Chapter 2: Mafanwy
Once the Lord Protector had departed, Mafanwy was led away. By two Ladies if the Court of New Jerusalem. Dressed in red and green heavy gown, all cut modestly, they took her by Underground Railroad to the Palace of the New Jerusalem, formerly the Palace of Westminster.
Such institutions were now in 'safe keeping' until the Protectorate ended. Hotspur had promised the people that the 'democracy' would be restored after the age of strife ends.
An elected council met every day, but only with the Lord Protector was any deliberations enacted. It was a benign dictatorship, but the people feared a return to unrest and Hotspur was seen as a saviour.
Mafanwy was shocked to see the strides in technology, power supplies and the restoration of transport in the new capital.
"You have power here?" She stammered, "And I can see cars, trucks." Such things were before the time of strife and lawlessness. She also saw platoons of Holy Paladin Guards marching down the open, litter-free clean streets. She also saw the men and women scrubbing those streets, with their own guards watching their every move.
The Ladies chuckled, "ah child, the Lord Protector has furnished all of New Jerusalem with his strength and bounty." One of the ladies sniffed derisively at a clutch of street scrubbers, " Criminals and the godless." She shut the blinds of the motorised carriage-car.
Mafanwy thought of her own people in Powys and Gwent- still burning wood and charcoal for heat and light. The Lord Protector had kept the technologies to himself- his technocrats were only allowed to share with others under strict treaty and binding alliances.
Once the party arrived, the Ladies escorted her to the Lord Protectors apartments. The First Lady of the Court was waiting, impatiently. With the Second Lady, in recovery her staff was diminished but all must be prepared for the Lord Protector's visit this evening. There was much to do.
"Divest yourself of your rural rags and be cleansed. I will conduct the examination, myself."
Mafanwy was stripped naked; her armpits and groin examined, her body prodded and poked. Her body washed, stood on a large ceramic tub, in almost scalding water and strong carbolic soap. Her breasts were examined, lifted, and examined. Her nipples pulled and her vaginal lips opened, and her sex probed with rough fingers and finally her anus fingered to check for abnormalities. Then she was shaved; armpits, legs, and finally her pubic hair shaved to resemble a cross with the upright forming a runway to her vagina. She felt violated. Any complaining was either hushed immediately or scowled at by the Ladies of the Court. Initially, her beautiful body was tutted over and criticised.
'Breasts too small' or 'cunny too hairy' and such like, but eventually she was passed as fit and suitable.
"Dress her. "The ladies brought a new modest gown of green and red.
"No underwear?" Mafanwy whispered.
"Is thy cunny ashamed to have it covered so? The Lord Hotspur wishes you not covered. Lady Ruth, you are requested, by the Lord Protector this night at 10 of the clock. This rural ninny will accompany you and learn what is expected of a Lady of the New Jerusalem." The First Lady scowled at Mafanwy throughout her ordeal. Older than the other ladies, she ruled with a rod of iron.
Finally, Mafanwy was left alone and immediately, hot, acid tears ran down her face.
At 8:00, Mafanwy was fetched from her room and joined the Ladies at dinner. As good puritans, they partook of the simple, plain but homely fare that was put before them and they ate their fill. Mafanwy found little appetite but forced herself to eat something as she had no idea what would become of her. Lady Ruth fetched her from the table and took her back to her own chamber, once again. Mafanwy shivered nervously.
Ruth was not more than 30, fair haired, slender and very pretty. Her nature was less stern than the other Ladies, especially the First Lady, Elizabeth.Lady Ruth sat Mafanwy down on her bed and smiled gently.
"Do not despair, Mafanwy we are Ladies of the Court and charged with a great and holy purpose. We are the Lord Protectors maidens- we give our devotion to him that brought Jerusalem out of the dark times. The Lord Protector is a beacon of holy light, but he has the needs of men. We take his passions and lust and that allows him to be free to continue his great work. Are you a virgin?"
Mafanwy nodded.
"Good, that means the Lord Protector will only take your maidenhead on the first day of Spring. It's only February now, the first day is March 20th. You have time to learn it all.
"Learn what?" Mafanwy asked quietly.
"To take the fire of a man's lust and allow the Lord Protector to rid himself of that sin." Ruth smiled oddly, "we consume his sin."
Mafanwy didn't understand, her brow furrowed.
"I want you to look at me." Ruth shrugged off her modest gown, off her shoulders, its weight of fabric carried it down he body, she wriggled it off her hips and stood naked before her, as she wore no underwear either.