"Guine! Guinevere!"
[sigh, what does this old hag want this time?]
The little ginger slipped off her bed and made her way to the kitchen, where her mother had just pulled fresh bread from the oven.
Gezelle broke a small piece of the bread and placed it on a plate, with a glass of warm milk beside it.
"I know how much you love bread piping hot, straight from the oven," Gezelle said as she walked over to her daughter, helping her onto the table. She smiled as she watched Guinevere blow on the bread before popping it into her tiny mouth.
Six years had passed since Guinevere was born, and every day she grew more beautiful and more intelligent. Her parents were astonished at how quickly their child developed. By age three, she could speak and read. By four, she could play the flute. By five, she had a tutor and was excelling in all her studies.
"Do you like it sweetie? I added raisins," Gezelle asked.
"Mmh hmm," Guinevere responded, her mouth full.
"I'm glad." The woman planted a kiss on the girl's forehead. "Now eat up, your tutor Mrs. Fletcher, will be here any minute."
"She's just doing it for formality. There's nothing more she can teach me," Guinevere said.
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Strongbow asked.
Guinevere took the last sip of her milk and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'd suggest you stop giving her your coins. I read all her books in advance."
The little girl slipped off the chair, trying to pull the cup and plate with her to give them to her mother. But her small size worked against her, and the dishes crashed to the floor.
[damn these tiny weak limbs! Can't I grow any faster?]
Gezelle rushed to her daughter's side. "Are you okay sweetie?" she asked in a panic. "Are you hurt?"
Guinevere shook her head. "I'm okay. But I still think you should give Mrs. Fletcher the boot."
"I'll speak to her when she arrives, see how far you've gone," Gezelle said as she picked up the dishes. "Then I'll decide whether she gets the boot or not."
"Well alright, but I'm just looking out for you, you know."
Gezelle chuckled. Her baby girl was only six but could hold conversations better than most women she knew. Truly a blessing.
Richard Strongbow snuck into the kitchen and hoisted Guinevere onto his shoulders. "How's my little princess doing?"
[I'm too old for this old man, but fine, I guess I'll play along]
"I'm okay, father," Guine responded.
"And how's my queen?" he asked, kissing Gezelle softly on the lips.
[gross]
"I'm okay, honey," she replied. "Would you like some bread?"
"I'll have some when I return, thank you."
"Return?" Gezelle asked. "Where are you going?"
"Hunting season is upon us," Richard replied. "I'm going to catch some game and maybe catch up a bit with the boys. Greg's son is seven now, old enough to learn some archery skills."
Gezelle put the dishes away and turned to her husband. She hated that he didn't have someone to teach archery or accompany him on hunts. She had Guinevere, but her husband had no one.
"I'm so sorry I couldn't give you another child, my love."
Richard looked into his wife's eyes and felt his heart sink. He put Guinevere down and pulled his wife into an embrace.
"No honey, don't say things like that. You and Guine are more than enough for me," he said. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Guinevere looked up at her parents and pouted.
[come on, Guinevere, you're not supposed to care. You can't allow yourself to get attached to these people. Just like everyone else, they will die and you will live on. Get yourself together.]
Richard looked down as a little hand tugged at his pants. "Can I go?"
Both parents looked at the girl in shock.
Gezelle crouched and placed her hands on Guinevere's shoulders. "Sweetie, I know you want to spend time with your father, but hunting is for boys."
"Says who?" Guinevere asked.
"Well… it's always been like that," her mother said sheepishly.
"Well, maybe it's time things change," the little girl declared. She walked to her father and wrapped herself tightly around his leg. "My mind is made up!"
The parents sighed in unison. They knew how stubborn their daughter could be, it was shocking that such a small girl could be filled with so much fire.
*
"Richard! Good to see you, old boy! How's the wife?"
"She's well, Greg, thank you. And I'm sure Susan is too," Richard replied.
"As always."
Greg Foreman and Richard had been friends since childhood, as had their wives. They practically did everything together, and even married on the same day.
Unlike Richard, Greg was blessed with six boys, which had made Richard a bit envious. But after Guinevere was born, he felt complete with his beautiful, smart little girl.
Greg squinted as he noticed a little head peeking from behind Richard's legs. "And who do we have here? Seems we have a stowaway."
"I hope you don't mind," Richard said. "This is Guinevere, my daughter. She's just here to watch her old man catch some nice, juicy game."
"Oh, nice to meet you, Lady Guinevere," Greg said, shaking the little girl's hand.
"Actually, I'm here to catch a big, juicy rabbit," Guinevere said. "I'll plunge an arrow right in its fat little gut."
"Ah, she's a feisty one," Greg chuckled.
He turned and called to someone a few feet away. "Jillian! Come here and say hello."
A little boy, a miniature version of Greg, walked up and nodded. "This is my youngest son, Jillian. Maybe you can let him catch that rabbit for you."
The boy blushed and extended his hand. "It would be my pleasure."
"Attaboy," Greg said, patting his son on the back.
[oh brother]
"Alright then," Richard said. "Shall we begin?"
*
"Why are we just squatting here? Aren't we going to miss all the action?"
"Father says we must first observe and see how it's done," Jillian whispered. "It'll take a few days before we can use a bow properly. Besides, you're a girl Guinevere, you'd only hurt yourself."
[why you little…]
"Here they come."
Guinevere peeked over the bushes and saw her father and Mr. Foreman sneaking up on a deer. They inched closer, closing in from opposite sides.
The deer startled at the snapping branches and moved toward Richard. The man aimed and released his arrow, hitting the deer in the neck.
"Good shot, Richard!" Greg exclaimed. "You've always been quite the hunter."
The children emerged from under the bush to join their fathers.
Guinevere smiled at the deer lying on the ground.
[This old man's pretty good… I could pick up a thing or two from his skills.]
"Daddy isn't too bad, is he?" Richard asked, ruffling her hair.
Guinevere nodded. "Next time, I want to try. Watching you have all the fun from a dirty old bush is boring."
Richard chuckled. "I promised your mother I wouldn't let you hunt. You know it's too dangerous."
Guinevere sighed, looking away. She missed wielding a bow, it was one of the few things that made her truly happy. And she was good at it.
Seeing her sad expression, Richard removed his quiver, placing it on her back. He handed her his bow with a smile.
"I'll let you carry these home if you quit pouting."
Her face lit up. It had been so long since she'd held a weapon. The bow looked massive in her little hands, but it was beautiful.
"But promise not to tell your mother."
"I promise," Guinevere said.
*
The group walked slowly through the forest toward the village. The sun was almost setting, and the autumn leaves glowed like fire.
Guinevere had always loved this season, even in her past lives. It was ironic how it was so beautiful, yet everything around her was dying.
A rustling from a nearby bush caught her attention. Maybe it was a rabbit she could catch and bring home for her mother, who was excellent at making rabbit stew.
Peeking into the bush, she spotted the fattest white rabbit she'd ever seen.
Meanwhile, the others forged ahead, unaware she had remained behind.
"So, Guinevere, do you want to come over and play tomorrow?" Jillian asked.
No answer.
"Guinevere?" Jillian turned and noticed she was gone. "Stop! Guinevere is lost!"
The two men panicked, dropping the deer they carried.
Richard ran back down the trail, heart in his throat. Where was his daughter? He prayed to the gods to keep his only child safe.
"Guinevere!" he shouted.
"Guinevere!" Jillian called out
Just then, he spotted the little ginger aiming her bow at the rabbit.
"Guinevere, no!"
Swoosh…
The arrow struck the rabbit right in the stomach. The girl ran forward, grabbing it by the ears.
Richard rushed to her and embraced his daughter, then pulled away, furious. "Why did you do that?! Don't you know you could have been hurt?"
"I'm sorry," she said. "I just wanted to show I could hunt like you."
[wait, why am I apologizing?! Piss off, old man. I do what I want.]
Richard hugged her again. "You're a great hunter, sweetheart. Just please be more careful, you scared me half to death."
The girl nodded, hugging him back. "I promise."
[it's official! I've lost my mind]
Greg and his son watched, dumbfounded. How could such a small girl kill a rabbit with such a large bow on her first try? What was Richard teaching her?