Gently as she goes

Prologue

Marietta Telcontar  had very little in life, but that did not bother her. She had never had very much money, or very many things, her only real valuables being an very old sword and an very old butterfly crown. The only things she did have were her few articles of clothing, a small library of books of varying subjects from cooking to history to the art of making pipes (her grandfather's favorite) to her family Bible, some necessary household items, and besides that not much, and the family wagon, horses and a few odd animals. Marietta had never stay in one place for long, what with the dirt road always singing it's siren song. Well that and there fact that her family for several hundred years had been gypsies of a sort. They however were not the Romani gypsies, but rather called themselves the Randír. Though until her father had married her mother there had been not true Romani blood running through the veins of her ancestors. On her father's side she was something far older, and far more significant than even the young 22 year old woman knew.

Marietta had been her parents only child, born when they had travelled and stayed for a time in St. Petersburg. A week later her mother died from consumption. And when Marietta was just but five years of age her father died at the hands of highway robbers. All the family she had left in the world was her eccentric old grandfather. Well at least she called him her grandfather, she was not related to him by blood, but he had raised her father who had also been orphaned at a young age. Her grandfather was, well rather peculiar and encouraged her peculiarities. He was often to be seen smoking his pipe and leaning on his rather large walking staff, he only ever wore white, but on occasion he would wear grey. He had a long white beard with long white hair,  an ethereal and otherworldly look about him at times. He told Marietta stories of by gone ages, the most wonderful tales heroes, dragons, tragic tales of love, and the coming of true kings. But most of all he loved and protected his granddaughter as if Marietta really were his relation by blood.

Marietta was a beautiful woman, and her beauty was found not only without, but within. She was known to be kind, and giving, though she herself had not to give but of herself and what she could spare from her meager earnings. Her gentle and quite sweetness touch and help so many souls around her yet she never knew it. Yet it must be supposed that that is how it is with those who are the kindest and the best of us, they never know how they impact those around them. She was deeply religious albeit not a Catholic, but rather a Protestant, and her devotion to God was simple and pure. Marietta was tall and had an elegant figure, long hair of a dark brown with soft streaks of gold running through it that fell at her waist in naturally loose curls and waves. Her complexion was a light olive with rosy cheeks, full rosy lips, and a delicate refined nose. Her eyes were the most unusual shades of bluish gray, with a hint of green and gold. Marietta's smile was one that could light up the world of need be. She had sweet, soft voice, and she dearly loved to sing, enjoying and excelled in all the skills a young woman was required to know in her day and age. She loved to read and baked to relax. But above all she loved to just sit and take tea with her grandfather.

At the age of 18 Marietta's grandfather had surprised her buying a small cottage in a small village, deep in the heart of  France, in a small provincial town called Villeneuve. It was an old small cottage on the edge of the village, but a step up from the old gypsy wagon and tents that Marietta had grown up in. Besides as she told her grandfather it had all the essentials, a kitchen,  two small rooms, space for a garden, and a good solid roof. She had a part-time job working at the bakery, and as laundress, and apprentice mantua maker. After the first year and half in Villeneuve, for the first time in Marietta's life the small family of two didn't just barely make ends meet, but really had some money left over with which to live. The towns people were less than thrilled with the fact of a small group of "gypsies" choosing to settle near them, for Marietta's Randír clan had also settled through the province. It was also hard to be the only group of Protestants in Catholic France. Life was not easy being an outsider in Villeneuve, but they made do.

*

Marietta was awoken by cries of "Kill the beast!" and the bright light of torches. She slipped out of bed, quickly pulled on her dressing gown and hurried down the loft stairs to the parlor, where her grandfather stood staring out the window. "What is it grandfather?" She said placing a hand on his shoulder.

"A rather mad mob, dear one," said Grandfather. "Best go back to bed and not get involved ." He smiled a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand.

"Alright," she smiled warmly. "Good night Grandfather." However it did not escape her notice that he held his sword in hand. She smiled he was always ready for the worse with his precious sword or staff. She remembered an incident at church when they had first arrived in the town, and the priest Pere Robert had asked her grandfather to leave his staff in the church's entrance with all the men's hats, walking staffs, and canes. Her grandfather had said "Oh. . . you would not part and old man from his walking stick?" Marietta stifled a laugh at the pleasant memory. She had just made it up to her loft room when there was a loud knocking—no pounding on the door.  She could hear but not make out the words her grandfather exchanged with who was that? Ah, yes that pompous and arrogant Gaston. Then his voice was gone and she heard her grandfather sigh and bolt the door. Marietta knelt down by her bed and prayed that no one would be hurt by the mob, and went to bed.

*

I hope you enjoyed it!!

I quoted from Tolkien in the above. Have you figured out who her grandfather is? And what about Marietta's family heritage?

Thank you for reading my little story, please let me know what you think and if there are any errors or questions, as that will be motivation for me.