Authors note: I do not own or profit from any highlander characters .this is just from my imagination

Chapter 4

Three days later the band of boys now men returned with the offering from the goddess. A young doe. By tradition to free her spirit her heart was buried. As I walked up the ridge I saw my goddess. Her auburn hair still wet from the holy lake, violet eyes connected with mine, I felt like lightning hit me. I knew in an instant that our hearts were intertwined. I struggled to breathe as well as focus on putting one foot in front of the other. I couldn't fathom that the vision from the ritual that made me a man stood less than 50 paces from my physical self. I wondered if all men found their hearts in this matter. However due to the Beltane restrictions it was forbidden to speak to a woman so near to the holy eve. I sent a silent plea to the goddess that this beauty would become mine during the final ritual that would make me a complete man. If the goddess answered me we would be together forever as told by the conception of my birth.

Chapter 5

As the holy feast was started men and woman feasted separately, as the light of the day gave way to the full moon of Beltane. The food that was eaten and the ale that was drunk had its effects on my ancient people .The woman started dancing in a way only a man could appreciate .I was more than aware of the underling passion deep in my groin. Tradition stated that the woman picked there partners for the evening. I was dimly aware of my mother going off with a silver haired warrior, who looked like what the ancient world would later call a god. I wondered vaguely if this was my father. The law forbids all children created at the Beltane fires from knowing who created them. For it was believed that on the high holy days it was man and woman in the embodiment of the god and goddess who made life. It was believed that if it was ever known that the world would end and those responsible would be put to death. All of a sudden I felt a leather strap wound about my wrist -a sign that a woman had chosen me .Usually it was an experienced elder who guided a new man into the ways of pleasing a woman. As I turned I saw a nymph of a woman with a leather mask made of doe skin .The same doe I had sacrificed to the goddess. I couldn't believe

That the goddess had blessed me with the vision of beauty in front of me. She was my vision-I just knew. She took me to her holy red tent and taught me the pleasure of her body and gave pleasure to mine. In the morning she was gone only she sent lingered. I didn't even know her name.

In the afternoon as I stretched and woke from slumber, I went from the tent to seek my lover.

I ran into the woman who bore me. She smiled at me and saw the look into my eyes. "You are in love child of my heart." I turned red with embarrassment -how could this woman know by just looking at me. She warned me not to search for the embodiment of the goddess -it would only bring me sorrow. I was young and impetuous. I spotted the vision and raced to greet her I was stopped cold when she turned and looked at me without recognition.

Later that t night after the moon was past its zenith and much ale had been drunk by me to forget my sorrow. I felt into a stuppered sleep. I was dreaming of a warm caress and gentle kisses s and my name spoken in the wind I responded with passion and I called out the name I heard "Nairobi"-I realized when I awoke that I was not dreaming and my lover and I were inter twined and I had not whispered her name -She tried to silence me however it was too late. The next thing I remember was our bodies being pulled apart and the sweet agony of it. I also knew our fates were sealed. I knew the rules as well as she, we had willing broke the law of the earth mother and we were to die. My heart was in agony. My only consolation is that we would be together in death.