Peasant Missy

by Aunt Molly

Set in the same world as "The Yummy Princess" series - just from the opposite end of the socio-economic spectrum.

Mother had done everything that she could to barricade the door. That is, she shoved the table and the bed against it. But while Melissa waited in the dark with her family, she had the distinct impression this would not be near enough.

Melissa hadn't seen this stranger yet. she had been too short to see past the wall of gawking villagers, and too big to be lifted on any of the womens' shoulders. Father could have done it - but father wasn't here.

The twins pushed their faces into the window from which Melissa peered. "Toddwina" (as it should be known Todd and Nancy were quite convinced that they were identical twins, they simply hadn't worked out whether they were both boys or both girls so they alternated day by day) adjusted his skirt and frowned, "What's taking him so long?"

Mother and Jennet were watching from the other window, Jennet's pregnant belly forcing her into an awkward position.

Grandmother sat back - in the dark, "He has a clubbed foot, it will take some time."

Melissa put her hands on her hips, "So we are cowering in fear of a cripple?", Melissa brushed her long brown hair back behind her ear, she refused to let it ever be cut because sister Margaret would not cut hers.

Jennet bit her knuckle, Melissa peered out once moor, the village was still. Lan Melgore was not much more than a collection of thatch roofed huts The sound of goats in their pen was the only thing that broke the silence. There was no Inn, no tavern, no blacksmith. The large oven made from the stones of the fields cleared back in Grandmother's day was just about the only thing that set Lan Melgore apart from a thousand other otherwise identical villages.

Ol' Zeke had forgotten to light it. Melissa noted that just as the stranger finally came into view.

The stranger was not human, but he wasn't dwarf or goblin. He was huge, larger than father. Larger than any of the young fit men who were no conspicuously absent when they were needed most.

His skin was white - not *fair* like Melissa's skin, but *white* like the powder makeup some of the nobles like to wear. He dragged his foot along the dirt road that ran through the villages. His eyes were yellow, like a wolf's. Tusks poked out from his lower lip, and his hair, short and wiry.

But as frightening a sight as he was, he was also pitiable - dressed in dirty rags, dragging his clubbed foot. His eyes drooped, his breath labored. And he came to rest against the stone oven.

"Puh-leesh, Uh know Muh Uppurransh Ish fraghtening, but Uh Mean you no hurm!"

"Daughter - you should go out and help him."

Grandmother was Melissa's father's mother, but 'daughter in law' was a cumbersome title.

"Why don't you?"

"Well I can't climb over that barricade you built.", waving at the table and bed pushed against the door with her cane.

"Puh Leesh - a crusht uff bread? Uh cup uff washer?", Melissa felt pity for the poor man. And yet his large hands ended in claw like fingernails that looked as if they could rend flesh.

Jennet bit her lip, "This could be a trick. I heard of a man who came through Eagle Bridge asking for hospitality, he would seem so pitiful, then a naive young woman would let him in, he'd gut her from Assura's smile to her chin and then grind her innards into sausage."

"Toddwina" took a careful look at the stranger, "I don't think he has a sausage grinder."

Nancy rolled her eyes, "He'll probably buy one from Pat."

Mother snorted, "For enough money Pat would grind the guts himself."

Grandmother waved a bony finger, "Sometimes wizards disguise themselves as weary travelers to test a village's hospitality.I heard of one time a wizard turned the entire village of Lan Welwic to stone."

Mother grunted, "There is no village of Lan Welric - at least not near here."

"Not any more there isn't!"

The stranger made his plea once more.

Jennet looked at the stranger again, "He could be the cannibal of Cairn Rock."

Grandmother shook her head, "Sometimes the gods pretend to be foreigners - they remember at the time of judgement your kindness - or lack of it.."

Mother grunted "You'd think they'd have better things to do."

Melissa closed her eyes and prayed,she did as Sister Margaret told her - put her trust in the goddess. She was still a little girl and was unsure of what to do. Give me a sign.

Melissa stepped back from the window and kicked an apple that had fallen to the floor.

Melissa picked it up, she spied a second resting near the overturned table, and picked that up.

She climbed over mother's barricade and pushed the door open and went outside.

The summer sun beat down, without even the meager protection of her hut she felt terribly vulnerable. And the stranger seemed so much larger. His arms so powerful, and those fingernails definitely looked like claws. But it was too late now.

Melissa threw him an apple,.which the stranger deftly caught. "Thunk yuh." he bit into it, chewed, swallowed, "Why they sund uh luttle gurl?"

"I am not an ordinary little girl - I am the fastest person in the village, if you try to hurt me I will be gone in a flash - down past the stream - down into the forest. And I am friends with all the bears and wolves and wildcats!", Melissa tried her best to stare the stranger down.

When the stranger finished the first apple, Melissa threw the second.

The stranger reached into his rags, "uh have sumthin' fur you."

Don't be a sausage grinder!

He pulled out a wooden scroll tube and tossed it at Melissa's feet.

Then the stranger's foot straightened, He bowed deeply, "My lady ", he spoke in a deep bass.

And then, sprinting like a deer he ran down the road.

***

Melissa stared at the wooden scroll tube for quite some time before picking it up. It was Melissa's Aunt Peg who emerged first. She gave gave Melissa a tight embrace,"That is for being very brave."

Then Aunt Peg gave Melissa a hard smack on the back of the head, "And that is for being foolish!"

The scraping sound of moved furniture preceded the emergence of Melissa's mother, grandmother and siblings.

Ol' Zeke was grandmother's cousin and he was next to emerge, hunched over. "Well what's in the scroll dearie?"

Melissa's cousin, Roger, tall and gangly, he was not quite old enough to go off with the men to seek work in Bennin Iver and bring home a few meager coins before harvest. He repeated the question.

Melissa shook the tube, it rattled slightly. So she opened it. and shook out a silver talon.It was doubtful that father would be bringing home that much money.Melissa examined the coin carefully - one side had the image of old Queen Maud wielding a sword On the opposite side was an image of what appeared to be the royal palace.

Melissa reached inside and pulled out the scroll.

Fine quality paper, in a very neat script, the letters looped dramatically, and there were little hearts over the i's.

The village gathered around - all the old men, all the children, all the women, and they looked at Melissa, and Melissa looked back.

Mother stared intently, "Well, what does it say?"

"I can't read it."

"Isn't sister Margaret teaching you how to read?"

"It's got a lot of big words."

The whole village let out a collective grumble.

"You're going to make me walk all the way to Temple Hill aren't you?"

Melissa studied her feet.

***

Back when Melissa's mother was a girl Temple Hill was known as Oak Hill, and was not much larger than Lan Melgore. It did have one difference - it sat on the Queen's Way, a cobbled road that linked the city of Thol with the region's capital, Bennin Iver.

Back then worship was informal - taking place in the tavern, as often as not. But there came a point when a formal place of worship was needed. And a proper priest to reside there.

And of course once you had a temple, and a tavern, well, it was a good place to have a market - maybe once a week.

The grounds of the temple where a large vegetable garden. There to show the bounty of the earth, fruits and vegetables of every kind that could grow in the local climate Tomatoes, turnips, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, cauliflower and a variety of herbs.

Of course there was also the fact a priestess needed to eat.

Sister Margaret was gathering the ripened vegetables in a basket, on her hands and knees. Her long brown hair, not cut since she took her vows, tied back, the ponytail dragging against the ground

She looked up, deep brown eyes, fair skin covered in freckles, "Oh Hello - is there something wrong?"

Melissa's mother handed sister Margaret the scroll, "No sister Margaret, Melissa received a message, and she can't read it."

Sister Margaret got up and brushed dirt off of her simple skirt.Then slowly she opened the scroll and read.

"Dearest recipient,
If you have received this message you have proven yourself capable of seeing beyond outward appearances and into the person within.
You are cordially invited to my birthday party on the twenty-first day of Leaf Change I will send a servant to retrieve you. Please do not bring a present, I will have far too many gifts as it is. But I would like it if you dress your best.
If you have nothing suitable to wear you may use the enclosed coin to help you buy something nice.

I look forward to seeing you

Sincerely,
Princess Rue."

Sister Margaret looked over the letter, "That is the royal seal on the bottom."

Mother muttered a curse under her breath, "I was hoping to use the money on something useful."

"Mother I will need a new dress sooner or later - if grandmother makes it a little big for me I can grow into it. You can pass it down to Nancy when she gets old enough."

"Or Todd", Mother shook her head, "Alright - we will go to Pat's and pick up some cloth."

"Mother, could I stay with Sister Margaret, please? To help her around the temple?", Melissa knew she wouldn't get to choose the cloth anyway.

"Did you fill all the water barrels? Feed the goats? And by 'feed the goat' I don't mean letting them gnaw on the fence."

"Yes mother."

Mother turned to sister Margaret, "Do you mind?"

Margaret smiled, "She is a pleasure to have."

"Alright - but you behave and do as sister tells you."

Melissa nodded emphatically. And Mother went to This and That Pat's.

***

Melissa spent the afternoon helping sister Margaret with the garden, there wasn't much reason to go to Pat's with her mother. She wouldn't get to choose the color of the cloth, mother would choose that. She would not choose the cut - grandmother would sew what she thought a girl her age should wear.

She would only be called upon to make sure it fit properly, that it presented the right image her mother and grandmother wanted of a proper village girl.

Besides she was happier here.

The vegetables were brought in, Margaret cleaned them, these were more than just decorations. Though the local peasants gave tithings, even sister Margaret had to grow her own food.

Many would be dried, pickled, prepared for the long winter. By tradition she could ask for a goat or other livestock on certain feast days, and a share of the harvest, but sister Margaret did not like asking too much of those who did not have much to begin with.

The temple itself was simple - not a row of pews facing front but mats around a center. The Summer Goddess, the statue of a woman at the height of her beauty, in a long cool dress, long hair in long rivulets down her back. Melissa stared at the statue. Whoever made it must have been a master - the dress looks soft despite being made of the same stone as the rest.

Melissa smiled back at sister Margaret, a real flesh and blood woman in the height of her beauty. The full flower of summer made flesh.

Green beans, red tomatoes, squash and cucumbers, the berries into jams and wines.

Melissa didn't talk much, but they didn't need to, Melissa smiling to Margaret and Margaret returning the smile.

"Mother asks why you haven't gotten married yet."

Margaret let out a heavy sigh, "I haven't really met a man I wanted."

"Well mother grumbles that is not right a priestess of the goddess of fertility with no children."

"Maybe I don't think I would be a good mother. Maybe it is just best I just be alone. Maybe I'm already a mother to everyone in the valley.", Margaret stroked Melissa's hair.

"I think you would be a good mother," Melissa smiled.

Sister Margaret brushed Melissa's hair back and kissed the girl's cheek, Melissa kissed sister Margaret back. Both blushed and smiled.

"You obviously didn't like that kiss."

"What do you mean?"

"Well you returned it."

"Then give the kiss back to me.", Melissa smiled

And Margaret did, and Melissa did too.

"Oh no you don't - you keep that kiss, little girl!"

Kisses exchanged back and forth like a playful fight that broke into giggle. Kisses on cheeks, foreheads, chins, and then lips.

Sister Margaret pulled away, her face flushed, her breath heavy. Melissa saw nipples sticking up from sister Margaret's blouse, "I think you need to go home now."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I did." Sister Margaret stroked Melissa's face. "Go - please?"

Melissa walked away slowly, hoping sister Margaret would change her mind.

***

Peasant life is uncomplicated, you get up with the sun, and you work, there is no end to the work. Especially with the men absent. Off in town trying to earn a few coins.

Then the sun sets and it is too dark to work, so you eat supper, then there is that quiet moment when it is too dark to work, but you aren't tired yet, and you sit in the soft candlelight.

Mother chose green wool cloth, and grandmother got out her scissors and her needles. She needed no pattern, she didn't need light, she had made almost every stitch of clothing worn in her house, and a few of the neighbors on top of that.

Grandmother knew the cloth by touch and the dress by instinct.

Too old and weak to carry the water, or clear the fields or perform repairs, sewing required the one thing the old people had in abundance - patience.

"Do you want me to tell you a story?"

Melissa nodded, so did Nancy and "Toddwina". Jennet struggled to make herself comfortable, and mother sat silently.

Grandmother took a deep breath,"Once a long time ago I fell in love, back in the days of my youth when I was the most beautiful woman in the valley. Or at least when you are old you get to remember things that way."

He was a simple man - like Jennet's husband, well meaning, hard working - a bit of a dullard."

Jennet sat straight, "Hey! My Jeffery is not a dullard!"

Grandmother waved her hand as if waving away smoke, "At the same time I caught the eye of a rich man, he showered my with presents, told me I could live in the lap of luxury., be given a title, servants, respect. I would never have to do a thing I didn't want to."

But instead I spurned him, sent all of his gifts back, told him I found the one I loved and there was nothing he could offer me.My love could not be bought."

I guess we were happy, had three boys, Then the goblin war came and I lost two sons, and my husband. The worst of men think with their penis - the best of them think with their heart. I don't think I have met a single man who thought with their head."

Grandmother's head sank seeming to stare into her sewing, "I followed my heart, and nearly lost everything. But now I have you girls.", Jennet was about to correct then remembered Todd was a girl for a few more hours, "So I don't know if I made the right decision."

Jennet put her hand on her stomach and felt the baby kick, "Did that rich man die?"

"No - he's still alive, about half a day's travel east. I thought of looking him up after my husband died, but my looks had faded and he'd already married someone else."

Melissa rested her head on her hands, "Why are you telling us this?"

Grandmother looked up from her sewing, "You are going to be going to a palace, you might need to make a similar choice."

***

There would come a time when fears of incest, fears of accidental smothering of infants and the desire and opportunity for personal space would lead to family members having separate bedrooms.

This was not that time.

Melissa lay awake wedged between her older sister's pregnant belly and her snoring grandmother.

Jennet was mumbling something in her sleep, she was having a nightmare. Melissa wondered if it was a good idea to wake her.

Todd and Nancy slept at the foot of the bed intertwined, and mother slept at the edge. And things would be more crowded once Father and Jeffery came home.

And in the dead of night Melissa got that warm, itchy feeling in her missy.

It happened whenever she thought about Margaret, about hugging her, and kissing her, and snuggling up to her, and wishing she was sharing the priestess's bed. Not the least reason being that she would have more room.

She knew something had happened in the temple earlier that day, that it was leading to something. Something maybe Margaret didn't think Melissa would be ready for till she got older.

She tried to wish it away - it was such a bother, yet, like any itch it sat quietly calling attention to itself. A quiet insistent nagging.

Well she couldn't take care of her itchiness right here, if someone woke up and caught her, well she'd die of embarrassment. So carefully, slowly, she extracted herself. And slowly she moved towards the door, opened it and went out into the road.

Ol' Zeke and Ol' Pete were leaning against the village oven

It was a cool clear night, and it was not unusual during the summer months for the old men to wake up and sit by the oven, share a noxious brew that Ol' Zeke tried to pass off as beer.

They didn't see her, or they just paid no attention and Melissa was able to sneak past the house and down to the apple trees that set the boundary to the wheat field.

And they're out of sight Melissa lifted her skirt and, taking one last look she reached down and started to rub.

She started to feel relief. She bit her lip to silence sighs and coos. Her missy grew warm and slippery.

She felt guilt, no one had ever told her this was bad. There was no fear of "wasting the seed" - which should not have applied to women in any event.

Melissa was not aware of any other girls (or boys) engaging in this practice for all she knew she could be the only one in the village whose missy itched so powerfully it demanded her attention.

I could be a freak. She thought.

She thought about those last moments, when she and Margaret were kissing, and that kissing grew intense. And something else was about to happen. And Sister Margaret grew scared.

What did Melissa do? She was certain despite Margaret's reassurances, she did something.

Her missy didn't seem to like her worrying, she thought instead of Margaret in the nude, of them hugging and kissing. She didn't know what else they would do - but somehow being naked was important.

Then the rush of pleasure came, her whole body shuddering, she wiped the liquid from her fingers onto some nearby grass. What would she do once it go too cold?

She lay there.

She knew where babies came from, she'd woken up to find her sister Jennet in the midst of conceiving a child with her soon to be husband.

And she saw the goats too. Always a boy and a girl. So why did she itch around Margaret?

That was it - wasn't it. Margaret knew, and was uncomfortable around Melissa because of it.

***

In the morning Melissa was sent down to the river with Jennet, Todd and "Nanko". Both of the twins stood in trousers.

Melissa would wet, then scrub, then whack the article of clothing against a rock, then hand it to Jennet. Who would repeat the process. Then after the second round of cleaning the twins would hang the clothes on the line.

Nanko was having none of it, "Why do I gotta do all this turd sniffing *girl* stuff?"

Todd hung the clothes without complaint, "Nanko - boys don't always cuss."

"Maybe *wimpy* bugger eaters."

The twins stuck their tongues out at each other.

It was much to their surprise that they saw someone moving through the field, a tall woman with long brown hair, fair skin and freckles.

"Sister Margaret?". Melissa's eyes grew wide. Then Melissa forced herself to relax - why was she here at all. Melissa expected Sister to avoid her.

"It is alright if I wash my clothes here?"

Jennet shrugged, "We don't own the stream, but Lan Melgore is a bit out of the way isn't it?"

"To be honest - I've heard all the Temple Hill gossip. And I wanted to ask Melissa a favor."

"Anything.", Melissa was afraid she might have sounded too eager.

"When the men return the harvest can begin, and I will be giving the blessing - since you are the closest thing I have to an alter girl..."

"I would love to.", Melissa smiled. She was glad to have Sister willing to spend time with her. And Melissa promised herself she would behave.

"It will involve a lot of traveling - I have to bless the fields of six villages."

"Sister", Jennet slapped a wet pair of trousers against a rock trying to shake the soil from them, "I know this is not your area of expertise."

"Go ahead."

"I just dream over and over - my son is crying and I can't reach him. I wake up so terrified"

"It's your first baby, its normal to be anxious. I am sure this is only the first of many children."

Todd took the trousers, and hung them on the line " When are you gonna have a baby Sister Margaret?"

"When I find a man I like."

Jennet whacked a dress - probably Nancy's - against a rock and began to scrub, "Just don't be like one of those old ladies living on the edge of the village with thirty cats."

"I think I still have time."

Jennet smiled "Malachi is sweet on you."

"He is a nice boy, but I don't think he's my type."

"Really - what is your type? I haven't even seen you sneak off for a cuddle."

"Well that would hardly be a good example for a priestess to set.", Sister Margaret what a dress against a rock, then began to scrubbed.

"It's not like the Yondalites are a celibate order." Jennet handed over a pair of trousers to Todd.

Sister Margaret walked over to Jennet, and whispered in the younger woman's ear.

Jennet looked insulted - but never brought up marriage or celibacy again.

***

The women folk often complain how useless the men were. How well they could get along without them, but when they came home, from their jobs in Bennin Iver and the capital, they were greeted like conquering heros. Despite all the complaints the men were still members of the village, still beloved husbands, sons and fathers

A goat was killed and the meat divided. Jennet made turnip stew.

Father took a spoonful, "Is there mint in the stew?" bit of stew stuck to father's full beard.

Mother took a spoonful, "Jennet made it - she needs to practice cooking for her husband."

"mint?"

Jennet fidgeted, "W-Why isn't Jeffery here?"

"He can get his master's certificate sooner if he works through the fall.", Jeffery had apprenticed to be a potter, something that would elevate Jennet and her child to the middle class.

"But what if I have my baby before he comes?"

Grandmother snorted, "Men are forbidden in the presence of a birthing anyway. We can help you with the baby till he gets here. He's much more use to you if he can get a good job."

Father put his hand on Jennet's. "He'll be more good to you and your baby with an honest trade. Until then you have us."

Jennet nodded."I just need to know he is here.."

"You'll see him in a couple of months. It'll be over in no time."

Mother stared at father, "So how much?"

"Twenty Crona, 4 tallies." There were 10 tallies to a crona, and thirty crona to a silver talon.

Jennet played with her stew, "It's just he is my husband, and everyone else's husband has come home."

Mother scowled, "And how much did you spend on beer?"

Father rolled his eyes, "I had one beer a night - I need to unwind at the end of a day. I shared a room with three other men, I ate dark bread and soup for dinner."

"Maybe I should go to town and you stay home."

Father shrugged, "Maybe you should - I ain't above cookin' or cleanin' "

Grandmother smirked, "Melissa made more than you just staying home."

Jennet took another bite of stew, "I hope nothing happens to him."

Father took another mouthful of stew, he stared at Melissa, "I assume you did something respectable."

Everyone wanted to tell father at once, but it was grandmother who told the tale. She of course exaggerated a few details - for dramatic effect, and that *she* knew the man was faking from the start - even if the others did not.

Mother showed him the invitation (which he could not read but commented it looked *official* enough), and the change from the coin Melissa had received - as well as the beginnings of a fine green dress.

"So you are going to a royal ball? I don't know how I feel about that."

Grandmother slurped some stew loudly, "Sonny - the princess is the same age as Melissa, despite how dressed up it is, its still a little girl party."

"Well, what are we going to get for a gift? Twenty Crona isn't going to buy much."

"The invitation said not to bring a present."

"Everyone else is going to anyway and we'll look like poor bumpkins."

Mother wiped stew from her chin, "Husband, we are bumpkins."

"Well we don't have to advertise it."

Melissa dipped a bit of bread into the broth, "Father - there is more. Sister Margaret asked me to help her with the blessing of the fields."

Father grumbled, "I suppose we can do without you for one day. But I expect you to work twice as hard the next day."

Melissa Nodded and hugged her father.

***

Sister Margaret brought with her a scythe blessed by sister the night before, and blessed by father Gregor when he was at the temple, and blessed by Mother Sefina when she was priestess back when Melissa's mother was a little girl.

Melissa knelt in the dirt and held a tin bowl over her head, and a lit candle at her feet.. Sister Margaret took hold of a few stalks of wheat and cut, placing them in a bowl.

With the candle Melissa lit the freshly cut wheat.

"Oh Goddess we give thanks to you and the bounty you provide for us. We ask that you bless these men and women with strong backs and sharp scythes. And make them mindful that the land does not belong to them, but that they belong to the land."

The short ceremony ended they began to cut into the wheat

Melissa climbed onto Sister Margaret's wagon her little plow horse Clover attempting to swat away a fly with her tail.

Shaking the reigns they made their way to the next village.

***

Sister Margaret invited Melissa to stay with her for the night. Something Melissa was quick to accept.

"Come with me - I want to show you something."

They went through the temple, to a door in the back - to Margaret's room.

Sister Margaret's room was little more than a monk's cell in the back of the temple. A bed, a, nightstand, a sewing basket, a chair and a book.

It wasn't one of the sacred texts - those had a room for themselves. behind a locked door - not even Melissa would be allowed to see or touch them until she gained the status of novice, should she truly want to enter the priesthood.

But books - any books, were valuable. Paper was expensive and its creation a closely guarded secret of the paper-maker's guild. Each letter drawn lovingly, each page sewn in carefully.

A single book could take months to complete.

"May I touch it?"

"Yes but that wasn't what I wanted to show you."

Melissa opened the book and carefully turned each page. She could make out some of the words - but others were a bit challenging for her. "Where did you get it?"

"A friend of mine amongst the Veja loaned it to me. I think he has a crush on me."

"Can Priests of different sects marry?"

"Not you too!", Margaret reached into a sewing basket. and pulled out what looked like the beginnings of a quilt."I am not as good with a needle and thread as your grandmother, but I thought I could manage this - you see the squares?"

They were red, inscribed with names, Melissa recognized them Pasha the first, Corina the Fool, even a Melissa... "Is that the royal family?"

"Thats why I needed the book - I was a bit hazy on the lineage. I've gotten up to Thea the third. But I checked the book three times and there is no mention of a Thea the second."

"You started this right after I got the invitation? But you did so much so fast."

"Well - I had some help. Everyone is talking about the little peasant girl invited to the palace. Every old woman in Temple Hill has been sewing patches. We knew about the famous queens but we forgot Zoe the shameless and Ursula the Unlucky ", Ursula had gotten a sliver of glass caught in her foot, the cut became infected, the surgeon had to cut her foot off and that became infected - she died a week after coronation."And everyone who knew your father knew he would insist on you bringing a present."

Melissa hugged Margaret. they embraced for the longest time. "Why did you say 'you too'?"

"You don't think I hear all the whispers? ' Is she going to be an old maid?', ' A woman only gets one summer.' ", Margaret sat on the bed and Melissa sat near to her,

"'A woman gets only one summer'?"

Sister Margaret sighed, "'When the soldier returns from the wars, even though he has white hair, he very soon finds a young wife. But a woman has only one summer; if she does not make hay while the sun shines, no one will afterwards have anything to say to her, and she spends her days consulting oracles that never send her a husband.'

It's from a play written in ancient times. What if they are right? What if I will always be alone?"

Melissa held Margaret as tight as she could, "I won't ever let you be alone," giving the woman several kisses. The way mother did when Melissa was sad.

Sister Margaret clung tightly. They held each other all through the night.

***

Sister Margaret went back into Lan Melgore and worked in the field, to make up for taking Melissa away from them for the previous day.

And she worked the next day and the next.

Sister Margaret was not soft like a city dweller - but tending a vegetable garden is not quite the same as working a field - at the end of the night she complained of cramped hands and sore back.

At night Melissa watched as grandmother's hands brought Melissa's new dress into shape.

Sister Margaret did not come to the field every night - as a priestess she had other duties, but she did come as often as she could, and Melissa was happy to see her. And so was Malachi, another cousin of Melissa's. He was Roger's older brother, A tall man, with long blond hair and tanned skin, about sister Margaret's age. He smiled to her as they worked and she smiled back.

Malachi tended to Clover, sister Margaret's horse, fed her, brushed her on top of his work in the field.

From the conversation Melissa had overheard, he'd worked on the docks at the capital. He recounted stories of colorful coworkers and embarrassing and humorous encounters as the "simple country boy " (his words), made his way through the big city.

Sometimes he would whisper in Margaret's ear and she would laugh and blush furiously, "I am a priestess - you can't tell me those kinds of jokes!", then a giggle would force itself out of her.

Days filled with work, nights filled with fittings and women grumbling over whether the skirt should be longer or shorter, sleeves - or no sleeves.

Jennet slept fitfully, partly because of her pregnancy - but also because of night terrors. Mother said this was normal - her first baby, Jennet still a very young woman yet.

"Once she's had two or three - it will be old hat."

During harvest everyone works - those who were strong enough, including Melissa, reaped, those who were not, like Todd and Nancy and Grandma and Ol' Pete, spent the days cutting the wheat from the chaff.

Todd and Nancy switched from boy's chores to girls chores and back again without skipping a beat. They were willing to do anything but separate.

And there were still the chores they had to do before - the goats still needed to be fed, the water gathered, the wood for cook fires.

And the days grew shorter - summer was fading before everyone's eyes.

A woman only has one summer.

Melissa thought about that. She watched Margaret and Malachi, And Melissa tried to be happy for her. But she couldn't, no matter how hard she tried she couldn't.

***

Grandmother had finished the dress just in time for the Harvest festival, after weeks of near endless work it was time to relax - just a little, and enjoy what remained of the good weather.

In an open field on the edge of Temple Hill, near the Queen's way. Men and women from all over came. And almost immediately young women began to bat their eyelashes at young men, the old people bathed in nostalgia with their peers.

Gatherings like the harvest festival were more than good times - they were a good way to prevent inbreeding.

Those men already attached set up the tables and readied the food and drink. Ad if it were to rain they would adjourn to the temple. The Goddess could forgive a little beer spilled in

In the late afternoon a theater troop was setting up a stage made from a pair of wagons and whatever scenery they could improvise. Money had been collected from each village to pay them,

Melissa remembered the last time the Mystere's had come to the harvest festival - they forgot half their lines, their acting was wooden and costumes poorly made. But it was all forgivable if they had tried their best.

This bunch seemed to have better costumes, and Melissa saw one woman in a red wig that seemed practically naked. Flimsy strips of red cloth. Doing some last minute review of her lines.

Sister Margaret had taken her place on an open grassy field in front of the improvised stage.

Melissa sat next to her, "What do you think?", Melissa spun showing off her new dress.

Margaret stroked Melissa's hair, "I think you are the most beautiful girl in the festival."

Melissa blushed, "Where is your boyfriend?"

"Malachi is helping your father - he will be back when the play starts. You were right you know."

"About what?"

"I can't wait forever for something that isn't going to come. He is a very sweet man Kind and charming - I am going to try my hardest to fall in love with him."

Melissa stared at Sister Margaret, "I didn't know you had to try."

"I only seem to be able to fall in love with people I am not supposed to have. So I am going to work to fall in love with someone I am supposed to have."

Sister Margaret wrapped her arm around Melissa, and then Malachi sat down next to them. He wrapped his arm around sister Margaret.

***

Others sat down and the crowd formed before the stage.

Sheets were painted as a mock up of the castle. a man stepped out from the "main door "

A man dressed in what Melissa suspected was supposed to be a military uniform, "Ladies and gentlemen, cast your minds back eight years - back to the time when the old queen went mad and took her own life. Or did she?"

The young woman in red costume who was supposed to be the then princess Mavere, she turns to the audience, "Shhh - please be quiet. I am here to meet the doctor. She has something special for me."

Another woman, wearing a black wig and a black cloak ( black is common enough amongst physicians), her costume is far more revealing than that of any proper physician. she carried a vial in hand,. The doctor leaned in close as if to whisper, "Mavere" stroked the doctor's shoulders affectionately.

"Is it done?"

"Yes my soon-to-be queen. The venom will adle her mind and weaken her body.Soon, Soon, you will have the throne."

The affection between the two women became more intimate, the two laughed evilly, "Come to me - we shall adjourn to my bedchamber and plan what I will do with *my* kingdom.", and then to everyone's shock they kissed - deep, hard and passionate. Hands moving freely over each other's body.

The men booed, threw clods of dirt, shouted curses, "My children are watching - what kind of smut is this you nasty whores!"

Suddenly Sister Margaret removed her arm from Melissa, and both arms held on to Malachi for dear life.

Melissa felt suddenly very cold.

***

The actors fled for dear life, leaving half their equipment behind,

The bitter taste of poor theater was drowned by the sour taste of beer, mother let Melissa have a little, she just didn't like it.

Food was put out - but there was no actual "dinner time." One ate and drank and danced as was their want.

Aunt Peg played his pipe and Ol' Pete picked at the mandolin, and a pair of old men beat on drums with their hands. The tune was irregular, no one could agree on the words, or even if the songs had words. But everyone danced all the same.

Melissa saw as "Toddwina" and Nancy danced with another pair of twins from Eagle Bridge, both of them were boys. But when children are little you don't worry about such things.

Mother and father danced - slow and clumsy, but still they danced.

And so did Margaret and Malachi - Sister Margaret had a bright beaming smile on her face. She laughed out loud, as if making sure everyone around her knew how happy she was.

Melissa sat on the ground next to her sister.

"*Umf*! I think Jeffery jr. wants to dance." Jennet smiled, "I love my baby - but I need to tell you. Heartleaf tea is not *completely* effective."

"Huh?" Melissa.

"Heartleaf it's and herb you use to keep from getting pregnant."

"Why don't you just not do it?"

"Once you've done it, you will know why."

"Am I old enough to know about this stuff?"

"No - probably not. But I am telling you now, in case we don't get another chance. It's not like mother or grandmother is going to tell you."

Melissa studied her feet. "I don't think I am ever going to do it."

"Sure you will - maybe not for a while. But there is something boys must never ever know about girls."

"What?"

With a mischievous smile Jennet whispered into Melissa's ear, "We like it too Make sure they think doing 'it' is a huge chore for us. Oh what a bother!" she giggled.

"Jennet - sometimes at night I - I go behind the apple tree and."

"You rub one off? I think every woman in the village was doing that when the men were gone."

"You?"

Jennet nodded.

Jennet leaned in close, "You know how to flirt don't you? Even if you don't like boys yet, flirting can be very useful. A smile and a batting of eyelashes has gotten me out of a lot of chores."

Melissa raised an eyebrow.

Jennet looked Melissa deep into her eyes, "what you want to try is to get a boy's attention - but don't be obvious about it. Pretty girls like us - we don't want to look desperate. You look over at him, you wait till he looks back - you bat your eyes, then look away. Repeat as necessary."

Melissa did at her sister instructed.

"Don't forget to smile."

Melissa tried again, "I don't feel comfortable."

"It takes practice. You might also want to try the hair thing." Jennet twirled a lock of hair around her finger, "And when no one else is looking you can lick your lips and run your hands across your legs. But you save that for when you want to do it with someone."

"What if I never like boys - what if I like something else?"

"I think only the boys go jumping in after the goats. And I hear they usually grow out of that."

"Why do I need a boy anyway?"

"Well that's what life is - you grow up, you get married you have babies, and they grow up and do the same thing."

"That's it? There is no more?"

"You're the one who wants to be a priestess - you can work out that whole 'meaning of life' spiel."

"Are you having nightmares still?"

"No - I know the baby is coming very soon. I pray every morning to not let anything happen to my baby. And last night she promised - nothing would happen. So now I can relax. All I want is my husband here, that would make me happiest."

***

The frivolity of the festival gave way to the sober ritual. The first day of Leafchange. A trapdoor was opened,and the Summer Goddess lowered into the basement by ropes, slowly and carefully. And the Autumn Goddess raised in her place. A mature woman whose eyes were filled with wisdom, and fine lines on her face. While the Summer Goddess was made from stone - the Autumn goddess was made from wood, for reasons that became apparent in the festival of light. Melissa sat on a mat between "Nanko" and Jennet, all sat with heads bowed and once the trapdoor was closed, the men who had raised the Autumn goddess bowed their heads.

Sister Margaret wore a robe of orange "And so it is the time of change, preparation for winter, the changing leaves remind of of the inevitability of what is to come, the cold and death. That we cannot wait forever to embrace life, we can't be so selfish as to expect the universe to provide us with perfection. We may spend our lives waiting forever."

Jennet's breath quickened, she seemed flushed, "Sister Margaret"

"What is it Jennet?"

"I think I am having the baby.I wanted to wait until after the ceremony, but little Jeffery is impatient.."

The men got up and left as if fleeing a fire. This was not an act of selfishness - but rather it was taboo for a man to be present at the time of birth. Nanko tried to leave with her brother, but Mother caught her arm. " You have to stay here."

Nancy, her hair tied back, in trousers, "But boys can't be here!"

"You're a girl. And you need to stay with the women."

Nancy stomped her foot, "I'm a boy! I'm Nanko!"

"STOP BEING SELFISH!" Jennet was being laid down, Melissa rolled up one of the mats to use as a pillow.

Tears welled up in Nancy's eyes, "I'm not a girl till tomorrow!"

"Your sister needs you - you will stay here and pray with us." Mother pulled Nancy down to her knees. And the women sang,

We know that you are frightened - but we want to be your sisters;
We know it is bright in the world - but want to be your aunts;
We know it is cold in the world, but we will give you blankets;
Please don't make us dig a small grave;

Reluctantly Nancy's voice joined theirs.

Melissa held her sister's hand, she wondered what the men were doing now, what rituals they had. Whether they sang or prayed - or just hoped.

Jennet tried to push.

***

Melissa was numb. She held her Nephew in her arms.

Nancy was inconsolable. "I told you - you should have let me go with the men!" mother just held her quietly

"It's not your fault - I promise."

There was nowhere to put Jennet so she was laid with her arms crossed, blood still stained the floor.

Melissa remembered the screaming - it was not the normal pains of birthing. Melissa had known immediately something was wrong.

One of the village women went to prepare milk for the baby. Apparently goats milk, boiled down, was nearly as good as mother's milk.

A bell was sounded - it was alright for the men to return.

Melissa felt numb."Why?"

Sister Margaret sat next to Melissa, "In the beginning of time, in order for the world to be created, there needed to be equal parts laughter and tears, darkness and light, pleasure and suffering. Children bring such joy Sutek-Nok demanded birth bring great pain."

It brought no comfort to Melissa.

The men came back and Nancy ran for her brother. And the little boy stared stoically, holding his weeping sister.

And father knelt down and held mother, who could not weep openly.

***

Jennet's husband was sent a message and he was able to come in time for the funeral.

Niadral is the god of balance, death and justice. His priests dressed in cowled robes half immaculate white and half deep black.

To have a Niadralite cross your path was an ill omen - you or someone you loved would die soon. People would cross streets to avoid them.

But the dead could not be laid to rest without them.

Jennet's body was wrapped in white linen smelling of incense.Everyone was dressed in their best clothes

Todd and Nancy for the first time in recent memory were Todd and Nancy.

The Niadralite's arms raised, "As we speak, the dead is on trial, should she be given over to light or darkness? Her good deeds and her ill deed weighed on a scale. Who will bare witness for the dead?"

Father stepped up, "I will brother Wilkens."

"You are aware that any lies you tell shall weigh against your own soul at its time of trial?"

Father nodded.

"My daughter was a slut.", it seemed as if the wind itself had fallen silent, but father continued, "She'd had at least half a dozen lovers before she met Jeffery, but Hell - I'm no saint. None of us are. And its easy to be virtuous when you are old. When you've already done all your sinning, and you are ready to settle down. When you are young - everything is new and exciting, you want to experience sin, especially because the old folks tell you not to."

But, when she knew she was pregnant she didn't go from here to there without trying to be a good wife and mother.And on the balance she was a good daughter. She was supposed to grow old enough to tell her son not to sin, and then watch him run off and do it anyway."

She obeyed when she knew it was important, she did talk back to me - but only because she is strong willed like her mother. I got nothing else to say."

Other villagers took the oath and recounted stories of Jennet - this wasn't exactly the standard form of a proper funeral listing the dead's many virtues. In some ways it almost seemed a roast, but still the theme came out.

Jennet never hurt anyone she just sought out pleasure, hers and others'. And that isn't such a terrible thing.

Then she was lowered into the ground and dirt piled on.

Jeffery took his new son to his home village, he had family there.

Mother hugged him before he left, "You have family here too."

For the next day nothing would be done in the village - work, no eating, no preparing of food. Fires to keep warm were permitted, but all that could be done was fasting and prayer.

Newborn Jeffery was the exception - he needed to be fed.

The next day it was not that they had forgotten Jennet It was just that winter would not wait for them to finish grieving.

Father took Todd, he was going to show him how to help the men prepare their homes for the cold weather.

Melissa took Nancy down to the stream to wash clothes.

It was only a week later that Sister Margaret returned with the quilt that Melissa had almost forgotten about. It was finished, blood red, made by the women of temple hill, as a gift for the princess. The names for every known queen of her land, and space left over for the queens to follow.

And an Announcement "Malachi and I are engaged." the engagement pendant was simple - home made, the kind a peasant can afford. A string run through a simple stone circle.

Melissa's heart sank.

***

When the stranger returned the whole village became excited, there was no missing him, and he came in a fancy carriage this time. In fine clothes and his hair slicked back. He seemed almost handsome.

As he approached Lan Melgore no one fled. Guilt overcame the population that had turned someone in need just because of his appearance.

Melissa had been bringing water from the stream, and she saw him there, Saw the villagers gathered around him, "Are you ready?"

Melissa was standing in her every day dress, "I have to get some things, will you wait here?"

He smiled, "Of course - I get paid the same just sitting here."

"Oh should I change into my new dress now?"

"No you can change at the palace. We can have someone do your hair too."

"What's wrong with my hair?"

Father shook his head, "Good thing she's not your wife. Melissa just get your things - don't keep this man waiting."

Melissa rushed inside. When Melissa returned with the quilt, her new dress, the villagers were gathered around, And on the seat next to were piled a block of goat cheese, two loaves of bread, a keg of beer, and a fresh apple pie.

Melissa almost chuckled.

Father took hold of Melissa's shoulders gently, "You'll present a good example of a village woman for those folks."

"Yes father."

"And no matter how fancy those boys dress - they are still just boys, remember that."

"Yes grandmother."

Mother and Nancy kissed Melissa's cheeks.

"Good Goddess I am only going to be gone a few days!"

The homely man looked down to Melissa, "I told them I wasn't angry. I understand I am not the kind of boy you bring home to mother."

Melissa climbed into the carriage, and the villagers backed away except grandmother who grabbed the door, "I didn't want to say this in front of your parents but there is a loose thread on the inner seam of the skirt - pull it and the lower half of the skirt will fall off."

"Grandma!" Melissa blushed furiously.

"Just wanted you to know you have options."

She then backed away - a snap of the reigns and they were off. Melissa waved goodbye to them as they rode away. And shorts and wishes of good fortune followed her.