Keeper of the Old Ways

The old iron pot was simmering on the glowing ashes in the old stone kitchen...

The old man, the master herbalist, was sitting on the old bench...thinking..

Too old and worn to go himself, his granddaughter had to go out in the early dawn and gather some roots and leaves he needed. Her grandfather raised her, from a baby. And now, she was his assistant, ready to take over the role of herbalist....that is, assuming that things stay quiet.
 
Having gathered what she needed, she made her way home. Through the muddy paths, she quickly walked beside the stone walls and past the embankment.



Quietly.
With her hair standing on the nape of her neck. In fear.


Not being able to trust anyone she sees. And for good reason.


Like her grandfather, she was being watched. At one point her parents would come out of hiding and attempt to see her or to send her word.

Along with a few others, her parents dared to rebel against the King and his governing lords. And now they are paying the price for daring to speak against injustice...on the run, as fugitives, for fear of their lives.

The local 'powers that be' felt that at one point a message from her parents would arrive and they would intercept it.  Her parents couldn't remain in hiding forever without getting in touch with their only child....The time would come when they would seize them, and they were patient.

So they constantly watched where the girl went, as well as take notice of who would visit the old herbalist and his young assistant.  The villagers needed the herbalist's help, but were afraid to be seen entering or leaving his house - for fear of being connected with those who plotted against the king. When they needed something from the herbalist, they would quietly send word...and, despite their constant scrutiny, those in authority - the priest, the lord of the manor and his men, were not able to figure out how the herbalist was in contact with the villagers .

As if that wasn't enough to worry the girl and her old grandfather, there was more trouble brewing.

A dark looming cloud had formed and was slowly making its way, covering the land. It was a cloud of fear.

The ruling class was trying to rid the land of the "old ways".  The church was determined to wipe out anything or anyone that embraced or kept alive the ancient ways of the people.

Persecutions and accusations did not officially take place yet, but they were coming soon. The climate was ripe and trouble was brewing. A spiritual civil war would soon begin in the land.

And word was out that they would accuse the old herbalist and his granddaughter as keepers of the old ways, labeling the herbalism as sorcery.

So the girl made her way, through the village, to the edge, where they lived. Pulling her shawl up even higher against the chill, she turned around to see if anyone was following her.
She kept her hair tied and covered, and avoided anyone's stare.

Practicing and keeping a spiritual tradition alive, one that was firmly rooted for centuries in their culture, she was ever so close to being labeled as a sorceress by the church - persecuted and accused of sorcery because she was becoming a "wise woman"- one who knew how to help others by making good use of the amazing healing herbs, plants and flowers provided to us by the earth. She was unusually and dramatically beautiful- and that didn't help matters at all.

Her long red hair was fiery and her skin was snowy white. Her eyes were intense and brilliant green....nothing about her was average or common. Fire and ice.  Blazing alabaster.   No one in the area came close to comparing with her striking beauty.

However, unlike other women of great beauty who were vain and self centered, her soul was rich in humility and modesty, love and kindness.

The movement to wipe out the ancient ways couldn't see her kind heart and compassion.  Riddled by hatred and superstition, they couldn't see past their own fear and ignorance. 

What happened to her? Did they persecute her? Did they find and seize her parents? Did they throw the old master herbalist in prison?