Ch. 2 - Meeting With the Elders
Moana stopped her work, and turned to face them. The smile on her face turned to questioning look as she saw the seriousness on her parents' faces.
"Is something wrong?" she asked as she jogged up to them.
"Nothing's wrong," her father's straight face relaxed into a slight smile. "Come with us, you need to meet with the village elders."
Moana didn't move and instead put her hand on her hip, "I thought nothing was wrong."
Her father just chuckled as her mom placed her arm behind Moana's back and they began walking together. "There isn't, my little one. But there is something important we need to discuss."
"She isn't little anymore, Sina." Her father's serious face came back.
"No, no. I suppose she isn't," her mother smiled and hugged her. Now that he mentioned it, Moana noticed how small her mother looked and wondered when she had surpassed her.
No one said anything else while they made their way up the beach and through the village. The mood didn't stay serious for long as an old rooster crossed their path walking straight for the bonfire in the center of town. Right before he stepped into the pit Moana pulled him up away from danger and into a hug.
"Heihei!" Moana buried her face in the bird before pulling him away to look at him. "I am always surprised to find you still alive." Pua her pig friend had died almost a year ago now, but for some reason the Heihei lived on, with only a few feathers missing from his tail this time.
"Wasn't he missing a leg when we left?"
"Who knows with that bird!" her father replied.
They continued on, but much more relaxed now. Moana was grateful for the distraction and continued carrying him as they made their way. She was use to his eccentricities by now and barely noticed when he pecked at her chest trying to eat the necklace she wore.
Finally they reached the hut of the village elders. As they walked in, Moana looked around at the men and women seated around in a circle with a space left at the head for her family. They each took their spot quietly as the elders looked on. Moana was familiar with being at the forefront, but usually she knew what to expect. This time she had no clue what the purpose of this meeting was and that made her uneasy. However, as she faced the group she kept her composure. She was the chief now and had learned to act like it. So it was with her head held high that she commenced the meeting, knowing that they would wait for her cue.
"So, who would like to tell me the purpose of this meeting?"
Looks exchanged between the elders and her family, even a few whispers passed. One older woman, however, did not take her eyes away from Moana. When she started to speak, the room quickly became quiet once more, "You have not yet told her, Tui?" She lifted an eyebrow addressing Moana's father.
He looked down at the floor when he answered, "we believed it would be best this way."
Moana was slightly annoyed with him at that moment. Why would he think it would be better to let me walk in blind? What could be so serious that he couldn't have at least warned me first? I haven't noticed anything wrong with the crops…fishing looks strong, too. No one appears to be ill...
She was pulled out of her thoughts when her father spoke again, "Besides, you are so much better at this, Kalei."
The old woman rolled her eyes, "Don't try to flatter me, I distinctly remember your mother telling you when you first became chief!"
The conversation didn't seem to have changed, but Moana noticed a change in the tone. Much less ominous. She allowed herself a small sigh of relief as Kalei gave a slight smile.
"Moana, you have grown into a strong young woman and a wonderful chief, I know you make Tala proud." Kalei faced her once again. Moana gave only a small respectful nod, but felt like hugging her. Kalei had been lifelong friends with her grandmother and did not give out such compliments carelessly.
"But," she continued, "you are no longer a child, and have more responsibilities now." The serious look had returned.
Moana had forgotten all about Heihei and was startled by the sound of a large crash behind them. When she spun around, she saw the hapless bird in a pile of broken shells while he squawked. Before she turned back, she noticed a couple pairs of eyes peering over the top of the wooden platform that made up the floor, just in time before they darted underneath and out of sight.
But it was too late, the elders had seen them as well. One of the men called, "Siaki! You are supposed to be guarding so that no one comes around here." Quickly, the man standing at the front entrance came in. "Keep the children away for now, this is a sensitive conversation," and the elder pointed to the back behind Moana and her parents. The man frowned and followed where the elder had directed. When he jumped down, squeals and giggles followed behind as the children tried to run from the large man chasing after them.
Moana laughed as well, remembering back to when she would attempt to eavesdrop on the village meetings herself as a little girl. Siaki had been a young man then but he was still just as playful now (although a little slower) as he ran after these kids as he had been with her and her friends a decade ago.
"Anyway, if there are no more distractions," Kalei eyed Heihei suspiciously as he clucked past them with pieces of shell stuck in his feathers, "then we need to get back to the matter at hand. Moana, as I was saying, you are no longer a child. You are fast approaching your twentieth year, which is a very important one. As chief, you are expected to marry by then."
"What?!" Without thinking, Moana jumped up and stood there looking at all the knowing faces. "What is she talking about Dad?" She turned to face her father beside her.
"Calm down, Moana. We will explain everything to you," he said gently, taking her hand. Only then did she realize she was on her feet, so slowly she attempted to regain her composure and sat down again. She had so many questions for him, but she would try to remain poised in front of the elders, at least as long as he gave some answers.
But it was her mother who spoke next. "It has always been the way of our people that the chief should be married by his or her 20th birthday. Even your father had to," she smiled to her husband.
"I was…hesitant at first, too." Both her parents chuckled, but Moana felt her patience draining.
"But why-" she started, but was interrupted by her father who continued.
"I was younger than you when I found out, just fifteen. Right after I laid my stone on top of our island my parents told me." He looked at her with empathy, and spoke softer, "I wondered why I needed to marry when I should be focusing on becoming the best leader I could for my village."
"Exactly!" Moana interjected, "what does marriage have to do with leading our people?"
Again her mother took over, "being a strong leader doesn't mean being alone, Moana." She gently set her hand on Moana's knee as she looked her in the eyes. "There will come times when you will have to make difficult decisions and then you will be grateful to have someone you trust completely on your side, for support and guidance."
"But I have all of you!" She waved her hand toward the group comprised of the elders and her parents. They all smiled at her. She had meant it, she trusted each and every one of them and they knew it.
Her father gently drew her by the cheek so that she faced him. "Yes, and we will be here for you whenever we can. But having a husband will be completely different from consulting with us. When you are married, he will know you better than anyone else. Unlike with everyone else, you never have to hold back the way you feel because you are the chief. Because of that, he will be able to remind you of who you are when you forget, and can give you advice that will be true to your own heart."
Moana looked at her mother and wondered whether she had ever done that for him, but her parents were staring at each other now with a look that told her that it had happened many times. She felt so confused.
"But you and mom are in love!" She said to her father, "but I don't feel that way with anyone…how am I supposed to find someone by my birthday? That's only three months away!"
"Oh you don't find them, silly girl!" Kalei said loudly. "You think your father was already in love with your mother? No no no, he was even more bull-headed than you! The gods will introduce you to the man you are meant to marry."
The old woman must have seen the look of skepticism on her face because she began laughing. "You believed when the ocean chose you as a toddler to save the world, but you doubt that the goddess of love can find you a husband?" She continued laugh as Moana turned her face and felt herself blush.
"Okay okay, well how does this work?" She said, hoping that everyone would stop giggling. "Is the love of my life just supposed come walking in here?"
"Yes, actually." This time Moana tried to keep her look of disbelief hidden. Kalei continued, "Well first, we need to do the ceremonious ritual. And you need to bathe, you have a piece of seaweed in your hair."
Moana didn't need to be told twice. She jumped up and began to march out as she heard laughter again behind her.
"Oh, and Moana! Don't tell anyone what we talked about here. We will meet again tonight after the village has gone to sleep," Kalei called after her.
…
Author's Note: Thank you again to you all for your support! I tried to get the next part out to you guys quickly since the introduction was so short. From now on the chapters will be at least this long, and I am aiming to update at least twice a month. I am going on a trip later this week for an interview and then I have finals coming up soon after that, but I hope to have the next chapter out by the 12th of December. Please let me know what you think! Again, this is my first story so be gentle : )
