Soulmates

The Dilemma

"Winona! your father wishes to see you!" my mother, Kasa, calls. "I'm coming mother!" I call back.

I stepped out from behind the tree. I'd been trying to avoid seeing my father for the last few sunrises. I know why he wishes to see me. I knew he wanted to talk me into getting married! I did not want to get married!

"Winona!" My father calls.

"She is coming!" Kasa calls back. She turned to me. "Go, go, your father wants you!"

I dash into camp. There my father stands. He gave me a warm smile. "There you are Winona."

My father is called, Tapu, it means two, I have no idea why! Anyway he is the cheif of our tribe. He is well known and respected by all men, even those from other tribes. I am his only daughter.

"Come Winona, lets take a walk." I followed.

As we headed into the forest, my father grew more and more anxious. Not a nervous anxious, more like excited.

Finally he started to talk. "You know Hakan is a strong and noble man.  He has offered you a marriage proposal! He is one of my finest warriors, and I very much believe he would make any young lady a suitable husband."

I frowned. Hakan was at least 7 years older than me. He was always good to me but he was boasty and only liked to talk about his own accomplishments.  I wasn't impressed by this, besides I didn't want to get married!

My father sighs. "You can't keep denying it, you have to get married someday!"

"I'm only 18 dad."

Tapu grew a stern look on his face. "You are marrying Hakan!  No daughter of mine will be seen as a female loner, you know how that goes.  Unmarried much longer and rumors will start to spread." A little more calmly he continued. "Hakan will make a good husband. He is handsome and strong and very loyal to his tribe."

I nodded. I had known this was coming.

Don't get me wrong, Hakan's really good looking and is nice enough, but it just didn't feel right.