JUNIPER
The three great tribes were at war, many hundreds of people had perished
in the huge conflict. It wasn’t clear who would win. It could easily end up
with only three men remaining, each a warrior of the warring tribes. After
that, there would be no one left. Juniper had let the war go on long enough,
now she had to act. If not, she would be guilty of letting the slaughter get out
of hand. The tribal warriors had killed and been killed enough times, their
lesson had been learnt. It was time to stop the killing. She picked the
strongest tribe to be the fulcrum of the event.
Juniper was always earthbound, doing her roles of healer, witch and
warrior woman. She was divinely worshipped as a Mother Goddess of fertility and
a dozen other things. Her battle skills were equal to her life giving skills;
she needed to fight to defeat her stubborn opponents when her magic wouldn’t
work. Skilled in arcane arts, she was a spell weaver and magician of supreme
power. Her hands could give life and take it away. Her crystals were her
magical key and her bows and arrows were her life taker. A weapon she crafted
herself and used with deadly efficiency. Dressed in animal skins, Juniper was
an athletic figure of intelligence and emotions. She understood herself, her
world and her subject. There was nothing she didn’t know. Experience taught her
everything and knowledge was her key in winning her battles against the
darkness. Dark energy balanced out the light side and goodness, like the day
replacing the night. Such was Stone Age life in what would become Europe many aeons
later.
She could travel by foot, silently and stealthily, to surprise her enemies
and bring them to heel. Or she was able to travel instantly from one place to
another by using her magic power channelled through her crystal wand. This was
a skill she used sparingly, early humans were very superstitious and their fear
of the witch could overcome their desire to be led. Moving from place to place,
the witch did her job. When the war broke out, this threatened to undo her
previous efforts at keeping the peace and healing. She had to act now.
***
Overlooking the flat plain on two sides, the low hills gave whoever held
them command of the area. They were occupied by the stronger tribe called the
White Spears. Their enemies were living uneasily side by side on the grasslands
below, often fighting one another or attempting to take the high ground. Many
warriors were killed in these forays. The coming battle would decide the issue
of who kept the hills and also the low ground; there was a danger the two
opposing tribes would be wiped out by the stronger enemy. Could Juniper stop
this? She crept up the hill, keeping low to blend into the metre tall wild
grass. Her bow and arrow were ready to be used in anger. With her senses keyed
up, she was ready for anything; this was her time. Up ahead she saw camp fires
and heard voices, several warriors were on guard and would be armed. Slowly she
advanced.
In the White Spear camp a warrior named Nian held his spear to his
chest. His weapon shone in the firelight. He hadn’t killed a man yet but he had
been involved in several skirmishes with the tribes on the flatlands. It was a
matter of time before he got his first kill and became a seasoned warrior
veteran, one of the men. Then he could claim a wife and build his own dwelling
for his family. He itched for war and to kill an enemy, he felt it in his veins;
they ran hot with a lust for action that often overwhelmed him. Nian wanted to
go down the hill alone and wipe his enemies out all by himself. His warrior
elders warned him not to do this, he would be cast out of the tribe and be an
enemy himself. There were ways of doing things. Just then, he saw movement in
the grass, past the flames of the dying fire. He instinctively knew something
or someone was there. Maybe an enemy or a wild beast. He judged the distance
and threw his white spear into the grass where he saw movement. His sleek two
metre spear arced out and into the grass. A scream of pain was Nian’s reward.
He got up and ran to the grass, shouting to his brethren to join him, that
there was an enemy in their midst.
Juniper had fucked up; she moved too close to the edge of the camp and
was spotted. The spear caught her in her thigh. It was a bad wound and bled
profusely. She knew she was beaten before her battle had begun and this changed
everything. Suddenly there were figures standing before her, towering over the
grass, shouting and pointing. Before she passed out, she felt them roughly
lifting her and taking her to their camp. Mercifully she felt no more pain.
Juniper never even got a single arrow off.
***
Later Juniper awoke. It was dark. She was in a cave. They hadn’t covered
her eyes but had gagged her and bound her hands behind her. Looking down she
saw her thigh was roughly bandaged with dried leaves and animal fur to stop the
blood. Moving her injured leg, she bit into her gag and fell back against the
wall. It hurt like hell. Juniper was about to do a healing spell upon herself
to take the pain away when she stopped. If
I heal myself or stop the pain, they may know that I’m more than I seem, that
I’m a witch, she thought. If they found out, she could be put to death and
sacrificed. Or revered as a queen. One
thing at once, thought Juniper, lying back and closing her eyes. The pain
receded to a dull ache and she slept.
Daylight shone in through the cave entrance, waking the witch. She
groaned and sat upright. Her body ached due to the awkward position she was in.
Her hands were numb and her wounded leg was sore. Suddenly the daylight was
blocked out; there was someone there. A man, a warrior, stood by the entrance.
He studied the witch and she did him. She recognized him as the spear thrower.
He nodded and walked over to her. In his hand he held a white spear, stained
black with blood. Her blood.
“I see you’re awake,” commented the young warrior. Slowly he walked over
and keeping his distance, he pulled down her gag with one hand.
“Yes, I am,” confirmed the witch, when she could speak. She spat on the
floor and took a deep breath.
“How is your leg? Does it hurt?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Juniper replied, looking down to her wound.
“Really? You’re a bad liar. I spared your life so we could capture you.
We know who you are and what your intentions are,” the man boasted, nodding. He
had his own plans for her.
“What do you mean? What is this you say? I was hungry and came up here
looking for food. I was about to make myself known to you and ask for some food
when you speared me.”
“You want food? Here, have some of this.”
“What is it?”
“Cooked flesh from a prisoner we caught from the Red Stone tribe. He was
a brave fighter, now he feeds our tribe. Eat.”
The warrior placed his white spear carefully against the wall, out of
reach of the witch, and knelt down. In his hand he held a piece of blackened
meat, scorched by the fire. He broke some off and put it in the prisoner’s
mouth.
“Don’t bite me or I’ll knock your teeth out. You like it?”
Juniper nodded compliance and chewed the tough flesh. It was muscle. Its
owner must have been a fine warrior. Yes,
its okay, thought the witch. She had to eat, she was famished and had to
win her captors respect. Eating the flesh would achieve just that. She
swallowed it.
“That’s good. Thank you. May I have some more?”
“Yes, you may.”
Again the warrior gave his prisoner some meat. He noticed she liked it
and he smiled his approval. He gave her the last bit and said he had to check
her leg, to see if it was infected. Very carefully, he removed the dressing of
leaves and skin.
Juniper winced when the leaves were removed, some clotted blood was
pulled free and it stung. A bit of blood bled from the edge of the wound. The
rest was closed up. It wasn’t as bad as she had feared. She needed to kiss his
arse. Her plan had to work; especially now she was hurt. It was a high price to
pay.
“You’re a fine spear thrower; you got me with a good throw. You could
have killed me,” she said.
“Yes, I’m the finest spear thrower of our tribe and I’ve killed many
enemies of our tribe. I could have killed you from fifty paces. You’re very
lucky,” the warrior replied. He sprinkled some herbs onto her wound and put a
new dressing of dried leaves and animal skin in place.
“I am lucky, you’re right. You could have. How is my wound? Is that
Night Fire you’re putting on to stop the infection?” She wanted to show him
respect and that she had a little knowledge of herbs, to show she understood
him and his actions. She knew he was lying about killing anyone, it wasn’t in
his eyes. He was the one for her. He was pure and untouched by the Devil. She
could steer him away from war and death.
“You’re wound will heal with no problem. The leg will be stiff for a few
days while the skin joins together. Yes, the herb is what you call Night Fire.
We call it River Blood. It will stop any infection and dull the pain. Only a
small amount is needed. How do you know about herbs?”
“That’s good about my leg; I don’t want to be lame. I’d starve to death
then. I wouldn’t be able to hunt with my bow and arrow. I’ve used some herbs
for cooking and to heal minor cuts when I’ve been chasing animals to kill one.”
“We don’t want you lame, there’s no danger of
that. My spear throw was perfect. You can use your herbal skills when you’re
well to heal our tribe and make our warriors stronger and better killers. As
for your archery skills, I want to see them for myself.”
“I will help you with my herbal skills. Looking at what you just did to
my leg, I think you have much better knowledge than I do though. I agree to
show you my bow skills when I can. I hope it’s not too long,” Juniper
commented, knowing that the warrior now trusted her.
“Good, I’m glad you agree. I won’t have to use any of my other skills on
you then, to persuade you. You can stay here till you’re well. I’ll untie your
hands and bring you some water. Your weapon is fine and in a safe place by the
way,” the warrior replied. He motioned for the witch to lean forward so he
could undo her bonds. He smelled her dirt and her essence, it turned him on and
he wanted her. His cock twitched under his animal skin. Did she see it?
“That’s very kind of you. I promise not to escape or be a burden to you.
Thank you for tending my wound, for the food and keeping my weapon safe. When
I’m well, you may have me and take me for your wife. If you want to,” she said.
She knew she had him now; she held the power but did her best not to show it.
She offered him everything.
“Yes, when you’re well, I’ll take you and make you my wife. You can give
me many strong sons to be future warriors for our tribe. What’s your name?”
“I’m Juniper.”
“Juniper... I’m Nian. It means Warrior of the Sky.”
“Well Nian, I promise to be a good wife to you and I’ll give you many
strong sons.”
“Good Juniper. Now I’ll fetch you some water and let you rest.”
“Thank you my warrior.” Juniper knew her mission was beginning, she was
in the tribe!
***
When Juniper had healed, she was allowed to walk about the tribe’s camp.
She saw many brave warriors and many women with child, carrying the next
generation of warriors. A limp still troubled her but she slowly made good
progress and hobbled round best she could using a crude wooden crutch. Juniper
sat on a wooden chair one of the tribal elders made for her to rest her leg.
This allowed her to show the White Spear tribe her archery skills and how to
make a strong lightweight bow and equally reliable arrows. Only certain wood
would do, some were too heavy or would snap under the strain. The witch
fashioned six good bows and fifty arrows, each was functional and could fire an
arrow accurately up to three times the range of a thrown spear. She showed the
male warriors how to aim and hit targets. They struggled with the pull of the
bow string; it took a certain skill to master. Juniper was a good teacher. A
bow and arrow were superior weapon systems when compared to the other tribes on
the plain. Secretly the witch enchanted the bows to only be used for hunting,
not to kill other humans or wage war. No one was aware that Juniper did this.
She was cunning and slowly changing the destiny of the tribe, away from the war
with the low land tribes. It was all part of her job. After one week of tuition
and two weeks of practice, two of the warriors were competent in archery. One
of these men was Nian. He killed a huge wild bison with three arrows. In
celebration of this stunning feat, a feast was planned.
A
strong sense of cohesion ran through the camp. It was brought about by
Juniper’s presence and her teaching of a new set of skills, allowing the tribe
to hunt big game safely and efficiently. Planning for the feast was rapid.
Tribal women painted themselves with red ochre to represent their connection to
the earth and their Mother Goddess. Juniper herself was part of this. Male
warriors donned ceremonial head gear and masks to appear as creatures of the
night, supernatural beings called Elementals. The tribal elders and witch
doctors went into trances and talked to those who had passed to the spirit
world. Juniper secretly cast spells to allow for a good feast day and she knew
it would rain, to bring atmosphere and allow the nearby river to quench the tribe’s
thirst.
Soon feast day was here. Juniper was able to walk unaided now. She wore
a ceremonial dress made of woven animal pelts. She appeared as a symbolic
witch. Did the tribe know what she really was? They’d soon find out. Nian’s
bison was roasted on a spit and the feast began.
“I see you’re dressed as a witch Juniper. That’s a good omen for you and
the rest of us, yes indeed,” commented Nian, looking the slim woman up and
down.
“Thank you my warrior. My skills are little when compared to your own,
especially your spear throwing ability,” Juniper humbly replied, looking at
Nian’s chest.
“Come witch woman, you’re my equal. You can use a bow; you taught our
tribe some of your skills. For that, you’re my equal. Maybe in time you’ll be
my wife and teach me everything you know. Yes you carry the scar of my spear
skills, for that I’m truly sorry,” whispered the warrior. He knelt down and
placed his head upon Juniper’s slim toned belly. She touched his head and
soothed him.
“It’s true I bare your scar upon my skin that marks me as yours. Yes I
will be your wife and teach you all my skills. I will help your tribe and be
your humble wife and their wise woman. Thank you, it would be an honour to be
by your side as your wife Nian.”
Nian looked up and smiled. He stood up and nodded agreement. “Thank you
Juniper. For everything. Let’s celebrate even more.”
“For a better future,” the witch said, happy her plan was working. “I
love you Nian.”
“Yes, we’ll make things better. I love you Juniper,” Nian confirmed.
Opening his arms and looking at the other tribe members who danced and smoked
ceremonial pipes, Nian shouted: “Hear this. Hear this White Spear tribe.
Juniper has agreed to be my wife and teach myself, and the rest of you,
everything she knows. This feast will be the first of three to celebrate our
wedding.”
A
huge cheer went up and dozens of people shouted and screamed in happiness. Many
came over to Nian and Juniper and lifted them up above their shoulders. Pieces
of cooked meat were passed up to them, as was locally made wine. The duo took
all that was offered and their bellies became full. On went the party, all
through the night. Two more feasts would follow and a huge wedding ceremony
would bring harmony to the White Spear tribe. Their aggressive acts against the
two low land tribes would fizzle out, bringing peace and stability. With the
main war faring tribe ceasing its attacks upon the two lesser tribes, battle
would end and trading could begin, when the time was right. Juniper was on the
way to be a good peacemaker. Would she be a good mother when Nian gave her many
sons and maybe a daughter? Time would tell, before then it was party time!
***
