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Northwest Indian Country

Territory of the Blackfeet

A woman's highest calling is to lead a man to his soul to unite him with source.

A Man's highest calling is to protect the woman so she is free to walk the earth unharmed.

Cherokee proverb

In rhythm to the drums beating in the Pikuni camp, came Tsistsaki , Bird Woman, daughter of Chief Flying Hawk.

In her hands, she carried a bowl of boiled buffalo meat, and she looked neither right nor left, though she passed by many of the people who must have been saying teasing words to her, because, as Liliann Varga looked on, she saw several people laugh or giggle as Bird Woman passed by them.

However, the pretty girl, Tsistsaki, said not a word back to them, nor did she even share a grin with them.

Liliann knew Bird Woman was performing the strict law of the Blackfoot wedding ceremony; she had come into this knowledge because her almost-sister—Czanna, her former mistress from Hungary—had informed her of this.

First Rider, a young man Liliann knew as the Pikuni man who had saved her father's life, was the about-to-take-a-woman man, or the groom.

Was it only a little over a year ago when Liliann had been in the service of the Fehér family, an aristocratic dynasty from Hungary?

When the war for freedom and independence had broken out in Hungary, Liliann's former mistress, Czanna Fehér, had faced danger and had been forced to flee Hungary.

She'd had to either escape quickly or risk being sentenced to jail, or worse… to death.

At the insistence of her elder brother, Frederic, Czanna had taken her younger brother and her baby sister with her to America, while Liliann's own father, Henrik Varga, the manservant for the head of the Fehér family—had been given the duty of leading and protecting the fleeing family members.

Liliann, who was the fourteen-year-old daughter of Henrik, had been pressed into the position of being nanny to the youngest Fehér family member, three-year-old Béla.

But, the adventure of eluding war-torn Hungary and running away into the wilderness of the northern realm of Indian Country was behind them now. Her former mistress—whom Liliann had most recently referred to as her almost-sister—had met and, after a rocky courtship, married her Pikuni sweetheart.

In those days, when escaping Hungary had been the only option for the family, who would have thought that Czanna's elder brother and her mother and father, who had been imprisoned on the charge of treason, would have escaped the hangman's block?

And, that they would have come, themselves, to America…

looking for, and at last finding, Czanna?

And yet, it had come to pass: the once noble Fehér family, having no knowledge of wilderness survival, had found themselves making their home with their daughter's newly-wedded husband, the Pikuni Indian, Stands Strong.

Liliann and her father, Henrik, being now included in the Fehér family, had naturally followed.

So it was that Liliann and her father had been welcomed into the camps of the Pikuni Indians.

And, though Liliann lived with her father in their own tepee, she spent most of her time in Czanna's and Stands Strong's lodge.

That First Rider, an almost-cousin and friend of Czanna's husband, frequently came to visit Stands Strong, was most likely Liliann's reason for spending so much time helping Czanna with the many camp chores.

Indeed, though Liliann was only fifteen years old now, she had come to find herself in love with First Rider, the handsomest and kindest man she had ever known—he who had saved her father's life.

But, there was more to the attraction; indeed, she felt somehow connected to this young man, as if, in the saving of her father, she and First Rider had become a part of each other.

But, First Rider didn't return her feelings.

Oh, he tolerated her and endured the teasing from others within the camp for having acquired a "shadow"…

her. However, his heart belonged to Tsistsaki, Bird Woman, whom he was prepared to marry in this very day, following the strict rules of a Blackfoot wedding

And so, for these last three days, Liliann had looked on as Bird Woman had performed this same wedding ritual both morning and evening.

Today was the fourth day of the marriage tradition, and it was on this day when First Rider, who had earlier left the village to go on the hunt with his friend Stands Strong, would return to his lodge, where Bird Woman would be awaiting him.

She would cry out, "My man!" to which First Rider would reply, "My Woman!" And, with little more said, they would begin their life together as man and wife.

Tears clouded Liliann's eyes as she watched Bird Woman's procession toward the large lodge which had been erected by Bird Woman's powerful family.

At last, looking away, Liliann wiped the tears from her eyes, and, standing up, she bent over to throw open the flap of her almost-sister's tepee and stepped inside.

Her almost-sister, Czanna, greeted her with a worried look, and asked, "Has Tsistsaki reached First Rider's lodge yet? "

"Aye," answered Liliann. "They be now man and wife."

Barely looking around the lodge belonging to Czanna, a tear found its way down Liliann's cheek. Luckily for her, no one except Czanna was present to witness it.

Not bothering to wipe the tear away, Liliann took her place to the southern side of the tepee flap and sat down, bringing her legs together, Indian fashion, and placed them to her right. Looking up, she caught Czanna's eye, then hurriedly gazed away.

"They were promised to marry each other before we ever came to know First Rider," said Czanna, the empathy in her voice calm and soothing, yet it had the opposite effect to what Czanna had probably intended. In reaction, another tear fell over Liliann's cheek.

Liliann nodded, though she didn't look at her almost-sister, glancing down instead. At last, however, she replied to her friend in a shaky voice, saying, "This be known to me."

Czanna seemed to pause before she spoke, but after a moment, she said, "Tsistsaki is a good woman, having been brought up under the strict Blackfoot laws for women. She will make him a good wife."

"This be known to me, too. She is also very beautiful."

" áa ," agreed Czanna, the simple word meaning "yes" in the Blackfoot language.

Silence ensued between the two friends, until at last Czanna uttered, "Beautiful, she is, indeed. I am sorry, also, that this day of their marriage has finally come. If it makes any difference to you, my dearest friend, I believe First Rider does not fully know how much you admire him."

Liliann nodded.

"Come sit before me, Liliann, where I shall endeavor to brush and re-braid your hair."

Liliann nodded and, arising, trod around the fire to sit in front of her friend, crossing her legs in front of her.

As Czanna undid the clasps holding Liliann's braids in place and set to pulling a brush through Liliann's long pale-blonde hair, Liliann inhaled deeply.

At last, she said, "He be too old for me, right enough, he being eight years beyond me own age. "

"He's not so very much older than you. And, I know he cares for you.

Indeed, I think you hold a special place in his heart, since he tells the story of how you added your spirit to his song last year when he was trying to save your father's life.

Often, as we sit around our fires at night, he tells the tale of how you sang the strange words of the Bigfoot healing song with him as though you, too, knew it.

I know he admires you; after all, he gave you the bullet he had pulled from your father's chest.

"I have learned from Stands Strong," continued Czanna, "that this is a rare honor he bestowed upon you. But, you are a girl who only recently turned fifteen, and, according to my husband, First Rider has been in love with Tsistsaki all his life."

Liliann nodded, looking down.

"Please, my friend," continued Czanna as she whispered her next words, "there will be many other men who will come to admire and love you.

Your beauty, alone, will attract many of the hearts of eligible young men, both Indian and white, I am sure.

And, when they come to know and experience your sweet nature, you will be able to pick your forever love from amongst them. "

Liliann didn't respond except to nod, and, as she looked away, another tear raced down her cheek. She murmured, "Aye, I be sure thou are right about this, Mistress—"

"Almost-sister, please. I am no longer your mistress."

"Aye, Almost-sister. 'Tis only that I was bein' so certain there was somethin' special a-tween us…somethin' worth holdin' on to."

"And, so there is. Even my husband has noticed there is an uncommon bond between you and First Rider.

Once forged, it will never go away, though you will go on to find another who will love and adore you.

But, always the attachment between you and First Rider will remain.

Mark my words, Almost-sister: always, the two of you will share the moment when you both came to realize how special you are to one another.

It will not die, though you both might be destined to live apart. "

Liliann nodded. Indeed, it was all she could do. Even now, she couldn't check the tears falling down over her cheeks and onto her breast; even her lips quivered.

But, her almost-sister was right. She would go on to live her own life, though it would be apart from First Rider.

At least through the years ahead, she would keep within her the knowledge that once, she and First Rider had touched each other's hearts. It would have to be enough.

With her voice soft and barely audible, she whispered, "Though this be a sad day for me, it be a glad time for First Rider and for Bird Woman.

So, I be now makin' a wish for them both, that life be always good to them, and I hope they will be always happy.

I would not be havin' it any other way. I be wishin' also that I might be forever a special friend for First Rider and his wife.

"Then, sighing, Liliann looked up and asked in a louder voice, "Almost-sister, may I be helpin' thee with supper? "

"Of course," answered Czanna. "I cannot think of anything more pleasant at this moment than to have your assistance."

Liliann nodded and, turning around to gaze at her friend, bestowed Czanna with the biggest and best smile she was able to give, though she feared her lips still quivered. Mechanically picking up the fat ribs to be roasted over the fire, she steadied her hands as she placed them over the coals.

Soon I shall be leavin' the Pikuni village with my father to go and live with my almost-sister's parents in the newly rebuilt Fort Benton.

And, once there, I shall be tryin' to forget that I once hoped to be First Rider's bride, right enough.

Instead, I shall be a wishin' to be their friend now and forever.