The sun came up over Grestlin slowly. Celia left the inn feeling completely drained. The sun kissed her skin creating a sense of security. It was not warm, but still created the feeling of fervor. Everything from the previous night, played over and over in her head. Trying to make sense of it all was useless, because none of it made any sense. A headache began to form as she walked home. Wind blew around lightly, knocking red, orange, and green leaves to the ground. The hour long walk back to the house felt long and dragged out.
Finally she saw her small home in the distance. Approaching the porch, she saw her fathers stubby hound dog fast asleep, not even caring about her presence. It was not very good at guarding the family, but the nose was the only part her dad needed from the mutt.
Instead of walking inside, she stood standing in front of the wooden door for a while. She wondered if she should mention anything to her father about her night. Would they even believe her? Before she could even make a choice, the door flung open revealing her father in panic. He looked exhausted like he had not slept all night. His hands pulled her into an embrace, thankful that she was alive.
"Lia! Where have you been?!" He sounded happy yet worried.
Celia did not know how to respond to his question. Should she tell him the truth? Should she lie? Truthfully she wanted cry right there in his arms, but she was never that kind of person. It was always easier to pretend to be fine, than explain to someone why you're not. It always resulted in fake pity and misunderstandings.
"I stayed the night in the inn. I was reading." Her voice sounded dead.
It was clear she was feeling weary. Mr.June did not question his daughter; he was just glad she returned home safety. The hug lasted several more seconds before they pulled away. Celia was the first to walk off. She slid past him and walked down the halls to her bedroom. The sound of her mother's coughs were painful to hear as she walked by the room. The hoarse barking never seemed to get better, always getting worse. No matter how many books the young girl read on the subject, there just was not enough information. The doctor came every two weeks and would always say that it was only a matter of time before her mother passed. Celia knew that outside the village there were places with much more knowledge on the subject. An elder in town once told her that palace officials had passed through one time and bragged to the people that they had found a cure for measles. It was hard being stuck inside of this little hamlet, with people who knew nothing. None of them even had the desire to pursue knowledge. The ones who did had to be careful, because people who discovered new medicines or created contraptions were accused of witchcraft.
A hard knock in the front door. The sound disturbed Celia enough to wake her from a nap. Seconds later, she could hear her father and another man speaking, but did not recognize him. There were hardly any guests that came to visit. Occasionally, someone would come and bring flowers for Mrs.June. Besides that many people waited until they saw Celia or her father in the market to catch up with them.
"Thank you for allowing me to speak with you."
The strange man sounded young. He had a low scratchy voice that was not very attractive to listen to.
"What's this about, boy?" Her father was not a social man. He loved his wife and daughter enough to be content with only conversing with them.
"I'd like to offer you 50 silver, and milk every week for your daughter's hand, sir." The young man spoke timidly, afraid of the answer.
Was this boy trying to buy her? Celia was listening in on the conversation from her room. This was not a very new concept. Many men would purchase their wives from their family for the right price.
Hearing his words, she forced herself into the living space and into their conversation.
"I am not for sale!"
This was unusual for a woman to even have a say in her own marriage. Sometime men and women fell in love naturally, while others had their spouses chosen for them. Both were acceptable, but neither had women take part in the final decision. Celia expected her father to agree with her just like every other time a man tried to pay for her.
To her surprise he did not decline the young mans offer.
"I'll speak with my daughter. You come back next week." With those words, her father sent the boy off.
Upon seeing his daughters surprised expression, he spoke to her softly, and honestly.
"You're not getting younger. All the girls your age are married and having children. Your mother and I got married younger than you are. I'm not going to be able to provide for you forever."
His eyes fell to the floor as if he was ashamed of his own words.
It was true about her parents marriage. They had fallen in love and married all within a few months of meeting. As soon as he saw the woman with chocolate curly hair, he knew he had to marry her. She was wanted by many other men and was even of a different social class than him. Celia's mother, Edith, was the daughter of the village leader at the time, which is why she knew how to read. She was a hard girl to impress. The most intriguing element to her about Hugh was his peculiar last name. To be Mrs.Edith June made her young mind delighted. Naturally the rest fell in place and four months later, they wedded. One year after that, a beautiful baby boy was born. The baby did not make it past a day, before it died. Another year after that, Celia June was born. Everything checked out right with their baby girl, but Edith lost so much blood that the midwives did not think she would live. Luckily she survived, but in turn became infertile. Her family blamed her being barren due to allowing her previous baby boy to die. It was commonly thought that if the child died and not the mother it was because she asked the devil to save her life and instead he could take the baby. God would then punish the woman by not allowing her to be fruitful.
"I'm not going to marry him, mother would never approve of arranging my marriage for some coin! Does my happiness have a price?" Celia spoke up unable to control her tongue. It was a luxury that she was allowed to be so outspoken.