Chapter 1
28 years later.
It had been a rough day so far and Caillean did not think she could make the few miles left to the town. After a short rest she gathered her belongings again and started towards the small village of Chepstowe that the villagers had told her of. Caillean was no great beauty, but she did have her long dark hair that fell and surrounded her body like that darkness of night surrounds the world. It gave her a sense of mystery. She was smart enough to get by in the life she had been forced into. She missed her books that she had to leave behind when her father died. Her beloved books that would take her away from her problems and took her to a land of daring sword fights and fairies and of grand loves that could never be hers. The one thing that made her stand out from others was her music that she created and stirred from her harp. It was given to her from her dear grandmother and was taught all she knew by those gentle hands.
She smiled at the memories days past filled with her grandparents. Now her days were filled with work and trying to survive. Coming out of her trail of thoughts, she saw that she had arrived in a small town. Going down a small street, she found an inn. When inside she ordered a room for the night and settled down to sleep.
The next morning Caillean paid the innkeeper and went out to inspect the village. It was bigger than one would expect a village to be but the people were very friendly. They waved hello as she passed by. When looking around the landscape, she saw a castle a nearby raising hill. She had almost passed right through the village when she had an urge to stay. It was so like one of her long-lost stories that she decided to follow it.
When she returned to the inn, the innkeeper kindle granted her a room for however long she may need it in exchange for help in the kitchens. She agreed and asked what kind of entertainment they had for the guests in the evenings. When he replied that they had none, she quickly offered her services on the harp.
"I would like to sample a wee bit of yer's music, if ye would, before I make a decision?" Mr. Charles asked thoughtfully.
Caillean ran to her room upstairs to retrieve her wooden that was hand held harp. Then she settled down to play it. It was inciting and made all the others in the room to stop what they were doing to listen to the music. When she finished, she looked up to see Mr. Charles smiling broadly at her.
"Me thinks this is going to be very helpful with my business, but I shall not only give ye free boarding but yer own wage," he declared and went up to the counter. Caillean smiled at the good fortune of stumbling into this kind village and was glad that she had stayed.
28 years later.
It had been a rough day so far and Caillean did not think she could make the few miles left to the town. After a short rest she gathered her belongings again and started towards the small village of Chepstowe that the villagers had told her of. Caillean was no great beauty, but she did have her long dark hair that fell and surrounded her body like that darkness of night surrounds the world. It gave her a sense of mystery. She was smart enough to get by in the life she had been forced into. She missed her books that she had to leave behind when her father died. Her beloved books that would take her away from her problems and took her to a land of daring sword fights and fairies and of grand loves that could never be hers. The one thing that made her stand out from others was her music that she created and stirred from her harp. It was given to her from her dear grandmother and was taught all she knew by those gentle hands.
She smiled at the memories days past filled with her grandparents. Now her days were filled with work and trying to survive. Coming out of her trail of thoughts, she saw that she had arrived in a small town. Going down a small street, she found an inn. When inside she ordered a room for the night and settled down to sleep.
The next morning Caillean paid the innkeeper and went out to inspect the village. It was bigger than one would expect a village to be but the people were very friendly. They waved hello as she passed by. When looking around the landscape, she saw a castle a nearby raising hill. She had almost passed right through the village when she had an urge to stay. It was so like one of her long-lost stories that she decided to follow it.
When she returned to the inn, the innkeeper kindle granted her a room for however long she may need it in exchange for help in the kitchens. She agreed and asked what kind of entertainment they had for the guests in the evenings. When he replied that they had none, she quickly offered her services on the harp.
"I would like to sample a wee bit of yer's music, if ye would, before I make a decision?" Mr. Charles asked thoughtfully.
Caillean ran to her room upstairs to retrieve her wooden that was hand held harp. Then she settled down to play it. It was inciting and made all the others in the room to stop what they were doing to listen to the music. When she finished, she looked up to see Mr. Charles smiling broadly at her.
"Me thinks this is going to be very helpful with my business, but I shall not only give ye free boarding but yer own wage," he declared and went up to the counter. Caillean smiled at the good fortune of stumbling into this kind village and was glad that she had stayed.
