Chapter 3 Father

She sat down with the bag on her lap. She barley managed to breathe. The man took of the hood and his tunic and in his shirt he sat down on a chair opposite her watching Melody for a moment.

"You're pretty." He said frankly.

"Thank you." Melody looked at him, he had shoulder long hair with with a few strands of gray. His eyes were really yellow. He had a prominent nose and had like two days beard. He was really tall and had very broad shoulders. They all had, the man from the Tribe.

"It's warm in here, you can take your clothes of." He said such words so casually that Melody couldn't believe her ears for a moment. There was no point in delaying what was her faith after all so Melody put the bag aside and with trembling hands she unbuttoned her jacket and took it off. She couldn't force herself to do the same with the dress she was wearing. The man was watching her all the time. Melody almost cried from how nervous she was.

"You are afraid of me?" His low voice broke the silence.

"Yes sir, I've never been with a man. I'm scared." She admitted flushing deep red and lowering her sight.

"I know." He smiled. "You think I bought you for myself?"

Melody raised her head and looked a bit surprised at him. The man sighted and made himself comfortable on the chair.

"I have a wife, her name is Lorien. I'm Torib and I will be your father from now on."

"Father." She echoed him.

"I have two sons, one has already got a wife. They got married last year and my younger son will be of age next year. My duty as his father is to provide him with a wife, just as my father brought a wife for me." He took out a pipe and some dry leaves from a small sack and started to fill the pipe. "I wasn't going to buy him a wife so quickly but the occasion was good, you are young, capable, healthy and devoted to family. Soon my son Illia will be your family and you will be devoted to him." Torib filled the pipe and with a help of a candle light lit the dry leaves creating a little smoke. "You know that once you are in our village, there is no way out. For the coming year you will live with us and you will learn everything you need to know. Our ways are …. different." He took the pipe again visibly pleasured by the smoke.

"You can sleep on the bed, tomorrow by daybreak we are leaving. There is a long way ahead of us. It will take two days to get to the village. Rest comfortably why you still can. I will sleep on the floor."

'Thank you." That was all what Melody was able to pronounce.

She took off her shoes and laid herself on the bed. She wasn't able to fall asleep though. Her mind kept working imagining her future husband. Maybe he will look like his father? She was happy that he said that the marriage will take place next year. She had some time. Nobody will force himself on her, well not now. She heard the man snoring after a while. He really was sleeping on the floor. She couldn't fall asleep. Everything came back, the whole thing with mom's accident, crying Jeha and shocked Garth who was unable to say anything and was only hugging her as if it could have help to stop her from leaving. And there was Bella who simply didn't understand a thing from the whole commotion, she was just happy that her mom was back. Mom … Melody cried, soundlessly. She didn't want Torib to hear her. After all she was a young woman and she has made the decision herself. Was she regretting it? No …. and yes. She was happy to see her mother back but it pained her deep in her heart to leave all of them. She won't be able to see them ever again. Tears were rolling. She told herself she was allowed to cry, as much as she needed to calm her nerves down. Tomorrow she will leave the village for good.

She couldn't say when she finally fell asleep but the morning, the daybreak came too early.

"Get up." One command put her back on her feet.

"Get your stuff ready. We will eat and leave."

Melody nodded and while she was getting dressed in her jacket Torib caught her arm. He had a strong grip.

"You will address me as Father and you will confirm that you understand."

Melody gulped and straighten her posture.

"Yes … Father." melody took her bag, she was ready. Torib put the hood on and grabbed a huge rucksack. They left the room together. The other tree men were already waiting. She couldn't see their faces right as they all covered them with the hoods but she wasn't that eager to see them anyway.

They ate in silence, scrambled eggs and fresh bread. It didn't take him long and they all finished.

"We are taking the north pass, it should be easier to take this route, and safer, now that we have an extra companion." She heard Torib deciding about their way back.

"Melody, this is Angus, Dirk and Shelly."

"Nice to meet you sirs." Melody bobbed a little. One of them, not sure whether it was Angus, Dirk or Shelly smiled brightly at her. They were all in similar age, they were caring swards and big rucksack just like Torib.

Melody put her bag similarly to them to carry it on her back.

"Try to keep up with us." She heard Torib's command.

"Yes Father." This time it was easier to say it. He wasn't her father, she's just calling him like that as she has no other choice. In his case it's just a meaningless word.

'Torib, you are lucky. She seems obedient and there is no crying and screaming." One of them remarked.

"We'll see." Was everything her "Father" said.

They left the empty at this early hour inn and walked along the main road. They were passing by Jiha's house whose mother made delicious cookies and the shop of Mr. Horace. There was the big tree with the sweetest apples that belonged to old Beris. All children had to pass a test by stealing a few from it. She heard some dogs barking, the village was waking up just like everyday. They will boil some milk for their children and make teas. Some will go out to the garden to fetch some herbs and she could smell the faint smell of fresh bread coming from one of the houses. The village started the day at it's own pace. Only Melody felt deep loneliness tugging along the group of men. Than she noticed him. Garth was standing at the hill behind the barn of the Birch family. He looked at her and raised his hand, for a moment, for a brief moment Melody thought she will force her way back to him. Her heart was about to jump out of her chest. She raised her hand too.

"Don't delay". Her new father rushed her.

She started walking one foot after another, biting her teeth together. She won't cry, she won't. From time to time she was looking back. Garth stood there with a raised hand a lonely silhouette getting smaller with every step she made.