Lady of the Meadow #JUN2K16

Lady of the Meadow

I always come out here. Every day. It's like a tradition. I even come out here in a coat and gloves in the winter. This is my favourite place. Even when it is hidden under a blanket of snow. 

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, and the sky is a beautiful bright blue. So bright in fact, that when I stare at it, my eyes go sore and my head gets dizzy. I find a nice patch of long grass, long enough to hide me from the world as I look up at the sky and dream. 

When I've laid down, I look again up at the sky. The few clouds that are floating through the sky today are a pure white, and look so comfortable I wish that I could just jump up there and lie down on top of one and fall asleep. I close my eyes.

I can hear the birds chirping in the distance and the wind blowing all around me. It sounds as though it is whispering to the grass as it dances with the breeze. The sun feels warm upon my skin, urging me to fall asleep. 

And I do. At least I think I do.

I can hear a sing song voice, repeating the same things over and over again.

Lady of the Meadow, sleep you must. Lady of the Meadow, it's me you trust. Lady of the Meadow, you're sweet and just. Lady of the Meadow, it's me you trust.

I open my eyes and looked around for who ever made the voice. No one is there, so I just shrug it off. It must have just been my dreams. I lay back down, and close my eyes. The voice comes again, this time speaking more rapidly. 

Lady of the Meadow, sleep you will. Lady of the Meadow, I won't kill. Lady of the Meadow, sleep your fill. Lady of the Meadow, I won't kill. 

I woke up again, shuddering. I look around one more time, nervous. This voice had said something about killing. And I was unsure if it was my imagination or not. I couldn't see anyone, but just the same, I got up and moved to another patch of long grass. I looked at the sky. It was close to afternoon. A few more hours and then I will leave. I told myself sternly. 

I laid down again and closed my eyes. The voice came again, this time speaking louder and faster.

Lady of the Meadow, time to rest. Lady of the Meadow, take your test. Lady of the meadow, try your best. Lady of the Meadow, take your test. 

I opened my eyes again. I was shaking badly and I had goose bumps running down my arms and spine. The wind had suddenly started to howl and grey clouds had covered the blue sky. The it was getting close to night now, and I knew I had better return home. But the voice continued to speak, this time so loud and fast I could barely understand it. 

LADY OF THE MEADOW, CLOSE YOUR EYES. LADY OF THE MEADOW, DEATH IS NIGH. 

It repeated the words over and over again and I could feel them sinking into my skin. I was so afraid, my vision became blurry. I tipped over a log. But when I looked, it wasn't a log. It was the bones of a dead child, about my age. I panicked. I began to run, and as I ran, the chanting became louder and louder. 

LADY OF THE MEADOW, CLOSE YOUR EYES. LADY OF THE MEADOW, DEATH IS NIGH.

I stopped running. The fear inside me was overwhelming. I could feel it flowing up my veins and into my brain... 

And it consumed me. My organs, my bones, my muscles and even my soul was slowly tearing away from my body. Until it stared me in the eyes and chanted:

Camille Belcourt, Lady of the Meadow.