Mary's Path

Tariana sat and watched the sleeping girl. It had been a long travel from Salmisara to Dermes, when something had crashed down on her carriage as they went through the city, her imagination had created the most horrible images. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to create such fantasies, but she blamed fatigue.

When she discovered that it was in fact a little girl, she had been surprised for a moment. It wasn’t often Tariana was surprised, but the small, slender girl with the desperate eyes had succeeded.

Tariana remembered the desperation in the girl’s words, how her voice had been panicked. She could still see the tears that had flowed down her cheeks and how she had fought like a beast against Kopa and Term who had tried to pull her away from the carriage.

Tariana’s maternal instinct had awakened and that’s why she had decided to hear what the girl wanted to say. She still had a hard time believing the story she had heard.

Such a young girl had struggled to take care of herself and her sick parents. She had asked Kopa to find out more, what she had been told had left her deeply moved and saddened.

Mary had taken care of her sick parents for two weeks without help. None of the neighbors had the courage to help her. Mr. Sansi had told Tariana that Mary had opened the store one day. Probably to get money for food. On the stove, Kopa had found a pot of meat and vegetables. There was some food in the pantry, some things had been freshly purchased.

Her parents hadn’t been dead long. It panged Tariana’s heart when she thought of Mary’s parents. She had wanted to help Mary, she had wanted to help Mary have a childhood with both her parents. But it was too late.

She looked again at the little girl who lay in bed. She had been patched up after her adventurous night. Tariana knew her bodily injuries would heal quickly. But she wondered what would happen to the spiritual wound.

Tariana had looked into the girl’s eyes when she told her about her parents. Mary accepted it without so much as a word. She had closed down, and spent the rest of the trip looking out the window. The only thing that revealed her grief had been the big tears rolling down her face.

Tariana gently removed a strand of the red hair from the girl’s face. She was a beautiful child, she thought. The red hair stood in contrast to the light complexion. She had eyes that could match any emerald, green and deep. As she got older, she would have men following her around.

Now she’s my responsibility, Tariana thought. What am I supposed to do with her? The conversations with the King did not go well. This was largely because the archbishop had so much power over the king, and the archbishop loathed Tariana and everything she represented.

She knew that they would soon be forced to return home with unfinished business. Her heart was aching for the people of the city, but she could do nothing without the king’s permission. Would she take Mary along home?

No, she thought, she’s been through too much already. Taking her away from everything that is familiar and everything she knows would hurt her. But what would happen to her if she left her here?

Mr. Sansi had arranged the sale of the family’s things. He sent a few things to the castle. An old doll, some clothes and some jewelry that had belonged to Mary’s mother. They were now in a dresser that stood next to the bed where the girl was lying.

Tariana would talk to the king, ask him to put Mary under his protection, she would have a safe upbringing here at the castle. That’s how it must be, she thought. It wouldn’t be easy to leave the girl.

It was true that she had slept most of the time since they met, but Tariana had become very attached to her and it wasn’t just her. Kopa, who was always so tough and strict, had taken the girl to his heart, so had Leana and Mildy. It would truly be hard to leave her behind.

---

Mary woke up and slowly opened her eyes. She was in a large room with beautifully painted walls. The bed she was lying in was soft and over her she saw a canopy. There was someone sitting next to the bed. She turned her head and looked straight into the Lady’s smiling eyes.

“Good morning,” said The Lady.

“Good morning,” Mary said. What was the Lady doing here? Where was she and why was she here herself? The thoughts swirled around in Mary’s head before a thought made the spin stop.

Her parents were dead. The thought made her panic come back. The lady seemed to understand and stroked her across the cheek.

“You’re in the castle in one of the rooms that I have at my disposal,” lady explained. “You’ve been sleeping for almost two days.” Mary looked at her. Two days? Just then there was a rumbling from her stomach and amid the pain and confusion, Mary felt how hungry she was.

Her cheeks turned red, but the lady just laughed lightly and got up and walked up to the door. She said something to someone standing outside and then came back to Mary’s bed.

“They’ll be coming soon with something to eat,” she said, smiling.

When the food arrived, Mary saw that it was a tray full of meat, vegetables, fruit and a large glass of milk. She ate as much as she could and drank all the milk.

“Do you feel better?” the lady asked. Mary nodded. “Good. We need to talk to you and me. Can you do that?” Mary nodded again.

“Mary, do you have any relatives other than your parents?” asked The Lady. Mary shook her head. The lady nodded. “I will talk to the king, I’ll ask him to be your legal guardian. He cannot say no to such a request from me. You will grow up here in the castle in safety. We’ve arranged for your assets to be brought here. There was also some money left over when we sold the house and the goats, and the other things” continued the Lady.

“Everything of value is in your father’s box and here” she picked something up from the nightstand. Mary recognized the key that went to the box, it now hung in a ribbon. “Here,” said the Lady, and tied it around Mary’s neck. Mary put her hand on it and hugged it. “Take care of it, my friend,” the Lady said. Mary nodded. “I don’t know how much longer we’re going to stay, but as long as we’re here, this will be your room,” she continued.

“We’re all your friends and just ask one of us and we’ll help you if there’s anything you need. Do you understand?” Mary nodded.

“Thank you very much,” she whispered.

“It is my pleasure my friend. “Is there anything you need?” asked The Lady. Mary was going to say no at first, but then she looked at the chair where her old dress was hanging. She couldn’t walk around with the castle she thought horrified.

“I’d probably need a new dress,” she said cautiously. The lady followed her look and looked at the dress and then burst out in laughter. It was a laugh that reminded Mary of the little silver bells her father had made at times.

“You are so right. I’ll make sure you get some new clothes,” Lady said. “I have to go now, but if you want, you can look around when you feel like it.” Mary nodded and waited until the Lady had left the room before getting out of bed.

She found a bed pot that she used. But since she didn’t know where to empty it, she put it back in the cupboard. She put on her old dress for lack of anything else. Then she went to the door and opened it.