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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 6, 2012 9:01:44 GMT -5
Dasan looked at her. "I will fetch my sister," he said in his tongue then got up and walked from the hut. He returned with Moema only a few moments later and Moema offered a smile, speaking with her in French.
"Come..." she said, helping her up gently and then leading her from the hut. The tribe women were watching Moema leading her to the water hole they used for bathing but Moema ignored them, keeping her steady and on her feet. How the woman was still standing was beyond her. They made it through the huts to the watering hole. It was hidden behind craggy rocks and trees and the water was just above a hot spring so the water was warm all year long. Slowly, she helped Belle from her doeskin then stepped into the water after undressing herself. "The hot water will ease your aches and pains, and help you to relax..." she said then reached in the basket for their soap and a coarse cloth. "Do you wish to wash yourself?" she asked curiously.
"Or should I?" she said then sighed. "I know of your...child...Dasan will ensure that you and your child are safe..." Moema said simply. "And as the healer for our tribe, I will also be midwife to you," she said simply. "I have delivered many babies since I became healer..." she mused. "You will be well cared for."
-----
Aurora took the hare and limped over to the scarred table in the first room. there was a back room he stayed in and she was glad he had built her a smaller bed and placed it in the front room with the cook pot and table. She sank down slowly on a three legged stool, cutting and deboning the hare with ease and experience. It had been her husband's favorite meal. As she had been in charge of cooking when she had shared his home, she had grown an expert at making it. Sometimes he would come back to the house drunk and be a little rougher with her. He only hit her once but he yelled at her constantly and sometimes would take a tumble with her on their kitchen table. Especially if he was drunk. It hurt, but she had learned to not anger him. A month was how long she had been his wife and it had not taken long to understand her place.
Her sister had been her confidante. Only a mile from her own home. She would be so nervous for him to come home and her having done something wrong. Her twin had told her of how they would one day leave this place and make a better life for themselves. Then their husbands had decided to go farther west. And now she had no sister. Slowly, she put the chopped meat into the pot and then added the roots and vegetables and herbs, stirring them then covering the pot. She looked back at him.
"Nothing I can think of...what do you need me to do? I can do something...surely you have shirts that need mending or something like that? I'm feeling much better today."
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 6, 2012 18:53:29 GMT -5
She was given the soap and cloth as she said. "I can wash myself... thank you." Her voice was lower as she winced because she was in alot of pain. "You know of my..." She said as she gently touched her stomach not embarassed of her nude form as she thought of this woman wondering if she could trust her. She thought of her own sister as she looked embarassed. "I think that I might need help." Her skin hurt to touch as did her bones, joints... everything. "My sister use to help me with everything..." She explained since Aurora had been the oldest and the one to solve all her problems as they were growing up. Their older brother would protect them and then, Aurora would protect her and now, she did not have anyone in the world. She was the only child one to survive in her family and she did not know how long she was going to live for.
"But, she died in the attack that the Bear man conducted as we were going to the west." She whispered looked down at the water as she was being rinsed off from the soap. "She was my twin..." Her other half, it was as if a piece of her was missing as she felt tears in her eyes. Belle could not help herself as she started crying. "Aurora..." She hiccupped knowing that it was almost two months before but it still hurt her deep within her heart as she shook her head. "I'm sorry... I..." She tried wiping her eyes at the cloth that was provided to dry herself off as she tried to put the doe skin on her now clean body. Refreshed and clean of the dried blood and dirt on her skin, she felt better but her eyes were still red from her tears.
She did not want to talk much anymore as she was drying her hair as best as she could. "Thank you..." She muttered not trusting the healer completely but thinking that she atleast had someone to rely on. Of course, she would be expected to help as she had in the other indian camp but she hoped that she would not be beaten. She was not a good cook but, she could clean and work as she had before. She suppose that was why she had been taken, since she was a slave to these indians. But, she wondered if these ones were different.
---
He had been outside tending to the chickens and checking on his vegetable patch as he was thinking of perhaps building her, her own little home unless... he blinked for a moment and wiped his brow. "Mend my shirts?" Shaking his head, Matheiu said. "No, you do not have to do that." He told the young white woman as she turned and he could not help but glance at her rump. He knew that he could not do anything. "You can read, no?" He asked her curiously as he continued on with his work.
"In a few days, I will be going to the German settlement as well as to see the indians about trade. Do you wish to come with me?" He asked her since he had a small cart and a donkey named Mautrice. "I take Mautrice with me, will be trading some of the eggs as well as a chicken or two." Some of his vegetables and other things for flour and things that he did not have. "Perhaps, we will be able to get knowledge of your sister, non?"
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 6, 2012 20:27:27 GMT -5
Moema nodded and then got up from the water, dressing herself and then helping her. "I understand hardship. Dasan and I...we had a sister. One of the violent tribes of our people, a tribe of the Chipewa came and attacked us. We lost our sister that day, and our mother. We know grief and we understand that you have your grief too. Our people are not a violent one. We are Ojibwa. Peaceful. And brother...Dasan, he saw our sister raped and killed. He will not lay a hand to you in violence. I promise..." she said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Now...in my hut, I have many herbs. I can make...simple...broth, help ease your aches and pains," she smiled at her. "And it will help the babe and you rest easy," she said. "Dasan won't mind. And as I am only a healer, I can help you where I can. You will not be treated cruelly here. We do not have many slaves. Only two besides you, and they are treated well. Some even have families in the upper regions of Quebec...and we are trying to help them return home. If we find word of any of your family, we will certainly return you. My brother just has need of a cook and cleaner..."Moema said simply.
Walking her to her hut, she entered and led her to sit on a stool started to move through the hut to her dried herbs, crushing them and adding water, steeping them for several minutes and handing her a cup. "Here..." she said. "It tastes awful, but you will feel better."
-----
Looking at him, Aurora's eyes lit up. "Oui...I would love to go out with you..." she said smiling then looked down, clearing her throat. "It will be nice to know if she is alive or safe," she said then got up, walking over to the man who had cared for her and hugged him. "Thank you.." she said gratefully. She knew going to trade would show the two of them together and no matter what she said, she would be observed a wife or mistress to him. Utterly ruining her prospects of marriage. But she doubted she married again. Even if she did want children. Children weren't worth the heartache and dealing with a grunting husband above her. Not to be controlled so fully.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 6, 2012 23:34:35 GMT -5
It was at least comforting what her master's sister had told her that she did not have to fear abuse from him since he had seen something that she thought must have been terrible. Taking the cup of herbs, she sniffed at it and frowned since it did not smell good. As she brought it up to her lips, she drank and swallowed before being a face since it was quite foul tasting. "I do not have a family..." She whispered as she looked down into the cup and lifted it to sip before making a face again. Using some of the indian words that she knew, Belle explained that her parents had been killed by some bandits as they were being expulsed from Acadia to Pennsylvania during their travels. She told of the raid from the river pirates that murdered a number of the settlers. Both parents as well as their oldest brother, Francis died that day but their second brother had taken them but when they has settled, he had soon died of a snake bite. Since they had been two young woman in the wildness, some men helped them and they soon wed them.
Finishing the story of her misfortune, she sighed as she touched her stomach. "As long as the baby is healthy, I do not think it will be so terrible if what you are saying is true." Belle mentioned trying to see a bright side of losing her entire family with only a pregnant belly and a child within. Then, she thought perhaps it was because God had a plan... what it was, she did not know since he had been so cruel to her in the last year and a half.
---
Seeing her smile made him smile as he nodded slowly when she hugged him. His body was stiff as he was unsure what to do at the moment, it had been a long time since he had had contact with a female. Sometimes, when he went to the nearest town and went to the brothel but it had been quite some time... there had been a few times with some of the indian women... and naturally, there had been when he was on his father's land before he passed away. However, now... he wanted a wife and here was a woman who was there and yet, he could not bring himself to ask her. Well, it was because she had lost her child and then, she was still recovering and he did not want to take advantage of her.
"Well, then it is settled... I will need to leave tomorrow morning... I will get the cart ready so you do not have to injury yourself, Aurora." He informed her with a sympathic look in his dark soulful eyes.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 12, 2012 19:43:05 GMT -5
Moema looked at her. "I think that with time, your grief and your pain will ease..." she said with a nod. "When Dasan and I lost our sister and our mother...we..and our father were grieved for a long while. My father wore ashes for three years. It is a sign of grief to wear black ashes on the face in our tribe. But we...overcame it...Just as you will..." She smiled and then patted her shoulder. "All will be well," she promised. "And I will try and help my brother learn more french so he and you can converse better...but...he is stubborn," she smiled. "Come...I'll escort you back...it is nearly time for dinner...Do you know how to cook?" she asked curiously as she helped her up and led her from the hut, back toward that of her brother's.
-----
Aurora looked at him and nodded. "Matthieu....I really do thank you...and well...I doubt I could be any luckier. I'd be dead if you hadn't found me and though sometimes I wish I were...I'm glad I'm not..." she said then smiled and kissed his cheek. "You are a good man..." she told him then turned away and went to fix their food as she grabbed the bag of cornmeal and started to mix it with water and a couple of the eggs as well as the rest of the buttermilk to make some flat corncakes to go with the hare stew.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 13, 2012 13:14:43 GMT -5
She was unsure if all would be well but atleast, it would be alright for the time being. Belle could cook, not that she was the best but she learnt from the women of the village on some of the techniques with the cooking of the meals. Not so different from what she had learnt growing up in a French household. Moema was a great help to her in the learning and adapting to his new way of life. She was able to learn some of the common words from this language as well as the herbs in the healing. Not that she was a healer but it was good to know a thing or two. As the weeks went by, her bruises, wounds and broken bones healed. She would always walk with a limp from when she had a broken leg but she was doing well as her stomach was swelling.
It had only been about a month since she had been traded and Belle, who had been given a name that was 'easier' to say to the Native Americans. Her new name was Nittawosew because she was with child. The true meaning was 'She is not sterile' which was true since she was going to be having a baby. Happy to not be sore anymore, she went towards the river trying to atleast make nice with the native americans being that she was probably going to be there until she was traded to another village. Something that she hoped would not happened, as for the chief... he was gruff but kind to her like his sister had said.
Although, she had tried her best to not upset him since he was the one who owned her life as well as that of her child's. The truth was that, Belle was a little afraid of him. He was tall and with the warm weather, he did not wear much... not that it was her first time seeing a naked or rather half naked man but never the less... he was intiamadiating at times.
Returning to the hut where she had a palatte on the floor with a bear fur and a fire going almost all the time, Belle was taken a back to see that there were others in the hut but she did smile since it was Dasan, her master as well as his father and sister. Sometimes, they did come to visit and share in a meal... however, she could sense a tension in the hut.
---
He had the cart loaded with his mule tied to it, Aurora was in the house making a few baskets of food for the trading journey and Matthieu had to wonder if he could ask her to wed him when they arrived to the town. There was a priest there and she had said that he was a good man. He would be a good husband to her, he was sure of it... he would not push her into anything that she did not wish. And even if she did not want to marry him... he would still protect her because he had something to protect. It was a nice feeling...
Entering the house, he said. "We leave soon, ma cherie." He smiled as he took one of the baskets into his arms, waiting for her to put the last few things into the other basket before they were on their way.
It was a three day journey and he had a feeling that it was going to be a pleasant one. He was going to even buy a few books for her to read since he only had one which he got in a trade and he was not very good at it. However, she was helping him out. "I know that you have read it once before but, I think it would be nice if you read the book out low, no?" He asked her hoping that she would do so.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 16, 2012 20:05:45 GMT -5
Dasan looked at his father. "Father...I do not wish to marry her," he said standing. "Heyota's sister...she has been married thrice already," he said standing then looking at the woman they had called Nittawosew. She still had not given her name so that is how she was called. He sighed at her then motioned for her to sit at her pallet before looking back to his father and sister. Moema did not look to pleased either but she was remaining quiet. Their chief Meer (whose name meant chief) looked at his son.
"I know...you do not wish to marry her. But we need an alliance with our Chipewa brothers. Heyota's sister is pretty..." he began but Dasan shook his head.
"Father...I will not...she aided in beating the woman I now keep...I don't condone it...I won't be marrying a woman that allows a woman to be beaten and tied and raped...in her own home. I am sorry father. Not Heyota's sister," he said then bit into some bread. Moema sighed and looked at her father then at her brother before lowering her gaze.
"Perhaps father...Dasan could marry another?" she suggested. The aging chief frowned.
"Perhaps. But we need to make peace with him and with his tribe. I...I want peace before my time comes my son," he said simply.
"And there is peace..." Dasan argued then sighed, watching his father rise and lay a weathered hand on his shoulder.
"We will speak more on this tomorrow..." he said dismissively then motioned to Moema who stood and soon both of them left. Dasan glanced at Nittawosew and sat down slowly close to her but not close enough to scare her. "They dishonored you so I will not dare touch a woman that hurt another," he said looking at her then looking away, fixing her some broth and then handing it to her before fixing his own.
-----
"I can read to you..." she smiled then looked through her things once everything was packed. She lifted up her copy of Le Morte d'Arthur and gently moved up to the seat of the wagon. "I happen to love this book. It's one of my favorites...father used to read it to me by the light of the fire...mother would be sewing or mending or doing a sampler. Father had the deepest voice..." She smiled fondly at the memory. Remembering sitting with her sister and older brother on the floor, playing with her dolls and hearing her father's voice. it was a fond memory.
"Well come on then Matthieu. I shall read to you," she swore grinning then adjusted her skirts and ran her fingers through her black hair and then opened up the book, gazing at the words upon the page then looking at her savior smiling at him.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 17, 2012 17:22:59 GMT -5
Having only got some of the information from the conversation due to the limited amount of words that she knew, she got the Bear man's name as well as sister and marry.... there was also alot of what sounded like anger from Dasan. From what she had gotten, it seemed that his father wanted him to marry the bear man's sister and he did not want to. Something that she was thankful for because to be the slave to that woman again, Belle did not want to be anywhere near her because she had been cruel to her as her brother.
Watching the tall indian for a moment as he sat near to her, he said in French that he would not be with a woman who hurt another. "You father want marry to Bear man's sister?" She said in the little language that she knew of Algonquin when he nodded and Belle looked down to the bowl of broth that had been given to her. "Oh, some bread I have." Nittawosew said as she put the bowl down and went over to from the bread so they could share in it together. "I make self." There was a smile on her face as she was eager to please because of her attachment issues from the last few months. Putting a hand to her stomach, she knew that she had a few more months but she felt like she was becoming connected with her child even if it was only three or four months. She hoped that it was her husband's child instead of the Bear Man's... she would still love the child but the idea of her son or daughter looking anything like that man...
Well, she could only hope as she broke the bread in half wondering if he was Catholic. She always stopped to pray before eating anything as she closed her eyes and said.
Bénissez-nous, Seigneur, et la nourriture que, grâce à Votre libéralité, nous allons prendre. Par le Christ, notre Seigneur. Amen.
Looking up, Belle smiled to him before taking his hand and saying. "Merci."
---
She was reading to him as he listened, loving how smoothly the language was on her lips as he was driving the mule towards the German town. He lived in the backwoods and so, the nearest town was some distance as well as they had to cover some ground. He did hope that he would get the courage to ask the pretty woman to be his wife as he glanced over to her as she read.
He wondered what sort of God would allow such a kind woman who did not care about skin care to have so much pain in her life. "Aurora..." He said as she stopped reading out loud and he suddenly felt afraid to ask. "You have such a beautiful voice... I just wanted to tell you." He said with a smile as he put on of his hands on top of hers. The dark brown colour of his skin against her pale white skin. To him, he thought it was beautiful.
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