The Native Princess

The Roles Of Man And Woman

Almaria woke to a feeling she had never felt before. True happiness. She had liked, loved even, Jashkib for most of her life. Since she was only seven actually. He was holding her when she woke, smiling at her. "Hello my woman..."

"Hello my husband..." She kissed him sweetly, smiling into the kiss. She pulled away as the kiss became more passionate. "No my husband. We must tend to our tasks..."

"Yes, I see, and what tasks does my woman have for me?"

She looked shocked. Typically the man makes all decisions and rules in the marriage. Was he breaking this custom? "But... I thought the man orders the woman..."

"But, to order you, would not be to love you, and I love you, more than any man could love any woman who orders them... I will at times ask you to do things, but that does not mean you can not ask me to do things... So my woman, what would you like for me to do?"

She smiled. "Well, we will need meat. So hunting could be necessary. Along with gathering fire wood. And what tasks do you have for me my husband?"

"Make this home for us... Make beautiful things for decorating.  Gather your things from your fathers home, your baskets, your clothes, your jewelry, anything you want. Also, could you go to my mothers home and gather my things if you don't mind?"

"Yes my husband. Now, let me make you a lunch basket to take with you..." She stood and quickly got to making Jashkib's lunch basket. As of right now, all they had was bread and fruit and berries. So that is what she packed him. They washed up together in the river by the waterfall, and got dressed.

He left for the day. He brought his pull-along wheel barrel with him, and he left one with Almaria. He gave the nicer one to her to keep. Hers was made of birch wood and had handles to push or straps to pull. It also had a hitch to attach to a wagon or a horse, neither of which they had yet.

Almaria first made baskets and jewelry. She finished four baskets and ten pieces of jewelry. She now was off to her fathers home to gather her things. She pulled the wheel barrel behind her, along the path to her fathers home.

She picked the typical things up off the ground, like shells and rocks, but now that she had to provide for her husband, she picked berries and mushrooms as well.

She reached her families home. Her fathers woman came running out to hug her. "My little girl is a woman now!"

Her father stood by the doorway, and she smiled, and walked to  him. "Hello my father..."

"Hello my child... I will miss you being in our family  home, but I am more glad you have become a woman... And a beautiful woman at that..."

"Thank you father. I shall miss being home at times too, but as you said... I am a woman, and I have a man I must give life of our own."

Her fathers woman helped her bring all of  her things to her cart. She hugged her father, then her brother, then her fathers woman, finally she kissed the babies head sweetly. She waved goodbye and as she walked away, she couldnt help but cry a bit.

She reached Jashkib's mothers home. His mother came running out. "Hello my daughter! I am so glad Jashkibchosesuch abeautiful woman! You will make me beautiful grand children..." Almaria got red in the face.

"I have come to gather Jashkibs things."

"Oh yes my child! Come in! Have tea!"

"Oh I hate to be rude, but I must decline... I must prepare our home for Jashkib..."

"I see... Well... Take some tea leaves for yours and Jashkibs home..."

"Oh it is much appriciated... Now, I must gather Jashkibs things..."

She walked in the door to her and Jashkibs home. To her surprise, Jashkib was already home. "Hello my woman..." He did not look up from the buck he was skinning by the fire. There were also six rabbits and three huge snakes. "How was your day?"

"It was emotional..." She shed a tear.

Jashkib jumped up. He wiped his hands on his cloth and held her face with his now clean hands. "What is wrong Almaria?"

"Its just, I will miss my father deeply... And I can't help but feel I am a horrible woman to you... That I can not achieve what you wish of me..."

"My love, you already have... And I chose you... You are all I have ever wanted..." He kissed her deeply.