Beautiful

    Summer slipped by, then fall with its harvest, and milling soon after.  Seeker’s days blurred into labor, his evenings into books and study.  Beautiful’s stretched long and empty.  At times Seeker came home for lunch; other days she walked to the mill to see him.  But the silence closed in when he was gone, heavy as stone, and more often than not, she wept.

–

    Winter came, and Seeker was once again chopping wood in Danger.  On Christmas Eve, after the day’s work was done, he trudged through the snow to a small pine he’d spotted earlier on the mountain slope near Delight and cut it down.  He dragged it home, its branches leaving a trail behind him, and set it upright in the corner of their main room, the air growing rich with the fragrance of evergreen.

    “Don’t look,” he told Beautiful.

    She sat curled on the ugly couch in her nightgown, firelight warm against her skin.  A contented smile played on her lips as she sang softly over the crackle of the hearth—“Silent night, holy night… all is calm, all is Bright.”

    She covered her eyes with one hand.  Seeker opened a small box of ribbons and glass globes—red, blue, and green—and began hanging them carefully on the tree.

    “No peeking,” he said.  

    She giggled, fingers pressed tighter over her eyes.

    When the last ornament was in place, she uncovered her eyes and let out a bright, delighted laugh.

    He crossed the room and settled beside her, his fingers threading gently through her hair.  “Merry Christmas, Beautiful,” he whispered.  

    She leaned against him, a faint smile lingering, the silence between them warm.  The fire crackled, the pine filled the air with its sharp fragrance, and for a little while the world outside seemed far away.  In that quiet glow, it felt as though nothing could touch them.

    At last, Seeker spoke.  “It breaks my heart to see you so lonely, baby.  For me, it’s enough—just the two of us.  But I know you need more.”

    “No, Seeker,” she said, her eyes alight.  “Not just the two of us.  Not anymore.”  She drew his hand into hers and guided it to rest on her belly.  Her voice softened.  “Three of us.  I’m pregnant.”

    Seeker stared at her, the words barely sinking in.  Beautiful—pregnant?  Beneath his hand, within her belly, a new life was beginning.  Their child.  Would it be a daughter with her smile, or a son in his own likeness?

    She gazed at him, eyes shining, waiting for his words.  He drew her into his arms, holding her as if she were the most delicate treasure in the world, afraid to press too tightly.

    “Beautiful,” he whispered, his voice breaking with wonder, “This is the best Christmas gift I could receive.”

    Everything he had ever wanted was here—in her arms, and in the new life they had made.

    Seeker dressed quickly, not even trying to keep quiet.  From the other room, Beautiful’s steady breaths told him she was feigning sleep—but he knew she was awake.  He left without a word, pulling the door shut behind him.

    Another long day at the mill waited for him.  He grunted, shoving the handle forward.  A faint orange stain showed on the wall—barely visible.  The urge to smash his fist into it rose hard, but he forced it down.  He kept pushing, heat simmering inside.  Damn her.  Why did she have to make everything so complicated?

    She?  What was Beautiful talking about?   The stain surfaced again, mocking him from the stone wall.  He curled his fist, but what good would it do?  One swing and he’d only split his knuckles.  And truth be told, he no longer cared what Beautiful would think.

    Sweat streamed down his face, soaking his shirt.  The labor brought no relief to the gnawing ache in his chest.  Around and around—every bit of it was for her.  Didn’t she see that?

    Hours dragged by, his anger dulling to a heavy ache.  Maybe he should go home at lunch, try to talk with her.  No—he knew better.  It would only make things worse.

    “Seeker?” Beautiful’s voice floated from the doorway.  “Are you in here?”

    He stopped, let go of the handle, and turned toward her.  “What do you need, Beautiful?”

    “Oh, dreadful,” she whispered, tracing the handle with her finger.  Then she turned, fixing her eyes on him.  “I brought you lunch.”

    “Fine,” he said flatly.  “Leave it on the bench outside.”

    She rose on her toes and brushed his lips with hers.  “Don’t be ridiculous.  I’m eating with you.  And we’re talking.”

    She took his hand and pulled him to the bench outside.  They sat, and she spread a handkerchief between them, setting out the food—a loaf of bread, a piece already torn away, a wedge of cheese, a few olives, and a single tomato.

    She drew his clasp-knife from her bag and set to slicing the tomato.

    “That’s mine,” he protested.

   “Mine now,” she said.

    When they’d finished eating, she reached into her handbag and pulled out his pipe, the pouch of tobacco, and the flint.

    “Beautiful,” he growled, low in his throat.

    “If you’re going to smoke, do it with me,” she said flatly.  “No secrets.  That’s all I care about, Seeker.”

    He scoffed and snatched the pipe from her hand.  Pinch by pinch, he packed the bowl, tamping it firm with his thumb.  Clenching the stem between his teeth, he struck flint to steel until the tobacco caught.  He drew smoke into his mouth, held it for a moment, then turned and blew it out, away from her.

    If he hadn’t known better, he might have thought she was fascinated.  At last, she said, “Let me try.”

   He shrugged with a quick grin and passed it to her.  “Don’t grab the bowl, Beautiful.  You want to burn your fingers?”

    She held it gingerly, drew the tiniest puff—and instantly burst into coughing, choking, gagging.  “Nasty,” she sputtered, shoving it back at him, “You really should quit.”

    He took it back, drew a slow, deliberate puff, then exhaled—this time right between them, not bothering to turn aside.

   She waved the smoke away with a flick of her hand.  “We need to talk.”

    “About what?”

   “Your books need a case.”

   “Yeah.”

   “And we need a proper bed.  And a table.”

   “I know, Beautiful.”

   “We’re getting them today.  As soon as you finish work.  Comfort showed me a shop yesterday.”

    Seeker sat there puffing on his pipe, watching her.  “If I had the money, Beautiful, I’d have bought it all already.  You know that.”

   She wrinkled her nose.  “And I’m glad you didn’t.”   The words ugly couch hovered unsaid between them.

    “We’ll just have to wait.  I don’t have the money, Beautiful.”

    “Now listen, Seeker,” she said firmly, “I know you work hard.  But I worked too.”

    “But, Beautiful…” He hesitated, “That’s your money.”

    “Yes, Seeker,” she replied, her eyes steady. “And it’s my home, too.”

    Seeker dressed quietly in the early morning, careful not to wake Beautiful.  She’d spread a blanket on the bedroom floor, flatly refusing the couch he had bought.  This was where they would sleep now.

    “We’ll be buying all the furniture together from now on,” she said firmly.  Of course—that had been the plan all along.  He just needed somewhere to sleep.  Anywhere but the floor.

    He knelt and kissed her forehead softly, then slipped out without a word.  At lunch, he’d come back to see her before returning to the mill.

    He groaned when he reached the mill—carts loaded with rye, barley, and wheat had piled up while he was gone.  He hoisted a sack onto his shoulder and trudged up the stairs to the grain room, setting it down with a thud before heading back out to the carts.

    He scanned the carts—at least dozens of trips.  Leaving the sacks out wasn’t an option; the summer heat would spoil the grain.  If he pushed hard, he might be done by noon.  But there’d be no lunch break waiting—just as many sacks of flour to haul back out of storage.

    By early afternoon the drivers would be back with their oxen, and the flour had to be ready.  Seeker heaved another sack onto his shoulder with a grunt and started the climb again.

    Beautiful.  His heart sank.  What would he do with her?  She had to be disappointed in him—why else would she have cried?

    He set the second sack down beside the first and went back for another.  Disappointment gnawed at him.  He’d wanted that lot above the ravine so badly.  If only he’d worked harder.  And still—it stung.  He’d imagined her throwing her arms around him, telling him how much she loved their new home.

    One by one, he stacked the sacks into a neat pile.  With each trip, words formed in his mind—he’d say this… no, better to say that.  Back and forth, over and over.  At last, he dropped the final sack in place, sank to the floor, and took a long drink from his canteen.

    All that remained was the flour.  Then he could go home—to Beautiful.

***

    Beautiful stretched and yawned, reaching across the blanket.  Seeker was already gone.  A small ache tugged at her chest.  His face from last night rose in her memory—disappointment, plain as daylight.  Was he already tired of her?  He could have at least nudged her before leaving.

    She straightened the blanket they’d slept on.  First priority: a bed.  The floor didn’t bother her, but Seeker had protested—that was what the couch was for.  She still couldn’t believe his taste.  It might have been the ugliest thing she’d ever seen.  And uncomfortable besides.

    In the main room, Seeker’s books lay piled against one wall.  He needed a bookcase.  But first—a table, so they could eat together.

    Seeker had promised to come home for lunch.  That was still hours away.  She might as well explore the village—maybe even bring back something delicious for him.

–

    Beautiful wandered the village streets.  It wasn’t the neat houses, or the tidy flower gardens that caught her eye—it was the silence.  No laughter.  No voices.  Not even the stray cats that roamed Bright-Harbor’s alleys.  Just stillness.  Empty, aching, lonely silence.

    Near the center of the village, Beautiful finally spotted life—two young women about her age.  The first moved like a fox, sly and too sure of herself.  Not in a way Beautiful liked.  She swayed as she came closer, tossing her long, wavy black hair with practiced ease.

    “You must be the Beautiful we’ve heard so much about.”  Those green eyes swept her from head to toe.  “You’re not what I was expecting.”  A flush crept into Beautiful’s cheeks.

    The second woman hurried up.  “Charm!  Shame on you.”  Her face was soft, her blue eyes gentle.  She turned to Beautiful.  “Please forgive my cousin.  Welcome to Delight.  I’m Comfort.”

    “Sister,” Charm cut in, her voice smooth but sharp at the edges.

    “Distant cousin,” Comfort shot back, her tone tightening.

    “Sister,” Charm pressed, then added in a low voice, almost sweet, “Adopted.”

    Comfort shot Charm a glare, then slipped her hand into Beautiful’s.  

    “Come,” she said warmly.  “Let me show you around.”

–

    Beautiful spread out her linen cloth across the ugly couch and set out a loaf of bread, some olives, cheese, and a single tomato.  They really did need a table.  Comfort had already told her where to find one.

    She waited.  Noon came.  Still no Seeker.  She paced the room, back and forth, the bread and cheese untouched.  When the door stayed shut, tears stung her eyes.  How dare he?  He’d promised.

    She sat on the floor, leaning against the ugly couch.  Seeker’s satchel lay by the pile of books, drawing her eye.  She tore off a piece of bread, chewed slowly, and let her gaze drift back to the satchel.

***

    Seeker exhaled a long breath as he stepped out of the mill.  The day had dragged, heavy and endless, leaving him sore and spent—but he was going home to Beautiful.  That was all that mattered.

    He thought about stopping to pick up something delicious for Beautiful but brushed the idea aside.  He couldn’t bear to waste even a minute—he just wanted to get home to her.

    “Beautiful,” he called as he pushed the door open.  Then he froze.  She stood in the middle of the room, fists on her hips, lightning flashing in her eyes.  His satchel lay spilled across the floor at her feet.

    “What is this?” she demanded, brandishing his pipe in her fist.

    Heat rushed to Seeker’s face.  He opened his mouth, but no words came.

    “When were you going to tell me?” she demanded, fury burning in her voice.  “Or were you even going to tell me at all?”

    “It just helped pass the time, Beautiful.  Three years is a long time.”

    Beautiful’s face went pale.  Her voice dropped, trembling.  “Did she help you pass the time, Seeker?”

   She?  What was Beautiful talking about?  Jealous of—Comfort?

    “It’s not like that, Beautiful.  Comfort… she’s like a little sister.”

    “Comfort?”  Beautiful scoffed.  “Comfort?  You think I’m stupid?  Stop lying to me.”  Her voice curled into a mocking sing-song.  “Oh, Beautiful, I’ve heard so much about you.”  She let out another bitter scoff, eyes blazing.  “Are you the stupid one, or do you think I am?”

      “I wish I never left Bright-Harbor.”  She spun on her heel, stomped into the bedroom, and collapsed into sobs.

    Seeker sank onto the ugly couch and buried his face in his hands.  What had just happened?

    Seeker knelt at Beautiful’s bedside, pressing a damp cloth to her brow.  For three days she had lain there, groaning, trembling.  Without a doubt—she’d driven herself past the limit with all the wedding preparations.  When her eyes fluttered open, she gave him the faintest smile.

   “My Odysseus,” she whispered, trying to push herself upright.

    Seeker set a hand gently on her shoulder.  “Take it easy, Beautiful.”

    “I need to…” she whispered, but the words trailed off.

    “You don’t ‘need to’ anything, Beautiful,” he said.  “You’ve already done it all—and made yourself sick.”

    “I did what had to be done,” she said firmly, “Who else was going to do it?”

    “That’s not true, Beautiful.  You took on too much.  I warned you—but you wouldn’t listen.”

    “Warned me?  About what, Seeker?” she shot back.

   “My parents.  We didn’t need to drag them to the waterfalls.  It ruined everything.”

   Her face fell.  “You hated our wedding.”

   “No, Beautiful, I didn’t hate it.  It was the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen.”

    “But…” she began, her eyes searching his.

    “But you yawned.”  The image still burned in his mind.

    “I was so tired, Seeker,” she whispered, “That doesn’t mean…”

    “It means you should’ve listened.”

    “I’m hungry,” she said quietly.

    “There’s fish stew waiting for you,” Seeker said, “Though, for the life of me, I have no idea where Miss Cheerful found fish around her.”

    Her eyes lit up, bright enough to make the whole room feel lighter.

    “Are you ready to go home—our home?”

    She didn’t answer.  She only drew him close, kissed him deeply, then pulled him onto the bed.

***

    They stepped onto the Narrow Way together.  Beautiful clung to his arm, leaning on him for strength, while he carried everything she owned in the world in the bag slung across his shoulder.

    They walked slowly—no rush, no hurry.  Time belonged to them now.  At a narrow stream, Seeker knelt, filled his canteen, and passed it to her.  She drank deeply before handing it back.  Then she slipped off her boots and stepped into the water, wading across.

    “The bridge, baby!” he exclaimed, pointing ahead.  She only giggled.

    “It’s not deep, honey,” she called back, splashing onto the far bank. 

    He shrugged, tugged off his boots, and rolled up his pants.  “Don’t blame me if I drop your things in the water.”  A quick grin.  “Accidentally of course.”

    His footsteps splashed through the stream, steady beneath her.  She didn’t glance back.  He wouldn’t drop her bag.  Ahead, a gentle hill rose, scattered with lilies.  At the crest she sank into the grass, folding her legs beneath her.  He set the bag down and eased himself beside her.

    A perplexed look flickered across his face.  Something about this place unsettled him—she was sure of it.  He always carried such high expectations, and the disappointments when life fell short.  Did he feel that way about her too?

    She dug into her bag and brought out a wooden bowl with a spoon tucked inside.  Popping off the tight lid, she scooped up a hearty chunk of fish.

   “Hungry again already, Beautiful?” he teased, a smile tugging at his mouth.

    Silly man.  You didn’t have to be hungry for fish stew.  She turned her head with a soft giggle.  “Want some?”

   He wrinkled his nose.  “I wouldn’t dare take away any of your… delicious stew.”

   She took a few bites, then secured the lid tight.  Plucking a lily, she tucked it behind his ear.  If he wouldn’t eat the stew, he’d taste it another way.  She leaned in and kissed him.

    He pointed toward a village tucked into the mountains across the ravine.  A shadow crept over her heart.  It felt—lonely.  No other word fit.  Lovely, yes… but still lonely. 

    They set off again down the path, and Beautiful laughed softly—Seeker walked on completely unaware of the lily still tucked in his hair.  But her smile faded when they reached the bottom of the hill where a stone monument stood, weathered and solemn, with bones fastened to it.  She slowed, reading the inscription.

    “Gruesome,” she muttered.  She knew the story of Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, but this felt like too much.  She glanced at Seeker—he almost looked comforted.  Strange.  Bothered by lilies, yet soothed by bones?

    Ahead, the Hill of Difficulty loomed, steep and bare, its rocky path vanishing into the clouds.  Fear clutched at her chest.  Yet at the same time, something within her tugged—this was the way forward.  Seeker stood waiting at the crossroads.  When she turned back toward him, it felt as if something tore inside her, a part of her refusing to follow, left behind at the foot of the hill.

    As they passed the granaries and carts, her heart grew heavy.  On one side of the path to Delight stood an ancient building, its timbers darkened with age and its copper roof gone dull.  A low hum filled the air, broken by the groaning and creaking of old wood.

    “It feels haunted,” she whispered. 

   “I work there,” said Seeker flatly.

    Her heart ached for him—the days, the years he had worked there for her.  And the days, the years still ahead.  The thought was unbearable.

***

    Seeker felt irritation rising inside him.  Beautiful had gone quiet, and he knew her well enough to recognize it wasn’t good.  Her face had fallen when he’d pointed out Delight, and since then her mood had only sunk lower with each step.

    She’d lingered on the bridge, staring wistfully at the waterfalls in the ravine.  Seeker muttered under his breath as they passed the land that should have been his.  The house perched above the ravine was finer than anything he could have afforded.  She must be disappointed in him.  What else could it be?

    They wound through the streets until they came to their home.  Seeker’s chest swelled with pride.  No, it wasn’t by the ravine—but he’d built it right beside Diligent and his wife, Dedicated.  Maybe Dedicated would be a friend for Beautiful.

    He bent to scoop her up and carry her over the threshold, but she only scoffed, pushed the door open herself, and stepped inside.

    The ceiling was low and timbered.  Their steps echoed across wide planks, still raw with the scent of sawdust and resin.  A rough-hewn stone fireplace jutted from one wall, an iron hook waiting for the kettle.

    He led her into the kitchen.  The smell of new plaster and lime was still faint in the air.  The counters were of bare wood, and there was a deep clay basin for washing.

    The bedroom was a narrow room with a single small window, its shutters creaking faintly in the breeze.  The walls were bare and whitewashed, with only a lone wooden peg for hanging clothes.

    Seeker’s books were piled against one wall of the main room in uneven stacks.  Across from them sat the only piece of furniture in the house—a settee.  A long wooden bench with padded cushions, tan with lines of red and purple dots running across them.  Grinning, Seeker pulled it forward to show how it folded out into a bed frame.

    “What do you think, Beautiful?” he asked, watching her face with eager anticipation.

    She didn’t answer.  She just dropped to her knees and began to cry.

    Two and a half years—they’d done it.  But Beautiful knew there was still so much left.  Running away together might be good enough for Seeker.  But marriage involved more than just a man and a woman.

    Seeker was busy with the house.  Her dad spent nights on the water, her mom in the fields and marketplace.  That left Beautiful to manage the wedding preparations alone.  All of Bright-Harbor was coming—those who could walk would walk, and the rest would ride in carts.  She had gone into the city to arrange it all.  The drivers promised an early start at daybreak and arrival before noon, in time for the vows.  Afterward there would be food, and the carts would carry everyone home.

    She walked to the Cottage alone—Seeker had offered to come for her, to walk back together, but she refused.  Still, the thought of sleeping on the road by herself quickened her steps.  Her legs ached, yet she pressed on.  Not when her Deliverer was far away in Delight, unable to come if she cried out.

   “I’ll make sure no one goes hungry, Beautiful,” said Miss Cheerful, handing her a list.  “Here’s what I’ll need.”

    Kind and his family had returned to the Delectable Mountains, and Stern had come back.  He gladly agreed to perform the ceremony.  “I’ll even prepare a special sermon just for the two of you.”

    She slept in her old bed in the Cottage and set out at dawn.  She pushed straight through to Bright-Harbor without stopping to eat.  Whenever her legs threatened to give out, she paused for a moment.  She was dizzy by the time she reached home.

    The next morning, she ached all over, but there was still so much to do.  On the outskirts of Vain-Delights she found a small shop that handled weddings.  They would arrive a day early to set up the benches in the pasture.  There would be an arch woven with flowers, more bouquets set around, and candles.  They even had an artist who would paint the ceremony.  She handed over Miss Cheerful’s list, and they promised to bring those as well.

   Altogether—the carts, the food, the decorations—it cost just over two gold.  She’d still have enough left for furniture in their new home.

    Next came Seeker’s parents.  They would travel with her the day before and stay at the Cottage.  “You two shouldn’t let anyone know you’re…” her voice trailed off.  One room for the both of them.  Seeker’s dad didn’t seem to mind, but his mom flatly refused.  Why was she so stubborn?  But Beautiful wasn’t about to take no for an answer.

***

    Seeker stopped short when he reached the pasture.  Men hurried past with benches, setting them in neat rows.  In the middle of it all stood Beautiful, pointing, directing.  “Those flowers go over there.”

    She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then hurried on without stopping.  “Yes, that table—right there, in the front.  And the candles go on it.”  She strode over and shifted them herself.  The big one in the center, tall ones on either side.

    Seeker’s parents waited by the flowered arch behind the row of benches.  He went to them—shaking his dad’s hand, then pulling his mom into a hug.

    “You wouldn’t believe—” His mom broke off as Beautiful walked up.

    Beautiful’s eyes looked tired, though she tried to cover it with a smile.  “Seeker, honey,” she said sweetly, but the strain edged her voice.  “Once everything’s set up, let’s have supper with your mom and dad, then take them to the waterfalls.”

    “Beautiful,” he said, “Relax.  You’re doing too much.”

    “No.  Great-Saint said we have to show them around.”

   “I don’t care what Great-Saint said,” Seeker snapped.  “This is your day.  Our day.”

    Beautiful’s face took on that stubborn look he knew so well.  He knew he wouldn’t win this argument.

    “We could just go back to our room,” his dad said, the words a little too eager.

    Seeker’s mom glowered—first at his dad, then at Beautiful.  Something sharp and unspoken passed between the two women.

    The sun was down, the sky already dark by the time they returned.  It was late—very late—but Miss Cheerful had left a candle burning for them.  Seeker and Beautiful bade his parents goodnight, then slipped away together to her room.

    “I’m hungry,” she murmured. 

    A gentle knock came at the door.  As if she’d known, Miss Cheerful entered with a bowl of soup and two spoons.

    Seeker and Beautiful sat cross-legged on the bed, eating in silence.  Then they curled into each other’s arms and drifted into dreamless sleep.

***

    After breakfast, Beautiful laid out Seeker’s clothes on the bed.  She gave him a look.  “You didn’t think you were going to wear the same clothes you’ve been milling in, did you?”

    Miss Cheerful bustled in.  “Shoo, shoo!  Off to the pasture with you.  Bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”  She started to say “Fill some water—” but stopped short, giving his clothes an approving nod.  “Never mind.  Just bring your parents along.”

    Beautiful lifted the brass mirror from the side table.  Her face was puffy, with dark circles beneath her eyes.  Every part of her ached.  All she wanted was to crawl back into bed and sleep.

    Miss Cheerful took her hand and led her to the washroom.  She filled the tub herself, drawing water from the barrels and kettle, then spooned in some of the rosemary-scented mixture from a crock.  When Beautiful eased into the warmth, Miss Cheerful dipped a linen cloth into the suds and rubbed her back.  “Now, now,” she murmured, “you’ll be the most beautiful bride ever, Beautiful.”

    After Beautiful dried herself, Miss Cheerful brushed out her hair, the strokes slow and steady, then gathered it up and pinned the veil in place.  She helped button the back of the dress, fingers quick and sure.  “Now rest, dear,” she said gently.  “Don’t wear yourself out.”

    When the carts arrived just before noon, the villagers poured into the Cottage.  They went straight for the food Miss Cheerful had prepared.

    “That’s for after the wedding!” she cried, but no one listened.  “At least save some for the bride and groom,” she pleaded.

    When the food was gone, the villagers clambered back into the carts bound for the pasture.  Beautiful set out on foot, walking beside her mom and dad.

***

    The sun shone warm, and clouds drifted slow, casting soft shadows across the pasture.  A lamb bleated, and a sparrow’s song seemed to say, The winter is past, and spring has come.  The lilies by the table filled the air with fragrance.

    Stern stood at the front with his Book in his hand.  Steadfast and Gracious had come, their children gathered close.  Great-Saint was there with his wife, and Beautiful’s other brother, Practical, with his.  Beautiful’s sisters—Considerate, Lively, and Tender-Hearted—stood with their husbands, filling the rows with familiar faces.

    Seeker wished Kind and Liora could be there—and Thoughtful, too.  His mom and dad sat in the front row on one side.  Across the aisle, a shepherd escorted Beautiful’s mom to her seat in the other.

    A hush fell over the crowd as Beautiful stepped through the arch on her father’s arm.  Sunlight caught the white of her dress, tracing the lace, her shoulders, the line of her neck.  The world spun, and time slowed as she came toward him.  Her father met Seeker’s eyes, gave a single nod, and set her hand in his—then went to sit beside her mom.

    Beautiful smiled at him, but her eyes were dull.  She lifted a hand to her mouth, stifling a yawn.  They stood before Stern as he spoke, but Seeker didn’t hear a word—his thoughts were only on her.  As Stern spoke at length, the people shifted on the benches, a low rustle of whispers rising.

    When Stern finally finished, they turned to each other, hands joined.  Seeker trembled as he spoke, but Beautiful’s vows came steady and sure.

    Seeker and Beautiful each took a tall candle from the table.  Together they lit the larger one in the center—then with a single breath, blew out their own.

    “Now,” Stern declared with a smile, “you may kiss the bride.”

    Seeker lifted her chin and kissed her lips gently.  The crowd cheered, and together they walked down the aisle, hand-in-hand.

***

    At last, the crowd was gone, and together they made their way back to the Cottage.  They’d shaken hands and smiled until every cart rolled away with the villagers bound for Bright-Harbor.  Beautiful clung to his hand as they walked, but she said little.

    Miss Cheerful offered to prepare them a meal, but Beautiful only shook her head and declined softly.

    They went up to her room—their room—and closed the door behind them.  “Seeker, can you undo the buttons for me?” she asked, turning her back to him.  His fingers fumbled at the fabric, hands trembling.  The dress slipped onto the floor, and she drew her night-rail over her undergarments.

    She turned to face him, a single tear slipping down her cheek.  “I’m sorry, Seeker,” she whispered, then collapsed onto the bed.  He pressed his hand to her forehead—she was burning with fever.

    Milling came and went, followed by the logging in the Forest of Danger.  The dream was vivid again—Beautiful chattered and sang, her voice bright.  They held hands and kissed, as if the miles between them no longer mattered.

    Christmas came, and Seeker traveled to Bright-Harbor to see Beautiful.  She spread a blanket across the guest room floor for them both.

    Beautiful’s dad said, “I never expected you to come back for her,” and even her mom greeted him with a warm smile.

    By spring, the foundation was laid, and the walls were up.  After work, Seeker often stopped to check on the progress of their home.

    Then came planting, and the roof went on.  It was the cutest cottage in Delight—a main room, a kitchen, and a bedroom.  No furniture yet; Beautiful should help decorate her own home.  Besides, by then he had no money.

    Seeker’s heart swelled.  Two and a half years—they’d done it.  Now only the wedding remained and bringing her home to Delight.

    Winter passed, and spring came.  Once again, he planted the fields in the Interpreter’s realm.  Summer came—and went.  Each day was filled with labor, and each day the ache inside him deepened, until it became an unbearable flame.

    Each night, the dream grew dimmer.  At first, they talked, and sometimes she sang—but her voice faded.  Later, they would sit in silence for hours.  Often, she wept.  And now, he could barely see her.

    That night, they sat beneath the fig tree.  Beautiful spoke, but her words slipped away before he could catch them.  He held out a hand.  Her fingers brushed his palm, cool as a passing breeze.

   “Beautiful,” he said, leaning close.  “I paid the fifteen gold.  We start building in a week.”

    She shook her head, without understanding in her eyes.

    “Our home!” he shouted.  The dream lit up—she was smiling.  “We start next week!”

    “Meet… stream… tomorrow.”  He could barely make out the words—then she was gone.

   The next morning, he didn’t wait.  He descended into the ravine and followed the stream past the cascades, past the waterfalls.  At last, he reached the stairs.  Overhead stood the ruins of the Interpreter’s house, and across the water rose the Stately Palace.

    He sat on the stone where he’d proposed to Beautiful—or had she proposed to herself?  He chuckled softly.  It felt like so long ago.

    He sat watching the water flow as the sun climbed higher.  Had he misheard her?  Misunderstood?  It didn’t matter.  He was weary—two years of hard labor behind him, and the down payment was complete.   Milling wouldn’t start for another week, and Comfort had given him leave to rest.

    He almost didn’t recognize Beautiful on the stairs—tanned, fit, her hair straight and pulled back into a ponytail.

    Her face lit up, and she flew down the stairs into his arms.  They embraced and kissed—long, deep—then again, and again.  She rested her head against his chest, trembling, breathing in the scent of him, as the sun inched across the sky.

    At last, she pulled away, her fingers combing gently through his beard.  “I love it, Seeker.  You’re not a boy anymore.”

    Seeker gave her ponytail a gentle tug.  “And what happened to your curls?”

    Lightning flashed in her eyes.  “Don’t tell me what to do with my hair!”  Then, with a teasing smile, “Want me to go back home?”

    “You look amazing,” he said, kissing her.  “You got here by yourself?  In less than a day, slowpoke?”

   She giggled.  “Keep pushing your luck.”

    They knelt at the stream, lowering their faces to the water and drinking deeply.  The water was cool and sweet, and it revived them.

    As the sun slipped below the horizon, the moon rose, bathing the ravine in soft light while fireflies blinked among the trees.  Neither stirred to leave.  In the warm, sweet air, they fell asleep on the grass, fingers laced tight.

    The next morning, Seeker woke to Beautiful’s gaze.  She stuck out her lower lip in a pout.  “I’m hungry.”  Then, as if it had just occurred to her, “I want apples for breakfast.”

    They climbed the stairs together, holding hands lightly.  She neither leaned on him nor ran ahead.   The waterfalls crashed around them, but Seeker barely noticed—he was together with Beautiful again.

    The sheep all turned to watch as they crossed the pasture.

    “Right here,” she said.  “We’ll have our wedding here.  My parents will come.  Yours, too.  And everyone from Bright-Harbor.”

    “I’ve made the down payment,” Seeker said.  “It’ll take about half a year to build.”

    “Yes,” said Beautiful.  “And I need to get flowers, and food for the villagers, and…”

    “Sheesh,” said Seeker, “Can’t we just run away together?”

   “We can,” said Beautiful.  “What do you think we’re doing right now?  But you made a promise to my mom.  You build the house, and I’ll take care of the wedding.”

    The apple orchard was heavy with fruit.  An old blind shepherd sat munching an apple, a Book resting in his lap, as if he’d been waiting for them.  Strange—what use did a blind shepherd have for a Book?

    The old man spoke of the days when he had lectured in the marble halls of Zion, before leaving it all behind after his wife’s death.  Now he wandered from village to village, teaching and joining couples in marriage.

    “Can you marry us?”  Beautiful asked.  “I’m Beautiful, and this is Seeker.”

    He took Beautiful’s hand gently.  “I’m sure you are.”  Then taking Seeker’s in his other, he joined them together.  “Do you promise to love and cherish Seeker, forever?”

    “I do,” said Beautiful.

   “Seeker, do you promise to love and protect her, forever?”

   “I do,” Seeker said, his voice steady.

   “You are man and wife.  What the King has joined, no one can separate.”

   Beautiful hugged the shepherd, “Just like that?” she asked incredulously.  She pressed a silver coin into his hand, but he refused.

    “Freely we’ve been given—give freely.”  He rose and took up his staff.   Turning to Seeker, he said, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.  The King sees, and that’s enough.”

    Like that, the shepherd was gone.  Seeker and Beautiful stood staring at each other, laughter bubbling between them.

    “What’d we just do?” Beautiful’s face flushed.  She stuck out her lower lip.  “You going to leave your wife hungry?”

    He reached up, picked an apple, sliced it with his clasp-knife, and placed a piece in her mouth.

   “It’s not Miss Cheerful’s bread, but it’ll have to do.” 

    Her face turned bright red.

    The week flew by.  They never went to Delight or the Cottage.  They wandered the fields and pastures, swam in the stream, and slept in each other’s arms beneath the stars.  When the time came for her to leave, there was no shadow of parting.

    “You’ll come visit your wife this Christmas,” she said, “and we’ll plan our wedding together.”  She ran her fingers through his beard.  He kissed her hand.  “Bye, Seeker.”

   Harvest was done, and Thoughtful had gone home.  The dream kept fading.  Seeker was glad for the work of chopping wood at the edge of Danger—the solid thud of each tree hitting the ground was satisfying.  Maybe one of them would be used to build the home for Beautiful.

    His heart echoed the wolves’ howls from deep within the forest.  The old fear was gone.  Would they see him as a brother now?

    Christmas Eve came, and he went to bed early.  Beautiful was there waiting—glimmering under the stars.  She bounded toward him, reaching for his hand, but it passed through him like mist.

    She giggled.  “You’re like the waterfall now,” she said, twirling the way they once had in the ravine, her hair and dress flowing around her.

    Then she leaned close, a tear glinting on her cheek.  “Oh, Seeker,” she sighed.  “It’s dreadful.  How will I last another year without your kiss?”

   “Be strong, little baby,” Seeker said.  “It’s only a year… and a few months.”  He reached for her hand out of habit.

    They walked side by side and sat on the beach.  The boats lay still in the harbor.  All was quiet.  All was calm.

    “’I’ said the donkey,” sang Beautiful, “I carried His mother uphill and down.”  Her tears caught the starlight as they fell.

    The Bethlehem star appeared, shining above the harbor.

    “You’re so Beautiful.”

    “I know I am,” she said, turning her head with a soft giggle.

    “’I,’ said the dove from the rafters high,” she sang on, “cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry.”  Her voice was soft and sweet.  “We cooed Him to sleep, my love and I.”

    “I love you, Beautiful,” Seeker whispered.

    “Me too,” she replied.  “Merry Christmas, baby.  I love you, Seeker.”

    Seeker hadn’t told Beautiful about the land.  All day at the tread-wheel, the thought had gnawed at him.  How would he tell her?  Would she be disappointed?

    If only he’d worked harder.  Or spent less.  If only he hadn’t listened to Beautiful—“Buy yourself something delicious,” she’d said.  He could’ve gone to Jabal last week.  No… it wasn’t Beautiful’s fault.  One less book from the peddler—that would have made the difference.

    One more turn of the tread-wheel.  The gears and axles creaked, the handle wobbled in his grip.  He’d gone over it a hundred times in his mind.  Beautiful was right—he was too serious.  You can only tighten so much before something snaps.

    Jabal should have waited just one more week.  He knew that land was his—he shouldn’t have sold it.  The earnest money was only a formality.  Jabal himself had assured him of that.  Heat rose in Seeker’s face, and his grip on the handle tightened.

    Seventy-five gold for the land right beside it?  He’d never be able to work enough to afford that.  That smirk, when Jabal had tapped the far side of the village—was this his plan all along?  Just business.  Seeker’s breath grew ragged.

    He quickened his pace, driving the handle harder, pouring all his ire into the tread-wheel.  Without warning, it snapped from the shaft and sent him sprawling to the ground.

   “Damn it!” he yelled, hurling the handle across the room.  His vision blurred, red seeping around the edges.  He slammed his fist into the wall.  Then watched himself do it again.  And again. 

    Seeker stood there, shaking—stunned at what he’d just done.  Blood trickled down the wall, but the rough stone showed no sign of damage.

    His hand was a different story—bloody, throbbing.  Had he broken something?  His face paled.  What would Beautiful think if she saw it?  How could he explain?

    He glanced at the handle, then the shaft—a screw had come loose.  His shift wasn’t over, but he needed to think.  The mess could wait till tomorrow.  He walked out, heading back toward the village.

***

    Seeker sat on the bridge, legs dangling over the edge.  He reached into his satchel and drew out a pipe and a pouch of tobacco.  Guilt washed over him.  The price of the pipe alone would have made the difference.  He packed the bowl with care, set the stem between his teeth, and struck flint to steel.  The spark caught, smoke curled from the bowl as he drew deeply.  These days it was the only way he could think clearly.  Another secret from Beautiful.  Would she even know him when this was over?

    He turned his problems over in his mind.  A year and a half left.  The work—and the loneliness—were killing him.  And Beautiful was fading, little by little.  There was no way out but through—just grit your teeth and keep going.  He breathed a prayer to the King for help.  The irony wasn’t lost on him—he might be the only man to pray while smoking a pipe.

    People and carts streamed over the bridge, passing without a glance.  Wait—was that Thoughtful?

   “Thoughtful!” he shouted, straightening where he sat.

   Thoughtful turned.  It was him.  He looked at Seeker for a moment, then laughed.  “The beard looks good on you, man.”

    “What are you doing here?”  Seeker asked.

    “Looking for you,” Thoughtful said.  “They told me you’d be in Delight.”

    “They?” Seeker asked, then added, “Mom let you come on your own?”

    Thoughtful gave Seeker’s arm a playful shove, then dropped down beside him, swinging his legs over the edge.

   “What happened to your hand?” Thoughtful asked.

   “Long story,” Seeker said.  He kept his voice low as he told it all, from the promise to Beautiful to Jabal’s change in terms.

    Thoughtful was quiet for a long moment, staring out at the water.  At last he spoke, “They’re screwing you.”

    “Yeah, I know,” Seeker said with a sigh.  “But what am I supposed to do?”

    “You really love her, don’t you?”

    “Yeah,” he said quietly.

    “Hey,” said Thoughtful.  “At least she’s good looking—unlike the other girls you’ve liked.”  A grin crept over his face.  “She actually has—”

    Seeker balled his fist and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.  “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

    Thoughtful laughed.  “Mind if I stick around for a while?”

   “Mom’s fine with it?”

   He shrugged.

    “I’ve got work.”

    Another shrug.

    “If you stay, you’ll work, too.”

    “Sure.”

   “You won’t get paid.”

    “OK.”

   “Deal,” Seeker said.

    Thoughtful grinned.  “Can I get one of those too?”  He nodded toward Seeker’s pipe. 

    “Only if you don’t tell Mom.”

    “I’m staying with Dad now,” Thoughtful said with a shrug.

***

    Seeker and Beautiful walked the fields near Bright-Harbor, hand-in-hand.

    “Just tell her,” Thoughtful had said.

    “Beautiful,” Seeker said at last, “I lost the land overlooking the ravine.”  He lowered his head.

    “I told you already, you dumb boy,” she said.  “I don’t care—so long as we’re together.”  She lifted his chin and kissed him.

    “I’m losing you,” he said. 

    Lightning flashed in her eyes.  She raised her hand, and the diamonds on her ring blazed.  “I’m right here, little baby.”

    “No,” he said.  He turned to face her.  “That’s not what I mean.  It’s the dream – it’s fading.”

    “Yeah,” she said.  “It is for me, too.”

    “I’ve tried everything.  I can’t stop it.”

    “Baby,” she said softly, “it doesn’t matter.  You’ve got a year and a half left.  You’ll finish.  And I’ll be waiting for you—even if the dreams stop.  Never forget that.”

    He tilted her chin and kissed her lightly.

***

    The next morning, Seeker reattached the handle and scrubbed the wall clean.  True to his word, Thoughtful took his place at the tread-wheel while Seeker hauled sacks of grain.  Then they switched.  Thoughtful never complained—not even once.

    They talked, trading stories over lunch and supper.  At night, Thoughtful slept on a bedroll on Seeker’s floor.  The days slipped by, and Sunday came.  Seeker led him down into the ravine to see the stream.

    “Can I stay another week?” Thoughtful asked.  Seeker was glad for the company—almost enough to forget how badly he missed Beautiful.

    Another week passed—then another—until harvest ended and Thoughtful had to return home.

    When their shift ended, a messenger came with a request for them to report to Jabal’s office.  They crossed the village together, and Seeker knocked.

   “Come in.”  It was Comfort’s voice.  She sat at her father’s desk, a ledger open before her.  With a small wave toward the high-backed chairs, she said, “Please—sit.”

    Thoughtful glanced left, then right, before taking the chair next to Seeker.

    “I’ve been watching you, Thoughtful,” she said.  “And I’ve spoken with my father.”

    Thoughtful shifted in his chair, the wood creaking beneath him.

    “We both agree—you’ve worked as hard as anyone here, even Seeker.  In Delight, everyone works hard.”  She smiled.  “And everyone gets paid a fair wage.”  She glanced at her ledger.  “Looks like you’ve earned forty silver.  Take out rent, and that leaves twenty.”  She slid a small pouch of coins across the desk to Thoughtful.

    A broad grin spread across Thoughtful’s face.

    “And Seeker,” she went on, “Since Thoughtful covered half the rent for two months, consider yourself paid up through next month.”

    That evening, Thoughtful treated Seeker to a hearty bowl of stew at the tavern and a fresh-baked loaf of bread.  They washed it down with pints of ale.  Later, Thoughtful bought himself a pipe from the peddler, and the two sat on the bridge, legs dangling over the edge, smoking together.

    “Here,” said Thoughtful.  “Picked this up while you weren’t looking.”  Seeker raised an eyebrow as Thoughtful handed him a book.  The Fool’s Book of Patience.

    “Just what I needed,” laughed Seeker.

    Thoughtful set out early in the morning.   Seeker hugged him tightly.  “I’m glad you’re my brother.  You’ll never know how much this meant to me.”

    Thoughtful smirked.  “Maybe one day you’ll put it in a book.”  Then he turned and walked out of Delight.

    Seeker hurried back to his room, pulled a small pouch from his satchel, and emptied it into his palm.  He counted: six gold, ten silver—plus the five silver from today.  Seven gold in total.  Then he headed to Jabal’s office and knocked twice.

   “Come in.”

    Seeker strode over and placed the pouch on Jabal’s desk.  “Here’s the earnest money we agreed on for the land.  Seven gold.  It’s all there.”

    “Yes,” he replied slowly.  “You wanted Diligent’s land—on the edge of town?”  He opened his binder, flipped to a page near the back, glanced at it, then looked up at Seeker.  “I’m afraid that land is no longer available.”

    “No.  Longer.  Available.”  Seeker repeated the words slowly, as if trying to comprehend.  “What do you mean, no longer available?”

    “Just last week, a buyer purchased the land,” said Jabal.  “He wishes to remain unnamed.”

    “But…” Seeker stammered, “we had an agreement.”

    “Yes, young Seeker, we did.  Seven gold to secure the land—a generous offer for property valued at fifty.  Things would have been different if we were having this conversation last week.”

    “Surely, you can talk with the buyer.  Make him understand how much I need that land—for Beautiful.”

    “I am truly sorry, Seeker,” said Jabal.  “I know how hard you’ve worked this past year.  I only wish things could be different.”

    “But you’re the mayor.  There must be something you can do.”

    “I’m afraid not.  Even my hands are tied sometimes.  But…” Jabal smiled easily.  “This isn’t the only land in Delight.”  He flipped to the next page.  “There’s a plot right beside it—just as fine a view.  Listed at seventy-five gold.  Ten gold and eight silver would secure it.”  He paused.  “But for you, I’ll make it ten.”

    “How do I know you won’t change the price again?” Seeker demanded.

    “My dear sir!” Jabal sputtered.  “Pray, control yourself.  There’s no need to raise your voice.”

    Seeker relaxed his hand—he hadn’t even realized it had clenched into a fist—and laid his palm flat on Jabal’s desk.  “Forgive me, Jabal,” he said.  “It’s just…”

    Jabal waved a hand, then slid the binder across the desk and turned it to face Seeker.  “Delight has other places to build.”  He opened to the first page—neatly sketched plots of land filled the map of the village.  He tapped a spot on the far side, away from the ravine.  “I think you’ll find many lots suitable to your needs here.”