CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

(MELIORA'S POV)

This morning after cooking the usual morning meal of porridge, stews and fresh baked bread, we decided to seize the opportunity for a little free time while we could.

"Why don't we go down to the washing pond and get our clothes properly cleaned?" Suzanne suggested as we finally set down the last empty pot. "We can bathe in the river too while we're at it."

The rest of us girls readily agreed. The chance to truly relax and splash around in the cool, fresh water sounded heavenly after hours toiling over the hot fires and steamy kitchen.

Gathering up our soiled dresses, cloaks and underthings, we made our way down the worn path leading from the village toward the riverbank. The morning sun was bright but not yet too oppressive as it filtered through the green canopy overhead.

When we reached the large, rocky outcropping at the river's edge, forming a wide, shallow pool perfect for washing, we set right to work.

Beth and Martha immediately dropped to their knees at the water's edge, plunging their arms up to the elbows and beginning to alternately soap and scrub each garment.

Meanwhile, Anna and Suzanne busied themselves gathering tinder and kindling to start a small fire near the bank. They used to heat a large kettle of water drawn from the river until it was near boiling.


For my part, I was tasked with laying out the clean, dripping wet clothes over the flat rocks once they had been thoroughly washed. There, they could dry in the warm sunbeams while we moved on to actually bathing.

Though I kept myself occupied with the various chores, I couldn't help stealing glances at the other girls as they worked, my gaze invariably drawn to their relaxed, playful camaraderie.

It was mesmerizing and...wistful, somehow, to watch them joke and laugh so freely with one another between tasks.

Over the past couple of months I had been here, their easy friendship and acceptance was inexorably drawing me out of my cocoon of solitude and wariness.

Despite my best efforts, I could feel the icy walls around my heart beginning to thaw in their genuine warmth and kinship. Where I had been little more than a stray, haunted by dark memories of the past, I was gradually becoming...Liora. Just Liora.

"Earth to Liora, hello? You're burning holes in that shirt that you're staring so hard at!"

I snapped out of my reverie at the sound of Anna's lightly mocking voice. The others had paused in their work and were all grinning at me.

"S-sorry," I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush. "I was just...well..."

"Daydreaming about a certain pair of strong, muscular arms you wish could scoop you up and carry you away?" Beth finished for me with an impish quirk of her eyebrows.

I opened and closed my mouth, utterly flustered, as the girls burst into a new peal of laughter at my expense. Suzanne shook her head, still chuckling.

"Oh leave her be, you troublemakers. She's allowed to have the occasional fantasy, same as any of us!" She looped an arm amiably around my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze.

I managed an embarrassed laugh as well, appreciating her gentle teasing far more than the blatant ribbing from the others.

We returned to work. At length, when the final dress had been thoroughly scrubbed, rinsed and laid out on the rocks to dry, Suzanne spoke up again.

"Well? What are we all waiting for, an invitation?" She grinned as she unlaced her dress and let it puddle at her feet, stepping out of it entirely.

The others needed no further encouragement, quickly following suit. I hesitated just a moment longer before joining them, stripping down to my linen shift.

Together, we waded out into the river until the cool, refreshing current was swirling around our waists. What began as a simple, pragmatic bathing quickly devolved into an all-out water fight and other pool festivities.

Shrieks of laughter rent the air as we splashed, dunked and playfully wrestled with one another in the shallows. Even I couldn't resist joining in the fun, my earlier self-consciousness melting away.

At one point, Martha succeeded in shoving me completely underwater. I came up sputtering, my sopping wet hair hanging in my eyes, to see her dancing away and sticking her tongue out impishly.


In a surge of retaliation, I launched myself at the smaller girl and dragged her back down into the water with me amid a squeal.

We tussled for a few moments, our thrashing inevitably drawing Suzanne and the others into the fray as well. Soon we were all engaged in a playful group tussle, shrieking breathlessly between fits of uncontrolled giggles.

When at last we all lay spent and sodden on the flat riverbank, chests heaving, I found my own laughter mingling with the others. It felt so...freeing and warm and utterly devoid of the usual melancholy that clung to me, even here.

As we lay there regaining our breath, dripping and utterly disheveled, Martha suddenly broke the silence.

"Oh! You'll never guess what bit of gossip I overheard back at the village..."

We all turned toward her with rapt interest, instantly on the scent of fresh intrigue. The sly blonde smirked, drawing out the suspense a moment before divulging.

"There's going to be a mate selection ceremony in a few days! Can you even believe it?"

We all gasped, shooting up into sitting positions practically in unison.

"What, for real??" Anna cried. "But why were we not informed about something so important?"

Martha shrugged. "I heard Luna mentioning it to Elder Abigail when I was retrieving more kindling for the ovens. She didn't say much, but you know it is a yearly event to find proper mates for the unclaimed females."

"Well if that's the case, then we'd better make sure we're properly prepared," Suzanne said, ever the voice of reason. Her eyes glinted with excitement nevertheless at the prospect of such festivities.

"We'll need to visit the market village for some new dresses and make ourselves look extra presentable!"

The other girls and I agreed readily, exchanging looks of giddy anticipation.

"But when can we go?" Beth asked. "We have so much work to do around here day in and day out..." Suzanne pondered for a moment, squeezing her full lower lip between her teeth.

"Perhaps we can ask Elder Abigail if we can have a few hours off after preparing the midday meal and serving the pack. Surely she'll allow us just that small reprieve to at least purchase new clothes in time for this celebration?"

It was decided then - we would broach the subject with the gruff, no-nonsense old woman in charge of our kitchen duties. After hastily redressing in our damp clothes, we hurried back to the village to begin cooking as usual.