Part 1 Prompt - By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks! | |
Part 2 Prompt - The sequestered situation of this church seems always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. ~ The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving | |
Part 3 Prompt - Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. ~ Dr. Richard in Haunt You Every Day, Grey's Anatomy | |
Part 4 Prompt - Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care I'll pull down Annie's underwear! ~Halloween, the movie | |
Part 5 Prompt - Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake... ~MacBeth, Scene 1, Act 4 by William Shakespeare | |
Part 6 Prompt - In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin of the brook, he beheld something huge, misshapen, black and towering. ~ The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving | |
Part 7 Prompt - And the crowd goes wild | |
Part 8 Prompt - The dream reveals the reality which conception lags behind. That is the horror of life the terror of art. - Franz Kafka | |
Part 9 Prompt - One need not be a chamber to be haunted; / One need not be a house; / The brain has corridors surpassing / Material place. - Emily Dickinson | |
Part 10 Prompt - Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, / And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. - The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe | |
Part 1
Prompt - By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, Whoever knocks! There was something foul in her woods. For days she had sensed an evil presence lurking at the edges, straining, pressing, trying to get in. They were repelled, though, by the enchantment she had placed on the woods. Evil could not get through her spells, could not ignore her power and her command, and so it prowled on the outside, testing, trying, hoping to find some way inside. She knew they would not, for her power came from the same ancient source as theirs did. And she knew the inherent flaws they held, even if the rest of the world did not. Evil would always be subjugated to true goodness; it could never overcome, no matter what others might think. It was only the frailties and the foolishness of human flesh that allowed evil to have such power. When men found it easier to choose wrong over right, evil triumphed. Of course, evil knew this, which was why those temptations were wrapped up in pretty, little bows. Why work hard for your own things when you can just steal from your neighbor? Why have a sense or morals or ethics when you can lie and cheat and trick people into giving you what you want? Why cherish chastity and the sacredness of vows when you can lose yourself in a few moments of carnal pleasure? The world had degenerated around her, which was why she had retreated to her woods. She did not ignore everyone else, she did not turn her back on those who were truly trying; she was benevolent, she was helpful, she was encouraging and she truly wanted the best for mankind. But she could not leave herself unprotected, for evil would try to eradicate her and spare itself the fight. There had to be some sanctuary in this world where she could rest, where she could step out from under the burdens of her life, and simply have some freedom. The woods were that sanctuary; protected by charms, spells and enchantments as old as the universe and she was secure in the certainty they worked. Yet, she could sense another presence. Not the innocent animals that also made the forest their home, and not the occasional traveler, pure in heart and deed, which could pass through her forest unmolested. There was someone inside the protective shell of her trees, who brought death, destruction, power, greed and misery with him. She could not understand it. It frightened her, and she knew that to ensure the sanctity of her home remained, she must vanquish the intruder. First, though, she had to find him. It should not be hard, and yet it was not as easy as it should have been. She had seen the blood from the person's injuries; she had seen the marks he left behind as he moved, despite his obvious care to leave no trace. She sensed his presence, smelled him on the wind, and could see faint traces of his path hidden from the natural eye. Yet, she could not find him. Her days, and even her nights, were spent searching for him. It was exhausting, but it must be done. She could not allow him to remain longer than he already had. His presence could weaken the powerful defenses she had erected around her, and she knew the calamity that would befall her if those spells ever failed. It was on the second day of her search that she began to suspect that the stranger on her land had powers of his own. On the third day, when she had followed his trail only to have it disappear unnaturally, she was certain of it. She stayed a long time in that spot, staring where he should have been, suspecting - almost certain - she was being watched. He was staring at her, even though she could not see him. She did not speak to him, did not try to engage him that way, instead, she opened her soul to the area around her, seeking to find some trace of his power, of his ability, as well as search for a reason why he was here. When she left that evening, she had answers to two of her questions, and she knew how to better face the man violating her security. She slept during the day, to build her strength and as dusk fell upon her land, she gathered her needed items and went to the small clearing she knew he was in. This time, she could smell he was there, but she never looked at his hiding spot, she mentally and physically prepared herself for the battle necessary. For she would break his spell tonight and once she could physically see him and touch him, she would banish him, and his foul ilk, from her forest. It was hard going; the man fought against her, desiring to remain hidden. But his powers and fledgling abilities were no match against hers that had been honing for centuries. In the end, she broke his spell and revealed him. What she saw astonished him. Jason Morgan; a thief, a murderer, a blight and a scourge upon the people of the land, was in her forest. Wounded, blood continued to seep from his side and his pale skin shone with the sweat of fever. He was dirty, he was weak, but there was absolutely no denying that it was him leaning against a tree, staring at her. "How did you come to be here?" she asked him. She was ready, with sword and with other defenses, to fight him if needed. Yet, she knew it would not be necessary, or even a fair fight, considering he could barely stand. When he continued to stare at her, she flashed with fury and demanded, "Answer me! How did you come to be here?" "I...I ran," he answered. "There was a fight...I was running. I-I wanted to hide in the forest, but I...could not seem to run any further. It-" "It was as if something was keeping you back?" she asked, an eyebrow lifting in question. "Yes," he nodded. Then her defenses had worked. At least at first. Yet, how did that explain how he had made it past them? If they had kept him out, physically barring him from passing into the sanctity and protection of her land, then how was he now standing before her? "Why were you running?" she asked. "Men wanted to kill me," he admitted. "I imagine there are many who wish to kill you Master Morgan," the witch replied scathingly. "Had you ever come against me, I would have done the same." He shook his head, but did not reply as he finally succumbed to his injuries and the energy he had wasted hiding from her. As he fell to the forest floor, Elizabeth Webber, guardian of purity and endowed with power for centuries to ensure it, sighed and felt torn. The edicts of her training were clear; Jason Morgan had allowed himself to be seduced and tempted by the evil that filled the land. He had fallen in with a ruthless, notorious band of criminals who preyed upon the innocent people, robbing them of their sustenance and ability to care for themselves, perpetuating the cycle of crime and greed. He murdered to get gain and hold onto power, he followed the orders of one of the vilest men she had ever encountered in her time, and for that alone, he deserved to die. It would be so easy to dispatch him; she had a dagger in her cloak that would ensure his demise. Yet, she found she could not recklessly follow through on meting out the punishment her years of training and teaching instructed he deserved. Because the master who helped her harness her powers, who taught her the herbs that would both heal and perform magic, also taught her to follow her instincts. When she felt she did not know what to do, when her training had never taught her how to perform in a situation, the wise immortal who taught her instructed her to follow her instincts. She would be able to tune into those hidden truths that lurked everywhere and discern what to do. Her instincts were screaming at her that there was more to Jason Morgan than his outward appearance and infamous reputation. He had made it past her defenses. He had been repelled, pushed back and barred entry from her realm. And yet, here he was. Lying on the leaves and debris, bleeding in front of her. If her magic had not failed, something she doubted since she still sensed evil prowling the perimeter trying to get inside, then it had let Jason in. It was that thought that stopped her from acting, and also troubled her. To be allowed in, meant that there was something good inside Jason Morgan. If there was, then she would be wrong in ending his life. With a heavy sigh, she approached him, cautious in case her instincts were wrong. Yet, as she neared him, she knew that she was not. He was unconscious, he was in danger of being killed by his injuries, and a faint glow lit his skin. He was not merely pale due to blood loss, his skin luminesced. She reached out her hand hesitantly, feeling the heat of fever burn him, but also something more. She could feel his soul; his essence, and his memories, cried out to her. She was in the middle of saving his life before she realized she had begun. The very herbs and potions she had used to break his enchantment and expose him, were now being frantically used to help him. She sought to ease his discomfort, to provide him relief from fever and pain, and she shared of her essence in the hope of providing him with enough strength to get him off the dirt and leaves and to her home where she could use the full array of her knowledge and powers. It was not an easy fight, the evil that had come after him had worked powers of its own, attacking his body and weakening him. She, however, was determined he would not die. He could not die. For there was good inside him. Good she wondered if he was even aware of. There had been an injury and a loss of memory, he had turned away from a family who had fought the same battle as she did because he did not remember joining that cause, and been lured and seduced by the very evil he'd once despised. But his soul had not been completely corrupted. A part of his former self had remained, and had continued to fight, even against himself at times. His friends had turned on him, and it was their evil that had driven him to flee in defense of his life. That was what her magic had sensed. He had stood up against his compatriots' actions, had refused to act in accordance with them, and that act of defiance had ultimately allowed him to find shelter inside her defenses. If she could nurse him back to health, if she could help him understand why he had been saved, then perhaps she could now have an ally in her fight. But to do that, she had to save Jason Morgan's life when only hours before she had been determined to end it. She could only hope her magic was strong enough. | |
Part 2
Prompt - The sequestered situation of this church seems always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. ~ The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving He woke to warm softness. A thick, soft cover was over him, helping him burrow even deeper into the soft bed below him. The air was warm and scented, the smell soothing him, lulling him back to sleep but he fought against it. He had to be alert, he had to be careful. He tried to sit up, but couldn't. His muscles were weak, his body ached in protest, and the heat of the room made him feel heavy and lethargic. "You shouldn't move," a soft voice said from beyond the reaches of his sight. It was somehow familiar to him, but he couldn't place where he knew it from. "You are very weak and recovering. Your wounds have almost closed, but it would not do to open them." By the time the voice finished speaking, he could see movement near the side of his bed. The person, the woman, continued to advance until she moved into the light of the candle and he could finally discern shape. She was small, looking almost like a child in her long white dress, her thick brown hair flowing over her shoulders in waves. Her eyes were blue, a deep blue that seemed to glow in the room from a source other than the candle. They stood out in contrast to her milky skin, which also seemed to emanate light beyond the pale, guttering yellow of the candle. "Where am I?" he asked, a note of panic slipping into his voice. "You are in my home, Master Morgan," she answered. "In my woods. You fled here, seeking safety from those who tried to kill you. They very nearly succeeded." She came closer to the bed, actually sitting on the edge of it, trapping him by pinning the coverlet down. He should have been frightened, but they both knew he could easily dislodge her, or pull the other side out from his prison between the bed and the wall. Or, rather he could have if he didn't feel so weak. "You need sustenance," she told him, lifting a bowl from beside the bed. "Now that you are awake, you can take more than a little broth at a time." As she lifted the spoon from the dish, he asked, "Who are you?" "I am Elizabeth," she answered. "I am sometimes referred to as The Lady of the Woods. Come," she coaxed him, "you need to regain your strength." "The Lady of the Woods?" he asked in confusion. "You're a witch." "I am," she acknowledged, holding the spoon expectantly before him. He found himself opening his mouth before he realized it and she brought the utensil gently up to the entrance of his mouth. He swallowed tentatively at first, and was rewarded with the most delicious flavor. Not watered down and weak, the broth was rich and flavorful, filled with pungent herbs and the hint of meat. Once he tasted it, he could not seem to wait patiently enough for her to refill the spoon again and again. All too soon she replaced the spoon in the bowl and set it aside. He looked longingly at it, but she smiled as she shook her head. "You must go slowly, Master Morgan," she instructed him. "It has been three days since I broke your spell and finally found you. You had been in my woods four days prior to that. Despite giving you some broth while you were unconscious, it has been nearly a week since you had real sustenance. You must give your body time to adjust." "What's in the broth?" he asked. "Herbs," she answered, as if she knew exactly what he was asking. "For flavor, but mostly to help you heal. You were quite ill when I found you." "If you're a witch," he said, speaking aloud his thoughts, "The Lady of the Woods, then how am I here? I am not goodness." "I know, Master Morgan," she nodded, her voice sad. "I did not understand in the beginning either. You came to my woods to escape, but you were allowed inside because there is something in you. Something my enchantments recognized. There is a goodness in you, and that is the only reason I allow you to remain here and that I am helping you." "I would have expected you to allow me to die," Jason said honestly. "Or banish me from your woods where I'm sure there are those who wish to finish the task." "You made it through my defenses," she replied. "That means there is something you possess that neither of us was previously aware of. If you came here, then perhaps you can help. As I said, that is the only reason I worked to restore you to health." She stood and smoothed the creases from the covers. "Now sleep, Master Morgan." Her hand came up, hovering just above his forehead but never touching. Jason could feel the heat of her skin and the movement of the air as she caressed his cheek. "Sleep." His eyes fluttered, growing heavy, and the room faded from his view.
Every day he felt better, stronger and he knew it was because of Elizabeth's magic. He had been injured before and there had been some spells, some incantations, but they had never healed him this quickly. But there seemed to be more than just physical healing occurring; it was as if The Lady of the Woods was trying to heal his soul. Incense and herbs were constantly burning. Potions were continually simmering over the fire, and he would often wake to find her chanting quietly, the very air around them humming with unseen power. When he asked her what she was doing, she would merely say she was strengthening her defenses, making sure that the creatures outside the woods that continually clamored to get at them could not break through. Yet, he knew that was not all. Even though she let him out of bed and he ate at the table with her, she still fed him broth. It was not all he ate, but a meal never passed where he did not have a small bowl placed in front of him. He tried to refuse, tried to say he could no longer stomach the smell or the taste, but she proved equally as stubborn and said it was for his protection. Finally, after two weeks of her broth, and a week of being allowed to move around her home - but never outside - she came to him and declared that it was time. "Time for what?" he questioned as he saw her gathering supplies into a bundle. "You must be cleansed," she answered. "You've cleaned my wounds," he shook his head. "And allowed me to care for myself once I was out of bed. What do you mean cleansed?" "You fought against Evil, Master Morgan," she told him. "You told me how you refused to follow your band, that you refused to participate in the activity they had planned, and for that show of conscience, they turned on you. They beat you, they fought you, and they tried to kill you. You fought back, you fled, and it was that act that allowed you to come here. "But you still lived with Evil," she explained. "You embraced it, you let it fill you and become a part of you. You chose your actions based on your greed, based on the desire to fulfill the part of you that was corrupted. There must be a reckoning for that." He tilted his head to the side and asked, "A reckoning?" Setting aside her bundle, she moved towards him and said, "There are immutable laws, Master Morgan. Laws of Nature and the Universe. Laws that we cannot ignore. There must be atonement for your deeds, a cleansing to rid you of the evil. Or you cannot remain here. My enchantments will only protect you while you are still healing. Your body is whole once again; now it is time to heal your soul." "And what if I don't want that?" he demanded. "Do you really believe you can ever go back to your brethren?" Elizabeth questioned him. "They have been circling my woods for weeks because they want you. They don't want to welcome you back to the fold, they want to kill you. They want to destroy you. Even if I could bind them long enough for you to escape, they will not let you live. They will hunt. Do you want that?" He remained silent and she nodded, "But you cannot remain here as you are. You must face what you have done and make your peace." "How?" She shook her head sadly, "I do not know. I only know of the fact that it must be done, and where you must go. I...I cannot go with you. I can pray for you, I can try to help you, I have tried to help you." "The broth," he said in realization. "The herbs." "Yes," she admitted. "And I will bless you before you stand trial, but you must face it alone." "You think I can survive?" he asked, sensing that it was more than judgment to allow him to stay or banish him; it would be a trial for his very life. "You made it into my woods, you had your own powers that hid you from my sight, I have sensed a strength, a goodness in you that I do not believe you know you possess. You must call on that, Master Morgan." She paused and then said, "You must send up a plea, reach out to your family." "My family," he recoiled at the thought. "My family won't help me." "Your family had many opportunities to kill you, Master Morgan," she told him. "And by all dictates and creeds they should have. But they did not; because they sensed the same goodness inside you and hoped, prayed, called on every spell and power of help they could, that one day it would awaken and you would fight. It happened, and if you call on them...they will help you." There were so many questions he had, answers he wanted, but she picked up her bundle and informed him, "It is time. We must go."
"This is it?" Jason asked as he looked around. "What were you expecting?" Elizabeth asked as she set her bundle down and began to extract items. He looked around at the gentle pool collecting water tumbling over rocks. It was peaceful, it was serene and it seemed to glow with the same light that infused Elizabeth's skin. It hardly seemed to be the place where he would go on trial for his crimes and hope to walk away with his life. "I don't know," he shrugged. "Something more than this." "This pool is fed from an ancient spring," she answered. "The water bubbles up from the ground, comes over these rocks and collects here. There is no outlet for it; it merely seeps back into the ground in a never-ending cycle. This is sacred ground, Master Morgan. And it is where you will go." He looked over, "Into the water? It barely looks like it would cover my hips." "Looks can be deceiving," she cautioned him. "Do not underestimate the power you are against. Do not think that your strength or your arrogance can save you." She began lighting herbs, some were sweet, some were pungent and their fragrances combined with the smell of the land to create a heady experience. She walked towards him, held her hands over his chest and he felt energy infuse him as her lips silently moved. When she was done she looked up at him and he saw concern, and almost a touch of desperation light her eyes. "The only way you can survive, Master Morgan, is to admit there is something more powerful beyond you. That you are willing to follow that power, wherever it leads you." Then she stepped back, pointed to the water and bowed her head. He turned, taking off his cloak and stepping up to the water's edge. With a deep breath, he moved forward and immediately understood what Elizabeth referred to. The water was warm, but it grabbed at him as if with fingers, pulling him deeper into its depths. Panic hit him when he realized he was going under the water until he heard Elizabeth's voice echo through his mind, Do not struggle. The moment he stopped, he found he could breathe, protected by some enchantment. Once he knew he was no in danger of drowning, the true fight began. A litany of his sins unfolded, accusations, pain, burning, questions and despair filled him. He knew not what he was up against; just that it was strong and determined. It would not accept his guarded answers or partial statements, it demanded all from him. He was stripped, exposed and laid bare, made to see the pain and destruction that had come from his actions and he knew that if he ever returned to that life, he would surely forfeit his own. He did not know how long he battled, only that it drained him, made his flesh burn and his soul ache. Just when he was ready to cease, to accept his defeat and that he could not be spared, a lightness infused him. Pain was replaced with soothing, despair turned to hope and he felt peace and acceptance. He was pushed to the surface of the water and no longer did it try to pull him down. Once he could breathe air again, he fell to his knees, his strength gone. He struggled forward and just as he felt the dry ground under his hands, Elizabeth was by his side, reaching to help him. She pulled, helping him drag himself out of the water and as he collapsed on his back, she draped herself over him, her warm tears bathing his chilled chest. "You survived, Jason," she gasped out. "You survived." | |
Part 3
Prompt - Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. ~ Dr. Richard in Haunt You Every Day, Grey's Anatomy He was alive. Jason had actually survived the cleansing; he had made atonement for all he had done and lived. It was a blessed miracle and in her relief and exhaustion and love, Elizabeth could not stop her tears. She was drained from the spells she had performed, from the chants she had said while he toiled under the churning water, obscured from her view. Yet, she knew it could not even compare to how he must feel. He had waged a battle, more taxing and toiling than any physical fight. She must get him back to her home; she needed to give him elixirs and potions to replenish all he had lost. He was chilled and weak and it was up to her to protect him. Once he was safe, then she could rest as well. So Elizabeth stood and used the remaining vestiges of her power to pull him to his feet and begin the trek back from the center of her woods to her home. Jason was only able to help her some; the task of carrying his weight fell mostly on her. It seemed only fitting since she had been carrying his burden as well. Once inside her home, she laid him on her bed, and roused him sufficiently so he could strip off his sodden clothes. She built the fire, steeped some herbs and before he fell completely into sleep's embrace, he was able to take some sustenance and strength. Once she had done all she could for him, she made sure all was brewing for the morrow, and then she fell upon her blankets on the other side of the room. For the first time in two weeks, she slept deeply. The sun was high when she woke the next day and her body protested movement and consciousness. She groaned as she rolled onto her back, her arm drawn across her eyes and told herself that she truly must get up. "Are you well?" The unexpected voice had her sitting upright, scrambling off her bed and staring at Jason as he sat on the edge of the large bed in the corner. "You are awake," she said in complete surprise. "I do not sleep long," he answered. "I woke only moments before you." "How do you feel?" she asked him, walking towards him. "Your wounds?" "Are healed," he told her kindly. "Merely a little tender. I am tired, but unable to rest." "It will be that way for several days," she explained. "Recovering from all that happened. We must feed you." He wrinkled his nose, "Not the broth." "You must have some," she countered. "The herbs will help you recover quickly. But you need no longer eat as if you were sick. You may return to your normal fare." "Meat," Jason replied succinctly. "There is not much meat to be found here," she told him regretfully. "Others often supply me with it, but I have instructed them to remain away from here due to your presence. Now that you have been accepted, they may return." He frowned and asked, "You live here alone?" "I am protected here," Elizabeth told him. "This is an enchanted place, protected not only by the spells of me and my kind, but by the sacred nature of the land. Evil cannot enter, no matter how hard they try." "I entered," he pointed out. "Because there was good inside you," she answered. "You have vanquished the Evil you once embraced, and so are safe to remain." He was quiet for a time, focused on eating, but she could tell he was thinking. He had questions, and she knew that once he had sifted through them, he would ask. She ate, straightened the room and prepared for the rest of the day. There was firewood to bring in, her supplies to retrieve from the pool and vegetables and herbs to gather from her garden, but she did not truly have the strength for it. So she sat in silence with him, wondering how much different things could have been. "What will happen to me now?" he finally asked, breaking their long silence. "Where will I go?" "You will go nowhere," she told him. "Your former band will try to kill you should you leave, and you need to be protected as you learn your skills." "You mean...stay here?" he asked. "Yes," she told him, knowing all would be divulged now. "This is your home, Jason." "It's yours," he countered. "No," she said, holding up a hand to silence him. "It is yours. You built it." He looked around in surprise, his eyes darting from place to place as if he would somehow find familiarity in it. Slowly, he looked back at her and asked, "Then why do you live here?" "Because it was to be my home as well," she answered softly, almost sadly. "Before you were injured and could not remember your previous life, we were...we were betrothed." His eyes widened, but he said nothing. For that she was grateful. "Our families have long known each other, friends and partners in the fight against Evil. We were betrothed, and this was to be our land. The spring is sacred and needed to be guarded, lest those forces we fight against find a way to corrupt it and pollute it. In order for it to be protected by the chosen enchantments we would offer, we had to live here. You built this home for us; you were always skilled with your hands." She paused and looked out the window at the tree that shaded the house from the sun as it began its afternoon descent. "I hope I do not offend you when I say that magic was not always your strongest point, or where your interest was. You knew the rituals, you could perform spells - you proved you retained some knowledge based on the way you hid from me when you were injured - and you were eager to join the battle against those against us. But you always preferred physical to mental labor. You wanted to be active instead of patiently, sometimes tediously mixing herbs and ingredients. We were well matched by our differences. "You," she gestured slightly, "the prototypical hunter-protector. I content to tend the garden and perform the complicated rituals and spells that would be necessary to keep this land pure. This house was your wedding gift to me, built by our design to suit us both." "So you moved here after I was hurt?" he asked, his voice struggling with emotion. He was no doubt confused, hurt, probably even betrayed that she had kept this from him from the beginning. "Yes," she answered. "For by then I was already bound to the land...just as I was bound to you." "To me?" he asked incredulously. "You couldn't break it once I changed?" His anger grew, "Or were you pining for me, hoping I would remember who I was, give up my sinful ways and come back to you like my family was hoping I'd come back to them?" She swallowed and admitted truthfully, "There was some of that at first, but in time I grew to realize that you were not being willfully stubborn, you truly had become a different person. But I was bound, Jason. There were rituals our kind, our families and we had already performed. By the time our actual wedding ceremony would have taken place, we would have been deeply knitted together." She took a deep breath and then said, "Those bonds are for life, broken only by death. You may not have remembered making them, and you were not cognizant of the bond, but I was. I was still bound to you...I am still bound to you. I am bound to the land; it is my charge, my duty to protect it. That sacred spring is essential to us all, but especially to me. I cannot leave here, but neither can you." "So we'll live here?" he asked, lifting his brow and gesturing to the house. "Together?" Elizabeth flushed hot with embarrassment and looked away. "No. We are not actually wed, and therefore cannot dwell as husband and wife. While I have been healing you we were allowed to remain together; you are healed now, and so I must go." He scowled deeply, "You go? You're already living here. It would make more sense for me to find a different place, to build a different house." "No," she shook her head. "This is your home, Jason. You built it, by laws and rights it belongs to you. I have been living here in guardianship because your family offered it to me. That offer no longer is valid." "But what if I give it to you?" he asked. She licked her lips and said, "I do not want it." "What?" he demanded. "This was to be our home, Jason. We would share our lives here together, live as one while protecting the land and each other. We planned to raise our family here. While you were living amongst Evil, while you had turned away from your true self, I had come to some acceptance and peace with living here. But it always pricked a piece of my soul to be here without you. That is why these woods have always been so dark; my emotions have been tied to the land and I have not been happy." "And now?" he asked. "You are still just as lost to me," she answered, "for you do not remember, and I will not expect you to. You have much training to do, Jason, there will be people coming to aid you. Your...your family may wish to see you. I will go elsewhere." "Into the forest?" His tone was slightly biting, distrusting. "I am tied to the land, Jason," she answered. "I cannot leave, even should I wish to. I have accepted my charge. I will live near the water I am to protect, I will not disturb you; you need have no fear of that." "But what about a house?" "There is a place near the water," she answered. "I will go there tonight and I will return for my belongings later, but I cannot be here tonight." He tilted his head to the side and asked, "Why not?" "For we are not wed, Jason," she answered him. "We were very much in love and as each day passed, we longed to be together. However, we knew our oaths and our vows necessitated us remaining chaste until our wedding day. Your accident occurred only days before our wedding. You had come to the woods to work your enchantments over the land, but you also left your family's home to put distance between us so we did not succumb." She stood and walked to the corner where she had slept since his arrival and retrieved a warm blanket for the night, "While I know that you are not the same man, my heart still loves him very much. You look like him, you sound like him, and I can still remember the taste of his kiss and the feel of his hands. It is not merely for honor and propriety that I must leave, Master Morgan. I must distance myself from the man that inhabits the body of my betrothed before I forget you are different." Then she picked up her bundle and left the cabin, knowing she would forever be just a visitor to her almost-home. | |
Part 4
Prompt - Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care I'll pull down Annie's underwear! ~Halloween, the movie She could still remember the taunts. The fiendish cackles of the marauding bands who roamed the countryside, looking for victims, looking for helpless souls to torment. They fed on the misery of others, delighted in pain and suffering, and especially went after those who were their sworn enemies. Kill the goodness in the world and Evil could prevail. It was a consequence of battle they all knew and accepted, for after all, they were killing those monsters corrupted and ensnared by the darkness of the world. It was kill or be killed, and they had learned long ago that their creed of not harming others would only lead to their annihilation. She remembered the delight in the vile, twisted beings when she'd learned of her betrothed's accident. They knew who he was, they knew Jason was bound to her, they knew that the couple's charge was to protect the ancient waters, and they had gone after him. They'd meant to kill him, what they achieved was more than they'd ever hoped for. Jason had been injured, and while she had tended to him along with his family, there had been hope. When he woke with no memory of who he was, of the cause they were sworn to uphold, and he left, she had known that Evil already knew. They already knew he was lost to the cause of Good. Which was why they lain in wait for him, using their oiled tongues to entice him with pretty sayings, words of acceptance, and brought him into their fold. His desire for physical labor, his strength and his natural grace became assets to them, and Jason had embraced the group's immoral ways. While he didn't know why they were so pleased to have him on their side, he had aided them. Often in the fight against those he'd once stood side by side with. Until that night when the group had wanted to kill Elizabeth's family. For some reason she still couldn't understand, he had not agreed with their actions. He would not help them sneak into her family's house in the middle of the night and murder her family. Maybe it wasn't an honorable enough killing for him to attack someone unawares, or maybe the ancient oaths he had sworn to her and her father had awoken his conscience and kept him from following his band, caused him to actively try to stop them. While Jason had not taken part in the slaying, it had still occurred. On the night his cleansing was completed and power had radiated, pulsing from her woods and causing Evil to flee the area, they had known they had lost Jason Morgan. The next night they gathered, intending to inflict pain once more. That night they murdered Elizabeth's family. From her venerable father, a wise and skilled healer who had taught her the elixirs and herbs to use and the skills to save and protect others, to her two month old nephew who lay sleeping in his cradle. Her entire family was wiped out, leaving Elizabeth an orphan. Leaving her even more alone than she had been in the years she lived in these woods fulfilling her charge and duty. Her kind were growing worried for her, anxious to help her but unable to reach her as she was cloaked in grief. The sun would not shine in her part of the woods, and a terrible storm raged. The spring was troubled and sometimes overflowed its banks, sharing in her despair. She did not welcome visitors, she did not welcome aid, she shut herself off from all outside contact as she turned inward, mourning for her lost family.
It had been raining for over a month on Elizabeth's woods. The day after she left his home, the home that he wished her to have since she had lived there for years already, the rains began. She did not come to collect her belongings from his house, someone arrived that morning to begin Jason's training and the man's wife collected Elizabeth's belongings and began to take them to her. That was when the clouds gathered and did not dissipate. She apparently was unhappy with the fact, despite what she had told him, that he did not remember her or their betrothal or the vows they had made together. She had freely admitted to him that she had missed him - the man he used to be - and had wished for his return. She had told him she had to leave to make herself remember that Master Morgan was not her beloved Jason. Every day he would look out the window towards the direction she'd disappeared that night and scowl at the clouds. They were still there, in fact they seemed to be increasing, and the thunder could be heard continually. If she was going to have a snit over him not being who she wanted, the least she could do was be quiet about it. He tried to put Elizabeth Webber out of his mind. He focused on the training that he was subjected to day after day. Some memories of potions and oaths came back to him, unbidden from a recess of his mind he was not even aware still remained, and so he did not feel entirely stupid. He also felt useful as he told of the weapons and curses the band he once roamed with used for their vile purposes. If he was to remain hiding on this land like a babe behind its mother's skirts, then at least he could impart the knowledge he had since he could not lend the strength of his arm. He also worked on feeling at ease in the house. With her belongings gone, the home looked different. It smelled different and now felt too large. Without her herbs drying from the rafters, or her cooking pots lining the kitchen, the place felt wrong. It felt cavernous and evident that something, someone, was missing. It apparently was true that he had built the home for her, for he surely would not have made so large a place merely for himself. It was the reason he wanted her to live there, but also so that he wasn't haunted by picturing her moving effortlessly and gracefully through the house as she had while she was nursing him back to health. Her presence felt needed here, but every time he tried to tell someone he wanted to give the house to Elizabeth, they told him he could not. It angered him and it frustrated him, and soon he stopped trying, even though he did not understand why he simply could not gift it to her. Perhaps the elderly lady in front of him could offer some insight. She seemed kind enough, seemed to accept who he was now instead of searching for the remnants of her grandson, but he still wished to be the person directing the conversation instead of responding to her questions and introduced topics. He just could not seem to find a moment when she stopped talking long enough for him to bring up the topic of the house. Of course, the booming thunder outside was not helping matters. A person could barely speak over the echoing noise. After a particularly loud clap of thunder that actually shook the panes of glass in their frames, he set his mug down forcefully on the table and then felt slightly chagrinned when his grandmother tsked. "The poor dear," the elderly woman sighed, and Jason realized she was not chastising his near-shattering of his drink. "I imagine it has rained since she was told." "It's been raining for over a month," he grumbled, tugging on his shirt in discomfort. "Too long, if you ask me." "One cannot help the manner they grieve, Jason," Lila said in gentle reproach. "She loved her family very much and their separation has always been hard on her. I do not believe she had seen them in nearly a year before they died. The news of their passing hit her very hard according to the reports I heard." He paused and frowned, "Her family?" Pale blue eyes, mirrors of his, looked up in quiet surprise. "You do not know? Nobody...nobody told you? Yes, the night after your cleansing, her entire family was murdered." The night after she left; the night before the rains started. "I thought she..." he trailed off and shook his head before asking, "Murdered?" "The group you were with," his grandmother said softly. "They were pushed back by the energy that filled this place when you won your battle, and they were angry. They have long hated the Webber family, just as they have long hated the Morgans. They extracted their revenge on her for winning you back to our side." Jason looked at the older woman in horror. "They killed her family because of me?" "The Webbers were the family they wanted to kill the night you disagreed, the night you fought against them." "I...I did not know the family's name," he shook his head. "Only that...something inside me told me it was wrong. I knew I could not allow it." "You were bound to the Webbers, my dear," she explained. "There were rituals and oaths you promised when you secured her hand. They were your family, though you were not yet properly wed. Those you lived with do not understand our ways and only thought they could not kill your family, meaning the Morgans. They did not know you could not sanction the Webbers' deaths." He stood, dismayed by the knowledge and asked, "All her family?" "Yes," the older woman nodded, her grief for her friends clear. "Her parents, her brother and his family and her sister. Her grandparents were already gone. She is now the last of her line." "I must...excuse me, Grandmother," he apologized, "I must go." "Of course, Jason," her voice followed behind him. He did not know what he would do when he reached Elizabeth's house, but he could not sit in the home she had lived in and ignore her while she grieved for once again losing those she loved to Evil.
He could not believe Elizabeth called this a house. The place near the water was small, it was cramped and he could not imagine it kept out water very well. When he'd reached the wall of water signaling the rains, he felt as if he'd hit a solid structure. Grief, pain, misery and loneliness pelted his skin with each drop of water. Wind tried to push him back, darkness obscured the path; it was obvious Elizabeth did not wish for company. He pushed on, determined to reach her; needing to see her. What he saw when he finally arrived at the spring filled him with dread and terror. Elizabeth stood at the edge of the water, the reservoir no longer a calm, peaceful pool but a turbulent, angry cauldron. She was soaked to the skin, her hair plastered to her face, and her white dress muddy and ripped. Her head was bowed and he could feel the energy pulsing off her; he knew instinctively she was performing a ritual. Jason hesitated a moment, not wishing to intrude and also trying to formulate the words he would say to explain his arrival. It was when she drew the knife and held to her arm that his feet propelled him forward. He did not know what she was doing, only that he was too late to prevent the knife tracing across her skin and the blood falling into the water. | |
Part 5
Prompt - Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake... MacBeth, Scene 1, Act 4 by William Shakespeare "What are you doing?" They both spoke at the same time, both agitated and on edge. Elizabeth pulled away from him, removing her hand from his grasp, and walked towards the water. Jason reached out to stop her, but was forcefully pushed away, even though she did not physically touch him. The moment she touched the water, the turbulence ceased. The water became like glass, flat and smooth and it radiated outward from where she stood, only her ankles covered. Soon the entire pool was once more tranquil, no longer a churning, boiling entity. When the water was calmed, she stepped forward more. Despite the rain that still fell around them, the pool remained untouched. The only disturbance was the small ripples generated by her movement. She walked to the middle of the pond but the water only came up to her hips; different from when he'd sank completely under its depth. She stood there, her back to him for long moments, and then she leaned forward and washed the blood away. She knelt down, and Jason swayed forward, but was once again stopped. The water now came to her neck. He did not feel she was trying to harm herself, but he did not understand the ritual she was performing. No one, in the weeks they had come to train him, had mentioned this to him. He noticed the rain was diminishing; no longer a heavy, angry torrent, but a light, gentle refreshing touch. It ceased completely the moment she took a breath and lowered her head under the water. It was brief, and before he could even begin to worry she was standing up, water sliding away from her, leaving her dry as she returned to the edge of the pond where he stood. "Are you alright?" he asked as she approached. His eyes were searching for sign of injury, but even the mark on her arm where only moments before the blade had sliced through was gone. "I am fine," she answered him, though her voice was not strong or very convincing. "What were you doing?" he asked. "Once a year, a ritual is performed. I renew my bond with the spring, asking for its protection as I continue to protect it. It cleanses me, helps me bear my burdens for another year. It must be done during the harvest month, and I delayed as long as I could. I did not want solace too soon this year." "Your family," he said softly in understanding. "I am sorry. My grandmother just told me what happened to them. I'm sorry. I...I feel...it's my fault they're dead." She looked at him and asked, "Your fault?" "My...my grandmother said that the band that murdered your family...I...it was the one I was with," he admitted. "They killed your family the night after I was cleansed. They wanted to kill them before and I stopped them." Her eyes widened, "That is what you did to anger them? You went against them to protect my family?" "I did not know the family they said they wanted to go after, I only knew that something inside me could not let it happen. If it meant that I gave my life, then I would. I could not let them kill this family." As tears crested and rolled down her cheeks he shrugged uncomfortably. "My grandmother says it is due to the oaths I swore to your family when we...when he became betrothed to you." "I know that you are different, Master Morgan," she told him. "That you do not remember your former life. But the magic that binds us is ancient and does not recognize changes of the mind; it binds the soul. I thank you." Jason scowled at her, "Thank me? I'm the reason they're dead." "No," she shook her head. "The group that killed my family wanted their death for who they were. For the part in the fight against Evil they played." "But they went after your family that night because they lost me," he insisted. "Perhaps that is why they chose that night. But they would have continued to target my family regardless of you. It was not merely that they lost you to their cause; it was that the Webber family has fought against Evil for generations. They would gladly kill me as well." He did not like the matter-of-fact manner she spoke of death, though he accepted it for himself when his tutors had reminded him of the centuries' old battle that had been waging. She was too pure to be killed, too good to accept that her fate might include a savage death. She should not sound indifferent to such things. "I do not blame you for my family's death," she told him. "Because I am the reason you fell in with that band in the first place." He tilted his head, "What do you mean?" "Your accident occurred as you were traveling home from these woods. You came here in order to distance yourself from me so that we did not anticipate our wedding night. I should have been stronger, I should have conducted myself differently so I did not provide temptation to you, I should have returned to my family's home instead of stealing just one more kiss." She looked down and swallowed roughly, "I offer you my apologies, Master Morgan. I have carried the guilt of your injuries for many years, and will continue to, but I truly do apologize. If it wasn't for me..." "If it wasn't for you," he told her forcefully, "then I would be dead. You found me, and you saved me. Not just my life, but my soul. I do not remember my past, and I...I do not remember you, but my training is bringing memories I thought lost forever back to the surface. I remember rituals and I remember some of the connection I felt to this land, I can tell the others the weapons and curses used by the groups who follow Evil, and that can aid the fight. You made that possible, Elizabeth." She blushed slightly, and stepped back. "I am grateful you feel that way." Then she turned and walked into her home. The condition of the structure caused Jason to frown once again. She should not have to live in such a place. She was too good to be condemned to a hovel like this. He may not remember her, or the love he supposedly had for her, but he would not leave her in such a life. She deserved better than this, and he would use his skills to help her.
She wasn't entirely sure what he was trying to do, but she knew there was no stopping him. Even though she had tried. He did not like the house she was living in, and would not accept her assurances that she was fine there. Despite the obvious cracks between the planks of wood, her enchantments kept the rain out. Besides, she did not feel the need to cause more rain after soaking the forest for over a month. Her fire was perfectly adequate to keep the chill away on the cold nights. Jason, however, would not be dissuaded. He insisted that since she had left the home he made for them, that he would make a home for her. It was hard to say no; indeed it was hard to resist him at all. But she could not tell him the true reason she did not want a house he made for her. She missed their house, she missed what could have been. Her month of grieving had not entirely been about her family. She had accepted the loss of her relationship with Jason and had asked for help to co-exist with him. When she'd stepped into the water, she'd gained peace. Not just for her family's loss, but to accept the situation with Jason as well. The man she loved was gone, despite the things he remembered, and the skills he'd honed that reminded her of him. She would always be bound to him, just as she was bound to the land. He would have to remain here for his protection, and also for the oaths he'd sworn. They would always be tied, but they would not be together; she had finally accepted that. She no longer looked at him and saw the man she'd been in love with; she was gradually coming to know the man he was now. But she did not have romantic notions that he would, because of their forced proximity, fall in love with her. They would forever be together, yet apart. But walking through the forest with him, as she told him which trees he could cut to make her house, seeing him every day as he toiled and labored with his hands to craft her dwelling, having him help her prepare the land for the garden she would plant, bringing vegetables gathered from the garden by his home as well as meat he had hunted...it sometimes became too much. This was what their life would have been like had the accident not taken him from her. The meals shared together, the talks as they worked on their own tasks in each other's presence, the moments when she tended a blister, or he helped her reach something...they were echoes of the dream she'd lost with him. But she did not share that with him, because she did not want to make him uncomfortable. It was not his fault he could not remember, and it was not his fault his feelings had changed; she would not burden him with her struggles. She could only hope that her home was completed swiftly and then he could retreat back to his. They would share the forest, but not be forced to be in constant contact. "Master Morgan," she called to him, forcing herself to speak. "If you are hungry, there is food to eat." He set his tools down and turned to face her, wiping the sweat from his brow with his tanned forearm. "Why do you call me that?" "Call you what?" "Master Morgan." "It is your name," she answered as she stepped to the side, moving out of the way of the bucket of water he used to wash his hands and face before he entered her dwelling. "You called me Jason once." Elizabeth flushed and looked away, "I know. I should not have." "Why?" "Because...because it is intimate," she answered, and then swallowed. "I call you Elizabeth," he pointed out and she fought to repress the shiver that wrapped around her spine every time he said her name. "I called him Jason, and you are not him. I do not want you to feel as if I expect you to be." He looked at her, long and appraising and then replied, "That is partially it. But you do it to keep distance between us. You do not want us to become too close." "You are not him," she repeated. "Do you want me to be him?" he asked. "I miss him sometimes," she confessed. "But it does me no good to dwell on it. He is gone and you are here; this is the life I have been dealt." "Sometimes," he spoke, his voice dropping to a low note, "I wish I was him. That you would look at me and see him." "Why?" she asked. "You have accepted your life as well." "You are a very beautiful woman, Elizabeth," Jason told her, and warmth flooded her. "Yet, you are sad. I wish I could be him for you so you were not sad. That light would glow from you instead of being banked and tempered." "I would not have you be someone you are not," she shook her head. "Not for my sake. We must each live our lives for ourselves." "Never together, yet never apart," he shook his head. "Is that really any way to live?" Elizabeth looked at him and searched his eyes, then looked away and said, "It is all we have." | |
Part 6
Prompt - In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin of the brook, he beheld something huge, misshapen, black and towering. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving Elizabeth's house was complete. It wasn't as large as the house he'd built for the two of them to share, but she said it was sufficient for her needs and she appreciated his effort. In spite of the fact that it wasn't necessary. He'd helped her organize her supplies, laid up a stack of firewood now that the weather was turning colder, and ensured that she had enough food stored. Once he had done everything he could think of to spend more time with her, he had to concede defeat and return to his home. Where he pondered over why it bothered him so much that he did not see her daily. His training continued, he no longer felt animosity towards his family and actually could tolerate being in their presence, and he settled into his new life. It was different at first, suddenly having no desire to think selfishly, but to focus on others. The quiet solitude of the forest gave him plenty of time to reflect on his past lives, and he found himself wishing that he could remember more than fleeting flashes and feelings of the time before his accident. He would gladly trade the ability to remember in perfect clarity every sin he'd committed, if he could just remember his grandmother and his sister. If he could remember Elizabeth. His grandfather, a gruff, sometimes bristly, older man had kindly sat beside him one day and explained that it was only natural that he'd feel drawn to Elizabeth. She had saved his life. She had tended him and cared for him and prepared him for the ritual that brought him back to them. He had performed oaths and ceremonies on this land, and with Elizabeth, and being here on hallowed ground was bound to awaken the memory of them. But, his grandfather warned him, he should not confuse the memory of feelings with real feelings. If he discovered that the man he was today had feelings for Elizabeth Webber, then he should pursue them. But he should not do so merely because he thought it was expected of him. The older man's change in attitude was a little disconcerting to Jason, because he had been one of the ones pushing hardest for Jason to remember his past. Despite the incongruous actions, Jason did admit that the advice was sound. Elizabeth had seemed more pained than pleased when he said he wished he could be her betrothed for her sake so she was no longer sad. She told him she did not want him to be anyone beside who he was; he shouldn't try to be something different for someone else. Despite sometimes feeling like he wished for more of a connection to his past, Jason was happy with who he was. He had always preferred smaller groups, and sometimes would go off by himself to gain peace that he could not find in the large gathering of his band of cohorts. Being by himself in the forest was soothing to him. He liked working with his hands, he liked being out and active and training. It was jut that sometimes he did miss companionship. Not merely touch of a prurient nature, but merely quiet conversation. Like the kind he'd had with Elizabeth when he was working on her new home. He wished there was someone he could look up and find across the room, and simply know he was not alone. Whenever he had such thoughts, he immediately focused on Elizabeth. He was convinced he thought of her not merely because of their proximity, but because he was drawn to her. He did not wish to spend his evenings in his sister's presence, despite the fact that he enjoyed her conversation. He did not wish for the companionship of the single daughters of some of his trainers. He wanted Elizabeth, even though every time they met she was always trying to get him to eat more of that broth. He would sit at night, trying to think up excuses he could use to go visit her the next day. He could never think of any because he knew that she was self-sufficient; born of her nature and the many years of solitary living. Anything she might need, others of their kind delivered to her. She did not need anything from him. And so he stayed away, giving her the distance he knew she desired because it was hard for her to see him and not think of the man she was once intended to marry. But it didn't mean he couldn't watch over her and make sure she was safe. So he'd taken to passing by her house several times a week, hoping for a glimpse of her, but mostly - he told himself - to assure she was well. He would check the level of her firewood and one day, after discovering it was low, he delivered a large bundle of chopped sticks to her before the sun rose. She would no doubt know it was from him, but he didn't want to force her into conversation with him. To supply her comfort would be enough. Until he saw the stranger emerging from her house late one evening. The man was tall, though lean, and Jason caught just a flash of wheat colored hair before the man drew a thick cloak over his head. Elizabeth hugged him, and then stood outside in the chill evening air and watched the man disappear into the woods. Jealousy flashed through Jason so quickly it caught him unawares. It wasn't that he believed she was sleeping with the stranger; he knew the vows and oaths of their kind and knew Elizabeth's piety would prevent her from such a thing. After all, when she had been betrothed to him, they had not crossed that line. His accident had occurred when he'd traveled to avoid succumbing to temptation. It was merely that another man was sharing her presence that drove Jason crazy. She would give another man her smiles, her conversation and he was left on the outside. Wanting, but unable to have. But why couldn't he have it, he wondered. Surely they could be friends. His feet drew him forward, rustling over the debris on the forest floor and Elizabeth paused in the act of going back to her house and looked up. When she saw him, a look he could not interpret crossed her face before it was quickly brushed aside and she gave him a perfectly neutral smile. He wanted the smile the stranger had received, but forced himself to settle for what she offered. Until they became friends he knew he would receive nothing more than this. "Master Morgan," she greeted him, surprise and a little confusion in her voice. "I did not expect to see you. Are you well?" "I am," he told her, even though a part of him he could not define ached. "I...I came to see you." Her eyebrows rose at his admission, "Oh? Why? Surely you must know that I am well. But I do thank you for the firewood you left several weeks ago." "You're welcome," he told her. "I came to see you because I miss you." "You-you do?" she questioned. "I miss talking to you," he continued. "I know that it's hard for you to see me and not think of who I was before-" "No," she cut in gently. "I've made my peace with that. I understand that he's gone and you're a different person." "I...I enjoyed the time we spent together while I was working on your house," he confessed. "And I...we will be living in these woods together for years. I do not see why we cannot at least be friends. If...that is, if you want." "Friends?" Elizabeth repeated, her voice softer than before. It grew darker suddenly and she stepped back, opening up the door. "Yes, I...I suppose we could try to be friends. Tell me, have you eaten?" He shook his head, "No." "Would you care to join me?" she offered. "I thought Master Jacks might be staying, but he wished to return to his home." Jason felt as if he'd somehow done something wrong, but he accepted her offer. He followed her into her house, and was struck by how dim it seemed. Despite the roaring fire and the many candles, it seemed gloomy inside. His home would have been more than adequately illuminated, but he struggled to see in hers. She instructed him to sit at the table and served him a large plate of food. After fixing her own, she sat, placing a jar of spices beside him. "I know you enjoy more seasoning to your food," she stated when he looked at her in question. "Thank you," he replied. "My grandmother says that before...I did not have such tastes." "No," she shook her head. "You did not. Your brother was always the one who added to his fare; you were content with what you were served." "Are there other changes?" he asked her curiously. People did not always want to discuss his former self with him and sometimes he wondered what he had been like. She looked uncomfortable and then said, "While he enjoyed working with his hands, he was not quite as skilled as you. Perhaps that explains why you are more muscular." "You seem to know a lot about me," he stated. "Not just who I was before." "You are different now," she answered. "And I understand that. I do not seek for what I know will not be there. I observed you in our time together as you worked on my home. You are different now, but you are not complicated. That is one thing you still share with him; you are quiet men, but not hard to understand once a person knows what to look for." "And you've been looking?" Jason asked. "I have a slight advantage," she stated. "I understand the clues better. That is all." "Nothing else?" he pressed. The light in the room seemed to fade slightly as she stood from the table and turned away. "Nothing else." He had a theory about her and he decided to press it, "I had hoped it was because you were looking." She stilled and kept her back to him. "What? Why-" Jason stood and advanced towards her, "You are a beautiful woman, Elizabeth. You are kind, you are caring, and a man would be blessed to have you in his life." She trembled, even though it was warm in the room. "You don't...you don't have to do this." "Do what?" he questioned. "Tell you that I like your cooking, even if sometimes I don't want the broth? Or tell you that I like to watch you as you work on a potion, watching as you pull the corner of your lip in as you concentrate to achieve the correct balance? Or should I not tell you how I like to listen to you as you talk about the things that interest you and you share your passions and knowledge with me?" "You don't...you don't have to pretend with me," she pleaded with him. "I know you do not remember me, and I know you want me to be happy, but please...please don't pretend to have feelings for me that are not really there." He placed his hand on her arm, just under her shoulder, and gently turned her to face him. Waiting until she finally lifted her gaze to look at him he said, "Look at me, Elizabeth. Do I look like I'm pretending with you? That I'm toying with you?" She searched his eyes, and he felt parts of his soul unfolding before her. He could see moisture gathering in the dim light before she lowered her lashes and spoke in choked anguish, "Master Morgan...Jason...please, I think...I think you should leave." "No," he shook his head. "You need to understand, Elizabeth. You need to." He lowered his head slowly, giving her plenty of time to move away, but he knew she was drawn to him just as he was drawn to her. Their lips touched, softly, hesitantly, until he placed his hand on the back of her neck and brought her closer. Then it happened. Images flooded his mind. Memories washed over him. He could remember her laughter and her tears, her kisses and her touch. He could remember the words she'd pledged to him, and the sacred joy that had infused him when he promised himself to her. She filled him, completely and utterly. And he knew, in that moment, that he was even more in love with Elizabeth than he had been the day he asked her to be his wife. He pulled back and saw Elizabeth bathed in the brilliant light of the cabin, her eyes closed and the most beautiful, joyful smile he had ever seen caressing her face and he knew, because his soul was knit to hers, that she loved him as well. | |
Part 7
Prompt - And the crowd goes wild It seemed as if the whole world knew she was in love. Not just that she was in love with the man she had been betrothed to and who was taken from her in a horrible accident, but that she was in love with the man he had become. She wasn't entirely sure when it happened, for so long she'd looked at Jason and could only remember the man he'd been; the man who had loved her and pledged to her and who intended to share his life with her. Yet, it had been months now since she'd viewed him that way. It began to change after her annual ceremony with the spring. She found so much of her pain and her confusion washing away, but it wasn't an instantaneous event. Which was why she had sought to put distance between them. She could remember the man he used to be, but she found herself being drawn to the man he was. Not wishing to confuse proximity for feelings, and not knowing if she could truly trust her emotions, she'd withdrawn. But Jason's insistence that he care for her, that he build her a home since she was living in a shack had broken through to her. It was so like the man he'd been, but also different. Before she knew it, she was once again in love with Jason Morgan. Only, unlike before, he didn't remember her. He had not grown up beside her, had not known her family, and had not spent time with her as a friend. She feared that if she showed her emotions to him, that he would try to convince her of his regard and wish to marry her. He'd told her he didn't want her to be unhappy, and what better way to make up for all that she'd lost than by becoming her husband? She knew, though, that a marriage built on that would not last, but they'd be bound together for life. And considering the long lifespan of their kind, it would be a very long life indeed. It would also be a miserable life, and Elizabeth did not want that for either of them. Yet, when Jason came to her cabin and he spoke to her, when he said he wanted to be friends with her, yet she sensed so much more, it had all changed. Jason was not seeking her out from pity or a sense of obligation, he wanted to be with her. He liked her cooking, he liked listening to her talk, and when he followed her, and she knew, knew with every fiber of her being, that he was going to kiss her, she believed. It wasn't just all the talk of their past and him trying to honor oaths he did not remember. The man he was now still desired her. His kiss was everything she had ever remembered, but also so much more. He was a different man, and he wasn't shy and hesitant, but she didn't feel in danger with him. He was confident and sure and yet also gentle and respectful. And when he remembered, she felt it as well. She was just as surprised by all that came to him; she was just as overwhelmed and just as filled. Her joy filled her being, and the grief that she had shrouded herself with disappeared. The room was illuminated and when she opened her eyes to look at Jason, all she saw was blinding love for her. Even though it was dark outside and the land was under a new moon, the night was illuminated. The clouds were chased away and the sky was filled with light. They were standing under a new moon, even though one could clearly see as if it was a full moon. Jason looked down at her and the corner of his mouth turned up, "So you can control weather and light. It will always be easy to tell when I have angered you or pleased you. You, Elizabeth, shall have a distinct advantage in our marriage." She stared at him blankly and could only find the words to say, "Our marriage?" "Our marriage," he replied. "We are bound together, but this is not about fulfilling old oaths, Elizabeth. I want you as my wife. I miss you when you are not near, I see something and I turn to want to talk to you about it, and though you have been living in this forest for years, I desire to take care of you, to protect you. I want to marry you, I want to honor you, I want to provide for you." Tears gathered in her eyes, but the light grew even brighter and she smiled as she said, "Yes, Jason. Yes, I will marry you." They kissed once more, but drew apart when a screech rent the air. It was angered and it was frenzied and Elizabeth knew it was Evil. The group that Jason had lived with and others had been drawn by the light in the forest, and knew that it signaled a change, and knew that it would not bode well for them. A cacophony of voices rose up and Jason looked around, his countenance troubled. "They are angry," Elizabeth said unnecessarily. "They knew they lost you, but they were dispelled the night of your cleansing. Now, they are drawn, as much as repelled, by the light. They know something significant has occurred and some of them have probably guessed at its nature. Our union is something they fear, which is why they did not kill you when they found you after the accident, but sought so actively to turn you to their ways." "Why do they fear it?" Jason asked. "This land is sacred," she told him. "The spring, the forest...they are ancient and possess their own powers. Evil sought to corrupt them, to harness them, but there were enchantments placed here. Even before our betrothal. Our Elders knew that to truly protect the spring from the growing power of Evil, that someone must live here, must care for it and become bound to it." "And you volunteered for that task," he said in whispered remembrance. "You had been brought here as a child and you always loved the place." She smiled at him and nodded. "Yes. I volunteered to come here, to tend the spring and bind myself to the land in order to make stronger enchantments." "But it is a lonely existence," Jason continued the story, his brow knit together as if he was recalling the words spoken so long ago by his grandfather. "They did not want you to be alone. I did not want you to be alone; to never have companionship or love or a family." "You could have been a great warrior, Jason," she acknowledged. "Yet, you gave up that opportunity to join those ranks. I didn't accept your proposal at first, because I did not want you to be unhappy. You would not have been very active here; you would not have much to do-" "I would provide for you, I would care for you, I would be your companion," he replied, echoing the words he had used in argument to persuade her so long ago. "You do not like to kill or clean animals, you could take care of yourself, but it would be a dreary existence, and that is not the life for you. You deserve joy and happiness and..." He swallowed thickly and she felt warmth flood through her, even before he spoke the words. "You are nurturing and caring and would be a wonderful mother. I...I want to be the father of your children, Elizabeth." Heat coursed through them and they released each other and stepped back. It was this power that had drawn them together and was the reason Jason had traveled that night he was injured. There was something primal in the age-old traditions of their genders, something beyond perpetuation of their kind to continue the ancient fight. "We can wed in a month, correct?" he asked, his hands moving restlessly at his side. "We can perform the oaths and rituals in a month's time?" "We've made the oaths," she reminded him. "But...that was years ago," he countered. "And I have memory of them, but...but would it not be better to make them again? To have the full force of them when we wed? That is what Evil fears. Our union, the strength of our bond to each other and to the land would be powerful; it would extend beyond just the borders of the woods. The people in this area would be blessed. They would fight more against the power of Evil and resist. That is what the group fears." "Yes," she nodded. "That is what they fear. Those who are pure may pass through these woods and Evil cannot follow them. This land is a haven for them and there are times people escape to hide here. But they cannot stay forever; only our kind can truly live here. But power and protection would extend beyond the woods, and the people would be aided." "Then making the oaths again would bring more strength to our union," Jason stated. "Can the oaths be made again because so much time has passed?" "You should ask your grandfather," she told him. "He would know." "My...my grandfather?" he questioned. "Your grandfather is an Elder," Elizabeth smiled at him. "Didn't you know?" Jason frowned and shook his head. She laughed slightly, "He finally learned what he should have after your accident; he didn't want to push you. But he wanted to help you, so he was the person responsible for sending all your tutors. He visited, but didn't stay long. He's the patriarch of your family and he's an Elder. He will know." "How do I...how do I summon him?" he asked. "I know I can't leave." "No," she shook her head sternly. "You can't. You merely have to think of him, Jason. He will know." "And you?" he asked. "Do I merely have to think of you?" "I am always with you," she told him, stepping forward to place her hand over his heart. "We are drawn together, and once we are wed, we won't be apart. There will be much to do before the ceremony that will bring us together." "It cannot come fast enough for me," he sighed, touching her cheek with the tips of his fingers. "I love you, I remember you, and we've spent so much time apart already." "Soon," she told him. "But now you must go, Jason." He sighed once more, but this time it was fraught with tension. "I know. I just...I hate leaving you alone here. I know you are safe, I know your house is sound...but I do not like to leave you." "You must," she told him. "And do not sit in the forest all night watching me. You must rest and I must prepare. For you will need broth tomorrow." He frowned slightly, "Broth?" "Your oaths and pledges will drain you, Jason," she told him. "Emotionally and physically. We both will need strength." She pushed him towards the door and said, "Now, go." "I will," he laughed. "I will. You're rather bossy." She bubbled with laughter and stood in the doorway as he walked back towards his house. He paused near the tree line and she called out, "Go to your home, Jason. You need your rest and your strength." She sensed him leaving, his essence no longer filling her completely and she let out a contented sigh, yet it was also mixed with some sadness. She had been apart from him so long that it was hard to watch him walk away. Every time he left when he was working on her house she was torn to see him go. She missed him, but she also knew that he did not carry feelings for her and it was better if he was gone. Now...now it was so hard to see him go. She longed for the day when he would not have to. But she knew it would not be wise to dwell on such thoughts, and so, instead, she turned and walked towards the small pool of water. The water was not calm and flat, yet it was not turbulent and disturbed. The pool glowed; casting its own light up on the rocks and trees surrounding it, and it bubbled and bounced. Elizabeth sensed happiness, could hear the echo of a song in the water as it flowed over the rocks and fell into the pond. The land was rejoicing with her and as she sat, hearing the voice of the land she was tied to, she was able to forget about the angry voices beyond the trees expressing their displeasure. Her soul finally felt peaceful and the sadness that had enshrouded her for years began to slip away. | |
Part 8
Prompt - The dream reveals the reality which conception lags behind. That is the horror of life the terror of art. - Franz Kafka He woke covered in sweat and gasping for breath. Once he realized he was in his house in the forest, he collapsed back against the pillow and tried to calm his racing heart. As a byproduct of his accident years ago, he did not dream. Even when he left his miserable band of evil-doers and was cleansed, he still did not dream. However, since he remembered his love and oaths to Elizabeth and became betrothed to her once more, it seemed like he had done nothing but dream. Jason swung back the covers and left his bed, needing to put distance between himself and the place where he was tormented. He could not go back to sleep; at least not any time soon. He needed to stretch his legs, he needed to cool his blood and gain peace. He wanted to see Elizabeth, she was the first person he thought of when seeking peace, but knew that it was the middle of the night and he could not disturb her. He should not disturb her. In the weeks since they once again became pledged to each other and began making vows and oaths, he understood why he'd traveled in order to avoid temptation. His intended was alluring and captivating, even more so since their betrothal. She glowed with happiness, shimmered with the intensity of her love for him and he was drawn to her like he never had been before. He was ashamed that he had tasted the pleasures of the flesh in the time he'd been with Evil because he wished he could be pure for her, but also because he knew what would happen between them on their wedding night and he was anxious to experience it with her. For that reason, he could not go to her house or summon her. Not tonight; not when he felt so little in control of himself. Rubbing his hand over his face, he found himself wishing that he could speak to his grandfather. As an Elder, Jason found wisdom and comfort in the older man's words. When he confessed his guilt over his time with other women, his grandfather had not condemned him. He said that Jason had been forgiven, cleansed from those sins by the pool and none would judge him. While he would not forget what he had done, he was not held responsible for things that had occurred during that time. Evil had preyed on him when he was vulnerable and now that Jason had returned to them, it mattered not what had happened before, it only mattered what he did from now on. If he stayed true and faithful before the wedding ceremony, he would be rewarded greatly with Elizabeth. Tonight, he could use some of that gentle reassuring once more. A gentle tap at the door startled Jason from his thoughts and he whirled to face it, hoping that it was not Elizabeth. He knew they were connected and even beyond the changes in weather or light, he knew when Elizabeth was thinking of him. He would find his feet compelling him to her part of the forest and she would smile at him with such love before blushing and admitting she had been thinking of him. She would oftentimes appear before him shortly after he'd been thinking of her and wishing to see her. While that was beautiful in the daylight hours, Jason did not wish for it tonight. "Jason?" He stared at the wooden structure. "Jason, my boy? Are you there?" Forcing his feet to move, he opened the door and looked down at his grandfather wrapped in a traveling cloak, "What...what are you doing here?" "You summoned me," the older man explained. "And I felt your anxiety and left right away." He felt some of the tension ease from his shoulders and he stepped back, "Come in, Grandfather." "Thank you, Jason," Edward replied as he stepped inside the room. Immediately the fire sprang to life and warmth began to fill the cabin. He turned to look at Jason and said, "Forgive me, son, but I do not tolerate the cold as well as you do." "No, it's fine," he said with a shake of his head, still a little unsettled by the sudden appearance of the man he'd been thinking of. "I...I was thinking about you, but I...I hadn't meant to actually summon you. It's the middle of the night." "Jason, my boy," the older man said with a smile. "Just the mere fact that you were thinking of me was enough to alert me. And when I felt your anxiety, I decided to come. How may I help you?" "I'm fine," he denied. When his grandfather merely looked at him, Jason looked down and brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "I...I've been having dreams," he began. "Nightmares. After my accident, I couldn't dream. But..." He sighed and stalked across the room, "Ever since my betrothal to Elizabeth, I dream." "And they unsettle you," the older man surmised. He nodded, "Yes. I dream I take part in the murder of Elizabeth's family. I dream about your demise...all of the Morgans. I remember the night of my accident. I dream Elizabeth is taken. Or I am hurt again. The wedding does not happen." "Yes," his grandfather nodded sagely, his snow-capped head slowly bobbing up and down. "We believed you would be under attack. Evil had you in its clutches, Jason, and it lost you. People believe that Elizabeth is the stronger of the two of you, and while she may know some of the more complex spells and enchantments, you are powerful in your own right. You are mighty with weapons, you have a strong character, and you compliment her weaknesses. When the two of you join I have no doubt that you will gain even greater power. This is what Evil fears." Jason sat down, looking up at his grandfather. No one had mentioned any of this to him before and he felt anger that they had not. "They cannot physically harm you here," the older man continued on, gesturing to the surroundings. "They cannot penetrate the enchantments in place. But they have power of their own; dark, insidious power that they use to entice and exploit. You lived amongst them for years and they do know you. They are trying to torment you with images in the hopes of you ending your betrothal to Elizabeth, or making you flee the forest so they can attack you." He let out a breath and asked, "Will I always have these dreams?" The Elder sat down beside him and gently placed a hand on his arm, "I do not believe so. They are fighting against you now because they believe they still have a chance to get you. That until you are actually bound to Elizabeth there is still hope for them. As I said, you will gain greater powers when you are actually wed, and I believe the dreams will stop then." "You believe?" His grandfather sighed and gave a little shrug. "None of us has ever encountered a case such as yours before, Jason. None of the records I have searched indicate this has ever happened before. There is no sure knowledge and we are all trying to find our way through this. I can only go by what I feel and what guidance I receive." "I'm sorry," Jason sighed. "I don't mean to be angry with you. I know you are trying to help me." "We are," the other man assured him. "We are." "I think you should move to the forest until the wedding," he stated. When his grandfather raised his brow, he continued on, "I...I do not want anything to happen to the family. They killed Elizabeth's family...the dreams I have...I want you to be safe." The older man smiled fondly and said, "You always did take our safety very seriously. You were quite skilled with your weapons and your protection charms. I will discuss this with the rest of the family." Jason nodded in reluctant acceptance. "Please consider it. The closer the wedding gets, the more desperate they will become. My dreams are already reflecting their heightened frenzy." "Then we will come," his grandfather declared. "I will gather the family when I return and we will arrive later this morning." "Thank you, Grandfather," he said on a relieved sigh. A gentle hand patted his arm, "You are welcome, my boy. Besides, with the wedding only a week away, there are many things we need to do, and it will be easier to accomplish those things if we are already here. But I should prepare your grandmother for the journey, and there is a young lady outside your door who is quite anxious to see you and assure herself that you are well." Jason's head snapped up and he looked over at the door, "Elizabeth?" He was across the room in only a few strides and he opened the door to find Elizabeth standing by the garden patch, trying to appear casual although he could see the tension in the set of her shoulders. As soon as she heard the door she turned around, her eyes wide and anxious and she met him before he made it more than a few steps from the structure. Her arms wound around him, and he wondered if the fine tremors he felt in her frame were from the anxiety he could feel radiating off her, or from the early morning chill. "Are you well?" she questioned him as she pulled back. "I felt you calling to me and I was worried, but then I sensed your grandfather's arrival and did not want to intrude upon you. Yet I wanted to see for myself what was the matter." "I am well," he assured her. "I am sorry I pulled you from your sleep." She shook her head and told him, "Your burdens are my burdens, Jason. I meant that in my pledge to you. If you are troubled, I wish to help you." "Merely seeing you helps," he smiled. "And I spoke with my grandfather, and I feel better." Looking beyond him, she smiled tentatively and said, "Hello, Edward." "Hello, my dear," he smiled as he joined them outside. He carried Jason's thick traveling cloak with him and held it out to his grandson. "I see you have dressed warmly for an early morning walk; I think that is a fine idea." Elizabeth flushed and Jason understood the intended message. Visiting with his betrothed was acceptable, but it was not wise to do so inside the house. A walk was commanded, and Jason would readily obey his Elder. As he took his cloak, his grandfather smiled. "Well," the older man declared, "I should return to the family. We shall have much to do to prepare for our arrival later today. We shall see you later, my dear," he said as he kissed Elizabeth's cheek. Then he clapped Jason on the back and said, "take care, Jason. And remember, they are merely dreams; we have power over reality." Then he turned and walked into the forest and Jason was left standing in his yard with Elizabeth. He drew her close to him, tucking her hand into his arm and set off away from the looming structure behind them. They walked in companionable silence, but Jason knew that Elizabeth was curious about his grandfather's words, and what had troubled him so this morning that he'd called out to her. "You may ask," he told her softly. "You were agitated this morning," she replied, her voice equally as soft. "I felt it, and the spring outside my door was troubled. That is why even though you did not actually summon me, I came. For I was worried about you and wished to ensure you were well. When I sensed Edward's arrival, I let him go ahead of me, but I could not return home." She let out a breath and then looked up at him curiously, "You are having dreams? Do you think they are prophetic dreams?" "No," he shook his head. "Evil is trying to plague me as the wedding approaches. They either wish to draw me out, or they wish to cause me to call off the wedding. They do not want us to wed; we know that." "Yes," she nodded. "You believe your family is in danger?" "They killed your family," he said regretfully with a heavy heart. "I dream of that, I dream of my own family, I dream of you being harmed, of me... They are angry and lashing out, using my former connection to them and their insight into me from our time together. Edward hopes that their power will cease after we are wed." She leaned her head against his arm and the light dimmed, signaling she was troubled. He stopped them, because he did not wish for them to be stumbled and reached out to touch her face. "Do not worry for me, Elizabeth. I know they are merely dreams; they are simply troubling when I wake from them." "If they do not stop when we are wed," she said, allowing the light to once again return to the forest, "you will tell me, won't you? Do not hide this from me, Jason. I wish to help you." "I promise," he assured her. "I will not keep this from you. I do not think I would be able to. I merely did not wish to trouble you tonight for fear of turning to you in an inappropriate manner in an attempt to forget the images that filled my mind." She blushed so hard a rosy hue colored the forest, and Jason knew that he must change the subject. Edward had sent them away from the house, and he did not want to disappoint his grandfather by failing when there was only a week remaining. | |
Part 9
Prompt - One need not be a chamber to be haunted; / One need not be a house; / The brain has corridors surpassing / Material place. - Emily Dickinson He was afraid he was going to lose his mind. When he had been cleansed and a litany of his sins had played out before him, he had struggled in misery against the repetition of his wrongdoings. He did not want to remember all that he had done, all that he had caused, and yet the power of the spring would not let him gain absolution until he had begged for his life to end instead of being forced to relive the past. It was only when he was willing to forfeit his life that the torment had ceased. He was rapidly reaching that moment again, but this time his tormentors would not be lenient. The group that he had lived with did not want him to wed Elizabeth. They did not want him to forsake his previous ways. They did not want him to bind himself to Elizabeth and gain even greater strength in the fight against them, and they fought with everything they had to prevent the wedding. He could not sleep for the images that plagued him in the dark, and he was afraid he was beginning to have hallucinations during the day. The desire to be with Elizabeth was growing until it fairly consumed him. He itched to feel her skin, to do more than kiss her soft lips and he kept wondering why they must wait until they were wed. He knew it was the band's way of trying to get him to forsake his ways, and more than once he found himself grateful for his family's presence in the forest. Not only were they safe, but it seemed like every time he was around Elizabeth someone was always nearby. No doubt his grandfather had arranged their chaperones, knowing of Jason's struggles. It would all be unnecessary after tonight. As the sun set and the full moon rose, he and Elizabeth would be joined. She would be his bride; the pledges and oaths would be complete and they would complete the course they had set out so long ago. He only had to get through the next few hours. The women in his family had left this morning to attend to Elizabeth's preparations. Because her family had been killed, his mother had declared that it was their duty to attend her. There were blessings that needed to be performed on this day, and as her new family and people who had cared about her for years, it was only fitting that they complete the task. While the women were helping Elizabeth, the men in his family had taken on the task of preparing Jason. So many of their words and instructions were lost on him, though, because of the torment that was taking place in his mind. Threats, images, fear all coursed through him and he found it nearly impossible to think, let alone listen to anyone else. His grandfather must have sensed his turmoil because he gently placed a hand on Jason's father and brother's shoulders and shook his head slightly. "Let us wait until after he bathes," Edward stated. "I believe we should prepare to go." The one thing Jason had been able to concentrate on was that the wedding ceremony would take place near the spring. They were being charged with the task of keeping it safe, it was only fitting that their union should begin by the water they would be bound to for the rest of their lives. The walk through the forest was silent, and when they arrived in the clearing, Jason noticed that a screen had been erected in front of Elizabeth's house. It was not only custom, but important that they not see each other until they were wed, but it wasn't until Alan instructed him to remove his clothing that Jason understood the true reason for the opaque cloth. He was slightly hesitant, considering all that had occurred the last time he had entered the water, but his father and grandfather were insistent that as his final act of preparation for the wedding, he needed to bathe in the spring. It was another way of binding himself to the land and invoking the blessing of the ancient waters. The moment he stepped into the water, the voices in his head were chased away. He could still feel the pulsing presence of Evil outside the forest, but they were no longer able to torment him in his mind, whispering insidious phrases and taunts. It was so different from his cleansing that Jason better understood the power of this water, and why others would seek to harness it to their purposes. He did not want to leave here, for fear that when he did, the voices would return. "Go on, Jason," his father said gently. Looking over at the man who had sired and raised him, Jason finally felt the connection to him that had been missing all this time. His father loved him, even if he was not the most affectionate man. In his efforts to not overwhelm his son, he had removed himself too much from Jason's life, but the younger man was now able to feel all the love, hope, and feelings his father had for him as the older man began to circle the water and speak sacred enchantments. Jason washed in the ceremonial manner, feeling strength and harmony come over him. It was not merely from the water, it was from his father. A man who had struggled greatly and been deeply hurt by all that had happened in the past. When Jason emerged from the water, his older brother helped him dress, providing his own blessing as well. Finally at peace, he turned and knelt before his grandfather, ready to receive his teachings and instruction for the next phase of his life. Edward laid his weathered hands on Jason's head and once again, energy flowed into the expectant bridegroom. He could now recall with perfect clarity all that was said, all that was expected of him, all that would bless him and Elizabeth as they joined their lives together. It was the last parting bit of instruction that made Jason's eyes widen as his blood began a slow, building hum. And it made him very grateful that when his grandfather removed his hands, he lifted them and clapped, signaling that they were to begin. People began to fill the forest, arriving to share this day with Jason and Elizabeth and offer their own well-wishes and blessings. Jason stood near the prepared alter, his family by his side and waited for his bride to finally emerge from her home.
"You look lovely, my dear," Lila stated kindly as she made a final, almost unnecessary adjustment to the lace covering Elizabeth's head. "I am so proud of you, and so glad to finally welcome you to the family." Swallowing thickly, the young witch looked at Jason's grandmother and forced herself to speak, "Thank you. I thought this day was lost forever." "So many of us did," the older woman admitted. "I'm sad to say that I was amongst those. It was Monica who never gave up. She refused to believe that she would never get her son back and it was because of her that the family continued to offer our prayers and blessings for him." The two women turned to look at Jason's mother. She stood by the door and Elizabeth walked over to join her, "Thank you, Monica." "Thank you for saving him," the blonde replied. "You always had a way with potions about you and I believe...no, I know it was because of the strength and protection you gave him that he was able to withstand the cleansing. And now you will wed him, as it should have been all those years ago." Wiping at the tears that had escaped, her betrothed's mother tried to lighten the moment, "Now, we had better get out there. For not only must you be wed before sunset, but there is a man out there very anxious to see you." A thrill of anticipation coursed through Elizabeth as she knew that she would see Jason in only a matter of moments. They would be bound together henceforth, no longer having to be apart. She took a deep breath, and then nodded, signaling her readiness. Jason's younger sister went in front of them, offering up blessings as they walked. Monica and Lila followed behind her, their wisdom and strength surrounding Elizabeth. She missed her family greatly, knowing that her mother and grandmother should have been the ones to perform the rituals, but she was blessed in the love and acceptance she had always felt from Jason's family and knew that if she could not have her mother with her on this day, she would not have chosen anyone besides Monica and Lila to help her. As they came around the screen, Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat. Jason stood by his family, a look of pure adoration and love on his face as she approached. She felt warm under his gaze and she struggled to control herself, fearing that she'd give away the direction of her thoughts if she once again turned the forest a rosy glow. She felt like she walked forever and yet in no time she was standing beside Jason, placing her hand in his as they turned to face Edward. As an Elder and the patriarch of Jason's family, it was his right and privilege to perform the ceremony and he smiled at them with joy as he lifted up his hands and began the wedding blessings. Elizabeth felt like she should have paid better attention to the things Edward said; after all, these enchantments were for her protection and her help. However, all she could focus on was the man beside her instead of the man before her. She was acutely aware of the feel and the pressure of his hand as he held hers, she was drawn into the depths of his eyes when they turned to face each other, she felt the love he had for her flow off him and into her, and when he spoke, each word pierced her soul. When he made the pledges and enchantments that would forever twine them together, she felt buoyed and ebullient. When it was her turn, she paused for a moment, her tongue stilled as she tried to remember what she was required to say, but all it took was a simple squeeze of his fingers around hers and she was able to make her own pledges and invoke her own blessings upon their union. As the sun set, Edward smiled and joyfully proclaimed the pair husband and wife and Jason smiled at her as he touched his fingertips to her cheek and then leaned forward to kiss her. Though he kept it chaste, there was fire and passion in the touch. There was also power. Just as on the night Jason was cleansed, light pulsed up from the land. The spring bubbled and churned mightily, but not angrily. It glowed brighter than Elizabeth had ever seen and many were forced to turn away from its brilliance. The band of Evil that had entrenched themselves outside the forest screamed as if they were being tortured, and then after a blinding flash that came from the spring, their voices were quieted. Cheers and congratulations from the assembled guests filled the void and Elizabeth was hugged and well-wished by friends she had not seen in many years. A toast was given to the couple, and Jason and Elizabeth were encircled by the guests as one final blessing and enchantment were invoked. Then their friends and family began to depart, until it was just Jason's grandfather and grandmother left. "Jason, darling, I am so happy for you," Lila smiled as she hugged him tightly. Then she turned to Elizabeth and the new bride fought tears as she stepped forward to embrace the kind woman. "May your union be blessed, and may this land be protected and prosperous," Edward invoked as he hugged them both. Then they stepped into the forest, leaving Jason and Elizabeth alone in front of her cabin. It would be their wedding bower tonight. Jason tightened his grip on her hand and smiled down at her tenderly, but neither of them made any move to enter the structure he had built. They both seemed to be nervous about the moment, and Elizabeth wondered if he had been given the same counsel, the same advice, the same knowledge and instruction. For as much as she desired to truly unite with her husband, it was a bit frightening to know that tonight they were expected - nay, almost guaranteed - to conceive their first child. | |
Part 10
Prompt - Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, / And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. - The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe A warm touch on her shoulder drew Elizabeth from that place between dreams and awake and she took in a breath, before releasing it and burrowing into the warm covers. The hand on her shoulder stilled, and then became bolder in its touch. Warm lips followed the path and Elizabeth felt herself blush at the memories and feelings it stirred. The chuckle she felt rumble through her back let her know that she did not need to open her eyes; her blush had once again colored the air. "I did not mean to wake you, Elizabeth," her husband whispered against her skin. "You did not," she replied. "I was already waking. I like waking next to you." "I know," he replied and she rolled in his arms to face him. The grin on his face made her want to blush even further, or chastise him for taking entirely too much delight in teasing her. "I feel at a distinct disadvantage," she confessed. "I always betray the nature my thoughts take." "I like it," Jason told her sincerely, the grin being replaced with open honesty. "I did not bring innocence to our marriage, Elizabeth, but I feel like I am discovering this all over again with you." "You are," she told him simply. "For this time the act is accompanied by love. That is the difference. Before, you found physical pleasure; now you have an emotional bond that is deepened." His finger tips gently skimmed over her cheek. "My grandfather and father spoke similar words, but I did not fully trust their wisdom. I felt shame for not equaling your state." "You equal my love," Elizabeth told him, reaching up to take his fingers in her own and twine them together. "That is all I ever wanted from you. It is why I tried to stay away from you. When you told me you wished you could be the man you were before, the man I was in love with before, I feared that you would try to mimic his feelings because you thought that was what I deserved. That you would only pretend to love me, or only care for me a fraction of what I felt, and I did not want to be in an unequal marriage." "I think there is very little chance of our marriage being confused for that," he replied, a smile quirking his lips again. The early morning glowed with a rose color that had nothing to do with the approaching dawn. Burying her head against her husband's chest she felt her cheeks flame as his arms tightened around her. "It is nothing to be embarrassed about, Elizabeth," he whispered across her hair. "It was our wedding night." "The light..." "Yes," Jason acknowledged. "That was a little surprising, but not entirely considering everything else that occurred last night." "Everyone could see exactly when we joined by the light that once again shone from the forest," she protested. She did not care that it was expected of them to join last night, that they'd been almost guaranteed they would conceive a child. This was sacred, this was supposed to be between she and her husband. She did not like that everyone knew exactly when they consummated their vows. "It was only that first time," he tried to comfort her. "And I know that our family and our friends will be too respectful of you to ever mention it. They are happy for us, or else they would not have come and given us their blessings." "And a baby?" she asked, keeping her head firmly on his shoulder. There had been so many other things to consider yesterday, they had never spoken of the blessings and instructions they had been given both separately and together. His hand smoothed over her hair, disappearing into the tresses and then resting on her back. "I had not been expecting that particular bit of advice yesterday, but I am not upset by it. Procreation is an aspect of joining. It is not the only one, and I hope you feel the same..." He trailed off, no doubt finding her answer in the rosy hue of the room. There was a smile in his voice as he said, "Then we are in agreement. I love you, Elizabeth, and I meant when I said I want to be the father of your children. If that occurred last night, then it was meant to be. We were truly blessed, and we will raise our children in our ways and teach them to love and cherish this land. It does us no good to dwell on it, however." He was correct; they would know in time. Their lives together were just beginning and she was determined to enjoy all aspects with her husband. He no longer had to leave; she would no longer miss his presence and wish the night to pass faster so that she could return to his side. The moments that had before unsettled her - caring for his wounds, fixing his meals, going about her household tasks - because of the inherent intimacy of doing so in his presence, could now be relished. She knew he would not expect her to be his servant, but there would no longer be awkwardness amongst them as they co-existed in the same home. She sighed in pure contentment and moved closer towards him. His arm tightened around her and he said, "You are cold." "Sorry," she apologized, seeking to move her feet away. He trapped them with his and said, "No, I forget that you chill easier than I. I do not feel the cold as I used to; it is because of my accident. But you.." Jason trailed off and lifted his hand. She heard a crackling and turned to look over her shoulder and watched in amazement as the fire came back to life, growing in intensity and instant warmth. Faster than she could have been if he had simply put more logs on the fire, she was warmed and basking in the lazy bliss next to his side. "You learned something new," she smiled up at him. "I had Edward teach me," he admitted. "I watched him do it several times and was always amazed at how quickly the warmth spread through the house. I wanted to learn it so I could take care of you, for I remembered you always tucking your hands into my cloak." "Your grandfather once tried to teach me," Elizabeth confessed, "but I could not master the enchantment." "It was more complicated than I thought it would be and I would have given up if it had just been for me," he told her, his voice dropping to a low note, "but it was for you. So I continued on." She was touched by the sentiment, by the love of his action and soon they were once again lost in the expression of their emotions.
After a blissful week together in their honeymoon house, they moved to the house Jason had built for them all those years ago. Elizabeth had left the dwelling believing she would never return to it for anything more than an occasional visit with a man she was bound to but would never be together with. She was quite happy to be wrong. Now blessed with Jason's return and his love, the house no longer felt like a prison containing her in misery. It was the home it was meant to be. His possessions rested beside hers. The two of them moved together in harmony and purpose. She no longer felt lost and small in the dwelling, but was at peace and knew she belonged there. This was what she had lacked for so long and had craved, but resigned herself to accept was lost. Her days were no longer filled with solitude and emptiness, but were blessed by the presence of her husband. She shared with him her favorite walks, her favorite rituals, and also explored the woods, finding delight through his discoveries that she had often overlooked. She no longer merely subsisted and made do, she felt alive and anxious for each new day. Although Elizabeth had lived in the forest for years, she discovered that her wedding had wrought new changes upon the land. Though she had tended and cared for the forest, bonding with the spring and performing yearly rituals, the place where she lived had never experienced its full potential. While a solitary individual could be the spring's caretaker, the mere fact that were now two people bound to it and charged to watch over it, had truly blessed the land. Though it was months before the actual season was to occur, Spring had come to the forest. New plants blossomed and bloomed. A rejuvenation settled over everything, and animals returned to the forest that Elizabeth had not seen in some time. She knew that the people who lived outside the forest's boundaries would be blessed as well. For the land's richness would not be contained merely inside the enchanted sphere. Rains appeared, preparing the land by providing plenty of moisture, and with Evil repelled and chased back, people felt safer and were more willing to care for themselves and each other instead of merely getting by. The entire land had been blessed and everything was increasing. Including Elizabeth. The prophecies had been correct; she had conceived her wedding night. It was slightly daunting, to add impending motherhood to her new duties and tasks she was learning, but Jason's grandmother and mother visited her often and their calming presence helped assure her she would be well. She would not be alone in this role, not just with the women of Jason's family there to watch over her, but with her husband beside her as well. They would face this new experience together, growing and learning and relying upon one another. They would also be blessed by the spring. The ancient water was there to guide them, teach them and help them, and Elizabeth knew that they, and their family, would be enriched in their days spent caring for it. This land would once again be as it should be, protected from Evil, but also providing for those who lived nearby. A truly blessed place for all. The End |