The Coven

Me too =)

Rydia

Rydia slowly lowered herself to the floor and gently pulled Keleria into her lap, checking the girl's pulse and injuries. Without needing to be told or asked, Caelin dealt with the last few embers and Rydia snaked threads of air through the house, opening all the doors and windows to allow the smoke to dissipate.

"How badly are you hurt?" Rydia asked as Caelin came to stand beside her.

"I inhaled a little smoke but the fire didn't touch me thanks to your shield," he replied. "Is she... is Keleria going to be alright?" Rydia nodded as she observed the damage to the house with an outward calm but inside, she flinched. This was someone's home. The damage was extensive and it would be expensive to fix. She began to calculate how much she should give to the family.

"Could you take her outside, please?" Rydia asked. "There's some herbs in my saddle bags and if you ask, I'm sure the others will have some too. Form a sub-circle with any who are willing and conduct a healing ritual." Cealin stooped to take Keleria in his arms but hesitated as he straightened. Rydia's face was a mask of pride and strength; a leader's face and he gave just the slightest inclination of his head as if some hidden commaned had passed between them. Do not dishonour me by offering me your help, Rydia thought silently as he exited the building.

It was a struggle for Rydia to stand but stand she did and then she walked, with her head held high and barely a shuffle in her step, though her body ached and seethed with the burns. The fresh air as she stepped outside cut through her flesh and she inhaled deeply, cringing a little. She approached the huddle of village women.

"Who amongst you is owner of the house?" Rydia asked, twisting the currents of the air to force it to carry her voice across the whole group - which had grown quite large - while maintaining a confident, smooth face. The best way to survive as a witch was to appear in control and to act with a firm but generous hand. "I would like to apologise for the damage and offer four gold coins in compensation if you will come forth." A very generous hand.

Athene-

I pushed the eldest Fulham boy forwards towards Rydia.

"Mama's too sore to move," he said.

She nodded and handed him the coins. The group began to move away. I patted my hair and smoothed down my apron before going over to Rydia.

"That was a kind thing you did," I told her. "Thank you."

She shrugged. "We need to keep our trust in the villages alive."

I couldn't help narrowing my eyes. "I had their trust. They trusted me with their children, with their lives."

Rydia surveyed me. "Have you made a decision?"

I sighed. "I think so. I've got loose ends to tie up though. I've got a new mother due on the other side of the valley, and a whole host of other things. The innkeeper's father is dying, I should really be here to help them with the rites..."

She shook her head. "You can't keep putting it off. You can either come, or not."

I bit my lip. "I'll come. But I have to get somebody to look after the village. Give me until the end of the day to finish up here, then let us go to the next town so I can talk to their midwife. Those are my terms."

*sorry, I sort of forgot about this. I'm glad it's back though*

Keleria

Keleria could sense the others moving around her, but that's as far as it went. Her brain had shut down, waiting for her body to regenerate, and no matter how she tried, she couldn't wake up. She felt gentle hands pick her up and carry her away from the warmth, though their body hid its own heat. Caelin. Sudden cool air hit her, jerking her awake, her body unable to ignore the response. She moved slightly in Caelin's arms, and he changed his grip. Keleria opened her eyes, and was barraged with sudden colour and movement, the crowds staring at her as they moved past.

Caelin took her back to the inn, the innkeeper moving quickly to allow them through, casting a scared look at her prone body. She grimaced at the glare, knowing that she wasn't welcome, and realising how much that truly meant to her. Caelin set her down in a chair, and she slumped, her arms on the table in frnt of her, propping her up. She smiled grimly at Caelin, then looked away, ashamed of herself.

How could I let this happen. They trusted me, that was my chance, and it's gone.

Keleria heard the door opening again, and the soft pad of footsteps coming towards her, then muttered conversation. Rydia moved to the seat next to her and gazed sympathetically at her.

"What?" Keleria asked harshly.

Rydia was silent, contemplating Keleria's face.

Again Keleria asked, "What?"

"What do you think?" Rydia's tone was quiet, "you're a worry, Keleria, we can't be sure that won't happen again can we?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You need to be trained don't you?" Keleria grimaced, but nodded, "unfortunately, we're not sure if we're going to have time for it. What we're going to be doing is dangerous, and training you on the road would be difficult, not to mention, it could easily blow our cover."

"So, what?" Keleria snared, "You're just going to leave me?"

"No," Rydia said placatingly, "We're not. That's the last thing we'll do," she sighed, "I'm not sure what we can, though."

Keleria bowed her head back down, her exhaustion sinking in and forcing her to relax her stance. "You're my last chance. My last chance to get the training I need, to get the second chance I've always hoped for," she muttered, "where else can I go?"

Rydia

"Nowhere," Rydia replied firmly. "As I said, you will not be left behind. Athene is not prepared to leave before the end of the day so you have until tonight to rest and I will think the matter through. I will think of something." Rydia rose slowly and at the same time, Caelin began to stand but Rydia refused to accept his help. As much as she wanted and needed it, she could not appear to be weak. That was exactly what broke the coven previously. But a strong leader could re-build it. A strong leader could. And even if that meant passing the position to someone else, Rydia knew that they needed strength more than anything else. And trust. She smiled down at Keleria as kindly as she could.

"You will travel with us and you will be taught by us, some way, some how," Rydia promised before leaving the room and walking purposefully towards the woods. Caelin had his instructions to inform the other witches of their delayed departure and Rydia knew she could count on him for that, at least. She rested a hand upon the gnarled bark of an old tree and looked closely at the mossy growth upon it before scraping just a little off and then she moved on, selecting the leaves of some plants, other times the roots and every now and then it would be the petals or the stem and just once she pulled the entire plant, her head already skimming through its many uses. All of these she collected in a small, cloth bag before heading back and beginning to mix a poultice for burns at the table in the inn.

The room was lit by a row of candles and gas lamps that showed the clean, simple wooden tables and chairs. A few members of the coven held quiet discussions around the tables or sat in silence, separate from the rest of the group as both Keleria and Rydia did. Only Athene was nowhere in sight and frequently, the others would look to the window, expecting her return so they could leave. Rydia ground the herbs slowly and knew there was no use in wishing that they didn't have to be left over night but she could not stop herself from wishing the pain away.

*is it alright if I let her fly? Just this once... if not, I shall edit it out.*

Athene-

I did my rounds of the village quickly.

"I'm sorry," I said to Mistress Fulham. "About everything. And I'm sorry I'm leaving so soon, but I have to. I can't stay."

I gave her everything she and her son would need, and left strict instructions with her husband. Then I rushed home. I knew I had to make it over the valley quickly. My little pouch of herbs upon the shelf looked so inviting.

After all, I would be using my magic a lot more.

It used a lot of energy, but it saved time and right now, I needed time more than anything.

So I opened it, and boiled the herbs. Inhaling the wonderful scent, I grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. Then I called on the winds in the night and suddenly I was in the air.

I hadn't flown in so long, I had forgotten the thrill of it. I laughed, swooping this way and that. My cloak billowed out behind me, my skirt whipped around my legs. I landed in Amanda's garden. The round-bellied girl looked at me in surprise. I rolled her clay pot to her.

"You'll be fine," I smiled. "Trust me."

Astounded by my entrance, she was speechless. So I bounced off the ground and in a matter of minutes, I was in the square, exhausted but invigorated.

I opened the door of the inn. Rydia didn't look too happy that I had used up so much energy-flying was not to be taken lightly.

"I need to get back into the way of being a witch I guess," I said simply. I noted that my hair had come tumbling down around my shoulders and suddenly I felt so free. "But I'm ready to leave."

That's okay, I think the usage of magic will be increasing pretty soon. I've not got time to post just yet but if anyone does before me, it would be great if you wrote about the meet up or at least had the group set off xx

Yet again Aurora lied in her bed sleeping. But it was no pleasant sleep. The dream was haunting her again. The one that had come to her every night since the young girl from the village had appeared at her door step.

"Miss? I know 'tis a great deal to ask, but we haven't money and we haven't herbs and a rumor is going 'round that you hath the knowledge to help. 'Tis not right to bother you, miss, 'tis not right, but the young ones, they're sick, the cold will not leave and we do not know of another wise one, to help us."

Aurora felt herself turning away yet another time; she struggeled inside her own body, trying with all her might to turn the other way, look at the girl, but even wiches cannot change the past. Even in their nightmares they can't.

"There is nothing I can do. I am neither a healer nor do I have any knowledge that would save you from your faith.
Humans should not fight the fates they are given. They are not priveleged to do so and have no power. Bow your head before the will of nature. Human race should have always done so. Now it is your turn to go back to your original destiny."

Struggeling inside still she stepped toward the stairy, leaving the village girl behind.

She expected making the entire way to her bedroom the same way she had the night before and the night before and the night before. But the scenery changed.

Suddenly she was walking through woods. Barefoot, felling the cold, wet pine needles between her toes. She came to a lighting and gasped at what she saw.

Rydia, Cealin, Athene and ... In her dream she clasped her hands in front of her mouth. Keleria. How she had grown... Aurora had last seen her, when the coven dissolved. Taken her with her for a bit, but not for long. Kids were too much of a mess. She let out a sigh and sat down to observe.


*Okay, you can just describe the meeting now and then I guess she'll wake up. I'd be glad if someone'd come to get her anytime soon.*

Keleria

The arrival of Athene was welcomed by them all, even though the tension between them was still there. As Rydia talked to her, and got everyone organised, Keleria glanced frequently around at the many people watching them from the streets and houses. In her mind she scorned them, but she dared not say anything, if they were going to be around humans more often, she couldn't risk getting onto a bad footing ith them no matter how she loathed them.

Rydia called them together, making sure that everone was organised and ready to set off. As they came together, shouldering bags and figuring out who they would walk with Keleria had another sense of a watcher. She peered around, trying to gauge where the strange feeling was coming from, an otherworld presense. As she gazed, she felt the thoughts of the person shift onto her, and realised that they were not even there. the presense was familiar, but unlike one she'd known for a long time. Aurora?

Rydia

As they moved steadily through the woods, the need for the location crystal expired: they could hear the familiar voices of Tempest and Ava not far ahead. Rydia signalled for the others to halt.

"I don't want to startal them," she whispered with the intention of being the only one to approach the two women but suddenly a dog began to bark loudly: their presense was revealed.

"Rover, hush. What is it Rover?" Tempest's voice drifted to them, with the russle of grass and leaves as the dog shifted excitedly, and just behind hers came Ava's:

"Emma, Emma sweetheart, come here." The dog barked louder and louder still and Rydia quickly led the group forward, directly into a small, well-nourished apple orchard. The change in scene was dramatic: suddenly light flooded through the wider gaps in the trees and the grass was soft and springy, no longer tangles with twigs and stones. The two women looked older, one softer and the other harder than they had years ago and while Ava looked straight at them in amazement, Tempest's gaze was directed towards her dog.

"Rover!" Tempest commanded, still looking down at her dog which fell silent obediantly and sat on his hind legs beside her. "I'm sorry about him, he's a little..." Their eyes met and Tempest looked to each member of the group in alarm as Ava performed a similar feat.

"Can I pick more apples Mama?" The little girl asked, breaking the silence. Mama... this could get complicated... Rydia thought. Ava nodded, somewhat cautiously.

"Yes, Emma," she said before stepping towards Rydia.

"I'm sorry," Rydia apologised. "I had hoped to come forward alone and make this greeting more gradual but I'm afraid the dog heard me."

__________________________

Okay, we'll have the group look for Aurora next and then there's just four witches left: Roxanne and three who weren't really claimed. Unless anyone has any objections, these three will join the evil spirits, being the ring leader's of the coven's down-fall while Roxanne will remain neutral but completely out of control (read her bio on page one) and I think we can have the group try to meet up with Roxanne once Aurora is with them and draw that out into quite a long journey. We can have the crystal stop working as she tries to break her ties to the coven and have them find destruction and men who've had love charms cast on them along the way.

What does everyone think? Ideas? Objections?

*wow sorry I havn't posted...*

Persephone-

Persephone kept to herself as they journeyed through the woods cloaked by the greenery. SHe barely noticed when they stopped and ran into Caelin. She mumbled an apology and kept her head down. Then the group was moving again and suddenly there was light. Warm sunlight, and she could smell apples. She heard a small voice call "mama." as Ava and Tempest came into sight.
It wasn't until she looked past Caelin and Keleria that saw the boucing curls as the girl skipped off to pick more apples. Persephone smiled and the tiny reflection of Ava. Ava was older now but Persephone could only still see the Ava from seven years ago. She always thought she would make a good mother.
Persephones eyes followed the little girl, then her feet. The girl was standing at a relatively small apple tree picking the only apples she could reach. Persephone sat on the warm grass and watched get frustrated over not being able to reach the apples at the top, the best ones that had soaked up the most sun.
"What is your name?" Persephone asked, pulling her knees to her chest.
"Emma." She said timidly still reaching for the apples. Persephone nodded then turned to watch the group conversing. She still felt like such an outsider, she wasn't even fully trained and she felt of no use to the group.

Keleria

As Rydia conversed with Ava, Keleria watched the little girl picking the apples, and noticed Persephone's gaze upon her as well. Aurora's presense had left her by now, and she didn't dwell on it, having to many other things to worry about. Keleria snickered as she watched the little girl reaching for the higher branches, and suddenly felt a pang of pity. This girl seemed to have no idea who they were, who her mother was, for she'd never have ignored Rydia or the group like this. Seeing the girl struggle she felt she should help, and figured it wuld also be a good place to practice her skills, no humans watching, and plenty of witches around ot protect her.
Gathering her will she reached out towards a paricularly red apple on top, and drew upon the air around it and her to pick it up off the branch and carry it down to the girl's basket. The strain was little, as she had a natural affinity with that element, and she found it easy to control it in such a small area. The girl's eyes widened as she watched the apple approach her seemingly without support, and Keleria felt a hint of satisfaction at the reaction.
Walking over to the girl, she said, "There you go, how's that?"
The girl looked at her, "You did that?"
Keleria smiled, "Yes, i certainly did."
"Well done, Keleria," Persephone approached them, "How did you learn that, without any help?"
"I just did it, it's not that difficult," Keleria bragged.
Persephone glanced at the girl, "Emma, have you ever seen that sort of thing before?"
Emma shrugged, "Mama does it all the time."
Keleria frowned, surely if Emma knew who her mother was, she would also know who they were. She glanced around at Rydia and Ava, and saw them watching her, Rydia frowning, and Ava looking worried.
Persephone pursisted, "Have you ever seen anyone else do it?"
Emma thought about it, "No, only Mama. I didn't think anyone else could. Mama said that she was special."
"She is special, Emma," Perspehone said, "so are we. We're all witches."
"She's a witch?" emma sounded a little frightened.
Keleria replied, "Yes, of course. What else would she be?"
Rydia stepped in, "Keleria, Persephone, stop there please."
Ava glared at them, "What have you said?"

Athene-

I grinned. I had always liked Ava, she was quiet and friendly and I enjoyed her company.

"Ava," I called in greeting. She smiled, but immediately turned back to Keleria and Persephone. They had said something to the child.

I bit my lip. I may have been unwilling to trust Keleria, but even being unbiased, it was typical of a witch living my herself, as not being part of a community, to say something. Discretion was a skill that many witches never learnt.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to help the situation along.

"Emma, is it?" I said, bending down to the lovely little girl. I whispered her ear. "My friends are playing a game. We don't see each other a lot because we live in different towns, so when we're together, we like to play big games. This time we're pretending we're witches. Your Mama too. It's good fun."

I straightened up. My lying skills weren't up to much, and I wasn't sure if she would believe me even if they were. She would have to find out sooner or later anyway.

Keleria

She stared at Athene, astounded that she would lie so hugely to the child about something so important. when she looked around at the others, she realised that they all agreed with what Athene had done. Keleria frowned, why would anyone lie to their child about something that should be a part of their life, a part of their world?

Rydia was looking at her, and Keleria glared back, daring her to say something. the silent converation was tense, and Keleria felt Rydia's willpower starting to overcome her, and almost bowed her head, before Rydia turned away. Keleria tried to feel proud of the small victory, but she knew that Rydia had won, though she wouldn't have admitted as much to her face.

Turning to Persephone, she saw the same shame that she felt written over her face. The other young witch had obviouslyy not realsied either that the child may not know who her mother as, but Persephone was more willing to show her shame, and regret, while Keleria buried it and hid it.

Rydia

"I am sorry, Ava. We have not met on good grounds and I have worse news for you. Tempest, Ava, will you walk with me for a moment? Is there someone who can care for the child for a moment?" Rydia looked to the older members of the coven and Ava nodded as Athene came forwards. Then Rydia led the way back towards the woods.

At first, they walked in silence as Rydia contemplated just how essential it was for her to say the right thing. But what could she say? Tempest had her dogs to care for. The bond was clear, even now, Rover walked happily at his mistress' heels and Ava had the child, a child! A little girl. What insanity would make them join this mission? But there it was: insanity. Misery, danger. The threat.

"The spirits move against us," Rydia began. "They are not content to remain dead. I have not told the others everything. I have not told them my worst fears...."

"And what do you fear, Rydia?" Tempest asked, a cold draft to her voice, coming from a woman who had lost too much the last time that they spoke. Rydia paused. Somehow the singing of the birds sounded sad to her ears because she knew she might not hear it again. The rustle of the grass, the breeze flitting through the trees. All of it might be lost.

"A balance will always exist, no one can prevent that so, for them to live, something else must die. Perhaps it will be the grass and the trees, perhaps the animals..." she paused - a cheap trick, a trick she despised even as she looked to the impatient dog who circled and jumped, sniffing at the ground. "What I fear most," Rydia said, "is that it will be human lives lost and we may not be fighting just the spirits. This is a plot that has been developing for years, a plot that needs direction, a plot that needs strong witches. There were those among our group who hoped to live for ever, who we argued with you will recall. I fear that they still do not value human life." And there it was. Why should they join when they had responsibilities to others? Well to keep those others alive of course.

Athene-

I offered the little girl my hand and she took it shyly.

"Shall we pick some apples?" I asked. She nodded.

"I like apples," she said. "I like anything that grows. Better than meat."

I smiled to myself. Of course, with Ava's skills, the soil around her house would be fertile. Even if she hadn't told her family, sometimes, we all did things like that.

"Is it a good game?" she asked curiously. "Being witches?"

"Oh yes, it's good fun," I answered absent mindedly. "Shall I lift you up, there's a perfect red apple up there?"

I lifted her, my arms were stronger than they looked. She plucked the fruit off the branch.

"What if it's poisoned?" she asked, suddenly frightened. "Do witches poison apples?"

I knelt down so my face was level with hers, and shrugged. "Bad witches do. But we're good witches." Most of us, at any rate, I added silently to myself. I had never forgiven other members of the Coven for their... opinions.

"That's good," she said. "Because I want this apple!"

I laughed as I led her back. This is why I loved children, the innocence. The way they could light up a room. I remembered the face of every woman whom I had delivered a child for, the way they lit up at the tiny bundle in their arms.

Emma took a tiny bite out of the apple.

"I bet that's delicious," I said, and she nodded, before swallowing.

"What can witches do?" she asked.

"In our game? Oh..."

And thinking how innocent a lie this was, I could wind the truth into it. Someday she would have to realise the truth, and perhaps I could make it a little easier.

"We all control elements. Do you know what they are? Water, air, fire and earth..."