Celebration - Part 2

"We gather here tonight to celebrate Arrival," the voice of Speaker resounded through the crowd. "Is the bearer here?"

"I am here," replied Teacher.

"What name have you been given?"

"I have been given my name, Teacher."

"Teacher, this village thanks you for your gift. You have been of service to our community."

"I bring my newling to the service of the community," Teacher replied in the ritualistic manner.

"The community welcomes your newling. Are you ready to receive its name?"

Teacher hesitated for a brief second before responding, "Yes." There was a catch in her voice as she answered and the image of Storyteller speaking to her flashed into her mind.

"Are you ready to receive its name?" Speaker repeated.

"Yes," Teacher answered, immediately this time, modulating her voice carefully. Again, the image of Storyteller flashed in her mind. He stood was holding the newling and beaming a proud smile.

"I give you the name of our newling, and its name is Bright of Sun," spoke the image of Storyteller in her mind, and he handed Bright of Sun over to her.

Teacher shook the memory of her dream out of her head. In her heart she accepted the name she had received from her dream of Storyteller. In her heart she knew that her newling was Bright of Sun. To receive a different name simply because it was the manner of custom was against what she already knew in her heart. To defy the custom of the community - Teacher was strong willed enough to try it; yet what backlash might there be against Nesta and Kitoyo? What hardships would the villagers bestow upon Bright of Sun? No, Teacher knew she had to protect her family. To do so, she would keep what she knew in her heart to herself.

A tear rolled down her face with the thought that she was betraying Storyteller. "I am ready to receive the name," she said to Speaker, bringing herself back into the present.

"We give you a name for your newling; the name we give is Soolees."

The vapour from the drop that Healer had dabbed on her forehead was still strong and it seemed to penetrate into Teacher's brain. Her thoughts and feelings raced; she was not able to distinguish the one from the other. However, she knew she was at a decision point. She knew she had to make a decision right then and there. Speaker's pronouncement was like a slap in her face. What an ugly name to give! How presumptuous! Storyteller had already given a name to Bright of Sun; how could she receive another name?

And yet what would happen if she refused the name? Such a thing was not commonly done; it was an act of disrespect against the treemva, against the community. She was afraid of the possible repercussions - not against herself, but against Nesta and Kitoyo, and against Bright of Sun. They would be the ones who would be forced to bear the stigma of her defiance.

"I accept the name," she said in a flat tone.

Mentor shuffled his feet uncomfortably and then whispered something into the ear of Speaker. Speaker nodded as he listened, and then his eyes widened in disbelief. "Teacher," he addressed her, "have you already given your newling a name?"

A cold, dead feeling gripped Teacher's heart and she replied carefully. "Speaker, I accept the name that the treemva has, in its wisdom, bestowed upon this little one."

"Very well," Speaker replied slowly in a tone of voice that suggested he wasn't convinced but wasn't going to press the issue. "People of Planir, we greet and welcome the Arrival of Soolees!" he announced.

The people cheered in welcome. Teacher felt mixed emotions. Part of her felt frustrated and unhappy about the deception she was carrying out. Another part of her felt proud to have Bright of Sun welcomed into the village. A burst of diziness caught her; she breathed in deeply and let it out slowly - the diziness left her.

The drums and the leetas resumed their orchestrations as Teacher walked forward towards the treemva with Nesta and Kitoyo trailing behind her. She approached Speaker and showed him the bundle she was carrying.

Speaker touched the forehead of the newling and spoke in a low tone, "Welcome, Soolees." Teacher repeated the ritual with the other two members of the treemva, first with Mentor, then with Third. Each princep touched the forehead of the newling and spoke the ritual phrase, "Welcome Soolees."

Teacher then carried Bright of Sun to the circle of villagers. Nesta followed her enthusiastically; Kitoyo followed too, reluctantly but respectfully. Teacher brought the newling to each villager in the circle, one by one. Each one touched the forhead of the newling and repeated the greeting, "Welcome Soolees."

The voices of the crowd and the sounds of the music all seemed to blend together into a blur as Teacher worked around the circle, and she tried to tune it all out.

Finally she found herself facing Dreamer. As all the others did, he touched the forehead of the newling. Then Teacher became aware that he was looking at her intently. Their eyes locked as Dreamer spoke his greeting. "Welcome, Bright of Sun."

Teacher smiled at him with great joy in her heart. Dreamer's gesture meant that he understood!

Teacher continued to show Bright of Sun around the circle. The rest of the showing was a blur to her. Once she traversed the full circle, the formal part of the ceremony was complete. The next part of the celebration was the feast - the enjoyment of the food, including the beefur that Dreamer had killed for the occasion.

* * *

Author's comment: March 3, 2006 -- I've revised the ending of this scene because the previous ending seemed to force me to get into certain plot points too soon. I didn't know the characters well enough yet to make them do the things I was going to have them do, so the revised ending gives me more space to explore the characters before I start testing them. For the record, here is the previous ending:

The voices of the crowd and the sounds of the music all seemed to blend together into a blur as Teacher worked around the circle, and she tried to tune it all out. Unexpectedly she became aware of a commotion coming from outside the circle. She looked around and saw that the treemva had stepped outside the circle. They had gathered around someone and were speaking to someone privately. With a start she recognized that it was Dreamer.

They were all standing too far away, and the noise was too loud for Teacher to hear what they were saying. Then she saw Dreamer turn his back, his head hung low as if in defeat, and walk away from the people.