The Tale of the Wife of Bathe (Yare and Cougati)

[Yare]

We acknowledge the contribution of the great Geoffrey Chaucer, who's Canterbury Tales and the stories within it inspired this roleplay.

Name: Raki
Age: 40 (He's a knight, he'd be older!)
Description: Tall; greying hair, small beard; muscular
Background: Born to a noble family, Raki knew almost from birth he would be a knight, though for no other reason than that it was expected of him. He showed incredible promise, and soon entered the cavalry. He became a highly decorated knight, and all that was left for him to do was carry on with the family line.

-----

The horse cantered through the forest. Raki was sweating. The situation was not good.

It had all started one year ago...

"You can't say that! Not to me! That's improper!"

And then had come the complaint, and the girl was the daughter of a duke...

And so the king had heard, and the king didn't know what to do - but the queen, oh the queen did. She'd demanded something be done about her niece's hurt feelings. And Raki, saying the first thing that came to mind, asked for a year and a day to find out what women want...

A week into his quest, he began to wish he'd thought more about what he'd said.

No two women had the same answer. Better clothes, husbands that spent more time at home, more food - and none of them had felt right. None of them were answers he could give to the queen. The most humiliating answer was the group of three women in a courtyard he'd asked while staying with a baron. The three had said different things simultaneously, then got into an argument among themselves, giggling as they eventually began speculating as to why he wanted an answer.

He'd asked rich women, poor women, mothers and virgins - market women, nuns, old, and young. Now, there was only one woman left to ask.

And with three days left, the old witch in the cottage had better give him an answer.

[Cougati]

Name: Sorcha
Age: 75 (Of course, we know where this is going!)
Description: Short and stooped, gray hair and lots of wrinkles, but her eyes are still lively and betray her wisdom.
Background: Born into a family of "witches" she grew up learning herb lore and all the other secret arts. She now works, as her mother and her mothers mother, as a wise woman, matchmaker, and occasionally, a witch.

----

Sorcha leaned over the pot over her fire. Many, in her time, had called her a witch, and she certainly looked the part. Old and wizened, leaning over a bubbling cauldron...

However, the affect was somewhat ruined by the fact that the cauldron bubbling over the fire had in it nothing more auspicious than a nice hare stew. She made sure to always keep food on her hearth, you never know at what hour someone will come calling to get an answer to some question.

Such was the case today as her cooking was interrupted by a series of knocks on her door.

"Coming, I'm coming!"

Opening the door revealed the caller, a good looking young (it's amazing how your perspective on age changes as you yourself get older) knight.

"Well, come in, come in. And tell me of whatever dilemma you are in." The old witch stepped aside to leave the entry way clear.

[Yare]

Raki wondered how to phrase his request. 'Good mother, I have a request to make of you. Almost one year ago, I...said something, to a woman. The duchess-to-be, actually. She was...insulted.' He sighed. 'I was told to do something as a form of retribution. I volunteered to learn what women want. I was hoping you, good mother, would have an answer.' He looked up at her pleadingly. 'Please,' he said softly. 'Please, I have three days left. If I don't present an answer to her majesty, I go into self-imposed exile. I can't afford that - I have no wife, no heir, no one to take over the lands if I leave-!'

[Cougati]

"Hmm, that is quite a predicament, isn't it? Well, lets see what I can do for you."

She passed him a cup of tea and a bowl of stew.

"You don't look likes you've eaten in a fortnight. Now that you're settled, I do have the answer to your question."

She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes.

"I will give you this answer on one condition. After you tell the queen and clear your name, you have to marry me."

Here she paused, waiting for his reaction.

[Yare]

Raki gaped. Marry her? Enter into matrimony with this crone? How could he produce an heir with a crone?

On the other hand, a woman her age probably wouldn't last long. Long after her death, he would still be able to marry someone else, someone younger he could have an heir with. On the other hand, if he didn't take this opportunity, he would never have a chance to have an heir.

'...I will do it, good mother,' he said, his lips quavering slightly as he spoke. 'I will marry you, if you can give me an answer.'

[Cougati]

She smiled at him.

"I thought you would make the correct decision. I will tell you what women want most."

She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. Leaning back, she nodded.

"That's your answer. Now, feel free to rest yourself until you need to travel again, and when you go, I shall accompany you"

[Yare]

Raki's eyes widened at the answer whispered in his ear. Of course...it was so simple, so elegant - how could he not think of it? His eyes drifted down to the soup bowl, and he slowly took a bite. 'I'll return tomorrow,' he said. 'I'll rest here, good mother, if you have an extra room.'

[Cougati]

"Of course I have the extra room. There's a guest room right through that door. Now, take you time with that stew. It wouldn't do to eat to fast."

With that, she left him to eat, and think, and go about his business. She returned to his side only once, to inform him that the guest room was ready at any time he might need it. Other than that, she left him alone to his thoughts.

[Yare]

Raki took occasional spoonfuls of stew, and drinking his tea occasionally, though both were long cold by the time he finished. As he put his things away, he heard owls outside, and he realised how late it was. Undressing slowly and methodically, he slipped into bed, his mind reeling.

[Cougati]

By the time he awoke the next morning, Sorcha was already up and about. She was busy packing food for their journey, it wouldn't due to go hungry.

One other reason she woke up so early on this particular day, she didn't think he would "forget" about his promise, but if she went with him, there is no way he would.

"There's a bathing tub in that room," she pointed, "and there will be breakfast out here when you're done."

She turned her back on him and proceeded to straighten up her kitchen area.

[Yare]

Raki went to the bath unthinkingly, and robotically got undressed. If he was going to meet the queen, he'd have to look presentable. Besides, it had been four months since his last bath. It was about time he had another. It wouldn't do to bathe less than three times a year.

He dried, dressed, and came out. 'I hope I find you well, good mother,' he said, when he saw the witch. He couldn't be anything less than polite.

[Cougati]

"Well enough lad, well enough. I've packed us some food, and there's the breakfast on the table like I said. I always keep my promises you know."

She bustled around the already immaculate room, just moving things, it seemed, in idleness.

"so," she turned to him, "when is it you are thinking of setting out?"

[Yare]

Raki began eating, considering. 'At noon,' he said. 'I hope this won't be inconvenient?'

[Cougati]

"No, no. Not much of anything is an inconvenience when you get to be my age. The days go faster than ever, but it still seems as if I have all the time in the world."

So saying, she moved to the guest room to straighten up after it's most recent occupant.

[Yare]

Raki ate slowly, and sat in his chair a while after finishing. Eventually, he stood up, and packed his meagre things. He sought out the witch as noon approached, nervous about the immediate future.

'Is...there anything you want to take with you, good mother?'