2 A Woman's Place (2)

"A-Narah, my love," her mother warmly greeted her.

"Mother!" She rushed up to embrace her mother and sat by her side. She laid her head on her mother's shoulder and gently tugged her sleeve.

"I heard that we are having guests today?" She rubbed her face on her arm and cutely looked up at her mother.

"You!" Her mother laughed, "wait until your brothers come and then I will explain."

She gently stroked her hand on her daughter's silky head. To have sons was a requirement and she had been lucky enough to have two and one was outstandingly talented, but a daughter was the child that could hold her heart. Sons would protect their mothers, but belong to the household.

This daughter was also an exceptional child. She was a pretty and quick-witted child. She had easily gained her father's favor by making him laugh and never started any trouble with her sisters, but even so she felt worried.

She looked down at the top of A-Narah's head. This child had grown up her entire life protected by all of them, so once she married out how was she going to protect herself? A-Narah always gave way to her sisters saying such little knickknacks were not worthy of arguing over, and if her daughter ever felt wronged, she or her husband were always there to make it right.

In the future A-Narah would not have anyone to rely on though. All she could do was hope that her daughter married into a family that would cherish her and treat her like the little treasure that she was.

"A-Narah, it will be your birthday soon. Is there anything that you would like?"

A-Narah looked down and bit her lip. Her deepest wish if said allowed would make her mother angry, but next year she would be married and who knows if she will ever have a chance again.

A-Narah took a deep breath and spoke, "Mother, my deepest wish is the impossible. I want to go outside and see the city. I know its improper for a noble's daughter to be seen in public and if known I could- could lose everything, but that truly is my deepest wish."

Her mother's hand paused in stroking her hair. Unable to tell her mother's reaction she peeked up, "mother?"

"You are right it is impossible." She resumed stroking her daughter's hair again. "Such a thing might not just ruin your future but your brothers' as well. It could bring shame to the entire family. I know it is unfair but that is the way things are, that is what we women give in order to live as well as we do."

"I understand," A-Narah said softly.

A-Narah's mother sighed. If she could she wished that she could grant her daughter a carefree life where she could do as she pleased, but such a thing was impossible for a woman of their station.

"Do you have another wish?"

"Well, all I want is the impossible mother," A-Narah let out a despondent laugh as she looked to the side.

"What is it? Speak. Here you have nothing to fear of speaking your thought."

"Then, do you think father could invite my fiancé? I want to just see him, even if it is from a distance so it doesn't feel like we are complete strangers when we marry," A-Narah asked hopefully.

Her mother didn't speak for some time. Just as she was about to give up hope her mother responded. "That my dear is something I might be able to do. Ah, look your brothers have arrived. Quickly open the door, Mera pour some fresh tea."

"Yes madame," the maids intoned as they carried about their tasks.

The door swung open and her two older brothers walked in. Her brothers were her father's pride and joy which further rooted her and her mother's position in the family hierarchy.

"Mother! A-Narah! Good morning," her second brother Xie greeted jovially before sitting down with them. Her eldest brother, Jun, quietly walked beside him before sitting down.

The family of four spoke of trivial matters before moving to more interesting topics. Besides the maids, Xie was the best source of the latest gossip.

"The daughter of the Wellton family was caught on the streets the other day." Her second brother spoke this tidbit while taking a bite of cake.

"What do you mean caught?" Noble women weren't allowed to go out, but they were not completely ignorant of the daily life of the people either. And some less traditional families allowed their women to go out under heavy guards and protection, while also protecting their identities. The girl from the Welton family was from such a place. Nothing should have happened to her. Woman who were allowed out were always carefully watched.

"There had been some ruffians on the street causing trouble. She sent some of her guards to help protect the nearby citizens, and then apparently, she used the opportunity to sneak away. A ballsy lass. The guards found her soon after enjoying a story and poetry performance at a nearby establishment. It would have still been kept quiet if she had gone back quietly, but she put up a fight. Apparently she was meeting a lover there. Drew much attention and now her entire family has become the joke of the capital. They all are saying that the Welton household have females with loose morals and they can't control their home."

"Did she perhaps want to run off with the man?" A-Narah gasped.

"Don't know. The man never showed himself but the Welton girl and those close to her in the household are going to face strict punishment, and its going to be hard to marry her off to a decent family now."

A-Narah couldn't help but sigh. That girl must of had some smarts to be able to carry this out this long, but she lost her head to her emotions. She had already been caught and there was no way she could have overpowered the guards and fled…unless she expected the man she was meeting to help her, and he had the power to do so. But whatever the case that didn't occur.

"Poor girl," A-Narah said as she shook her head.

"I don't think so, she got what she deserved," her brother replied.

A-Narah spoke no more and just continued sipping her tea. The men of this world just didn't understand how constricting the lives of women were. They probably never would.

Her brothers didn't stay long, and soon the maids were opening the doors again to let them out. Once the doors closed behind them A-Narah turned back to her mother to ask about her request.