I own nothing except my travelers. All characters belong to Tolkien. This is a mix of book and movie verse.
Prologue:
"Caela, knock it off. Don't you dare, woman. AAARGH!" These outraged cries came from none other than a five foot six inch college student, with shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. Abi Martin, the victim of the one and, thankfully, only Caela Grey, objected loudly to the ministrations going on with her hair. The slightly shorter, blue-eyed red head was too busy to notice her victim's annoyance; or she just didn't care.
"Caela, what are you doing to her? I can hear you both from next door." Walking in on her neighbors, the dark haired woman with ever-changing eyes leaned in the doorway with arms crossed. Moira arched an eyebrow at the scene before her. "Usoa, I think you better come in here."
Stumbling into the room, another dark haired woman with brown eyes this time, stifled a laugh at what she saw. "Well, I knew we were going to a costume party, but I never expected this."
'This' was Abi Martin wearing a red Ao Dai with slits up both sides to allow free movement and black slacks. Caela tried adding hair jewels, but Abi wouldn't cooperate. She only relented so far as to allow a small tiara that everyone, except Caela, would wear. Her eyes were lined in gold with glitter swept across the lid. To add a final touch, Moira gifted her with a necklace with the runic symbol for safe travel. Her work with horses warranted this particular symbol.
Not a totally unlikable combination, but certainly not one favored by someone who balks at the thought of wearing eyeliner. Glaring at her unwanted guests, her grumbling ensued until, at long last, a cry of triumph erupted from her enemy as she studied her handiwork.
"Will you just stop it already? I didn't hurt you and it will wash off at the end of the night. Besides, how often do you do this?" Gathering her supplies, Caela Grey stood back and looked at the room's two new occupants as if she just noticed they were there. "Oh, hey. Come for your hair and make up to be done?" Apparently she did not notice Moira and Usoa had already done their hair and so forth.
Usoa, dressed in the garb of a Daughter of Avalon, wore an ivory, red and gold sari with a jewel in her upturned hair. The beaded charm around her neck, reminiscent of the ones the other three young women wore, was a symbol of creativity. Moira didn't trust giving her a symbol for energy. It may not be a good idea since the girl seemed to have it in spades.
Caela decided to opt for a peasant look, complete with snarled hair and ash smudged onto her face. The bodice of her raw cotton dress was black with the skirt being a forest green. Moira gave to Caela the runic symbol for peace and happiness.
However, what the three young friends did not know was Moira had woven another rune into the necklace, hidden yet in plain sight. Health and protection spells were gifted to the three and graced the pendant Moira wore with her blue and gold sari with the tiara matching Abi's.
"Well now, are we ready to go or what?" Not waiting for a reply, Abi slipped on her soft leather boots and made her way to the door. Quickly, the three remaining occupants of the room gathered their belongings and headed to the Green.
The Green was a field surrounded by a courtyard of stone. Each year, at Samhain, the fires were lit and those in attendance honored the dead through song, story, and dance. The honor of the opening song fell upon Moira's shoulders this year. Choosing Usoa as her partner, they chose an old Basque ballad in reverence of those who had gone before. Checking to see if her necklace, a rune for guidance and knowledge, was in place she beckoned to her friends.
"Come on, we're going to be late. Usoa and I must begin the ceremony." Walking ahead as fast as her costume would allow, Moira lead her friends to the point in which Caela and Usoa would meet their boyfriends.
Walking over a knoll, it wasn't long before the four young women were met with the sight of two men standing in shadow. Usoa and Caela's excited cries caused their two companions to wince and cover their ears.
"CRAIG!!" Usoa took a flying leap at the dark haired man dressed in Arthurian garb, complete with a shield and horse. "I thought you were going to meet us at the Green. What are you doing here?"
Laughing, Craig Kristoff, Usoa's boyfriend of two years, swung her around before setting her back on the ground. His horse, Chakra, stood by calmly as her master and mistress shared a kiss and embrace. The six foot two inch man with shaggy blond hair and laughing grey eyes was the perfect counterpart for Usoa. As a History Major, he was able to keep Usoa grounded when no one else could.
Caela's response was similar, except she leapt at her boyfriend of eighteen months. The six foot, olive skinned man with auburn hair and green eyes lifted Caela from the ground by her waist. Holding her close, he left a kiss on her temple. Adam Mc Cleod was a third year medical student and Craig's roommate.
Stepping back, Caela got a good look at his blacksmith's costume. His white cotton shirt, black leather arm guards with matching leather jerkin complimented his toned body wonderfully. Reaching behind him, he gathered his horse's reins. Merlin, Chakra's older brother stood calmly, waiting for Adam to place Caela on his back.
Walking forward, Abi grabbed Usoa and Craig's hands and said, "Okay Lovebirds. It's time to go. We're late enough as it is."
Moira nodded in agreement. Walking towards the couple, she held Chakra's reins as Craig lifted Usoa into the saddle. Looking at her companions she said, "Come, we have very little time. The Ceremony is set to begin in a few minutes. We'll be there just in time."
Walking ahead, Abi and Moira led the group across the field. Entering the Wood, a small forest on the campus ground, Caela made an executive decision and pointed the small group towards a detour she and Adam had discovered a few weeks earlier.
"Caela, no. We are sticking to the main path. We're late enough. I don't want to spend the night wandering in the Wood."
"Oh come on, Abi. All we do is turn right and go straight through the tree line. Abi, where's your sense of humor? Wait," Caela paused and added, "scratch that. Where's your sense of adventure since we all know you don't have a sense of humor?"
"Caela's right, Abi. Craig and I ride through here every weekend." Adam patted Abi on the shoulder as she crossed her arms and sighed.
"Fine, but if we get lost, I'm going to hit all three of you."
"All three who, Abi?"
Abi spun around and replied, "The boys because they ride here every weekend, and you," She pointed her finger at Caela, "because you suggested it. Now let's go. I'm in a dress, I have make up on, and I want out of it as soon as possible."
Laughing softly, Usoa turned to Moira and said, "Me thinks someone is a little cranky."
"I heard that!" Abi called over her shoulder.
Laughing, the group walked in the direction indicated by Caela. As they neared the wood's natural arch, the horses began to get antsy. Usoa threw herself over Chakra's neck as she reared at the entrance. Adam gave Merlin's reins to Moira and went to help Craig calm Chakra.
Abi turned to Caela and said, "I told you we shouldn't have come here. What could have scared the horses so bad?"
"I don't know, but I think you were right about us not coming this way. Maybe we should go back." Usoa suggested from the back of her horse.
"No, we've come this far, we may as well go the rest of the way. What do you think, Moira?" Adam asked.
Patting Merlin on his sweating neck, Moira thought and replied, "Let's keep going. The horses seem to have calmed down. Come on, we're almost out."
Walking at the back of the group, Moira pulled out a small pocket knife she used when she gathered wild herbs. Her small garden was out of the mint and lavender she used for many of her teas and poultices and she liked the small clumps she found in the surrounding area. Going to where she knew a patch of wild mint grew, she bent to retrieve a handful when she noticed something peculiar about this place.
"Moira, are you coming?" Abi had looked behind her and noticed Moira bent over a bunch of weeds, looking all around her feet and the base of the tree. "What is it?"
"The mint, the mint I use for my teas and such is gone."
"What do you mean 'gone'? Maybe you aren't looking in the right place." Craig added when he and Adam stopped to see what the girls were doing.
"No, she's right," Usoa urged, "Remember, we went mint gathering for Moira when she was sick. It should have been right here."
"I told you this would happen! You," Abi called as she made her way over to the boys intent of smacking them, "it's all your guys fault. I told you we should have stuck to the path, but would you listen, no. Good job you three." Walking away, she sat next to a tree and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Thank you, Abi, for slapping my boyfriend. Maybe we should just let you stay here. Did you forget he is a trained tracker and hunter?"
"With all due respect, Caela, but his tracking skills didn't keep us from getting lost, now did they?"
"Be quiet, all of you," The softly spoken order came from Moira as she looked in the sky. "I hate to break this to you, but I don't think we're in Kansas anymore…"
I hope you all have enjoyed the beginning to the oncoming madness. Reviews make me happy...
