Together Forever: A Druid's Curse

by Leslie M. Joyner

  “Aye Captain. Have they said yet why they were adrift?” Llew asked as he set the food on the table.

  “They claim to have been attacked by some of the men on a ship. These men were consequently killed. They faced a lynching from the others. So the captain of the ship had two choices, hand them or set them adrift.”

  “How long were they at sea?” Llew asked as he poured water into the goblets of gold.

  “They didn’t say, but by the looks of them I would say at least two and a half weeks. “Ah! Here they are now. Please be seated ladies, your dinner awaits you.” The captain gestured to the table. Before them was laid a feast so magnificent that they could find no words. There was roasted chicken, duck, and lamb. The vegetables were stewed… cabbage, carrots, potatoes, corn… and the fruits were to numerous to count. This much food on a ship could mean one of two things. Either the captain himself was a member of royalty or a favorite of some king or queen.

  They ate until they could eat no more. When they were finished the first mate showed them to their cabin, so that they could rest until morning. It was the first night of peaceful sleep that they had in weeks. Ariana was the first to wake, at first she did not know where she was and almost panicked before she realized that they were on board a ship and not adrift in the small boat.

  A knock came at the door, but Ariana would not answer it for fear of what happened the last time she had opened a door. Instead she woke Gwynn. It was the captain with trays of food for their breakfast…

  “You lovely ladies have slept the day away. It is almost evening. Since I had not seen you since last night I decided to bring you supper or should I say breakfast.” The captain said with a laugh as he walked into the cabin and began to arrange the food on the table. “This was very kind of you Captain, but I’m sure that we could have found the galley ourselves. You do not have to wait on us, after all you are the captain.” Gwynn said bluntly, feeling bad that the captain was serving them. They were but passengers on his ship and nonpaying passengers at that.

  “Nonsense my lady, you are my guest, and is only proper that I serve my guest the best way I know how. Besides it gives me a chance to be with you beautiful ladies instead of on deck with all of those ugly sea hands.” The captain said this jokingly, for none of his men were ugly, indeed the sisters found everyone on the ship quite handsome.

  “In that case Captain, I insist that you stay and dine with us, and if you have already eaten we want you to stay, so that we may hear of your great voyages until you can longer stay awake.” Gwynn was glad that he had brought them their supper. She felt that she could trust him, and his men, and if it were not for her destiny to join the order upon returning home, she could definitely imagine spending the rest of her life with him. “I will accept your invitation. I just hope that my stories do not bore you to death.” The captain seemed to enjoy the thought of reliving his exploits, especially to three ladies such as these.

  While they ate, the captain-spun tales of his travels in the orient were he hunted the great tigers of India; riverboat trips were he fought hand to hand with the deadly crocodile. His favorite story seemed to be of an old man who said he knew all of the questions that any man could ask. But when you asked the old man a question his answers were always in the form of riddle so that you were no better off than you were before. The old man was cunning enough to always ask for payment in advance, and an agreement would always be made that no matter what the answer, the payment was his. The captain also told of his travels to Egypt, and other African places were he met the most interesting of people. Some were giants that reached nearly eight feet in height. Others were pygmies whose height barely reached three feet. Around midnight the captain could see that the ladies were getting tired, so he bid them goodnight…

  “Will you have breakfast with us in the morning, if we promise to get up?” Corra wanted to hear more of the captain’s tales.

  “I will, but only if you ladies will share with me your adventures that have brought you this far from your home.” The captain grinned a boyish grin, as if he knew that they held secrets that he would finally learn come tomorrow.

  “We will, if you’ll have some more oranges like the ones we ate earlier this evening sent to the cabin.” Corra loved the oranges; they seemed to give her a renewed life that she had not felt since the Roman soldiers had captured them. “Very well then. I will send Llew with the oranges, and I shall see you in the morning.” The captain bowed as he left their cabin.

  “And exactly what do you intend to tell the captain, Corra.” Gwynn was scared of what the captain might do if he found out the truth of their power that they did not understand, or really even know how to control. Would he be as kind as the other captain and set them adrift before his men lynched them, or would he join them in the slaughter?

  “You can tell him what you want, but leave out the way the men died. We could face death again if anyone ever finds out.” With the harshness that she spoke, Corra knew that Gwynn spoke the truth. Ariana remained silent as she had since they had arrived on board. The night came to an end as the sun’s rays burst into their cabin and awakened them.

  As they dressed a light knock came at the door. Gwynn was next to the door to find Llew waiting patiently. “The captain is ready for the morning meal, if you are ready, I am to escort you to his cabin.”

  Moments later they had arrived at the Captain’s quarters. The table was just as elegantly set as the first night that they had arrived. Llew who said little but smile a lot joined them. It seemed that the only ones who talked were Corra and the Captain. Gwynn listened carefully to make sure that her sister said nothing that could endanger their lives.

  After breakfast they walked on deck, as Corra continued to tell the captain of their capture by the Romans and their escape to northern Gaul. After her tale was finished, the captain sighed. “I am very glad that you ladies survived that terrible ordeal. It had been a joy having your company the past few days.

  “I only wish that it could last longer.” The captain turned to the horizon, the sun glittered yellows beads on the captains coal black hair.

  “Does that mean that this leg of your sea voyage had come to an end and we will be reaching land soon?” Gwynn asked, hoping that it was not their journeys end with the captain that he was talking about…

  “Yes, we will be landing late this afternoon. “The captain continued to stare into the horizon, a tear form in his eyes. “Where exactly is it that your destination has brought you, and for that matter, us.” Gwynn questioned him. “My homeland, and yours, Northern Briton…”

  “We are finally home.” Ariana whispered her first words since boarding, and they all stared into the horizon where one could see a faint object in the distance that could only be there home…

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  They docked in a sea town that was unknown to the girls. Considering that they had been gone for a long time, it did not surprise them that new towns had formed. It did not take them long to find out how far from home they were. “You're sure that it is only four days journey to the village of Saverbia.” Gwynn was much more composed than her sisters were. Someone had to be if they were going to find out the information they needed in order to return home.

  “If you go by horse it is only four days, if you walk it may take six or seven days journey.” The blacksmith told them. He could tell that they had been away for a long time and that they wanted only to return home and see their family and friends.

  “Where can we get supplies for our journey?” Gwynn asked hoping that it would not be to far. She was anxious to start, just as the other two were. “I can sell you horses, and Dea two houses down can help you with any other supplies you might need, such as food or clothing.” The man was jumping at the opportunity to sell some of the horses that he had had for two weeks and no one wanted. “Thank you, but even though it will take longer to walk, we must take that route because we do not have the funds to purchase horses and supp
lies, it is one or the other and for a journey food is always the better choice. Thank you for the directions and sending us to someone who will have supplies.” Gwynn gave the man a coin, and turned with her sisters to Dea’s.

  There they purchased dried meat, meal traveling clothes and water pouches. They slept in the blacksmith’s stable until daylight. As the sun’s first beams rose they were cleaning up their morning meal and packing. Before the sun reached its morning apex, they were on their way home. They walked for several days and saw no one, only the animals of the forest and meadows. On the end of the sixth day, as the sun was slowly descending, a small house was becoming visible as they traveled onward. It was getting dark, but the joy that they had of being so close to home overwhelmed them, and they began to run towards the house. They reached the small wooden cottage just as the sun disappeared for the night and the moon to rise to its fullest…

  Gwynn knocked on the door, knowing that under Celtic law they would be given shelter and food for the night. There was no answer. She knocked again, but still no answer. “No one is home.” Ariana said with disappointment and sorrow, “Can we stay here anyway Gwynn? It’s late and we have traveled a long way today. I’m sure that whoever lives here wouldn’t mind if we slept inside as long as we don’t bother anything.” Corra was tired and had been hoping that they could find a hot cooked meal and a warm bed to sleep in for a change from the cold hard meat and ground. “I suppose it’s all right.” Gwynn was reluctant about entering a house that was not theirs and that belonged to a stranger.

  They entered the cottage, which smelled musty as if it had been closed for many months. Gwynn stumbled around in the darkness and found a single candle at a table near the door. She lit it. As the light from the candle gave off a faint glow they could see why no one had answered. The former occupants would never again answer their door. Ariana ran out of the cottage and began crying. A rat scurried across Corra’s foot and she screamed as she followed Arainna outside into the night. Gwynn remained inside staring at the destruction of a family's home, and their skeletal remains. Slowly she walked out into the fresh night air. “Do you suppose anyone still lives in the village?” Corra was beginning to wonder if any of their people had survived the Roman attack, in which they had been captured and taken away. “I don’t know. I can only hope and pray that someone survived.” Gwynn said knowing that someone, at least a few had to have had survived.

  None of them felt like eating so they built a fire for warmth and went to bed. The sun began to peak out of the night and they slowly awoke from a restless night of sleep, in which they had terrible dreams of all that had transpired since the time of their capture. They did not bother with breakfast. They just packed what little they had and began their last day’s journey. Around sunset they began hearing sounds that were so familiar to them…

  The sounds of their village, there were survivors. They began to run, for they knew that just over the hill they would find, maybe not all of their family, but at least many of their friends…

  They topped the hill and from there they could see the bonfires of Belenos, marking the moving of the cattle to the fields. They began to run again as fast as they could, knowing that they were still miles from the village, but also knowing that their excitement would carry them as if they were riding on the backs of birds in flight.

  As they reached the edge of the clearing a young man saw them approaching and alerted the elders. Wondering why someone was walking out of the woods instead of being in the celebration, the elders gathered a few of the young warriors and went to meet the running figures as they entered the clearing and were illuminated by the firelight and full moon. “Halt! Who travels at this late hour?” Cried Macroth, the leader of the warriors.

  At the sound of his voice Corra knew that they were home at last. She stopped and returned his call by singing one of his favorite songs of the ancient warrior Lugton. In an instant he knew that it was his Corra returned to him after so long… Macroth ran to her as the other followed. The sisters were lifted upon their shoulders and ran back to the circle of bonfires. The celebration of Belenos was accompanied by the homecoming of the triplets. The bonfires raged on for days. Slowly things returned to the normal slow pace of a herding village.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  As the days passed and the sisters settled into their old routines, they told the stories of their journey through Gaul and on the sea. In the past they were considered special, just for the fact that never before had a woman borne three daughters and all three survive past a few days. They did not fear their friends and family, so they told the horrid accounts of the instant implosion that had saved their lives. Slowly the cool winter days heated into the warm spring days, giving way to the feast of Beltain. As the day of the festival approached the high priest, Lugton, approached them…

  “The others and I have given this great thought. We had even discussed it before you were taken away, and now it seems as if the gods have already written it in the records. As you know, you have special powers, which could have only come from the goddess Carman. We would like to make you a part of the High Order. Although you will not receive the rights and privileges of full Druid priest, you will become closer to the gods, and therefore furthering your call to them by serving them in this way.” Lugton ended his invitation.

  “We are honored that you, the priests, and the gods most of all have seen fit to give us this opportunity to serve in this way. We accept your invitation and await your command.” Gwynn replied in the proper fashion of those who had just been given a very prestigious honor, which this was. “You will come to the oak grove outside of the village tonight when the moon is full. Until then you will prepare yourselves. I must return to the others so that we may prepare for tonight’s ceremonies.” Lugton turned and continued on his journey to the other priest who lived outside of the village and to the place that would now become their home.

  The sisters put away their things and gathered towels and clean clothes. In a solemn march they walked to the river to begin the cleansing process. While Ariana and Corra disrobed, Gwynn built a fire and added the appropriate herbs for the cleansing. She then joined the others in the cool water in complete silence. The only sound was that of the river’s waters flowing gently downstream, and the birds softly chirping their joyous songs that seemed to celebrate not only life, but also the acceptance of the Sisters into the High Order. The sun was slowly edging towards the west, leaving behind a purplish orange haze. A soft breeze swept across the river every now and then, rustling the leaves of the nearby trees, and bushes… And three golden haired ladies bathed in the river, each helping the other prepare for the coming ceremony that would allow them to fully serve the Celtic gods.

  After several hours of physical cleaning they came ashore to the fire to begin the cleansing of their spirits. Before they poured the steamed herbs over themselves, Ariana prayed for the goddess to give them guidance…

  “Divine Goddess, Mother Nature, who generates all things and brings forth anew sun which thou hast given to the nations; Guardian of the sky and sea and of all good powers; through thy influence all nature is hushed and sinks to sleep… Agan, when it pleases thee, thou send forth the glad daylight and nutrient life with thine eternal securety; and when the spirit of woman passes to thee it returns. Thou indeed art rightly named great mother of the gods and of man. We ask that you bless us as we enter your divine service and lead us in the ways of your brothers, sisters, daughters and sons…”men” Finally night fell and the sisters began the slow march to the sacred oak grove of the gods…

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Darkness fell and the moon ascended into the heavens. The Druid Order of the village had already gathered in the sacred oak grove outside of the village. A few of the younger men of the Order were high in the trees with the golden sickles, gathering mistletoe. As the mistletoe fell it was caught by white cloaks held by the elders. Others gathered dried branches to build a bonfire for the cere
mony. Finally the fires were lit and the circles were formed…

  “We gather hereon the night of this full moon in honor of our gods, and to honor them we are here to induct three sisters who have been extraordinarily blessed by the e gods themselves…” Lugton began the ceremony with a simple prayer. “Lugton finished the prayer as the others began singing. At the end of the singing the mistletoe was blessed and then placed on the hot fires that burned in the center of the circle. The sisters were then brought to the beginning of the circle were Lugton stood…

  “You have been chosen not only by the leaders of this order, but by the gods themselves. Not only were you born from the same womb but you were born within minutes of one another, and you all survived, feat that has never before been accomplished, except with the help of the gods. Each one of you is unique, yet you are the same and contain a part of the other. Along with this special bond that the gods have given you, they have also given you powers beyond your understanding and without the proper training they can turn on you and become very dangerous. By joining our order we will help you to understand the gifts of the gods and to help you control them through vigorous training. In taking the knowledge that we offer you of your powers, you must accept the life of a Druid, all rules and anything that an elder commands you to do you must obey… Now it is your decision, to accept our way of life, or to return to the life of a villager and chance that the powers within you will grow to strong for you to control. If it is your decision to leave the life that you have lived, stepped forward to accept the burning brand of the oak.”

  There was no hesitation from them. As soon as Lugton asked them to come forward they were at his side. They did not give a thought to the pain they were to endure in receiving the brand of the oak that would mark them as Druids. Gwynn received the mark without a sound. Corra on the other hand screamed until a cooling salve was placed on her wrist. Ariana made no sounds, but as the brand was placed upon her wrist a nearby tree stump exploded and burst into flames as she passed out from the pain of the hot brand. Quickly water was gathered from the nearby stream to put out the spontaneous fire and to awaken Ariana. The fire was quenched and Ariana was wide-awake staring at the smoldering heap of wood that her uncontrolled powers had ignited…