Mary's Path

The voice made Mary jump and horrified, she realized that it was one of the priests who had spoken to her. She got off the bench and curtsied.

“I apologize if I did something I shouldn’t father,” she said, looking down.

“No, no, my child. I’m the one who should apologize because I seem to have startled you. That was not my intention,” he told her, making a gesture that she should sit down again.

Mary sat down and the priest sat next to her. He was not young, but also not old, Mary thought. But his gray eyes were full of humility and kindness.

“I’ve often seen you here and just wanted to exchange a few words with you,” he said. “What’s your name, my child?”

“My name is Mary” she replied.

“It’s a beautiful name” he said, smiling. Mary nodded when she didn’t know what to say. “You’re often here, Mary, is there anything you need help with?” he asked kindly. Mary started shaking her head but then realized that it was rude not to answer a question properly.

“No, Father, I don’t need any help,” she began, but then thought it might be best to explain. “I come here to thank God for all the people he has sent to help me. I want to help others as they have helped me. I don’t have a lot of money, but I always put something in the alms box” she continued.

---

Father Link looked at Mary, her words astounded him. It was rarely such a young person came to give thanks for what others had done for them. He felt he wanted to know more.

“Can you tell me what these people have done for you, Mary?” he asked. She began to tell him about all the people who had helped her and who had become her friends.

Her story touched him deeply. When she was finished with her story, he asked her to come with him to the table of light.

“Do you know what this is?” he asked her.

“No, Father,” she replied.

“This is the table of light, each candle represents one or more people that someone is praying for. When someone enters the church, they come up here and light a candle and say a prayer. As long as the light burns, the angels whisper the prayer in God’s ear,” he said, seeing how Mary’s eyes were greatly astonished.

“If I come here and light a candle and say a prayer for my friends, the angels will whisper that prayer even after I’ve left?” she asked in amazement.

“Yes, my friend, as long as the flame is burning.”

Father Link saw Mary in wonder looking at all the candles on the table.

“Do you want to light one?” he asked. Mary nodded and reached for a candle, then she hesitated a little.

“You light it with the big one in the middle,” he explained to her. She obediently stretched her light towards the big one in the middle and soon the wick was burning.

“Do I have to pray out loud?” she asked, looking at the priest.

“No,” he said, “The angels will hear you no matter how you pray.” Mary put the light in a holder and bowed her head over her clasped hands. Father Link could see her lips moving in a silent prayer and lowering his own head into still communion.

When Mary was finished, he followed her back to the bench at the back of the church.

“You are always welcome here, my child. The church is always open to those who come here. If you need anything or have questions, come to me. May God watch over you,” he said, making the blessing sign over her.

“Thank you,” she said.

---

Mary looked in amazement towards the priest who was slowly walking through the church. She turned around and looked at the table of light and the little light she had lit. It still shone with a steady flame, and she felt good knowing that the angels whispered her prayer.

She stayed for a while and then headed for the castle. As she was walking through the gate, one of the guards called her.

“A boy left this for you an hour ago,” he said, giving her a small package wrapped in a piece of cloth and a lace stump.

Mary almost forgot to thank the guard before she hurried away. She ran all the way to her room where she sat down and lit the candle on the bedside table and looked closely at the package.

It must have been from Eric, she thought. Carefully, she tied up the string and lace, and folded up the fabric.

There was a small pendant in the package that was treaded on to a leather string that could be hung around her neck. She picked up the pendant and took a closer look at it.

It was a flower with five petals that was beautifully carved. Mary immediately saw that it was not Erik who had carved it. It was a craft made by someone with experience, probably his dad.

But she was overjoyed by the little flower and immediately pulled the strap over her head so that it hung around her neck. She felt in a much better mood than she had when she walked out of the castle a couple of hours ago.

The week went on in its usual pace. Mary had not shown her rose to anyone, but it hung around her neck both day and night. It was a reminder, like the knife among her skirts, that she wasn’t completely alone in the world.

Wednesday also came along as usual and when Mary stopped working and went out in the summer sun, Zerden stood and waited for her by the well. Mary was happy to see him.

“Hello,” he said.

“Aren’t you going to work?” she asked.

“No, I got the day off,” he said, smiling, “What do you want to do?” Mary thought for a moment, she wanted to be outside now that the sun was shining, and it was warm outside.

“I don’t want to be inside, I want to be out in the sun,” she said. Zerden rolled his eyes.

“I haven’t done anything else but run around in the sun,” he laughed. “We can go and look at the gardens, no one’s ever there,” Zerden said.

“Okay, but we just have to go and make sure Erik isn’t waiting” Mary said, and began to walk toward the gate.

“I don’t understand why he’s coming here,” Zerden said.

“Because he’s my friend,” Mary said as she looked out on to the street. It was empty and no Erik was seen.

“I don’t think he’s coming,” she said.

“Good. Come on, let’s go,” Zerden said, and began to go the other way. Mary followed him as she always did when they walked around the castle grounds.