poemtry and prose

Cassie sat straight up in bed. The image from the dream rattled her mind and while it disturbed her a bit, it seemed more like a warning not an outcome. Hazel slept next to her, his still form snoring softly. Cassie smiled, it comforted her to see him still next to her. The fire dwindled down, having burnt most of the wood during their sleep. It was dark but a small light started creeping through her window.

Hazel opened his eyes. "Oh crap! Do not tell me that I fell asleep."

Cassie nodded. "I was sound asleep by the time my head touched the pillow. So I do not know how long you have been here. It seems dark out still, so I think we are okay."

It sounded more like she was trying to reassure herself, than to make excuses. Hazel turned his head towards the window, confirming that it was still night but not for long. "I should leave. The sun rises soon and I do not want any trouble for not being in my quarters."

She nodded. "I understand. I do hope I do not cause any trouble for you. As much as I want you to stay, I know you need to go back and get ready. Do you know when they what us to gather in the Chamber Room?"

"No I do not. But I am sure it will probably be a bit after first sunlight. It will take a better part of the day to hit Vertley. And I want to get there before sundown, as it gets colder there and the roads, as I told you before, sometimes are not the friendliest to travelers."

Before he got off the bed, he reached over and gave her a big hug. "Thank you for a wonderful night. And for the nap. I enjoyed it. Like I said, if you need anything I will just be down the hall. Second door on the right."

"Your welcome," Cassie said. "Now go, and I will see you in a little bit."

He smiled and walked over to the door. He placed a hand on the doorknob and pressed an ear to the door. There was no sounds coming from the hallway. Slowly and silently, he turned the knob, and opened the door. He pressed his head between the door frame and door before slipping out. And just as quietly as he opened the door he closed it behind him, a small, almost inaudible click as the door fell back into place.

The fireplace popped and crackled as the dying embers gave out the last bits of light they had to offer. Cassie knew she was no going to get any more sleep. Yawning she stretched the remaining bits of sleep out of her muscles. She felt rested, even though she had no idea of just how much sleep they really did get. But the dream that woke her, puzzled her more than the amount of sleep she had received. Grabbing the top blanket off the mattress, she wrapped it around her. The room was still warm but the air felt cool against her skin.

Cassie moved over to the chair and window. If the window had been a few feet wider and the glass covered with bars on the outside, it would have passed for her window back at Blackwell. If the chair had been brown and vinyl, smoothed over with years of use, it would have passed for her chair as well. She was glad that both the window and chair were different. Cassie pulled the blanket around her feet, and bent down to sit in the chair. It made a small creaking sound as it shifted its weight. She leaned over towards the small table and smelled the petals from the flowers that sat inside the vase. They looked fresh and Cassie could not tell if they had been replaced since she last saw them or if it was just how they were, able to survive for long periods of time cut, sitting in water. Lavender and rose filled her nose. She breathed deeply and turned her attention towards the window.

Unlike her window at Blackwell, Cassie did not see any trees. She was not even able to see the ground. But she did not care. The clouds outside, swirled, having descended low to the ground sometime during the night. Their dark black gave way to a lighter blue and then a small hint of pink drifted over them. The sun started rising. The colors slowly cascaded from the pink to orange to red and the mixing with the blue to give the top of each cloud a light violet color. And then she saw a line of green entering the sky. It rose from the ground, pushing it's way up and then out running away and parallel to the ground. Cassie gasped.

The will-o-wisps were the ones casting the green light and forming the line. As the sun rose, painting the clouds with color, they rose into the air floating their way back to where ever they stayed during the day. She was not able to tell just how many of them were there, but the length of the line appeared to last for a few hundred feet, at least. She watched the flock hover into the air, growing smaller as they floated beyond her view disappearing into the clouds. "Too bad I do not know how long I will be in this world," Cassie thought, "there is so much I would like to see and explore."

The idea of ever having to leave Hazel, Stick and her new friends so soon just after meeting them and after all they had done for her saddened Cassie. She quickly changed those sad thoughts into more optimistic ones, as she was also thankful for having been given the opportunity to visit Hazel's world at all. She longed for a camera and a journal and pen, a book at the very least, so that she could capture in words and images what things she did see and do. Cassie closed her eyes, committing to memory everything she could remember from first arriving to this place to that very moment. She refused to let these memories get lost inside her mind when she did return home.

The sun rose higher and higher into the sky tainting the walls and room with hues of pink and orange. She looked across the room, towards the door to the washroom. "They will come for me soon," she said out loud. "I better wash up and get ready."

She stood up, dropping the blanket into the chair. She grabbed the clothes Celan had laid on the chair and walked into the washroom. As if on cue a white porcelain decanter filled with steaming hot water appeared on the counter, next to the basin. Cassie took the decanter by the handle and poured some of the water into the bowl. Tentatively she carefully stuck a finger into the water, testing the temperature. It was hot, but not scalding hot. Cassie pushed the sleeves of her nightgown back to her elbows and cupped both hands. Then she dipped them into the bowl, letting the water wash over them.

Then she bent forward a little bit and rapidly withdrew her still cupped hands from the basin. The water splashed over her face, warming her cheeks, washing the remaining dirt and sweat from her skin. She disrobed, standing naked in front of the basin. Someone had placed a wash cloth sat next to the basin and Cassie grabbed it next. Dipping it into the still warm water, Cassie sponged her body off, cleaning it the best she could, and then towel dried her body. She had no idea how much time she had to get ready and did not want to keep Hazel or Stick or the Elders waiting any longer on her than they had to so she declined the allure of another long bath. "I can always take one later, if we end up staying in Vertley," she decided. "After all the walking we will do today, it just may be better that I wait anyways."

She grabbed the shirt first. The fabric felt soft and light, like handspun cotton. It had been died green, a piece of brown leather threaded through 3 eyelets. She put her arms thru the sleeves and then over her head. It was loose fitting; Cassie flapped and twisted her wrists, watching the ruffled, fabric hanging loose around her fingers swing and sway with each twist. "I gotta get Mom to make me one of these shirts when I get home. It is just too cool and comfy."

She pulled the ends of the leather so that the shirt came together. While it did fit her, she was modest about her body. She looped them into a bow hoping they would not come undone and exposing her body. The pants were next. The pants were made from a soft leather. Cassie contemplated asking Celan for her jeans, the pants they gave her looked too warm for the weather. A wave of guilt washed over her, and she put the pants on, figuring that they knew the weather better than she did and even if it was sunny out, she would need their protection when they climbed into the mountains. They were a little loose around the waist and a bit long in the leg, but they did fit her and she was fine with them.

Before she left the wash room, Cassie stared into the oval mirror. The previous' days hiking in the warm sunny weather helped to bring color back into her face and hair and eyes. The deep dark circles that plagued her eyes as a result of all the medicine Blackwell forced her to take vanished. She smiled, watching the self she knew best smile back at her. Then she quickly ran her fingers through her hair, combing it back into place. The braid Celan placed had left waves in it and Cassie decided that they suited her. The leather strap that held her hair in place during the party was also sitting on the counter. Cassie grabbed it, in case she wanted to tie her hair back later, to keep it out of her face.

She left the wash room and went back over to the chair. While the sun rose, the room started to heat up again. The floor already warming up to the light. She pulled the calf-length boots over to her. The sole was thick, much like the height of her old doc martens she had to leave behind at home. The leather was soft, but not as soft as the pants she now wore. Taking each boot into her hands, one at a time, Cassie tugged and stretched them out a bit, attempting to break them in a bit before they would hurt her feet from a full day's hike. She put her hand inside the boot and was greeted with a ball of fabric. They had even placed her socks, cleaned even, into each boot.

It took her only five minutes to lace each boot on. Cassie stood, once they were fully laced and bounced. Each boot gave a bit under hear weight but held. She walked over to the other side of the room, feeling the soles bounce the bottoms of her feet just a little bit. She was testing them out, twisting and turning and scrunching them, to make sure they would support her across any terrain their journey would lead them. Satisfied with the quality and support, she returned to the chair.

And waited for Celan or Hazel or someone to tell her it was time.

Luckily she did not have to wait very long. So she did not have much time to worry or freak out about what agreed to do the other day. The knock and squeak of the door opening, brought her attention from the window to the presence at the door. Two faces peered in from the space.

"Hey! You ready?" It was Hazel. Stick waived for Cassie to follow them.

It was time. "Yes, I am ready. I think." Cassie took one last look around her room as if she had forgotten something. And then she followed her friends into the hallway.

Two large framed backpacks sat up against the wall. Hazel picked one up and handed it to Cassie, "Here, this is for you. It has a sleeping bag, parka, some gloves, jerky, the stones, a map and a canteen inside it. I tried to make it as light as I could, putting more stuff and all of Stick's gear inside mine. Try it on and let me know if it is too heavy."

She took the pack and pulled it onto her back. It was heavy, But not so encumbersome that she would have trouble hiking all day with it on her back. She bounced on her toes, adjusting the weight so it hit all the right places. "This is fine. I think I can handle it. Thanks. And if yours is too heavy, let me know. I want to pull my own weight, so you do not need to baby me too much Hazel."

He smirked, "Okay. I will. I just may give you all of Stick's stuff, since it fills half of my pack."

He laughed as Stick hit his leg, "I did NOT bring that much stuff. And since I am smaller it does not take up all the space." She stuck out her tongue. Cassie laughed.

It felt like old times again. The three of them, getting ready to set off on another adventure. Except that this adventure had a greater impact than their games. The fate of the fae hung in the balance, and if they failed, there would be no more adventures with Hazel and Stick. Cassie put that image out of her mind, they were not going to fail. She would not allow it.

The walked with their packs on back to the Chamber Room. The tables, candles and decorations had been removed and cleaned up. The three Elders sat stately in their chairs. Innowen's winged cat sat curled in a ball on her lap. They were joined by three other faeries, all hooded. Cassie presumed that they were the seers. One held a sprig of sage in her hand. Another held a clay bowl. The third had 3 pieces of string in her hands.

Atim stood, "I hope that you all had a good time last night and slept well?"

The three friends nodded removing the packs. Cassie stood between Hazel and Stick who bowed, "We are ready to begin our trip," Stick said.

Bridget waved her hand and the three seers stepped forward. "These are our most trusted mystics. They were the ones who found you, Cassondra, daughter of Adam and devised a way to transport you safely to us." Cassie looked at them.

"Before we send you off, out into the world, we wanted to give you a gift and a blessing," Bridget continued. The seer holding the stick of incense stepped towards them. A small red light burst from the sage and smoldered, sending a thin ribbon of smoke into the air. The seer walked over to Stick and waved the sage around her, starting at the top of her head, passing downwards to the faerie's feet and then back up again.

"We ask that the Goddess and the Gods cast out impurity from your bodies. That you may start your journey healthy and whole, free from the dark that clouds us all," the seer whispered. She moved to Hazel, and then to Cassie. Cassie closed her eyes as the smoke and scent of sage cleared her mind and spirit.

The second seer stepped forward as the first one moved back before the Elders. Bridget continued to speak, "The wine in this bowl comes from the first cellars. Legend has it that the water used to grow the berries and wet the mash came from the center of our world, when it was still young and pure. To drink from the vintage is to bestow great honor and longevity upon you. Typically it is reserved for only the greatest of Elders. However, with the fate of our world resting on your shoulders, we thought it was proper that you have some."

Cassie raised an brow and looked over at Hazel. His face and colors displayed shock; it was the same with Stick. Indeed, it was a great honor, even though Cassie felt that Bridget was laying it on them a bit thick.

The seer walked up to Cassie first. She bowed her head as she offered the sacred wine. Cassie took the bowl with both hands, looking into it as she lifted it to her lips. The liquid was thick and dark, an drink of antiquity. She closed her eyes and closed the top of her lip over the edge of the bowl. Slowly and carefully she tipped the bowl towards her. A stream of wine kissed her lips and trickled down her throat. It tasted woody, mixed with a hint of white grapes. It warmed her body as it traveled down her throat. She swallowed and brought the bowl down from her mouth, offering it back. The seer bowed her head again and moved over to Stick. She helped the little faerie with the bowl as Stick took a sip from it. Stick shuddered and closed her eyes. Finally, the seer went to Hazel. He also shuddered after drinking the wine. The seer stepped back into line, as the third seer held out her hands. Three silver medallions dropped from the black cords they hung from.

The seer stepped forward. Again, Bridget's voice called out, "The silver that cast shape to these medallions was bled from the veins that the mountain you will climb. The symbol carved into them is also the same symbol that we three wear as an emblem of our reign. While they act as a token of our honor and gratitude, they also grant you safe passage through this land and act as payment for services or meals you may need during your trip. Innowen and the seers have also blessed the medallions with charms of protection and luck. Wear them with honor."

The seer placed a medallion around their necks. Once Cassie received hers, she immediately placed one hand around the heart shaped metal. It felt cold and hard in her hands, the pattern of the Elder's Celtic symbol pressing their lines into her skin. Cassie felt honored and she wished that she could have given each Elder something in return.

A tear rolled down Bridget's cheek as she struggled with the words. Innowen stood, sensing the pain. She placed a hand on Bridget's shoulder and spoke for her, "May Goddess bless you all. And may you three return to Stonehaven safe and sound with news about your findings." Atim had walked over to the other side of Bridget and the three of them bowed their heads in honor.

"Thank you," Cassie called out to them, speaking as bravely as she could, "I promise we will return. And with good news too." She then bent down and grabbed her pack off the floor. Hazel nodded and did the same, pausing to let Stick climb onto his shoulder.

The three friends looked at each other, and without words, they slowly moved back to the hallway with the elevator to take them to the ground and out into Stonehaven. Cassie glanced over her shoulder once more before disappearing from the Chamber Room. The Elders still stood gathered next to each other, Bridget silently crying.