The Hatchling—1997
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XVII—A Candle for Pearl
"Steady, now," soothed Holly as he positioned Dark Star's head. The Unicorn's mane had been carefully braided to keep her long hair out of the way. She looked almost comical, her concentration was so intense.
"O.K., now dip," said Arnica. He had hung a loop of cotton string hanging straight with a small, round weight at the end from Dark Star's gold-hued horn. Holly gently stroked the unicolt as she lowered her head, the string dipping into a tall kettle of melted wax.
"That's good, sweet hatchling," crooned Holly.
"O.K., now up," encouraged Arnica. "Now hold it while we count…"
"Darksome night and shining moon, east then south then west then north…" Arnica and Holly chanted the first stanzas of 'The Witches' Rune' which were just enough for the layer of wax to set.
"O.K., now dip…" And Dark Star carefully lowered her head. Her cobalt blue eyes were focused upon the candle they were making for Pearl.
"Now up…" And the chant began, the words crafting the Magick the two men and their beloved unicorn were placing into the candle. Pearl was a lovely woman, her slight build showing her Pictish heritage. Her deep, red hair was like her Scorpio personality: concealing a fair-skinned vulnerability.
"Just a few more times," said Arnica, "Now dip…" As Dark Star lowered her head, the candle grew one more thickness. Pearl was having difficulty with the loss of her lover, Phoenix. Holly had spoken with her just after Yule to see how she was doing.
Lady Ellhorn, her grandmother, had answered the call and told Holly that Pearl was ailing. "Why, the poor thing seems to be losing her will to go on," said the Lady. "Phoenix had a good passing. Pearl worked the Circle and the elementals came in to carry his spirit to the Summerland. But since that night, last Hallows, she's not done much. At first I figured it was just the time she needed but more weeks pass and she's not even picked up a needle so I know something's wrong."
"Thank you, Lady, for your insight," said Arnica. "I think I'm ready to speak to Pearl now. I know what to say."
"O.K., now dip…" Another layer of wax, made magick with sacred herbs, was added to Pearl's candle.
"Now up…" And they chanted again. Dark Star could only whinny softly, but her eyes remained focused upon the candle hanging from her horn, right before her youthful unicorn face.
Several more times was the new candle for Pearl dipped into the melted wax. Dark Star looked so mature when she was helping on an important magickal project. Sometimes it was easy to forget that she was not even two years old.
But once the cord was removed from her horn, Holly opened the cabin door so she could trot out into the gardens and romp and play. The men knew that she needed to stretch her neck so it wouldn't be stiff the next day. "Young muscles are much more supple than our old bones," said Arnica, laughing. They watched the unicolt leap and frolic, chase imaginary butterflies and smell imaginary flowers. The gardens were still dormant, waiting the spark of Candlemas.
"Look, aren't they beautiful?" exclaimed Holly. He had just unwrapped a set of ribbons from Amethyst and Crystal. Amethyst loved to braid ribbons. There were several colors, carefully selected to give Pearl hope and courage. Crystal had taken very small gemstones and set them at the ends of the braided ribbons.
"The note says that these are to be tied around the candle as we raise the Cone of Power during our Candlemas Ritual," read Arnica. "They'll not be coming to Candlemas but hope to be here the following Sunday. Amethyst has a concert scheduled. How exciting for her to be performing at Merrydale Center. She said they'll think of Pearl, sending her as much of the energy from the theatre as they can."
"Where should I put them," asked Holly, holding the ribbons up to the light, their colors shimmering as the stones glistened like wee stars.
"Right on the altar, next to the smudging sage that Amber sent," answered Arnica.
"How did you do with the song that Wren sent?" Holly's voice was bright, as if he was twenty years younger. He truly loved preparing for important rituals.
"It works well. My fingers don't seem to move quite quick enough for one line in the second verse, but I'll have it down in a couple of days. I sent copies of the words to Iris and Gino so they can help weave the song into the Circle." Arnica paused, remembering Wren's visit this past summer when she and Robin made the long trek from Highland. "It's quite amazing how easily she wrote rhyming words for Pearl's healing, using our Candlemas myth to weave Pearl into the magick!"
"How fortunate we are to have such a group of friends. Let's hope that we can reach Pearl and touch her heart," wished Holly.
And so their days passed as they prepared for Candlemas Eve. Ever so subtle morning came earlier and the sun set later, little by little.
Why, just the day before Arnica and Holly were touring their gardens, taking delight to discover that the peonies had new shoots up through the soil. It may be January, but their gardens are eager and waiting for Spring!
They wore warm, woolen robes even though the fire was blazing brightly. Many years Candlemas was celebrated in doors but this night was important. To be truthful, since the hatchling's egg first appeared (just two years ago this Sabbat) it was difficult to think of Candlemas being anywhere else but in the stone circle. The cauldron was set at the center of the circle and the five of them formed the points of a pentagram. Arnica and Holly sat bundled in matching deep-green cowled robes. Arnica was wearing gloves with the fingers snipped off so he could play his dulcimer.
Iris pulled her rust-colored robe about her. Down her back hung the point of a very long hood, reaching past her waist. It was a new robe, one sent all the way from the Mothervalley as a gift from Flying Raven. The Keeper of the Archives knew a weaver who lived at the river's edge who used wool from local sheep. Flying Raven had made certain that the hood would hang long enough to accommodate Iris' beautiful, long braid of hair. Right from the tip of the hood hung a new bell. Iris loved to adorn her ritual robes. Her oldest robes were a wondrous array of mementos of the most important rituals!
And there sat Gino. The young lad was the only one with his hood pulled back. "Typical boy," thought Arnica, smiling at the freckled face. Gino was snuggled into an old robe of Holly's. Still new in the Craft, he had but one ritual robe, a beautiful work of art hand-stitched by Pearl, herself. Phoenix and Pearl were his first teachers. Although but for a few Sabbats, he had bonded deeply with them.
The fire danced brightly, keeping their front sides warm. Dark Star completed the group. Now and then she would stay settled down so as to actually attend a ritual. Usually she loved the ritual dancing but often grazed upon the grass around the garden Circle. She was growing, however, evident in the way she helped making the candle for Pearl. Who knew what wonders waited in this unicorn's future?
Very focused, their voices chanted in unison. The fire not only kept them warm but served to help them focus their minds into the creation of single images. It was time to invoke the element of water…
"From the deep waters of Her eternal wisdom, brings She forth the Mysteries of Life…"
Their voices faltered as they were distracted by the gentle sound of bubbling water.
"It's back," whispered Gino, pointing toward a spot just beyond the west stone where a small spring of water had appeared. Just last year Gino joined them in ritual for the first time. They were startled out of their visioning by the sound of Dark Star drinking water from a small pool they'd never before seen! And there it was again, bubbling forth with a gentle sound.
They continued chanting, creating a web of images all about them. Soon they were in a sphere of Magick, protected against the weather, warmed by the cauldron but also by the power of the Universe which flowed through them.
The Circle almost prepared, Dark Star sprung to her feet. Arnica had hoped she would stay focused, but she was, after all, just a unicolt. The older man almost started chuckling out loud but remembered to remain focused. They would soon be consecrating Pearl's candle and her health was more important than his humor!
Suddenly, a voice broke the stillness. "I am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars."
Not a one of them spoke. They knew the words. In fact, they were soon to begin the Charges of the Goddess, but there, Her hand resting upon Dark Star's neck, was the Goddess, Herself.
Something splashed in the small pool. Instantly, four heads turned to look and She continued. "I am the Mysteries of the deep waters…" Her words brought them back, turned toward the cauldron and to Her. "And the desire in the hearts of humans. When you have need of anything, call unto Me, for I am always here."
Arnica began rising to his feet. His movement brought them all into motion. He held the new candle. It's iridescent colors radiated the fire's light. The miniature stones sparked with brightness. "I understand," spoke the Lady. "Phoenix is resting with Me. He has found that there is peace, freedom and reunion with his ancestors and his loved ones who have come to join Me in the Otherworld. He sends his love and he asked Me to offer My hand to Pearl. Give Me the candle. This will be My last act before I seek renewal."
Arnica offered it to the Goddess. When She took it, he could feel the slightest touch of Her skin. It was like being kissed by the purest of Magick. The Lady took the candle and walked around them to the East stone.
"Lords of the East, creatures of air, come! Watch this rite, fill it with air!" Her voice called out strong as she invoked all the facets of elemental air. A large, pale yellow unicorn flew down, out of the night. As it knelt before Her, it gently folded a pair of gossamer wings. The Lady held the candle up high and the ribbons swirled in the breeze.
Dark Star could stand it no longer. This was the first other unicorn she had ever seen, not counting her father, Andrius. Astral though he was, they were kin, nonetheless. She impulsively danced right over and as the Goddess finished Her invocation, the hatchling touched noses with the unicorn known as Raphael, Keeper of the Breeze.
As the Goddess went to the other three cardinal directions, each brought forth a wondrous, elemental unicorn and Dark Star was a sight. Her reaction to other unicorns was a delight. Her curiosity at life's wonders was the very magick Pearl needed to begin moving forward with her own life. As the Lady and Dark Star finished their work in the north, the fire in the cauldron seemed to burn brighter, the flames dancing higher. The Lady turned to them.
Instantly, the fire went out. "Take this," She said, handing the candle to Iris. "It is in your hands now. Send it to the woman and she will heal quickly. Now I must go. Spring will soon be coming and I am tired. I have not yet rested since the birth of the sun child and I am weary. Turn your eyes, for I will bathe in your western pool."
They all pulled into their robes, the hoods drawn over their heads and their eyes closed. The fire out, they even pulled back. Only Iris' fingers were extended, holding the candle for Pearl. A loud splash of water, and somehow they knew they could open their eyes and would find the Circle dark, the Lady gone.
XVIII—Blessing the Seeds
"Are you alright?" Holly asked Arnica. Climbing up and down the ladder, garlands of ribbon draped over his shoulder, Arnica occasional verbalized the sound of his old bones.
"I'm fine," Arnica answered. "My knees will do better once we're into Spring and I'm out gardening in the sun. My joints will get their summer blood. What do you think?" He held a long trail of ribbon high above the altar.
"Oh, dear One, it looks so beautiful in here. Maybe a bit to the sunward side so the ribbon clears the candles. You know we must have candles upon the altar for Dark Star's birthday!" Holly's eyes sparkled with humor.
"Lots of candles!" Arnica laughed. "It may be only her second birthday. I don't think she'd be thrilled with only two upon the altar. What adventures we have had these past two years since our hatchling came into our lives. My beard has more gray, but it's not been caused by Dark Star."
"So much has happened. Do you think Pearl will be back in time for the party?" Holly was setting up the temple for the celebration. "And what do you think about our hatchling? She's growing, quickly it seems, will the day come when she no longer fits into our cabin?"
"Hopefully she will not grow faster than a colt but I think about that as well. She's still small and, if the gods are willing, she'll always have a place in our home."
A small celebration was planned to honor Dark Star's second birthing day anniversary. Just two years ago the morning of Eostara Eve, the large egg discovered right in the center of the stone circle had hatched, bringing Andrius' daughter into their lives. What a beautiful uni-foal she was.
"I'm here," a voice called out into their kitchen. "Have you a cup of coffee for a cold postmarm?" Iris, now a member of their Circle, was a frequent guest. Her face was glowing for it was a cool walk from Merrydale this year. She tossed back the hood of her woolen cloak, her long, thick braid tumbling out.
"Iris, you're the first and yes, we've a cup of warmth for you. Give me a hug," greeted Holly. "What's this?" he asked, seeing a wrapped parcel in her hand.
"It's a small, carved quartz egg. When you hold it up to the light the natural pattern inside the crystal looks almost like a little Unicorn. I thought of her when I found it…guess where? At the apothecary, of all places."
"Dear sister," said Arnica, coming quickly into the kitchen to embrace his friend. "We're so glad you could make it. We sent Dark Star out into the wood to search for the first trillium."
A knock at the door interrupted their greetings. "Better step out of the way," Holly suggested. And the door opened as Amethyst and Crystal came into the cabin.
"We're here, we're happy and Spring is almost upon us!" said Amethyst, always cheerful in her outlook. Amethyst's hair was growing longer, braided with ribbons and shells.
"Merry Meet," cheered Crystal, her short fair hair mussed by the wind.
"I thought you were going to let your hair grow," commented Iris to her friend.
"Well, I was. My vision quest bade me keep my hair short for a year and a day. My time was ended last Beltane," said Crystal, "but it's so comfortable that I've left it as it was."
"Hello?" a voice called out, the sound of a gentle rap at the door.
"Come in," they all called out at once, causing the cabin to be filled with laughter. "Pearl!" they all shouted, again as one.
"I'm here. I'm back. I've finished my promise to Phoenix but for one thing: I have some of his ashes to strew back near the stone circle." Pearl entered the cabin wearing a beautiful, embroidered cape. She was well-known for her skill with needle and thread and the fabric draped around her small, Pictish body. "I lit the candle you made for me last Sabbat…and I realized that my place was back here in Merrydale with you, my friends. Lady Ellhorn sends her blessings and wished I would stay but I've promised to visit her and I found a young woman to help her with her house. She's a proud old woman and I'm so glad I had those months with my grandmother. I don't think I could have endured Phoenix' last days without her strength."
"Oh, my friend, let me get my arms around you." Arnica held her close. He had not seen her since she took Phoenix to Cloverville, hoping that the warm, dry climate would provide a cure. Arnica and Pearl had written often and, since Phoenix' passing last Hallows, they had spoken often.
"Is Gino coming?" asked Pearl. The boy had first begun his studies with her and Phoenix a year and a half ago and she had missed him.
"Any minute," answered Holly, "and he said he can't wait for you to see him wearing the robe you sent him. He's grown.
There was another knock at the door.
"Come in," called Holly.
Nothing happened. The knocking repeated itself.
"Come in," Holly called, louder, which only led to more knocking. He went to the door, wondering who it could be!
"Dark Star!" Holly burst out laughing. There she stood, the first trillium of Spring hanging from her mouth as she'd carefully brought it from the woods. She'd been knocking with her horn!
The six of them raised a party of noise as they brought the hatchling into the temple to begin the celebration of her birthday. Later that evening the rest of their Circle would arrive.
Just a year ago, eggs hung from the hawthornes. But as Eostara Eve arrived with the softness of a dark, star filled night, the temple was lit with candles, the ritual Circle prepared. They sat upon the floor busy at work. Arnica and Holly in their matching robes with white cowls emerging from richly sewn overlays sat just east of the northeast portal, the gateway to the 'Otherworld.' At Holly's left sat Gino, quietly focused upon the handwork before him taking great care to avoid soiling the beautiful hand-stitched robe made by Pearl, who sat just to the left of Gino. In front of each was a hard-boiled egg and each member of the circle was focused upon decorating an egg which would represent the seed of one's desires for the coming growing season.
It was, for Pearl a joyful event but one which reminded her that the last time she sat in circle with her friends, Phoenix was yet alive, there as her ritual partner. Her slender, Pictish fingers moved quickly, applying small daubs of paint, creating intricate designs. Iris sat to Pearl's left, just in front of the south altar. Working with colored pencils, she worked designs collected from her astral journeys upon the hard-boiled egg held before her.
Next were seated Amethyst and Crystal both in robes of a deep purple interwoven with silver threads. They were creating magick upon their eggs with glue, adding tiny sea shells and a few tiny semiprecious gems amid small bits of glitter and ribbons and thread.
The surprise of the evening was Pastor Dolorum, himself. Increasingly active in his sympathy toward the Earthkin, since the secret meeting before Yule at which he invited several Elders of the Renaissance Tribe to assist in the creation of Merrydale's creche scene and 'Yule' tree, he had begun to recognize his own heritage. Arnica looked over in amazement, remembering it only a matter of months since Dolorum had told him of his own Descendant Tribe blood, passed down through his great grandmother and mother. And here he was, having asked to learn more of the Renaissance ways. Dolorum seemed a bit nonplussed, for the ritual symbols were still a bit foreign to him but he seemed intent upon working his needs for the coming growing season into his egg. Why, he would certainly lose his position at the Church of the Martyr were any one outside their circle to know Dolorum was seated there—among pagans, no less—wearing one of his clerical robes. He was too new to have a ritual robe of his own.
Continuing deosil, to Dolorum's left were Jewel and Lotus. Jewel worked hard upon the decoration of her egg. She was not yet accustomed to leaving Dagon with a sitter. In another Sabbat and a few days Dagon would be two and Jewel wisely knew her toddler needed to begin establishing his independent identity. Her tweed robe was tucked around her as she wrote her wish upon the white shell. Lotus, a skilled carver, had brought a small but fine knife with him and a dark black marker. First coating the egg the color of midnight, he was etching away his design so that it shone white through the black.
And next, just on the other side of the altar, in the northeast portal itself, lay Dark Star. She was not quite so fidgety as she was during her first rituals. Unable to use her hooves to decorate her own egg, she kept one close to her which Arnica and Holly had decorated the night before as she carefully watched.
"A sigil to keep our hatchling safe from any harm," said Holly using a small quill pen and magickal ink to mark the egg before handing it to Arnica.
"And the symbol of the Goddess Who has taken you on many journeys," added Arnica, then marking another design. And so it went, with their quiet, private wishes. Dark Star looked from one man to the other, feeling truly grateful to have been born on their land and becoming part of their lives. Who would think that humans could be so wonderful?
When everyone had finished their work, all the eggs were set carefully upon the altar. Holly had removed everything but the candles and set a serving tray in place. No one wanted their eggs to roll off upon the floor. They stood quietly, adjusting their robes and preparing for the chant.
"No room to dance the Rune tonight," mused Arnica, and he began singing the chant. One by one the voices chimed in as they wove a spell with the words. As they began the chant for the third time through, Dolorum's voice grew stronger as he had quickly picked up the words, finding them strangely familiar.
The chorus of voices built a strong, cone-shaped vortex of energy and in an instant, they stopped, moving not a muscle but holding the magick strong within the center of the temple. It was palpable, so strong no one dared move and then, as she would, Dark Star bent low and touched the tray of eggs with her horn as if blessing them with her magick wand. Everyone broke into fits of laughter, releasing any extra energy and grounding their auras.
Now it was time to carry them out into the brisk night air and plant them among deep among the trees so that their dreams would come true.
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