Bird let her gaze return to the inn yard and the people in it, as she contemplated her next riddle. She saw that an audience had gathered around the riddle game.
She smiled at her friend Holly, and was startled to see even the flighty Menelduliniel had settled in to watch the proceedings. It certainly was an unusual band of traveling companions that she had stumbled into. And after the game was over, where would they all go?
Bird wondered at the number of women who seemed to wander the roads and paths of Middle Earth these days. By all accounts, most of them should have been settled in some safe town or farm, with families and duties to occupy them.
But plague and war, famine and fire had broken down all of the normal bindings of society. There were refugees trudging all over the lands, uprooted from their place, desperately seeking to build a life, in a land that had turned to quicksand.
Many of these refugees were women. Bird supposed that she should count herself in the party, but she had been homeless far longer than some. It seemed like a natural thing. Even women from settled communities, like Holly, could be found taking to a wandering life, perhaps inspired by the example of her less fortunate sisters.
For most of these lost and widowed women, while they did not exactly thrive in this new society, (who did?) were able to abide. Few gave up. Many excelled in their new situation, making their way in what had always been considered a "man's world."
But were they happy? If all were to turn around tomorrow, and peace and prosperity returned to Middle Earth again, would these women go back to their old way of life?
Bird lowered her head to ponder the situation. She did not often have the chance to sit quietly and consider her own situation, let alone the situation of all of womenkind.
Without knowing, she said to herself out loud:
"What is it that women most desire?"
[ September 01, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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