Mate of War

Elenwe finished plaiting the ribbons into her long brown hair as she pressed her feet to hurry down the spiral stairs. The naked soles barely made a sound as she skipped the last few stone steps before stepping into her flat soled leather shoes. Her activity paused beside the shaft of sunlight pouring in from outside. The bright yellow juxtaposed the dreary interior of the monetary. A pool of warm late-morning light was only able to showcase the grey on grey stonework.

Stalling there for a moment, the maiden waited for the footfalls descending the stairs behind her. Once Elenwe was aware that Delanie was beside her both took a silent, and much slower step, into the awaiting courtyard. Here the pair were greeted with the familiar sights and sounds Elenwe had recognized for over a decade. The building and surroundings were modest, well-kept, and abundant with plant life. Where there was stonework, there was ivy, where there was stone, there was moss, where there was wood, there were living branches.. Each season decorated the grounds accordingly, and right now they were aglow with flowers, bees, and new growth. Pairs of clergy members hurried themselves across the grounds to the adjacent forest. The same trail Delanie and Elenwe followed.

As they pressed into the woods, the paths and trails branched out and became indistinct. Still the two girls continued to press forward, their feet had memorized the way without the need for trails.

"This is your second Veneration Ceremony, but it's my third."

Delanie finally spoke. Her dulcet tones almost washed away under the natural ambiance of the greenery. The priestess fiddled with the cuffs of her robe. They had matching robes and veils, though the brown and gold threaded embroidery on these ceremonial robes was unique to the wearer.

The veil was constructed in two parts. A small band of fabric to attach it to the head, and then a long flowing train that started from the crown and cascaded back and down past the shoulders. They were a faded green color with cream accents. This allowed their hair to be unbound beneath the veil. Elenwe had starting arranging small braids into her hair the moment she was permitted by doctrine. The older she became, the more braids she was allowed to add. This was the opposite of every other eligible member of clergy who took a drastically different approach. All but Elenwe, and the Dowager Sages she closely resembled her hair after, allowed their hair to billow freely. Especially today. Today they would have elaborate arrangements of flowers woven in, much like Delanie's hair. Some may wear feathers, beads, clusters of twigs, or colored streaks in it with berries. All manner of ornamentation was added, and specifically those who bore children were able to adorn their veils with small golden medallions. Elenwe's veil remained empty aside the embroidered bears.

The flowing robes they wore were similar. Light and airy, creams and greens. Along the cuffs and hems were their animals. Delanie fiddled with the threading depicting bunnies. A plethora of them. Mating, eating, hopping, and birthing. Impressive were the golden medallions framing her face. She had conceived six children for the fertility goddess, the goddess of life, Adanya. The rabbits were an apt choice. Elenwe lowered her hand to still the picking fingers of her companion and squeezed in support,

"Yes, but it is also our last."

The words soured Delane's expression a bit as she freed her hands and said, "All the worse for you."

"Perhaps it is meant to be this way. I am content with whatever Goddess Adanya deems fit for me to receive - blessings or lessons. Thank you for your concern, Priestess."

"May she find you worthy and your womb fruitful, Priestess."

Delanie responded with genuine concern. Elenwe hid a wince with a soft smile as they continued to press forth into increasingly dense rainforest. The sound of their walking, the faint whispers of others trekking through the forest, and glimpses of the cream and green garb travelled with them until the distinct melody of flowing water helped the pair redirect their journey.

"I think she finds you fruitful enough for the both of us."

Elenwe teased as the first glimpses of The Grove became visible through the foliage. Delanie tutted her tongue with mirth as Elenwe chuckled and sped up their pace. This was the last year Elenwe would have to participate in the Veneration Ceremony, but more importantly, the last year she was eligible to bear a child. The following Spring Equinox she she could train as a Sage. Those who served the goddess that never bore their own children. The Sages were honored with mystical secrets and ceremony to nurture instead. Even among the Dowager Sages, few were chaste, but none had been blessed with child.

After entering The Grove, the pair were greeted with an abundance of nature decorating the vast clearing. The stark treeline bordered a large and symetrically circle clearing. The overhead sun shone perfectly into this area making the forest beyond seem much darker and stark in comparison. Overly large ferns sectioned off large portions of the woods beyond, and were adorned with ladybugs, dragonflies, colorful beetles - as if living decor.

Boughs of ivy and hanging vines were arranged as garland that was punctuated with climbing tuberose and jasmine. The stream, to the west, was aglow with mystical shimmerstone casting blues and greens in every direction. Fireflies and willowisps bobbed in the forest beyond The Grove despite it being near noon. Foxes, deer, bears, master arachnids, spectral owls, a unicorn, a puma, and all manner of animals were in attendance surrounding the clearing.

The clearing itself had a set of seven obelisks that rose to tower just above the tree-line. Four of them, one at each cardinal direction, bordered the outside of the circle as towering sentinels. The three others were centermost on a small rise in The Grove and surrounded an altar. Curved slabs of granite were present as well, pressed into the soil creating concentric rings away from the innermost trio. Further still was stone structures that were known to keep time, track the passing of seasons, and understand the stars. Finally the area beyond this, the largest portion of the circle, was broad meadows where hundreds of devout priests and priestesses gathered in attendance under colorful cloths providing shade.

Elenwe parted with Delanie and visited each obelisk starting with the northern one. This structure was arranged as if it was pushed up and out of the earth itself. Craggy rocks and boulders fused with the base showcasing large geodes that almost melded with the stonework. Atop the pyramid shaped tip was a triangle with the top pointed toward the ground. A horizontal line intersected the narrower tip just past half-way down the shape. Elenwe kneeled and kissed this stone.

The second stone Elenwe kissed was beyond the stream to the west that carved through part of The Grove. A few steps past the stones in the shimmering stream allowed the woman to bend her practiced knee to this obelisk as well. This came directly from the stream and all the way up the structure were bowls. These basins started very small beneath the upside-down triangle at the tip, and grew into larger, shell-shaped basins as it it got closer to the water below.

The third obelisk was to the south, and was flanked by two oil filled braziers. The entire obelisk was covered in a layer of soot, ash, and grime. It stood, blackened, against the verdant trees to the south. It was impossible to make out the markings on the tip of the obelisk but all in attendance knew if cleaned it would display a triangle pointing skyward. Elenwe ignored the soot and kissed this stone in reverence.

The fourth tower was to the east. Atop it was a triangle pointed upward with a horizontal line intersecting the upper half of the shape. It was fitted with several holes that sunk deep into the stonework and were smooth and sleek to the touch. The stone had been whittled away by the wind and elements leaving it glossy and smooth. Golden brackets were attached as well, to which feathers and ribbons were tied. Elenwe kissed this stone with a smile.

Traversing The Grove Elenwe entered the innermost circle to pay respect to the stones there. One had a scale atop it. It was the tallest of the three. Elenwe kneeled and kissed this one first, as was custom. The second had a set of wavy lines as of rays diagonally cut into the stone. Elenwe kissed this as well. The third simply had a circle. Elenwe settled on her knees and pressed her forehead to the dirt. She felt her breath from her lips bounce back at her as she thanked the stone before her. Finding the moss covered surface with her hands she kissed the final one and whispered a prayer with her eyes shut.

"Thank you Adanya. I will serve you beyond the last beat of my heart. I know no devotion but this, my devotion to you. May I know no other devotion but to you. Please..."

She begged, barely a whisper, "do not bless me to ... " Elenwe paused her bold petition. " do not give me a ... " she stopped her words. She kissed the stone and moss once more, leaving the unspoken request there.

Some of the more enthusiastic members of the clergy were already intertwined with one another. Such was how Elenwe found Delanie and several others beneath the cool shade. Most had paired off with potential partners for the upcoming festivities, and Elenwe did not shirk from this. There was genuine beauty in the creation of life. Wading through the people until reaching Delanie, she tapped her companion's shoulder. The Priestess lent glimpses of her attention to Elenwe,

"I have not seen the Reverand Matriarch."

Flushed, Delanie surveyed the limited area she could see and admitted back, "Nor have I."

It was obvious of the two, only Elenwe took a keen interest in the whereabouts of the Matriarch. The dwindling steam of the clergy continued to emerge from the tree-line in pairs as Elenwe continued to try to take account of the crowd. She wove herself through clumps of people with blessings and smiles until a hand halted her progression. She startled and glanced to her shoulder and then recognized who the hand was attached to.