proluge to Child Of the Moon

same as title.

As the woods howl with sounds of marching feet, I jump through the trees as nimble as a monkey. When an arrow shoots past my head I move faster. Suddenly something small enters my leg. I pause and see a dart in my leg. I don’t want to be caught so I climb into branches to thin to hold a grown man’s or even a lanky teen’s weight, before tying myself to the tree. Then I let sleep over take me.

When I lay on the ground under the stars with my sisters I sigh with happiness. Then the woods are filled with the shrieks of the Morrigan’s crows. Two of my sisters are dead, arrows riddle their bodies and crows peck their eyes! Sammy climbs with me but as we leap, she suddenly falls as an arrow knocks her into Morrigan’s clutches. I move faster, fast enough that no arrow can target me, no bird can stop me, then the wolves appear, I jerk and change direction to fast for them to notice. Then I...

I wake up, and see I’m still in my tree though the soldiers are camped under me. I move so quiet and smoothly no leaf rustled, and no branch creaks. Then I resume my flee to the temple realm where no soldier dare enter for fear of the Gods and Goddesses striking them dead. I speed up when I hear the soldiers waking- I’m not far enough yet- and get to the temple realm right as I hear them scream in outrage. But it’s too late, for the temples’ keepers have taken me into the temple to the goddess of healing and are helping me to get better. I sigh as I feel the wound on my leg heal and the scrapes from tree bark on my feet soften into new skin. Then I hear a question “Young One of the trees how will you repay the goddess for her kindness, servanthood in her temple for 2 years or Will you travel to the sky realms and help her for a day” I think it over because the journey to the sky realms are dangerous and deadly. Then I thought of what would  work better, being a slave, that is safe, or having the risk of being killed, and serving the goddess for eternity in death. “I’ll journey to the sky realms” The keepers looked surprised because of the fact that I looked to be about 8 years old, though I was 13. “Are you sure Young One, it would be safer for you to work here”, I nod “It’s the summer cycle I find my place in life, the summer cycle of womanhood.” They gasp “you look to be of 8 summer cycles!” I shrug and say “I’m small for my age, in fact my younger sister- May her soul stay together-looked older than me” they bow their heads in honor of Sammy, when I mention the ‘may her soul stay together forever’. They request “How did she leave the grasp of life” I reply “The arrow of a soldier took her by the leg and dragged her from sky to earth, she was only 5 summers old, though she had the wisdom of 30 years” they growl and say “anyone of less than 15 summers should not be dragged to death, did anyone else from your family perish”? I nod “My older sisters Ellie and Taylora of 14 summers each, were taken as they prepared to enter the dream world” With this the temple keepers created a pack and gave it to me to use on my journey. I ask if when I return if I can serve the goddess Andraste, of the moon, divination, and rabbit magic. They decide to allow it and I set off on my journey.

Month of September

October:

“I have returned” I call into the temple of Airmid. “I am ready to serve Andraste, and except my place as her servant”. The keepers come out and hand me a set of robes, that are a pale glowing gray. A royal blue sash wraps around the right shoulder to the left hip. Octarine leggings are on the bottom of the stack, and a leather belt with swirling blue, gray, and octarine in a glass bead in the middle of the belt. She was about to change when someone stopped her. “You must be accepted by Andraste before you change. Go to the temple of Airmid while we ask favor from the Goddess.” I nod and head to send my thanks to Airmid when suddenly my way is blocked by two boys in armour. I think nothing of it until I see the Morrigan in between them. I can tell they haven’t spotted me, so I act as if I’m going into some random temple to pray. I happen to be in the temple with trees-Abellio- apple trees to be exact. I pray to him for forgiveness for climbing the sacred apple trees. Then I pray to Andraste to get a message to the Keepers that soldiers are in the realm with the Morrigan or better yet to strike them dead. When a voice as soft as moonlight and as strong as the tides whispers in my mind “Do not worry, my beloved, you have naught to fear them they are here for a young girl who escaped their clutches with a dart in her leg, who is a small, dark haired, and brown eyed. This is not you anymore. You are the Moon’s child and look as much, as you will look for the rest of eternity” then the presence in my mind disappears. I sigh in relief and offer a small apple brooch I found outside the temple at the altar to Abellio in thanks for protection. When the scent of sun cooked apples fills the air I know he has heard and accepted my thanks. As I emerge, I see the Keepers walking down the trail, with the bundle in their arms. I walk forwards and hold my hands out for the Clothes before going into a tent and changing. When I emerge, I happen to look into a lake and see my reflection. I have glowing white hair and royal blue eyes, that shimmer occasionally with octarine. When suddenly my reflection is gone and I see the soldiers chasing a young girl who looks exactly the same as Sammy! She sees the temple grounds and darts through the opening in the gates right before it closes for the night. I see her noticing me and grinning before flying into my arms, before she requests to serve Abellio, because of her love for apples. I take her to the Keepers and... don’t see what happens next, because Ice cold water is dumped on my head. I gasp, and glare at the offender. “excuse me but I was gathering information! a young visitor  who is my sister will be joining the service of Abellio. I would get the robes ready” They blink then nod and run off to inform the keepers. I follow at a slower pace before feeling the urge to look up. I follow the urge and see the most majestic moon I’ve ever witnessed in my short life! “It’s a crowning moon” I jump, I hadn't heard him come up. “They say when this moon appears it’s recognizing it’s Ruler walks the earth in mortal form, and the time has come to crown her with the Moon Crown. They say that She will be renamed Arianrhod in honor of the silver wheel she rules.They tell of the new reign that will bring peace.” Suddenly he shakes his head and grins “Sorry ‘bout that! The Sun god occasionally takes me over to make proclamations, and I have to nicely ask him to leave, I’m Ánrothán, What’s your name?” I look at him “I don’t have one because my parents wanted me ‘open to my Bright future’ even though they named my sisters.” He stiffens “the one with no name... Arianrhod please come out and speak with me.” I can’t move. Literally, my body is out of my control! “Ah, Ánrothán, I’ve finally found you! I would hug you but my little beloved is uncomfortable with hugging strangers. I’d hate for her to leave the temple to soon. I could stop her, But I like having someone with free will. I’ve missed having mortal form, What about you Ánrothán? how long have you had this boy.” I sound like the moon’s reflection in the waves, wavering yet beautiful. The boy - Ánrothán- has a voice like an arrow when he is controlled by the Sun god “Since the Morrigan has appeared, But his parents where under my orders the day he was born to name him this. I hope the Morrigan leaves soon. I don’t want my child to be taken, In fact I’ll have control over his body for however long she is here. I suggest you do the same, My love”. My mind is racing, running hundreds of scenarios through my head, thinking of ways to escape when the words coming out of my mouth scare me “I will do that to, If you would like you may come to a secret room in my temple for us to hide in. It will protect us from her pet’s prying eyes. I’ll let the keepers know” Once she has finished, she leaves my body for a while causing me to collapse from the strain. The sun god must have left Ánrothán to because he falls down right next to me. “he has never been totally inside me, it is usually just a piece of him, telling a story, Expect them back soon” I nod and as I rise suddenly she is back. I apologize my dear but I’ll be controlling you until the Morrigan is gone. I won’t risk my prize again. I sigh. I can’t exactly stop her so I just go along for the ride.

Author's Note

Just the beginning