Nous, les Femmes

Before even our great-grandmothers were born, there was a little village that was the hub of adventure lore and myths and the home of the blacksmith's daughter, Alectra. The elders believed it took a village to raise a child and her willingness to only follow in her father's footsteps brought the disapproval of fathers and grandmothers alike. Alectra always carried her hammer with her and would not put up with the bullying of the village boys. One day she was passing by the riverbed and she saw what looked like a dog. She walked toward it slowly and noticed that it wasn't a dog but a girl with hair as long as her body. She shook uncontrollably and tried to use it cover herself.

Alectra bent down and touched her gently on the shoulder, "Do you need help?"

The girl could not even jump, her eyes warily fluttered open and Alectra could see that her face was ashy and her lips were crisp dry. "Please let me help you."

Alectra pulled the girl into a sitting position, "Come on, I am going to take you to my father so he can help you. Don't be scared. I'm the blacksmith's daughter."

The girl was taller than she expected and Alectra hobbled with her all the way home. Her father took one look at Alectra and the girl before saying, "Lay her on the bed."

Alectra made some food and fed her as the water for the bath boiled. She let the water cool down a bit before placing the girl into the water. She began rubbing at the splotches on the girl's dress with soap as the girl splashed the water at her face.

"So, what's your name?"

"Jillian."

"Do you...live anywhere, Jillian?"

"Yeah."

She paused waiting for Jillian to continue, "Well, you can stay here for as long as you like."

Jillian nodded. Alectra helped her out of the bath and helped her get another dress over her head before moving her close to the furnace to dry off. Alectra went back to work on the dagger she had started.

Jillian stayed for a few days and Alectra began to enjoy her company, the way Jillian watched on with fascination as Alectra forged. By the end of the week, Jillian was already considered family and Alectra's father was starting to teach her the beginnings of forging. One day, a member of the mayor's household came to the forge to obtain a reward for one of the adventurers and noticed Jillian playing outside.

He grabbed her by the hand and said, "Do you know how much your mother and mistress have been worried?"

Alectra noticed him pulling her against her will and stepped in, "Can't you see she does not want to go?"

"This is none of your business. Jillian, let's go."

Jillian looked at Alectra and clung to her arm, "I don't want to go."

Alectra pressed down on the servant's thumb until he released Jillian, "She doesn't want to go and if anyone wants to see her, she will be right here."

"Such actions have consequences."

The servant turned on his heel and left with his purchase.

Jillian quivered as Alectra guided her back inside the house.

"You are going to be alright."

It was not long before the mayor came to visit himself to sit and converse with the blacksmith, "I understand that my daughter has been overindulging in your hospitality."

"It is fine."

"I have come to take her off your hands and bring her home."

"If I may offer you some advice."

The mayor stood waiting for his response.

"You cannot force someone to stay if they don't want to."

"Thank you for your advice. I shall go collect my daughter."

Jillian saw her father as he approached her. She put down her work as his father began speaking, "Ladies should not be doing work like this. Come home with me at once."

Jillian looked down, "Yes, father."

Jillian left with her father and Alectra waved good bye.

It was not long before Jillian returned in a huff and puff.

"I've run away from home and I know they are going to come here look for me. Let's make a contract to be together forever."

"Sure."

Alectra pulled out her dagger and extended her forearm.

"Place your forearm ontop of mine."

Jillian did and Alectra brought the blade's tip to her arm. They pressed their cuts together, "Sisters forever."

The mayor sent adventurers and servants to bring Jillian home. Jillian quivered as she saw them.

"Your father wishes you come home."

"I won't go home again. I'm going to stay right here."

The head servant reached out to grab Jillian and Alectra brought the sword down infront of his arm. "She says she doesn't want to go."

"You can't avoid your marriage to your fiancée and it would reflect on your household's honor if he were to know you had run away from home to stay in a dirty place like this."

"You are only trying to marry me off to get rid of me. I'm not an object to be sold to someone I don't know."

"Women exist only to be married." The head servant draws his sword, "the Mayor has given us permission to get rid of anyone who gets in our way."

"Using our own swords against us?" Alectra laughs.

The servant lunges at her and Alectra steps back, tripping over Jillian's feet, the sword aimed at her chest. Jillian moves to intercept her and the sword pierces through her abdomen a few inches away Alectra's forehead.

The servant's mouth flaps up and down as he releases the sword. Jillian falls to the side as Alectra sits up to hold her.

"Jillian, stay with me."

He stutters, "You have dishonoured his Lord's will."

"It was his lord's will to have his daughter killed?"

Alectra glared at him, "Leave."

"I cannot leave without his daughter."

Alectra held onto Jillian, cradling her. Jillian's eyes fluttered as she smiled at Alectra. Alectra had dropped her sword and the servant's sword was still stuck in Jillian.

The servant lifts Alectra's sword, "The Lord said to eliminate anyone that gets in the way."

Alectra's father rushes out of the forge armed just as the servant plunges the sword into Alectra, piercing Jillian again.

Alectra kisses Jillian's forehead, "We can now be sisters forever."

Enraged, Alectra's father slashes at the servant, cutting off his arm. Placing down his sword, he grabs Jillian and Alectra in his arms, "My daughters."

The servant, holding his arm, retreats with his men, "We'll be back."

Both Jillian and Alectra smile up their father, their eyes blinded. Their father buries them and places Alectra's sword into the ground.

On this sword is carved: We are silenced with shame, oppressed by bodies, subjected to ask forgiveness or permission. When man has no voice, I'll be there.