the longest night

Siv Helsi · 01-17-2012, 03:01 AM

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She saw a woman before her that was but was not. Hollow and birdlike a peculiar beast settled before her, a pale thing streaked by red and black. Siv’s purple eyes burned in the firelight as she watched her companion draw close. She made no moves of comfort, no sign that she was to touch the thing. For all she knew, the coyote might vanish into the gloom. Black lips parted as she opened her mouth once more, teeth gleaming in the firelight.

“Yes my dear, The Hunt,” she whispered the word, her deep voice rolling across the flames. “My Father travels across the sky tonight. He and all those who follow him call for others to join; hear, listen,” her voice dropped and she cocked her head dramatically. The wind howled across the sky, making the branches chatter like a thousand wings of birds. Siv lifted one palm and pointed skyward, though her eyes returned to the girl quite quickly. While she was a storyteller by trade, her magic was in capturing the mind of those she tempted. This was magic in truth, and magic in practice.

“Any can join him if they only go. They take the shape of black wolves, all of them; massive, bristling things with eyes wide and burning. Some ride black horses, others black goats. All across the sky they run, and oh how they hunt. Massive ghouls and giants and ghosts, you can’t even imagine.” She leaned back and brushed her hair from her shoulders. Her hand followed south and rubbed against her throat. She swallowed and sniffed at the air. They were still alone. While she did not doubt the borders of Salsola strong, it was not only the living she feared this night.

A stick snapped in the fire and sent sparks skyward. Siv’s ears rose at the sound, the fur along her spine rising quickly. She sighed and let out a low laugh. “Oh enough talk of darkness. I’ll sing for you; it keeps the spirits away, same as the fire.”

The dark woman rocked back and closed her eyes. She felt the cold around her and the heat at her chest, and slowly began to hum. It was a low growling sound, deep in her throat and low in her chest. She often sang wordless songs like this to her daughter. This one, though, it had a strong tune and words that rolled forth from her mouth. “The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the woods, the holly bears the crown,” her voice began low and first and began rising, building up as the rumbling in her chest grew.

“O, the Ivy is a Maiden, the Holly is her love, as they entwine at Yuletide, the Lady smiles above,” she smiled at the girl, thinking of the first time she had learned the song. They used no names, but the Hearg had always known of whom they spoke. “The holly blooms in glory when solstice-day is near. We burn the Yule log to make the new-born Sun appear…” Siv waved one hand over the flame, gesturing blindly to brush the smoke through her fingers and up to the sky above. She breathed out and opened her eyes. “'Tis at Yule when the Mother gives birth to coming Spring; in the midst of winter-cold; the new-born Sun, the Holly King.”

The dark woman lifted her head and looked to the forest ahead. Her eyes lost focus between the light of the fire and the darkness of the woods around them. Her voice rumbled forth, strong and powerful now. “Throughout the land She wanders with the new day-lit god, and in the spring, sweet love is made where'er Her foot has trod. Now blessed be the Earth at rest beneath our feet, as we have hope of rest one day, our Lady for to greet. Out of darkness shall come dawning, out of winter shall come spring, out of the toil of striving comes the peace our Lady brings.”

Her voice lowered and fell, and with it, the wind stilled. Siv breathed out into the cold air and looked to the pale girl, her eyes gleaming.

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