When We Were Strangers
When We Were Strangers-
She had never been one for words. Stifled by fear, or perhaps simple loathing for what she was, the blacksmith’s daughter rarely made much more than a peep around anyone but her close family.
“Go fetch us some bread from the market, Cath.” Her father had said. A simple task to many. Little more than a chore. Her father’s illness had left him unable to work as well as he once did, and with no sons in the family, Cath had to step up and assist him. Errands like this were commonplace, but she couldn’t seem to ever get used to them. She could never get herself to do it alone and required the accompaniment of her sister.
Brani was two years younger, and the very model of a young lady. Even the simple dress of peasants looked elegant and flowing upon her petite body. Cath felt like a beast walking beside a beauty as the two strolled through the city streets towards the market. For her arms were built like those of a man from countless hours toiling about the smithy. Her arms stained black from soot, her hair cut short and tied back to keep out of the way of her work, and her voice hoarse from talking over the sounds of the furnace and hammer on metal.
No one had ever complimented her on her looks. It was always Brani. “Brani is so pretty,” they would say. “Brani is such a fine young lady.” The local boys never looked Cath’s way. Not even a glance. It was always Brani. Always. Cath could feel the jealousy towards her sister burn inside. It was her hard work that allowed Brani to be spared from a similar fate. It wasn’t fair. Nothing was ever fair.
It wasn’t Brani’s fault though. Cath understood this, but understanding did little to calm the fire within. Still, she loved her sister. She needed her sister. “I must stuff these feelings away and forget about them.” she thought. This was the life she had been granted and she had to accept that. Cath resolved to put her mind back on her work, and the sisters continued on their way.
It happened in a flash. The rasp of a dagger unsheathing and the blur of a figure lunging towards her. There was no pain or blood. Cath blinked twice and examined her body in confusion. By the time she realized that the true target of the blade was her purse strings, the figure was already gone.
Cath’s legs began to give chase before her mind even made the order. Her family could not afford to lose those coins. Her father would be furious. It just couldn’t happen. Cath rounded the corner she thought the footpad may have taken. Her mind raced. She didn’t have a plan, she didn’t know how to fight. What was she going to do? Maybe this was her destiny, she thought. Maybe she was to die in a street fight over a petty few copper. It was better than facing her father’s wrath at least.
In time she caught up to her mark, but the thief was already being apprehended by someone else. A young boy stood in front of the thief, sword drawn. Cath recognized the boy. Cath recognized the boy all too well. The butcher’s son from across the street. A dashing lad with strong features and a confident smile. Cath had watched him from the window of her shop many times. She would stare out at him, losing herself in his distant eyes. She would forget her surroundings until her father’s curses snapped her back to reality and forced her back to work. Cath was in love with the boy she had never met. The boy she knew would never love someone like her.
The boy’s blade moved like that of a war veteran, but his stature was dwarfed by that of the adult thief. It was a boy versus a man, and Cath feared the man would win. The thief turned and spotted her. Cath braced herself for a fight. If the boy she loved would fight, so then would she.
That moment, however, was all the boy needed. He slashed out at the thief’s arm and blood sprayed against the walls of the crowded alleyway. The cut wasn’t deep, but the pain brought the thief to his knees. The boy snatched back the purse and positioned himself between the thief and Cath herself.
Defeated, the thief raced off while the boy stayed behind. The boy smiled towards Cath and her heart skipped a beat. As he offered her back her purse, Cath opened her mouth but was unable to make a sound. She smiled and nodded graciously as she took back her purse. The boy looked her in the eyes for a moment as if wondering something. Cath looked away immediately, her nerves unable to allow her to return the boy’s gaze. That incalculably small moment had left her breathless as it was.
Cath and the boy walked back to the main street and with a nod the boy turned to walk away. Cath wanted to reach out to him. Cath wanted to yell out and confess her feelings to the boy. She feared, however, that love was not something for her. Maybe she was better served by silence. Disgusted with herself yet again, Cath kept her thoughts in her head. She had never been one for words.
