Awakening

by Nancy Gaskin

  Farewells

  As the sun rose and the palace began to wake up, some with sore heads and others sore feet, all were in high spirits. Much hustle and bustle in the corridors of the palace woke Dagmar from a dream filled slumber. She stretched and yawned, then crawled out from under the covers and walked out into her private garden where a small table was already set up with a tray that had many small jugs and bowls covered with lace doylies with beads in their fringe to weigh them down. The girl turned away and went back inside to go and wash her face and perform her morning ablutions and quickly get dressed. In a flash she was back outside ready to demolish whatever was on the tray.

  There was a knock on the door and then a commotion as several people walked through the room to reach the garden. Sunna and Fawn with Rhiannon and Falcon close behind stepped into the garden, all greeting the girl and wishing her a good morning. “We have come to bid our farewells sweetling” Sunna was saying as the girl gave them a quizzical look “we all have many things to do and even though it is wonderful to be here there are duties we are responsible for and duty waits for no one” explained Rhiannon as she saw the sad look which had crept into Dagmars eyes. Fawn moved forward and held out her hand “Here is a small gift of friendship and welcome from my heart to yours your highness” she said with a cheeky grin as she curtsied, which cause the girl to burst out laughing. Dagmar carefully opened the small bundle and found a green and brown bracelet the width of her little finger, intricately braided with small pieces of polished bark and crystals interwoven “Here let me put it on for you. See that loop there and the larger crystal link and that will keep it safely on your wrist. The bark is there for the buffering and the crystals are for the number of days you were with us at the village.” explained Fawn as she secured the bracelet on the girls left wrist. The girl hugged and kissed and bade each other ‘Merry Part’.

  Rhiannon stepped up next and she also had a small parcel in her hand which she placed into the girls hands “I also have a small gift for you sweetling.” and the girl began unwrapping yet another small parcel, in this one she found a blue/black feather on a silk string “It is a Magpie feather sweetling. It may help buffer the chatter of animals when you gifts are stronger and they have become comfortable with you.” Rhiannon explained as she placed it into a long thin pouch that she had made to keep the feather safe and handed it to the girl “I am so very pleased and grateful that I was permitted to be present at your gifting sweetling. Practice your gifts and please come and visit any time. Merry Part until we meet again.” The woman said as she kissed and hugged Dagmar.

  Falcon came next and he also had something in his hand but it was not a parcel but a hand full of feathers, many very colourful “It has been a privilege watching you grow in the short while I have known you. My feathered friends have also taking a liking to you. They have all contributed to this little collection. They are happy to take you flying any time you want and will teach you marvellous things as well. If you ever need me take this dark blue one and put it to your forehead and I will know, this is what you do with them all, touch your forehead with one and you will make contact with that bird. Merry Part my sweet until we meet again” the man said as he kissed her cheeks and turned to stand next to his wife. Sunna stepped into his place and handed the girl a necklace made out of shells “To remind you of your time at Four Falls, not the horrid things, but all the nice things. It will also serve as a marker to all water tribes that you are a member of the Four Falls family. It has been a pleasure to have been a part of your amazing journey and I look forward to more amazing things to come. Merry Part until we meet again sweetling” hugging the girl and giving her a kiss on the cheek Sunna turned and led the way out the door. Dagmar stood in stunned silence and watched he door close and silence which followed. She looked at her wrist and then at the feathers and shells and smiled thinking ‘Thank you and I love you all’.

  The girl left her room and went in search of her brother ‘Ragnar! Where are you?’ ‘I am in my garden, breaking my fast. Come through. I have spoken to mother and she is arranging the rooms next to mine to be set up for you. There is even a connecting and the garden is only separated by a long high hedge’ he told her excitedly. Dagmar smiled and hurried to her twins’ rooms, arriving as he began to clean up the bowls and plates and stacking them on the tray. “Good Morning brother!” she said in a happy voice “How did you sleep? I had a brilliant sleep and this morning I had Sunna, Fawn and the Wise Ones come to my room and bid me farewell” she said in a tumble of words. Ragnar frowned “I didn’t know they were leaving so soon. Have they left yet?” he asked just as there was a knock on his door “Enter” he called and Sunna led the way into the room with the Wise Ones and Fawn at the rear.

  “We have come to bid you farewell young prince and to give you some small tokens of welcome” Rhiannon said as she handed him a small string of bleached white pieces of bark, on closer inspection inscriptions could be seen on each piece “This is for enhancement and protection when you use your tracker gift. Merry Part until we meet again and I must say you are an exceptional pair.” She said as she turned and made way for Falcon, who handed the boy a feather that shimmered blue/green with touches of lilac “If ever in need of a guide call this fellow and he will be more than happy to oblige. Merry Part until we meet again.” And he formally shook hands with the boy and then made way for Sunna and Fawn “We don’t know you very well but since we have gotten to know Dagmar and feel we know you. These shells give you safe passage, shelter and aid from any water village when you ever travel. Merry Part young man. It has been a pleasure getting to know you.” said Sunna and Fawn smiled saying “Merry Part Ragnar and you are always welcome in our village.” She leaned forward and gave him a shy kiss on the cheek, blushing she turned and followed the others out of the room.

  The twins looked at each other surprised by the sudden departure identical to when they had visited Dagmar not that long ago. “Why were they rushing away like that? Not even a chance to say thank you properly!” asked the boy as he looked questioningly at his sister who shrugged her shoulders “this is exactly how they arrived and departed from my room. I have no idea but I am glad they came and let us know they were leaving. I know Fana had to leave because there was something happening back at the village. She came by quickly before she left a few days ago.” said the girl as she followed her brother back out into the garden.

  They sat down and the boy inspected the gifts which had been given to him as there was yet another knock on the door. “Come in” called Ragnar as he stood and was heading to the doors to see who it was, as they opened and Tittianna and Walker walked in “I don’t know if her heard or not darling” the twins heard the woman saying. “Good Morning Oma! Good Morning Opa! How are you?” asked the girl as she gave them both a kiss on the cheek. “I know I slept like a log sweetling” replied Opa with Oma glancing at him with raised eyebrows “I also slept well darling and I can vouch for Opa sleeping like a log. He snored most of the night again.” said Oma. “Enough if this we have come to find out what your plans are sweetling. We have to go back to the human realm to sort out a few things and tie up loose ends and then we are planning on coming back her and build a small cottage in the forest and live there. What is it you would like to do.” asked Oma looking from the girl to the boy and back again. “Can we cover my tattoos Oma? Or will they disappear if we use a glamour?” asked Dagmar hopefully “No sweetling they will be there permanently and until you are a little older no matter what we did they would shine through. Glamour might work but they too are no match for new gifts.” explained Oma patiently. “I know I have a lot to learn and it looks as if I have no choice but to stay here and do just that, learn.” replied the girl. “We will be leaving after the noon meal and may not return for a while, are you sure you want to stay?” asked Opa looking directly at the girl. “Can’t I pop in every now and again to visit you? I want to stay here
and learn but I want to be able to see you too!” said the girl with a small sob in her voice “Yes you can but you must only come with Queen Titanias permission and in the company of somebody responsible. I will speak to mother and make sure arrangements can be made. Is that good enough sweetling?” “Yes thank you. I don’t want to be cut off from you again the way I was.” said the girl as she reached out and hugged her grandmother tight and then did the same to her grandfather.

  “Oh, I also heard that your father has left to make his peace with his parents and King. He did leave a message which I was told to pass on to both of you. He is very proud of both of you and he will try and become a good father once he has laid all his ghosts to rest.” Opa finished reciting “Be understanding children, this man found out in the span of a few days that he had not one but two children and that they are both very gifted. He has a lot of healing to do and needs to mend his bridges with his family before he can fully move forward.” Oma said quietly as she gave them both a kiss and also bade them farewell saying “We should be back by the first snows sweetlings."

  The twins saw them off after the noon meal and they began their new lives, which started with Dagmar moving rooms to be next to her twin, never to be separated again.

  Merry Meet

  And

  Merry Part

  Till our path cross again

  May the mother always watch over you