Chapter 1 - 2190 Words
This is told from Zillah's perspective, and as such, is in first person format.
To tell my tale would take a lifetime within it’s own right, so for now it will be just of what had happened when I had first met the man that would turn out to be my life and love for all eternity, and of the first amount of time that we had been together. Of course, it did not start out in this manner, as no love such as mine could ever do…but in the end, love transcended even the inner depths of darkness and death. The time I could not tell you, for it was so long ago that I hardly remember it…but it was during the beginnings of the world, or at least it feels like it had been based on the lack of knowledge that humans now own compared to that time. I had been one that was to be wed to a merchant, so that my way of life would be guaranteed, as would the lives of my parents, and of my younger brother. To preserve life, and to also allow future generations to also have theirs, it was only natural that people would have arranged marriages so that there would be a gain of wealth or nobility. My mother had thought small and simple, while my father thought grand and complex. Their decision had come after a long and tiresome chat one night as suitors would come for my hand. The one that was the wealthiest also was the simplest of my suitors, and so my parents had finally agreed to it. I was to go the next morning in order to see to my future husband, and being the good daughter that kept to herself, I humbly obeyed my parent’s request, wearing what was my best dress, which almost seemed as nothing more than a brown dress of rags. My red hair was placed within a hood, the sight of my hair being a color that none other than myself had, it seemed, just like my kind little brother's, and so would stop those that would enjoy my company because of it. My fair skin and slightly enticing appearance, other than my eyes, had been one that was almost sought after, but only when my hair had been hidden, and the artist depicted me as having normal eye color. As I left early within the morning, there were people that had been outside at the time before dawn, most of them being those that were starting to gather supplies to open their carts. I passed by a rather odd one, it seeming to be out of place in comparison to those around it, but would not avert my attention away from the destination, regardless of the interest it had gotten from my thoughts. As I passed a few people, I noticed that a couple had a unique and quite strange parlor to them, as if they had stayed out of the sunlight. The first thoughts that ran through my head were that they were extremely wealthy, or they had wealthy families that would provide for them without they going out to do an honest day’s labor. Those were the ones that I had been appalled of, for they do nothing more than sit their lives away while others did their work for them.
One gentleman in particular had caught my interest for a moment longer than the rest of those that were wandering about almost with him. He had black hair that was actually longer than what I had ever seen on a man, and for the faintest of moments I had stared at him, unable to decipher of if he was a man or woman by how covered in robes he was. It became apparent that it was a male only after I had gotten close enough, his eyes starting to stare intensely into mine as I had finally seen that he was a male. He waved as he stared, a closed-mouth smile being all that he would give to me with the hand gesture. Unable to think of a reaction, I only walked past him, lowering my head and hood to become barely seen to those that I had no business with. I felt eyes on me, and I knew that they had belonged to the male that I had given the brush off to, but I couldn’t pause to apologize, nor to say something of a greeting. I had a journey to take to the other side of the marketplace, and should I find the man after business would be concluded, I would later apologize to him. Though I thought that would be the end of my knowing of this man, it had come to be that he was doing more than staring at me…he was in fact following me a few steps behind. Upon a slight pause in needing to as a cart rolled by, it gave the man time to catch up to me without looking like he was meaning to. “Why did you not at least give some kind of a gesture in return for my wishing to say hello?” I kept my eyes ahead, my lips moving only slightly as I responded to him. “I am very busy, for I am meeting the man that I have been arranged to be married to, and I am unable to take a moment’s pause.” As soon as the cart was no longer a hindrance, I stepped across the busy area, it being apparent now that I would not hold anything of interest towards this man because I was already betrothed and on my way towards the man I am supposed to marry, but the man would not give up, already continuing to walk with me as I continued along the path that would be my future. “Well, betrothed or not, it is still quite rude to walk past someone in such a manner as what you had done. I was only trying to be polite.” Closing my eyes for a moment longer than what I normally would, I sighed silently under my breath. “If it is an apology that you are asking for, then you have it. I apologize for being rude, more now because I must say good day to you, sir, for I need to quicken my pace in order to meet the merchant on time. It is becoming closer to dawn, and he’ll have no time for me if dawn arises and I am not there.”
My pace quickened, and apparently his did as well, for I still felt that he was nearby, even if trying to stand slightly away, not wanting anyone, especially I, to gain the wrong idea. It was only vaguely interesting that this man would continue to follow along with me even knowing that I was going to meet my betrothed, but I would make sure that it would not make my name slandered because this man was walking with me. “You know, you should not worry so much about me walking near you, for there are more dangers within this world that you could not begin to fathom that could be walking alongside of you.” His words had sent chills down my spine, almost making me stop in frozen terror. How had he known of what it was that I was thinking? What kind of a man was this that had come to walk near me? Many questions arose from my mind, but none of them would I dare to think of, in case he had a way to see my thoughts again. The idea of him knowing what I thought filled me with fear, but thinking of what I had said, as well as how I had steadily walked faster might have also given that impression, as well, so I only thought it off as something to that nature. “Sir, there are things that I am sure might be worse than a man walking along with a woman trying to have a conversation, but I do not need to have such frivolous thoughts, for I am a woman that normally does not ever wander around without an escort. The reason for this time is because I am meeting the one that I am arranged to be married to.” The lie seemed to be one that would have any normal man not question further, for it was normal in these times to have an escort unless going to the one that would be your spouse, but I was not one that held wealth, and was unable to have that luxury. “Judging by the robes that you wear that hide your red hair and amethyst eyes, I doubt very much that you are of any nobility to make such a statement.”
It had been amazing that through that brief moment that he had seen my face, he had been able to see what most would think had been their imagination, and brush it off just as easily. Truly this man was one that was remarkable, but one that had most likely never kept a woman for longer than a week. “Well, I am sure that soon I will have such escorts, for my betrothed is just in the next merchant’s cart, and he has wealth, so please excuse me.” I did not wish to have him around my person any longer, and I ran the last few paces to get to the cart that held the man to be my husband. He came around the cart as he saw me come to a stop, and looked at me. “Remove the hood.” I heard him say in such a gruff voice that it had almost made me cringe from the harshness, but I did as I was told, and had relented to his commands, not hesitating for a moment. I looked upon him, revealing my long red hair and amethyst eyes for him to see. He looked at my eyes for a long moment, then came close, examining my hair thoroughly. Once he was satisfied, he moved his hands around my body above the robes, checking of how thick my thighs were, how plump my breasts had been, how small my waist was, and any other thought that would come to mind without being distasteful or invading my form. His touch was nothing short of painful, the thought coming to mind that this man had most likely never had handled anything delicately or softly, making me worry about how I would be handled on the night of our marriage. He took a step back, and crossed his arms. “Your hips are good for manual labor, but not for bearing sons. You will have to gain weight in order for you to be able to bear children without your life being forfeit, and we will have to find a way to hide your eyes and hair from all others so that we can be in polite nobility. You may go. I will give my price to your parents when the day is done.” He then waved me off, and I could only turn around in slight shame. I had felt that I was useless in those moments, knowing that I would be forced to hide myself from everyone that would look upon me.
The words that he spoke seemed to make me lose hope in being able to make my parents proud, or of ensuring a future for them, but I would only know the next night when he would place his price that he would give to my parents for me. I replaced my hood upon my head, and kept my head down as I once more returned to the place that would be my home for only a while longer. I wished a little that I hadn't had such eyes or hair so that I would be more presentable within this world. It almost seemed peaceful as I walked, but it was still unnerving because I saw the man following me once more. A few people that had started to wander into the streets before the morning hours seemed to stare in my direction, even if I did not know of it, nor of why it was. It could have possibly been because of my hair was slightly revealed even though most of it was in fact within the hood, or it could have been that many that knew of the arranged marriage would wonder of why it was that I was walking with a male so close to walking right next to me. I did not know of anything that would pertain to him specifically other than that he was walking behind a woman that was betrothed. My passage home was one of silence, but that silence was suddenly abruptly lost when I heard the sound of my little brother’s voice. “Sister Zillah! How did it go when you went to the merchant’s cart? I bet he had found you to be beautiful!” Looking at him, only a slight smile grazed my lips, but it had faded as my brother slowed almost to a stop not too far from myself.
This is told from Zillah's perspective, and as such, is in first person format.
To tell my tale would take a lifetime within it’s own right, so for now it will be just of what had happened when I had first met the man that would turn out to be my life and love for all eternity, and of the first amount of time that we had been together. Of course, it did not start out in this manner, as no love such as mine could ever do…but in the end, love transcended even the inner depths of darkness and death. The time I could not tell you, for it was so long ago that I hardly remember it…but it was during the beginnings of the world, or at least it feels like it had been based on the lack of knowledge that humans now own compared to that time. I had been one that was to be wed to a merchant, so that my way of life would be guaranteed, as would the lives of my parents, and of my younger brother. To preserve life, and to also allow future generations to also have theirs, it was only natural that people would have arranged marriages so that there would be a gain of wealth or nobility. My mother had thought small and simple, while my father thought grand and complex. Their decision had come after a long and tiresome chat one night as suitors would come for my hand. The one that was the wealthiest also was the simplest of my suitors, and so my parents had finally agreed to it. I was to go the next morning in order to see to my future husband, and being the good daughter that kept to herself, I humbly obeyed my parent’s request, wearing what was my best dress, which almost seemed as nothing more than a brown dress of rags. My red hair was placed within a hood, the sight of my hair being a color that none other than myself had, it seemed, just like my kind little brother's, and so would stop those that would enjoy my company because of it. My fair skin and slightly enticing appearance, other than my eyes, had been one that was almost sought after, but only when my hair had been hidden, and the artist depicted me as having normal eye color. As I left early within the morning, there were people that had been outside at the time before dawn, most of them being those that were starting to gather supplies to open their carts. I passed by a rather odd one, it seeming to be out of place in comparison to those around it, but would not avert my attention away from the destination, regardless of the interest it had gotten from my thoughts. As I passed a few people, I noticed that a couple had a unique and quite strange parlor to them, as if they had stayed out of the sunlight. The first thoughts that ran through my head were that they were extremely wealthy, or they had wealthy families that would provide for them without they going out to do an honest day’s labor. Those were the ones that I had been appalled of, for they do nothing more than sit their lives away while others did their work for them.
One gentleman in particular had caught my interest for a moment longer than the rest of those that were wandering about almost with him. He had black hair that was actually longer than what I had ever seen on a man, and for the faintest of moments I had stared at him, unable to decipher of if he was a man or woman by how covered in robes he was. It became apparent that it was a male only after I had gotten close enough, his eyes starting to stare intensely into mine as I had finally seen that he was a male. He waved as he stared, a closed-mouth smile being all that he would give to me with the hand gesture. Unable to think of a reaction, I only walked past him, lowering my head and hood to become barely seen to those that I had no business with. I felt eyes on me, and I knew that they had belonged to the male that I had given the brush off to, but I couldn’t pause to apologize, nor to say something of a greeting. I had a journey to take to the other side of the marketplace, and should I find the man after business would be concluded, I would later apologize to him. Though I thought that would be the end of my knowing of this man, it had come to be that he was doing more than staring at me…he was in fact following me a few steps behind. Upon a slight pause in needing to as a cart rolled by, it gave the man time to catch up to me without looking like he was meaning to. “Why did you not at least give some kind of a gesture in return for my wishing to say hello?” I kept my eyes ahead, my lips moving only slightly as I responded to him. “I am very busy, for I am meeting the man that I have been arranged to be married to, and I am unable to take a moment’s pause.” As soon as the cart was no longer a hindrance, I stepped across the busy area, it being apparent now that I would not hold anything of interest towards this man because I was already betrothed and on my way towards the man I am supposed to marry, but the man would not give up, already continuing to walk with me as I continued along the path that would be my future. “Well, betrothed or not, it is still quite rude to walk past someone in such a manner as what you had done. I was only trying to be polite.” Closing my eyes for a moment longer than what I normally would, I sighed silently under my breath. “If it is an apology that you are asking for, then you have it. I apologize for being rude, more now because I must say good day to you, sir, for I need to quicken my pace in order to meet the merchant on time. It is becoming closer to dawn, and he’ll have no time for me if dawn arises and I am not there.”
My pace quickened, and apparently his did as well, for I still felt that he was nearby, even if trying to stand slightly away, not wanting anyone, especially I, to gain the wrong idea. It was only vaguely interesting that this man would continue to follow along with me even knowing that I was going to meet my betrothed, but I would make sure that it would not make my name slandered because this man was walking with me. “You know, you should not worry so much about me walking near you, for there are more dangers within this world that you could not begin to fathom that could be walking alongside of you.” His words had sent chills down my spine, almost making me stop in frozen terror. How had he known of what it was that I was thinking? What kind of a man was this that had come to walk near me? Many questions arose from my mind, but none of them would I dare to think of, in case he had a way to see my thoughts again. The idea of him knowing what I thought filled me with fear, but thinking of what I had said, as well as how I had steadily walked faster might have also given that impression, as well, so I only thought it off as something to that nature. “Sir, there are things that I am sure might be worse than a man walking along with a woman trying to have a conversation, but I do not need to have such frivolous thoughts, for I am a woman that normally does not ever wander around without an escort. The reason for this time is because I am meeting the one that I am arranged to be married to.” The lie seemed to be one that would have any normal man not question further, for it was normal in these times to have an escort unless going to the one that would be your spouse, but I was not one that held wealth, and was unable to have that luxury. “Judging by the robes that you wear that hide your red hair and amethyst eyes, I doubt very much that you are of any nobility to make such a statement.”
It had been amazing that through that brief moment that he had seen my face, he had been able to see what most would think had been their imagination, and brush it off just as easily. Truly this man was one that was remarkable, but one that had most likely never kept a woman for longer than a week. “Well, I am sure that soon I will have such escorts, for my betrothed is just in the next merchant’s cart, and he has wealth, so please excuse me.” I did not wish to have him around my person any longer, and I ran the last few paces to get to the cart that held the man to be my husband. He came around the cart as he saw me come to a stop, and looked at me. “Remove the hood.” I heard him say in such a gruff voice that it had almost made me cringe from the harshness, but I did as I was told, and had relented to his commands, not hesitating for a moment. I looked upon him, revealing my long red hair and amethyst eyes for him to see. He looked at my eyes for a long moment, then came close, examining my hair thoroughly. Once he was satisfied, he moved his hands around my body above the robes, checking of how thick my thighs were, how plump my breasts had been, how small my waist was, and any other thought that would come to mind without being distasteful or invading my form. His touch was nothing short of painful, the thought coming to mind that this man had most likely never had handled anything delicately or softly, making me worry about how I would be handled on the night of our marriage. He took a step back, and crossed his arms. “Your hips are good for manual labor, but not for bearing sons. You will have to gain weight in order for you to be able to bear children without your life being forfeit, and we will have to find a way to hide your eyes and hair from all others so that we can be in polite nobility. You may go. I will give my price to your parents when the day is done.” He then waved me off, and I could only turn around in slight shame. I had felt that I was useless in those moments, knowing that I would be forced to hide myself from everyone that would look upon me.
The words that he spoke seemed to make me lose hope in being able to make my parents proud, or of ensuring a future for them, but I would only know the next night when he would place his price that he would give to my parents for me. I replaced my hood upon my head, and kept my head down as I once more returned to the place that would be my home for only a while longer. I wished a little that I hadn't had such eyes or hair so that I would be more presentable within this world. It almost seemed peaceful as I walked, but it was still unnerving because I saw the man following me once more. A few people that had started to wander into the streets before the morning hours seemed to stare in my direction, even if I did not know of it, nor of why it was. It could have possibly been because of my hair was slightly revealed even though most of it was in fact within the hood, or it could have been that many that knew of the arranged marriage would wonder of why it was that I was walking with a male so close to walking right next to me. I did not know of anything that would pertain to him specifically other than that he was walking behind a woman that was betrothed. My passage home was one of silence, but that silence was suddenly abruptly lost when I heard the sound of my little brother’s voice. “Sister Zillah! How did it go when you went to the merchant’s cart? I bet he had found you to be beautiful!” Looking at him, only a slight smile grazed my lips, but it had faded as my brother slowed almost to a stop not too far from myself.