The Storyteller

Chapter 6

Ariadne watched as the Sun rose over the labyrinth spreading a gold and red glow over the land. Her body was stiff and cold, her eyes swollen and bloodshot. She knew that her mother and grandmother would be worried but she just couldn't bring herself to get up.

She continued to watch the Sun make its journey across the sky until it reached its highest point. Ariadne got up stiffly and began walking aimlessly, she knew that she had to tell them something but she didn't want to tell them that Jareth had rejected her.

'I will just tell them about Derryn, that I went after him and looked all night but couldn't find him.' She thought to herself.

With her plan in mind, she made her way home to exhausted to use magic.

"Ariadne! Where on earth have you been?" Rhea shouted as Ariadne came in through the door.

"What's the matter Aria?" Libera added upon seeing her swollen eyes.

"I'm so sorry that I made you worry but it was Derryn he's done something terrible." Ariadne cried.

"What happened?" Rhea asked a bit softer.

Ariadne told them about her and Jareth taking a walk by the lake and how Sir Didymus told them about a selkie that was trying to destroy his seal skin. She explained how she pleaded with him that she could only love him like family.

"Then he stormed off without another word, I tried to go after him but I couldn't find him. I looked for hours but I was exhausted and couldn't look any longer." Ariadne finished desperately hoping her grandmother wouldn't pick up on the lie.

"Oh, that poor boy," Rhea exclaimed.

"He made his choice Rhea, he has to live with it. Ariadne can't help who she loves and who she does not." Libera interjected.

They all became silent as they sat around the table, Ariadne began to go to her room when she was stopped by her mother.

"Where are you off to? Are you forgetting what today is?" Rhea asked.

"It's time to take your place Aria and for me to step down," Libera said proudly.

Ariadne felt her heart race as she began to panic, she didn't know why she was panicking, she knew this day was coming. Libera placed her hand gently on Ariadne's shoulder and smiled at her reassuringly.

"I have your gown ready for you, let's go and get you cleaned up and then we can begin the ceremony," Libera instructed.

After a long soak in a bath of rose scented water Libera handed her the ceremonial gown. The gown was a simple sleeveless white gown, it was the sash that tied around her waist that was the important part. The sash was made up of four intertwining colours each representing the elements. There was red for fire, yellow for air, green for earth and blue for water.

"Aria, it is time," Libera told her.

As they walked to a secluded area of the forest Libera explained the ritual to her, Rhea followed them silently.

"After you have pledged yourself to the Goddess Gaia, you will pledge yourself to each of the elements," Libera explained.

"What do I say?" Ariadne asked anxiously.

"I can't tell you, it must come from your heart," Libera replied.

They finally came to a small clearing only visible through a small gap in the trees, there were four candles on the ground one for each of the elements. A woman stood just ahead of them, a strange glow seemed to surround her. She had an ethereal beauty that left Ariadne stunned.