In a small, remote village in a world unknown, a black-haired girl was born. She had round blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and porcelain skin. Her parents, Anne, the village seamstress, and Abram, a common farmer, were happy beyond belief with having been blessed such a precious child. They named their firstborn Lejlie (pronounced LAY-lee) – beloved in the ancient language of their people.

Years passed, and Lejlie grew into a beautiful and charming young lady. Village boys stared whenever she entered the room, and they stuttered whenever she approached. Half the village girls envied her, but the other half were her loyal friends. As she got older, she showed adept in taking care of wounded and sick friends or animals, so the village Healer took her on as an Apprentice.

In all of Lejlie’s 15 short years, only two strangers have ever been known to step foot in their village of Keithe. These are the travelling Hawker – a merchant of goods and medicinal herbs, as well as a Storyteller – a wise, mysterious and ancient man who travels remote lands to collect stories and myths, and also to recount some from the other lands. These two strangers often arrived at the village together, every three to four years.

It was now the Festival of First Spring, which was also Lejlie’s 16th birthday. The whole village was busy finishing up the preparations for the grand celebration. This Festival was always a big occasion in Keithe, second only to the Day of Salvation in winter. During this day, there would be feasts, dances, singing, games, gift giving, and Betrothing amongst the young people of 16 years. Betrothing is an old tradition in the village when a young man offers a special gift to a young girl to symbolize their betrothal. If the girl accepts, then the couple are married the next year, on the First Day of May. If there is refusal, then the young man must either offer his gift to another girl until he finds a suitable wife or else he must leave the village and come back when he has found a girl from another village to marry. Girls who do not find a man to wed may choose to remain single or else wait until a man offers her the gift for Betrothal in another year. Sometimes, widowed women are also offered Betrothal on the Festival of First Spring along with the young women. They marry widowed men, or else, those who return to the village after leaving for 10 years without finding a suitable wife. Marrying Failed Men is rare, however, as most who do not find a wife in the village return with a wife from another place.

In the morning, Lejlie, along with the other village girls of her age, had to stay in the Women’s Centre for preparations for the Betrothing. They had to begin the day with a hearty breakfast, then a long bath. They dressed in long, white, flowing dresses, decorated with flowers as belts on their waists and as a wreath on their hair. They may choose to either leave their hair down or fix it up in a stylish hairdo. Lejlie chose rose petals to place around her waist and on her hair. Her hair was fixed in a braid that wrapped in a circle around her head with a few ringlets cascading down the sides of her face. Her dress, which was identical to the others, was almost revealing and bordering on immodest. It had a slash on the right side of the skirt that went all the way up to her thigh – certainly more than she had ever shown before, and it was low-cut on the chest, as well as sleeveless. All girls carried a shawl, which was wrapped around their shoulders, though it was not much cover since it was so light that it was practically transparent. They were dressed this way since this was the day for them to show-off what they’ve got and catch a man, even at the last minute. Though it was accepted in the village for a woman not to marry, it was generally considered a disgrace and shame among the young people, so the girls were more than willing to do anything to hold a young man’s attention, at least on this day.

The young men also started their day with a hearty breakfast and a long bath. They wore tapered grey pants, white polo shirts, and long grey coats. They also wore a sword belt on their waist, and carried a short sword - worn strictly for show. In the Festival, the young men are to appear as dashing young noblemen and the young women as princesses of Spring.

While the young people prepared, the older women spent their morning cooking food, while the men went about finishing the work that needed to be done for the Festival. The children spent their morning playing games prepared for them by the adults.

Lunch finally came and it was time for all the villagers to come out and join in the celebrations. First, those not included in the Betrothing arrived and stood in a circle in the Field as the young people arrived amidst applause and cheering. Now it was time to eat.

Lejlie walked to the Food Table with two of her closest friends, Keila and Aria. Lejlie and Keila seemed confident as they looked around, but Aria seemed worried.

“What’s wrong, Ari?” Lejlie asked her friend.

“I’m worried. You two look great and I’m sure half the boys will be fighting each other to offer their gift to you first, Lejlie. And you wouldn’t be lacking any either, Keila. But I don’t know of any boy who would want to ask me for marriage.”

Keila laughed. “Don’t worry about it Aria. The way Juno’s been eyeing you since we came out, I’m sure you’d have at least him as a choice.”

Lejlie nodded and gave her friend a comforting smile.

“Excuse me ladies. Could I talk to Lejlie for a second?”

The girls turned around to see Kiel standing alone and smiling at Lejlie. Keila and Aria laughed as Lejlie blushed furiously.

“Alright, we’ll leave you two together.” Keila said.

As the two girls walked away laughing, Kiel took Lejlie’s hand and led her to the edge of the Field where they could talk in private. Ever since they were young, most had assumed that Kiel and Lejlie would one day marry, though that did not stop other boys from hoping and trying.

“Wow, Lejlie, you look really great.” Rand exclaimed, blushing, as he stared at Lejlie.

“You look good too. Really like a dashing young noble lord.”

Kiel laughed. “Yes I’m sure I do. Don’t you think we look great together?”

Lejlie laughed nervously. She could tell where this conversation was going.

“Umm…so, Lejlie, I was just wondering if you know yet whose gift you’re going to accept. You know that half the guys are going to offer their gifts to you. I just wanted to know if I have a chance.” Kiel took Lejlie’s hand and held it to his chest, a look of hope and admiration in his face.