Lunamae

by April Sadowski

  “I do,” Theron said, looking at me with loving eyes. He was holding my hand as well. Barri repeated the question to me, only switching the names to address me.

  “I do,” I answered, gazing up into Theron’s brown pools.

  “Then by the powers invested to me by the Creator and the ministry of Bexweth Abbey and the Chapel of Feyris, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Theron, you may kiss your bride,” Barri announced and Theron took me into his arms and brushed his hand over my face. He held my waist and kissed me firmly. Applause rang out from the chapel, almost deafening. The king and queen of Fanarion stood and clapped and the rest of the audience followed as well.

  “I am pleased to introduce His Grace, Theron, son of Fanarion, and Her Grace, daughter of Fanarion, Muirenn.” Barri finished and showed us off. We walked down the aisle and headed towards the keep which was prepared for us in a similar fashion to the winter feast. Instead of pinecones and cinnamon it was white lace, bells, red berries, and the smell of lavender. The tables were all covered with white linens and large silver candlesticks (once again, courtesy of our new silversmith). We took our spot at the head of the table where there were two large goblets waiting for us.

  “How does it feel to be called ‘my wife’ now?” Theron asked me. I giggled.

  “What about husband?” I asked him. He smiled and kissed me again, energy rushing down my spine. We sat at the table in each other’s arms. The rest of the day was absolutely glorious. There was what seemed like an unending stream of entertainment. The traveling troupe we hired did an excellent job. Every person had multiple talents. Most played two or more instruments as well as having some sort of acrobatic talent. There were jugglers, contortionists, and dancers and all would perform to the songs by the other people in the group. Brynna had outdone herself in planning the food. The tables were practically overflowing with victuals. The servants had brought in several soups and stews to start us off. Then they had a large pig on a silver spit they put in the center of the room while the entertainers continued their performance around it. We also had stuffed partridge, a variety of cheeses, stewed cabbage and spinach tart, sallat, dates and nuts, ale bread, as well as several beverages. The monks of Bexweth donated some of their fall brews and honey meads and we also had wine from Theron’s parents. I never had wine before and I quite liked the taste. I didn’t like the bubbliness of ale and other brews the monks made. Wine didn’t have that, although some of the blends I had tasted were dry. The children of the village were given warm cow milk sweetened with honey.

  After the food was all devoured, the tables were cleared off and moved into a corner so the village could join in dancing. The acrobats all got their instruments and played for us. Theron took me in his arms and swirled me about the floor. When it was all over we had some cake and then got ready to leave for our journey to Midonia and then Aelisonia. The caravan was all set up outside the keep. It was smaller than the one when I first went to Fanarion, but still large enough for adequate protection from bandits for when we went to Aelisonia and had to travel up through the mountains where they can easily hide and overtake a caravan.

  Theron went up to his apartment and let me gather my things from mine. I was taking my clothes which were really all of my belongings. I did have my herb chest but with Theron with me it was kind of pointless. If anyone was injured he could heal them. Then I remembered he hadn’t told anyone so I took it with me to sit outside the door, just in case. King Cyrus had an apothecary sent up to take over for Theron until he returned and could properly train an apprentice. We had decided it would be better that way than have Cyrus’ apothecary train the apprentice. Theron was already on good terms with the village and the transition would be easier since he knew where everything was. Even though it is a seven year process, he was willing to stay and do it unless something happened to his father.

  Eclipse padded happily towards me. He noticed what I was doing and looked at me intently.

  “It’s okay baby,” I told him. “You are coming with us. I’m not leaving you here.” He came towards me and rubbed his face against my skirts, his black fur sticking to my white satin dress. “I should get out of this thing, shouldn’t I?” The cat meowed in agreement.

  Lunamae entered my room just then, clapping her hands in celebration.

  “Getting ready?” she asked me.

  “Trying to,” I said to her. “Can you help me out of this dress? I should change into traveling clothes. I don’t think I’ll need help with my hair, except to remove the crown. I think I’m supposed to wear it in Fanarion, I don’t know about in Aelisonia. Maybe I am?”

  “You are a ‘daughter of Fanarion’ now, it’s a higher rank than me … I think. I wouldn’t have a clue,” Lunamae stated. “I’ll help you though.” Lunamae assisted in helping me remove the golden crown and I put it in my clothes trunk for traveling. She helped me get out of the dress by lifting it over my head and offered to see to the cleaning of it for me so I could store it later when I got back. I got dressed in a chemise with a warm wool overdress. I was a little hesitant to do so for fear of it being stolen but I didn’t want to carry it. I made sure everything was tied and my belt and pouch were on before picking up Eclipse to head out.

  Theron was at the door waiting for me. He had everything of his packed up already. He didn’t take much up from Fanarion when he came here to be the herbalist so there wasn’t much to load into the caravan. He wanted to see his brother again, wondering if he had changed at all.

  “You expect me to take down your baggage?” he teased from the doorway. I just smiled sweetly at him and nodded. “Oh very well.” I couldn’t possibly carry anything with Eclipse in my arms. He was getting quite large now with his diet of milk, when available, and meats. Sometimes he would gather an added treat of fresh mouse if he felt in the mood to hunt. If he was just a catling I would have been able to carry him with one arm and then have another free.

  “Might I get a hug before you go running off?” Lunamae asked me as I was about to walk out the door. Theron started to take my chest and clothes trunk to our own separate coach. I put Eclipse down so I could embrace her properly and then picked him back up again. “I know we haven’t seen each other much this year, but I’ll miss you. If anything interesting happens over here I’ll send a messenger over to inform you. You might want to send a messenger to me in case you change your course.”

  “It sounds like a brilliant idea Lunamae,” I told her with all sincerity. “I’ll miss you as well. I don’t intend to be gone quite so long. Our stay in Midonia will be brief. Then perhaps we’ll be in Aelisonia a few months or maybe a bit longer. It just depends on how things go. We don’t want them thinking we don’t appreciate their hospitality when it is extended to us.” She patted Eclipse’s head and told him goodbye and then told me goodbye. As I went down the stairs I noticed the foyer was filled with villagers. The chief dame, Lunamae, and the king and queen of Fanarion were there at the front. I saw my mother and father behind them. Theron came back into the keep, a little startled from the crowd that had formed.

  The chief dame approached us. “We wanted to see you both off safely. Barri would like to perform a blessing over you all as well for journeying mercies. If you don’t mind, Your Graces.” We both nodded and stood together facing everyone. The friar came up to us and placed his hand above our heads. Eclipse squirmed a little in my arms so Lunamae came forward to take him until the blessing was over.

  “To the Creator I ask for this newly joined couple and the king and queen of Fanarion, that you will bestow your protection on them and shield them from all harm if it be in your will. I ask in that in all things they shine for you and that your blessings will shine on them.” Barri completed the blessing and the audience clapped. I could tell the king and queen were a little uncomfortable—unused to the worship of our Creator. I doubt they were shocked to see Theron so open to it. He liked to have servitude completely to one being than divided to many. I hoped he really believed
in the Creator and the Teacher and the words in the Text of Illumination. Unfortunately I didn’t have a copy to take on the journey. The situation changed when the chief dame motioned for a monk to come forward. He was holding a newly scribed Text.

  “I thought you should have your own, for your family as well when you get around to making one,” Angharad said warmly. She took the Text from the monk and handed it to me. “I know you appreciate the written word and Theron can benefit from it as well. It would be something useful to pass the time on your journey.” I thanked her and Lunamae handed Eclipse to Theron. We both walked out of the keep and got situated in our coach in the caravan. I put the Text down next to me and waved for Theron to give me my Eclipse. After I had him in my lap, shut the doors so Eclipse couldn’t leave, and closed the drape near me, Theron made the sign to the driver through his draped window to proceed. We were off on our journey to Midonia and to Aelisonia.

  Chapter 11

  Journey to the Unknown

  I yawned as the coach ventured on. Thank goodness it was still rather early afternoon, but the day left me so exhausted. We were in the carriage behind Theron’s parents and the scenery was rather boring. We took an alternate route to Midonia as the king and queen informed us going through Terrinia would take too long. We were going to take the King’s Pass to the first split and head down to Pinor. There was a small path from Pinor to Alta and then an almost unknown one from Alta to Lesaria in Fanarion.

  The King’s Pass was beautiful this time of year, the arching trees not only bended to welcome us, but their plumage was extravagant. Hues of orange, purple, red, and yellow flamed our path forward into the direction of Aelisonia. The land in actuality was quite small. It was the smallest country in all Orinda. That didn’t matter really since they had a good trade in stone, iron, furs, and paper. I wondered why they hadn’t been taken over by any other countries because of their size so I asked Theron.

  “Because they are able to produce iron, they also can forge weapons. They aren’t a violent people but they could defend themselves very well,” he explained to me.

  “It makes sense, but they do trade their iron, don’t they?” I wondered.

  “Yes they do. They also don’t trade all of it. They keep a good supply in storage,” he said.

  “Is it safe the way we are going?” I pondered. Pinor traded with us, and Alta (just past that) was very amicable.

  “We will see,” Theron answered back. “Perhaps you should get some sleep and worry about it later.”

  “Right,” I said, nodding off.

  Our journey past Alta led us into the next day. I woke up before Theron who was resting his head on my shoulder. Eclipse was meowing. I rubbed my eyes and tried to shush him but it did no good. I knew what was wrong. He needed out to go do his business. I nudged Theron to wake him up.

  “What is it? Are we in Lesaria already?” he asked.

  “No, it’s Eclipse. He needs to relieve himself. He’s been stuck in here for hours and it’s no wonder,” I told him. He nodded in understanding. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for the catling. Eclipse’s eyes were sorrowful.

  “Driver?” he shouted out of his window. “Can you call to the caravan leader to stop for a while?” I heard the driver call out and the coach slowed down.

  “This will give me time to stretch my legs,” I said, picking up Eclipse and waiting for the driver to open the door to the coach. I handed the cat off to the driver so he could put him down. Eclipse scattered off into the woods and quickly pattered back. The driver handed him to me and closed the door.

  “You are such a good boy,” I told the cat. He just purred in my lap as I petted his head and the caravan started up again.

  “Don’t you think he’s hungry?” Theron asked me.

  I looked at Eclipse who appeared to be sleeping. “He doesn’t look hungry. Usually he starts meowing and walking around in circles when he’s hungry. Too bad he can’t get fresh food while on the journey. It would take too long if we allowed him to hunt. Perhaps he could do that in Midonia. Speaking of which, why didn’t Alexo come?”

  “He probably was too lazy. He doesn’t like to travel much and when he does he makes such a fuss. It seems as though nothing is up to his standards even though my parents are just fine. They would rather he stay where he won’t cause trouble,” he explained to me. I looked into his big brown eyes and they softened as they returned the gaze. “I’m sorry our wedding night was in a coach.”

  “I’ve been waiting for twenty-six years. I can wait a while longer,” I told him lovingly. “Do you think we will have much time to ourselves in Midonia?”

  “I am not sure. We haven’t had any royal weddings in my lifetime. I am not exactly sure what happens. I do know we are going to be quite busy when we arrive. Hopefully we can make it to Lesaria by the end of the day. I’m looking forward to seeing one of my childhood friends that joined the army.”

  “Joined the army?” I asked curiously. I had never heard of that term before.

  “Oh I am sorry, I forgot,” he apologized to me. Continuing further to explain, “We have a voluntary military structure for the most part. The men have a chance to better their status and gain wealth. We obviously haven’t had any hostilities lately from the clans or the Chalosians. There is a part of the Oycos forest that the gorlags like to breach. Usually the gorlags don’t have much of value on them but sometimes you can get lucky.”

  “I haven’t heard of the gorlags much. What do they look like?” I wondered, petting Eclipse as the coach jiggled back and forth over the rough path. “I have always wanted to know.”

  “I haven’t seen one myself. I have heard they are quite large and strong. They are fierce creatures. We should have never tried to keep them as servants in the old days. I think they will forever spite us for it,” Theron said quietly. “They were paid well - in nothing more than dirt baths and food. They gave us so much and we gave them little. It’s no wonder they have taken over part of the land from Clan Vorkulsen.”

  “My late uncle’s clan, may he rest in the Creator’s arms forever.” I commented.

  “The clan is small, they don’t have many means of defending themselves. They can only work in fortifying what they have. The gorlags have been quiet lately. I suspect one day, when the clan is weak, they will attack and take it over altogether.” Theron said to me. He put his arm around me to comfort me, noticing the look in my face. Eclipse felt squished I think, so he jumped over to the empty bench across from us. “I’m sure other clans will help if that ever came to pass. The gorlags are fine as they are for now I think.”

  “I hope they stay right where they are,” I said, calming down a bit.

  “What a great land it would be if the clans could unite,” Theron said wistfully. “The gorlags might never be a threat.”

  “If the Kyrians would send over a suitable match for Lunamae they would. We would be stronger then. I wonder who the rhymester was that gave the prophecy of the unification. Maybe it was someone sent from the Creator. Maybe the gorlags planted it so we would be more enticing to conquer.” Perhaps the Kyrians decided to wait until after I was married to tell Angharad of their match. It only made the chief dame ever more impatient though.

  “Try not to worry so much. Just relax and enjoy your company,” he told me with a smile. “Remember, we are married. It’s worth rejoicing.”

  Truthfully, I was a bit scared. I didn’t know what to expect when it came to marriage. Mothers don’t teach their children these things. You learn as you do. While I was of course physically attracted to Theron, there was so much I didn’t really know about him. Much of our relationship was based around what I felt was a lie. I still hung on to the little pang of anger whenever I thought about what he did. I know the Teacher wouldn’t want me to feel this way. I am supposed to forgive. It was very difficult to.

  This marriage felt a bit arranged. Well … it was. Theron had the note from his parents asking the chief dame and she agreed. I would have
never had any say in the matter. I didn’t have much time to ever see Theron. My whole concept of love was based on fool-hardy fantasy. Maybe I would learn to really love him as he really was. Not some servant in a secret relationship with a clan-ruler’s niece, but the son of a ruler who happened to look like a servant when he fell in love. At least with Lunamae, she saw Marcus and talked to him every day. I didn’t get to do that.

  I really shouldn’t be complaining. Theron’s heart was in the right place I suppose and at least I’m not marrying a stranger. Not like Lunamae.

  What about intimacy? What would that be like? I was glad I had a while before I needed to cross that bridge. I didn’t even want to consider children and childbirth. While I was not in earshot of Brynna when she had hers, I could not forget the wails from the birth of Lunamae … and the blood on my mother’s dress.

  “What is going on in that head of yours? You look off,” Theron asked me.

  “Just thinking,” I told him.

  He looked at me, a little puzzled. “Happy thoughts, I hope, Muirenn.”

  “Hmm.”

  “We’ll be in Lesaria in no time. You can rest and converse with my mother and maybe it will make you less cross looking,” he said to me.

  Lesaria was a blur. Apparently I was not considered an adult until I bore children. I was completely separated from Theron just before we reached Lesaria. His parents could have been kind enough to warn me but they thought I would put up more of a fight if I knew beforehand of what a Fanarion marriage would entail. I wonder if my aunt knew. She probably did. Something more I needed to forgive I guess.

  When we arrived at Lesaria, women came around me with blankets so I could not be seen as I was escorted away. I was taken to a special bath house where I was given a special bathing dress to put on and get in. The bath house had a rather small rectangular area that was built into the floor. I walked into it and sat down. A few children entered with bath water, pouring it into the area, making a pool. When the pool was full they left and an attendant came in to wait on me. I didn’t need waiting on. I was fully capable of dressing myself and was not comfortable undressing in front of a stranger.