#4 ... Hand In Hand In Hand

     Soon Petra was squinting through the lintel again. "Ah Pet, did yeh see meh sister ?" Cahlien continued "...and what token 'ave yeh brought yer Ma ? Ya know yer Da is off to the island don' cha ?". Petra nodded. "Aye, I saw him afore I kissed you Ma". Petra dismantled her burdens and her mother inspected each with a smile. The mushrooms, roots, and onions were put near the fire where a pot began to bubble. The wood Petra stacked against the wall on the far side, she knew her Ma preferred the beech-wood rather than the Ash that the men brought for heat. As the fruit basket was handed off, Petra asked: " Ma can I mash some of these to 'ave wit the cakes ? " Nodding Cahlien pointed off to the side, "ya know there's honey in the pot, but don' use too much, winter's almost here and .... Ah, ya know, don' ya Pet ?" " ...Ha, I can no' forget yer my lass, what would yer Ma do wit out her lass to help, like a worker woman ? ! " She chuckled a little, oh how Petra fit in with and above many of the women folk.
     "Ma, I 'ave some more..." and she separated the bay leaves from the heather, Cahlien took the bay and Petra lifted a sprig of heather and tucked it behind her mothers ear "... and the wee lasses ? " She inquired. "Hoo, eh ? where my helpers? " The mother called corralling her little ones. "Yer sister wants ye". Cahlien return to the pot and began peeling the stems off the bay and then peeling her roots. " One for yeh Shanleigh, and  Ishleen, and Lynette, and.....well where's meh Dalyce ?" (Petra looked about  as if Dalyce were not hanging at her hip). "Sisa ! Sisa ! she's righ' 'ere !!!" Lynette piped and Dalyce echoed "Aye I 'ere". "Hooo, there yeh are !" Petra couln't help but laugh as she helped the youngest two tuck the heather behind their ears. Lynette had yet to out grow the lispy way lil' girls who have older chatty"Sisters" tend to speak and Dalyce wasn't much more than a mocking bird in size or affinity to Lynette. " Ma look 'ere yeh 'ave got a meadow of lasses , ah ha ha !". Spontaneously the sisters threw up there hands and began to sway like flowers in the breeze. Cahlein laughed a soft lilting laugh and again and again but as she went on the lilt grew courser and she  began to snort in between laughs. Needless to say the women folk in this clan enjoyed a good craic with each other. " Sisa... where's yours...?" Lynette pointed to Petra's ear. "Ah I 'ave yeh for flowers, this one for Treva, ahhh... I forgot" and they all burst into laughter, the snorts, chuckles and chortles began again. Just then Cahliens youngest son stepped into the doorway. Petra seized upon Quillan (a hand taller than her, but six years her junior) and pushed the heather above and between his eyes, secure in his copper curls. Oh what raucous craik indeed ! At first Quillan seemed crotchety, but soon his hands were up and swaying in the imaginary breeze, not having seen the others in their flora poses, made his act all the more hysterical. " Ma! Ma ! I 'ave to..." ( Dalyce crossed her tiny legs and  looked frantic ). Up Dalyce went, Cahlein had whisked her off her feet and under one arm, "Pet mind the fire", and out the two went to keep Dalyce from making water on her skirts.
     By the time Cahlien and Dalyce return  from the pond, ( they had failed to keep Dalyce dry and she needed a good swish) Petra had doled out instructions and the breakfast cakes and mashed fruit was ready and waiting with much of the dinner preparations simmering in the pot. Quillan followed  through the doorway with a bucket of milk. "Ma we're ready..." Petra began but her mother had already dropped her head and was mumbling some blessing in the old tongue, then said: "So... let's eat"  and they all gathered their bowls and waddled outside  still bejeweled with their heather and sat under a tree to eat. They looked comical, like multi-colored ducklings following the mother duck.
    Years ago Cahlien had learned that sticky meals were best eaten outdoors, when ever possible. In short order the cakes, mashed fruit and milk was devoured, the bowls and spoons collected, and off Petra went with Shanleigh to wash them. The others stretched out under the tree patting  their tummies wishing there were no chores to be done. "Pet, ya ever think 'bout bein' grown  and leavin' us ?", Shanleigh mused. "Aye, but who would 'ave a body like meh  ? ! " They laughed as they finished the chore, then began walking hand in hand t'ward the outbuildings. Ishleen running up from behind broke though their hands laughing, then became the link in the middle. Soon the three were swinging their arms as they walked through the dust and past the chickens.
   

#3... The Ways Of Tornadoes

     Not far from her home was her Aunts (Cahlien's sister), Her home was very similar in structure but considerably smaller and off the main path. Treva was a few years younger than Cahlein but no less prudent or honorable.Widowed some 5 years now, with 6 children of her own, she drew the most favor from Petra of all her aunts. There was nothing Treva set her hands to that did not prosper, including her family. Each of her children worked long, hard and with good results, humbly Treva basked in their accomplishments, but took no credit, rather she would say; "Thank..." looking upward, but she never managed to finish her statement. Her husbands death on the battle field shook her faith in ......whatever, and when blessings came she was not sure who or what should be credited.
    As Petra turned t'wards the foot path to Trevas home, she saw three of her young cousins Magnus, Ennos and Anghus hanging from the door way, left, right and from above ! What a raucous din accompanied their presence, Mag. and Enn. were twins with Ang. not a year  behind. (Anghus was the last gift Fionn gave his wife, Treva and he never saw it unveiled, Petra thought). As the tornadic three came down and sped out  t'wards Petra, ♪"Pet, Pet, Pet we gonna pet the donkey!!!"♪  they sang. Dust and wind swirled in their wake and the three nearly bowled her over, ♪"Pet, Pet, Pet..."♪ they sang over and over running their hands over her arms, head and back ."Mag. ... Enn. ... Ang.  ...." it had become a game, that they should so overwhelm her that she was never able to complete each of their names. The four were thoroughly taken with each other. "AHHH ! ! !" she would finally break the din and like three pups sucking in their tongues, they became silent with eyes pregnant with anticipation. "WAHA ! ! ! ! " she bellowed and then bowled each of them over ( in turn) kissing their foreheads and tousling their tow heads with her face. Finally Petra hopped a step backwards and pronounced: "I 'ave one more fer the  imp who fetches meh aunt...". Off they sped with equal tornadic force as in their greeting. In a moment Ang. returned to Petras side while his brothers trailed behind Treva grousing as to who fault it was that Ang. won another kiss. Laden like a pack animal,( trying hard not to crush the things in  her hands) Petra scooped Ang. up with her fore arms and planted a noisy kiss on his neck and began rocking him back and forth  chanting in a sing-song manner: ♪" hee-haw I'm yer donkey and I 'ave a kiss fer yeh"♪.( Knowing the boys all had ticklish necks made the game so much more fun.) Ang. wriggled out of her arms and bolted for the sanctuary of his brothers all acting the tuffy now, Petra feigned fear and the game was over, the boys ran off to some new game and she was left to her aunt.    
     "Hooo! boy-o ! that was sport Aunt !". "Aye lass, kin or no they worship an' follow yer ways.  Now what brings yeh to meh this morn ?"   Having emptied her hand and untied her bundle, Petra offered the berries and said; "Yer cakes would bless these lonesome things, can yeh use 'em ?".

Treva gaped at the love offering cradling the berries in her apron, she laid a hand on Petra's head, "Blessings on yeh Pet ... " and before she could utter another word her hand was free again, her face had been kissed and her niece was half way up the path tieing her bundle, with the onions and heather tucked under her chin, rushing home.............

# 2 ...The Next Step

     After having dismissed her father, Feorras (with a smothering of kisses on his huge knobby hands) to attend to the travels of his day, Petra passed from sunlight to firelight. Squinting to focus, she paused to acclimate. Seeing little to bar her passing: she made her way to the center of the dimly lit dwelling. The fire central to their home and much of her mothers life, is where she waited patiently for Cahlien's attention. Younger girls than Petra stood rubbing sleepy eyes, looking intently up at the lithe, un-wilted flower and matron  of their clan, Cahlien. Cahlien gave directions to each of the four girls, Dalyce- 3, Lynette- 5, Ishleen- 7, and Shanleigh- 9. Each dispatched with a kiss to their appointed duties. Petra admired Cahlien for a moment or two before their eyes met... "ah meh Pet back from yer oblations I expect...."  Swift and gentle Petra slipped the poker from her mothers hand, flipping wheat cakes over on the flat stones placed at the perimeter of the fire. "Aye Ma, and back later than I should be, do yeh love meh still ?".With a giggle she placed the poker back in the hands that were caressing her cheeks. "Lass my heart is stitched to yer words, I love yeh."  "Ma.... by your leave, I 'ave some tokens to fetch...." Petra gazing through her batting lashes coaxed. " I see yer wiles lass and ye might better save those fer yer day, I'm no lad and yer not so clever yet.....ah... off wit yerself Pet, but be swift..." In a flurry of locks and kisses she was gone,with the sweet scent of her competing with the scent of the turf and beech-wood fire. Cahlien drew in a long breath, blew it out whilst shaking her head and began collecting the cakes off the stones.
    The eldest of eight curried favor for her industrious habits. Running back to her private chapel, she noticed the warmth of the sun beginning to dry the dew and lift "the circle"( by mid-day there would be no evidence of her presence), she smiled knowing her worship was fulfilled in her diligence, she had done no harm. The tree yielded a bounty in the basket that she had requisitioned. Leaving the basket in the shade, Petra made her way northwest into the wood.
     Once under the boughs she made her way t'wards denser trees and lush undergrowth, after several minutes she emerged disheveled and moist, from the dew, perspiration and foraging, but satisfied. Dusting off her treasures, then inspecting, she smiled having gathered quite a few mushrooms and several savory roots, she cinched them into a bundle at the left side of her outer skirt (with twine another item from her reconnaissance).  Moving back to the tree line under the same boughs she passed earlier, Petra began collecting wood, none bigger than her wrist but a fair sized faggot. Again her outer skirt served  to bundle them at her lower back. This was accomplished by several adept maneuvers, including slipping out of her skirt for a moment. A short section of cord was required, (again from her reconnaissance). Clothed and laden like some fancy pack animal she was on her way back to the tree.
     Almost half way 'tween the wood and fruit tree she stopped, puffing a little, she turned her face from the sun (northwest) dabbing her brow and nape. She was about to pluck a some sprigs of heather , when something glinted .........( *yes ! glinted*, she thought surprised) back at the tree line. Rubbing her eyes and dabbing again she squinted trying to see what it was...."Hmph ... nothing ! I 'ave gone daft" she muttered (*serves meh right forgetting meh badder o' water*) she plucked up 6 sprigs of heather and turned back on her way. Walking a bit swifter now she spied some gorse thinking it might be a nice contrast to the heather, but minding her mother's words to be "swift" she hurried on. At the tree she dabbed again  for just a moment looking back t'wards the wood, she shook her head and the thought of "the glint", scooped up the basket ( the circle all but gone now) and sprinted back t'ward home. Only to stop a few more times to gather wild onions and a few fist fulls of berries. The berries were bundled from an under skirt- hanging just below the mushrooms and roots, cinched with the longer remaining tail of the upper bundle) The onions were gathered into the opposite hand as the heather. One last stop after a short detour.......................

# 1. Trodden Under Foot

   Stars shone bright over her tawny head. The air was cool with not even a whisper on it. The dew and the devote'  worked an architectural wonder on the wild tall grass.  Yielding it lay one blade upon another, with nary a one bent or broken as she gently placed one unshod foot in front of the other.  The grass tilted, reclined and lay prone for worship. On to the next foot step, she padded her way again and again until what lay before her was one concentric circle, ready for inspection. She knelt, gently working her way around on her hands and knees, making sure no blade lay backwards or sideways. The submitting floor of her private chapel - a plane of natures glory. Carefully she maneuvered her way to the center, then she sat on her heels. She began to spread her skirts out, not half  filling the circle. Behind, beside and before her, the fabric was smoothed flat. Now her petitions began in earnest: with her bare legs and feet on the wet grass, she leaned forward with her fore arms flat on her skirts, facing out beyond the circle, her chin barely brushing the fabric. As she began to plead her case, she moved with the grain of the grassy floor, lifting her right leg moving it (the width of her leg) to her right. Next her left leg was moved right to join the other. It was in this fashion she traveled. Around  she went carefully with the practice and devotion of a penitent elder. Shifting, smoothing  and re-positioning herself and her skirts as she worked her way around pleading for the needs of the day and future. Once she had come full circle, back to the point she began  her worship. She sighed deeply, sat up and surveyed the sky and the fading stars, a glow had begun in the East. Night dissolved into dawn and a new day had begun. With equal care she stood and made her way out of the circle to a near by tree and plucked a piece of fruit. Sitting under the tree, she ate the fruit as the sun drew it self up into view. Another day in the life of  the chieftains daughter. 

   Petra's meditation was broken. A fine mist blew in on a gentle wind. Animals woke making their voices and hungers known, and soon there was smoke rising from the fires and the voices of her family became distinguishable.

    Yes, a new day had begun witnessed in reverence by a mere lass. Up she shot and those unshod feet bolted past fields, stables, and outbuildings. At the lintel of the largest conical shaped building she stopped, and was greeted  by a hulking figure. (Pointing to her forehead ) she said breathing heavy: "Da, 'tis a fine new day, bless meh wit yer kiss !". And he did ...