Read Legacy Fragments :: The First Tsaritsa Pt. 2

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It’s during the most favorable season that Vivian and Eva had decided to take a stroll through the town, dawning a moderate amount of furs.

Vivian was considered the most promising maiden in the village. She is a brilliant, clever, captivating, woman with a body of a pale crystalline blue ice. Her hair and eyes had a depth in tone that brought in any that she engaged with that ignited in a shimmering joy with every smile. It was neither man nor woman capable of not falling for either charm or beauty.

Eva was quite similar to her close friend, Vivian. Her short white hair consisted of a fresh powder of snow that pressed closer together. For her body shy hints of color twinkled amongst the snow to define her fragile blonde locks to her graceful blue eyes. She wasn't as wise as Vivian but as the matchmaker describes her, “She has all the qualities to make a husband proud of his wife”.

It always felt like too long apart as the young women walked the cleared pathways, arm in arm and laughing, fully freed of their worries. This past snowfall was much shorter than what was expected and it couldn't have gone by any faster either as they both eagerly spoke of the matching ceremony that was soon to follow.

“I am so glad that this winter went by so quickly, Mr. Cletus would NOT stop going on about Nepal. So much so that I don't think he actually had any problems with moving around during the cold if he was agile enough to follow me about. It was all an excuse wasn't it?” Eva cried dramatically, leaning into Vivian between the fits of giggles. “Of course, who wouldn't want to propose their grandchild to the most beautiful and kind girl in the village?” Vivian grinned while walking her fingers up Eva's arm.

Pulling out her arm, Eva turned to confront Vivian defiantly with her cheeks puffed up in a pout. “Don't you patronize me, we both know that everyone anticipates when you will be paired with your match. I'm just second best, a moon to your sun, simply reflecting your light.” Eva continued between her dramatic giggles. “After all, you are simply the best.”

“Your flattery seems to know no boundaries and run as far as the snow does fall.” Vivian returned in a mockingly mature attitude to join in the fun. “I wouldn't consider anyone better than another since we all are doing our best to help each other and make it through each winter.”

As the young women continued their teasing through the glittering white morning, they remained widely oblivious to all else in the world. More friends and family greeted each other with open arms. Stir-crazy children ran piling into the mounts of fresh snow with a puff of the delicate shimmering ice. Those wisened with age slowly rubbed their aching shoulders before stiffened by the cold as they readied to meet their own peers.

Raul Torvald and Amerris Priam were among those who were out in the early morning. While most had finally only left not long ago, the two young men were already awake and winded from an early morning’s work of heavy labor.

Both young bachelors carried a similarly muscular frame. While Raul had Amerris in height, The latter had better in sheer strength. Neither were they brothers nor look akin to each other in any way, still, they were always compared.

Roul’s eyes are as perceptive and seeking as the snowy owl, body composed of a twisting, frozen, knotted wood that paled in the frost. Ammeris is much wider in stature, the gray wolven ears, almost hidden beneath the heavy layers in his medium gray mane that reached down to the middle of his back. His tail is also usually just as hidden beneath all the layers of extra fur to keep the more vulnerable parts of his anatomy warm which kept what was most rarely seen. Tattoo-like markings, imprinted into his skin, the distinctive markings of his spirit in his body.

The men had been up even earlier than all the rest before any of the sun’s rays touched the sky. During the winter, they were the strength the village leaned on. Women were dedicated as the caretakers, tending to those who would need more help and care. The most able-bodied men tested the snow that covered special hatches made in a small separate room of some cottages. The snowdrift weighted down making the hatches reasonably too heavy to push open after the layers of blizzards. In this world, the snow never relents but at the start of spring, the weather relents just enough so that the snow recedes letting off some inches and these hatches will be able to open with enough force. That’s when the people know spring has come.

When freed from the confines of winter, the men immediately begin their work. Removing the white menace from the other hatches, with all hands on deck, they began shoveling away the snow from all the walkways till there was nothing left but sposh thinly covering over gravel terrain. With the lumber stored in the mill, before the snow in during the previous year, wood was chopped down into planks that would now lay across the ground in walkways. Once all was ensured, they then began shoveling the snow from all the doors of different cottages. Upon completion of all these things, that finally put an end to men’s early morning work, all before the sun breaks the horizon.

Now freed from their strenuous labor, the two men sat on top of a lightly powdered roof and watched in tranquil pleasure as the village reunited and the joys it brought. They didn’t say much to each other, mostly because of fatigue but there was a mutual pride towards their roles and contribution to their culture and their life, ready for their own as the two women of their affections graced the streets.

The two young men weren’t the only ones to have noticed the ladies either. Village elder Oda Eide had been looking forward to this coming spring most particularly as well since this is indeed the time to find a match for her two most promising girls, she didn’t need any of that time to prepare. In her mind she already knew whom she felt would be best for the soon-to-be young woman, no what she was looking forward to this spring was watching and deciding which of the two would take on her stead for when she grew too old and tired to continue as the elder and match maker. Her first choice would be to pass down the role to Vivian Survost. While Vivian was beautiful, her beauty was no qualification to becoming the next elder and matchmaker. She also needed to be perceptive of her people, understanding of their needs on a deep and fundamental level while living up to being the true example of what all girls, young ladies, and women should be. Her biggest hesitation was that Vivian was more focused on the people in a productive sense of what would be most practical; that’s why she would make a great wife to the next Chief but not as qualified as a village elder. Eva Katelijn was also qualified because she made up for the things Vivian lacked such as utmost attention to the emotional needs of those she takes care of with a great sense of empathy. Eva’s biggest fault though was that she wasn’t as quick-witted or self-assured as her dear friend, it wasn’t too large of a fault but it made sure that each of the girls was equally eligible.

“Vivian, Eva, girls come over here quick.” The matchmaker called over to the two friends from the edge of the bonfire center, waking the girls up from their little world. “Coming right over!” Eva called back, picking up the pace and leading Vivian by the hand. The latter of the two though, was distracted by the sound of tiny footsteps hurrying their way to reach the girls.

Eva pulled away to continue leaving Vivian behind as she turned to their visitor. A small boy, close to the age of 6 years old came hurrying with something covered in his hands. “Viv!! Vivi!” he called in pure excitement with no regard for the rocky path he took that was just nest to a safer one. In his carelessness, his feet stumbled and sent him into the muck, holding on tightly a precious something in his hands. Vivian reached him down on the ground, helping him brush himself off and investigating what was clutched so carefully. She helped piece together the broken ice flower he had made and through some sniffles told Vivian about his winter.

Eva’s attention was on the matchmaker as she waved them over, paying little to no mind about her friend being left behind. Oda was just about to scold the young lady who stopped caring for the child but stopped upon a second thought. While the girls were close, so was the weight in their flaws but they also helped build each other up making her timeless decision all the more difficult. For this spring, through the match-making season, it might be best to keep the girls separated, see which of them shines and which of them simply glow.