Into The Woods

Opal tilted her face up to feel the warmth of the sunshine on her cheeks. Though things had been much better in the castle thses days, and she felt less like running away, there was still something inside her that longed to be outdoors and free. So she hadn’t given up on sneaking out. (  At least, not entirely.  )

Before leaving the inn, Mother Goose stopped at the large bulletin board by the door. People posted things for many reasons; selling property or goods, lost pets, looking for or offering work. Which was what she was stopping for.

Mother Goose decided she could use some help.

She loved going to the market, mingling with the people in her town, meeting the new babies, general meddling and gossip. But the twice weekly trip to the inn with her wares was becoming a challenge. For a time, the innkeeper had sent someone around to her, but that person was apparently no longer available.

Mother Goose had almost hoped to engage young Robert in offering his services, but it seemed the boy was allergic to work.

It wasn't that she minded the trip. She hitched the horse up to the wagon, and off she went. But winter would be coming soon, and she had to face the fact that she was no longer young. So she scanned the board, hoping someone was looking for work. She was willing and able to pay, both in coin and in food.

It would give her an excuse to bake more. She always got fewer visitors once the snows came.

“Go to town and find a mason,” her mother had said. “And find one that can work cheap or in return for simplicities such as food and shelter.” Her mother had been very specific and firm on the “cheap” part of it. They weren't paupers, but they were not exactly living the high life either. For the most part, Rowan and her mother had everything they could ever want. Even her grandmother, who she frequently took baskets of fresh goods to, made do with the simple things. They were simple folk and they hardly considered themselves poor.

They were rich in love and life. They had a cow, which while she wasn't much, she gave them milk with which the made butter and cheese. They had a garden that they harvested from throughout the year. They had a strong relationship with the farmer down the road where her mother frequently traded mending, cooking and cleaning for their regular supply of eggs and freshly butchered meat.

What more did they really need? Rowan couldn't think of anything. ( Well, maybe there was something... )

It was snowing.

Rowan didn't necessarily hate snow. It was a fact of life, of nature, and something that could be counted on happening during the colder months. Besides, she knew from talking to her farmer neighbors that a winter with a decent amount of snow meant that the soil had a nice base for crops come spring. Which would mean a better harvest later in the year and less of a chance that the local people would starve the following winter. So she understood snow and its necessity.

However, she didn't particularly love it either. Even given the unfortunate affair involving the wolf, her mother still seemed to think it was appropriate to send her on errands on her own. Rowan didn't mind that so much, it got her out of the house and into the fresh air -and there was something incredibly crisp and clean about winter air. ( There was also something peaceful about the crunching of the snow under the soles of her boots and the overall quiet around her. )