to take up to whatever cause no matter what it may be for those he cares about. William doesn’t see them as acts of service but rather tasks that he is more than happy to do.