Goddess Awakening

Chapter 1 ~ Sacred Daughter

'Maion'artheria,' a faint woman's voice whispered in Eritara's dream, calling to her.

'Eritara, Maion'artheria,' the voice said, louder, closer.

'Who is it?' Eritara said, searching for the owner of the voice. Who was speaking to her in a language older than Ancients?

Maion'artheria meant "sacred daughter" in a long forgotten tongue that few people knew.

Her dream turned into swirls of indigo and black, and a woman appeared. The woman's face was lost in her hood, and her slender, tall frame swathed in a beautiful, dark blue robe covered in stars. Eritara gasped for the stars sparkled and moved as if she looked upon a whole universe within the fabric. She peered into the hood, but all she could make of the woman's face was her perfect, alabaster chin and pink lips.

'Eritara,' those lips said, and a pale hand beckoned to her.

Eritara sat up in her bed blinking, the word echoing around her mind. Indigo light filled her bedroom, and the robed woman stood before her, suspended in that light. An immense feeling of awe, love and reverence swept over her. Her breath came fast as she struggled to cope with the overwhelming feelings for the divine being before her.

'Beloved goddess,' she whispered, her eyes wide and filled with the sight of the Night Goddess.

She glanced at her husband, Thanon, sleeping beside her. Gripping his shoulder, she shook him, hoping beyond hope that any movement or waking him would not shatter the moment.

'What?' he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. Glimpsing the indigo light, he jerked awake and threw back the covers.

It wasn't just a vision or dream, she thought, as he could see her too. Eritara motioned for him to be calm, and he relaxed a little.

'Zanufey,' he said in a sigh, staring wide-eyed at the serene goddess bathed in light and cloaked in stars at the bottom of their bed.

Eritara looked back at Zanufey. The goddess raised a pale hand again and beckoned to her. Without taking her eyes off Zanufey, Eritara pushed back the covers, eased herself out of bed, and stepped towards the light. She didn't bother pulling on her gown or slippers. Thanon stood up and followed her.

'My goddess,' she breathed, feeling at once great love and awe bordering on fear.

Zanufey held out her hand, smiling. Slowly, Eritara reached for it. At Zanufey's touch, cool purity engulfed her, taking her breath away. She closed her eyes, feeling that purity cleanse her body and soul in waves of divine love far more powerful than any magic she had ever felt.

The goddess let go of her hand and turned, her robe of stars shimmering. Eritara knew that she should follow. Gripping Thanon's hand, she stepped forwards into the light. It was so bright, she had to shield her eyes.

After only a moment, the light faded, and she found herself beside the sacred waterfall of the Night Goddess. She looked around, surprised. This small waterfall was in the centre of Myrn and several miles away from their house. The tunnel of light had taken them all this way in just a few steps.

The goddess was gone and the night was dark and still and cool. Old chestnut trees clustered close to the waterfall, and above, clouds covered the sky, blocking out the light of the stars. The only light came from fireflies darting here and there, and a faint, effervescent shimmer coming from the rocks the water tumbled over. The rocks here were known for their nightly shimmer and a source of wonder and holiness to the seers.

Hundreds of years ago, maybe even thousands of years ago, the seers had hollowed out a deep basin about two yards wide beneath the waterfall to capture the water. This they had done for all the waterfalls and springs on the Isles of Tirry, for their Water Rites and cleansing rituals were their most sacred ceremonies. Tirry meant "spring" in the Ancient's tongue, and the isles were filled with them.