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1. I.
(par Helen, ajouté le 22/02/07 10:15)

It had been raining for hours. It was still raining hard. It was late. The dark and the rain made it impossible to see the road. Only the dark green shapes of the trees could be guessed. She was soaked. Her woollen cloak and hood were of no use anymore. The humidity was nibbling its way to her bones through her flesh. Her horse snorted a few times. She was lucky she knew the way. She had been riding for a couple of days and now she was near. The muddy path led her out of the forest in a curb. The sky was low and the colour of lead. Drops were falling in her eyes and on her nose. She could distinguish the shape of the castle. Lighter grey against the charcoal of the clouds. She wiped her face. Soon she would be in a hot bath. Her back was aching and she could not wait to soak in warm water and perfumed oils.

The shape of the castle was becoming clearer as she approached. It was also much bigger than it had seemed since it was not hidden by the trees and shrubs anymore. The assemblage of building was made of grey stone, resting on grey rocks, made nearly invisible on the background of the rain.

She stood at the gate. She sneezed and called out to attract someone’s attention. Once she had given her name, mentioned she was expected and waited for her while that they lowered the drawbridge. Once in the main court, they took care of her horse and she was welcomed by the housekeeper.

- We were expecting you a couple of days ago. Your usual room is ready and warm.
- Thank you, I can hardly wait to take a hot bath and wear dry clothes. When could I see Sir Ankeu and Lady Niwalen?

The face of the housekeeper was uneasy for a flickering moment. She smiled, too late.

- They have been kept. The roads are too bad. They should be here in a couple of days. That’s if the weather gets better, of course. But Lord Robur, their son, is here. They feared to leave the castle empty. He arrived about a month or so ago, just before they left. He will see you tonight, if you wish. You can speak to him as you would to his parents, she added, hope shy in her eyes.

The woman in blue sighed and nodded. She was too cold and too tired to say anything. She even wondered whether she would be able to hold a conversation in the evening. She would try to sleep until then.

She followed the housekeeper to her room. Candles had been lit and fresh grass laid the ground. A fire was roaring in the chimney and a bath was steaming in front of it. She dropped her bags.

2. II.
(par Helen, ajouté le 22/02/07 10:16)

She was walking down a corridor leading to the dining hall. She had slept soundly a couple of hours after her bath and was now feeling calm and alert. She was wearing a deep red woollen dress and a dark ribbon, tied around her forehead, kept her abundant blond hair away from her eyes. However, the full moon tattooed on her right temple hid behind her tresses. Her stretched shadow was dancing on the ceiling in the flicker of the torches.

He was waiting for her, standing in front of the huge chimney. She knew it very well, but was surprised by its size every time. You could have roasted a bull in it if you had wished.

A table had been set in front of it, the backs of the two chairs turned to the fire. He turned around as he heard her footsteps. She realised his face was familiar and that she had met him, briefly, a few years before. She smiled and kept her composure. She did not really know him and she was there for important matters. She was used to authority for too long. He studied her as she approached. He was dark and his features were difficult to read in the shadows the fire was playing on his face. However, he seemed tensed and tired. As she approached, he seemed to relax, like someone who has been waiting long. His hands were clasped behind his back. His tunic was of tan wool. The wool was finely woven. The tunic was simple but of very good quality; expensive too probably. A thick silver chain and a circular bronze pendant rested on his chest. The plates and goblets of pewter had a dull glister in the light of the flames.

He welcomed her with a tired smile and took her hand to lead her to her seat. He studied her as he spoke.

- Be welcome to this castle. I am afraid my parents have been kept longer at the court of the king. As you know, these are troubled times.

She smiled.

- Thank you. I have been told I could speak openly to you. Are you in this business with your parents?
- Indeed. Despite the fact I am more open to changes than they are, I still believe it is my duty to protect our beliefs and our ways. My politics are that if you show tolerance you have the right to expect tolerance back. One day this castle and its lands will be mine. I want my people to be free according to their beliefs and traditions, whatever they might be.
- You are not without knowing, though, that we are being hunted, that our shrines are destroyed. These are troubled times as you said. Soon, the likes of me will have disappeared. Soon nobody will remain to celebrate the rites and the festivals. The woods will become feared empty places. Men will simply fill them with their fears and superstitions. Who will carry the teaching?

Her eyes were quiet. He filled their goblets with dark wine. She helped herself to some bread and hot vegetables.

- We keep this wine for special occasions, he said with a smile.

She sipped the dark liquid.

- It is gorgeous, indeed. Well, I raise my glass to a special occasion then. She put her goblet back on the table. You are right, she continued, tolerance is probably the only solution. She smiled at his puzzled air. We may be fading, she sighed, but there are still people who follow the old ways. We still teach and train young people and children. Oh yes, there are still people who send us their children to be revealed the old secrets and become ministers of our cult. Well, this is what I had come to see your parents for. They are old friends. They have been very kind and helpful to my order ever since I was a child. By early summer, some of my students should be ready to be send into the world. She watched him taking a sip of wine and a bite of meat. I was thinking about asking you to take a few of them under your protection and allow them to practice. Their presence will answer the needs of those who do not follow the new faith but it will not threaten it either. I am not asking you to ban the new religion. Just to be tolerant and accept the cohabitation of two different philosophies on your territory.

She smiled and watched him thoughtfully.

- Do you actually realise what you are asking me to do? Tolerate the old ways in broad daylight? That will never be accepted.

- It is up to you to show that you are open-minded and that your subjects are all equal to our eyes.

He sighed. She rose.

- I will retire now. I am exhausted. Since I could not see your parents I might still stay tomorrow. But I will have to continue my route afterwards. I am afraid I cannot wait any longer. I have to be at the Council. I wish you a good night.

Fatigue was aching in her bones.

The moonlight flooded the room. She undressed and went to bed. She watched the rays of bright opal light until she could not see them anymore.

3. III.
(par Helen, ajouté le 22/02/07 10:18)

A rasping noise woke her. The candles must have been burning for an hour. The door gingerly opened. A shadow entered the room. She could not see it properly, only guess a shape. The shadow was rather tall, broad-shouldered and was wearing a white shirt.

White light briefly played on metal. On a pendant and on a sword. The shadow lifted its arms and planted a long and heavy sword between the mattress and the bed board. The shadow was long and stretched along her side. The shadow stood immobile at the foot of the bed.

She knew what it meant. Everybody did even though it was less and less practiced. If she accepted him the sword was a guardian, he protector of their union. If she refused, he would lay by her side, not touching her, the shadow of the sword like an insurmountable barrier between them.

She sat up and offered him her hand. He approached and sat down on the bed. They kissed. His skin was warmer than she had expected. He was stronger too. He pressed her body against his as if to trap her.

She caressed her hair. It was soft. As if she had always known it. His skin was soft and she could not help but wonder. She had known him all her life. Every inch of his body. He cuddled his head on her shoulder. He could have cried. She swallowed his month again. Hungry and starving. She fell into black. Her eyes could not see anymore. She arched like a wave. She was water. Her limbs ran like a stream around his body. She pressed him closer and became one with her other half.

His head was heavy. She let her finger play with his hair.

‘Stay here, my Lady. For ever.’

She sighted. The light of the moon had disappeared.

‘We will rule my land together. The old ways are not dead. They just wait to live again.’

The candles flickered. She held him tighter. Her time was only beginning.

4. IV.
(par Helen, ajouté le 22/02/07 10:19)

They ruled his land. The old ways alive again. Two philosophies spending the seasons side by side. One life to celebrate.