Avebury
Summery: No one likes to feel alone. Rejection made her leave home early and drove her into an asylum. She pretends she does not remember but Alice can never forget why she is always searching for acceptance.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my car.
Warning : femslash, self abuse, mental issues, and general angst
Sybaleigh Waneta Hale-Clearwater-McCarty was born to her mothers and father in the spring. The moment I saw her I knew this was my mate. She smelled of the ocean and flowers to me even though rose complained that her daughter smelled like a puppy. I held the sleeping child in my arms and was astounded when her far too knowing eyes opened to look at me and she grabbed my finger refusing to let me go. I got the distinct impression of her trying to be possessive even as an infant. I heard her little laugh as she attempted to eat my finger. I allowed her to put my finger in her mouth and that's when I heard the voice I had been waiting for in my head. "I know you've been waiting and I'm so glad that you are mine," I gasped a little and Leah looked up from the hospital bed that she lay in after her hours long ordeal of labor.
"Alice," Rosalie growled, "Give me my daughter." My whole body screamed at me to never let go of my mate. Edward came running into the room followed by Jake and Bella. Jake looked first at my protective stance clutching Sybaleigh to my chest then at the angry Rosalie and slightly clueless Emmet. He mouthed a word to Edward at which time Edward looked at me with sympathy.
Leah spoke up next, " Rose baby, let Alice hold her she has waited a long time for our daughter just give her a little bonding time I assure you she will hand our little one back to us soon." Rosalie looked like she wanted to rip Sybaleigh from my arms but allowed me to continue to hold the sleeping infant. Reluctantly after about an hour of watching her sleep in my arms where she fit perfectly I handed her to Rosalie and walked into the room we would share. I sat on my bed inside the little alcove that also contained the crib where she would sleep the white blue-white sheets on both beds never looked so stark. I ran my fingers over the blue blanket on my bed. It was a daybed twin size only mostly there for the look. We had agreed months ago to allow the nursery to be photographed for a magazine that was doing a spread on fantasy children's rooms. The day bed was explained away as the bed where the older of the two children slept. We had done a mural inside the sleeping alcove of Sedna walking amongst the seals and otters playing in the alcove there was what appeared to be a break in the floor with a killer whale breaching to breath if you looked closely the blow hole was a handle to open the toy chest. We had put the wardrobe in an alcove that looked like an ice cave too it shared the space with the changing table the mural in that alcove showed a view of the ocean as seen from Alaska in the depths of the cold winter night. Edward walked into my room. I curled up on the day bed making myself small I knew who was with him. Emmet, the clueless wonder, was accompanying my favorite brother into the room. I did not need Jasper's ability to know he was angry with me. I refused to uncurl even when I felt the mattress dip. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I coiled tighter. Then muttered " I am sorry, Emmet, I should have told you. I have been waiting for Sybaleigh since I was turned. Your little girl is my mate." Then the yelling started.
"She is not even seven hours old and you are already claiming her as a mate. You sick, crazy bitch." Emmet continued to yell at me as I zoned out. My mind was finally kicking in defense mode. I would not fight back I never did physically or verbally I reverted to the scared child that I was in the asylum. Edward realized what I was doing before Emmet lost a little steam.
" Emmet, please stop yelling at her," Leah asked from her place in Rosalie's arms. " She can not help who her mate is anymore then I can. Alice would never hurt our daughter she would rather die. I know the feeling. Until our daughter is old enough Alice will just be the best Nanny that we could ask for. She will spoil our baby worse than we will."
Edward saw how far my mind had retreated to get away from the angry Emmet. He asked if Sybaleigh could be brought in to the room for a moment knowing that she could retrieve me from my shell.
Eight Years have passed since Sybaleigh's birth and now I stand in a circle of stone watching as Emmet walks my mate toward me. A song is playing from my mp3 player attached to a set of speakers.
"Giant stone circle where the Goddesses dance
Full moon, high summer as I walk through the land
And I know you are waiting to take my hand
And you'd step beside me as I walk through the land
Yes you'd step beside me as I walk through this land
And my love spans the ocean and my love knows no time
And I know you are waiting and I'm glad that you're mine
Said I know you are waiting I'm so glad that you're mine
Around the great circle the energies flow
And I feel you are with me wherever I go
I watch the sun setting and I watch the moon rise
And I feel you beside me like a breeze in the night
Said I feel you beside me like a breeze in the night
And my love spans the ocean and my love knows no time
And I know you are waiting and I'm glad that you're mine
Said I know you are waiting I'm so glad that you're mine
The stones they embrace me with warmth and with love
And moonlight is raining on down from above
I am walking in beauty my soul flying free
But right by your side is where I'd like to be
Said right by your side is where I'd like to be
And my love spans the ocean and my love knows no time
And I know you are waiting and I'm glad that you're mine
Said I know you are waiting I'm so glad that you're mine"
She is dressed in white fur and caries ice blue flowers in her hand. Her long black hair usually falls to her waist but it is pinned up in an elaborate crown and braid extending down her back to about mid-back length atop the lace Vail she wares a flower wreath of wild roses. I am dressed in white druid robes with soft hide underneath my hair is hidden under the hood that I am wearing I too have a crown of wild rose upon my head. Edward is acting as my best man and stands beside me. He is dressed identical to me sans the floral crown.
"She is beautiful, Alice, I am happy for you." I simply nod speechless this hand fasting will make her officially my wife in the eyes of the gods and my family. Out of respect for her parents I have waited until she is full grown now we will walk together through the rest of our days.
The high priest of the local coven is standing at the alter stone he smiles at me as my mate reaches me at last. "Who gives the junior partner in this right over to this union?" .He asks beginning the right Emmet takes his daughters hand and offers it to me.
"I, Emmet Cullen McCarty, Give my daughter, Sybaleigh Waneta Hale-Clearwater-McCarty, with the blessing of my clan and her mothers as well." I only have eyes for Sybaleigh.
The priest smiles as I take my mate's hand, "I Mary Alice Brendon-Cullen take this woman as my mate I have waited for her my whole life and now we will walk this world together. I offer her my heart." Edward stepped forward then and laid a red and white cord over our joined hands.
"I, Edward Mason Cullen pledge to protect and support this union as a witness to this union. I have watched Alice pine for her mate for y4ears it is good to see them finally together." after him Carlisle approached and wrapped the cord once up my arm.
"I, Carlisle Leslie Cullen as the head of the Cullen clan offer my protection and support to this union. Take care of each other for this is a rare gift to find your mate." he smiled and retook his seat as Seth walked up to us. He wrapped the cord one up Sybaleigh's arm.
"I, Seth Harry Hale-Clearwater, as head of the Clearwater clan offer support and protection to this union.. May you never end a day angry at each other." He grinned at us as Jasper approached, jasper wrapped the cord once more uo my arm then looped it through the first pass.
"I, Jasper Whitlock Hale-Clearwater, as head of the Hale clan offer my protection and support. May you never Lie cheat or steal but if you must lie, lie in each others arms. If you must steal, steal kisses. If you must Cheat, cheat death and live happily ever after. The goddess knows you have earned it." then Leah approached.
"In my womb I, Leah Mai Hale-Clearwater-McCarty, carried you my daughter, Sybaleigh Waneta Hale-Clearwater-McCarty and I see that you are happy with Mary Alice Brendon-Cullen . I offer my support and protection to this union. There is no higher love under the gods then the Love of a mate and the love of a parent may your hearts beat as one until time is undone." with that she looped the cord once more up Sybaleigh's arm and through the first loop to secure it on her side as well.
"I Sybaleigh Waneta Hale-Clearwater-McCarty take this woman to be my mate. I know she has been waiting for me and I am so glad that she is mine. Now we will walk together through this land and I will love her with all my heart and soul."
The priest then stepped forward and took the two lose ends and wound them down our arms tying them in a firm square knot over our joined hands. " Linked by the gads linked by this cord you are bound together may the Gods smile on your union." we kissed then and the priest exchanged the wild rose circlets on our heads for circlets made of silver. With the same wild rose motif. "From something transitory to something permanent by this right your souls are one."
