Chapter Three...
The village was... loud. It was the first thing the occurred to Raeith. There were children who came running up to them with some dogs running around them. Raeith was uncertain about the dogs, they looked suspiciously like wolves but one big gray one bounced around Glem, his tongue was hanging out and a he would only stop long enough to nuzzle Glems hand and bark happily at the party as a whole. It was hard not to laugh and impossible not to smile. Villagers left their work and came out of huts to greet the arrivals. There were hugs and laughter but one woman ran up to Glem crying and laughing scolding him the whole time. Raeith looked at Poppie, it was overwhelming! His quiet smile reassured her and she observed the homecoming with fascination if not a little trepidation. Slowly the noise lowered to a steady hum, there were still much smiling and backslapping as the group made their way further into the village. Several of the people looked at Raetih with cautious curiosity then questioningly at Poppie, but no one spoke to her. When finally they made their way to fire in the central part of the village with logs lying on their sides to serve as seats, the congregation began to settle. Chores were forgotten and everyone gathered to hear the story of Glem and what kept him from returning home.
The story continued well into the night, and like a good storyteller, Glem expanded on the highlights and perhaps altered events a little in the telling. He told of the bear he was tracking, how he finally had her trapped, then how things went wrong. He lifted his shirt to show the still pink scars that crossed his torso to the sounds of dismay from his family and friends then continued to tell how he held her off long enough to escape. He did not actually remember much of what happened next, but that did not deter him from adding details that might have happened. When he finally got to the point of the story where Raeith walked into the circle of light carrying two handfuls of nuts, everyone looked expectantly at her. Certainly she was not supposed to tell the story! She stared wide eyed at the group then Poppie, but he understood and continued the story as he had heard it and the woman who had scolded Glem watched her quietly.
As the story wound its way towards its end, night had fully fallen and the happy villagers banked the fire for the night, and headed off to their own huts and beds.
"Come along Raeith," Poppie invited, "You will sleep in here." He led her to a little hut that had a tree just behind it and some plants growing along one side and the front. The room he led her into was small with an opening to an even smaller room beyond. There was a cot with a patched cover and a table beside it that looked like it would wobble. "You can sleep here," he told her while patting the cot. I will be in that room if you need anything he added.
The villagers welcomed her into their family, and even though Raeith was happy to be accepted, she still found the whole situation overwhelming. Mornings were good and peaceful as she often had breakfast with Poppie. It was not biscuits with honey but some kind of grain that spent lots of time in the iron pot over Popies fire. It was thick and, well, it was just thick, but Poppie was there and she was happy.
Snow would come soon and everyone in the village seemed to have something to do, the women cooked and would sew, they rolled the skins of animals until they became soft. The men were often hunting and fishing, and the children made noise and chased each other. Raeith soon found herself looking for something to do as well. When she lived on her own, she would spend the day hunting for food or berries, fishing, collecting water, and making new bowls because they did not last long near the fire, but here, there was nothing to do... The food grew right outside their houses and the river was only minutes away. All the bowls were made of iron in the big fire by Glem's father. The children would often ask Raeith to join them in a game, but they would soon get called in for chores or dinner. Raeith had joined Glem for the day and he took her to watch his father make iron sticks and pots. He also made a flat bowl and gave it to Raeith to eat her meals off of. Some of the women in the village also brought her clothes. She had a shirt that fell to her knees and a rope she tied around her waist. For shoes, they gave her animal skins that had the fur scraped off, but it had strings and the strings never seemed to stay together and the shoes kept threatening to fall off. Kara, one of the women who lived in the hut by the lake said she was dirty and smelled bad and marched her straight off to the river for a good scrubbing... The scrubbing was uncomfortable, but not painful, by the time Kara was trying to pull all the knots out of her hair, Raeith began to think Kara was unhappy with her. Kara would pull and Raeith would jump and squirm but Kara would tell her to hold still and pull some more. By the time Kara had finished with Raeith, she had been scrubbed pink, her hair was brown with a golden hue that traveled down her back almost to her waste and looked like warm silk and her shoes were properly tied. No one would classify Raeith as beautiful, but she did clean up well and might even be called pretty by those with less demanding taste. Glem watched Raeith take her seat by the fire with new appreciation.
Days turned to weeks and the snows came. Parts of the river froze over but the part that turned the sharp corner nearest the village flowed as quickly as ever. The pace of life in the village slowed drastically, most of the skins had already been turned to leathers, food had been stored for the months ahead, and all the old stories had been told many times over by the fire at night. Raeith didn't mind, she loved the comfort of the old stories as much as the excitement of the new ones. Glem often thought up new details about his adventure he had forgotten to share and perhaps parts of it were true. She was often asked to tell about her childhood but found if she asked questions of others, the attention would get deflected and she could listen as others talked. During this time Raeith learned many new skills; she learned how to make biscuits and where honey came from. She also learned to weave straw and made more mats for the hut then they had floor to put them on. But Poppie seemed so pleased with each one that Raeith just kept making more. She also learned to play games and the children soon learned she could be pulled into a game of hide under a bush or catch the caller, this made her a favorite amongst the children and they often congregated around her at storytime. She usually went out very early in the morning and brought back fish, or a few rabbits and one time a deer to help with the food supplies. Everyone was always happy to have the fresh meat and although curious did not ask how she hunted without spear or bow with the kill came back free of holes or other obvious injury. Some things were better not asked. Other things that changed in the village were the livestock. They had several sheep, three cows, and assortment of chickens who ran everywhere. Raeith soon learned chickens in the house made a mess and she spent time shooing them out the door. The winter months were peaceful and Raeith through the sharing of food, fun, love, and chores had been accepted as one of the kin.
Chapter Four...
When the scream came it was heard through the whole village, one of their own was in danger! Everything was dropped as everyone ran in the direction of the scream, the river. The sun was showing signs of warming the earth and the water that now gushed along the river overflowed and splashed off the many rocks and boulders in its path, it was a dangerous time of year since the water was wild but not all of the ice had melted. Naila, a petite redhead girl pointed frantically into the water and a small hand waved out from the rushing currents. "Tyn fell in! Help him!" she cries frantically. Two of the men jump into the freezing water and another runs downstream and jumps in from there as more of the villagers arrive at the riverbank to keep track of the boy while the men try to swim to him. Raeith and Poppie arrive and watch as the man furthest down the river finally gets his hands on the boy and begins swimming to shore. Someone grabs him from the water and a blanket is put around his tiny body, but he is not shivering. They turn the boy over to get the water out and hit him on the back, he is breathing, but just barely. He is turning blue. The boy's mother grabs the freezing child and pleads with him to keep breathing, but he does not listen and his little chest stops. Without thought Raeith jumped forward and put her hands on the little boy's freezing chest and pressed firmly, she feels the warm glow as it moves from her hands out to encompass the boy, his mother and herself. She searches for the tale tell feel of his heart but it is not there. She searches further sending her energy into the little body, looking for his energy, and there she feels it, very weak but present swirling around his core. As she connects with his energy, she gathers her own reaching deep inside herself where her life energy swirls and vibrates. She can't feel the swirling energy inside her with her body, it does not push against her organs but moves through them heavy and steady, she can feel it with her mind, it is the same with all living things, the lifeforce that moves inside them, always swirling in the same direction, but always a bit different. Some energies move fast and some slow and they all vibrate differently. She feels her energy gather at her will, and sends it down her arms and through her hands as it travels into the little body to join his energy. The green glow brightens around them and the vibrations change as it is absorbed by his life force, she can feel it change to his vibrations and swirl around his core, but it does not stay, she feels it leaving him. Raeith pulls more of her energy and it flows into the little boy, he is so close to the edge as she feels that energy pick up his rhythm and slowly dissipate. Again she pulls from her own life force, but there is not much left to give, she feels stretched and weak, the swirl of her energies slowing down but she gathers all she dares and sends that as well. It is in dismay she feels it enter his body and begin to flow back out, he needed more, but she had so little left. She has to keep him alive. The dead can't laugh or play hide in the bush, they can't sit near her when the stories are told and hold her hand on the scary parts, but he was so close, she needed more. As she searched the area feeling rather than seeing those around her, feeling there energy and knowing their identities from their individual patterns she sought someone she could pull from, and there beyond the gathered group of friends and frantic family, beyond the hill and the fence she felt the presence of life. Three cows stood contentedly in the sweet green pre-spring grass enjoying the weak rays of the sun. Without thought Raeith stretched one hand toward them, finding the swirling energy and pulling, willing it to come, she felt it resist, to pull back against her but she pulled harder, her other hand felt the presence of life leaving the little body of the boy and in desperation she pulled at the animals energy with all the will she had and felt it snap as it flew through her, filling her with life, she felt the vibrations alter as it swirled with her own, she felt its strength as the vibrations and patterns merged with her own life force as it become one with her and gave her an incredible surge of strength that made her light headed and her body buzz and hum, it made her stomach churn, but as it united with her own energy and settled, she pushed it slowly but firmly into the child's body, she felt it take hold, merge, and settle. Then she felt a little thump followed by another as his heart began to beat with the life force that was now steadily swirling through his body. She felt him breathing and the movement of blood. He would live. She weaved as the world spun around her and tilted.
When she finally opened her eyes Poppie was sitting in a chair beside her and the light from the sun was streaming through the open door beyond. Why was she in bed in mid-day? She looked at Poppie and saw tension in his face. "Poppie?" she questioned.
"Raeith, it has been a long couple of days, how do you feel?"
"Days?" she whispered, then slowly the events by the river came back to her. She had used her hands! She looked at Poppie with panic in her eyes. "Raeith bad?" was all she could say.
"Not bad," he tried to reassure her, "just different. Rest now, we can talk later."
It was the noise that woke her, there were people, perhaps the whole village and they seemed to be inside her room. "Enough!" Poppie roared "and get out!"
Words drifted into her room, words from the villagers, people she knew and have come to love, words like witch, evil, sorcerer, but the words that struck Raeith with full force, "She has to go!" Raeith hid in her room, if they didn't see her, they could not send her away.
"She saved Tyn's life! that is not evil" one voice claimed.
"She killed a cow just by pointing at it! Only someone evil can have the power to do that, it is witch-craft!"
"To save a child's life," the first voice answered.
"And if we upset her, who will be next?" asked a third. Silence followed those words as perhaps the speakers realized they were within earshot and perhaps the killing zone of the witch sleeping just two doors away.
"There will be a meeting tonight, Poppie, you should come." said a quiet voice, and with that the voices moved away.
That evening Poppie came into her room, she was sitting up in bed and was showing no signs of leaving it. "I need to step out for a bit," he told her without meeting her eyes. "Roddyn, who is Tyn's uncle, will be coming by to stay with you in case you need anything. I don't expect to be out long. It would be best if you stayed inside tonight." Without meeting her eyes he walked out the door.
It was getting late in the evening when there was a quiet knock on the door, Poppie answered it and she heard Roddyn's voice greet him. "It is time." and Poppie walked out the door.
The next knock she heard was on her door frame and the decidedly large form of Roddyn stood silhouetted by the light beyond. "May I come in?" he asked.
Raeith remained silent; perhaps he was sent to take her away! If she did not say anything, maybe he would leave.
"Please," came the quiet request.
"Come," was all she answered.
The large frame left the doorway and moved toward her and suddenly she felt vulnerable. His quiet, reassuring voice filled the room, "I just wanted to say thank you, but that does not seem like enough. You saved our Tyn and the people who should be greatful and celebrating have turned against you. My brother who was the Tyn's father died when he was just a babe, I have helped raise him and love him like my own." The gray figure dropped to his knees before her cot, his head bowed and he was silent for a moment, finally he added. "I stand with you and always will, you have my solemn vow Raeith of the Woods." In the silence that followed the large shadow returned to his feet and left her room.
The meeting had ended in a draw, there were people who were genuinely frightened by what they saw and wanted her out, but there were an equal number of people who said she is kin and kin stays. Everyone finally agreed nothing would happen until the snow cleared. They would not send a young girl out until winter finally lost its hold and spring was firmly in place.
The days passed into weeks and most of the snow melted. The bright green grass of early spring turned a darker green as the tender sprouts strengthened in the warming sun. It seemed like all Raeith did anymore was sleep, but she was afraid to leave her room and there was nothing else to do. Poppie had become quiet and withdrawn but always did his best to put on a cheerful face when he knew she was watching.
"How about a walk today," he asked her cheerfully. "You haven't made any new mats in so long, I am afraid we will wear out the old ones and be back to a cold floor. Raeith looked at the floor and the matts that covered it three deep in the low areas and tried to smile at Poppie. "Raeith stay" was her typical answer.
"You can't hide forever," Poppie finally told her exasperated. "You are going to have to face them, and they are going to have to face you, so go get dressed, we are going for a walk."
Raeith remembered stepping out from around a large downed tree and running face to face with a wolf when she was very young. She remembered how scared she was every time she had to go anywhere near that tree for some time to come, but that seemed insignificant with how she felt now. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her hands were wet, she felt hot all over and her stomach started to hurt. "I don't feel very well" she told Poppie, and from her pale face he believed her.
"Then we will make this a quick walk, the air will do you good," he added as he put an arm around her and steered her toward the door.
She tilted her head up just a touch, held her breath and stepped out the door, Poppie was right behind her. To her left she heard a gasp and further on a child started crying, people who were near her moved away and avoided looking at her. Then Roddyn's calls out to her, "Raeith, good morning to you! We had almost given up on your making an appearance." He said this all loudly and with a huge smile while he walked toward her. "Good morning Poppie," he added. "I was just going fishing and I would love the company. Come along," he added before Raeith could think of some way to slide back into the house. Having no choice, she followed his broad back while he went to fetch three poles then drug her and Poppie toward the river for a day of sun, water and hopefully, fish.
The fish were on short supply that day, but the sun and water there was plenty of. Much of the day was spent listening to Roddyn's and Poppie compare lies about the fish they caught and the ones that got away, but it was pleasant and considering everything that was happening, pleasant was very good indeed. A few times someone would drop by and fish with them for a while; they would often cast Raeith a smile then head on their way. It wasn't a flashy show of support, but in there way, they were trying to let her know she still belonged.
Once the sun decided to make the effort, the snow cleared quickly even in the valley below. Life although different had become a steady stream of daily walks, fishing and matt weaving. There were people who stopped by to chat and would include her in conversation at the fire, only a few people still shied away from her or avoided meeting her eyes. It was on a pleasant evening on a day blessed with many fresh fish for dinner that Nona approached her. She had not talked to the woman since before the episode by the river and honestly felt nervous as she approached. At first Nona did not say anything, then as the tears began to fill her soft gray eyes, she handed the bundle in her hands to Raeith and whispered "Thank you", then left.
The bundle was soft and Raeith carried it into the hut she and Poppie shared since the night she came to this village. Laying it on her cot she picked up the red cloth from the top and it unfolded to reveal a shirt. It was beautifully made with a softness and warmth that could only come from the sheep they raised but a color that was similar to the spring flowers that grew along the bank of the lake near where she lived in the woods. She held the shirt to her cheek taking in the warmth and texture before carefully placing it on the cot and unfolding the leather leggings, although extremely supple, she put them to the side to pick up the boots. They were leather on the outside with rabbit fur on the inside and at the top, the bottom of the shoe was leather over leather to help keep water out and were in a deep rich color to match the buckskin colored breeches. She quickly changed into her new clothes and pulled the boots on, they were so soft and reached up almost to her knees. It had taken a lot of time to carefully weave the string through all the holes from her foot to the top, but it was worth it. These fit perfect and did not feel like they would ever fall off. Never had she possessed such a treasure and walking around in the new clothes and especially the boots made her feel special. When Poppie walked into the hut she practically danced out to meet him, twirling and smiling as she shared her new clothes with him.
That night she wore her new outfit to the fire for storytelling and grinned broadly at Nona when she smiled shyly at Raeith. That night she carefully put the shirt and breeches at the end of her bed, but slept with her boots clutched tightly to her chest.