Post by Astredé Murain (I) on Jun 27, 2008 17:44:27 GMT -5
Naamah’s Gift...
I may have been young, but one of the benefits about being the youngest of five girls is you never lack in information. Often times I needn’t even ask. If I just sat quietly and calmly most of what I wanted to know would be given freely. My oldest sister was 12 years my elder. She was basically my second mother. Nola was her name. For obvious reasons I remember little of actually living with her. Aside from the night my father indicated his intensions of her. She was he eldest, and he was not about to lose the farm he had spent so many years of blood and toil over to go to just any man. No he had a plan; which I heard all about at the knee of my mother when I was 6. He was not uncommon in his concern. He provided Nola with a wide variety of suitors he found acceptable to succeed him. Who or what, it meant nothing to me; I just recall raised voices and my sister being soothed by my mother's reasonable words.
"Dear child, Eula left on precept 'love as thou wilt'. You must understand that your father loves this land. That is the key Nola, find a man who loves the land as deeply as he loves you and that man in the next room will approve." Mother consoled Nola for the better part of the night. And in the morning she spoke with father.
She did of course and one after another I watched my sisters leave, for men, for fostering, for anything that my father thought would bring prosperity. It was winters end of my 1oth year, and my middle sister Joselle was leaving for the Fournac estate in Azzalle. I was troubled that day. Already my father had been negotiating a similar arrangement for my only remaining sister. That is where my unease came from. Valerie was barely a year over my age, if he was already making plans for her fostering then what remained for me. There was Niles, the Siovalies boy who had come to our vineyard shortly after my second sister left. He was nice and always full of lessons, that was always fun, but he was not my sister. He was nothing like my sister Valerie who was so beautiful and charismatic. Everyone was enamored with her, she was born for society, always saying the most gracious things and naturally entertaining. We would walk through the vineyard and she would quote poetry by the great Thelesis de Mornay and Anafiel Delaunay. Then I would tell stories of Alban folk lore and D’Angeline history. I never had the presence she did but we would practice endlessly and she would coach me. I thought that day as Joselle rode away, ‘How long until it’s Valerie, then again how long until it’s me?’ My mother hugged us as the team pulled away. She was crying a little of course, she always did, she also always went to the temple after one of us left. I felt the need to go with her this time.
“Mama, I’ll go with you this time… I feel I need to as well.” I looked at her teary eyes when I said it and saw the gladness and sadness that reflected in her eyes, two sides of the same mirror. Something clicked. I felt something. Though in my ignorance I knew not what it was. Looking back I see it was purpose.
She gave a hopeful smile when she replied, “My love, nothing would be better. We’ll make a day of it; get a good night’s sleep. We’ll leave on the morrow.”
That next morning I woke up anew. The sun was brighter, the air was crisper, even the birds sang louder. I was happy, which made me feel guilty because I felt I really had nothing to be happy about. Yet I was undisputable happy. I ran around doing chores, joked with Niles and ran to the house to prepare for our trip. Most of the trip there was uneventful. I mostly just soaked in the surroundings. It was unseasonably warm and the scenery was budding for spring’s return. The temple we visited was modest. There was just an atrium with only two acolytes and one priestess who looked after it. Surprisingly there were other people there as well, just two elderly women sitting on a bench feeding doves and conversing in jovial tones. It looked like they did this often, and judging by the flock of doves that encompassed them I figured it so. The two acolytes greeted us, I noticed they were of my age; they kept their eyes down cast as we entered but being of such short stature I could see their eyes. My mother bent to give a kiss of greeting on their cheeks and they returned the favor. It was a girl and a boy, the boy was the eldest. They looked similar enough to be siblings. I suspect they were the priestess’s children. The girl welcomed me first, she had bright eyes and a warm smile and the room smelled of honey when she was close. She then turned to gather our offering from my mother and the boy bent slightly to greet me. I barely stirred as he did so. I imagine I was even quivering a bit. I had never been to a temple proper. The effect of it was staggering at first. I met his eyes for a moment and he held me in his gaze. Eyes are so descriptive and in his I saw something I had never seen, myself.
“Your fear is misplaced sister; Naamah bestows strength through love in all her children’s wake. Trust and be proud.” He gave a very sure smile that lifted my soul. Then took my hand and led me to Naamah’s visage.
Odd as it maybe, and it is for my memory rarely fails me, I remember nothing of what transpired for the rest of that afternoon. On the ride home my mother confronted me on my mood.
“Are you troubled dear?” She asked.
“Not even a little bit mother.” I paused and then a flood of words came from me, “I realize now that for a long time I have indeed been troubled, but today all is well, beyond well in fact. I know papa wants to take care of us and has a large sense of obligation to you and the land and our family, but I think that obligation has blinded him. I don’t want to foster at another families estate, I don’t want to be married, I want to- have purpose…”
I stopped for a minute. “I love this land mama. I love its people, its meaning… I want my purpose in life to bring meaning, to bring love. I want to be a priestess mama.”
My mother let a small laugh escape, “You are wise beyond your year’s child. I doubt half the acolytes in Terre D’Ange can put Naamah's love so eloquently. I shall talk to your father.”
“No mother, I think I would like to tell him myself.” I said. I had no fear in telling him myself, I had no reason to fear. It had all been washed away with the words of an acolyte no older then I and that which is Naamah’s Gift.
“Well, I can hardly argue with that. It is your decision. Who knows it may just gladden his heart to hear your intentions.” She paused for a moment and her smile turned serious. “Did you know his uncle was a priest of Namaah. It’s a shame he’s no longer around, he may have had kind words on your behalf. Raphael Murain was your father’s uncle on his father’s side. I believe he was even in the City of Elua though your father doesn’t speak of it. Perhaps this purpose you speak of is a part of your lineage.” At that comment her carefree smile returned and we passed the rest of our ride easily.
I reflect on that day now that I am turning 16, now that a new gift is being presented to me. Still I have no fear. Still I have strength through love. Namaah’s gift is enduring, and I am now prepared to bestow it.
I may have been young, but one of the benefits about being the youngest of five girls is you never lack in information. Often times I needn’t even ask. If I just sat quietly and calmly most of what I wanted to know would be given freely. My oldest sister was 12 years my elder. She was basically my second mother. Nola was her name. For obvious reasons I remember little of actually living with her. Aside from the night my father indicated his intensions of her. She was he eldest, and he was not about to lose the farm he had spent so many years of blood and toil over to go to just any man. No he had a plan; which I heard all about at the knee of my mother when I was 6. He was not uncommon in his concern. He provided Nola with a wide variety of suitors he found acceptable to succeed him. Who or what, it meant nothing to me; I just recall raised voices and my sister being soothed by my mother's reasonable words.
"Dear child, Eula left on precept 'love as thou wilt'. You must understand that your father loves this land. That is the key Nola, find a man who loves the land as deeply as he loves you and that man in the next room will approve." Mother consoled Nola for the better part of the night. And in the morning she spoke with father.
She did of course and one after another I watched my sisters leave, for men, for fostering, for anything that my father thought would bring prosperity. It was winters end of my 1oth year, and my middle sister Joselle was leaving for the Fournac estate in Azzalle. I was troubled that day. Already my father had been negotiating a similar arrangement for my only remaining sister. That is where my unease came from. Valerie was barely a year over my age, if he was already making plans for her fostering then what remained for me. There was Niles, the Siovalies boy who had come to our vineyard shortly after my second sister left. He was nice and always full of lessons, that was always fun, but he was not my sister. He was nothing like my sister Valerie who was so beautiful and charismatic. Everyone was enamored with her, she was born for society, always saying the most gracious things and naturally entertaining. We would walk through the vineyard and she would quote poetry by the great Thelesis de Mornay and Anafiel Delaunay. Then I would tell stories of Alban folk lore and D’Angeline history. I never had the presence she did but we would practice endlessly and she would coach me. I thought that day as Joselle rode away, ‘How long until it’s Valerie, then again how long until it’s me?’ My mother hugged us as the team pulled away. She was crying a little of course, she always did, she also always went to the temple after one of us left. I felt the need to go with her this time.
“Mama, I’ll go with you this time… I feel I need to as well.” I looked at her teary eyes when I said it and saw the gladness and sadness that reflected in her eyes, two sides of the same mirror. Something clicked. I felt something. Though in my ignorance I knew not what it was. Looking back I see it was purpose.
She gave a hopeful smile when she replied, “My love, nothing would be better. We’ll make a day of it; get a good night’s sleep. We’ll leave on the morrow.”
That next morning I woke up anew. The sun was brighter, the air was crisper, even the birds sang louder. I was happy, which made me feel guilty because I felt I really had nothing to be happy about. Yet I was undisputable happy. I ran around doing chores, joked with Niles and ran to the house to prepare for our trip. Most of the trip there was uneventful. I mostly just soaked in the surroundings. It was unseasonably warm and the scenery was budding for spring’s return. The temple we visited was modest. There was just an atrium with only two acolytes and one priestess who looked after it. Surprisingly there were other people there as well, just two elderly women sitting on a bench feeding doves and conversing in jovial tones. It looked like they did this often, and judging by the flock of doves that encompassed them I figured it so. The two acolytes greeted us, I noticed they were of my age; they kept their eyes down cast as we entered but being of such short stature I could see their eyes. My mother bent to give a kiss of greeting on their cheeks and they returned the favor. It was a girl and a boy, the boy was the eldest. They looked similar enough to be siblings. I suspect they were the priestess’s children. The girl welcomed me first, she had bright eyes and a warm smile and the room smelled of honey when she was close. She then turned to gather our offering from my mother and the boy bent slightly to greet me. I barely stirred as he did so. I imagine I was even quivering a bit. I had never been to a temple proper. The effect of it was staggering at first. I met his eyes for a moment and he held me in his gaze. Eyes are so descriptive and in his I saw something I had never seen, myself.
“Your fear is misplaced sister; Naamah bestows strength through love in all her children’s wake. Trust and be proud.” He gave a very sure smile that lifted my soul. Then took my hand and led me to Naamah’s visage.
Odd as it maybe, and it is for my memory rarely fails me, I remember nothing of what transpired for the rest of that afternoon. On the ride home my mother confronted me on my mood.
“Are you troubled dear?” She asked.
“Not even a little bit mother.” I paused and then a flood of words came from me, “I realize now that for a long time I have indeed been troubled, but today all is well, beyond well in fact. I know papa wants to take care of us and has a large sense of obligation to you and the land and our family, but I think that obligation has blinded him. I don’t want to foster at another families estate, I don’t want to be married, I want to- have purpose…”
I stopped for a minute. “I love this land mama. I love its people, its meaning… I want my purpose in life to bring meaning, to bring love. I want to be a priestess mama.”
My mother let a small laugh escape, “You are wise beyond your year’s child. I doubt half the acolytes in Terre D’Ange can put Naamah's love so eloquently. I shall talk to your father.”
“No mother, I think I would like to tell him myself.” I said. I had no fear in telling him myself, I had no reason to fear. It had all been washed away with the words of an acolyte no older then I and that which is Naamah’s Gift.
“Well, I can hardly argue with that. It is your decision. Who knows it may just gladden his heart to hear your intentions.” She paused for a moment and her smile turned serious. “Did you know his uncle was a priest of Namaah. It’s a shame he’s no longer around, he may have had kind words on your behalf. Raphael Murain was your father’s uncle on his father’s side. I believe he was even in the City of Elua though your father doesn’t speak of it. Perhaps this purpose you speak of is a part of your lineage.” At that comment her carefree smile returned and we passed the rest of our ride easily.
I reflect on that day now that I am turning 16, now that a new gift is being presented to me. Still I have no fear. Still I have strength through love. Namaah’s gift is enduring, and I am now prepared to bestow it.