1. Arianrhod


    Date: 9/14/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: BethanyFrasier, Rating: , Source: LushStories

    and tree-bark medicines for centuries, at the risk of being cast as witches by their male counterparts. The women of the village knew when to avail themselves of Murhwyn's skills, even when the menfolk balked, and feared the old woman's arcane knowledge. Her sister's upcoming nuptials were troubling Meghyn, even though Arianrhod assured her that their bond as loving sisters would never change. Arianrhod exuded a confidence that never abided a fear of the uncertain future. She took every day as it came, innocently believing the beauty of the world around her could be no less than her own, but her sister knew that the ugliness of people's prejudices and fears were an unfortunate part of the beautiful world her sister inhabited. Meghyn could not let that ugliness harm her beloved sister, and took her fears to Murhwyn. "Mother, why must Arianrhod be given over to the priest on her wedding night. It does not seem fair to Padrig." "It is tradition, daughter," the old woman replied, "Men of power and station have always enforced their rights over our daughters upon their bridal nights, saying they are blessing the union for the success of the marriage, and verifying the purity of the bride's virginity. It has been done for centuries, child. Jus Primae Noctis, they say in Latin - the law of the first night. Droit du seigneur they have called it in Gaul. It is the practice in every fiefdom. Priests and nobility have always availed themselves of virgin girls before their bridegrooms ...
    may lay with them. It's just the way it has always been, since the kings of old." "But shouldn't Padrig be the first to mate with his bride? She is his, after all. The Priest is committing fornication, isn't he? How can a successful marriage begin with a sin by the Church?" "Meghyn, you ask sensible questions, but the world makes little sense. Men with power make the rules for their own benefit. They cloak it, saying they are God's representative on Earth, acting in His stead. It does not have to make sense when they justify it with such nonsense. Why are you troubled so, daughter?" Meghyn hesitated, then leaned over to her mother and whispered in her ear. The old crone's eyebrows raised in surprise, then a shallow sigh escaped from her lips. "Are you sure?" Meghyn nodded, and they sat in silence. Murhwyn sat in deep thought. * * * "Where the fuck are we, boy?" the Abbot shouted to the monk, who shook the reins of the covered oxcart to drive it out of a muddy rut. The Abbot's tonsured head poked out through the canvas curtaining the front of the rickety wagon, and he looked around the sylvan lane for signposts or landmarks. He was in a hurry to get back to the monastery, but their progress had been deterred by a string of unusual mishaps along the road, and the driver had taken a detour through an unfamiliar woods. "It grows dark, Sire. We'd best pull up for the night," the young monk advised cautiously. "Bahhh! We've been on this accursed trail for days! How far have we yet to ...
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