Dancing in the Streets

[Narne]

It was a warm day, compared to that of usual. A strong hue was emitted from the golden sun that radiated above all life. The warmth of its rays reaching to touch the body of the living and fill them with warmth. The townspeople were more alive during these days, and streets were bustling with activity. Little shops or stalls embraced the small main road, and grabbed any traveller’s eye.

In the public spotlight, was a young woman with hair that shinned like the emissions from the sun. A beautiful gold. She was not a familiar face in this town and it attracted many to circle around her, and observe what she capable of. The young damsel was dressed in a light white gown, with small golden charms dangling from here and there. In her hands a tambourine, and on the hard surface of the road her feet were bare.

In a smooth rhythm accompanied by another traveller playing a flute, the damsel danced whilst demonstrating her ability to multi-task and play an instrument at the same time. The dancer was not a small woman, she was tall and slender, yet had some muscles about her. Her eyes caught every movement, and in a way were so confident it captivated many to watch her.

Her graceful movements tapped into the music, and the gathered people about her would clap to a beat. A few coins were thrown into a small hat, enough to get her the main necessities she need to keep moving. She was a traveller, yet she had come to love this town. For in a way, it was very much like her birth town. It was where she had grown up, and was where many of her friends still remained.

She’d left on such short notice, with hardly a chance to say farewell. However, she had returned yet with many exceptional skills apart from her tomboyish antics. She was a healer of sorts, and knew how to live off the land. She could dance and play instruments and proved to be good at smith work and training others in the arts of battle. She was more than willing to show off… but not so much that she’d be constant spotlight and put someone out of their way.

[Catriona]

Catriona was followed by a single guard, it was her brother's wish with the attempt on his life and all. She was wearing some brown pants, boots and a loose top that was white, she didn't look royal but with the fabric the clothes were made of you would know but in such a small town, you knew who she was regardless. Catriona saw the girl who was vaguely familiar but when Narne had left she had only been two or three so she didn't remember immediately. She tossed her a fair bag of coins and then moved on.

The market was open today and so Cat went there. She started browsing through the clothes and jewelry and other items curiously.

[Narne]

The music was full of life, almost like the waking song of a bird in the morning. Narne’s movements flowed along, and from time to time, she would incorporate bows into her dance to those whom placed coins within her small hat. Narne enjoyed entertaining eager townsfolk, it was always a delight for she knew they praised her work and did not criticise it. She turned away to the opposite side of the crowd and continued tapping the tambourine, before she heard a few more coins fall into her hat. She swiftly, yet in a graceful and elegant like manner, turned to face those whom added a few more.

A young woman, accompanied by a stern fellow. The woman was not dressed in a gown, like so many others, and Narne herself. Narne winked at the woman and bowed, before the face she had just seen started tracing her memories. Narne had quite an efficient memory, it was strange for her to forget most things. Sometimes, she may lie and say she’d forgotten, when she really hadn’t.

When the flute player slowed his music, Narne brought her dance to a halt, and thanked the crowd. As the crowd slowly began to disperse, Narne picked up her new filled purse. She went to the flute player and handed him half of the amount of coins. It was only fair, he had done half the work as well. Even though he tried modestly to not accept it, Narne left his share without letting him have another say.

She took up her belongings and trailed after the woman she had seen before. It was not long before Narne noticed the familiar glance of her, a few strides away. The woman was browsing at a clothing stall, and Narne’s curiosity made her eager to ask whether this woman was related to her friend of old.

Narne moved up beside the woma and went through a few of the materials that were on display, “Thankyou for your contribution,” Narne said to the woman. She thought it a reasonable way to start a conservation, and so continued to pick and observe the materials.

[Catriona]

Catriona turned to her and nodded, "It's nothing, a good performance deserves a good pay from the people watching," she smiled and turned back to the fabrics. They were silent for a moment and then hung up some fabric she was looking at and turned to the girl, "Have we met before? You seem vaguely familiar," she told her, "I'm Cat I mean Catriona," she said. She had been in the habit of her nickname and on occasion, she'd forget to tell people her real name. Her hand was extended to the girl to shake.

[Narne]

Narne had come across quite a nice piece of material. It was a transparent purple, with elegant gold markings on it. It was quite a pretty thing, and could prove useful. As the woman stated that her adding a few coins to Narne’s purse for her performance was nothing for a good performance well done, Narne smiled. This is why she loved towns like this, people were so friendly. For a few moments longer, they proceeded in silence. Then the young woman turned to Narne, and asked whether they had met before, then introduced herself as Cat or Catriona. That name buzzed in Narne’s head, and she knew then that this girl was related to one of her long time friends.

Narne turned to face the woman and nodded, “If that be your name. Yes. We met, many years ago. You were only a small child then,” she took up Cat’s hand and shook it, “I’m Narne, a friend of your older brother’s, Eadfearth.”

She could see the resemblance now. Cat, and her brother seemed to have the same stance. She’d only been quite a young child when they had met, and during that time in which Narne spent with the family she had befriended Cat’s older brother, and had an acquaintance with the family.

[Catriona]

Catriona nodded and thought hard in her mind to remember her. She could only remember one thing that stood out abut her, "Oh yeah, you were the girl that left leaving my brother broken hearted," she smirked. She doubted he had told her but it had been true once, a long time ago. "Well it is a pleasure to see you again, tell me, how long do you plan on staying?" She asked her curiously as she browsed through the cloth by her, but not finding anything that interested her all that much.

[Narne]

Narne smiled, watching the girl’s confused state. When the Catriona remembered, and stated that Eadfearth had been left broken hearted Narne raised her eye brow a little, out of interest. However, she said nothing and tended to ignore it. She casually moved to another rack of materials close by and replied, “Not sure. I’ll know when I’m ready to leave again.”

“This place has built up since I was last here,” she looked around the town centre for the moment, “It has definitely changed. tell me, have the people changed much? I have heard that many have come to settle down here and I have seen many unfamiliar faces. But, then again it has been quite awhile since my feet last trod upon the soil here.”

Narne, was usually not one for small talk, however sometimes circumstances called for it. Sometimes she had to just take hold of it, and do as fate willed her. She had no choice. She brushed a lock of her golden hair from her face behind an ear, and returned her gaze to Catriona for a moment longer.

[Catriona]

"Aye, many moved here yes, my brother has also been working on expanding our territory. At the moment, he is helping to liberate Macedonia from the Spartans. After that, I am sure he will find some way to gain control of the land. To be quite honest, I think he favors her," she smiled as she looked among the pretty jewelry.

[Narne]

Narne nodded, “Your brother was always there for those who needed his strength. He is a great teacher,” Narne said, sorting through her bag and withdrawing a coin to pay for some materials she had come to like, “He taught me a good thing or two, before I left. Let us hope his rule is a long and good one.”

Narne handed the coin over to a woman who came and collected it. She watched Catriona sort through jewellery while she thought about the last time she had been here. It was not as established as it was now. It had changed in quite a good way. It seemed the days of poverty were over

[Catriona]

Then Cat set down the jewelry and looked to her, "Would you like to got eat lunch?" She asked her curiously after she had bought some food. This way, the pair could continue talking but they would not have to talk awkwardly as they stood in the stall, not really doing anything. Cat has not always been one for small talk but at the moment, she had nothing to really say.

[Narne]

Narne watched as the woman placed down the jewellery and turned to gain Narne’s attention, and asked whether she would like to get something to eat, “If you have nothing better to do with your time. I assure you I am not the most pleasurable company,” Narne smiled, in a half jest.

She strolled out of the stall and onto the street. She inhaled the sweet air, and watched the townspeople. Many towns she had been in, many she had resided in, but none was like this. You were free to smile at people and not have to worry about defending yourself for it. It was the kind of town that was good to raise children, to have a family, because you were not constantly living in fear.

[Catriona]

Cat nodded and followed her. The pair walked through the streets and Cat smiled seeinng the kids running around and playing their games. It had been a long time since the girl has lived here, and to be honest, Cat barely remembered her. She then walked with her into a pub and they sat down. "So, what would you like to eat?" She asked her curiously.

[Narne]

Narne watched the children who were great balls of energy. It was amazing to see how someone could change, from being so young and full of vigour and liveliness whenever they wanted it, to an adult whom became so easily tired, even if they were generally quite fit. A girl handed her a flower, and with a cheeky grin ran off, a hand-made doll within her arms. Narne smiled and watched a group of kids join her, and then they all went running around the corner in a burst of ecstatic energy.

Narne turned to Cat, who addressed her by asking what Narne would prefer to eat, “Well amazingly enough my appetite is somewhat different to many. I don’t and won’t eat meat,” she said confidently. She did not care upon whom looked upon her with weird gazes, it was her choice. For along time now she had disregarded any offer of meat, would not eat or kill.

The only time she was to kill was in self defence, or to put out of misery. Sure, she taught many the skill of the blade, and how to kill a man, or woman. However, when she taught it she always implied and drilled it into the people she taught that they were taking a life, someone or something’s loved one. She did not disrespect those that did eat meat, for that was there choice. She would never look upon someone differently because of their opinions. She supposed that just came with being a kindred spirit.

[Catriona]

"A Germanic who doesn't eat meat, that is odd indeed, but I think we can accommodate that," she smiled and then she took her to a near by pub. "I know they serve salads here so I hope this will do," she said with a small smile. Cat looked around the pub and saw many familiar faces. If her gaze met another's, they would bow their heads politely and then continued what they were doing.

[Narne]

There is much this world had to offer. Whether it be those beautiful peak, the foothills by the rivers and streams or it be the opinions of individuals. How manipulative, how sheepish humans had all become. Each following in another’s footsteps, each accustoming themselves to duty to the authority and power. Narne had never allowed herself to be manipulated into doing what others wished of her. She was her own person, and she’d do as she pleased. She followed no-one’s rules but her own. She stole what she needed to get by, if she was in dire need. It was a low act, but everything did it. Humans stole life from animals, why could they not be called thieves? Narne had come to dislike meat at a young age, because of the way it was handled. How it was kept in captivity all its life, never tasted freedom. Those that lived free were always in danger, never in a place that could be called sanctuary. It was weird to describe how she felt towards eating meat. It was just another one of her, not following sheepish human trends.

Narne smiled at Cat’s comment, it was strange. She was a Germanic whom didn’t eat meat, and that was odd indeed. She followed Cat into the pub and nodded, “Someone has to stand out. So I choose to do so by not eating meat,” she smiled, “A salad will be fine.”