[[OLD]] A Handful of Daffodils (Forgotten Series, #7)

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Part Two

We came to the smaller chapel that I knew was her private space to commune with Mene. I felt a little wary as Ambris opened the door before bowing her head at me and gesturing inwards. "Please." I stood in the doorway, glancing at her and then at the dim interior. It was her private chapel, it felt so strange to be invited inside. Most of the priestesses and priests weren't allowed in so it felt wrong that I was being given that opportunity. "I wouldn't have opened the door for you if I did not wish for you to enter." Ambris looked down at me, quirking an eyebrow and I gave her a tight, nervous smile before exhaling slowly to try and breathe out some of the tension and nerves that were shaking me before I stepped into the stone chapel.

It was warm inside, definitely warmer than the cool autumn air outside. There were some braziers that glowed in the dimness before they sparked up, flames coming to life. "She welcomes you." Ambris' voice was matter of fact as I turned my head and watched her drop a wooden bar across the door and give a firm nod. I felt a little uneasy and she gave me a warm smile. "You need to be properly dressed." She moved over to a small wooden cupboard and pulled out a dove grey robe. "Please, change into this." She came over, holding it out and I slowly took it from her hands. The fabric was soft against my palms and I swallowed, the nerves chewing at my stomach viciously.

"I will turn around if you are uncomfortable." She bowed her head but didn't wait for me to reply as she turned around, showing me her back. I gave a shaky exhale as I slowly took off my shirt and my skirt. "The shoes as well please." Ambris gave a flippant wave over her shoulder and I nodded with another swallow as I kicked the shoes off before pulling the robe over my head. It settled a bit long on me and a touch wider but it certainly was an interesting thing to wear. It was soft against my skin and I shivered slightly, even as the flames grew a bit more, making the air even warmer, almost oppressively so. It was enough to have sweat beading up on my skin. "Alright, now come." Ambris moved from her spot and up the three stone steps to the top of the raised dais before she turned and gestureed with her hand.

I stared at her, apprehensive and nervous as the sweat trailed down my back as the flame grew higher, coating everything in an almost orange glow. I felt like ancient eyes were watching my every move and I was terrified they would find me lacking. "Do not worry. Mene will not let you be harmed unduly and it only hurts for a moment." Her voice was a soft comfort before she gestured at me with her fingers. "Come on. There is nothing to be afraid of." The words were meant to comfort but I knew this was very much a death in someways. I would cease to be unknown by the goddess as I was brought to the point of death and then I would wake up different. I knew I would and that was a very...difficult thought. I wanted to stay me.

I looked at Ambris and she said nothing, just stood there, her feet on the worn stone, her hand held out to me. She said that Mene wished for me to greet her and one could not say no to the mother goddess. So I took a bolstering inhale, lifted the too long hem of the robe and reached out as I took those three steps upwards. Everything inside me felt like jelly as Ambris closed her hand over mine, pulling me to the center of the carved out symbols in the stone.

"How would you prefer it done?" Ambris looked me over and I glanced at the ornate dagger resting onna pedastle. I shuddered at the thought of it stabbing me and Ambris gave a soft smile. "Moonvine tea it is."

My heart hammered in my chest and when I looked up the ceiling was open, glass showing the sky and a faint sliver of moon in the day sky hung there as if watching me. Ambris let my hand go and moved off the dais, leaving me alone and I wiped my sweaty hands on my robe as the flames rose even higher, the temperature was almost sweltering and I gave a dry swallow. "It is alright. She is just greeting you." Ambris' voice was unbothered, as if those dancing flames reaching for the ceiling that had spawned from nothing but coals were a common occurrence. "I understand that such things might be frightening but do not worry. We are safe in her sight and arms while we are within these stones." She returned, a small handle-less cup in her hands.