Ravenna Hawthorne looked over her shoulder. She had just left the cottage that she shared with her grandmother. She walked down her path to the forest, where she had been countless times with her grandmother to gather herbs and plants for their infirmary. The young girl continued on the trail, her long black hair flowing gently in the breeze.
Ravenna was a young woman of twenty one, and practicing to take over the infirmary that her family had run for generations. They were healers, and well respected in the small village of Canden. Villagers, young and old, have been treated by Ravenna's family for all ailments, from small wounds, to the great Sickness that had wiped out a third of the village when it swept through Canden a decade ago. The Sickness had spared Ravenna's grandmother and herself, but had claimed both of her parents. The villagers had thrown a great gathering to honor Ravenna's grandmother for being the one to determine the cure for the Sickness, and little Ravenna had been both proud of her family, and torn that she lost her parents.
The wind rustled the trees, and two ravens appeared. Ravenna smiled. Her mother had named her after the ravens she loved so much, and the black hair that the little girl had when she was born. Ravenna reached in the pocket of her dress, and offered the ravens a snack. The ravens knew her, and eagerly approached. The birds fluttered their wings against Ravenna's cheek, almost affectionate, and disappeared, leaving a single black feather behind.
Down by the stream, the young woman stooped to fill her basket with the plants that lined the bank. She peered in the water, and her light brown eyes looked back. They shimmered nearly golden in the sunlight that peeked through the gaps of the trees. Her lightly freckled cheeks had lost much of their baby fat as she had passed seventeen. Ravenna stood, and brushed her hair off her shoulders. She filled her basket with yarrow, wormwood, and dandelion. The pockets of her apron were filled with pennyroyal and rosehips. The young woman sang as she gathered, completely unaware that she was not alone.
Once Ravenna had an overflowing basket and apron, she made her way back home to the Hawthorne family cottage. The old building was made of stone, and had a fairytale look to it. Ravenna loved the cottage that she shared with her grandmother, and the occasional villager who required their care. Once the thick wooden door opened, Ravenna called out for her grandmother. The older woman appeared, carrying a kettle and a smile. Age had carved its story on her face, and the woman carried her greyed hair in a smart bun at the top of her neck. Her grandmother, Anne, set down the kettle and asked how her granddaughter had done gathering supplies for their infirmary. Ravenna emptied her basket and apron pockets into the clay pots that lined their walls.
"I was still unable to get elderberries, but everything else on the list was plentiful", Ravenna told Anne. Anne was pleased, her granddaughter was learning the family business well. Someone needed to take over to help Canden when Anne was gone, and with the Sickness taking her son and his wife, it was more crucial than ever that Ravenna learn the healer trade.
After checking on the young man staying in the family cottage and applying fresh bandages to his wounds, Ravenna decided to go to the village center. The young woman changed into a deep blue dress with a fitted bodice. Her grandmother had begun putting pressure on her to dress modestly, but in an intriguing manner, as she was at the age to be married. Ravenna had no interest in getting married- she just wanted to work as a healer for Canden and live a simple life. Several suitors had come to the infirmary with fake illnesses to get attention from Ravenna, but she saw through their guise and let Anne take care of them. She was not interested in these men. If a man were to catch her interest, he would have to know that her work was important to her, and she wanted to continue to be the Canden healer, and a wife second. But no men in the village would ever agree to her ideals for her life, so she continued to deny suitors.
Ravenna entered the small village center. The Canden fountain stood proudly in the middle, and stalls ringed the circular clearing of buildings. "Ravenna!" cried the textile saleswoman, Teresa. She was heavily pregnant with her second child, and was hopeful that Ravenna would agree to take care of her again, as she had during the delivery of her son. Ravenna made her way to Teresa's shop, and picked up the small child playing with leaves in front of his mother's stall.
"How are you feeling, Teresa?", asked Ravenna, bouncing her friend's son on her hip.
"Oh, I wish the baby would come already. I haven't slept in what feels like a week! My husband has been helpful though. He attempted to make dinner for the family last night. Luckily we all enjoy burnt potatoes!" Teresa smiled, but her eyes looked weary. "Will your family infirmary be open to helping with this child? You made everything so easy last time."
Ravenna tousled the small child's golden hair and pinched his small cheeks. "Of course. We have had things prepared for three days. Grandmother spent a week weaving the baby basket for your new arrival to go home in"
Teresa looked visibly relieved. She had been suffering from a lack of sleep, plus caring for her home and family. It was a great relief to the woman to know she was going to be taken care of herself.
A few other Canden villagers stopped and talked to Ravenna, and asked about various things ailing them. Grateful, each villager passed Ravenna a silver coin for her help. She used the money to buy a few supplies for her home, and began to head home when one of her more persistent suitors stopped and grabbed her shoulder. Stunned, Ravenna stopped.
"Miss Hawthorne, where are you going unattended at this hour?", exclaimed Peter Jones. He was a man in his mid thirties, who had been pursuing Ravenna since she came of age at eighteen. His money was apparent in his appearance; he was well dressed, and wealth had expanded his waistline. His dull brown hair was combed flat against his head, and his mouth was too wide for his face. Peter was very frog-like in his appearances, but very predator-like in his speech.
Ravenna sighed, and wriggled her way out of Peter's grasp. "Mr Jones, you know I am capable of taking care of myself. And the sun hasn't even set yet."
"I don't suppose you are willing to take me up on a dinner offer tomorrow night, are you?", persisted Peter, the previous rejections not dampening his efforts in the slightest.
"My apologies, Mr Jones, I have promised Grandmother to make medicines for the infirmary. We cannot risk the health and lives of Canden villagers over a dinner, unfortunately". Ravenna wished the man would leave her alone. There were many whispers around the village of how Mr Jones had poorly treated his first wife, and beat her into submission. The poor woman was treated by a sixteen year old Ravenna, before succumbing to her injuries that Ravenna suspected that her husband had caused.
And the other man watching Ravenna from the shadows would not allow Peter Jones to mistreat her, the way he had hurt his first wife.
Peter huffed. "I will have my day, Miss Ravenna!" He headed out of the village center, toward his carriage. He was one of the wealthier villagers who lived on the outside of Canden, between Canden and Graenwood. Ravenna, being poorer, began to walk home as the sun began to dip lower in the sky.