Festival Part One: Best Friend
It was the first day of fall, and the coldest that it had been in months. Despite the sun shining brilliantly down upon the villager of the Wall, many of wrapped themselves tightly in their cloaks and shawls, trying their very best to shield themselves from the cool breeze. It was actually quite pleasant, however, for anything was truly more enjoyable than the intolerable winters of Briton.
All around the village, people were merrily going about their business, preparing for the night's festivities. It was on this particular night, the first night of fall and the first full moon in weeks, that Harvest was celebrated joyfully. The hard, long work that they had done around and in the fields had been reaped away and stored for the months ahead, and now many could relax and do less excruciating forms of labor. But on the night of Harvest, everyone, from the Roman officers to the lowest of peasants received the night off.
Vanora and Elaine walked slowly together through the bustling market, each with a basket by their side.
"Oh, I love Harvest time," Vanora said, smiling brightly.
Elaine chuckled, before she stopped to look at the fresh golden apples just put out for sale. She smiled down at them, as she picked one up and turned it around in her hand. When the farmer who was selling the delicious fruit came up to her, Elaine smiled and purchased the two biggest ones that he had.
"Yes," she said as she placed the apples in her brown woven basket carefully, and turned back to the patiently waiting Vanora. "Fall is my favorite season, next to spring."
"Can you believe that for a long time, the Roman officials banned the whole festival?"
Elaine shook her head, "Why?"
"Well, because this is the same night as Mabon."
"Oh, yes the pagan holiday for the Fall. But how did they get it all back?"
Vanora smiled sneakingly, "We just changed the name and said it was all about the harvest alone."
Elaine laughed hard, shaking her head at the whole silliness of the situation.
"Leave it to the Romans to fall for that stunt." Elaine frowned, but smiled again quickly, "I suppose that applies to me as well."
"Well, only in certain times," Vanora said jokingly, as she purchased several brown hen's eggs at a nearby stall.
As they continued to make their way through the marketplace, laughing and talking, the two once again keep a close eye on Vanora's children as they sprinted back and forth across the square.
"So, Elaine."
"So, Vanora."
Vanora made a face at her best friends smart remark, "So, has any man here, or any knight here I should say, finally tickled your fancy."
Elaine smiled, but shook her head, "I have no clue as to what you are speaking about."
"Oh, no you don't . You know you can't keep anything from me for too long, so tell me, or else."
"Or else what?"
"Or..Or else I'll tell Arthur about your tattoo."
Elaine's eyes grew wide, "You wouldn't."
"Oh you know I would. I wonder what he will say when he hears his precious little sister has a Celtic symbol on the small of her back, which I might add is a very scandalous place for anything on a woman like you."
Elaine sighed, causing Vanora's sneaky smile to grow even bigger, "Fine, what exactly do you want to know, you little shrew?"
Vanora giggled, switching her heavy basket from one arm to the other, "Fess up already! I know that one of the knights has captured your affections, I see it in your eyes."
"What if it happened to be Bors?"
"Oh, well I would have to kill you then, wouldn't I?"
The two chuckled once more, Vanora gently shoving Elaine as she made a fake expression of fear shape over her features. "Don't be silly, little girl. Just tell me, please."
Elaine sighed, her heart soaring as she thought of the man she had always loved, and recently found out that she loved him still. She had been so sure in her mind that she wouldn't let her little secret out to anyone just yet, especially not to him. But Vanora was her best friend. They had so much in common, yet were complete opposites in many ways as well. Despite some differences, the two women just seemed to compliment each other so well. It was hard to explain, but all Elaine knew was that she loved Vanora just as much as she loved the men, and thus she could trust her with anything. Why not just tell Vanora?
"Well, there is one. But, I don't know."
"What do you mean you do not know?"
"It is, well. Well I admit, I have really very strong feelings for him. It is so strange, because I've only been here just a little less than three months, and it's not like we speak to each other so much. But when we are together, even if there are others around, there is just something there. I find it hard to explain. Oh, Van. I've never felt this way before in my life."
"Okay, okay, slow down. First, just what are you feeling?"
Elaine looked up at the sky, her eyes searching the clouds for an answer, "Whenever I'm around him, my heart races faster than any horse could ever go. He makes me smile, makes me laugh. Yet, he's so intimidating as well. I constantly worry about what I saw or do around him, for I fear he'll form an ill opinion of me. His eyes, oh they are so enchanting. I sometimes stop in the middle of a sentence, when I look into his eyes. I just get lost. Sometimes he makes me feel as though I could fly, and sometimes he makes me so angry. Oh, but I just can't ever get him out of my mind."
Vanora smiled, "You're in love, aren't you?"
The lady stopped in her tracks, and stared back at her friend. She had said that she loved him over and over in her mind a hundred times, but when she actually heard it aloud it just seemed to finally sink in. She was in love! That is the only way she could explain the unknown, unfamiliar feelings that she had been experiencing for so long.
"Yes, I am."
Vanora giggled and was about to wrap her arms around Elaine, but stopped suddenly, "Wait! Just who are we talking about here?"
Elaine's devious grin mirrored the one Vanora had only moments ago. "Who do you think I am speaking of?"
"Oh, do not play around anymore! Is it...Kay?"
"No."
"Is it Galahad? He is around your age."
"No, but he is only twenty three years."
"Dagonet? He deserves a good woman by his side."
"No, but I agree."
"Um...Gawain?"
"No, but he is a good catch."
"Oh Gods! It's Lancelot! I knew it!"
Elaine stopped once again. She had almost forgotten that she still had some similar feelings for the handsome knight stirring beneath the surface.
"No, it is not Lancelot," she said, with just the slightest bit of regret in her voice.
"What? Well, who than? Is it really Bors?"
"No," she said with a chuckle. "Van, I think I am in love with...with Tristan."
Vanora froze, the sudden jerk of her body causing some of the items from her basket slip down to the dirt ground with a low clunk. "Tristan? You...you..you love Tristan. The scout Tristan?"
"What other Tristan do you know silly?"
Vanora shook her head, slowly grabbing the spilt food items from the dirt, dusting them quickly before setting them back into her large woven basket. She sighed again, much heavier though. Elaine noticed her friend's sudden change of mood.
"What's wrong?"
"Elaine, I do not think you're considering things correctly."
"What do you mean?"
"Listen. Tristan is a very dangerous man. He's just not the type of man that a lady like yourself should fall in love with. Tristan isn't one for love, I think. He's just, different from other men."
"That's one of the reasons why I love him. Van, you just do not know him like I do."
"He's so quiet, how do you know anything about him at all?"
"I don't know why, but I think he finds it easier to open up to me. He's told me about his past, before Rome came for him. He's just, lets me in."
"But does he love you?"
Elaine sighed, "I'm not sure. He acts so kind sometimes, almost loving. And yet, sometimes I just do not know. Like last night when he came to me.."
"HE CAME TO YOU AT NIGHT?"
Elaine shoved her hand swiftly over Vanora's open mouth, looking around quickly about her and smiling at the villagers who looked up.
"Van, please. We've...Well we have been meeting early in the mornings and late at night so that I could heal an old wound of his. We usually speak then. And he is usually the only one available to take me out to collect herbs when I need them."
"Fine, Elaine. Love him. But I'm just not sure if he is one to give love back."
Elaine frowned, "You do not know him."
"I just do not want you get your heart broken, Elaine. That's all."
Elaine sighed once more, but slowly a smiled broke out across her face. Reaching forward to lock her arm in Vanora's, Elaine hugged her friend to her.
"I know. Thank you."
"Hey, what are best friend's for if not for worrying constantly."
Elaine giggled, "You shouldn't. All it will do will be a strain on you and on the baby."
"Ugh, speaking of which," Vanora groaned, rubbing the swell in her lower belly, "This one is making me so big, so quick, I have nothing pretty to wear to the festival that fits. Besides, it's not like I have many pretty things anyway."
Vanora sighed, looking down at the ground sadly as they walked. Elaine frowned, staring down at her dejected friend. Suddenly, a thought flickered into her mind. She quickly unhooked herself from Vanora's arm, kissed her on the cheek, and began to walk away.
"What? Where are you off to?"
"Van, I think I have something that just might work. Meet me in my room tonight before the festival. Do not be late!"
As she quickly retreated into the crowd and back towards the living quarters, Vanora stared after her. Elaine really must have had something really spectacular rolled up her sleeve to move that fast.