The Beginning
The story of how it began was a bloody one...
The villages 'Zhao' and 'Kuei' were fighting over territory of the other village. Houses were burned ; Livestock was slaughtered ; and worst of all people got hurt. The war they fought went on for centuries and centuries and they had no plan to stop...
Our story begins near the peak of the war... .
One day a maiden of the Zhao's went to the river carrying her jar to fill the village's supply of water. As she was about to go home , she spotted a stranger on the other side of the river bank. He smiled at her, but his stance was cautious and careful. She smiled back at him, They both looked around 16 years old. The maiden was slim, and beautiful, and the stranger was strongly built and taut. As the maiden turned to go, She accidently slipped and fell on her butt, and the jar came down not breaking but splashing water all over her. The stranger laughed at her, She made a face and said 'What's so funny?'. The stranger still trying to hold his laughter replied. 'Nothing, just nothing." The maiden asked , "What's your name i've never seen you around these parts?". Suddenly the man had that same careful guarded expression on his face, as if he made a mistake. "Forget that this happened, goodbye." And he suddenly turned and left. The girl asked herself,
"Was it something I said, Oh well. ". She too turned to leave., As she arrived at her village, Her sister was waiting for her by the village gate. "Guess what?" she chirped happily, "What" the maiden replied. "Father says its time for us to find a husband and get married!". Her sister was practically jumping up and down in excitement . "What! But we're too young!" She replied shocked. Her sister looked at her sternly and said. "Oma, This is a good thing for the family, and for the village." She replied "I know that, but still... Isn't it a bit early?" Her sister laughed again. "When do you plan to get married, When wrinkles start creeping on our faces?". Oma shook her head, "I want to be with someone who loves me for me, Not the sake of the family or the village." Her sister hugged her tightly, "I want that too." She whispered in Oma's ear , "I just want to make father happy, To bear many sons and daughters and to be rich. " Oma hugged her back. "Lana whatever you will choose, I will always be with my sister." They both smiled at each other , started laughing, And got ready to walk home. "How will be explain this to father." Lana wondered as they half jogged-ran towards the house...
"You will do no such thing!" The father yelled at the sisters, "You will marry someone in the village, Without sons the war cannot be won! I forbid it!." Oma felt frustrated, "But father..." she tried explaining. "NO!" Her father interrupted that is enough of the subject." Oma felt hot anger lick her temples, She stood up, looked her father in the eyes and declared. "You do not control my body and actions nor of my sister's! If this is how you treated mother before she died, Then you do not deserve her!" Her father slapped her, "Do not drag your mother into this!" He spoke his voice full of pain and anguish, You have no idea what you are talking about." Oma stood there the painful sting still in her cheeks, and started to cry while her sister watched helpless. Their father took a visible effort to calm himself and sat on a chair putting his face on his hands. He was silent for what was like an eternity. "4 years." He finally spoke, "You have 4 years to choose a husband, if not, you will be married, I am sorry to have hit you, Old wounds feel more painful when reopened. " Oma looked at her father with pity and relief. "Father, I too am sorry, I shouldn't have spoken about mom. And thank you for giving us time." Their father merely grunted. The sisters took that as dismissal and went to their room. Their house was composed of a kitchen, a dining room, one single bathroom and 2 bedrooms. Decades of war has left the village in a bit of poverty, Not everyone could afford those big houses. Anyway, Oma and Lana sat by the bed. "Oma, are you hurt, Let me see that" Lana fussed over her sister "Lana i'm fine, Father just lost control, I should have held my tongue." Lana went to her own bed and lay down. Oma did the same. 'Night Oma." She said. "Sweet dreams Lana" Oma replied. As she was about to sleep, Oma whispered. "I will find someone who loves me, Whatever it takes," Then she drifted to her dreams.
More Chapters coming soon!
End~