1st Day of Deep Winter 768 n.c - Name Day
We arrived in Easthaven, cart packed full of us and wooden platters of food (as well as a barrel of Father's mead from last season.) We left the cart and horses in the common's paddock and carried the platters and barrel in towards the town square. Long tables were set up along one side, where we dropped off the food and drink. We then wandered around, talking to other families, making sure to stay close to Mother and Father. After the ceremony, I'd be free to go off by myself to socialise with my own friends. Mari caught up with us shortly before the ceremony was due to begin.
"Are you ready?" she asked, with a hug by way of greeting.
"Never readier." I replied with a smile, holding the hug.
We broke apart and she took my hands in hers whispering conspiratorially, "I spent most of the morning watching Tomas working on the anvil. His father had to ask me to leave as I was 'too distracting'."
I let forth a smile that I didn't feel, "You are very distracting Mari, why you could distract a songbird right off its perch."
She swatted me on the arm gently, "Oh, you say the nicest things. Sometimes I wish that you had been born a boy."
It wasn't the first time that she had said something like that and it pained me everytime. I didn't let it show, though. Mari needed me as her best friend.
We were interrupted by the Mayor, standing on the speaking hill (a raised bit of grass to one side of the town square), ringing his bell.
We all proceeded to line up, by age: The mother's holding babies first or mother's accompanying their one year olds in the next line, then the two year olds and so on. Right up until the eldest in the town, old Master Togar who would soon be eighty-two.
"Welcome everyone!" The Mayor announced, his voice projecting across the square. "Today is our seven hundred and sixty eighth Name Day!"
The crowd cheered, some of the younger children jumped up and down excitedly.
The Mayor pulled out a great big book and set it down on the small table in front of him, dipping a quill into a pot of ink, he began. He called up each child about to turn one, by name. It always impressed me how the Mayor knew everybody's names. He wrote their name into the book and said "Congratulations, you're now one year old." to each one. The mothers then carried their babes back to join their own line. Then he moved onto the one year olds and so on. Once the two year olds became three, they moved off to one side where the new babies were to form a new queue. Family clapped when it was their members turn. I clapped when Kara and Jara were pronounced seven year olds, when Daavid was pronounced nine, Illith ten and Jocam twelve.
Once he reached us fifteen year olds, he paused to make another announcement. "Everybody! We are now ready to welcome our fifteen year old children to become sixteen year old adults!"
A shiver of excitement ran down my spine and along my arms. It was time!
The difference with us, to those that came before was obvious. The Mayor made a much bigger thing of it.
"Sharein Askilain! Congratulations on becoming an adult today." He said, taking my hands. "You now have a voice."
The crowd clapped as he let go of my hands to write my name in the book and I reflected on his words. As an adult, I now had a say in decisions that affected the town. Although most decisions were made by the town council, I could become a member of that council if I were voted in (it had never happened to a thirteen year old, but there had on occasions been members elected at seventeen or eighteen), for larger decisions that were 'taken to the town' I would have a voice. It was a big responsibility.
"Thank-you Mayor Crownever." I said, with a curtsey before moving back to take my place in the line of thirteen year olds.
The ceremony continued on, clapping occuring for every new adult, with every member of the town coming up to have their name and age written down. Mother was declared to be twenty-eight and Father thirty-one. There was a brief pause, when the Mayor announced his own age at fifty-two and wrote it in the book. The longer the ceremony went, the more gaps there were in ages. The Mayor remembered everyone's age, though, without mistake. Finally, it seemed like the entire day had gone by, it was Master Togar's turn. Master Togar was assisted by Sister Tera and a walking stick, but made it up the front to shake the Mayor's hand. Master Togar was the mayor of Easthaven for many years before Mayor Crownever was appointed and before that, it was told, he was a soldier in the old Orc Wars.
The Mayor stood up again, "Thank you everybody! Congratulations on another year! Now it's time to celebrate!"
We all made our way to the feast tables, eldest to youngest, with Master Togar getting the first pick of the delicious food. Master Togar made his way back past the line once I neared the front and I noticed with pride that he had taken a slice of my spice cake. I filled my plate up with pork, salads, roasted vegetables and a slice of a delicious blackberry filled pastry roll made by the baker. I also filled up a mug with some mead from Father's barrel. He had let me have a sip of it when he first opened it and it was delicious. Then I made my way over to where I saw Mother and Father sitting near the Meadowbroeks.
"How does it feel Sharein?" Father asked, "Soon you will be having your first full Long Night's Dance, getting married and raising children of your own!"
I laughed nervously, Master and Missus Meadowbroek both laughed, as did Mari and Father. I couldn't help but notice that Mama didn't laugh at all, looking at me strangely.
"It feels good, Father, to be an adult." I replied, "Although I do not mind waiting for my first Long Night's Dance."
"Sharein would just be happy to be out from under Missus Askilain's apron, I think." Mari piped up. Our parents all laughed at this. They knew how the restrictions had chaffed me over the past year.
I blushed a little, "I admit, the granting of freedom will be refreshing, but I shan't forget my responsibilities first."
"Thank you Sharein, I never had any doubt." Mother smiled as we all continued eating our meals.
We were soon joined by the rest of our families, with the younger children eating their fill before running off to play. Usually, I would be supervising, but Mother indicated that I should stay and talk with the rest of the adults. Father and Master Meadowbroek both talked about crop prices, likelihood of frost and chance of snow. Mother and Missus Meadowbroek gossiped about the goings on in town and the other farms. Although Father's discussion interested me, I had no experience to voice an opinion on any topic. Mother's discussion didn't interest me so much (It interested Mari much more than I), but I was able to contribute in places. I made sure to make no dire criticisms of anybody, but offer thoughtful ideas (as Mother often looked down upon those who often criticised others). When the topic of Missus Lithrowe's (a new young farm woman on the other side of town), difficulties with feeding her first new baby were raised I suggested that a birth mother go to visit her.
Missus Meadowbroek pointed out "Missus Lithrowe is much too proud to accept special treatment like that."
I thought about it for a moment and suggested that "Perhaps it could be made official? Surely many new first mothers have this trouble? What if a birth mother visited every new mother in the first few weeks and Missus Lithrowe just happened to be the first one?"
Mother was so impressed with my suggestion that she immediately went off in search of Sister Tera to suggest it. Once Mother returned, the discussion continued without anyone bringing it up again, for which I was a little thankful.
Once we had all finished eating, some of the townsfolk and farmers pulled out instruments and played songs. Small groups, who usually played together at town events, and sometimes singles took turns to play the more popular tunes. Different people in the crowd took turns to sing, with groups joining in for chorus'. For some songs, couples or groups would get up and dance. There was laughter, cheering and clapping all over.
Eventually, as darkness descended we went to collect the plates and trays of food we brought in. The spice cake was all gone, but there was a little bit of honey cake left and some shortbread. Mother kept a little bit of honey cake and shortbread, moving the rest onto another platter on the table. She then took small portions of other foods onto our tray to take home, including some pheasant meat that I hadn't eaten for lunch. We carried everything back to the commons paddock and made our way home. The Meadowbroeks travelled with us as far as our farm before heading down their road. We packed everything away and ate a small supper before all heading for bed. I lay in bed for a while, thinking back over my first day as an adult, before succumbing to darkness of sleep.
