The Strangling

He nodded and took the moment to absorb the sight of her by the fire. When he joined her, he watched her sew, quietly. She kept glancing over at him, a half smile playing around her mouth.

"What do you smile at?"

"You.” Her eyes sparkled.

He hoped that she would always have that smile, no matter what happened.

"I will,” she said. “For you."

He froze when she answered his silent concern and then chuckled softly. She could sense his thoughts.

"You are going to ask me if I am ready to accept the task and all it represents."

"I am, but this certainly hastens the matter."

She smiled. “Something changed. I began to sense you, too."

"I'm glad.” Again, he was filled with pride.

"I go willingly, remember that.” She grew serious. “There is just one question I have to ask."

"Yes?"

"What if I am not the one?"

His chest constricted; his heart felt heavy. If only it were so. If only she could walk away from this and live a peaceful and happy life. But he knew it; as sure as he loved her beyond life itself. As sure as he knew it was his duty to take her to that dreadful place and put her in danger.

"You are the one, Maerose.” He reached over and kissed her cheek. “Your connection to The Strangeling, together with your inner strength and beauty, have made you so, but I should rain curses upon the gods for making it this way."

Her beautiful blue eyes lit up, and a breathless laugh escaped her. “Bron, sometimes you say the most confusing things, and yet I believe that was a compliment."

"It was a compliment. One from a man who is falling deeply in love with you."

Her expression softened, her lips parting as she thought about his words. “And I love you, Bron.” She lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed it. “I trust you to lead me in this ... and in all things."

He nodded. “You are ready to move on, to recognize your own powers. Tonight you will commune with your goddess, the moon goddess, and she will fill you with her power."

Her eyebrows lifted slightly, but she didn't pass comment, and hastened her speed with the needle and thread.

* * * *

The moon was high in the sky when Bron told her that the time was right. He took her hand and led her out of the cave, into the night and onto the mossy grass nearby.

"Do not be afraid,” he said, as he lifted both her hands in his, facing her in the soft, pure light the moon bathed them with that night.

"I am not, truly.” She smiled and squeezed his hands. What he had told her of the ritual made her want to be a part of it, to follow the other women who had been introduced to the secret sisterhood. She wanted to see and understand, to absorb the rich female powers that might be vested in her by the goddess moon. Anticipation leapt inside her, like some living, breathing thing. This was her adventure, and she greeted it with open arms. She knew she would feel different on the morrow, when they had to make their way to The Strangeling, but for now, she welcomed what she would learn and become.

He kissed her tenderly and then stepped back, an arms length from her. “Open your awareness to all that is around us, see the magnificence of nature, recognize her gifts.” He raised his hands, gesturing around them.

Maerose looked with fresh curiosity, remembering the things they had discussed earlier that evening, noticing the way the moonlight highlighted the sheen on the rock of the cliff face, and danced between the tree trunks, picking up the different textures of nature here and there. Beyond that, she saw Bron's veil glistening in the moonlight, a cascade of captured light, creating a circle within which they were enclosed. He had described the need for an enmeshing circle during the ritual, but in different terms.

"We stand within the circle you have created,” she commented, wondering if she had noticed it rightly.

"Yes.” He smiled. “The veil is all around us and will serve the dual purpose of harnessing the attention of the moon goddess tonight. Do you remember what else I told you?"

She nodded. Loosening the ties at her throat, she opened the cloak she wore. Beneath the garment she was naked, and the cold night air dashed against her skin, quickening her to the core. Her skin raced with sensation, but she did not resist the cold, for he had told that she would be warmed through soon enough.

"You look so very beautiful."