~~~~~
As they walked behind Elder Rhys, Trent started to see more and more people, but he felt relaxed now. He could see the village and knew that the possible population of it could in no way be anywhere near what he had grown up in and had grown to hate.
Wherever they walked, people stopped and stared but then came up and greeted Isabella and the ancient, before coming forward to smile at Trent and nod their heads. They did not speak directly to him yet, seeming very shy about him, and he was glad of that as he did not know if he could speak in that moment either, given how overwhelmed he was about everything.
~~~~~
They seemed to walk a long distance, past what Trent assumed were homes, and he could see a fountain, from which someone was filling a jug of water. And he could see what he thought might be a blacksmith, working with metal, shaping what appeared to be small knives.
Finally they entered a large enclosed area with a great many tables installed into it, and he now could comprehend how many people lived here. It was not few - but it was not like the crowds he had tired of in his own city.
"Hush, everyone," Elder Rhys said, speaking at a volume that neither Trent or Isabella had heard him speak at before now. When there was silence he continued, with a wave of people looking directly at him, Isabella and the stranger beside her. "Please. We have a visitor in our midst. This is Trent, and he has come to us this day from outside the walls. I am sure you would have questions for him about where he has travelled from, but for now he has no recollection of anything before today, and he needs most of all to have sustenance to help his body regain strength. I have assessed this young man and he is to be trusted, but he is also to have peace. Please give him the space he will need as he is currently quite confused and needs to be able to find his way in our community."
Trent was overwhelmed by the power the ancient exuded in that moment, but with a nudge from Isabella, Trent moved forward one step, raised a hand slightly, and smiled at them, making the crowd before him clap. But even in that, they were quiet, and he smiled at the realization that in this community he may never experience great noise, as his life had been full of before he embarked on his journey to find peace.
~~~~~
"Come with me. Let me show you the food," Isabella was saying to him, smiling at him greatly and making him melt for her … yearn for her.
Even though it was not their first meeting or first day together, seeing her among the people, and seeing her as a contrast to them, he felt like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. She was stunning, and he could see that people truly liked her, driving up his pride at the possibility of being the one to be paired with her.
"Cook Joan, this is a new friend for us, Trent. He is eager to try your special food, but I think should not eat too much too soon," Isabella said, not revealing that she had already been helping Trent to get used to food again previously.
"Oh Miss Isabella, of course. Today I have this bread here, and with that is a very special tomato oat dish. Take a little of each and you will be fine with that, Mr Trent," the cook said, smiling broadly.
Isabella showed Trent where plates and the foods were laid out each day, and together they sat down in her usual seating area. Trent looked at the food before him and felt his hunger … and his appetite … but uncertain of eating traditions and not wanting to insult or offend, he looked to her for guidance.
"Eat, Trent. It is good," she said, spreading some of the tomato rice on her piece of bread and taking a large bite. It was the first time he had seen her eat and he was enraptured watching her indulge in the food.
Isabella laughed at him.
"Eat!" she commanded him and immediately saw him laugh at her before finally he tentatively picked up a piece of bread and spread the tomato rice on it, then tasting it and openly showing his appreciation for the flavour.
"Hmm. This is so delicious," he mumbled through food filled cheeks, making her laugh even more at him.
Suddenly Isabella felt someone on the other side of her and when she turned she saw Adrian sitting down.
"Isabella, who is this?" he asked as if he had never seen Trent before, indicating he had forgotten, just as Elder Rhys had said he would have.
Isabella looked closely at Adrian, finding it difficult to comprehend that some part of his memory seemed to have been taken from him. It saddened her, but at the same time she could see why it has been necessary to keep Trent's real situation a secret from everyone in the village.
"Adrian, please meet Trent. He was lost so will be staying with us now," Isabella said and watched Adrian tentatively reach out his hand toward Trent, which Trent shook.
"Hello Adrian. It is good to meet you," she saw Trent say whilst giving her a look of amazement that Adrian did not remember the day he had met him.
Adrian started to discuss everyday things then and Isabella found herself wondering how much of his memory had been removed from him. She could not even know for certain if he remembered the discussion they had shared about pairing together, but suspected it might be the case when he suggested she walk partway with him to the mill.
It was a conversation she did not want to have again, because if they spoke of it again then she knew he might be hurt again, and she did not want that. If she kept away, hopefully he would keep spending time with Kat.
"I will not today, Adrian, as Elder Rhys has asked me to show Trent around the village and introduce him to our ways. But I shall see you at dinner?" she asked and he nodded.
When they had eaten and washed up, Isabella invited Trent to go with her to meet the people she interacted with daily.
"Cook Joan, is there anything that you wish me to fetch for you from the garden?"
"Oh yes Miss Isabella, if you please, I require four green apples and some sweet basil - just a handful of that. That would be wonderful, thank you."
Isabella smiled at the cook and veered Trent away to walk outside. As they walked she watched his face and enjoyed seeing his curiosity as he looked at everything and everyone.
Eventually they reached the fork in the path, near where Trent had slept in his tent, and he was able to find his bearings and understand where they were.
"This is where I slept?" he asked, to be certain, and she nodded at him. "And where you came into my tent?"
She knew he was trying to tease her and make her blush but she did not mind, and laughed at him whilst nodding.
"Come. This is the way to the garden and the orchard."
~~~~~
Once in the large garden area, Trent was able to get a better view of it than what he had been able to see on that first day. The level of self-sufficiency of the people overwhelmed him, and he had already gained an understanding that there were no animals in the village apart from the chickens, and they as a community did not eat meat at all. Everyone looked so healthy, however, and youthful.
"Miss Isabella, what has the cook got you seeking today for their creations?"
"Just sweet basil today, if that is possible. I can pick the apples I need to find, if you are able to gather me one handful of the basil?"
"Of course. It is right over here…" the gardener said and wandered off to retrieve the right amount for her. Trent marvelled at what he saw. There was no form of tender here. People had specific jobs that they did, and they got on with them for the benefit of all people in the community.
"How do people get chosen to do each different job, Isabella?"
At first Isabella did not understand the question, but then seemed to comprehend how things must be different where he came from.
"People do not get chosen for a job, Trent. People do the things that they enjoy. These gardeners are here because they love to be in the land, growing food. The cooks are in the kitchen because they love to create masterpieces of food that they can share with everyone else."
"And your job?" he asked her, not yet sure where she fitted into the jigsaw of society within the large grey walls.
&nbs
p; She looked sheepish as she smiled at him.
"I am still seeking to discover what I am meant to do but I think…" she said and her voice drifted off to silence.
"You think … what?"
Before she replied she gave him a demure look that sent his pulse racing.
"I think I shall be happy to have and raise many children. To be a mother and contributor to our population."
Trent had to quickly dismiss thoughts going through his mind then as the gardener came back with the herb.
"Here you go. The best apples are on that tree over there. Can you reach?"
"Yes, thank you," she replied to the gardener and watched him walk off to carry on with his tasks.
Trent followed her as she walked to the apple tree and picked a few apples of the tree. He did not say anything more to her as they made their way back to the kitchen to deliver the spoils, but his mind was racing ahead … ahead to whenever the day of pairing would be.
As if sensing his feelings, once they had made the delivery, he heard her whisper to him, "May I walk you back to your room?"
~~~~~
Once inside, with the door closed behind them, she came to him with a passionate hunger evident in the way that she kissed him and pulled him to her. Trent groaned heavily with the degree of desire he was feeling, and wondered if he could wait another few weeks.
"Oh, Isabella, I feel desperation to be closer to you, and I apologise for that," Trent said as he pulled away from her.
"Why would you apologise? Do you think I do not feel the same?"
He looked at her and could openly see the arousal on her face, even if she did not fully comprehend the feelings, with them being so new to her. He quickly took his mind backward and pushed the arousal away from its forefront.
"Come and sit with me on the bed. I would like to hear about your life. Are your parents alive? Do you have any brothers and sisters?"
"Brothers and sisters?"
"Other children of your mother and father."
"Oh, no, my mother and father bore only me. They are good people and they are as much as I could ever have wished for," she said and paused. "Would you like to meet them?"
Trent was taken aback by the request but found himself nodding slowly.
"I would. Not today, but perhaps tomorrow? If you feel comfortable to introduce me."
"They would have to meet you before … the pairing. You must ask them if they approve of it," Isabella said quietly and the thought did not scare him.
He took her hand to his mouth and kissed it gently.
"Happily."
~~~~~
"We must get you some clothes!" Isabella exclaimed unexpectedly. "You have nothing with you now!"
Trent laughed at her, having forgotten himself that what he was wearing was all that he had from his entire former life.
"We shall go and see the tailors immediately. They may have something of the right size already."
He watched her as she jumped up and held her out her hand to him.
~~~~~
Once fitted with three new shirts and two changes of pants, Trent found himself warming greatly to the people of the village. No-one seemed to have bad feelings or any need to be greedy. Everyone just wanted to help one another and work together to provide an environment that was conducive to peace … exactly what he had so desperately desired when he had left the city and his other life behind.
As he lay in bed that night - the first real bed he had been in for so long - he pondered the wonder of how he had come to traverse the life he had lived before, to this life he was in now. It could not in any way have been expected, but he was not afraid of it, and eager to simply embrace it.
~~~~~
Two weeks passed before Trent and Isabella were summoned to the temple again.
"Both of you have previously spoken of becoming paired to one another, to remain paired for the remainder of your days. Now that you, Trent, have been among our people and come to know those who are here, do you still wish to pair with Isabella?" Elder Rhys asked and watched Trent's face as he looked at Isabella intently.
"Yes! With all my heart."
"And Isabella, do you still feel the same? Do you wish for this?"
"Yes, Elder Rhys. I very much do."
"Very well. I approve of the two of you being a match but we need to get the approval of your parents, Isabella, and of the other ancients. I will speak to my equals this evening in the privacy of the temple. But shall we go and see your mother and father now, Isabella? Do you agree to this?"
"Yes, Elder Rhys."
The three of them walked to where Isabella's father and mother would be for the evening, and her parents welcomed them into their home with looks of curiosity on their faces.
"Tomas. Crisiana. I have come here with Isabella and our new friend, Trent, to speak to you of their wish to become paired," the ancient said and immediately heard a gasp from Isabella's mother. "It may come as a shock since Trent has only been with us a short time, but I have witnessed them together and I give my blessing to the pairing. I believe they are meant to be together … that they were always driven to find one another."
Isabella saw her mother and father look at each other, sharing language with looks that only they could decipher.
"If you believe that then we give our blessing also, Elder Rhys, if it is truly what our daughter desires. Isabella, is this what you wish for?"
"Yes, Father. I very much do."
"Very well then," said the ancient, standing to leave once more. "I shall take my leave now and I shall consult with the ancients this evening. Trent, Isabella, come and see me after you have eaten tomorrow morning and I shall let you know then what has been decided."
"Thank you, Elder Rhys," four voices said as he made his way toward the door.
"I will walk with you," Trent said and looked back to Isabella before giving her a small hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I will see you in the morning?"
She nodded at him and with a nod to each of her parents, he was then gone, into the night.
"Isabella, are you sure about this?" Crisiana asked her daughter, with one major subject of concern present in her mind. "I had always thought you would pair with Adrian."
"Yes, I know. And Adrian did mention it to me once before, but I do not feel the same way about him as I do about Trent. I wish for Adrian to always be my friend, but I cannot think of him in the way that I feel I should think of the person I pair with."
Both parents walked up to her and held her in an embrace.
"Then you have our blessing, Daughter. It is long past time that you did so and started your own family."
~~~~~
The next morning Isabella went to breakfast and was pleased to see Adrian there. Sitting down next to him, Isabella received a brilliant smile from him in response to seeing her.
"Are you well, Isabella? It seems like I hardly ever see you at the present time."
"Yes, Adrian, I am well. I wish to speak to you though," she said and immediately had his attention. "I … I have asked the ancients to consider … to consider allowing Trent and I to pair."
Adrian was taken aback, not sure he had heard right, and Isabella knew that his silence alone was an indication of how shocked he was.
"I do not understand, Isabella. You have just met him. How can you wish to pair with him so soon, when you and I have known each other all our lives? I thought…"
Adrian was silent once more and the two of them looked at each other with sadness mirroring in their eyes.
"You do not esteem me as much as I esteem you," he said all of a sudden and she felt her emotions react strongly at his words.
She could not think of anything to say to him, and soon he stood up and walked away from her, no more words said.
Before Isabella stood up herself, she was confronted by Kat sitting down beside her.
"You have hurt him, Isabella, but I cannot be angry or sad about that as I have wished for him to not want to pair wit
h you, so he might notice me. Perhaps now he shall."
Isabella looked at the young woman beside her and felt such sadness for her to have said such a thing.
"Kat, I believe Adrian esteemed you greatly long before now. If he has not shown you affection yet do not think it is due to me. It is most likely that he is simply unaware how you feel. Go to him and tell him. Make sure that he listens - sometimes he needs to be told something several times before he really hears it. But tell him and make him listen, and he will come to you happily, I am sure."
Kat looked at the beautiful woman beside her, with her mane of flowing red hair. It was no wonder that she had not one but two men wishing to pair with her, she thought. How it must be to have someone want to pair with you, she murmured to herself inside the peacefulness of her mind.
Isabella had no more words to say to the young woman, so stood up, washed her dish and immediately walked to the temple. Stopping first outside Trent's door, she knocked quietly but did not hear any answer, so knocked slightly more loudly. Eventually she heard movement on the other side of the door, and then it opened and revealed a tousled Trent looking very sheepish.
"Is it morning already? I am still finding that I am so tired in the mornings," he said as he quietly padded back to his bed and climbed under the covers.
Isabella closed the door and came to sit on his bed, looking down at him. Covered as he was, when she looked at him she thought he looked like a young child, not the mature man that he was.
She leaned down to kiss him and he eagerly accepted - the taste of her fulfilling him so much when they kissed.
"Trent, are you sure you wish for this? For us to be paired? If you have doubt we do not have to…"
The Golden Desires Page 11