Bathing in the early morning sun, the village started to wake up. The shutters of house windows flung open as I ran by. Trying to keep in shadow, I had to press myself into a bakery corner once, to avoid bumping into the baker's wife, who walked out to greet the milkman.
Bursting through the gates of our house, I quickly picked up a bucket of water by the barn, which I had prepared in good time. I opened the door deliberately loud and shouted so that everyone in the house would hear me.
"Mom! I brought water!" For a moment everything was silent; I even began to think I somehow mixed everything up and it was still too early. But then my mother came out of the room, her arms crossed over her chest.
For a countless time in my life, I wondered how beautiful she was, her pale skin shadowed by the dark of her hair. If not several silver locks on her head, you could never tell her from a young woman. Just like my father, she also played a very important role in the village, but if he was good at managing the village's daily life, she took upon herself the role of mother for each and everyone. A rare event could be held without her: she was there at every important moment of the village's lives. When someone was giving birth, or lying on deathbed, whenever someone needed advice they called for her. She was always there for them. It had crossed my mind several times that this was exactly what put silver threads in her hair and little wrinkles between her eyebrows. But on the other hand, that was what made her the Mother in a unique, beautiful way.
"You shouldn't bring water so early..." she said and winked at me, obviously amused to observe her daughter changing in the face. What a fool I was to suppose that I could trick her! However, there was still a greater danger; I looked around carefully to try to find out if my father had somehow spotted my absence.
"Your father is at the House of Gatherings," mother said, sparkles dancing in her blue eyes. "I told him to keep silent not to wake you up." I sighed in relief and put the bucket on the floor. Smiling, mother came to me and drew her arms around my shoulders. I hid my face in her hair, smooth and soft, breathing in such homely and familiar scent of lavender, that she seemed to always have to herself.
"What urged father to leave home so early?" I mumbled into her shoulder.
She smiled again, tearing a couple of burs off my sleeve – a reminder to me that next time I should be more careful cleaning myself up before returning to the village.
"Don't you remember what day is it today?"
I frowned. Umh, no.
My confused look told her the answer.
"It's the Sowing day, dear."
I couldn't help gulping nervously. Kyle's face when he said we could together after the Sowing day flashed in front of my eyes. I wondered if he had also forgotten today was the day of the big celebration. Luckily, back in the forest, he meant the Sowing day of the following year, as both of us were not still of the age to take part in it. But still, it made me feel uneasy. Kyle. Where was he now? I felt a strong punch of guilt. I almost forgot about him on my way home.
"Oh," the pause has stretched for too long; I knew I had to say something. "Yes, I forgot that it is today."
She gave me a surprised look. I knew that it was stupid of me because the Sowing day was one of the biggest celebrations of the year. The preparations for it must have been under way for already a week. At least. Memories of the last few days appeared in front of my eyes, creating a single picture: hunters spending all their time in the forest, much more often than usual; bakeries working with double force; not speaking of all the village women weaving and sewing. They were all preparing for the big feast of tonight. I was sure it had been on everyone's lips, one of the major topics for discussion among the villagers.
Yes, it was strange of me not to notice that.
"Christa and other girls are participating tonight." Mother said, meaning a close friend of mine. "You should better go and cheer them up."
I nodded. "I will, mother."
I expected her to leave, but she stayed in the doorway, looking at me with her piercing blue eyes.
"I know you think it's a stupid tradition," she said quietly. I shook my head after a pause. Awful, dangerous, life ruining. But stupid? No, mother, of course not. "But there's more to it than you can imagine now."
I knew she had a reason for saying so. Many years ago that was the way she met father. I had to admit the Sowing day led to a formation of many happy couples, but I couldn't possibly leave my fate for a blind chance to decide like we were forced to.
"It means that I can congratulate you with the anniversary," I said and blushed, realizing I had said a stupid thing. It actually was every couple's anniversary today; everyone celebrated their unity, love, and family on the same day.
Mother must have followed my train of thought. "Today is a big festival for every single villager. We all gather to celebrate an event that has a special meaning to each of us. We feel members of one big family," she gently touched me on the cheek, apparently aware of my concern. "That is the main purpose of the Sowing day."
I sighed. She always knew how to choose the right words. Although I still didn't like the very concept of this fest, somehow her words brought peace to my mind.
"I..." I faltered even before I started the phrase, "I'll go and see if I can help with the preparations."
She nodded content. Placing a quick kiss on her cheek, I stormed out of the room, nearly stumbling over the bucket of water I had brought in myself. I knew I would take a long route, not to pass by the forge to avoid even the slightest possibility of facing Kyle.
***
A little later I found myself among the group of Ossian girls, sitting on the floor of Christa's house. Her parents had always been good friends to my father; Christa herself had been my companion in games since I was a kid – up to the moment when she decided she was already too mature to play catch-up in the fields and roll in the grass until hems of our dresses became green.
Nevertheless, we were still on very good terms; when I appeared at her door, she threw her arms around my neck. By her touch, I could easily tell how agitated and nervous she was. She let me in, chattering nonstop about the things she had to do today. She ushered me into the heart of the house, where Hanna, Mina, Susan, and Carina were already gathered.
"Arian!" Mina greeted me. She was at least two years younger than me, and wasn't going to take part in the celebrations either. "Hope you had a good sleep."
I did my best to hold an unfortunate yawn and lowered myself on the floor a little aside from others. A very good sleep indeed.
I looked around. Unlike Mina, other girls weren't half as cheerful; most of them seemed agitated, some had shadows under their eyes as if they had a sleepless night. All four girls including Christa were bent over the huge pieces of fabric with threads and needles in their hands. I quickly guessed that these were the dresses they were going to wear tonight.
I carefully touched the hem of Christa's dress, the fabric glittering beautifully in different shades of green.
"It's so beautiful, Christa," I said, trying not to think what I would wear in a year. "It becomes your hair." Christa nodded to me thankfully, removing a lock of light red hair from her forehead.
"I've been working on it for a month."
I looked at other girls' dresses. Hanna's dress was orange with brown insets. Together with Mina, who was her younger sister, they were currently hemming the dress, their needles flying up and down skillfully. Susan and Carina had chosen different shades of yellow for their dresses, the color that symbolized spring and the sun.
Everyone was so absorbed by his work I felt myself totally out of place. I picked up a needle from Christa's box and kneeled by her side. She accepted help gratefully, and in a moment I was already busy finishing up the embroidery on one of the sleeves. The smooth fabric was streaming through my fingers, making it hard for me to proceed. Wow, I thought. I was much better at throwing daggers at people than sewing. I even pricked my fingers once or twice.
"Christa!"
We all started, as the sound of someone shouting Christa's name came from outside. I raised my head, stretching my neck; it felt horribly numb after several minutes I had spent bent over my work.
"Christa!"
The door opened and Lena, another girl who was already seventeen, stormed into the room.
"I come straight from the main square," she exhaled, trying to catch her breath after a fast walk. All the important village celebrations were held on the main square; it must have been the epicenter of preparations by now, I thought. "Have you seen the boar Aidan has killed today?" she went on eagerly, her eyes sparkling. "It's enormous!"
Lena's words caused agitated mumble among the girls. Hanna and Mina jumped to their feet to go and see it themselves. It was clear by Christa's eyes that she also wanted to go and see it herself, but she decided to continue her work.
"Describe it, Lena, please!" She made herself comfortable and prepared to listen to a good story, her hands never ceasing to work. Meanwhile, my fingers were too numb to continue.
"So..." Lena landed on the couch. "It is so big it took five people to carry it back to the village. It has its heart pierced. I guess Aidan killed it on the spot with his spear!.."
The girls exchanged glances and giggled.
I cleared my throat. "Actually, it wasn't Aidan who killed the boar. There were at least ten hunters with him."
The whole room froze in silence, and I suddenly found that all eyes were now on me. I swore at myself for the stupid mistake.
"Well... It takes several people to hunt a boar, doesn't it?" I added quickly, my cheeks turning red.
Christa and Lena exchanged glances, obviously not sharing my point of view.
"You're just mad that he takes part in the Sowing day today, aren't you?" Lena said, giving me an examining gaze.
I looked back at her. It was news for me that Aidan was going to participate in the fest. I guessed this was one of the reasons why each of them was preparing for the fest so thoroughly... Each of the girls thought she might be the one whom he was going to find tonight.
I shrugged.
"I didn't know he has turned twenty-one." Again, Lena giggled.
"Of course, you didn't. We celebrated his birthday last week. You have disappeared somewhere in the company of the blacksmith's apprentice." I felt my cheeks turning even redder. It was true that I had spent one of the evenings with Kyle.
Christa touched my shoulder gently and gave the girls a judging glance.
"He isn't of age, is he?"
I shook my head. The talk was going into the direction that I didn't like. I didn't want to explain Christa that I didn't like him in that sense and didn't want to be with him. I didn't want to tell her I wanted to go and hide somewhere until the celebration was over and just forget about it. Until the next year...
"I would have made another choice if I were you," Lena wasn't going to drop the topic. "You're the Elder's daughter, and you're quite pretty..."
"Shouldn't you be preparing your dress, Lena?" I asked impatiently.
"Oh, I had mine ready already a week ago. I just have to put it on when the night falls."
She addressed Christa with some other question I didn't hear because of the pulsing pain in my temples. I mumbled an excuse and stormed out of the room.
Outside, I chose the direction at random and walked at my fastest pace. I had a strong urge to run, but I didn't want to attract attention of the villagers. If only there was a place where I could wait out all the holiday fuss...
"Arian, wait!"
It took me a beat to realize Christa was chasing me, and she was obviously out of breath. I slowed my pace, feeling remorse for leaving her so abruptly.
"Hey, Chris..." I tried to choose the right words. "I'm sorry, I just..."
"... couldn't listen to Lena's nonsense any longer." I was so surprised I even forgot how mad I was for a moment. "I just have to put it on when the night falls..." She pulled on a serious face and gave an imitation of the girl, making me burst out laughing.
"No wonder you wanted to run away."
I gently took her hands in mine.
"I'm sorry, Chris... This is just too much for me. But let's not forget who's the hero of the night!" I faltered, realizing I was being too selfish. "Come on, let's go back there and complete your dress."
She waved off.
"I beg you, Arian, it's ready. I just wanted to keep myself busy so I don't freak out. Besides, who pays attention to the cut of your sleeve when it's so dark you can't see a thing?"
I couldn't help laughing at her open-heartedness and good humor. She led me away from the crowded lane, and we took a seat on a heap of straw behind the barn.
"Are you nervous?" I asked her.
"Nervous?" she echoed my question. "I'm terrified... But I'm also happy." She smiled at her own thoughts that I couldn't decipher.
"Can you imagine, Arian, that tonight I will meet the person I'm going to spend my whole life with? My companion for life and father of my children... Can you believe it?"
I shook my head. I couldn't.
"I know what you're thinking." Christa seemed to have read my mind. "You think there is no way you can leave your fate to a blind chance."
I looked at her. For a long time already I had thought that Christa didn't understand me and we didn't share a single interest anymore. It turned out she knew me a lot better than I could imagine. I started to feel my rage coming back. I wanted to speak my heart out and she was there to listen.
"It just seems that we don't have any choice at all." I finally couldn't hold myself anymore. "All that is left to us is to sit under some tree and wait until someone is going to find you. No matter if you detest him or not, you have to be with this person for the rest of your life!" I didn't tell her I was very upset because I had lost my new dagger and quarreled with Kyle, but speaking out everything I thought about the Sowing day also felt good.
For a moment I thought she was going to be angry with me, but instead, she just smiled softly and took my both hands in hers.
"I know, what I'm going to say will sound just as stupid, but... The forest is never mistaken, Arian." She faltered, choosing the right words. "So they say, and I chose to believe this. The choice isn't random, everything that happens in the forest happens on purpose... Whatever it is, but you always end up with the right person."
I hid my face in my knees. I suddenly felt so tired. Everyone kept saying to me the same thing as if the whole world had gone crazy.
"Why does it bother you that much?" she asked mildly. "You still have a year ahead of you. Anything can happen in a year's time," She continued with a grin. "Even someone as obstinate as you can change his mind."
"You sound just like my father."
Her grin burst into a giggle; I couldn't help smiling myself. I threw my arms around her. She hugged me.
"I couldn't help noticing how nervous you became when Lena mentioned Kyle," she said, and I cursed myself for making it so obvious to everyone, "Are you two fine?"
I was at a loss for what to say. Christa didn't know that I escaped to the forest from time to time and that it was the only thing that united Kyle and me.
"He... he just said something to me that I didn't like, that's all," I decided not to go into details. However, Christa didn't seem convinced.
"Do you want to be with him?" she asked. It was the question I could expect; the question that I should have asked myself long before; and finally, the question that I didn't know how to answer.
"I..." I faltered, "How can you have someone specific in mind when it's a matter of mere chance who will find you in the forest?" I was content with finding the right answer.
Christa gave me a look as if she was an adult who had to explain to a child some very basic things.
"You might not believe in it, Arian, but again, it is not a mere chance. You are meant for someone, and the forest is going to bring you two together. This is how the magic of the forest works. It's not about fairies or spirits."
In a way, she repeated the words my mother said to me this morning.
"At least believe that for me it is going to be this way," she whispered into my ear. Her words made me feel remorse. It didn't occur to me that I wasn't the one who had to go through this; and I could only worsen it for Christa, who was already nervous without my moaning.
"Of course," I said without a trace of hesitation, "I'm sorry, Christa."
She leaned back and smiled, and I knew that no offense was taken.
"For you, all the magic of the forest is going to work tonight."