A storm is much calmer when viewed from underwater. Perhaps that's why Epona preferred it while she was swimming. She was drifting along underwater, her long golden blonde hair, weightless and encasing her pale naked body like a blanket. The bright Celtic Blue symbols like serpents twisting around her arms and abdomen.
Epona rose from the shiny green water of An Lochan Uaine, like the goddess she was, and began to gently wade to the shore. She could see amber flecks of light dancing in the trees making her feel at home, like she was back in the otherworld. She smiled, she knew what they were. Faeries had been using the Loch for hundreds of years to clean their clothes, it had become a haven for the magical creatures of Scotland, somewhere where they could feel close to their own realm whilst visiting Bitu (The world of the living).
She went to a rock and picked up a thin gold circlet crown and placed it onto her head. Her hair was almost dry already, forming beautiful waves with wispy curls that fell over her shoulders and cascaded down her back.
A sweet melody echoed through the valley like honey from Epona's lips. An intense ancient Gaelic song, sung so gently it could have settled on a snowy mountain without causing an avalanche. She returned to the shore as a pearl white horse with bright blue eyes slowly broke through the tree line and trotted towards her.
Epona placed her hand on its nose, calming it, before bending down to the Loch and scooping up some of the water in her left hand. The other waving over it as she sings her blessing, Turning the green water to a bright and brilliant blue.
She raised her cupped hand to the horses mouth and allowed it to drink. With her right hand, she ran her fingers through its thick mane.
With every touch of her finger tips the horses colour changed. Fading from the pearly white hair to a thick oily jet black. Spreading from its neck and mane to its rump and to the tip of its tail. Epona stared into the horses blue eyes as they turned into a solid black, like balls of obsidian. The horses head, now the only white part left, was soon concealed by the thick black curse.
The once angelic horse had now become a demon.
Epona slowly leant into the horses ear and whispered, "Rach mo phàiste, Thoir thugam an neach-saoraidh". (Go my child, Bring me the liberator)
With that the horse turned before leaping back into the trees and galloping away to complete its mission.
Epona turned to the Loch in silence, the amber lights still dancing behind her in the trees, and she began to walk into the sea green water. But this time she didn't swim. She just walked. As if her feet were magnetised to the loch bed, she continued to walk until she was fully submerged, no air bubbles, no struggle. Just a few calm ripples and a distant disappearing figure. With that she was gone, and the amber lights of the Faeries could return to wash their clothes in peace.
YOU ARE READING
Clandom: The Bloody Moor
FantasyA few chapters of the novel that I am currently writing. It's based in medieval Scotland and is about the Clans fighting for the throne, shrouded with myths and legends brought to life and heavily inspired by true events, places, people and battles...
