MABON
The twins were ecstatic. It was their first celebration. Usually, Lena only celebrated by herself or with sisters in the familiar circle of her coven, since the twins were still too young. Now that they had reached seven though, they could understand and it was a good opportunity to pass on the traditions.
They already knew a lot anyway. They were accustomed to seeing their mother practice rituals and use potions to heal them. Beth had even promised to fall in her mother's steps and take part in a coven when she would be older. Liam was more into Kara's religion. Since they were born, Kara and she had tried not to force them into any of their beliefs, wanting them to make their own choice because they knew how it felt to be forced into something, but it was obvious both children became curious.
"Mom, do I put this here or there?" Beth asked Lena from the other side of the salt circle they had formed.
Lena looked up to see her daughter pointing the grass with crystals in her hands. Kara, who was the closest to her, helped her before she could answer.
"Here, baby." Kara showed how to place amber and carnelian next to each other then a rose quartz crystal after them, just as she had seen Lena do so many times.
Lena smiled, seeing how effortless it was for Kara to remember those little things. Those little things that counted more than she would admit. Knowing her beliefs. Helping her practice them.
"Why do we have to do this at noon?" Liam asked next to her, a bit of boredom in his voice. Lena rolled her eyes. He had asked the same question at least twice already because he was bothered to wake up early on a weekend.
"Today is the autumn equinox, which means it is the day when daylight and nighttime will be equal."
"This is the only day it happens!" Beth added excitedly as she came to their table to take the maple tree leaves they had harvested earlier in the week.
"But why don't we do this at night like you do with the other rituals?" Liam insisted.
They were filling up small jars with apple seeds and soils, chrysanthemum petals, beech tree leaves and bay leaves. And a white candle in the middle. The mix of smells was comforting. To Lena, it smelled like warm cozy afternoons with her mother at the same period, reading Irish tales while drinking hot chocolate and eating apple pie under a wool blanket. She hoped to create memories as such with her own family.
"Since it's the day that night and day are equal, we do the rituals at noon. Because it's in the middle of the day. It's all about balance. Do you understand?" Lena explained once again patiently.
Liam frowned then leaned down to smell his hand-filled jar. He smiled and nodded a bit, leaning against Lena to give her a hug. Lena circled his shoulders with an arm and brushed her thumb against his rounded cheek. He had dirt under his nails and crumbs of leaves on his shirt but Lena loved seeing her kids be this close to nature.
"Can you explain again why we have all these things in our jars?" Liam asked with curiosity.
Their children tended to be eager for knowledge of all types but Liam was scientific one. He wanted to know how everything worked, why we had to do this or that, what it implied. He wanted to know, simply. And Lena and Kara always indulged in his curiosity.
"The autumn leaves represent the death of nature because it's readying itself for winter." Lena said patiently as she showed it through the glass. "The soil represents Earth." She said as she shuffles the jar to show the soil. "The candles represent the light we'll be lacking during the darkness period, which lasts until Ostara in March." She said as she put the candle in the middle of everything. "And the apple slices and seeds represent the abundance. We're planting them to harvest them in Spring."
Liam nodded and admired his filled jar with wonder and smart eyes, taking into the explanations Lena just gave him, trying to memorize them. She knew he would probably scribble about it somewhere in his numerous notebooks. He liked to gather information and Lena loved him even more for that.
On the other side of the garden, Beth and Kara were waiting for them, two blonde heads discussing excitedly, sat cross legged on the grass in the salt circle. Lena lighted the sandalwood in the censer before blowing off the flame. She put a hand on Liam's shoulder. Green eyes met hers and she smiled reassuringly.
"Are you ready my boy?"
Liam's cheeky smile finally reflected his excitement. He nodded hurriedly. She knew he wasn't that reticent to the customs. He just wanted to understand everything first.
"Great! Now take your jar, put it in between your legs as you sat in the circle. I'll be right behind you."
Liam rushed over the salt circle, brown curls bouncing with enthusiasm as he sat facing his sister. Lena followed him with the censer in one hand and her jar in the other. She sat facing Kara, looking around to see if everything had been put to its right place. The crystals were placed in the right order. Each of them had a jar filled with offerings to Mabon, the Earth Goddess' son.
"Alright, now I'll start with the prayer and we'll pass the censer between us. Careful, this is hot so only touch the handle."
Kara smiled at her and winked. She was excited too. Lena usually kept this part of herself to her too, leaving her watch but never participate. It was a first for all the family and Lena was ready to let them step into her world. As she gave the censer to Beth, she closed her eyes and focused on the energy around her while she started reciting the prayer for balance.
"Equal hours of light and darkness, we celebrate the balance of Mabon and ask the gods to bless us. For all that is bad, there is good."
The wind rose around them, leaves flowing in the air. Lena heard the kids squeal in delight. She smirked. It was only starting.
"For that which is despair, there is hope." She opened her eyes to look at Kara who softened immediately under her gaze. They smiled lovingly to each other.
"For the moments of pain, there are moments of love."
The clouds covering the sun until now moved with the wind, creating a halo of light on the grass just over them. Sparkles of electricity started to flow between them. Lena didn't know if they could feel it like her. They certainly couldn't see it but she did. With mischief, she gave the censer back to Kara and after rubbing her two hands together, clapped them loudly. Yellow and orange sparkles appeared around them, floating between them like an invisible string. Beth and Liam gasped in surprise as Kara giggled seeing their reactions.
"For all that falls, there is the chance to rise again. May we find balance in our lives as we find it in our hearts." Lena finished with a grin. "Now you may light your candles."
Kara leaned towards Beth to light the candle in her jar for her, just as Lena did the same for Liam.
"Mom! This is awesome!" Liam said in astonishment. They were all admiring the energy cursing around them. "What is it?" He asked with wonder.
"This, my boy, is the energy we share. Our magic link. We are all linked to each other because we're family but also because we love each other."
"This is gorgeous." Kara whispered from across her.
"I know, love." Lena smiled at her, uncrossing her legs and leaning on her hands. "This reflects what we did together."
Kara's eyes glinted with emotions, the natural daylight reflecting in her hair, forming light locks of gold. She blushed a bit and looked around as the string between them seemed to flicker a bit more. Lena smirked. She scrunched up her nose then clapped her fingers together. The sparkles changed in colors and moved quicker. Beth squealed and leaned on Kara with so much excitement she had to contain it with two little fists on her mouth. Kara and Lena laughed.
"In some time, you'll be able to do it too." Lena said with a wink. Beth grinned at her, hopeful.
Liam put a hand on Lena's knee, his other was making his jar turn and turn as he watched the candle melt. "What do we do now?"
Lena looked at Kara who gave her a knowing smile. Liam was always impatient. Soft and caring but very forward.
"We wait for the candle to melt entirely. While it does, you can think of things that make you feel good."
"Like the bubbles in the bath?" Beth asked.
Lena snorted. "Yes, if you want. For me, it's spending time with you all."
Kara nodded. "For me," She started while brushing her fingers through Beth's blonde hair. "It's sharing things with you. Listening to music. Reading stories before bed."
"Baking on a Sunday afternoon." Lena added.
"Driving you to school."
"For me, I think it's celebrating birthdays and Christmas with Aunt Alex and Aunt Kelly." Beth said more seriously. Kara squeezed her against her.
"You're right! And spending time with Grandma." Lena added as she leaned closer to Liam.
"Don't forget Esme and Eliott!" The boy said, worried they would forget his cousins.
"Yes, and Esme and Eliott."
"And Aunt Nia and Uncle Brainy. And Grandpa J'onn." Beth said worried too.
Lena smiled then squinted. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" She saw Kara smirked in her periphery because she probably knew who was missing there.
Beth frowned then looked at her brother, thinking he could help her. Liam shook his head. "I don't know." Beth admitted, a little pained to have forgotten somebody.
"It's okay, baby. You can't think of everybody. We have a huge family." Kara reassured. "I think we are all happy when we spend time with Uzheiu and Khehthgr."
Beth and Liam gasped in sync. They both looked at Kara with sorry eyes. "Jeju, I'm so sorry!"
Kara chuckled and squeezed her hard. "It's okay. Like I said, there's so many people around us. It's normal to forget some. It doesn't mean you don't love them."
Beth frowned. "But I don't want to forget them."
Kara and Lena shared an alarmed look. The discussion was taking a turn they didn't wish to pursue.
"Tell you what, after we've had lunch and put away all this, we can give a call to them. So that you can both tell them what we did today. What do you think?" Lena asked.
The excitement came back on their children's faces thankfully. Both nodded with smiles and glint in their eyes. Silence fell over the family as they all watched the candles melt. When the candles were only piles of wax, Lena took the cap and covered the jar.
"Now that it's melted, you can close your jar. We'll keep them until Samhain."
"Why?" Liam asked instantly, his curiosity piked.
Lena stood up then gave him a hand. She rubbed at his knees and back of pants already stained with grass and soil.
"Because we have to stay balanced until then." She explained while taking his hand to rejoin the house.
"Why does it go away?" Beth asked behind them.
Lena looked over and smiled. Their curiosity couldn't be more welcomed. It meant they wanted to know more. Her heart was full.
"You see, the year is divided into two periods. Between light and darkness." Liam looked at her with wide scared eyes so she squeezed his hands. "Don't worry, it's normal. The world is balanced. We need darkness to see the light."
As they entered the house, Lena shut the curtains quickly, making the room darker then went to light a new candle. She took both Beth and Liam close to the candle and scrunched down to talk to them.
"Do you understand?" She whispered. "Without darkness, the light can't be seen."
Both nodded with understanding smiles. It was starting to click in their heads. Lena kissed them both on the head.
"That's why we need Mabon. He's in charge of balance. If he wasn't there, the darkness would exceed the light and it wouldn't be good for us."
Kara came behind them and circled Lena in her arms. "I think it could be good to tell them about the real tale behind it."
Lena looked over her shoulder, realizing herself that it would indeed be a great idea. When Lena had first discovered her powers, Kara had helped her research her origins, but also what it implied, who she was supposed to believe in. They both read a lot about the Wiccan gods and their tales. Mabon was one of them, and a very important one.
"You're right. We'll do just that tonight, before bed. What do you think, loves?" Lena brushed her hands into both blond and brown locks, as their children looked at her with wonder in their eyes.
"You will?" Beth asked at the same time Liam said, "Will there be sparkles too?"
Lena chuckled and leaned to whisper conspiratorially to him. "Only if you wish for them very much."
Liam squeezed his eyes shut and murmured please endlessly. Both mothers chuckled and shook their heads.
"Alright, now it's time to wash your hands, change your clothes and we'll eat lunch then call Uzheiu." Kara instructed and Beth and Liam rushed upstairs, too eager to eat so they could call their grandmother.
Lena leaned against Kara as they watched them go. "I'm so grateful for them." She whispered, emotions taking a toll in her.
"I know, me too, zhao. I love you three so much." Kara said as she hugged her wife against her and kissed her head soundly.
Lena turned in her arms and kissed her softly. Affection, longing, desire. It was all mixed up as the kiss deepened. Kara exhaled and smiled against her lips. Lena pulled away slowly, keeping their lips sealed until the very last moment. Forehead against forehead, they shared the same air. Kara was her definition of balance. Kara and their family. She didn't need more.
"I love you too, my sun."
Kara grinned so wildly it looked definitely like Rao had come down on them and cherished them with His presence. She then kissed Lena one last time before intertwining their fingers.
"Come on, we have to reheat the pumpkin pie before our two hungry monsters come down."
Lena smiled and followed her in the kitchen. Together, they worked to prepare lunch and set the table. There, in the Irish house that has welcomed her family for generations, with her own family growing there, sharing memories, passing on traditions, Lena couldn't be prouder. And happy.
"Alright, so this is the tale of Culhwch and King Arthur who worked together to free Mabon from his prison."
They were all under blankets in the living room. It wasn't cold enough outside to light a fire in the fireplace but the comfort of the dim lights with the plush blankets on them were already announcing winter. Lena had this huge grimoire full of Celtic tales on her knees, thankfully kept in place by Kara's hand on the other side, with their two children in the middle of them. Their belly filled, the twins' pajamas on, they could finally read the tale together.
"When he was a child," Lena started. "Culhwch had been cursed. He was to fall in love with the daughter of the Giants' king, Ysbaddaden. The thing was, Ysbaddaden was also cursed. The day of his daughter's wedding, he was supposed to die."
Beth and Liam gasped and curled up on each other.
"I know, terrible." Lena commented. "So you understand why he didn't want to marry his daughter and kill everyone who would approach his castle. Thankfully, Culhwch had a very brave cousin. It was King Arthur."
"The real one?" Liam asked, perplexed.
"Of course, there's only one King Arthur." Beth told him with a roll of her eyes. Kara chuckled.
"Yes, this King Arthur." Lena smiled. "Arthur promised to help him. With knights from Arthur's court, they traveled together toward Ysbaddaden's castle. They crossed forests and rivers. Encountered many enemies. Founding the castle was difficult. Ysbaddaden had used every possible way to hide his castle. But finally, Arthur and Culhwch found it hidden behind a huge herd of sheep. The shepherd warned them though. Ysbaddaden asked impossible tasks to those who dare present themselves asking his daughter's hand."
"Did he do it?" Liam asked, always the one to rush to the end.
"Shush!" Beth chastised her brother. It was Liam's turn to roll his eyes.
"Culhwch went to the castle anyway. His plan was to accept every trial Ysbaddaden would ask him to do."
Lena turned the page. The book was an old one, read by many ancestors. Her mother had read it to her when she was younger but she had only remembered the stories while reading them again once adult.
"With the help of Arthur, Culhwh succeeded every trial, one by one. The last one was to hunt a wild boar and find the scissors and the comb hidden in its ears because without them, Ysbaddaden couldn't prepare his hair for the wedding." She explained while showing the old drawings on the yellow pages. "For that, they needed the help of a magical dog, Drudwyn. But there was a problem. Only Mabon was known capable of making the dog behave. And Mabon was in prison since his birth."
"They had to free Mabon then." Beth reasoned.
"You're right. Arthur and Culhwch realized they didn't have other choice than to go in search for Mabon and free him."
"Where was he?" Liam asked.
"They didn't know. Mabon had been imprisoned on his third night because his mother, Modron, the goddess of Earth, angered the other gods. For that, they punished her and took his son."
"He must have been so sad." Beth said.
"What did they do?" Liam asked.
"With Arthur's help, Culhwch went in search for Mabon's prison." Lena continued. "You have to know, Mabon was capable of speaking to every animal. Magical ones too. The gods feared he would use his links with animals to return them against the men which would jeopardize the balance of the world."
The twins looked confused at that but didn't ask question. Lena and Kara knew the tale could be a bit difficult to understand for children but it was just a story and a part of the Wiccan tradition. They could grow learning about them and understand them better later. The details weren't that important.
"In their quest to find Mabon, Arthur and Culhwch found ancient animal after ancient animal. But not one of them had heard about Mabon's whereabouts. They were on the verge of giving up when they met the oldest salmon on Earth, Llyn Llyw."
"That's a weird name." Beth chuckled.
"It is." Kara agreed.
"The salmon talked to Arthur about a cave he encountered while he swam up the Savern river every year. From the river, he could hear Mabon cry on his fate."
"That's sad." Liam's tone indicated he felt sorry for Mabon. Lena squeezed him a bit closer to her.
"Without waiting, Arthur and Culhwch climbed on Llyn Llyw and swam up the river." She continued.
"Did they find him?" Beth asked excitedly.
"They did!" Lena confirmed. "They found Mabon in his cave and freed him. After that, Mabon helped them. He led Drudwyn to the boar and they found the comb and the scissors. They went back to give them to Ysbaddaden who wasn't happy to see them come back. He still didn't want his daughter to be married. Mabon helped them though and Ysbaddaden died when Culhwch and Olwen, the princess, married each other. Culhwch took the head of his kingdom."
"Yes!" Beth exclaimed with a fist in the air. The adults chuckled.
"And Mabon, eternally grateful to be free, promised to always care about the men and to balance the world between the men and the gods so that his power could be a service to both sides." Lena finished and closed the book to put it on the coffee table. Kara put her arm on the headrest to envelop them all, caressing Lena's nape affectionately.
Silence enveloped them for seconds before Liam turned his curious eyes on her. "That's why we need Him for balance. Like you said."
Lena nodded. "Yes, my very smart boy. This is why we need Mabon and why we cherish him today."
"That's so cool." Beth commented.
Kara laughed and tickled Beth on the ribs. "Yes, and there's more to the story but it's time to go to bed. There's school tomorrow."
Both children booed but didn't object more than that. Kara carried them both upstairs as Lena followed and put the lights off. They put Beth in her bed first and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, inah." Kara said as Lena was covering Liam up to his chin.
"Sleep tight, baby boy."
"Mom, I'm not a baby anymore." Liam grumbled lightly but smiled nonetheless when Lena kissed his nose.
"I know, you're both growing too fast."
"That was so cool today." Beth said towards her.
"You liked it?" Lena was amazed to see how it had changed their relationship. Their link was thicker now. Her children's eyes were watching her with renew admiration and acknowledgement. She could sense the gratitude and the love pouring out of them. It truly had been a wonderful day.
"It was awesome, Mom. Especially the sparkling." Liam said while showing explosions with his hands.
"And you haven't seen the Samhain ritual." Kara said with a smirk.
Lena chuckled and kissed him once again before crossing the room and exchanging her place with Kara. She kissed Beth on the forehead, murmuring a silent protection spell, as Kara whispered an I love you to Liam too.
"I'm glad you liked it. I love you both very much." She stood up to take Kara's hand and, together, they exited the room to walk silently towards theirs.
Once the door closed, Lena expelled a sigh of relief. She had feared her children wouldn't like the ritual, or at least find it weird. It wasn't the case at all. They had loved every minute of it and it made her feel so full of love.
"Are you okay?" Kara asked her from across the room. She was undressing herself.
"Yes, I'm just overwhelmed."
Lena pushed away from the door and approached Kara who was still sitting on the bed in her underwear. She circled her arms around her neck. Kara pushed her fingers past Lena's shirt and caressed the skin underneath. Her ocean blue eyes were glinting with love so bright it was astonishing.
"You were wonderful today." Kara whispered as if she was worried to scare Lena away with the truth.
Lena smirked, because she could only treat a compliment with derision. "Only today, huh?"
Kara chuckled and pulled her closer so her ear was against Lena's ribcage. "Yes, because I can tell you how wonderful you are every single day of our life, so..."
Lena blushed and found herself out of any comeback. She felt her heart quicken though and she knew Kara could hear it. Her wife chuckled once again against her then looked up, her chin gently pressing in the middle of Lena's cleavage.
"What? Not quick remark?" Lena shook her head, smirking. Kara smirked back. "I see. That means we can pursue what we were doing this morning."
Lena raised an eyebrow. "What were we doing this morning?"
Kara stood up slowly from the bed, a predator gaze fixed on her face. "You know," She shrugged, her hands dangerously caressing her hips. "Kissing and loving each other."
Lena chuckled and shook her head in disbelief, grinning from ear to ear as she pulled her in. "Kissing, huh? We did that?" She asked as they were nose to nose.
"We did." Kara leaned closer, almost putting her lips on her wife's luscious ones. "And much, much more than that."
Lena hummed in agreement then closed the gap. They kissed slowly first, sensually. Patiently adventuring themselves in the other's territory. Tearing every moan one by one until it was only desire left. When their tongues met, Kara's hands pressed harder. She snaked an arm one of Lena's legs and pushed her up, turning them around to ease Lena down gently on the bed. Their hips met in the contact and they both gasped in surprise. Kara kissed her harder then.
"Rao, I love you so much."
"I love you too." Lena simply replied against her lips. "Make love to me, zhao."
Kara pulled away just enough to look in her eyes. The blue had been completely eaten away by the black of her pupils. Lena smiled softly. She rubbed an affectionate thumb against her cheek. Kara was more than wonderful. Words couldn't describe her. Or how much Lena loved her. She was ethereal. Magical. Mythical. She was her other half. The one person she couldn't see her live without. Kara was the only one completing her like this. With understanding and care. With kindness and love. She was her balance. Without her, Lena would not be the woman she was now.
As Kara kissed down her neck, down her throat, down her navel, Lena realized one thing. Mabon and its meanings were all around them. In their love for each other. In the time they spent together. In the people they cherished. In the memories they shared. In the trials they had to face. Because without all of those there was no balance. And without Kara, she couldn't have balanced her darkness. She couldn't have seen the light like she was seeing it now.
So, she promised herself to cherish it even more every passing day. And to teach their children how to do it too. How to cherish everything around them. Because with love, all the obstacles seemed worth it. Her early life, her upbringing, Lex and Lilian rejecting her. All of it seemed worth it now. All the hours spent in L-Corp reading contract after contract. If she could keep this love close to her forever, if it meant she would be this happy, then she would do it all over again. Because light always balanced darkness. Because she was always meant to find peace at the end.
There, laid on their bed in Kara's arms as she slept peacefully, Lena knew she had finally found it. Balance. And how wonderful it was indeed.
A/N: Guys! This is just a quick story I've written yesterday morning bc it was Mabon and I kept thinking about how Lena would celebrate it so here we are. It's a short thing, not even proof read so... I just really love everything related to Autumn. Just so you know, the ritual and the tale at the end are kind of true (without the sparkling ^^).
Let me know what you think ;)
Thanks for reading and take care.