So, since this story takes place in the medieval times there are some terms I used that might be a bit confusing. When you read "their lord" that doesn't mean God. They are talking about the person who owns the land they are on. Peasants worked on this land for this lord.
WolfHowl091- Thank you! :)
Chapter 1- Jane
- o~O~o
As far as the eyes could see, the tall, golden grass, wheat, and rye swayed in the wind. Though, only a mere mile away the ground became filled with trees. The sky stretched above the sun baked earth. Only a few puffs of white, cotton clouds were found in the blue, summer air.
For the recently married couple, this was the beginning. Their beginning.
They were young and healthy and ready for what the world had to offer.
The woman, now married had a simple headdress on, but her two pale brown braids peeked out.
Her brown tunic, reaching her calves, was worn.
Her newlywed husband, wore a similar tunic, only reaching above his knees.
Before them was their farm. The land that their lord had given them to grow wheat and rye. The cruck house, to the young woman's delight, was new and bigger than her own house was when she lived with her parents. The windows had shutters, and the door was only a piece of animal skin, but the woman still felt herself fill with joy. To the side of the house was a small garden already sprouting small stems. From the looks of it, there were carrots, celery, turnips and onions.
Beyond the cruck house, there were acres of wheat and rye were growing. The fields not in season were instead full of golden grass that would be cut when the spring season came.
"Do you want to see the inside of the house?" The man asked as he looked upon his wife as if she was an angel sent from heaven. The house had taken him months to finish, due to the rainy season, but the joy on the woman's face was worth all those hard, hot days he spent working.
He had good luck with his marriage. The women next to him was his wife by choice, which he knew was a rarity as the parents normally chose whom married whom. After convincing her parents to allow the marriage, he was able to wed her.
The young woman smiled. "How could I not?"
She hugged him, and snuggled her head further into his shoulder excited to see her new home. Excited to start a new life.
In one moment, she was in the man's arms, bridal style. "William!" the woman gasped in surprise. This was not the behavior that was expected nor welcomed in these times, but the woman was more excited than shocked.
"Let us see our house." He smiled down at her before leaning his head down and kissing her.
Smiling like a small child, the woman moved her hand to William's cheek.
"Thank you, William," she whispered. "This is truly beautiful."
She meant it with her whole heart.
"My dearest Jane," He started. "I would do anything for you."
Jane admired her husband's eyes shining down into her own blue orbs.
Given fourteen acres of land to grow by their lord, the couple was able to move from their homes closer to London to the countryside by a small town only two miles away.
Inside, smells of sun baked mud and straw invaded Jane's nose.
The house was one long room. On one side, a bed of clean straw and a wooden table with stools. Closer to them, was the hearth where Jane would be making the meals.
Tools that they would use for working in the fields hung on the back wall. There weren't a lot of them, but enough for William to work out in the fields.
And to the other side of the couple, was where the animals would be kept. Straw had been laid down for the animals to lay on and water troughs were already filled for them. William had told her on the ride over here that there was three cattle and five sheep, as well as the chickens.
"I tried to make it a longer house so the animals could have their own side," Will smiled down at Jane.
Finally being set down, Jane glanced around. "Oh, William, this is perfect. Thank you."
Jane was excited to finally be a woman. While she couldn't be exactly sure, Jane believed herself to be twelve years old, the age suitable for marriage.
Her mother had been so proud of Jane for she had grown into a lovely, young woman.
"You will make a wonderful wife, Jane dear," her mother had promised.
Alec had only teased her, but deep down, Jane knew her twin brother had meant well. He had been working on the fields her family had lived on; he would have to wait a few more years before being able to wed.
But with his dark hair and handsome eyes, Jane wasn't worried about him much. Her parents had already arranged a marriage between him and another girl who was close to his age.
"I should begin supper." Jane hinted to Will. She wanted to begin her role immediately.
William's low chuckle echoed throughout the tiny house. "Of course, and I should begin sharpening the tools. I start work tomorrow out on the field."
The field was full of growing rye and wheat. Their lord was generous enough to let them have this land after the family living her had died of infection. The old house had been burned so the illness would not spread to the newcomers. They would begin their lives with a whole free crop. That was an advantage of itself.
Of course, Jane thought, we will need to pay taxes and rent, but there is so much. Maybe we will be able to have full meals during the winter.
She remembered some of her childhood days when there wasn't enough food to pass around. As the youngest girl of a family of four, she was, often, the one who drew the short stick and found herself with the least amount of food.
"I will be back shortly with water." She stood with a pig's bladder in her hand.
Looking up from his work, William nodded.
A stream ran through their fourteen acres. It would be Jane's job to make sure William and she had enough water to drink and to cook with.
The sun was setting behind the now shadowed crops. She could hear the birds hiding in the grass call to one another. Crickets chirped with enthusiastic gusto. The sounds were similar to those she heard when she lived with her family.
Her footsteps were quiet, only making the smallest sound of crunching grass.
The sky, earlier a brilliant blue, now had a golden hue to it. Looking straight up, Jane could see the golden color merge with the dark purple blue color of the night.
Now alone, Jane lightly kicked the tall grass aside. She quickly glanced around, and seeing that no soul had followed her, she bent down and pushed more grass aside to look at the small world beneath.
While the people were settling down and cooking supper, the ants and other insects stayed awake working. Though she was a girl, Jane seemed fascinated with the tiny creatures.
Perhaps working in the fields all day long keeping birds away from the crops and bringing water to her father, Jane had grown used to seeing the little bugs.
And she wouldn't admit it, but Jane would make little homes for the creatures out of grass and dirt. She knew it was childish to play still, but it brought her joy to see the miniature houses.
Braiding a few pieces of the grass together here and bending them there, Jane finished her own small creation. Of course, now that she older, she knew none of these insects would actually live in her grass homes, but there was nothing wrong with pretending.
Jane quickly finished her walk to the steam. The sound of water running over rocks found her ears before her eyes found the water. A few oak trees stood by the trees. A forest grew thicker just another mile away.
With the sun sinking faster, Jane had no time to admire the scenery. She scooped up the water from the bubbling stream and turned around.
The water sloshed around in the pig's bladder as Jane walked briskly back to her husband and her home.
To be honest, Jane had been joyous about the whole idea of being wed to William.
She had seen William before here and there when she was in her home village. They had even talked a few times, but to think he would want to marry her? There were many beautiful girls ready to wed, but she still couldn't believe that William had waited a year just to wed her.
The house was in sight, when the night had almost taken over.
But a glowing light flickered out the windows of the house.
As she entered, Jane saw that it was a fire that caused the light.
"I have the water." She held up the bulging bladder.
William set down the tool he had been sharpening, a scythe. "We will have to remember to get enough water before nightfall tomorrow. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you."
Jane felt the heat on her cheeks from blushing. She knew he was talking about how she shouldn't have taken too long to collect a bit of water and the wolves that hunted in the forests.
While she hadn't personally seen the ferocious beasts, she had the heard horrid stories of people disappearing after sights of a wolf pack had been reported to the lord.
Pushing these thoughts from her mind, Jane began to make supper. After boiling the water, she added carrots, turnips, and beans to make a simple supper she had learned to make years ago. Of course, this was one of the only meals she had the chance to eat, pottage.
She served the pottage in wooden bowls William had made in preparation for their house.
Along with the pottage, she ripped two pieces of bread from the loaf of dark rye bread. Jane remembered the ale her mother had given her as a wedding gift.
She set the food on the table and smiled proudly over her work. She had made her first meal as a wife.
"Will, supper is ready." She waved her hand to the small meal and let her lips come up to make a small smile.
He set down the scythe and stood. "It smells wonderful."
At the table William said the prayer of thanks to God, while Jane closed her eyes and folded her hands together.
When he had finished William brought his tin cup to Jane's before they drank the ale.
"To our new life together, may God bless us."
Jane giggled as the liquid slid down her throat.
Before the sun disappeared behind the plains, Jane swept up the big room not wanting any loose dirt in the new house.
'Here I am,' she thought. 'There is no one but myself to tell me what to do anymore. My mother won't be behind my shoulder making sure I'm doing everything right.'
Placing the broom in the corner of the room, next to the door, Jane smiled for what felt like the millionth time today. Her first day as a wife had been successful.
As she laid her head down on the bed next to William, she sighed in happiness. Her new life held promise and happiness.
I hoped you all enjoyed it! If you have any questions you can leave them in a review or a private message.