A new chapter...enjoy
The holiday the title refrences occurs in Febuary, and is dedicated to the Goddess Bridgid or Breed...The song Pen sings is called "Bridgid of the mantle"
The first Moon....
Nuada stood at the window watching the snow fall, his thoughts focused upon standing upright. His strength was returning and it hurt a lot less to breath. Having such a disease in his lungs should have killed him, but he was feeling an all too different ache. His ears picked up singing somewhere in the house, no doubt it was Pen. He had taken to attempt to rise early, just to hear her, the sweet notes flowing over a place in his heart that now seemed so empty. He stumbled back from the window, his strength failing.
Wink caught him and supported him back to bed. This had been the routine since That night the older man had said the girl was to be the maiden. He had seen the Prince in love before, but this was different it was as if one broken piece was being drawn to another. He trucked the prince into bed, watching him close his eyes and drift into sleep. When he was sure Nuada would not wake, he made his way to the main room to sit by the fire in peace.
Pen looked up as the Ogre came in, she rose and went into the depths of the house. Wink let out a sigh, so it appeared she was not to be unaccompanied in the presence of any man not just the prince. He set himself by the fire, wishing again to be underground in a warm cave. It was only a few moments later Pen returned, this time with another healer.
So it would appear she is not going to let a male presence detour her from her task. He thought.
She gave him a soft smile and went back to working the white on white embroidery of what looked like a wedding dress. The motif was that of the royal house of Bethmora, the ancient tree rendered lovingly stitch by stitch. He remembered the elder man had said that she was to be wedded shortly after being declared maiden.
He heard them talking of the prince, how hansom he was and how strong a warrior. All too quickly Pen went silent when the healer mentioned the Prince's war upon the humans. He watched her fingers tremble. The mention of war disturbed her, even more so a war upon humanity. No doubt she had grown up among Fey, shared their love for life and the earth.
"...The fields would never bloom again after being watered with so much blood.." She said softly.
The healer sitting with her didn't seem to hear her words and continued on about how the earth would be clean again. He watched her shake her head sadly, rise and fold the fabric she'd been lovingly embroidering carefully. She would turn away, trying to hide the tears.
He ventured to ask the healer why the girl was so upset about a war that had been going on for several thousand years.
"The singers long ago withdrew from the Prince's war, it is rumored they were the best warriors. Their songs brought devastation and toppled walls." The healer said. "The legend is they withdrew because of the death of one of their own...a human woman..."
He nodded, still curious as to why she had been chosen for the prince.
The prince quickly gained strength, soon having enough to sit by the fire in the main room and enjoy a communal meal. Wink had taken note that when the prince had been sequestered in his room, the human healers were a common sight but now that he could wander they were remarkably absent. Perhaps the head healer had told them of the prince's feelings, since only Pen remained. He had to remind himself that she was no ordinary healer. He would watch the prince steal glances of her, a longing he'd not seen since he'd courted Nuala blazing in his eyes.
Pen would sing after meals to pass the hours while she worked upon her bridal dress. Under the watchful eye of a healer or the elder singer the Prince would linger to listen to her. His amber gaze tracing every line of her. She would offer him a smile or when the fire burned low a good night. He would watch her go, somewhat heart broken. There was a need he had not felt before to be in her presence, but he would abide by the elder's request and did not court her as he desired.
Wink knew Nuada was falling for her, and hard. So much so that he grew suspicious of food and drink until the elder singer came to talk to him.
"...I know well for your concern, Lord Wink..." He said.
Wink paled, he had told no one but the head of the healing house.
"Oh yes I know who you and your companion are, though she does not." The singer said. "The food brought to you is unaltered, though I admit I would think the same to see my prince fall for a girl from a race of beings he hates. It was so for another prince long ago, that much of the legend is true."
Wink was surprised, though he asked why this girl and why now.
"...She has the power to make him see the price of the war he wages, not only for the humans but all of the unseen as well." The man shook his head. "It is why Balor locked away the army, he was made to see the price...and the folly of his mistake."
Wink shook his head, telling him the prince would not be deceived forever.
"He is not meant to be, once Pen is with child he will be told. By that time, his heart may overrule his head..." The elder singer sighed. "I forbade his courtship because the timing must be right, all the perorations have not been made."
Wink realized this went deeper than simply giving the prince a chance to open his eyes. The elder singer nodded at Wink's unspoken question.
"A son to be heir..." Was all the singer said. "If a daughter, another year will pass and we shall bring them together again..."
Wink could almost see Nuada's reaction to having sired a half-blood child.
"She belongs with him." the elder singer said. "She will be there to heal him when his world crumbles into dust."
Wink could do nothing but nod, he would stand by his vow to protect the prince, even if that meant protecting him from himself.
Imbulc...
That night's meal was Mutton stew, seemingly fitting since the small flock the enclave had was growing by ones and twos over the last week. Nuada watched Pen serve the rich dish from the cauldron upon the hearth, she even set one in his hands.
"Many thanks..." He said softly to her.
She only responded with a blush and moved on to serve the next bowl. The tune she sang honored a Goddess known as Breed.
"Bridget of the mantle encompass us/lady of the lambs protect us/keeper of the hearth kindle us/beneath your mantle gather us/ and restore us to memory..."
He listened to her, his heart pulled to remember. He had been so young when the tree had been sundered, he barely remembered it now.
"Please..." He said. "Stop..."
She paused mid song, looking at him. The elder singer was at her side in a heart beat.
"Is there something wrong..."
Nuada looked at him with eyes gone cold, an a voice so unlike himself came forth.
"Do not sing that song again in my presence..." He rose, turning away.
Wink took one look at the singers and then went to find out what was wrong with the prince.
Wink found the prince leaning against the door way. Heavy sobs shook the Prince's frame, the song had stirred a memory. He guided the prince into his chambers, only to be pushed away.
"Leave me, my friend..." He said. "Go enjoy your dinner..."
He refused, he wasn't going to leave the prince alone. Only once before had he seen him like this, the loss of a kinsman who was the same age as he. He suspected it had to do more with the girl singing than the song.
"...She is..."
If Nuada was going to finish that sentence Wink did not know, a scream cut the air.
Both he and the prince ran into the main room, a distraught human woman held out her child to one of the healers. The child's arm was in shreds, the result of playing "hide and seek" in a patch of dry thorns. One of the healers directed her to the hearth, while others scattered in all directions. This left the two singers.
"...Let me see..." he heard Pen say in a low voice.
He watched as she took the child's maimed arm in her hands and began to sing. The clear notes stopping any protests escaping from his lips. Wink had heard the notes before, but these notes were clearer more forceful.
By the time the other healers got back, the child's arm had stopped bleeding, giving them on less thing to worry about.. Nuada watched her rise and stumble, he was there to catch her in a heart beat. He had only a moment to study her before the elder singer took her from his arms.
"In fortnight she shall be maiden..." Was all the elder singer said to him. "Stay away from her..."
He stood there, his arms empty of the slight weight that had seemed to rest so comfortably within them.
