3.1

Ever since she was a small child her mother had held her very close. She had not been allowed to play with other children and she had not been allowed to go to any school. She knew that other children did go to school since she had seen them leave their houses in the morning and return late at night. She had also heard them talk among themselves about what they did during the days sometimes. But she never had been allowed to listen for any longer times because her mother had pulled her away from the window and given her different jobs to do at home.

Her mother was always awake she thought, every night when she went to sleep her mother looked over her and every morning when she woke up her mother was there to give her tasks. Lately she had noticed her body had started to change rapidly but her mother said it was just a sign from the gods that bigger things were meant for her, that she was special and that she would be loved.

The village that they lived in was laid out among large cornfields over rolling slopes. During summer it was searing hot but most of the year it was very cold with winter bringing heavy snow and hard work to be able to get water from the wells. In the center of the village was a large monestary with a well kept church were everyone seemed to join mass every second day. Everyone that was, except her and her mother. They did get daily visits from the clerics and priests from the church and it was always the same thing. They would arrive, two or three each time, and pray for the two women after which they place a hand on their foreheads and whisper into their ears. It was different words each day but she did not like any of them, sometimes she would ask what they meant but only seldom would she get an answer. Most of the time the priests would only say that it was godly blessings. Every time they said so Emelie believed they lied, but didn't let them know.