The Pearl Of Vynes - Chapter 6 The Village Festival

Washing the last set of clothes in the woven basket, Alice hung them up along the thin rope line that was strung between two posts to dry the clothing in the hot sun. Alice bent down and washed her hands of the last of the grime and dirt from the washing. It had become a common pastime for her as she had gotten older. As a woman, Alice had filled out well in many ways, often said as by her family to be the pride of the household. Being at the age of fifteen Alice was often the target for many a young man’s proposal. If not for her fathers gruff exterior and treatment of the many visitors, she would have had them lining up in the village in front of their house. Her parents were showing their age these days, despite holding onto the vigour of youth with desperate clutches. Her father walked past her while Alice was sitting down, bringing home another haul of food to celebrate the feast being held later tonight. At the end of the food gathering throughout the day, the village would hold a feast to give thanks to their ancestors and spirits that blessed the crops. It made a good time to come together at the end of an always tougher growing season. As much as the thought of festivals excited her, the dancing and celebration could never compare to her old memories. She could still remember the haunting tunes of the faded ghosts dancing and celebrating throughout the village so many years ago now, often she would hum to herself without noticing she would produce the same tune. Alice grabbed her wickers basket and looked over at the hills, much of the merchants had left for the day and no one would arrive for a while. Was adventure really around that corner? Idly touching the stone necklace out of habit that sat at the hollow of her neck. The gleam the stone held had faded over the years, giving Alice a soft sadness as she slowly watched the last of her necklace losing its shine. Alice had asked her mother about this, as she knew much of the these things that no one could explain. The fiery blaze of colour and shimmer was now only memories, barely satisfying her ache for something more. Walking inside the house, Alice started to prepare and make the food their household would contribute for the celebrations.

Joel was balancing on top of a ladder in the village street, trying to tie up some lanterns that were hanging off string that Joel had bundled in his hand. Setting it in place and observed his work he looked around at the other townsfolk making preparations for the night. Many of the other villagers were setting up their own decorations having traded with the travelling merchants that came through just before. A number of villagers were busying themselves in the centre of the village, a large table was being setup being built out of the many tables that all the villagers owned and creating a long line through the town. Chairs were starting to appear and surrounded the ever building long table as villagers walked back forth from their homes. Im sure Alice will be excited Joel thought to himself. Ever since Miles had come to the village a number of years ago, Alice had become restless and would declared how much she would be ready for adventure. Sometimes Alice would goof off when she used to work so diligently to help the family, often some days surprising her father stating she had slain a troll that lived under the bridge or spotted some odd faeries that were spreading pollen among the flowers. Joel hoped she would grow out of it, but at the same time he felt she was becoming more enthusiastic about it. Joel sighed to himself, Alice was already within marrying age, but he couldn’t let her be married away in good conscience, for the good of her future husband and dealing with her shenanigans. Joel turned back to the work at hand, helping a number of villagers putting up a banner and decorations that was covering the tops of the roofs that was in the village. Joel could see Alice helping transport the food to the tables out of the corner of his eye.

Some of the townsfolk were already lighting the lanterns already hanging from the rafters as the food was set on the outside tables. Everyone was bringing their harvests for the seasons, a lot of breads and vegetables lined the tables, the occasional fruits and soups were also lined along with the food. The bustle of people and conversing between each other became a low roar as everyone sat down together, complaining about the weather and how the next season might go. Having finished Joel went over to join the town at the table, Narissa sitting next to him as they already started to snack on some of the food. As Alice took her seat at the table next to them, Alice looked around at all the familiar faces as everyone resisted digging into the full feast in front of them. The toll of a bell at the head of the table hushed the crowd and everyone turned their heads towards the sound. The elder of the village stood at the end of the long table and cleared his throat, the hand bell in his hands being placed down as he faced the village.

“Villagers, it had been a tough season. We’ve endured our share of hardships, and our difficulties we all had to overcome. Goblins attacks, crops dying, and many a time were our bad luck was almost overwhelming. But here we are, we’ve overcome all that this world has thrown at us, with the successes of our year we make offerings to those before us and wish for much luck into the future. Let us eat!” shouted the elder and he sat back down. Everyone started to take food and pass plates along the line of people as the festivities started up. The sound of the fiddle, pipes and drums set the tone of the night as the noise of conversation started up quickly. Except for Alice.

for visiting.

Yes they had been attacked by goblins but there were only two small ones, which her father quickly taken dealt with by her father. Alice didn’t feel excited anymore as the wonders she had seen in her youth seemed like so much of a fairy tale. Her father often berated her in wandering often and telling him what she had seen. She still sat there mulling over her thoughts as she ate, her father casting a worried look as Alice was staring into space again. The town dance was starting soon and Joel worried that no boys would work up the courage to ask Alice for a round dance again. Alice may have become a woman in the eyes of others but she was much more of a man past her exterior, always doing hardy work and getting into the filthier jobs that left the impression of a lacking any feminine traits. Sighing to himself, Joel took a long swig from his ale tankard that had been dropped in front of him as the tavern had expanded outside for the night, Narissa watched her husband with a bemused expression. The music had picked up in pace and people started running out to dance in the centre of town. As Alice watched the dancing a hand tapped her shoulder, turning around a slightly older man held his hand out to her, despite Alice not really having danced much she felt hopeful. The older man looked so familiar to her but Alice couldn’t put her finger on where she had seen him before, and she knew most of the people in the village.

“Would you care for a dance missy?” the older man said with a smile, an outstretched hand in front of her. Alice took his hand and the older man lead her into the throng of dancers. Grabbing her by the waist they started to dance along with the fast beat of the performing band behind the two.