Females in our communities reach age of union at 16. While most are not wed until 18 or older, courtship begins at 16. More than half the courtships begin as a blend of arraignment and attraction. In our more primal days the man fought and won his bride, even if she did not want him. Now we have come to appreciate the romance of the journey. In fact, the man who won both his bride and her heart was considered an "Earned" The Earned was almost like an elder in a community. My father was an Earned, but did not care for the status.
Him being an Earned did affect me. As the daughter of an Earned, I was considered more desirable. My father still watched with pride as various suitors came to fight for my heart. None ever won it. I felt that I was too far of an outsider to become grafted into the community again. I was not shunned thankfully, but just made others wary and for a good reason. It was not often that a female earned the title of Huntress. It was reserved for the most deadly and skilled. I was the last of the younger huntresses in our gathering. More and more females of my age were learning more modern skills. I was the one looked on in almost fear.
Since my 16th year I have had eight suitors. Most women, even if they held off marriage for a better chance, would be lucky to have had five. Ten years have passed since and by my 22nd year of age, none came for me. I had become tired of refusing any pursuance and after my father was killed, I became even more distant from any young men around me. I am content with my solitude. Familiarity with my secluded world is comforting.