Hawthorn Realm Chapter Four

Hawthorne Realm
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Chapter Four
Word Count 848

Three days mark the Trinouxtion Samonii.
Blodeuwedd, heed our call.
Three Nights mark the End of Summer.
The Crone fast approaches.
Great Father, come to us.

As we invoke the spirits of wood-lands all.
Mark the four Hallows:
Nuada- who wields the Sword of light.
Lugh-who wields the Invincible spear.
Dagda- and the cauldron of plenty-whom only the brave may partake.
And the Lia Fail-Stone of destiny-whom will only speak upon a true Kings touch.

Born to the day of Samahin.
Awaits the mating of Dagda and Morrigan.
Awaken Arianrhod and give the spirits of life to Oengus mac ind-Og.
From the breath of Anu
We bless the land fertile.

Form the breath of nine maidens.
We rejoice and open the Hollow Hills.
The Tuatha De' Danann shall leave the Sidhe and walk the Earth.”
The haunting strains of the invocation carried on the wind to the lone figure of a man. His destination, the Dhá Chíoche Dhanann. (To the layman the paps of Anu.) Despite the absence of visible light, he moved swiftly as none other could. Nature, bending to his will, removing all obstacles as he passed.

Reaching the foothills of Dhá Chíoche Dhanann, the invocation, the sparkling music of the crwth complimented by subtle nuances of the flute, rose from deep within the mountain herself to greet him. The Feis, the celebration of the dark, was now under way.

"Greetings, Arch Druid Rührselig, blessings of the season upon you." The trees and branches parted as a great stag, its antlers entwined with snakes and wild berries, detached itself from the base of the cliff. It snorted, then focused its black eyes on the man.

"Greetings of the same to you great Cernunnos. We of the nine tribes are humbled by your presence." The man pushed back the cowl of his cloak. “The Feis of Samauin begins tomorrow, but night has fallen in the North, and Oíche Shamhnahas begun. I humbly ask your permission for admittance to the Sidhe."

The great stag pawed the earth, then stepped back into the shadows. A heart-beat passed. A man, brown hair twisted into a hopeless tangle, stepped forward. His face was weathered-wizened, his white beard entwined with snakes. Upon his head the antlers remained. A simple tunic of forest browns and greens covered his body. In one hand he held a wooden staff intricately carved with the symbols of the ancients and all manner of creatures of the forest. In the other, embossed with a golden stag, a silver cauldron.

"Yes, Arch Druid Rührselig, we shall enter together.” He smiled. “But we both know you do not need my permission.” The man’s dark eyes glowed with a diffused golden light around the irises. “In a fortnight I shall take my rest and await life anew. But first,” Raising the staff he peered into the darkness, “I must call to my children." He spoke quietly under his breath. None but Rührselig would have recognized the call of summoning.

Around them the air became alive with the sound of humming as though thousands of bees were descending on them. The trees bent inward as the shee-gaoithe, a whirlwind created by the summoning, surrounded them. It passed quickly.

The darkness cast by the night disappeared as hundreds of small fey appeared, dashing madly about lighting fire pits and torches, all the while their own bodies casting a warm golden illumination over the area. A dozen men and women of the Tuatha De' Ann, dressed in regal clothes and bedecked with jewels no mortal king could hope to achieve, had also appeared.

"Welcome my friends." Cernunnos boomed.

“Sé do bheatha 'Cernunnos, Hail Cernunnos, Sé do bheatha 'Arch Druid Rührselig, Hail Arch Druid Rührselig,” The response came as one voice, “Is onóir dúinn a bheith anseo. We are honored to be here.”

Cernunnos flung out his arm holding the Silver cauldron. It floated gracefully to a stone table already laden with golden dishes over-flowing with rich delicacies. As it came to rest, seating itself upon a raised dais in the tables middle, a dozen varieties of exotic fruits spilled out from within.

"Eat, my friends. Enjoy this most auspicious occasion, from without,” he waved his staff and a great doorway appeared in the Dhá Chíoche Dhanann, “or within. You are my guests. But first some business to attend.” He turned to the Arch Duke, “And you, my friend, I have heard tell of your proposed journey to live for a time in the other world of man. You must enlighten me further."

"And so I shall, but first let us get comfortable. Some food a little wine. Or perhaps a little food and a lot of wine." He began walking towards the opening Cernunnos had created.
The horned God laughed, his antlers rocking wildly from one side to the other. “Yes, let us partake of the resplendent bounty set forth, and then time enough for speak, for –“ Cernunnos placed his arm across the Arch Dukes shoulders; “I do enjoy your company like none other, Maudlin."