User blog:Redknight910/WWYD Gnome ChiangLu

Prompt:Farmers Surprise Crop

I smile and embrace her.

"That's beautiful!" I say picking her up and spinning around. She breaks out into giggles, grinning as I put her down. "I'll make sure all of this gets sold, promise." She nods, letting me climb up onto the carriage and ride off towards the market.

On the road I encounter a number of branches set aross the road. I know the layout and reach for the blade I keep near the seat. Of all the times I could be ambushed by brigands, it had to be when my wife wasn't with me.

Two men stepped out from behind the trees, both brandishing swords.

"Just hand over the goods, and we'll let you keep the cart." One of them says.

"Look, I need this stuff to pay for supplies for the winter, please...." They shook their heads.

"And we need them to survive the winter. It's you or us, and we pick us." They start approaching the wagon, I pull the sword from under the seat, brandishing the weapon.

"Please, I don't want to fight. I've got a kid on the way, please!" They stop, looking at each other for a moment.

"We need supplies. We won't leave empty handed." As they get closer they break apart, flanking me.

"I can give you some. It was a good year, and I have some to spare. Just please." They keep walking around me, towards the stock. I sigh as I realise they won't give up. Springing from the seat I land on top of the one to my left, holding my sword to his throat. "Don't make me do this." I whisper, before getting thrown off by someone with inhuman strength.

I try to stand up, and a boot lands on top of me, followed by a sharp green blade. Looking up I see the iconic antennae and eyes of a mantis. I look up at her cold face pleadingly.

"Take four crates. Leave the rest." She says, looking away at the men.

"But Am-" She gives the man a glare, and he sighs. She looks back at me.

"You better not be lying. I'll find out if you are." I nod, while she pulls away and steps off of me.

"Thank you. I... I swear I'm not lying." I get up as they pull the first two crates off. All in all they take half of my supplies. I get back on the cart, thankfully they removed the road block for me, and continue on to town. When I show up with my light load most of the other regulars are worried.

"What happened? I thought you always had a great harvest." I explain what happened with the bandits and a few of them give me an apology.

"Yeah, really hoped to bring back a good run since Gina's officially carrying." Half of them go wide eyed, the other half start congratulating me.

The market goes off without a hitch, most of us sell a good deal of our produce, and my own stuff sold well, customers were actually upset that all my produce was gone so quickly. As I was packing up the stall a few others came by to hand me some gold.

At first I tried to turn it back, but they just kept pushing it into my hand. Eventually I just gave up and thanked them, ending up with at least double what I could have made. After stocking up with stuff I couldn't prepare myself, I loaded up and headed home.

When I got back Gina was waiting outside, and ran at me when she spotted the cart.

"How did it go? Was everything okay?" I gave her a tired smile while dismounting.

"Well...." I tell her about everything that happened, getting pulled into a tight embrace as I talked about the bandits.

"I knew it! I knew I should have gone with you." She cries, crushing me into her breasts. "If anything had of happened to you, I wouldn't know what to do. I, I..." She breaks off and just starts crying.

"It's okay. Everyone at the market gave me a hand, and well..." I pulled the bag of leftover gold from the market and she looked at me wide eyed.

"Everyone gave you that much?" I nod, and she can't help but smile. "I'll have to thank them next season." I raise an eyebrow.

"I thought you wanted to stay home for the little one." I put a hand on her belly and she smiled.

"I did, but I think after this I'll be coming with you anyway." I smile and thank her, pulling her into an embrace.

"Thank you. I hope our little girl takes after her mother."