The Chief opened the tent flap, and he and Virginia stepped outside. Night had fallen upon the land. Torches were scattered across the camp, illuminating the pathways. Drums and tambourines were being played. Another long blast of a horn was sounded. Virginia looked ahead and saw Charles standing next to a torch at the edge of the parameters of the Chief's tent, waiting for her. She hurried up to him.
"What is going on?" she asked, looking around at the scenery.
"It's dinner time," Charles replied, smiling.
"Yeah, but why all the music and celebration? Is it a holiday?"
"Well, this is a special night for them because of your presence in their village."
Virginia looked around at all the people. Some were carrying wineskins, others fresh vegetables. She even saw two men carrying a deer carcass on a long rod. Children continued to run and chase each other. All of them would stop when passing Virginia and wave to her with big smiles.
"Charles," said Virginia, "I have no clue how to translate all of this."
"It's something new to get used to, but just think of it as having dinner back at your own home with more of a festive atmosphere."
"No, no! Not just the dinner."
She turned her head to look up at him. "I mean, what is it that they see in me? Why am I so important for them to become this excited—this happy? What is it about me?"
"Your Highness," came the Chief's voice behind her.
Charles and Virginia turned around and faced the Chief.
"The council is about to begin," he said. "Come. We must make our way to the Tent of Fire."
Virginia looked concerned. The Tent of what?
The Chief walked past them, leading the way. Charles and Virginia followed behind him. The moment Virginia left the Chief's tent, children flocked from all over the village to greet her. They tugged at the skirt of her green cloak and hugged her waist. All of them surrounded her with happy faces and laughter. She did not know what to do, but soon, she did not have to worry. No matter how random, the joy of the moment fell on her, and she began to hold the children close as they embraced her. She joined in with their laughter and smiles. She soon forgot that she was seventeen. All she knew was that she felt like she was one of them, a kid. All the parents of the children standing far off stopped what they were doing and smiled; Starlight had received their children with an open heart. Even Charles carried a smile on his face as he walked beside her. The children continued tugging at her arms, skirt, and legs; she could not stop laughing. Then, looking up, she remembered Charles. With laughter bellowing out of her mouth and her smile stretching from ear to ear, her eyes locked on his and his on hers. Neither of them could break their gaze, and neither wanted to.
"We are here," said the Chief, turning around to look at Charles and Virginia.
Instantly, something broke. Charles and Virginia looked up at the Chief, who returned their attention with a curious smile.
"This is why we call you Starlight," he said.
Virginia smiled.
The Chief stood before a massive tent with a guard on either side of the entrance.
"Come," he said. "Now we dine together at the Council of Fire."
The guards reached into the middle of the entrance and pulled back each side of the flap. The Chief entered first, with Charles and Virginia following behind him.
Inside, Virginia saw a multitude of people gathered in individual groups. Men, women, and children were all with their families. Each family had a small campfire in the middle. All of them stood up when the Chief came in. The men placed a fist to their chests and bowed their upper bodies, and the women lowered their heads as he passed by. The Chief made his way along a single path that led straight to a large fire in the middle of the tent.
Virginia and Charles followed. They walked past the fire in the middle of the tent and went to the far side, where another campfire, encompassed by small sitting cushions, awaited them. With his back to the tent wall, the Chief took his place at the far side of the fire. Motioning his hand, he escorted Virginia to the left cushion beside him. She respectfully complied. Charles sat down to the left of her. On the right side of the Chief was a woman of about his age, whom Virginia guessed to be his wife. She smiled at her husband, and he returned her smile with one of his own. Then, looking at the people, the Chief raised both hands and slowly lowered his palms downward. The people responded by sitting back down and returning to their original positions.
The Chief gave a nod to a soldier standing at the far-right corner of the tent. The soldier picked up a pair of mallets and held them over a drum stationed in front of him. He looked around the room; at every corner stood an Indian warrior, each with a drum in front of him, awaiting their instructions. They followed their leader, picked up their mallets, and all in unison, began playing the same beat. Many people carried food into the tent as soon as they started playing. It was the most elaborate dinner Virginia had seen in a long time. Wine and water were served. Deer was placed in the circle of every family. Bread and fruit were passed around to everyone. However, something new was served to Virginia. It was a feeling that she had not felt here before. Something she could not eat, nor could she ever get enough. Love. It was given by all the people. It was shown by the care of the Chief. It was the special attention of the cooks who catered the evening meal to be unique for her. It was given by the children, who stopped to play with her and share their laughter and joy.
She lowered her head, staring aimlessly at her plate of food.
Charles noticed her. "Virginia, what's wrong?"
Virginia looked up at Charles, her eyes red and watery. "I don't know."
Charles placed his hand on her back. "Hey, whatever it is, it will be okay. C'mon. Try to describe it to me."
Virginia looked up at all the people, all the laughing families. The children were resting up against their parents and giving them hugs. The men were talking and laughing loudly. The women were smiling and serving meals to their toddlers while others were cradling their newborns close to their breasts. Charles felt as if Virginia had left him for a second as she took her time looking at each and every family.
"This is what was once mine," she said.
She bit her lip and lowered her head again. Drops of tears fell off her face and landed on her plate.
"What was?"
Virginia wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her cloak. She motioned her hand to all the families. "This. This was once mine."
She looked up at him.
Charles did not say a word for a long time. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She looked back down at her food. She shook her head.
"How about later?"
Virginia did not respond immediately, but after a few seconds of pondering it, she nodded her head.