~~ Greetings traveler, and welcome to my tower.~~
Startled at the soft melodic voice that seems to emenate from the very shadows themselves, you look around the room trying to ferret out the source.All you can see in this tower room are the very few objects that are illuminated by the glow of the massive fireplace. The two wing backed chairs that sit angled in front of the hearth, the rough stone of the fireplace itself, the rug in front of the chairs. As you venture further away from the door, you can faintly see the outline of the curtain draped for poster bed, illuminated by the branches of candles on either side.Also at the foot of the bed is a very ornate trunk carrying a heavy padlock.
~~You are a brave one indeed, to enter the tower of a druid unbidden.The villagers tell tales of those who have angered me in the past. Yes..you must be brave, or foolish.Or are you one who does not believe in the ancient magic?~~
Out of the shadows comes a small dark lady wearing a white velvet dress, adorned with gold piping and gold lace at its wrists.Her midnight colored hair is long and curly, and even before you see her face you know that she is pale and has hazel eyes. This is how the villagers, the superstitious folk have described her to you. They have told you to beware, that she is one of the old ones who follow the druid ways.She is not to be trusted..
~~You must be weary after your journey. Here, come and sit. she gestures to one of the chairs by the hearth Will you join me in a glass of wine? Or is ale more to your liking? you notice now, that next to her chair, is a table on which is sitting a book, and a tray holding glasses and refreshments. In return for my hospitality,will you listen to my tale?~~
You allow her to pour you a drink,making sure to drink of the same beverage that she does.And also, making sure that she drinks first. She notices your nervousness, and you see her smile. ~~Be not afraid that I have poisened you. I could not impart my tale to you if you were dead.Now could I?~~ feeling chagrined, you agree.As you feel more safe, and the alcohol begins to warm you, you rest back into your chair. " Tell me you tale?" you implore
She begins to speak...~~Long ago,before the Christ God came to the Emerald Isle, there were the old Gods and Godesses. They were all we knew, and we loved them dearly.Each person had their own patron God or Godess.Mine was the gentle godess Erin,protector of the forests and all that dwell there.~~
We had a happy life then. I was a maid of twenty, and had just married my life long love. He bore the name of the great bard Taliesin. Then, the king's men and their priests invaded our village. They were sent to make everyone a christian,those who would not comply would be burned as heretics. So,miserably we removed all traces of our pagan lives, and each hung a cross in our home. No longer could we hold our festivals, for fear of being branded a witch,mage or heretic.Several were burned in this dark time,others took to the woods hoping to be free there. They too were hunted down and burned in Christ's name. After a short time,life returned to normal.Or what then passed as normal.~~
Only I and a few others kept the druid traditions alive in secret.Not even our families knew,for fear of endangering their lives.But we all knew that the day would come when our secret would be out, and we would be made to answer for our crimes.But it happened more suddenly than any would realize. I went one day with the other women to collect herbs, and others such simples. Occasionally,I would hear "witch" being whispered about. I tried to find out who they spoke of, but never did hear. That night, as I sat and sewed by the fire, and my husband sang and strummed his harp, I felt that all was right with the world, and was content.~~
Suddenly,the door slammed open,knocking the cross off the wall. I remember thinking that in the druid ways, that was a bad sign. The king's men yelled at us "Which one of you is the heretic?" I trembled, fearing my secret had been revealed, and wondered when I had been followed to our secret meeting place. I clung to my husband in fear,wondering if he knew. It only took one look into his tortured eyes to know that he did indeed know,but would not tell. They threatened to burn us both, so I turned to my husband and gently kissed him. Pulling away I proudly declared " It was I. I am your heretic.You may burn me, but the beliefs will live on in others." I was grabbed, and bound hand and foot. But then,in an instant, I realized that my husband had been grabbed and bound as well! They were going to burn him too!~~
We were both dragged to the burning post in the center of town where kindling was ready to light. Back to back we were tied to the post.Crying,I grasped his hand.He was about to die for my beliefs. "I know what you're thinking he said, and I don't hold you responsible.If you are to die, I want to be with you rather than be alone.I love you,Ciahanna,mine. Never forget that.Beseech your godess to reunite us someday." Then the flames started licking at my skirts, and I could hear his screams.I prayed to Erin,asking to be spared pain,and to be reunited with my love in the following life. I could feel the flames licking my face and body,but I felt no pain. Taliesin was already silent and slumped behind me. Then, I remember that I awoke here.~~
In return for sparing my life,I guard this forest and its inhabitants. The godess has promised to reunite us one day,when the world is safe for magic again. So here I wait,imparting my tale to those who will listen. she turns to you Now traveler,all I ask in return for my hospitality, is that you leave a little bit of space in your mind and heart for magic to live and grow., she gets up,and seems to receed into the shadows,only to return with a celtic cross Here are the old and the new,intertwined.Wear it you will be safe. She leads you down the staircase to the door, and tells you not to stray from the path.Once on the path, you look back for the tower, but it is no longer there. But the very wind seems to whisper~~Godspeed traveler.Go in the safety of Erin~~
~Thank You for visiting my page.If you would like to tell me how you felt about my page please feel free to e-mail me at the address on the bottom of the page.~
Yours,
~Lady Twilight~
~~Links to the Lady's Loves~~
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