Music Nerd: Thank you for all your reviews, I'm glad you are liking the fluff. One day you will met someone who makes you fluffy inside, just refrain from killing them – fluff is quite pleasant. Anner 87: I don't think you have reviewed it, so thank you. I'm glad you are liking it. Drop Your Oboe: Thank you! 'Awesome' is a huge compliment! Myrtle Riddle: Thank you – there are three more stories, hence nine more chapters to come! Bitterosemary: The idea with the hair came to me as I reached the point where I needed to write something. I also needed a slight plotline as the chapter required padding out. Thankfully it worked – I wasn't too sure if it would or not! Thank you. Dolphin Dreamer: What can I say? That review was the hugest ever! Wow, thank you, and usual, you pick up on all the little things that I really liked, such as the pathetic fallacy (I've not used that term or about 8 years!) Thank you again. Aravilui: I think she would be 12 or 13 ish, probably 12, but don't hild me to it! Thank you for your review as always. Celuna Currus: I know – I prefer the shorter hair look too! Thank you for your review! Daine's Daughter: Thank you! Goldeneyedwildmage: I agree with you entirely about the faults, people and characters need them. Thank you for your bow – I hope you like Midsummer. Silverlake: Thank you – Thayet is quite fun to write as she's not had too much written about her by TP, so there's loads of room to make her bend how you want. I'm glad you thought she seemed more human. Thank you. Sonnet Lacewing: Thank you for your error checking as usual and I glad you're enjoying it! (Poor you – you have to read it twice!)
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Midsummer Part I
Chapter 1 – Marching Watch
Daine looked on as Numair and George struggled to bend pieces of wicker into the thick circle they were trying to create. The day was hot, and no breeze even considered whispering to cool her down, so any thoughts of assisting the two men were put straight out of her mind. Even Alanna, who would usually have jumped at the chance, lay flat on her back in the middle of the meadow at the back of the Tower, eyes closed and the gentle expression of sleep etched upon her face, oblivious to the loud groans the men were emitting as they tried to make the sun wheel for the evening's celebrations. She lay on her front, linen breeches hiked up to mid-thigh and a loose cotton shirt missing its sleeves pulled so that her lower back was exposed to the sun. She watched the men through sleepy eyes, the heat had had a soporific effect on her and she felt far too lazy to even shout out words of encouragement. She could see the effort on George's face as he bent a piece of thick wicker and began to weave it through the long thick branches that had been nailed together to make the skeleton for the wheel. His hair was matted with sweat, and Numair wasn't much better, shirtless, with tendrils of hair that weren't yet long enough to be pulled back into his newly grown horse tail, Daine allowed herself to feast her eyes on him while no one would notice.
In the distance she could see that the children were playing, safely in the shade of a cluster of trees. Alianne and Alan had made friends with a few of the children who lived in the nearby village and had taken to spending the long summer days with them while they were at Daine and Numair's home. Daine sighed happily, listening to the cheers as the men managed to entwine a particularly straight piece of wicker around the lengths of wood, thus waking the sleeping Lioness.
"It's impossible for you two to do anything quietly," she said, sitting up slowly to stare at them with her eyes that were the shade of amethysts.
George grinned at her, his eyes dancing. "We've been makin' a racket like this for all the time ye've been asleep. Maybe ye just woke as yer not tired anymore?"
Alanna glared at him, and then cast her eyes over to where the children were. "Alianne's half way up that tree now," she uttered. "I'd place a high wager on her needing healing before the day is out."
George laughed at the thought. "Do ye think it's a good idea to keep the little ones out for tonight?" He asked his wife as he steadied the wheel for Numair to interlace another length of wicker through.
"I think we should just see how they go. If they get tired we'll take them back to the Tower. Maude will be there to oversee them," Alanna answer, settling back down on the blanket she had spread out on the grass. George nodded, concentrating again on making the basis for another wheel.
"Wouldn't you be best doing that in the shade?" Daine asked. Numair let the complete sun wheel drop to the ground and came to sit beside her, moving a stray lock of hair out of the way with a large hand.
"That would be slightly more sensible, I suppose," he grinned. "But then we wouldn't have the pleasure of your company." Daine mockingly elbowed him in the ribs. "I may go to the lake to swim shortly," he said, picking up his discarded shirt and mopping his brow with it. "I need to cool down."
"May as well wait until this wheel is finished," George said in between bangs as he nailed pieces of wood together. Alanna scowled at each one before jumping to her feet and taking flight over to where the children had been playing. Sounds of Alianne's screams were audible as they pierced the still air.
"Just as predicted by the mother whom she takes after," George laughed as he sat down on Alanna's vacant blanket, shaking his hand as it was now red and blistered with the work he had been doing. "Is she bringing her over?" They looked toward where Alanna had gone, the girl now in her mother's arms and the sobbing ceased. Alanna picked her up and began to carry her back across the meadow to where the adults were.
"Nothing's broken, Alianne, you've just bruised yourself," they heard her say as she approached.
"Can't you make it better, Mamma?" The red headed girl asked, her bottom lip quivering. "Only I do so want to get to the top of the tree and I can't do it if I feel sore."
Alanna cast a glance at her husband. "I am not healing bruises, Aly. They will remind you of what you need to do next time."
"But, Mamma!" The girl pleaded.
"No buts, Alianne. You mind what yer ma tells ye'," George interrupted from the other side of Alanna. Alianne stood up, stubbornness carved all over her face, and she marched off back to the tree, determined to get to the top before anyone else did.
Alanna laughed as she watched her go. "I would have done the same, but Maude would have given in to me and healed the bruises. Then I would have gone and gotten more."
"I always wondered where our daughter got 'er temper'ment from," George joked. "She's too much like 'er ma!" Alanna playfully went to whack him, but he stood up, avoiding the blow and returned to the new wheel.
"Come on, Numair," he ordered, the mage standing up wearily, now slightly cooler having been inactive for a few minutes. "Once we've finished this 'un we'll take the children for a swim, an' they can practise drownin' us!"
The two men worked quickly, wanting to get the sun wheels made so they could cool off in the water. Daine sat up, watching as they worked, their fingers now more nimble after the practice they had had with the first two wheels. The sun wheels were for the night's celebration of Midsummer, which began at sundown and would last until sundown on the morrow. A large bone fire would be lit on top of the nearby hill, which stood between the Tower and the nearby village. The sun wheels would be lit, creating big wheels of fire, and then allowed to roll down the hill, signifying the sun's descent into winter, as its power declined.
It was at Midsummer last year when Daine and Numair had been pulled into the divine realms by her father, saving them from a fight they couldn't win with a group of strange beings called skinners. This year had been much quieter compared, and she was looking forward to a calm, peaceful Midsummer, and a chance to revel in her new home. She was aware that it was almost a year since she and Numair had first kissed, after the Spidren attack. That thought filled her with a different warmth, as she watched her mage, the muscles in his back tensing while he lifted the finished sun wheel and placed it down with the others. They had decided to spend Midsummer at the Tower, and on the last minute, George and Alanna had opted to join them. The rest of their friends would be back at the palace, a place that Daine felt she had seen a little too much of in recent months and was glad to spend some time in the place that she and Numair called their home.
George went to round up the children, ordering them to go with him to change into old short breeches of Aly's and Alan's so that they would have dry clothes to get home in. Numair, Daine and Alanna followed, needing their own change of clothes, although Numair seemed itching to just go and dive in the cool water, whatever he was wearing.
The lake was a small one, fed by a narrow river that derived from the sea, several miles away to the west. The lake was shallow at its shores and the dip into its waters gentle. As they approached, Daine could see the water lightly lapping at the sides, topping stones that had been smoothed over time by the water's motion. On one side it was surrounded by the cluster of trees that Alianne had been climbing, although a few more of the oaks and rowans were scattered about the banks of the lake. They set up blankets and a few towels underneath a weeping willow, its fine, hair-like branches providing a little shade from the sun that was now at its highest point.
The north-easterly side of the lake had a steep bank; the water there was deep immediately, the same depth as the centre of the lake. It was here that Numair ran round to, and Daine watched from the shade as he dived in, disappearing then re-emerging at the centre of the water. George soon joined him, and the pair swam over to where the six or seven children were, splashing about where the water was shallow enough for them to stand up, although Alanna's children at least were excellent swimmers, living near to the sea.
"You'll be watching your own children swimming here one day," Alanna said to Daine, standing up and walking to the shore, allowing the water to gently wash over her toes. Daine had followed, knowing that the coolness of the lake would refresh her and hopefully wake her up enough to enjoy the evening's festivities.
"Not for a while yet," Daine replied, tying her hair back as she spoke.
"Really?" Alanna responded. "You are only seventeen, I suppose, and Numair…" She ceased commenting on Numair's age as she saw him pounce out of the water and attempt to duck George. "Can be a child himself sometimes."
Daine laughed, bracing herself as the cold of the water hit her. She swam out into the middle, accompanied by Alianne and then dived under, opening her eyes to see the life underneath the surface. She switched her feet to fins, and began to examine the things that had amassed there over time. She found a shiny ring, decorated with what looked to be a blue sapphire, which she grabbed and swam back up to the surface. She headed to where Numair, Alanna and George were congregated, George treading water while supporting Alanna's shoulders, the Lioness looking perfectly contented.
"Look at this," she held the ring to Numair. He took it from her and studied it. She could almost hear his brain reeling through volumes of information on the metal and the stone.
"I wonder how it got there?" Alanna said, leaving George to have a closer look.
"Mebbe it was some lassy who had had enough of her man and tossed it away," George theorised, lying on his back and swimming to the centre of the lake where he turned and dived underneath.
"That's brought out the thief in him now," Alanna chuckled. "He'll be dreaming that there's a whole treasure trove down there!"
Numair laughed and handed the ring back to Daine. "Take it with us tonight; you may be able to find its owner. It's probably from someone who went for a swim and it slipped off as it isn't that old, although it is a fine jewel and the silver is good quality." He dived under himself, causing a small tidal wave to wash over Alanna.
Daine swam back to the shore, stepping out of the water and putting the ring with the keys to the Tower, hiding them away in case any passers by spotted them and decided they wanted them. Feeling the heat of the sun drying her already, she ran round to the deep part of the lake and dived right in, determined to see what other treasures lay amongst the rocks and the stones, guarded by the multitude of colourful fish.
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An hour before sunset the four adults and two children, plus a rather odd shaded dragon walked up the hill to where a few people were already gathered. The hill was fairly steep, although not a long ramble, and at its peak was a large plateau which would hold more people than there would be there tonight. A large bone fire had been erected; piles of wood from cut down trees of oak, pine, rowan and spruce, woods that were meant to ward away evil spirits that would seep through the weakened barrier with the faerie folk. Most of the sabbats were associated with fire, although the bone fire that would flare tonight would be the largest of them all, mirroring the sun that would be at its peak when it next rose. George and Numair carted the sun wheels up the hill between them, and had put them next to a few others that had been made. Alanna had been tempted to help, but had stopped short of offering, rather enjoying the sight of the two men breathlessly lugging up the wheels.
They had brought blankets, for they would be there for a while, watching the fire burning madly and seeing the sun wheels being lit and rolled down the hill. Many of the people would be up all night, staying awake through the shortest night of the year, telling stories and singing songs. The two children had already settled, pleased that they had been allowed to come this year for the first time. Kitten, who had sulked when Daine and Numair were leaving as she wanted them to stay in the Tower with her, had now cheered slightly. Daine thought she was going through a bit of an awkward phase, not wanting them to go anywhere without her and not liking leaving the Tower very much. Daine was trying to consider it practise for when they had their own children, somewhere in the distant future, while Numair seemed to be dealing with Kitten much better than she did.
The stories were begun by George, continuing the tale of the Holly and the Oak king, and how now the Holly king won the battle and the Oak king went to the wheel of the stars for six months, regaining his strength to battle at Midwinter once more. Daine found herself enchanted by his voice and his way of telling a story, even if it was one she had heard a dozen times before.
The sun had almost set and the bone fire was just taking flame, its sparks highlighted against the blackened sky. A cheer went up as the fire took hold, and a circle formed around it. Daine knew that they would remain there until midnight, or there abouts, then they would return to the Tower to sleep, or she and Numair might return to the meadow and count the stars.
One of the villagers sat beside Numair. He was a stout man, with a red beard and a little red hair left on his head. He greeted the mage warmly, patting his shoulder and asking a few general questions as to his and Daine's well being.
"You realise it is my daughter's handfasting ceremony tomorrow?" Rumen asked, making himself heard above all the chatter and banter that was flying around.
Numair shook his head. "I'm sorry, no. We hadn't been informed."
Rumen nodded. "Well, you have now. I would be honoured if you would be there to see it, both you," he nodded at Daine and Numair, "And your friends."
"What time is it taking place?" Numair inquired.
"The hour after sunset tomorrow. It will be up on this hill. Can we expect to see you?" Ruben asked enthusiastically.
Numair nodded. "We will look forward to it. Thank you for the invitation."
Rumen was about to leave, when Daine remembered the ring. She took it out of the purse she had put it and called the man to her.
"I don't suppose you know who this belongs to?" She asked, showing him the piece of jewellery. "We found it at the bottom of the lake near the Tower."
Rumen studied it for a while and shook his head. "It doesn't look familiar," he answered in his warm voice. "There's tales about that lake. Legends say that if you throw a gift for the faeries in there then they'll grant you a wish."
"It seems a rather expensive gift," Daine said, looking at the ring once more. "We wondered if it had slipped off someone's finger when she had been swimming as it seems fairly new."
Rumen shrugged his shoulder and smiled at the woman. "It might just have been kept clean in there. Not many folk swim in that lake now. It's a pretty gem, why not wear it yourself?"
Daine smiled and returned the ring to her purse. "It's too big for me, I have quite small hands," she spread her fingers out to illustrate the point.
"I'm sure Master Numair could find someone to make you a ring to fit on that finger!" He pointed to Daine's ring finger and beamed at the mage.
"I would if she'd let me," Numair shrugged, amusement on his face. "We have a greenwood marriage now, so she'll get to see if she can bear me for a year and a day, so I have that length of time to persuade her to be my wife." Daine snuggled into the crook of his arm, resting the back of her head on his shoulder.
Rumen laughed. "There's no reason why you couldn't make it sooner."
Numair nodded, a wry look on his face as Ruben walked back to his own family. Daine looked at the mage, noticing the expression his face.
"If it means that much to you, then maybe we should be married sooner," she said, moving her hand to his cheek and touching it softly.
Numair shook his head. "I can wait forever as long as you're with me," he said softly, moving his lips onto hers. The next sound they heard was George, making strange noises to interrupt them.
"There are children about," he said, a broad smile on his face.
"It's Midsummer, George. This is what it's all about," Numair retorted. "The children are watching the bone fire," he gestured to Aly and Alan who were stood with the other children from the village.
"The shortest night of the year," George said, a little philosophically. "It's not a long night, but it'll set many a cradle rocking."
Alanna laughed, hearing the end of his sentence as she approached him. "It's set two cradles of ours!" She called. "You can't berate them for being affectionate," she told him. "You've already tried to persuade me tonight to follow you into some bushes and let Daine and Numair watch over the children!"
Numair laughed. Daine waited for George to go scarlet, but knew that it would never happen.
"Well," George said nonchalantly. "I can't help it if I still want to take you into bushes and have you all to myself, can I?"
Alanna laughed, sitting down on his knee. He pretended to wince as he felt the weight, to which she responded by flicking his ear, then kissing him, as deeply as Numair had kissed Daine.
A noise from the children drew their attention and all four adults stood up and walked to wear Aly and Alan were, with Kitten in between them. Rumen was lighting fire to some of the wheels and a throng of people had gathered to watch the wheels as they were rolled downhill.
"That's what the sun will do from now on," Numair explained to the twins and the young dragon, and tantrums now completely forgotten. "It will wane from now until Midwinter. After tomorrow the days will become shorter and the nights will gradually lengthen, until at the autumn equinox when the day and night will be of equal length, and then the nights will become longer." The wheel rolled to the bottom of the hill, when it fell over and the flames died out.
They sat and watched the rest of the wheels being lit, then rolled, the children fascinated by the travelling fire. Daine, Numair, Alanna and George left them to watch, happy in the knowledge that there were other adults nearby who would give an eye to the children.
"So, Numair," Alanna began once the children were out of earshot. "Have you kept to all the traditions tonight?"
Numair eyed her, knowing that this sounded like one of Alanna's trick questions. "Most of them, I think," the mage replied tentatively. "We've decorated the Tower with white lilies and various herbs. I've worn breeches with no pockets so the faerie folk cannot bespell me. What else is there?"
George laughed, obviously knowing what was about to come.
"Are you wearing a loin cloth?" Alanna looked teasingly at the mage, and then at Daine. "It used to be tradition to not wear anything at Midsummer. Now it's worn down to just omitting underwear."
Numair rolled his eyes and Daine knew that underneath his swarthy skin he was now blushing. She laughed, adding to his discomfort. "Are you without your loin cloth?" he asked George, attempting to distract the attention from himself. George merely grinned and Numair decided that continuing this line of questioning could possibly reveal too much,
Close to midnight, when Alana and Alianne were near asleep lying with their heads on their mother's lap, a line of fire began to walk its way up the hill. The strange sight was actually a line of people, all carrying lanterns. They were walking from fire to fire, carrying the lanterns and warding away the evil spirits that were rumoured to breech the thin boundary and cause havoc to unsuspecting souls. The group of people were known as the marching watch; one of them had dressed as a unicorn, another as a dragon – a sight that caused Kitten's eyes to light up – and six of them rode hobby horses, as was tradition.
Alanna woke the children for this was one of the sights she wished them to see. Sleepily they looked up and watched with a little wonder as the line of people appeared at the top of their hill, Alan pointing at each of them and marvelling at something about every one of the revellers, with Alanna trying to shush him and keep his voice down.
They stayed briefly before moving on to the next fire that was visible from their vantage point. Once they had left, Numair and George each picked up one of the twins, who were by now exhausted from their active day and late night, and Daine put Kitten in the carry bag, which fell over her front, leaving her with both hands free and then the tired dragon didn't have to walk, and they descended the hill. Alanna and George had already said that they would leave the children in the care of Maude for the night, while they spent the shortest night outside, although Alanna had no doubt that George would fall asleep well before sunrise. Daine had every intention that she and Numair would return to the lake, and sit by the weeping willow where they had been that afternoon. She found herself trying to climb down the hill quicker, in order to make it happen sooner, longing to be in Numair's arms without anyone else present.
Maude had been waiting for their return and met them at the heavy doors that lead into the Tower. She took Alianne from Numair and with George took the twins up to the room that was adjoining the one which Alanna and George used when they stayed at the Tower. Numair took Kitten from Daine and lay her down in the basket by the fire, so if she woke up se would see Maude and not be troubled by being on her own.
The two couples then left the proximity of the Tower and began to wander their separate ways; George and Alanna heading into the copse that lay near to the Tower while Daine and Numair returned to the willow tree. They sat close to it, Numair spreading out one of the blankets they had used earlier in the day, and Daine lay back on it, feeling sleepy.
She watched Numair lying next to her, drawing warmth from him. The night was almost as warm as the day had been, but near the running water there was a slight cool breeze that rustled the leaves and made the long reeds sway as if they were dancing to some silent tune.
She noticed the mage's breathing slow and deepen, as it did when he was sleeping. For a minute she smiled at the irony of the situation; they had been desperate for some time alone together all day and now that they finally had it, Numair had fallen asleep. She curled herself up in his arms and began to drift off into her own slumber, not knowing the places she would end up in her dreams.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next up we have a dream sequence - well, if you've read A Stepping State then you'll know that I wouldn't be able to get through this without one!
If I have lots of reviews, I'll put it up. Thank you to all those people who do review - especially every chapter. Those of you who don't - it would be nice to hear from you!