Die dorpie was in volle feesstemming.

The small village was in full festive spirits.

Die oesfees het die strate gevul met lag en sang.

The harvest festival filled the streets with laughter and song.

Dit was winter in die suidelike halfrond.

It was winter in the southern hemisphere.

Mense het dik jasse aangehad om hulle warm te hou.

People wore thick coats to keep themselves warm.

Lanterns het 'n goue glans oor die dorpie gewerp.

Lanterns cast a golden glow over the village.

By die rivier, waarvan die oppervlak met dun ys bedek was, het die dorpenaars winkels opgestel en hulle beste produkte gewys.

By the river, whose surface was covered with a thin layer of ice, the villagers set up stalls and displayed their finest products.

By 'n smidswinkel het Hendrik gewerk, die smid van die dorpie.

At a blacksmith's shop, Hendrik worked, the village blacksmith.

Hy was sterk en vaardig, maar sy hart was swaar.

He was strong and skilled, but his heart was heavy.

Hy het Annelize liefgehad.

He loved Annelize.

Annelize was 'n talentvolle kruiedokter.

Annelize was a talented herbalist.

Sy het gedroom om die dorp te verlaat en meer oor plante te leer.

She dreamed of leaving the village to learn more about plants.

Haar kindervriend, Willem, het in stilte na haar verlang.

Her childhood friend, Willem, silently longed for her.

Willem het geweet dat hy ook lief vir Annelize was, maar hy het nooit die moed gehad om dit te sê nie.

Willem knew he also loved Annelize, but he never had the courage to say it.

Die dag van die fees het aangebreek en Hendrik het 'n plan gehad.

The day of the festival arrived and Hendrik had a plan.

Hy wou tydens die fees vir Annelize vra om met hom te trou.

He wanted to ask Annelize to marry him during the festival.

Hy moes dit doen voordat Willem sy gevoelens kon openbaar.

He needed to do it before Willem could reveal his feelings.

Soos die dag duur voort, het mense gedans en gesing.

As the day went on, people danced and sang.

Die klanke van musiek en gelag het deur die dorpie weerklink.

The sounds of music and laughter echoed through the village.

By die groot plein van die dorp het Hendrik gestaan.

In the village’s main square, Hendrik stood.

Sy hart het vinnig geklop.

His heart was pounding.

Hy het vir Annelize gesoek en haar uiteindelik gevind by 'n kruie-stalletjie.

He searched for Annelize and finally found her at an herb stall.

Sy het geglimlag toe sy hom sien, onbewus van wat hy beplan het.

She smiled when she saw him, unaware of what he had planned.

Hendrik het diep asemgehaal en op een knie gegaan.

Hendrik took a deep breath and went down on one knee.

Die mense om hulle het stil geword.

The people around them fell silent.

"Annelize," het hy gesê. "Ek het jou lief. Sal jy met my trou?"

"Annelize," he said. "I love you. Will you marry me?"

Annelize was geskok.

Annelize was shocked.

Die dorpenaars het begin fluister.

The villagers began to whisper.

Voordat sy kon antwoord, het Willem vorentoe gestap.

Before she could answer, Willem stepped forward.

Sy gesig was bleek, maar sy stem was sterk.

His face was pale, but his voice was strong.

"Ek... Ek moet iets sê," het Willem begin. "Ek het nog altyd vir jou liefgehad, Annelize."

"I... I have something to say," Willem began. "I have always loved you, Annelize."

Die stilte het dikker geword.

The silence grew thicker.

Annelize se oë was vol trane.

Annelize's eyes filled with tears.

Sy het in haar gedagtes geworstel.

She wrestled with her thoughts.

Sy het Hendrik en Willem liefgehad, maar haar droom om die dorp te verlaat was sterk.

She loved both Hendrik and Willem, but her dream of leaving the village was strong.

Sy het geweet wat sy moes doen.

She knew what she had to do.

"Ek is lief vir julle albei," het Annelize gesê. "Maar ek moet my drome volg. Ek moet die dorp verlaat om meer te leer oor kruie."

"I love you both," Annelize said. "But I must follow my dreams. I need to leave the village to learn more about herbs."

Hendrik en Willem het seergemaak gelyk, maar hulle het verstaan.

Hendrik and Willem looked hurt, but they understood.

Annelize het haar hande om hulle gevat en hulle het in stilte gestaan.

Annelize took their hands and they stood silently.

Die dorpie het aanhou feesvier, nie bewus van die drama wat ontvou het nie.

The village continued to celebrate, unaware of the drama that had unfolded.

Die volgende oggend het Annelize haar tas gepak en oor die brug oor die rivier geloop.

The next morning, Annelize packed her bag and walked across the bridge over the river.

Hendrik het teruggekeer na sy smidswinkel, gedetermineer om vir homself te sorg en sy eie drome te volg.

Hendrik returned to his blacksmith shop, determined to take care of himself and follow his own dreams.

Willem het besluit om nooit weer sy gevoelens weg te steek nie.

Willem decided never to hide his feelings again.

En so het die dorpie oorleef.

And so the village survived.

Die mense het gewerk en geleer om hulle eie geluk te vind.

The people worked and learned to find their own happiness.

Die rivier het gefluister van verandering en van nuwe beginne.

The river whispered of change and new beginnings.