I wandered along the edge of the Delback River waiting for the women I knew would arrive soon. I had found a strategic point to watch as they bathed. Or rather wait till their bath was done. There in the shallows of a naturally formed eddie pool they washed each other. I kept my head bent out of reverence for their position and would not look up even as I heard their bodies slip to the soft forest floor to pleasure one another. It was none of my business that they did this thing here at the bathing spot. I just wanted the right to be called one of the tribe. So it was that I waited. I quietly preyed to Artemis for the strength of will and courage to carry on what I had started. I felt a soft relief descend upon me in reply to my prayers and a calmness ease my body which was beginning to ache from the position I had held for well over two hours now. As their throes of passion slipped onto the night winds I sighed, It was enough to even make me in need of a lovers caress but I pushed the thoughts from my mind as I once again preyed to my goddess to allow me the courage to continue my vigil and only after satiate the need should it arise again. They slipped into a restful sleep that only those who have just consummated their love before their gods could. Tangled in limbs and cloaks there at the river front. Again I waited for the most opportune time. I preyed to Artemis that I would remain awake and not loose the chance to join her followers for the rest of my life. If I did not accomplish this task before the moon rose on the 7th day I would have to return home to my father and marry Arist. I was only 16 and I do not have and wish to be joined with a man. That night as they slept I poured my heart out to my goddess and asked her mercy and love to guide me. I had but one chance to make an impression. As the daystar rose to chase Artemis from the skies I still sat waiting. I was blessed to know that my goddess had heard my pleas and said I would be given the chance for a price. To never lay with a human male and I would know great pain before my trial by fire was over. I readily accepted not fully understanding what it was that I had so easily given away.
As they began to rise to greet the new day I knew it was not yet my time. They made a small camp there at the waters front and talked awhile. As they began to make their breakfast I yearned for the sustenance that I smelled. But I was told to fast to hold my Goddess blessings. Again I preyed to her for the strength to continue though I grow weak from no sleep or food. I did not know how it was that I was going to catch their eyes if I were weak and could not stand to the challenges. But I followed her faithfully, leaving my trust to her wishes. The day passed and I was grateful that I had not eaten by the afternoon time for I would have had to move to use the privy. As I sat with my birch wood staff resting across my knees I felt excitement grow with in my stomach as I felt the time nearing. As the daystar fell to the light of Artemis's silver mounts crossing the heavens I knew that it was my turn to act. With my Goddess eyes falling belovently upon me I raced from the brush and stuck my staff under the princess ankle as she was about to step into the water and twisted with all my might to upend her. She went into the deeper part of the river and was immediately taken under. I feared that she would die but my heart was strengthened even as I felt the Queens staff flay me across my unprotected shoulders. Collapsing before her I bowed my head to her as she told me to stay still or die. It was after all a death sentence I had just asked for attacking not only her royal princess but also her lover and dearest friend in her world. My staff rested across my knees as I awaited her punishment. And in a daze I wondered what had made me attack the ruling party.
I heard a splash as the Queens form entered the deeper part of the river and turned to see her moving under the surface to capture her love and free her from the watery grave I had sent her to. I knew it was a chance for survival and escape, but what kind of escape would I have to go to? Marriage was totally out of the question. Just the thought of the fat man touching me made me shiver with disgust and anger. The sound of them breaching the waters surface caught my attention as the Queen pulled her Princess out of the waters. How was I to know she couldn't swim? She laid the pale woman on the ground and began to sob as she was not breathing. She shook with fear as she knew not what to do. Hades had already clamed her true love. And soon would have me to play with also. I crawled over on my knees to them and was belted across my cheek sent sprawling backwards as the Queens anger registered at me. My head snapped back in a painful blow that out weighed the shock of her closed fist hitting my cheek. I would have laid shocked and in fear of her strength if I did not know that it was by Artemis herself that I was being guarded. She had promised me pain I had never imagined afore my success. If I survived the painful trial I would then find the victory of what I had asked help for. I gathered what wits I had left intact and crawled back towards them. "You want her to die?" I asked meekly with addled words that came out in a jumble. She stared at me then looked to her beautiful love who lay her lips turning a pale blue color. "I can bring her back." she snarled at me. "Doesn't mean you will not die for your CRIMES!!" She moved a little away still a dagger drawn showing my death would be instant if I indeed did fail. With a swift prayer I turned the princess to her side and slapped her back to jostle her lungs. Water ran from them. I pressed her back to the ground to comply with the needed oxygen she was slowly starving for. Her heart had stopped and I pushed her chest to simulate its beating. She coughed and nearly clutched me to her thinking I was her true love. The Queen gasped as she fell to her lover and shoved me away. "Clenara!" they sobbed for a while, while I collected my addled thoughts to gather my birch staff in my hands. White birch the holy and sacred wood of my chosen goddess. It was a sign of her blessing to me. I could feel her strength and pride issue from it strengthening my resolve to continue. I was infact a spindly girl child with not much of looks, or skill with anything else save a staff. I had time and again tried to join this tribe in my earlier life but was rejected by Queen Vashti who now cradled her beloved in her arms. I was thought of as a weak sickly creature who would only serve to weaken the tribe. Perhaps she was right and I would not endure the things that would happen next. But I would use my dieing breath of my small spindly body to prove her wrong. My short red hair only proved to make my skin appear more white than others and give off the effect that I had the yellow fever. Many shied from me for my flaming red hair and pale body. Flaming red hair was a sign to most on girl children that they would be nothing more than a burden of trouble and not worth their weight in gold. My intense emerald eyes were so that I was thought of as a bacci in descise. Though bacci women had gold and red eyes. But that made little difference to them. No matter where I had turned I was rejected. And thus turned to my goddess for help and love that I as a child had never been given the chance to receive. And so desperately sought. The chance to prove myself was all that I had ever asked for. And was never offered the chance till now. As their sobs quieted I felt a forboding shadow descend over me. Indeed I knew my punishment would be soon. I raised my hopeless eyes to Queen Vashti and her princess as they stood towering over me. Defiance took the edge of my gaze and I lifted my chin up and squared my small shoulders. It was my blessing and I would endure to the end. I stubbornly swore this to my goddess with my heart and confirmed my resolve to survive. The Queen tried to kick my blessed staff away from me and I clung to it with all the strength I had. Once again I found myself sprawled out before them. Yet I retained my staff. "For what you have done you deserve nothing less than death. Yet you did save her. For that I will not flay your body with my dagger before I kill you. Instead I will allow my Princess to choose your punishment." Her voice was cold and angry, which I suspected was what I deserved. The Princess a might woman with dark raven hair stood before me with clearly defined muscles and a disgusted scowl on her face. Taking her staff in hand she raised it to bring it swiftly down across my head. But I defended myself with my own staff. Raising to my knees I held my own staff up to deflect the blow. It saved my head the beating but I received a quick counter strike in my exposed ribs for the effort. A groan of pain issued from me as I collapsed from the harsh blow to my developing chest.
"So I staff fighter? Or should I say a staff failure. I will take your staff as my rightful trophy pending your defeat." the Princess sneered as I gathered myself again and got to my feet. There was no way in Olympus I would allow her to take my staff from me save prying it from my dead fingers. I readied myself for her attack. She simply laughed at me as she assessed my position. I admit I was not trained by Scathy as some amazons were but I would give it my all. To my horror the princess staff had a metal glave at the end. Its wicked point glinting in the moonlight. A splash of blood red color flashed across my mind as I saw my own blood taint the glaiv. Stubbornly I shook my head to clear the vision. Muttering to myself about nice helpful reminders........
The princess laughed in a cold heartless tone. "So you like my Glaiv ending then?" I did my best to show little reaction to her sneering words. It really was annoying. Suddenly my mind is filling with words and I begin to speak them. "I will aquire it as a nice wall hanging after I survive." An astonished look crossed her face before it being replaced with anger. So the princess was not used to challenges....? Not that I wanted her place at all. Just some place to belong.
"Then it is chosen. Child your fait rests in your own hands." the Queen said as we faced off. "Defeat my champion and you may have earned a place in the tribe. If she wins she will have confirmed that you would only proven to weaken the tribe. Your death will not be mourned...."
Nodding I accepted. Though I did not know how I could defeat her champion. ~There are more than one way to win..~ I felt the soft touch of Artemis words echo in my head with a reminder. "I understand..." I whispered back to the voice, though the Queen took it as my understanding of what I faced now.
As I stepped back to watch the child and my Princess duel it out I began to wonder what possessed this child to make her calm and fearless of her future. For even I knew she could not defeat my Beloved Clenara. She was such a frail spindly thing that it appeared that the winds could blow her over. As their bodies moved in the deadly dance of survival and war I began to see the assets of this fearless child who though received blow after agonizing blow to her delicate frame rose to aquire more of the punishment delta at the hands of my beloved. Mesmerized was I as I watched my beloved move. As a panther of the night her strength evident in all her movement. Yet it did not once stop the child from rising to greet the challenge. Stab and slice, blood flowed from the frail childs body and yet she never once failed to rise again and greet the deadly glaiv on the end of Clenara;s staff with fearless intent of surviving. At one point it was Clenara who received the blows, a vital blow to her knee making her collapse to the ground and stagger again in suprise to her feet. It was Clenara's fault for underestimating her potential to learn and adapt. A blow rang across her jaw as the child got in a sucker hit from the low guard my beloved had taken to help protect the lower areas of her body from the short child. It was as two poisonses adders dueling with their fangs bared and hoods rising to flash and spread out in bluffs or deadly strikes. Again and again the child girl was beaten to the grounds of the forest and yet she rose. Bludgeoned and bruised, sliced and torn. How could one so willing to continue a hopeless fight not be an asset as a grown woman? Would it not be foolish to continue to sit back and watch her be further damaged? As Vashti sat thinking on these stray thoughts she began to admire the childs obvious faith and determination in her tasks. What little her frail body had to give was a small sign to what her brave fiery heart held. Perhaps the cool calculations and passions of a fiery haired woman would be good as my general...... As the hours passed and the night grew once again to day Vashti rose from her seat to come close to her staggering beloved. Laying a hand on her shoulder she said to the child who now was on her knees to tired to rise yet stubborn to admit defeat. "Clenara... she has survived to the new day. Her life is her own. The debt is paid in full. Rest now as I bind her wounds. She has won the right to be in the tribe. A sob of relief came to Clenara at her wise Queens words. And she moved to hobble to their furs and settle down to rest and watch as Vashti bound the girls bloody wounds that were encrusted with dirt and dried blood.
As I circled around and around with the girl child I began to realize that though she was frail and pitiful to the eye her body was only a frail husk to her soul within. I had never fought such a worthy opponent in all my life. Though she was as good as defeated she never acknowledged it. Every where my body ached from the grueling hours spent swinging the heavy glaive end of my staff around. It got to where in the latter part of our battle I would not use for fear I would drop my staff. And that I could not bring myself to kill her though I am now sure that I could not have done it from the beginning. It must be a horrible thing to be trapped with in such a frail body with such a strong spirit. Many of our sisters will find that she is more than meets the eye. Truly the condition of the outer scroll shows nothing for the words with in. May many of us learn from her silent strength. I silently watch my beloved Queen wash and cleanse her wounds and apply salves to help heal without the scars that would be left. A secret ingredient that not many know of. Makes the men think we are goddess in our own respects. Artemis you have truly blessed us this day. And with that she fell asleep on the furs to tired to even dunk her hot sweaty body in the eddy pool.
Blessed Goddess ARTEMIS!!! My heart sings in triumph and revels in the spirit relm of glory and accomplishment. Though my body is exhausted and sore to the point that when I have stopped moving for a while my muscles lock up with fatigue. Tears of joy run down my cheeks as I stare at the Queen who is now washing my face gently and sponging away the dirt and blood that had collected there from the glaiv cut across my forehead. I was thankful that it was only a superficial wound, if it had gone any deeper it would have made me unable to continue. Oh gracious goddess. My heart flys to Olympus and back on the rush of victory. I have finely proven some of my worth to them. I feel my heavy body being lifted from the water and taken to be layed down beside the already sleeping form of Clenara. A soft moan escapes from me even though my spirit glides my body is in pain and hurts like a fire had raged through me. I hardly can keep my eyes from falling shut from fatigue.
"You can rest now here where you lay. You will be safe as you sleep and you can greet the new day. I honor you and your family who bore you girl child. The gods know not what you truly are." With a hand she smoothes the fiery locks that have been washed and now fall in damp curls about the soft face of a child who has not yet even reached her years of puberty. "Goddess only know what it is that make you so special."
The Queen lay down beside her and drew the covers over all three of them. "Artemis blessed Queen who has opened my eyes. Guard us all while we sleep. Let not a hair of harm come to my women." With a final kiss on the childs head she lays an arm over to rest on her beloved's waist draping it over the fiery haired child who is already asleep. "Sleep in the arms of love girl child no longer......" with the soft protection of Artemis about them they slept undisturbed.
PART 2 IS IN THE MAKING ALREADY
Gemini Night
6/9/00
As different as night and day yet together we find our way.
As they began to rise to greet the new day I knew it was not yet my time. They made a small camp there at the waters front and talked awhile. As they began to make their breakfast I yearned for the sustenance that I smelled. But I was told to fast to hold my Goddess blessings. Again I preyed to her for the strength to continue though I grow weak from no sleep or food. I did not know how it was that I was going to catch their eyes if I were weak and could not stand to the challenges. But I followed her faithfully, leaving my trust to her wishes. The day passed and I was grateful that I had not eaten by the afternoon time for I would have had to move to use the privy. As I sat with my birch wood staff resting across my knees I felt excitement grow with in my stomach as I felt the time nearing. As the daystar fell to the light of Artemis's silver mounts crossing the heavens I knew that it was my turn to act. With my Goddess eyes falling belovently upon me I raced from the brush and stuck my staff under the princess ankle as she was about to step into the water and twisted with all my might to upend her. She went into the deeper part of the river and was immediately taken under. I feared that she would die but my heart was strengthened even as I felt the Queens staff flay me across my unprotected shoulders. Collapsing before her I bowed my head to her as she told me to stay still or die. It was after all a death sentence I had just asked for attacking not only her royal princess but also her lover and dearest friend in her world. My staff rested across my knees as I awaited her punishment. And in a daze I wondered what had made me attack the ruling party.
I heard a splash as the Queens form entered the deeper part of the river and turned to see her moving under the surface to capture her love and free her from the watery grave I had sent her to. I knew it was a chance for survival and escape, but what kind of escape would I have to go to? Marriage was totally out of the question. Just the thought of the fat man touching me made me shiver with disgust and anger. The sound of them breaching the waters surface caught my attention as the Queen pulled her Princess out of the waters. How was I to know she couldn't swim? She laid the pale woman on the ground and began to sob as she was not breathing. She shook with fear as she knew not what to do. Hades had already clamed her true love. And soon would have me to play with also. I crawled over on my knees to them and was belted across my cheek sent sprawling backwards as the Queens anger registered at me. My head snapped back in a painful blow that out weighed the shock of her closed fist hitting my cheek. I would have laid shocked and in fear of her strength if I did not know that it was by Artemis herself that I was being guarded. She had promised me pain I had never imagined afore my success. If I survived the painful trial I would then find the victory of what I had asked help for. I gathered what wits I had left intact and crawled back towards them. "You want her to die?" I asked meekly with addled words that came out in a jumble. She stared at me then looked to her beautiful love who lay her lips turning a pale blue color. "I can bring her back." she snarled at me. "Doesn't mean you will not die for your CRIMES!!" She moved a little away still a dagger drawn showing my death would be instant if I indeed did fail. With a swift prayer I turned the princess to her side and slapped her back to jostle her lungs. Water ran from them. I pressed her back to the ground to comply with the needed oxygen she was slowly starving for. Her heart had stopped and I pushed her chest to simulate its beating. She coughed and nearly clutched me to her thinking I was her true love. The Queen gasped as she fell to her lover and shoved me away. "Clenara!" they sobbed for a while, while I collected my addled thoughts to gather my birch staff in my hands. White birch the holy and sacred wood of my chosen goddess. It was a sign of her blessing to me. I could feel her strength and pride issue from it strengthening my resolve to continue. I was infact a spindly girl child with not much of looks, or skill with anything else save a staff. I had time and again tried to join this tribe in my earlier life but was rejected by Queen Vashti who now cradled her beloved in her arms. I was thought of as a weak sickly creature who would only serve to weaken the tribe. Perhaps she was right and I would not endure the things that would happen next. But I would use my dieing breath of my small spindly body to prove her wrong. My short red hair only proved to make my skin appear more white than others and give off the effect that I had the yellow fever. Many shied from me for my flaming red hair and pale body. Flaming red hair was a sign to most on girl children that they would be nothing more than a burden of trouble and not worth their weight in gold. My intense emerald eyes were so that I was thought of as a bacci in descise. Though bacci women had gold and red eyes. But that made little difference to them. No matter where I had turned I was rejected. And thus turned to my goddess for help and love that I as a child had never been given the chance to receive. And so desperately sought. The chance to prove myself was all that I had ever asked for. And was never offered the chance till now. As their sobs quieted I felt a forboding shadow descend over me. Indeed I knew my punishment would be soon. I raised my hopeless eyes to Queen Vashti and her princess as they stood towering over me. Defiance took the edge of my gaze and I lifted my chin up and squared my small shoulders. It was my blessing and I would endure to the end. I stubbornly swore this to my goddess with my heart and confirmed my resolve to survive. The Queen tried to kick my blessed staff away from me and I clung to it with all the strength I had. Once again I found myself sprawled out before them. Yet I retained my staff. "For what you have done you deserve nothing less than death. Yet you did save her. For that I will not flay your body with my dagger before I kill you. Instead I will allow my Princess to choose your punishment." Her voice was cold and angry, which I suspected was what I deserved. The Princess a might woman with dark raven hair stood before me with clearly defined muscles and a disgusted scowl on her face. Taking her staff in hand she raised it to bring it swiftly down across my head. But I defended myself with my own staff. Raising to my knees I held my own staff up to deflect the blow. It saved my head the beating but I received a quick counter strike in my exposed ribs for the effort. A groan of pain issued from me as I collapsed from the harsh blow to my developing chest.
"So I staff fighter? Or should I say a staff failure. I will take your staff as my rightful trophy pending your defeat." the Princess sneered as I gathered myself again and got to my feet. There was no way in Olympus I would allow her to take my staff from me save prying it from my dead fingers. I readied myself for her attack. She simply laughed at me as she assessed my position. I admit I was not trained by Scathy as some amazons were but I would give it my all. To my horror the princess staff had a metal glave at the end. Its wicked point glinting in the moonlight. A splash of blood red color flashed across my mind as I saw my own blood taint the glaiv. Stubbornly I shook my head to clear the vision. Muttering to myself about nice helpful reminders........
The princess laughed in a cold heartless tone. "So you like my Glaiv ending then?" I did my best to show little reaction to her sneering words. It really was annoying. Suddenly my mind is filling with words and I begin to speak them. "I will aquire it as a nice wall hanging after I survive." An astonished look crossed her face before it being replaced with anger. So the princess was not used to challenges....? Not that I wanted her place at all. Just some place to belong.
"Then it is chosen. Child your fait rests in your own hands." the Queen said as we faced off. "Defeat my champion and you may have earned a place in the tribe. If she wins she will have confirmed that you would only proven to weaken the tribe. Your death will not be mourned...."
Nodding I accepted. Though I did not know how I could defeat her champion. ~There are more than one way to win..~ I felt the soft touch of Artemis words echo in my head with a reminder. "I understand..." I whispered back to the voice, though the Queen took it as my understanding of what I faced now.
As I stepped back to watch the child and my Princess duel it out I began to wonder what possessed this child to make her calm and fearless of her future. For even I knew she could not defeat my Beloved Clenara. She was such a frail spindly thing that it appeared that the winds could blow her over. As their bodies moved in the deadly dance of survival and war I began to see the assets of this fearless child who though received blow after agonizing blow to her delicate frame rose to aquire more of the punishment delta at the hands of my beloved. Mesmerized was I as I watched my beloved move. As a panther of the night her strength evident in all her movement. Yet it did not once stop the child from rising to greet the challenge. Stab and slice, blood flowed from the frail childs body and yet she never once failed to rise again and greet the deadly glaiv on the end of Clenara;s staff with fearless intent of surviving. At one point it was Clenara who received the blows, a vital blow to her knee making her collapse to the ground and stagger again in suprise to her feet. It was Clenara's fault for underestimating her potential to learn and adapt. A blow rang across her jaw as the child got in a sucker hit from the low guard my beloved had taken to help protect the lower areas of her body from the short child. It was as two poisonses adders dueling with their fangs bared and hoods rising to flash and spread out in bluffs or deadly strikes. Again and again the child girl was beaten to the grounds of the forest and yet she rose. Bludgeoned and bruised, sliced and torn. How could one so willing to continue a hopeless fight not be an asset as a grown woman? Would it not be foolish to continue to sit back and watch her be further damaged? As Vashti sat thinking on these stray thoughts she began to admire the childs obvious faith and determination in her tasks. What little her frail body had to give was a small sign to what her brave fiery heart held. Perhaps the cool calculations and passions of a fiery haired woman would be good as my general...... As the hours passed and the night grew once again to day Vashti rose from her seat to come close to her staggering beloved. Laying a hand on her shoulder she said to the child who now was on her knees to tired to rise yet stubborn to admit defeat. "Clenara... she has survived to the new day. Her life is her own. The debt is paid in full. Rest now as I bind her wounds. She has won the right to be in the tribe. A sob of relief came to Clenara at her wise Queens words. And she moved to hobble to their furs and settle down to rest and watch as Vashti bound the girls bloody wounds that were encrusted with dirt and dried blood.
As I circled around and around with the girl child I began to realize that though she was frail and pitiful to the eye her body was only a frail husk to her soul within. I had never fought such a worthy opponent in all my life. Though she was as good as defeated she never acknowledged it. Every where my body ached from the grueling hours spent swinging the heavy glaive end of my staff around. It got to where in the latter part of our battle I would not use for fear I would drop my staff. And that I could not bring myself to kill her though I am now sure that I could not have done it from the beginning. It must be a horrible thing to be trapped with in such a frail body with such a strong spirit. Many of our sisters will find that she is more than meets the eye. Truly the condition of the outer scroll shows nothing for the words with in. May many of us learn from her silent strength. I silently watch my beloved Queen wash and cleanse her wounds and apply salves to help heal without the scars that would be left. A secret ingredient that not many know of. Makes the men think we are goddess in our own respects. Artemis you have truly blessed us this day. And with that she fell asleep on the furs to tired to even dunk her hot sweaty body in the eddy pool.
Blessed Goddess ARTEMIS!!! My heart sings in triumph and revels in the spirit relm of glory and accomplishment. Though my body is exhausted and sore to the point that when I have stopped moving for a while my muscles lock up with fatigue. Tears of joy run down my cheeks as I stare at the Queen who is now washing my face gently and sponging away the dirt and blood that had collected there from the glaiv cut across my forehead. I was thankful that it was only a superficial wound, if it had gone any deeper it would have made me unable to continue. Oh gracious goddess. My heart flys to Olympus and back on the rush of victory. I have finely proven some of my worth to them. I feel my heavy body being lifted from the water and taken to be layed down beside the already sleeping form of Clenara. A soft moan escapes from me even though my spirit glides my body is in pain and hurts like a fire had raged through me. I hardly can keep my eyes from falling shut from fatigue.
"You can rest now here where you lay. You will be safe as you sleep and you can greet the new day. I honor you and your family who bore you girl child. The gods know not what you truly are." With a hand she smoothes the fiery locks that have been washed and now fall in damp curls about the soft face of a child who has not yet even reached her years of puberty. "Goddess only know what it is that make you so special."
The Queen lay down beside her and drew the covers over all three of them. "Artemis blessed Queen who has opened my eyes. Guard us all while we sleep. Let not a hair of harm come to my women." With a final kiss on the childs head she lays an arm over to rest on her beloved's waist draping it over the fiery haired child who is already asleep. "Sleep in the arms of love girl child no longer......" with the soft protection of Artemis about them they slept undisturbed.
PART 2 IS IN THE MAKING ALREADY
Gemini Night
6/9/00
As different as night and day yet together we find our way.