Underneath the Crystal Moon
a/n: I do not own Labyrinth
Part Three: Eamon
Chapter 12
They pulled into town in the mid-morning.
"Rings," Rhiannon said abruptly, and made the turn that would take them to the mall.
"Rings?"
"Wedding rings, engagement ring," Rhiannon said as they pulled into the mall parking lot. They got out of the car and walked through the parking lot, holdings hands like lovers do.
"I would give you the most beautiful ring I could create if I had my magic back. Or have my dad make one for you," Eamon told his future bride.
"He makes rings?" Rhiannon asked him.
"Hobby of his. He makes all sorts of jewelry. He made my mother's crown, and all the kids', except mine," Eamon said cheekily as they walked into the mall.
"Promise me something?" Rhiannon asked him.
"If I can," Eamon told her.
"When you g-go back, don't ever lose your ring?" Rhiannon asked him, close to tears. He hugged her gently.
"Sweetheart, I am not even going to take it off," Eamon told her.
The jewelry store they went into was large and opulent. Not very busy though. Rhiannon sat down on a stool at a counter, and soon, a woman with red hair and hazel eyes came to greet them. Her name tag said ' Amelia '.
"Hi, Amelia, my fiancée and I need to look at engagement rings and weddings rings," Rhiannon told the clerk. The clerk nodded and opened the case just beneath them.
It took a while, but Rhiannon finally settled on a plain platinum band for Eamon. She chose an engagement ring that was platinum, with a pear shaped diamond and two baguette cut emeralds. Her wedding band matched his however.
"Why emeralds?" Eamon asked her.
"They remind me of your eyes," Rhiannon said simply, "We have a lot to do. I do not care what we wear, but I have to call Renee to perform the ceremony"
Renee would be over that evening to do the handfasting. Eamon had not been privy to that conversation, but Rhiannon had looked a little stressed out when she came out to help him finish unpacking. Once they were done, Eamon told his beloved he was going to go lay down for a bit.
"Go right ahead! I'll wake you in about two hours!" Rhiannon shouted from the basement. Eamon collapsed on her bed, snuggling up to her pillow and inhaling her scent. In one week he would be leaving here. He would never smell her scent again.
Best not to think about it. Best to ignore it.
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Rhiannon checked her voice mail.
"Miss George, Davis Willows here. It took some wheedling, and a lot of convincing, but it turned out that Count Heinrich is actually indebted to his brother in law for ten million dollars. He is willing to part with the Kenedril Iest Elei for that sum. Please let me know"
Rhiannon dialed Keito Takahashi.
"Keito. I need ten million dollars by the end of the week," Rhiannon waited for the gasp of surprise.
"Ten million? We can sell the cabin, cash in your bonds. Sell your stock. I can have it for you buy the end of the week," Keito told her.
"Sell everything except this house. I need the ten million ready to be transferred to a bank account by Friday," Rhiannon told her friend.
"What's going on?" Keito asked.
"Nothing illegal, don't worry," Rhiannon told her friend. They said their goodbyes, and next Rhiannon rung Henry Jordan, her lawyer.
"Henry, I want the deed on this house switched to one Renee Spiro next Monday. I also need you to get in touch with one Count Heinrich in Germany. I am going to be sending him ten million dollars on Friday, and I need you to set that up for me so it is not illegal," Rhiannon told her lawyer.
It took the whole two hours of calling back and forth to get everything set up. She waited at her fax machine for all the necessary paperwork. She would not have the mirror by the full moon, but a couple of days later she would see if her heart was pure enough to make the mirror grant her deepest, most sincere wish: to be with the one she loved, no matter where he was.
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There were only three people present that night: Renee, Eamon, and Rhiannon. They held hands in the middle of a circle that Rhiannon and Renee had cast. Renee looked a combination of shocked and teary eyed as she stood in front of them.
Of all the things Rhiannon had ever wished for in her life so far, the wish that her grandparents could have lived to see this day was ever present in her mind. Her father she had never really known, and she had accepted her mother's death some time ago, but her grandparent's deaths were still too fresh in her memory. She offered up a quick prayer to the Lord and the Lady in their memory, and focused herself on the present.
"We gather here in a ritual of love, with two who would be wedded. Eamon and Rhiannon now stand here before us, and before the Lord and the Lady. Be with us here, O beings of the Air. With your clever fingers tie closely the bonds between these two. Be with us here, O beings of Fire. Give their love and passion your own all-consuming ardor. Be with us here, O beings of Water. Give them the deepest of love and the richness of the body, of the soul and of the spirit. Be with us here, O beings of Earth. Let your strength and constancy be theirs for so long as they desire to remain together. Blessed Lady and Laughing Lord give to these before you, we do ask your love and protection. Blessed be," Renee intoned.
"Blessed be," Rhiannon and Eamon said in unison. Eamon slipped the rings onto Rhiannon's hand, and she slipped his onto his hand. They held their hands together, so that Renee could place her hands over theirs. All three of them were crying it seemed, and Renee's words were a little broken as she spoke.
"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. As time does pass remember: Like a star should your love be constant, like a stone should your love be firm. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, but be understanding. Have patience each with the other, for storms will come, but they will go quickly. Be free in the giving of affection and warmth. Make love often, and be sensuous with one another. Have no fear and let not the ways or words of the unenlightened give you unease. For the Lord and the Lady are with you, now and always," Renee sniffed and let go of their hands, "Is it your wish, Rhiannon, to become one with this male?"
"Yes," Rhiannon said, clear and strong. Eamon did not know if he would be able to speak.
"Is it your wish, Eamon, to become one with this female?
Eamon cleared his throat and Rhiannon laughed lightly, "Yes"
"As the Lord and the Lady are witness to this rite, I now proclaim you husband and wife," Renee finished. Eamon enfolded Rhiannon is his arms, and sealed their fate with a kiss. Renee and Rhiannon closed the circle, and then Renee sat down.
"Rhiannon, you have to tell me what's going on," Renee said with confidence, "I know something here is not kosher"
"Kosher?" Eamon asked Rhiannon. She looked at him glaringly.
"It means something is not right," Rhiannon told him, "And she's right. This is not kosher. But it is right. In every sense of the word," Rhiannon told him.
"What's going on, really?" Renee asked.
"Renee I love you and trust you. But I think you will have to wait until some other time to hear all the truth," Rhiannon told her friend.
It was not much later that Renee took her leave, and Rhiannon went upstairs with Eamon.
"Eamon?" Rhiannon asked him as they snuggled on the bed, "What would you say if I told you I could come Underground with you?"
"I'd say stop teasing me," Eamon said blandly.
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Over the next week they did various things. Eamon learned how to make pizza. Rhiannon prepared for the ritual. Eamon packed up everything he had here to take with him back Underground (he had gotten a little too fond of jeans). Rhiannon packed her things too. They went to the park. They made love under the stars in the backyard. They planted things in the garden. Eamon showed Rhiannon how to waltz. Rhiannon showed Eamon how to lindy hop. They spent almost every waking hour together. And when they were not actively doing something, they spent their time making love, discovering each and every nook and cranny of each other's bodies. Both of them never wanted it to end. But as the day came for the ritual, they knew it had to.
Eamon could not look at her. Her eyes were empty. He knew he looked the same way. He went for a walk while she cleared a patch in the garden for the ritual. He ended up in the park, next to the footbridge, reliving the memories of his mother. After an hour of staring at the same spot Eamon knew he had to believe she would come back to him. His heart refused to believe anything less.
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When the moon had risen, Eamon and Rhiannon made their way into the backyard. A piece of tree trunk sat in the middle, holding candles, matches, an athame, some ribbon, and a cauldron. Eamon stood in front of the altar, while Rhiannon stood on the other side. She lit all the candles except the black and white one.
"Rhiannon?" Eamon asked her.
"Eamon. No goodbyes. Don't even think it. Maybe I will be lucky, and the Lord and the Lady will see fit to let us meet again, but let's leave it at that"
"I love you," Eamon said gently, tears in his eyes.
"And I love you. Let's do this"
Rhiannon picked up her athame and began to slowly walk clockwise around the circle, saying:
"By the motion of the sun
This magic circle I create.
O ancient elements, one by one
I summon to participate:
Spirits of the Air,
Guardians of the East;
Spirits of the Fire,
Guardians of the South;
Spirits of the Water,
Guardians of the West;
Spirits of the Earth,
Guardians of the North"
Rhiannon walked back to her altar and grabbed her salt and her water. She walked around once again, clockwise, saying:
"With water and salt I consecrate
This sacred temple of magic great"
Once again she walked back to the altar and she used a match to light the white candle. She stepped back and recited:
"I invoke thee
O great Lady,
Mother of the silver moon,
I invoke thee
O great Lord,
Father of the golden sun,
Into this circle I invite
Thy sacred shining light
Of white"
The circle started to glow a bright white color that rose from the ground to form a wall of light around them. The light felt loving, it felt healing, it felt…right.
Rhiannon rubbed the inside of her cauldron with an oily looking substance that Eamon had not seen. She lit the black candle. She placed black gloves on her hands and picked up a length of black ribbon. She stepped back and intoned the words that would send Eamon back, even as the tears shone brightly in her blue eyes:
"I call upon the energies of Universal balance!
I call upon the ancient energies of my people!
I call upon the living essence of the Underground, Land and Sea!
I waken these energies unto me.
Witness now that the Aboveground renounces and severs bonds and connections with Crown Prince Eamon of the Goblin Kingdom!
By all powers that are One Power!
May the great sisters of karma now weave anew,
And separate this world from you!
As I will, so mote it be!"
Rhiannon screamed as a white light flashed so bright she was momentarily blinded. She quickly cut the black ribbon in her hands, and burned the pieces in the cauldron. She had to close to circle quickly.
"This magic rite is now complete.
This magic circle is now uncast.
So mote it be!"
Rhiannon Elizabeth George – Prince collapsed on the dirt beneath her feet, staring into space. Where her heart was there was now emptiness. Only the next couple of days would tell if she would ever see her beloved ever again.