Work Text
New England - United States, 1650
pov. sara
The water was bubbling in the big pot on the wood stove, Laurel and I were going to wash our hair today so we could go to church, Mom was sorting out our best clothes, and Dad had gone to get more firewood. Things in New England were hectic, rumors that a new ship was about to arrive with new residents, and not everyone was Puritan. So, no one was too worried about today's preaching, just the warnings that the pastor would give at the end.– “I hope Marie and Julliet are able to board the next ship.” – Mother waited for letters from her sisters every month, but no news arrived from London, so when rumors spread that a ship was coming with passengers she was filled with hope, she started looking for lots for sale to help her sisters, but always she ended up in tears when they stood in front of the port and none of them came down. Laurel looked at me with eyes full of concern and I just shrugged and lay down with my head in her lap.– “Dad took me to see Tommy today.” – My sister spoke in a lower voice so that only I could hear her, she was engaged to Thomas Merlyn but since she was a child, she had been hiding a crush on Oliver Queen, who in this case was trying to negotiate my hand with Dad, but everyone knew that Queen only had eyes for one woman, Felicity Smoak. Deep in my heart, I hoped that this engagement of mine wouldn't work out, I didn't love Oliver and he didn't love me and this marriage would be a disaster. - "And how it was?” – I asked in the most curious tone I could put even without really wanting to know about the meeting. – “He gave me this. And kissed me. Sara, my sister, I think I'll finally forget Oliver, I think I'm falling in love with Thomas.” – Laurel, passing her fingers over her lips when she talked about the kiss, she sighed, placing her other hand on the small necklace that hung around her neck before she could respond, our mother entered the room calling us.
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The pastor preached while torrential rain fell heavily outside the small church, which we had finished building a few weeks ago, with the new church new rules were introduced, he separated us into four groups, men, women, elderly and the children. Each of the groups had to sit in a specific place inside the Lord's house, as that was how he wanted it. But Dad watched Mom, Laurel, and me with eagle eyes. It was his way of saying that no matter what the Lord said, he wanted the whole family together in prayer. I didn't care about that. In fact, I hated church. I felt trapped, confined, nothing the pastor told us matched my thoughts and this left me sad, isolated and worried. Where would my place be if it weren't for this?- “In a few days, dear friends, we will receive another ship of Puritan brothers. Our community grows on these lands, New England grows, we will make America our home, our home.” – More people, more families fleeing Europe, seeking peace in lands overseas, but not even here in these free lands we live free. After all, we should follow all the rules of the church, we should work hard to achieve glory. – “Unfortunately, brothers, we will not only welcome brothers to our side, but we will not act like the English, we will accept them staying with us as long as they do not disrupt the way we live.” – Laurel leaned next to me making jokes about the pastor and his warnings while a laugh caught in my throat, Mom elbowed me in the ribs and lightly slapped my sister on the head to make us stop. Then everyone was silent and the entire community began to pray and we were finally free.
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Two weeks had passed since the announcement that a ship would arrive, everyone was preparing to welcome the new residents, some knew that family members would arrive and were tidying up their guest rooms, others were finishing building houses. During lunch Dad came to the house, sat in his armchair and threw his gun on the chair next to him.– “We arrested a group of looters coming from the South with carts full of silver, they certainly robbed some southern nobleman.” – Mom stood behind him, massaging his back while Laurel and I sat on the floor to listen to what he had to say. – “I hope good people arrive on this ship, we need more people to help at the police station. By the way, a vessel will arrive at the port today late afternoon. We received a request to secure the location.” – The conversation changed the direction of the family's mood, after all, something as simple as that became quite a social event for the still small community that was being built. – “Girls, get ready. We will go to the port, put on your hats. Quentin, tell the boys that today they will be able to see Laurel and Sara at night with me, of course.” – A wave of discouragement invaded my body when I dropped my shoulders again while Laurel chattered about what clothes she should wear and how her hair wasn't shiny enough and then in one jump she got up running to get the necklace that Mr. Merlyn had given her.– “You don’t seem as excited as your sister, is there a problem between you and Oliver?” – I shake my head before getting up and adjusting my dress. – “No mom, just a sudden headache. I'll help Laurel find the gift. Excuse me.” – I could feel my parents' eyes on my back until the moment I closed the door behind me.
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It was just after four in the afternoon when we arrived at the port, each of us was carrying an umbrella to protect us from the sun, Tommy was holding Laurel's arm and whispering something that made her laugh uncontrollably, while Oliver was standing like a soldier behind me while I had my arms resting on the wooden sill of the mezzanine that faced the port, my eyes were fixed on the ship that was lazily approaching the pier. – “Don’t you want to see something else, miss?” – I heard the boy's voice and my intention was to say no and send him away, but my mother had her ears open and her eyes even more, she wanted this engagement to happen, it was important for the families. That was why Oliver hadn't married Felicity so I just agreed as the ship docked with a loud, creaking noise.My eyes turned to the large vessel along with those of so many other people, the passengers began to leave, most of them puritans like us, we could tell by their clothes, but a small part were not. A man caught my attention, he came with two women at his side, they walked as equals, one of them wore a beautiful emerald green dress and held a fan of the same tone, the other wore pants and a shirt, her black hair fell on her back like glittering cascade and a hat finished off her clothes. Her eyes fell on me, and I was mesmerized by them, her hands quickly went up to her hat and she saluted with a wink and opened the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. My heart sped up for a moment and my hands went to my chest as if the air was missing from my lungs.What had just happened?
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New England - United States, 1650 pov. SaraA week has passed since the day the vessel arrived, and little has changed in our lives after that event. Laurel knitted a blanket for her newest church friend while Mom made lunch. A book was open on my lap while my eyes stared at the landscape from the living room window and my mind returned to the arrival of the vessel seven days ago, I couldn't stop thinking about the brunette who gave me such a penetrating look, a sigh escaped from my lips and mother's weak laughter were audible even over the crackling of the wood in the stove. – “I knew you would fall in love with the young Queen. Both he and Tommy are the most sought after of the season. In addition to being beautiful, they are rich.” – Another subdued giggle was uttered by the woman as she whispered to herself how lucky she was in getting her two daughters married.
xxx
That same night, Dad arrived home exasperated, he slammed the door so hard that the window shook and the three of us looked at him, scared, thinking that something could have happened to him, but none of us could have expected what he was going to tell us. – “That woman is crazy! How she dares step into my police station asking for a job? Oh no. If that wasn't enough, she had to face me. She bit back and complained and said that would seek her “rights”, she acted like a man!” – Mom placed a hand over her mouth turning white as a sheet, she clearly knew who he was talking about, but for me and Laurel the whole conversation seemed pointless, we exchanged scared looks for a while before they sent us away go to bed and we clearly did so.Insomnia wouldn't let me sleep, my mind continued to see my father shaking his arms nervously while my mother looked at him in horror, it took hours to create a plausible theory and as soon as it took root I sat up with a start. The young brunette appeared right there in front of me, they could only be talking about her, no other woman would try to find a job in a puritan village, my heart sank imagining what father would do to her if she returned to the police station, but if there was the courage to face him on her first attempt, perhaps she would know how to defend herself or she would call her own father. Yes. That seemed like a more reasonable solution. Perhaps, despite their clothes, they needed money and the solution was for the whole family to work. As my head snuggled between the pillow my eyes slowly closed, the brunette hovered over me with the same crooked smile, this vision continued until I finally fell asleep.Such sleep was watered by strange dreams that night. Mostly with the brunette, who still didn't know her name, we walked in an orchard full of fruit trees and some flowering bushes, she laughed and the sound that came from her lips seemed like music. Even though I had never heard her laugh, my heart warmed. When I woke up the next morning there were tears streaming down my eyes, what was happening to me? Why were I dreaming about a woman? And I could still swear I felt... in love with her. A woman.
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After helping with the housework, still melancholy from all those abnormal thoughts, I got ready; I put on one of the walking dresses and rain boots, the sky was extremely cloudy but I couldn't stay any longer in that house with Laurel narrating her last meeting with her fiancé. I then put it in a bag; some fruit, my favorite book and my sketchbook along with some pieces of charcoal. Without much explanation, I sneaked out of the house and walked for almost an hour along the path I was already familiar with.– “Oh God, may your Spirit speak in me so that I can speak to you. I have no merit, let the merit of Jesus rest upon me. I don't deserve it, but I look to your mercy. I am full of weaknesses, lusts, sins; you are full of grace...” – While whispering the prayer for the corruptions of the heart I heard a rustle of leaves not far from where I was. My heart hammered in my chest like crazy as the simple noise began to grow until the brown eyes that had haunted me during the night appeared just a few feet away from me.– “Sorry for the scare, miss.” – The voice was more melodious than I expected it to be, I could feel my face lose color and after a few seconds turned out red hot. A short, friendly laugh filled the place and only then did I raise my face so I could look at her equally. “It was not my intention to cause such discomfort. But I could hear your prayers and I was curious. What could she have done that was so bad that he didn't deserve God's blessing?” – Her head lolled to one side with such curiosity, her lips were parted as if that wasn't everything the woman wanted to say, but that she was sparing my ears from further comments.– “Our mind plays tricks on us. And only He can help us. Mother always tells us this, as does the pastor.” – My gaze returned to the ground as I walked again in the hope that she would understand and leave, but I could hear the sound of her boots against the gravel ground following me all the way. Few words were spoken until I sat down in the shade of one of the trees and took the notebook out of my bag. His eyes scanned some of the pages and then analyzed my face, a smile formed but he said nothing.– “Why do you smile like that?” – Tired and full of curiosity I asked her, still with a smile the young woman stretched out on the grass, bending one of her legs and placing one of her arms under her head. – “You have talent, maybe you should become a painter. Sell your paintings. Have a life.” – My mouth opened wide, despite having always thought about it, I never uttered such words, I knew the place I should occupy and I could only create anything after getting married if my husband accepted and I still had to sign with his name.I wasn't able to answer her about such things, but shortly after she started talking again, she said her name was Nyssa, she was a few years older than me. Her father was an important London businessman and a famous inventor, he raised his daughters alone after his wife died at a young age, before I could respond she continued.
– “I met your father a few days ago. I believe you should hate me, that's what my ideals cause in most people.”
My gaze fell on his face slightly tilted back as he faced the sun, despite my fear all I wanted to do was ask him: “And what are they?”
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New England - United States, 1650 pov. SaraNyssa didn't tell me anything about her ideals or thoughts that day, our conversation turned to the book I had in my bag, and how tasty the lamb sandwiches were. Two weeks passed and every tuesday and thursday afternoon we met in the same place a little away from the trail under one of the apple trees. Mom began to notice my sudden departures and that day she had decided that her greatest desire in life was to find out who I intended to run away with.-"Mother! I'm not going to run away with anyone, Oliver is busy almost every day and I spend a lot of my free time locked up at home. I'm just allowing myself to walk a little, it's not far from home and my company is the book.” – I say, removing the thick hardcover book that I always carried. The older blonde looked at me from the corner of her eye as she wiped her nervous hands on her white apron and then leaned on the wooden table. – “Laurel will go with you then! Why can't you invite your sister? She is trapped in these walls as much as you are.” – Irritated by my sudden rebellion, the woman stared at me with blood in her eyes. – “Everyone is commenting, you know? The pastor went to look for your father at the police station. He said he saw you on the trail, alone. These are not the manners that we gave you, Sara. And this is not expected of a committed woman about to marry such a good match. Don't disgrace our family with unfounded rumors.”I could feel my face burn with anger and anxiety as I listened to my mother deliver such an unfair speech, it wasn't my fault if the people of that damned village were so gossipy and creative.
– “Laurel has her fiancé with her every day, they are in love, and I can't stand her talking about him for another second. Oliver doesn't love me, Mom. We accepted the burden that both families imposed on us, nothing more. Maybe the pastor, you and Dad need to worry about him, and the women he takes to bed when I'm gone and because he doesn't feel anything for me. Not even respect.”
And so, I leave the house. I didn't ask for forgiveness and went back to the room, taking the path that would take me to a more peaceful destination and perhaps, with luck, a pleasant conversation and a tired release. The book hit my thigh and that's how I realized how much I was running trying to get away from that house and everyone, tears burned my face and stung my eyes. With my vision a little blurry and my mind still filled with my mother's absurd words, I didn't notice when another person was coming in the opposite direction and in a collision, I fell backwards over a small bush.– “Perhaps we are doomed to surprise and disastrous encounters on the trail. – Nyssa, still trying to balance herself, took off the hat that was on her head and offered me her free hand, helping me get up. – “Our location has already passed Sara a few kilometers away, and something tells me that you’re not as well and lively as usual. Come... I have something to show you and maybe then we can talk and you can tell me what happened.” - For long minutes I remained silent, still crying a little and sniffling in an inelegant way, my nose was hot and that's why I could say that it was definitely red as a tomato, my hands were shaking slightly but the brunette next to me didn't say anything, she just spoke minutes later, almost in a calm whisper as she guided me along the trail saying how warm the day was, and that we didn't seem to be getting closer to winter.When I stopped, I realized that we were in Narrangansett Bay, exactly below the docks and the view of the sea and the sky with few clouds was majestic. Of course, we were the only ones there and with a turn of her arms Nyssa took off her jacket and placed it on the floor for us to sit down, and only then I told her everything that had happened, despite her calm expression her eyes showed me concern and something else. ...something I still didn't fully understand.– “On the first day we met, I told you that my ideals used to scare people.” – She paused and held my hands, his fingers slid against my skin in a subtle and pleasant way. – “My clothes tend to bother people who look at me, I don’t like dresses, petticoats make me extremely uncomfortable, I can’t walk in those damn heels. But most of all, I like being independent Sara. I don't want any man controlling my life, my father was never like that. He taught us to make decisions and look for what makes us happy, and I am happy being able to study, work and wear pants and a hat. So, I want a life without men, I will never get married Sara.” – She was the type of woman who didn't need to tell me what she wanted in life, looking at her attitudes I could already imagine, my heart beat in an unsteady tone when things like I will never get married came out of her lips. And then I thought about my life and how in a few months I would be married to a man who would never make me happy, my silence didn't stop her and she soon resumed.– “I believe, Sara Lance, that perhaps your ideals are not as similar to mine as those of your church, and at the moment this is your biggest internal conflict. Everyone around you tells you what to do, because you’re a woman... because you’re defenseless...” – the older woman paused, making quotation marks right after saying defenseless. – “But nothing needs to be like this. Every woman is capable of anything, just try, learn, just like men. They weren't born knowing how to ride or even Latin... don't you agree with me?” - I was silent and the conversation was now nothing more than a monologue from Nyssa, a monologue that fitted together distant pieces in my mind, my eyes were attracted to hers and I remembered the dreams I had been having, how much I was lost in the dark waters of that brown sea that pulled me more and more, before I could tell her whether I agreed or not, my fingers caught on her face and my lips placed themselves on her mouth in a subtle way, in a chaste kiss, a subtle brush of lips.The petticoat of the dress left us far from each other, only my fingers touched it beyond our lips. Despite the surprise I could feel on the brunette's part, her lips seemed much more comfortable than mine as she kissed another woman, unlike Oliver, her movements were slow and soft, as if her only desire was to be there for longer than we could, and her flavor was fruitful while her perfume had a woody touch, when we moved away from each other my eyes were still closed and only then her hands touched my waist and my fingers went to my lips.
– “That’s the real reason I’ll never get married.”