HWD: Midsummer's Day - The Poor Ring - Sun 13/04/14 23:01 UTC
The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Morning, Midsummer's Day
Bekkah and Romana, Darcy and Marcy
Morning started with a knock-knock-knock on Bekkah's cell door. When opened, the elder Atteran was met with a younger face; it was the small lass from the day before. Short, with long heather blonde hair, she stood in what must be her best whites and creams, the gold cross she wore all polished and sparkling in the dawn. Of course, this was Midsummer's - a day of rest and fineness, a holiday. Though the girl did not look at all happy.
"Dame Jasmine said we was to bring you your breakfast, you can sit at the well ... and how did she say it, oh yes, she said you can sit at the well and eat and you won't be disturbed. A kindness, ja?"
And there it was; a small collection of pastries and cheeses, some breads and what looked to be a carafe not of water, but of wine.
This was grand Talantal after all.
"Me and ...
The girl turned, looking to the adjacent cell, her eyes going wide.
"DARCY! You get out of there. You don't know what it'll do to you!
"She ain't an it ... she's a she, and she's hidden under her covers just like sissy does ... Hey you. Wake up. It's morning vespers ..."
"Beds. Warms. Comfys. Let Dazidazidazi greet dawn. Dazidazidazis job. Impolites, see Hers when Shes not awakes and high in skies."
"Impolite! I'll give you impolite!"
If Darcy was trying to wake Romana, then it must be Marcy who stood in front of Bekkah. And thus it was probably Marcy who had dragged her twin out of the cloisters last night. She stood there, trying to look all grown up and official, her hands hard upon her hips, stomping one foot.
"We had to get up early and make your breakfast, and you only got that because theres no one blow us to pass the chore down to! So, you ... you ... whatever you are ..."
" ... princess!"
"You are not!"
" ... Romanas so!"
" ... Romanas not!"
" ... Romanas so!"
" ... Romanas not!"
" ... Romanas so!"
" ... Romanas not!"
Softly, almost knowingly, as if she had been through this many times before, Darcy interrupted.
"Its a good breakfast. Cheese, warm bread, wine from beneath the chapel, jam in a little jar, muffins ..."
" ... Romanas sooo ... ooo ... muffles?"
"Muffins?"
"Muffles!"
After a hasty retreat by Darcy, for a modicum of privacy, of course, Romana joined the three at the well. While properly appointed, she was bleary eyed and her hair all tousled, adjusting her skirts only for a moment before happily being distracted by a blueberry muffin. She sat next to Bekkah, with Darcy on her other side ... and Marcy trying to be all organized and such as she stood before her charges.
"Dame Jasmine said you two gotta work today, doing hospice work down at the bottom of the city. Now its Midsummers, and I don't think its quite fair that we are going to lose our holiday because of you too."
"Marcy, we volunteered.
"No we didn't. You did! I tried to haul you to the back of the cathedral!
"You could have said no.
"I could not say no. I can never say no! And you know that. Why did I have to be the one born first? Why must it always be me looking after you!"
"Because you are a good sister, Marcy."
"Arrrrrr!"
"Missus Ana says we are always supposed to heal the hurt, not just bind the wound.
"Darcy ... sister ... how many times do I have to tell you. They put Missus Ana out to pasture like an old horse. If'n we ever want not be an Initiates, we got to have Dame Jasmin's favor. She wouldn't have even taken us in and we got nowhere else to go."
"At leasts whole worlds not trying to kills Marcydarcies ..."
"Ja, at least whole world isn't trying to ... hey!"
Peeking over the edge of her muffin Romana simply offered the other Initiate a small smile.
"Darcy! Now you got me agreeing with her. You are a rotten sister!"
"Have some bread and strawberry jam. And yes, I know. We aren't supposed to take from her jar, but she never said it was a rule or anything, cause she can't, its supposed to be for all of us, and I figured, well, let her complain. Me doing something stupid is kind of expected, ja?"
Resigned, Marcy joined the trio for breakfast.
"We are supposed to keep you company today, to show you around, so you don't get lost or talk to the wrong sort of folks and get hurt, to help you be good members of our Church here ... that kind of thing.
Romana peeked over her muffin again, considering those words, noting Darcy's a downcast expression on the girls face and the rambling of her sister.
"Romanas understands. Marcydarcies make sure Romanas not make Church look bad and after tell everything to Priestess Jasmine."
"Ja ..."
Marcy looked caught.
"Pretty much."
**********************
It was interesting, that even on Midsummers, when there were to be no rules, no laws, the gates to each ring were still manned by their Rames guard. While they never actually stopped anyone climbing the hill further into town, their simple presence seemed to be enough to keep most folks from rising beyond their station. The celebration had swept through the small capital, most of the shops were closed - the ones open tended to be inns, cafes, places that would sell things to eat, things to drink; perhaps an occasional jewelry store to tempt young lads wanting to impress their ladies. The closer one got to the out ring however, the nature of the entertainment changed. Where minstrels would spill out into the streets and folks in brightly colored outfits spin and dance ... those colors would become muted and dusty, the songs would remain in their taverns. While on the streets the children would run back and forth the adults would raise their tankards sitting on the stoop of a house or upon a couple barrels temporarily paused in their trip from one place to another.
Definitely a working class celebration.
"By all the Gods ..."
" ... look Henrik ... the rumors ... they's true.
" .. maybe they won't let them back up..."
By the time the Poor Ring was reached, there was less traffic, less words, but more suspicious looks. Mostly silence. A whole lot of heavy silence.
"This is kind of scary Marcy ..."
There was a small gathering, outside a simple tavern. Some tables had been set, daughters serving ale and beer to the who could afford the holiday.
"Well look at that. Is this our Midsummer's gift from the Keep?
"Go for months having to pay the tolls and tithes just to get into the hospice and what do they send us. Two children, a stranger and a monster."
"Is she really a monster? I never seen a monster before."
"Mary, get the children away ..."
"Maybe she was hatched. Aren't monsters hatched?"
Romana simply stopped, all quiet. She turned and took her floppy hat off. Soft blue eyes looked to the goodwife, a sturdy looking woman, grey far too early, who was herding a young lad behind her skirts. She crouched down, to the child's level.
"Romanas had a mother. Just like yours."
The woman just glared at the Easterner.
"How dare you. How dare you. We know what they say about your kind. What they do. How they do it. How dare you say that. There's nothing but nightmares from where you come from."
The Initiate was quiet for a moment. She looked to Bekkah. To Marcy and Darcy.
"You are right. Tales true."
That caused a stirring, a start. several of the men stood, then, one reaching for a large knife. They had expected an argument. Not an agreement.
Romana looked to her teacher.
"Is Romanas a monster, Bekkah?
"Mother same. Do anything to protect Romanas.
"Gave everything to make Romanas safe.
"Mother dead because of Romanas.
"That make Romanas some manner of monster, yesyesyes?
"Even if only monster looking for forgiveness."
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Morning, Midsummer's Day
Bekkah and Romana, Darcy and Marcy
Morning started with a knock-knock-knock on Bekkah's cell door. When opened, the elder Atteran was met with a younger face; it was the small lass from the day before. Short, with long heather blonde hair, she stood in what must be her best whites and creams, the gold cross she wore all polished and sparkling in the dawn. Of course, this was Midsummer's - a day of rest and fineness, a holiday. Though the girl did not look at all happy.
"Dame Jasmine said we was to bring you your breakfast, you can sit at the well ... and how did she say it, oh yes, she said you can sit at the well and eat and you won't be disturbed. A kindness, ja?"
And there it was; a small collection of pastries and cheeses, some breads and what looked to be a carafe not of water, but of wine.
This was grand Talantal after all.
"Me and ...
The girl turned, looking to the adjacent cell, her eyes going wide.
"DARCY! You get out of there. You don't know what it'll do to you!
"She ain't an it ... she's a she, and she's hidden under her covers just like sissy does ... Hey you. Wake up. It's morning vespers ..."
"Beds. Warms. Comfys. Let Dazidazidazi greet dawn. Dazidazidazis job. Impolites, see Hers when Shes not awakes and high in skies."
"Impolite! I'll give you impolite!"
If Darcy was trying to wake Romana, then it must be Marcy who stood in front of Bekkah. And thus it was probably Marcy who had dragged her twin out of the cloisters last night. She stood there, trying to look all grown up and official, her hands hard upon her hips, stomping one foot.
"We had to get up early and make your breakfast, and you only got that because theres no one blow us to pass the chore down to! So, you ... you ... whatever you are ..."
" ... princess!"
"You are not!"
" ... Romanas so!"
" ... Romanas not!"
" ... Romanas so!"
" ... Romanas not!"
" ... Romanas so!"
" ... Romanas not!"
Softly, almost knowingly, as if she had been through this many times before, Darcy interrupted.
"Its a good breakfast. Cheese, warm bread, wine from beneath the chapel, jam in a little jar, muffins ..."
" ... Romanas sooo ... ooo ... muffles?"
"Muffins?"
"Muffles!"
After a hasty retreat by Darcy, for a modicum of privacy, of course, Romana joined the three at the well. While properly appointed, she was bleary eyed and her hair all tousled, adjusting her skirts only for a moment before happily being distracted by a blueberry muffin. She sat next to Bekkah, with Darcy on her other side ... and Marcy trying to be all organized and such as she stood before her charges.
"Dame Jasmine said you two gotta work today, doing hospice work down at the bottom of the city. Now its Midsummers, and I don't think its quite fair that we are going to lose our holiday because of you too."
"Marcy, we volunteered.
"No we didn't. You did! I tried to haul you to the back of the cathedral!
"You could have said no.
"I could not say no. I can never say no! And you know that. Why did I have to be the one born first? Why must it always be me looking after you!"
"Because you are a good sister, Marcy."
"Arrrrrr!"
"Missus Ana says we are always supposed to heal the hurt, not just bind the wound.
"Darcy ... sister ... how many times do I have to tell you. They put Missus Ana out to pasture like an old horse. If'n we ever want not be an Initiates, we got to have Dame Jasmin's favor. She wouldn't have even taken us in and we got nowhere else to go."
"At leasts whole worlds not trying to kills Marcydarcies ..."
"Ja, at least whole world isn't trying to ... hey!"
Peeking over the edge of her muffin Romana simply offered the other Initiate a small smile.
"Darcy! Now you got me agreeing with her. You are a rotten sister!"
"Have some bread and strawberry jam. And yes, I know. We aren't supposed to take from her jar, but she never said it was a rule or anything, cause she can't, its supposed to be for all of us, and I figured, well, let her complain. Me doing something stupid is kind of expected, ja?"
Resigned, Marcy joined the trio for breakfast.
"We are supposed to keep you company today, to show you around, so you don't get lost or talk to the wrong sort of folks and get hurt, to help you be good members of our Church here ... that kind of thing.
Romana peeked over her muffin again, considering those words, noting Darcy's a downcast expression on the girls face and the rambling of her sister.
"Romanas understands. Marcydarcies make sure Romanas not make Church look bad and after tell everything to Priestess Jasmine."
"Ja ..."
Marcy looked caught.
"Pretty much."
**********************
It was interesting, that even on Midsummers, when there were to be no rules, no laws, the gates to each ring were still manned by their Rames guard. While they never actually stopped anyone climbing the hill further into town, their simple presence seemed to be enough to keep most folks from rising beyond their station. The celebration had swept through the small capital, most of the shops were closed - the ones open tended to be inns, cafes, places that would sell things to eat, things to drink; perhaps an occasional jewelry store to tempt young lads wanting to impress their ladies. The closer one got to the out ring however, the nature of the entertainment changed. Where minstrels would spill out into the streets and folks in brightly colored outfits spin and dance ... those colors would become muted and dusty, the songs would remain in their taverns. While on the streets the children would run back and forth the adults would raise their tankards sitting on the stoop of a house or upon a couple barrels temporarily paused in their trip from one place to another.
Definitely a working class celebration.
"By all the Gods ..."
" ... look Henrik ... the rumors ... they's true.
" .. maybe they won't let them back up..."
By the time the Poor Ring was reached, there was less traffic, less words, but more suspicious looks. Mostly silence. A whole lot of heavy silence.
"This is kind of scary Marcy ..."
There was a small gathering, outside a simple tavern. Some tables had been set, daughters serving ale and beer to the who could afford the holiday.
"Well look at that. Is this our Midsummer's gift from the Keep?
"Go for months having to pay the tolls and tithes just to get into the hospice and what do they send us. Two children, a stranger and a monster."
"Is she really a monster? I never seen a monster before."
"Mary, get the children away ..."
"Maybe she was hatched. Aren't monsters hatched?"
Romana simply stopped, all quiet. She turned and took her floppy hat off. Soft blue eyes looked to the goodwife, a sturdy looking woman, grey far too early, who was herding a young lad behind her skirts. She crouched down, to the child's level.
"Romanas had a mother. Just like yours."
The woman just glared at the Easterner.
"How dare you. How dare you. We know what they say about your kind. What they do. How they do it. How dare you say that. There's nothing but nightmares from where you come from."
The Initiate was quiet for a moment. She looked to Bekkah. To Marcy and Darcy.
"You are right. Tales true."
That caused a stirring, a start. several of the men stood, then, one reaching for a large knife. They had expected an argument. Not an agreement.
Romana looked to her teacher.
"Is Romanas a monster, Bekkah?
"Mother same. Do anything to protect Romanas.
"Gave everything to make Romanas safe.
"Mother dead because of Romanas.
"That make Romanas some manner of monster, yesyesyes?
"Even if only monster looking for forgiveness."