Ms. Muneson carefully her cup of tea next to the ancient text. She fingered the old parchment pages and sighed. When her mind returned to her she looked up and smiled at the older gentlemen. "More tea?" She rose.
"Oh, yes. Thank you." The older man handed the delicate china to the young woman. He then leaned forward onto the table and intertwined his fingers together into a praying position. "You have a lovely home, Ms. Muneson. Where have you acquired so many old and interesting things?" He gestured to the objects surrounding him.
As Ms. Muneson poured another cup of tea she looked up and thought for a moment. "My mother passed them down to me. And her mother passed them down to her, and her mother to her, and her mother to her. Everything that you see here has a history, Sir. I have possessions in this house that belonged to Serenity, the girl mention in that book. "She gestured to the large volume on the table. "I also have a few items that belonged to the Diolan and Diolon of the Totark Tribe."
The man sat in aw. He looked about the room as if he had never seen it before. "Extraordinary..." Me whispered under his breath. "Very impressive, miss... But if everything in this house is from your families past... Aren't you in the least bit afraid of thieves? I mean with a house as gorgeous and the things in it as priceless as they are... Some people... people, I know, would go to any length to get their hands on anything in these rooms."
"No, I'm not afraid of thieves. No one that knows of these things would dare steal them. I only tell people I trust about their ancestry. And I know, sir, that I can trust you. I can feel it. I have a six sense about things like this." She sat back down across from the scholar and looked back down to the old stained pages. "I suppose we should get back to reading? Unless you want me to stop for a while longer?"
"No, Ma'am, Please proceed."
Ms. Muneson started, "A morning breeze blew softly through the trees..."
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A morning breeze blew softly through the trees as they whistled their gorgeous song of the day break. The air was crisp and clear letting the colors of the mountains, trees, and lake radiate as if they had just discovered color. Never had a morning felt so perfect in the valley where the Mahal Tribe resided.
Serenity whimpered and stretched as she awoke for the new day. Not really wanting to leave her comfortable pallet she covered her pale face with her white sheepskin mantle, but the noises of the day seeped through her shield of fur. Realizing that she would have to arise she stretched for a second time then lifted herself to a sitting position.
The white siren gazed out the glassless window until she finally noticed the position of the sun. "Oh!" She gasped as she shot from her pallet and darted for her white robes with lovely silver hem. "Oh, Goddess, how could you let me sleep in so late? Malickee will be furious." Serenity shot from her royal living quarters and across the open area that had filled with villagers so quickly the night before.
She didn't get too far when she noticed Kunzim by his horse outside of his living quarters. From what she could see he was quite busy, but that never stopped her from stopping to talk to him before. "Good morn, Kunzim." Serenity gave beautiful smile, the same smile Kunzim had always loved.
"Oh, Good morn, Serenity." He looked up for a second, showed no emotions, then went back to work checking his horse for any wounds or illness. "You know, a girl like you shouldn't be out wondering around. It's become dangerous. I hope you aren't taking those walks like you used to anymore." For the first time since she had approached him he looked into her eyes for more then a few moments. "Your child like innocence would be quite appetizing to the Totark. After all they don't appreciate virginity like we do."
Serenity was taken aback but his remarks. "I can take care of myself. Besides if anything might happen I trust that the goddess will take me into her arms and protect me from any evils that the Totark might bring upon this village or myself. She is always watching out for those who are loyal and even those who aren't." Her tone showed all signs of an imply of disloyalty.
"Well, young lady," Kunzim walked around his horse and stopped only inches from the Diolan. "I wouldn't put too much faith the arms of the Goddess for a little while. She did nothing to save those men that died to feed these people." He motioned to the entire village that sat around him. "She will not protect us from what is coming, Serenity. And she most definitely will not protect you."
Kunzim's harsh words sank to the young lady's core. She bit her lip as tears started to streak her cheeks. Such a horrid morning this was. "You are awful, Kunzim. How can you be as such? To say such things of the Goddess? She has done so much for you!" Serenity expected him to apologize. She expected him to take her into her arms and hold her. She wanted him to hold her and tell her he didn't mean any of the things that he had said. None of them.
Kunzim clenched his fists. "Stop acting like a babe. You're nearly 17 circles old, yet, you cry like a child. And I have babied you for too long and I will no longer." His eyes hardened when even more tears ran down her perfectly white cheek. "Now run along to those classes that you take from that witch. I will hear no more of your blubbering." He then turned back to his horse and began working this time with a little more force.
***Within the Village of the Totark***
Endymion jolted up right from his soft bed where his lover slept soundly next to him. He rubbed his eyes of sleep and turned to sit and placed his feet on the cold slate floor. Sweat slid down his back, chest and face in tiny streams reminding him of the dream that had so roughly awakened him from his deep sleep. It had been the same dream he had had two days before the attack on the Mahal hunters, the night before the attack and a week after. Now the dream haunted him in his own village.
The young Sunsire Diolon stood from where he sat and reached for a black cloak to cover his naked body. It was already day and quite late from what he could see of the sun. He had slept too late and had let his lover get in the way of his work.
He headed for his bathing room and washed his face and arms of the dirt that had collected since his last soak. After a moment of thinking he decided he would need to bathe more thoroughly later in the day fore now he had no time. After he was satisfied he grabbed for a clean black tunic that hung in the room and dressed. As quickly as he had entered he had left without looking once to his lover for any farewell.
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Endymion threw open the doors to the main study then bowed politely to the men that sat around the center talking quite seriously. "Good morn, Men. Have I missed anything?" He walked to the head of the table and stood to wait for any reports that might come from his comrades.
"No sir," smiled the ever playful Jedine. "Sleep well, Endymion? Or did Reisha keep you up all night?" He looked to the other men who snickered quietly to themselves.
Endymion smile and shook his head. "You know, Jedine, if you thought about your work as much as you think about my choices of bedding partners this village would be at the top of an ever lasting empire. Now, on to other business or is there anything else we must discuss before we go on?"
No man spoke until a tall man with long brown hair held in a quill spoke up. "The defeat of the Mahal was a great one, Sunsire Diolon. You have put much pride in the spirits of the people, but we, as do they, wonder what might come next. I say we conquer them. They are one small step to the empire that you and your father's before you dreamed of."
"Endymion, war upon the Mahal might not be the greatest idea. Some of the villagers sympathize for the people of Mahal. Some of the more powerful villagers I might say. We might lose some great resources if we were to announce an attack." The man who had spoke was quite frail in structure and soft spoken. He played with his long blond hair as he spoke, a sure sign of his cowardly ways. "But... then again Nephile was correct when he said that you and your fathers have dreamed of an empire." The coward within him shined.
"The Mahal are savages in their ways of their goddess. They believe in a female deity and must be taught the ways of the Sun God. To defeat them in battle would surely bring them to believe that their Goddess is no more then a notion of ignorance. We must go after them, Zoimish." He stood above the coward in excitement making the weaker cower in defeat.
"You are all right," Endymion said from his perch at head of the table. "We must hit them while they are still down. We defeated their hunters only a couple of suns ago. They won't be ready for us." He stood showing that we was at least two inches taller then Nephile. "It's settled then. In the next sun we will get the men together and in the one after that we will leave for the Village of Mahal."
***Within the Village of the Mahal***
Serenity ran faster then she had ever run before. Why had Kunzim been to cruel to her? Why had he repeatedly called her a child? There were only a few more trees to go before she would be on the beach of the lake where her lessons were held and she couldn't show the Malickee Setsune she had been crying. So with cold fragile hands she wiped the tears from her face and walked calmly towards Setsune and respectfully curtsied. "Good morn, Malickee," The Diolan turned to the Malick who had been sitting on a log staring into the depths of the lake. "And to you, Malick."
Setsune smiled kindly to her charge and touched the pale cheek that belonged to Diolan. She noticed the dampness of the skin and her red eyes, but knew to say nothing. "Good morn, Diolan Serenity. What is your excuse this time for tardiness? Wait, let me guess, you over slept." She didn't wait for Serenity to answer before she went on. "Well, it makes no difference right now. Come. I have a feeling that you will enjoy today's lesson." The Malickee motioned for her to sit by the Malick as she stood and straitened her light purple robes that now was splashed with the color of a large, velvet, deep red belt that hung around her waist.
Serenity did as she was 'told' and sat by Hotarm, who smiled with an utterly innocent face. "I have heard the lesson many times over. It's one of my favorites." The Malick positioned herself a little more comfortably before looking back to Malickee Setsune.
"My Diolan, this is today's lesson," Setsune began...
In the days of the beginning, there was Winter. The earth was blanketed in snow, the lakes encrusted with ice, and the land was barren. Throughout the long nights, the people shivered. All the creatures of nature knew hunger and cold as their constant companions, and they knew not the meaning of hope as each day the powers of the Sun lessened. They feared the Sun would die and leave them forever to freeze to death in a world of unending darkness.
In the Underworld, Death was King. The Shadow Lord ruled in the land of darkness and his was the two-edged sword, the power of life and death. Each night he rode forth with his hounds and hunters in a wild race across the land, capturing souls to serve him in his realm. At his table, there was feasting and merry-making, for the world was his and his reign was supreme.
Yet with all his power, still there was one thing denied him. The Lady of Love whom he had claimed as his bride would love him not. Though he gifted her with jewels and treasures, to each item she would reply, "These are mine already. I love thee not." And the Lord of Shadows was saddened, for he was lonely and longed to know her love.
And so he pursued his love and each night he returned from the hunt bearing a gift more wondrous then the one before. And still the Lady replied, "I love thee not," and turned away.
The king, in his sorrow, begged her to tell him her reason for her rejection of his gifts, and sought to know why she who loved all things refused to grant him her love, and in her unending compassion, she told him, "If I would grant my love to thee, then surely thou would cease to be, for the fruit of my love is light, and where there is light, there must be an end to night."
And even knowing this, the Dark Lord would know her love, for he desired her above all things. So there came a time when he must choose, and he chose to know the fate of all who live, to enter into the womb of the Goddess to be reborn.
Thus did the Lord of Darkness, the Shadow Lord, come before the throne of the Lady of Love, and he knelt at her feet, placing before her the most valued gift of all, the two-edged sword of life and death. Now, the Lady accepted his gift and received him unto her, and at last he knew her love, and knowing it, he was no more.
Upon the earth, the ice and snow remained, and still the people suffered through the frozen night, but now a change had come, for when they looked upon the Sun, his power began to grow, and each day was longer than the last. No longer did the wild hunters ride each night to claim their souls, and within their hearts, they began to know hope. There was rejoicing throughout the land as at last the long Winter approached its end.
In the Underworld, the Lady reigned alone in the time of twilight that comes before the dawn, and in her womb the light began to mature, for from her union with the Lord of Death had been born the child of promise.
As the power of the Sun grew, and the days lengthened, the snows that covered Earth began to melt. The waters flowed from the mountain, refreshing the land. The people marveled to see the tiny green shoots emerge from the barren soil, and their hearts were filled with joy as they contemplated the coming of Spring. They sang songs of love and called out to the Lady to join then, for they knew that with her coming, Earth would truly be revived and Winter would be over at last.
In the Underworld, the Lady sat upon her lonely throne and heard the voices of the people beseeching her to come to them. Forsaking her throne, she ventured forth into the world, and everywhere she went, she brought new life. As she walked amidst the field, blossoms sprang forth beneath her feet, and where she cast her glance, the animals brought forth their young. She was much please with the life of her creation, and taking upon herself the person of a young girl, she remained amongst the people of Earth.
The people recognized her presence even though she appeared as one of their own, and they crowned with her own flowers and danced about her and made merry, and she blessed them all, renewing each human heart even as she renewed the land. And she shared the chalice of the waters of life with all who greeted her and became one with them, and thus her love became manifested upon Earth.
It came to pass that the days grew longer and longer and the new Sun become brighter and brighter.
The child of light who had been born at Yule became more and more manifested upon Earth. There lived amongst the people a young man, and the spirit of the Lord of Light came to dwell within him. Seeing this, the people of Earth chose him from among their number to be their king. Thus they brought him to her temple and presented him to the Ancient One, the keeper of the Cauldron of rebirth. The Old One saw, too, that the spirit of the young God lived within the heart of the chosen king, and so she did anoint him and grant him names and arms, that he might rule the land and represent the people.
In all the land there was celebration, and a crown was placed on his head, and gifts were given unto him as tokens of the trust that was placed in him. And when he had been crowned, the people brought their Sacred King to their beloved maiden, and when they saw one another, their hearts filled with love, for they were meant to be together. They kissed and the buds were brought to bloom and the trees were brought to fruit, and abundance and plenty were upon Earth. Hand in hand, they went about the land, and their love shown forth with radiant light. Where they went, the plants were blessed and the fields were green. So it was that the courtship of the Sacred King and the Maiden of Spring brought blessing to Earth, but the King had pledged himself to the ancient crone in the temple, and the Goddess herself dwelt within his bride to be, and with the gladness that filled his heart was mixed with a sadness, for he knew that to be wed to the Lady he must die, and that already the Crone of Death awaited the time when of his own free will he would return to her and give up his life for the good of the land.
Thus, his fate was sealed, yet he set forth upon his path with a full heart, for he knew the reward would be greater than the sacrifice.
In the time of fruit and flowers, a marriage feast was prepared for the Sacred King and Summer Queen. From far and wide, the people came to celebrate their wedding. Never had there been a bride so lovely and a groom so grand, as this blessed pair who were the Lady and Lord come to dwell upon Earth.
They were garbed in silks and satins, and flowers and ribbons were woven into the hair, and the blush of Summer was upon their cheeks, as they met to repeat their vows and have their union blessed. Bonfires blazed upon the hillsides, and honey mead overflowed the wedding cups, and there was great feasting upon strawberries and cream and all of the fruits of the Earth. A great spear was erected, and the couple were bound to this pole with bright ribbons as the people danced around them and sang songs, and demanded forfeits from the bride and groom that they might be released to consummate their love.
And the festivities continued throughout the night, for the fruit of this union would be a harvest of plenty, and the richness of their love bring abundance to all, and hunger would be banished from Earth. Yet the fruit of this union would also be death, for without death there can be no life, and the crone with her cauldron still waited for the Sacred King.
The Sun warmed the fruitful Earth and the king and queen were made one, and Heaven and Earth were wed. And the king lifted his bride's veil and saw there the face of the Goddess and knew he could not live having so seen.
As time passed, the king grew closer to his people. He feasted at their tables and blessed each hearth and home. He gave good counsel and served them well, sharing their hopes and dreams, their cares and despairs, as the rays of the sun grew brighter, and the days were longer than the nights, the spirit of the Gods within him grew and his radiance was perceived by all. He was much beloved of his flock and they of him, so they honored him greatly and called him Lord.
And the time came when the Sun approached the peak of his power and the time of sacrifice drew nigh. On the longest day, with saddened hearts, the people brought their bright Lord to the place of the sacrifice where they found the Crone awaiting her due. They found her tending the flame beneath her bubbling cauldron, and she proclaimed that the flame of life was also hers.
The king and his bride were taken to a chamber within the temple where she would attend him through the night. His own guard stood before the door, unwilling to leave the king alone. The people of the kingdom sat apart from one another as they contemplated the coming dawn, when their king would give his life's blood to Earth, to strengthen the soon-to-be-waning rays. Each one felt the sacrifice as a personal one, for to be separated from their glowing king would rend their hearts.
One by one, they sought to enter the chamber of the king to share a part of his vigil and to receive his parting words. But to do so, they found they must pass the waiting Crone. She spoke to each of them in turn, reminding them that it was the fate of all to return to her, and that she awaited each of them as well as their king.
To share in his sacrifice they must face her without fear, and accept their own fate, and this was as it should be, and it was good.
The time spent with the king and his devoted queen was sweet and sad, and to him each gave a token of their own that they might travel with him at the dawn and share his fate, for he was one with his people and his sacrifice belonged to each of them. Throughout the night, the vigil was kept and the rising Sun signaled the appointed hour.
The king was bathed and anointed with sweet oil, and he was armed with sword and shield, chalice and rod, the symbols of his office. He went apart now with his men, and the Summer Queen with her women, that one last time they might share the Mysteries among themselves, and this, too, was as it should be and so was good.
When all was done, the time had come at last. The old one waited at the temple and they knew she may not be kept waiting past her chosen time, for when her time has come, no other will is served than her's.
His bride took him by the hand then, for she herself must lead him to his appointment with fate, and thus has it ever been that woman who gives birth, is yet the lure unto death and that is a mystery to be pondered upon.
And so she led him into the presence of the ancient one as the people followed them also, and with a parting kiss she bid him farewell and sent him into the arms of waiting death. The hooded Crone showed him the blade that severs the cord, and she showed it also to the people that they might know once more the sharing of his lot.
Then did she spill his blood and free his spirit and send him forth to take his place amongst the Gods. Tears wet the faces of all who loved him, but joy was within him as well, for they knew that by this sacrifice, the future was assured and they would enter well into the growing season yet to come and that they would be fruitful.
But the old one had not yet finished; she turned to the newly widowed queen and spoke. "I pass to you my cup of bitter tears," said she, and the wisdom of the ages shone forth from the depths of her stone-black eyes. "As I am, so shall you be, for as the king is of all the people, yet so are you, and they share your fate as well." And the queen took the chalice and shared it amongst the people, that they might share her sacrifice as well as his, for they were all one people and one of heart together. Though the king was gone, the time for mourning was not yet, and now there was feasting and rejoicing throughout the land. The sacrifice had been freely given, and they knew that what was given to the Goddess would return to them threefold and the harvest of plenty would reveal their risen lord.
The first fruits of the harvest brought with it memories of the Sacred King. The people gathered together and talked far into the night, remembering the times gone by. They toasted him with rich ale and they drank toasts to the harvest to come and to she who had been his queen. The need fire was kindled near the fields and into it were placed sacred woods and herbs in hope that its magick would be mighty. They burned the crown of the former king in remembrance of him, and with it, they burned the queen's crown also, for she who had appeared to them as their lovely maiden at Spring was no longer, and in her place stood the widow and she was alone. The people honored the widow and they placed upon her head a new crown of grain and Autumn flowers. And they named her queen once again. She was the harvest queen, and to her they brought a share of the first fruits, for they were her's by right, and for each offering she returned to them twice as much and there was feasting throughout the land.
Now they saw that their lord lived yet within the feast and they broke apart a loaf and shared it, and knew that he still lived within each of them as they partook of this sacred meal. And so it was that when the feasting and celebration was ended, each of them took away a brand from this holy fire, that it might grant them their needs through its magick, and keep alive a little longer the powers of the waning sun that they might realize the power of the harvest.
The harvest reached its peak, and from dawn to dusk the people labored in the fields, reaping the bounty of Earth, and as they toiled, a shade walked among them, but they saw him not. It was the Shadow of the Sacred King, alive within the ripened grain and he loved them still.
So at the harvest feast he did appear to them, and they welcomed him, and crowned him with the sacred horns and placed about his shoulders a furred mantle. Thus he was made king of the Autumn and he feasted with them, and they shared his cup. His widow saw him, too, and she begged him to remain with her for her burdens were many, and she bore also those of the people of Earth as she was queen alone and no king. But he sadly refused, saying, "I am not longer of this world and wear within my heart the spirit of darkness. Soon I must depart to the Underworld, for I have no place upon Earth." And so he remained but a brief time, and then was gone, and the people saw him no more.
And so it was that the harvest was rich and plentiful and the people were made glad, but the nights grew longer and the days grew shorter, and they knew that soon the long winter would be upon them once again.
At last, the harvest was completed, and now the people worked to provision themselves for the Winter ahead. They carefully stored away a portion of grain that it might be planted once again when Spring came once more. Their aging queen was lonely without her lord and she yearned to follow him. And there came a time when she would her people that she, too, must leave them. They were saddened for their love for her was great, but they must let her go even for that very love, they could not keep her from her king when she would search for him. Now before she left, she agreed to grant them a vision of what was to come, and she gazed into a crystal, and she saw there the time of Spring-to-be and filled their hearts with hope. Then she bade them to the light their fires and to kindle the flames that lived within their hearts, and told them by this light, they might be warmed in her absence.
And the night came. And the veils grew thin. And so the lonely queen set forth into the Underworld to seek her lost love. And at the gate to the dark kingdom, Death awaited her. The Dark Lord saw that she was lovely, and thus she knew Death and he claimed her for his bride, and fed unto her three pomegranate seeds that she must remain with him, and yet she loved him not.
Thus it came to pass that in the Underworld Death was king and the Lady of Love his chosen bride. Upon Earth in the beginnings, there was Winter, but amongst the people of Earth there was no fear and their hearts did not despair of the end of the light, for the Lady had left them with hope and with knowledge of the light they bore within. The spirit of the Sacred King had shared his life and his death with them and the wheel had turned and they had seen the mystery, so they huddled close around their hearth fires and waited for the longest night out of which they knew the light would be returned to them, and they shared sweet cakes to remind them of the sweetness of their lives and it was good.
Malickee Setsune sighed as she ended the days lesson. She smiled kindly on the two girls and approached the Diolan then knelt in front of her. "My dear, the Goddess comes to us all. And although we don't always remember it she is always with us. She will one day come back in her human form and kiss these lands with her great lips and all will be good. Like in the story. Don't give up, my child." The great woman smiled then was quickly pulled from her serene state of mind when a loud horn sounded from the direction of the village.
Both girls looked from their teacher to the sky. "What is the horn for, Malickee?" Serenity asked, concern dripping from her tone.
"There's a town meeting. It must be important for them to sound the horn so every one can come." Setsune sighed as she stood up and dusted herself off. "Well, we better get going. We should be there for the meeting."
Serenity and Hotarm stood and followed the wise woman, "Yes, ma'am." They sounded
Sorry for making you wait so long. I had the worst writer's block but that's over now. I know exactly what's going to happen! I love people to give me their opinion so please tell me yours. REVIEW!!! ::sigh:: I'm ok! ::Makes a touchdown sign with hands:: I hope you enjoyed this! Good Eve and Blessed Be!
Cite for the Legend: Will be posted for view when I get the book from a friend. I promise it will be posted though! I didn't write the Legend! Don't sue me!
Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet Again