"How are you now Daniel?" I ask as we walk. He pauses before answering as
if trying to decide how to answer. I sense only intrigue for the upcoming
ceremony.
"I feel fine now, although I haven't had a chance to really think over what happened. Are you alright?"
"Yes, after this eve I will have time to assess what went on. Something happened although I am unsure what. Yet I feel it is not dangerous in any way to us."
A few of the children run past us as we walk, their voices shouting in delight as they race to the temple. I smile remembering times when I myself would run in delight to the temple in anticipation of celebration. If I had not been with the present company, I am sure I would have joined them now. As we approached the temple, the light of several oil bowls cast a dancing light down the temple steps. Oil bowls were placed leading to the door, a top of tall posts decorated with weaves of flowers twisting around them from their flat tops to their bases. Posts were set on the path to help lead the way in the darkening eve. Taking the oil bowl from Daniel I place it atop one of the empty posts and take his hand pulling him onwards the excitement in myself starting to bubble also. The children run up and down the steps with laughter and jump around us as we enter the great hall. As always, my heart skips a beat at the decoration adorning the ceilings and halls. The colour of temple robes mixing with the flowers and bowers whose scents fill the air. A wall of welcoming washes over me as the crowd parts to allow myself and the newcomers through. A hum of voices lightly buzzes around us as people bow their heads in welcome. A servant takes our cloaks and a few gasps of wonder at Samantha escape people near her. I sense her nervousness at the attention, which only increases as Parn approaches. I hide a smile as he beams in approval. He glances at me, changes his direction, clearing his throat, and talks to Jack instead.
"I am glad you have chosen to attend this eve friends. You do us great honour."
"Well we are never ones to miss a party" replies Jack, a smile on his face as he looks at the people around him. His smile widens as he eyes some of the women standing near.
Parn beckons us further and the gap closes around us as people start to talk amongst themselves once more. Leading us to the side of the great hall to the steps leading to the balcony he explains to the four.
"You will only observe this eve's ceremony, not partake. You can safely watch with the children from the balcony."
"Why aren't we taking part this eve?" asks Samantha.
"The ceremony you experienced was only a small part of what abilities we have to share knowledge with only three of us. You felt somewhat confused for sometime after yes?" replied Parn
Samantha nods her head in agreement, as do her comrades.
"This eve is a sharing of knowledge of the whole village. You are not capable of handling the strain it could put on your minds. The people will only learn what I and Rani have learned of you. It will make interaction with them easier especially if you wish to set up trade agreements and liaisons with us. There are many people here whom you would find it of value to learn of"
With this explanation of the eve's ceremony, Parn asks one of the older children to lead the four of them up to the balcony as we make our way back into the midst of the crowd.
A hush starts to descend as we take our places. Parn and I stand in the centre of the great hall, with two others Elgan and Jula, standing palm to palm. People encircle us, and then another circle is formed until all are standing spiralling about the great hall, each palm to palm. Silence now reigns, a calm running through us, each person concentrating on the meeting of minds in one place. Allowing the calm to run through our palms to the person in contact of us, out from ourselves to encompass surrounding bodies. From a distance, I can sense whispered words from Parn; my own lips whisper the same sweet words. As the words depart from us and hang in the air, each man and woman join in the chant until the air is heavy with the soft spoken prayer. Opening my mind of the information of my friends, I can feel the tendrils of my peoples thoughts reaching out to allow the information to travel throughout our midst, hanging in the air and penetrating into open minds.
The atmosphere is thick and warm, heavy yet distinctly free. The ritual is over within moments and yet our minds remain open to each other, in-depth, connected. Eyes open and voices hush to a single one as Parn closes in soft prayer. Hands stay tangled together before the mingling of bodies, eyes glancing in the direction of the gallery wit closer understanding of this Sg1 who are now part of us. A murmur runs throughout the midst of us as I make my way to the steps leading to the gallery. The children run wildly down the steps with shouts of delight. The room bustles as tables are brought into the centre of the room and plates and trays of food are laid out. Jack leads the way down the steps, followed closely by Samantha, whose eyes seem to dance. I sense they are impressed by what they have experienced, Samantha takes my hand smiling as she passes before she and Jack fall into conversation with Nina as she leads them to sit. Tealc bows his head and falls into conversation with Parn and I watch as music ensues from the far corner of the hall and my people settle into loud conversation as they delve into the sumptuous food we have all prepared.
"I feel fine now, although I haven't had a chance to really think over what happened. Are you alright?"
"Yes, after this eve I will have time to assess what went on. Something happened although I am unsure what. Yet I feel it is not dangerous in any way to us."
A few of the children run past us as we walk, their voices shouting in delight as they race to the temple. I smile remembering times when I myself would run in delight to the temple in anticipation of celebration. If I had not been with the present company, I am sure I would have joined them now. As we approached the temple, the light of several oil bowls cast a dancing light down the temple steps. Oil bowls were placed leading to the door, a top of tall posts decorated with weaves of flowers twisting around them from their flat tops to their bases. Posts were set on the path to help lead the way in the darkening eve. Taking the oil bowl from Daniel I place it atop one of the empty posts and take his hand pulling him onwards the excitement in myself starting to bubble also. The children run up and down the steps with laughter and jump around us as we enter the great hall. As always, my heart skips a beat at the decoration adorning the ceilings and halls. The colour of temple robes mixing with the flowers and bowers whose scents fill the air. A wall of welcoming washes over me as the crowd parts to allow myself and the newcomers through. A hum of voices lightly buzzes around us as people bow their heads in welcome. A servant takes our cloaks and a few gasps of wonder at Samantha escape people near her. I sense her nervousness at the attention, which only increases as Parn approaches. I hide a smile as he beams in approval. He glances at me, changes his direction, clearing his throat, and talks to Jack instead.
"I am glad you have chosen to attend this eve friends. You do us great honour."
"Well we are never ones to miss a party" replies Jack, a smile on his face as he looks at the people around him. His smile widens as he eyes some of the women standing near.
Parn beckons us further and the gap closes around us as people start to talk amongst themselves once more. Leading us to the side of the great hall to the steps leading to the balcony he explains to the four.
"You will only observe this eve's ceremony, not partake. You can safely watch with the children from the balcony."
"Why aren't we taking part this eve?" asks Samantha.
"The ceremony you experienced was only a small part of what abilities we have to share knowledge with only three of us. You felt somewhat confused for sometime after yes?" replied Parn
Samantha nods her head in agreement, as do her comrades.
"This eve is a sharing of knowledge of the whole village. You are not capable of handling the strain it could put on your minds. The people will only learn what I and Rani have learned of you. It will make interaction with them easier especially if you wish to set up trade agreements and liaisons with us. There are many people here whom you would find it of value to learn of"
With this explanation of the eve's ceremony, Parn asks one of the older children to lead the four of them up to the balcony as we make our way back into the midst of the crowd.
A hush starts to descend as we take our places. Parn and I stand in the centre of the great hall, with two others Elgan and Jula, standing palm to palm. People encircle us, and then another circle is formed until all are standing spiralling about the great hall, each palm to palm. Silence now reigns, a calm running through us, each person concentrating on the meeting of minds in one place. Allowing the calm to run through our palms to the person in contact of us, out from ourselves to encompass surrounding bodies. From a distance, I can sense whispered words from Parn; my own lips whisper the same sweet words. As the words depart from us and hang in the air, each man and woman join in the chant until the air is heavy with the soft spoken prayer. Opening my mind of the information of my friends, I can feel the tendrils of my peoples thoughts reaching out to allow the information to travel throughout our midst, hanging in the air and penetrating into open minds.
The atmosphere is thick and warm, heavy yet distinctly free. The ritual is over within moments and yet our minds remain open to each other, in-depth, connected. Eyes open and voices hush to a single one as Parn closes in soft prayer. Hands stay tangled together before the mingling of bodies, eyes glancing in the direction of the gallery wit closer understanding of this Sg1 who are now part of us. A murmur runs throughout the midst of us as I make my way to the steps leading to the gallery. The children run wildly down the steps with shouts of delight. The room bustles as tables are brought into the centre of the room and plates and trays of food are laid out. Jack leads the way down the steps, followed closely by Samantha, whose eyes seem to dance. I sense they are impressed by what they have experienced, Samantha takes my hand smiling as she passes before she and Jack fall into conversation with Nina as she leads them to sit. Tealc bows his head and falls into conversation with Parn and I watch as music ensues from the far corner of the hall and my people settle into loud conversation as they delve into the sumptuous food we have all prepared.