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Part IV

My mind raced, for this was the festival upon which tradition tells Selene first made her love known to Endymion where he lay out under the stars. It was a time of great power, and vulnerability, for Selene was baring her heart to him, and facing the prospect of rejection. Yet, I couldn't exactly say no or he may deny me the right to pray there. I would just have to ensure that he wasn't there on the night of the Dark Moon for that is when I would be most vulnerable to Selene's influences.

Taking a deep breath I looked at Darien across the table and felt my heart flutter as he brushed his dark bangs back from his face only to have them fall back. Now was not the time to mull over the intricacies of my people's faith, I had a job to do.

"Where should I begin" I questioned curling my legs up under me as I leaned against the arm of the couch.

"Start in the before time." He replied fixing his intense gaze upon me having settled himself to listen.

I nodded, smiling slightly as I opened my mouth to begin the tale,

"In the beginning there was nothing but the deep blackness of space, and the light of the firsts. There in the darkness the first man, and the first woman mated and from this mating was born the universe as we know it, and for awhile the couple was content to explore the vastness of what they had created. Then one day they reached the far reaches of the universe where they discovered the very margin between this plane and the next, but before they could leave all that they had created behind the woman gave birth a second time, and so the first race of immortals were born the spirits of fire, water, earth, wind, and spirit all of whom were able to transverse the barrier. Then the man took the woman's hand and they drifted from this world into the next leaving their children behind. The immortals traveled like their parents throughout the universe adding touches to the many empty barren worlds, adding brilliance and color to the bleakness, all but spirit, for she was lacking the vassals in which to manifest her gift.

Hearing her sorrow her siblings came to her, and together created the shells upon which she would be able to bestow her gifts. Together water, earth and wind worked for many weeks to fashion the most beautiful sculptures, each one a gift of love to their sibling, and finally in the third month they were finished.

"spirit" they called arms burdened with the statues "would these suit?" and upon looking at them she smiled, looking over each finely crafted miniature before slowly breathing upon them granting them life.

Upon the first sculptures, those of the earths animals, she imparted to little of their gift and as she set them free to roam she felt their fragility.  The second set became the fair folk the keepers of that which her siblings had created, the ones with the knowledge on how to maintain the balance between the land, and the creatures living upon it. The shimmering folk lived happily amongst the trees, drawing power from the natural world, but spirit was not done yet, and as she breathed upon the third set a race strong and bright arose. These new children looked upon that which came before and decided that they too would watch over the earth but from their home on high, at the very boarder of the realms."

I watched Darien as he sat in rapt attention and as I paused to take a sip of water he questioned just like the children had, "what next?"

I smiled patiently at him motioning with my hand to be patient as I placed the cup down before taking up the tale once more.

"One day the mother and father of all crossed the boundary between worlds to see what their children had done to the world, and upon seeing the shimmering races were pleased. They looked at the creatures of the land and sea, watched as the birds flew upon the warm currents of air, and at the green plants flourishing as they sustained the other life, and held out their hands to their children.

"come" they called entreating the simmering spirits of earth, fire, air, water, and spirit to follow.

"come with us to fly on the other wind, in the other world. Come with us to prepare the place where the living shall go when their souls grow weary" And the children of the first went, leaving the fair folk and the shining gods to watch over all that they had created."

"what of humanity?" Darien questioned in my pause.

I ignored the question, he wanted the tale from beginning to end, and that was how I would tell it.

"For a time all was well upon the earth, the fair folk did their duty until one among them discovered a way to create servants so that they would no longer have to watch every glen, stream, ocean and mountain to ensure that things ran as they should.

And so from the second race came the third, that of the elves upon which the task of guardian passed as the fair folk dwelled within their gilded halls singing songs, and creating objects of great beauty.

Yet one day the father and mother of all returned to universe they had created to visit with their children. Upon seeing that which their children had done,  one looked at the other, and with a nod of her head the great mother decided that she would create a new folk to walk the earth.

And so the fourth race was created, weak, fragile creatures whom upon looking at the shining beings around them fell to their knees in fear. For this last race, was the race of man. They had no power beyond the innate resourcefulness and power to give birth. They would live upon the world and worship the spirits before they're bodily shells grew weary and they too were free to soar upon the otherwind to the land which had been prepared. " I finished

"mmm" he mused before questioning, "and what of  Selene and Endymion?"

I gazed at him, this tale was sacred to my people, and I was unsure if I was willing to divulge it to this man whose race was responsible for my people's down fall, yet I suppose he had a right to know, as his ancestor had been the beloved of mine. I sighed as I looked into his pleading eyes then nodded my head slightly, after all I had promised.

"As you know, Selene is the ever beautiful goddess of the moon, not to be confused with Artemis whom was goddess of the hunt." I began watching him nod his comprehension "One evening Selene was out looking down upon the world from her home in the heavens. It was the night of a full moon and her light bathed all the world in it's splendour, and on that night she spotted Endymion, most handsome of men as he lay stode upon the wall of his castle. From her home in the heavens she studied every inch of him, and felt a twinge in her heart. Selene had fallen in love with this mortal, and in doing so decided she would visit him. Every night she watched him as she made her descent towards the earth, waiting until she could approach him in private and make her intentions known. Then, one night she saw him sprawled out in the field as he looked up at the stars, and she smiled and came to him where he lay.

"endymion" she called, her voice sweeter than any music he had ever heard.

Slowly he turned towards the sound of the voice and as he looked upon her beauty her remained still. "Selene" he murrmered as the shining goddess strode towards him, her skin a shining silver in the darkness of the moonless night.

"I see you know who I am." She said as she lowered herself to sit beside him

"how could I not? You're beauty could challenge that of Aphrodite herself"

At his sweet words she laughed lightly tossing her head of silver as she looked deep into his dark blue eyes.

"but why are you here?" he continued as he remained perfectly still despite his longing to reach out and caress the skin of the beautiful goddess

"I am here dear one to lay with you beneath the stars, and if you wish it to take you back with me to my home in the heavens. For you see I have fallen in love with you Endymion, and do not wish to be parted from your side"

The mortal looked at her in wonder, unbelieving that she could really be in love with him. "I wish I could bright one, but I must stay to rule over my kingdom. I have no heirs and my departure would cause bloodshed."

"then lay with me, and when the time is right you can come with me. You are still young, and so we have time" she told him, as she reacthed out to sweep his ebony bangs from his eyes. Taking courage from her words Endymion reached out and touched the goddess before him, pressing his lips to her own in a kiss of such sweetness the Selene felt tears come to her eyes, and inside she knew she would never be parted from him."

Darien stared at me in rapt attention, the tale was beautiful yet as if he knew it was only half told, whispered, "go on"

"The lovers lay beneath the stars that night, and then on every night of the dark moon after, until Selene bore Endymion fifty shining daughters. The eldest of which he stayed upon the earth to see married and set to inherit his kingdom, while the second eldest followed her heart and married a nobleman. It was then that Endymion went to the heavens to go before Zeus who wished to grant him one wish, and so he wished for eternal youth, for being mortal he knew he would die some-time and leave the goddess he loved. Zeus granted Endymions wish, and placed him in a deep sleep preserving his youth so that Selene would forever be able to gaze upon the beauty of the man she loved. Yet knowing that just looking at him would not be enough, Zeus proclaimed that at every full moon Endymion would awaken and together they would light up the world with their love, but once the night was over Endymion would sleep once more, leaving Selene to mourn his passing as the moon went through it's cycle." Finished the tale I sat in silence thinking of the festivals that we had to honour the stages of her grief, and of her delight as the time of his awakening drew nearer.

She was the mother of my ancestress, whom was the second daughter, and so the people of her bloodline remembered the tale, and followed all the old traditions.

"Is that the end?" Darien asked me in the silence that followed

"Yes, that is the end" I replied, and it was, it was all he needed to know.

"Well, I best be going, what time should I meet you to take you to the grove?"

I pondered for a moment, "at an hour past sunset" I replied as I glanced out the window to take note of the low angle of the sun. The day was nearly spent, giving me just enough time to prepare all that I would need.

"I will meet you then" he stated standing to walk towards the door. "Do not even try to go without me, or the guards will stop you that is if the hounds don't get to you first"

I glared at him then, "you needn't worry. I have enough to do before then without trying to leave you behind" I stated.

He did not respond, instead turning on his heel to exit the room leaving me alone with my thoughts.

~*~

Oy, that part is longer than I thought, so next chapter we have the ceremony!

~Galene