Devotion
The
next morning, Gale awoke as the first rays of sun cast a spell over the room.
Gratia was asleep in his arms and he could hear birdsong outside the window.
What could be more perfect, he thought to himself. For the first time in ages he
felt secure and contented. He kissed her forehead.
Gently
slipping from between the sheets, he pulled on a woven robe and made his way
downstairs. The door to Lizzy’s room was slightly ajar, and he peeked in. She was
sprawled across the bed, fully dressed and fast asleep. He was sure he had heard
her come in early that morning and hoped it had been an easy birth. Pulling the
door shut, he went into the kitchen.
As
quietly as he could, he pulled some pans from beneath the basin and lit the
stove. The morning air was pinched with frost and it was clear that soon the
seasons would be changing. Already the first leaves were turning yellow outside
and the flame-red Dragon’s Tongue was flowering, indicating autumn.
He
heated a pan and fetched some sweet bread from the pantry, cracking a couple of
goose eggs into boiling water. Everything seemed so peaceful, and nothing in
the world could have made him happier than he felt right then. There was
something about that girl. She’d cast a spell on him – a gypsy spell. He smiled
to himself. As far as he was concerned, he never wanted it broken. Perhaps she
was the one. Maybe it was time for him to stop chasing never-ending dreams and
think about the future, what it might hold for him. But then, he had never been
one for planning ahead. Things never seemed to turn out as they should if you did
that. He was much happier living each day at a time and seeing what it brought
him. Besides, he had lost too many women in his life to take anything for
granted. This time he wasn’t going to let her escape.
Scraping
the contents of the pan onto a plate, he pinched a flaxweed flower from the vase
and placed it on the side of the tray. Picking it up, he headed back to the
stairs and into the bedroom. He took the flower and gently stroked her cheek.
She wrinkled her nose and he kissed it.
Her eyes opened. She looked up at him and smiled a smile that melted his heart.
There
was something tickling her face. She screwed it up to make it go away, but it
didn’t. Snapping her eyes open, she found herself looking up at Gale and nothing
else in the room focused.
She smiled.
Her eyes opened. She looked up at him and smiled a smile that melted his heart.
She smiled.
Gently, she stretched in bed and pushed herself up to kiss him.
Within
days the leaves outside began to turn yellow, then red, rusty brown, and
eventually fell to the streets below.
They took up residence in Lizzy’s guest room, to her welcome approval. Gale continued to work the fields each day. He often came home tired and muddy, but as the ground began to freeze over there was less work to be done. He occupied himself by cutting firewood from a nearby forest. Gratia spent a couple of months following Lizzy, learning more about the advanced medicine she practised, but eventually she found solid work with a seamstress in a small dress shop. She spun thread and embroidered ancient gypsy patterns into fine silk dresses. She was paid well for her work.
They took up residence in Lizzy’s guest room, to her welcome approval. Gale continued to work the fields each day. He often came home tired and muddy, but as the ground began to freeze over there was less work to be done. He occupied himself by cutting firewood from a nearby forest. Gratia spent a couple of months following Lizzy, learning more about the advanced medicine she practised, but eventually she found solid work with a seamstress in a small dress shop. She spun thread and embroidered ancient gypsy patterns into fine silk dresses. She was paid well for her work.
Seasons
changed. With every month that came and went, their love grew in strength.
It was like a fairytale. They were devoted to each other. So long as their love
held strong, nothing in the world could touch them.
Autumn
gave way to winter. The thaw brought the first snowdrops of the new year, and
light nights heralded mid-spring.
It
was a fine sunny eve in mid-Daydulon, the month of long birdsong. Gratia and
Gale were walking arm-in-arm down Main
Street
Maybe she was dreaming things. But, no, there was definitely something. It was a strange piece of music. A sort of cheerful, nonsensical striking of empty bottles and metal tubes. There was a smell, too. A sweet, sugary smell. She looked up at him again, but still he didn’t appear to notice anything.
Other people did. All of a sudden, a group of young children came running down the street, practically knocking over older citizens in their hurry. There were cries and shouts from other children who came running out of houses to join the group. A gathering of youths standing in a tavern doorway also began to move in that direction. It was like watching a flock of geese migrating.
Maybe she was dreaming things. But, no, there was definitely something. It was a strange piece of music. A sort of cheerful, nonsensical striking of empty bottles and metal tubes. There was a smell, too. A sweet, sugary smell. She looked up at him again, but still he didn’t appear to notice anything.
Other people did. All of a sudden, a group of young children came running down the street, practically knocking over older citizens in their hurry. There were cries and shouts from other children who came running out of houses to join the group. A gathering of youths standing in a tavern doorway also began to move in that direction. It was like watching a flock of geese migrating.
She
tugged at his arm and looked up at him. There was something odd about his
expression. It looked like his jaw was knotted and he seemed tense for some
reason.
“What’s
that music?” she asked, her eyes glistening with curiosity.
“What
music? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
By
this time the sound was getting louder. Whatever the cause of it was, it was
getting closer.
“That music! Listen!” She pulled him to a
halt.
“I
have no idea.”
She
was about to press the matter further when she caught sight of Lizzy across the
street. She waved to her and beckoned for her to join them.
“What’s
all the commotion about?” she asked the witch.
Lizzy
laughed and shook her head. Some sort of coloured confetti fell from her long
blonde locks. “It’s the Lariaan fair, Gratia. Have you never seen a fair before?
It’s wonderful! They come every year with all sorts of things, performing
animals and acrobats. It’s wonderful!
They’re heading towards the central green to set up their tents. They’ll be
passing any minute now.”
Gratia’s
eyes lit up as bright as glow-stones and a smile of delight crossed her lips.
It was true, she had never seen a fair before, but she was dying to. She flung
her arms around Gale’s neck and kissed his cheek. “Oh, can we? Can we go? Please! Oh please let’s go and see the
fair!”
Gale
smiled back at her, but it seemed somewhat strained. She overlooked it, however. He had probably just been working too hard, sowing the new crop.
“It really isn’t that spectacular,” he started, but was instantly stopped short by her disappointed look. “Of course we can go, my love.”
“It really isn’t that spectacular,” he started, but was instantly stopped short by her disappointed look. “Of course we can go, my love.”
“Oh,
today? Can we go and see them today? Watch them setting up their tents?”
Lizzy
cut in. “There probably won’t be much happening tonight. They’ll be set up by
tomorrow night, though. Then everything will be going on. It would probably
be better to go then.”
“Oh,
but I’d love to see them setting up! Please
Gale! Please let’s go!”
She
was like a little child, he though. An incessant little girl with all her dreams
living around her. He sighed and reluctantly nodded. “Yes, we can go tonight if
that is what you wish.”
Gratia
let out a delighted giggle and kissed him again. Suddenly, a man in a brightly
coloured rag suit cartwheeled past her. The small golden bells on his hat
jingled loudly and he did a double backflip as the street watched him with
joyous astonishment.
Next
came a wooden wagon pulled by two white ponies with pink plumes. Painted
on the side was a huge sign reading Commedia dell'Arte. A lady in a bright red
dress with sequinned lace waved from the window, and a man with a white painted
face and tight black cap threw leaflets from the roof.
“Look,
there’s Clementine and Pierrot!” cried Lizzy in delight. “Oh, and Pantaloon.”
She pointed to an old man with a big, crooked wooden nose tied to his face.
Gratia
bent down and plucked one of the leaflets from the gutter, she read it...
Commedia dell'Arte of Lariaan!
Moon’staag - Ezmintaag, 7 to 11 every night.
Lariaan Green.
2 silver coins minimum donation.
Next
came a parade of dancing girls in rainbow silk, their dresses swirling ribbons and
streamers. There were elves playing flutes and drums, and people in all sorts of
masks. Everyone was dancing and throwing leaflets. People in the streets
joined in the parade, offering to help the fair set up. Children ran alongside
the larger wagons collecting penny sweets that were thrown to them.
Within minutes, the whole of the main street was swimming with colourful
confetti and dancing musicians. It was more amazing than her wildest dreams. Soon she found herself dancing in the streets with Lizzy.
Gale
stood and watched them laughing and making themselves dizzy with joy. He
watched the brightly painted carriages making their meandering journey through
the high street to the green, listening to the tinkling music that filled the
air. He found it impossible to share their excitement. He felt cold to the
bone. He had a bad feeling about the seemingly happy scene that played
itself out before him.
