Emily's House: Book 1 of the Akasha Chronicles

Chapter 4: The Wedding

Chapter 4: The Wedding

 Cathaír rode through the night to the walled city of the High King of Érie. He advised King Ruaidrí of all that Saorla had said, all except for her prediction of invaders at the Sacred Well. Cathaír told the High King of Saorla’s recommendation that the King raise his armies and arm all available men and women in the port cities to protect against the invaders.

Ruaidrí scoffed at Cathaír’s news. “Lad, this land has lived in peace for many harvests. My lookouts know of no invaders on the shores of fair Érie. I’m afraid our Lady of the Well is replacing her vision with fear.” Ruaidrí raised a mug of mead to his lips.

“Your Highness, the High Priestess’s vision has never failed you before. She implores you to take action to fortify the port cities. She has seen a large and fearsome army overtaking our land,” replied Cathaír.

Ruaidrí drank more mead and thought for a few minutes. If the wise woman’s vision is true, mayhaps it is a warning from the Goddess herself, thought Ruaidrí. In order to appease the Christian bishops and local monks, Ruaidrí and his estate followed the Christian rites, eschewing the old ways. By decree, he had forbidden many of the ancient practices and approved of the renaming of others. Many of his people were devoted to the new religion. But many, like Ruaidrí himself, mouthed the words of the hymns and prayers, but in their heart, they longed for the Beltane fires.

As he reflected, he thought that perhaps the Goddess was upset with him. Maybe he needed to appease her. He felt certain that an offering to the Goddess and a festival to honor her would put him again in good favor with the gods and goddesses of his homeland. Mayhaps the High Priestess’s vision does not portend of what is to come but is only a warning, Ruaidrí thought.

At last Ruaidrí spoke. “What is called for is a great ceremony to appease the Goddess. We will perform a ban-feis. Now go, Cathaír, and tell the High Priestess to ready herself for the ritual.”

“My King, I mean no disrespect, but as you know the Lady of the Well has taken sacred vows. She cannot attend a festival outside the walls of the Sacred Grove. Another priestess, one of high rank, must perform the ceremony instead.”

“Cathaír, return at once to the Sacred Grove and give this message to the High Priestess. Let her know that her vows are of no consequence when the very soul of our fair land is at stake. We shall have the ban-feis at the next full moon, and I expect the High Priestess to perform the role of Goddess.” Ruaidrí dismissed Cathaír without another word.

“What is a ban-feis?” asked Fanny.

“The ban-feis is a ritual that had not been performed in many years. During the ban-feis, the kings, lords, ladies, knights and all of the people come together for bonfires and feasting, and the King is married to the Goddess,” answered Hindergog.

“You mean a real Goddess existed, and the King married her?” asked Jake. “Okay this is starting to get too weird, even for me.”

“There’s no ‘real’ goddess Jake,” I said.

“There is indeed a Goddess, fair Emily. But for the ban-feis the King ritualistically married a priestess or druidess disguised as the Goddess, thus uniting the people with the forces of nature and the land,” said Hindergog. “Listen as I continue my tale.”

The announcement of the ban-feis spread across the land. Those that still followed the old ways were excited and pleased that the King was making peace with the Goddess. Many who did not outwardly follow the old ways out of fear of scorn were secretly happy within their hearts too. The people missed the joyous feasts of old when the High King, as well as all regional kings and lords opened their larders. High born and peasants alike would feast and celebrate.