Eilise, God, And The Witches [Fake Tattoos #2]

Lady Apples

"It's cold out! Why can't I wear shoes?" Eilise asked her mother.

"Because we must be in touch with the Earth, Eilise," said Lahrlin.

"But the Earth is cold," said Eilise.

"Here," said Lahrlin, handing Eilise the burning torch, "hold this. It will keep you warm, but don't burn yourself."

The two made their way to the back of the property and took the path into the old apple grove. They went deeper and deeper into the Grove until they came to a clearing. Lahrlin filled five copper urns that surrounded the clearing with the lamp oil she had brought with her. She took the torch from Eilise.

"Stay here," said Lahrlin.

She lit each urn that bust into rolling fire. As she lit each one the light and heat intensified. Soon the night air was almost unbearably warm. When all the urns were lit, Lahrlin stood in the center of the clearing and spun counter-clockwise until the torch went out. She placed the torch aside and approached Eilise again.

"Hand me the canter, Eilise," said Lahrlin.

Eilise handed her mother the brass canter filled with the herbs they had prepared the day before. Lahrlin took the canter by the chain and walked clockwise around the clearing, dipping the canter in each of the flames until it smoldered with the scent of sage, rosemary, and a mix of dry flowers filled the air. She continued around the circle three more times.

She crossed the center in the shape of a pentagram with the first line going from west to east. She set the canter down beside Eilise. Lahrlin grab her dress from the hem and pulled it up over her head. She let it drop to the grass and stood before her daughter naked.

"Hand me the wand," said Lahrlin to her daughter. Eilise trying to overcome the shock of seeing her mother naked in a burning circle, handed her the ornately carved wooden rod. Lahrlin cut the unseen vale protecting the sacred space and stepped in to the magic circle.

There was nothing there, but Eilise could almost see it, as if it was real.

Lahrlin knelt to each of the five houses of the pentagram and pointed her wand from the ground to the sky. When she was finished, she spread her arms and legs out in the center of the circle, making herself as big as she could. She spoke out to the night...

"Fáilte roimh dheartháireacha agus deirfiúr an domhain! Is é Lahrlin atá ar ais chugat! Féachann mé do lucht féachana!"

Lahrlin stood looking out into the darkness until a wind blew through the branches. The fire from the urns whipped in the winds and smoke circled around the clearing. Lahrlin walked to Eilise and took her by the hand. Eilise pulled back.

"It's okay, Eilise," said Lahrlin, "It's perfectly safe."

Eilise looked to ask God what he thought, be she couldn't find him anywhere.

"What's the matter, Eilise?"

"It's God!" said Eilise, "I can't see him."

"Maybe," said Lahrlin, "it because he was only here to guide you... No... To guide both of us to this moment."

Eilise's knees finally bent and her mother guided her to the center of the circle. Inside, between the urns, the air was even warmer. Lahrlin held Eilise against her body and raised her wand into the air. She cut it sideways in a half circle.

"Is é seo mo iníon Eilise, beagnach sé bliana d'aois. Cuireann mé í i láthair leat anois nuair a roghnaíonn sé deirfiúr."

Lahrlin sat in the grass.

"Come sit with me," said Lahrlin.

"I don't want to sit in the grass," said Eilise, "can I sit on your lap instead?"

"Of course you can."

Eilise sat on Lahrlin lap and rested her head against her mother's bare breast, which was strange, but comforting. Lahrlin stroked her daughter's hair.

"Mother..." Eilise asked, "why are you naked?"

"Because Eilise," said Lahrlin, "this grove is a very special place to the women of our family. That's why your father is never allowed in here, not even to pick apples. Where we are now, Eilise, the Deep Grove, this place is sacred. It's a place of a sacred sisterhood passed down from a mother to a special daughter. That daughter is usually the third daughter, like I was when my mother brought me into the sisterhood."

"Like I am?" Eilise asked.

"Exactly like you are," said Lahrlin. "I promised my mother, your grandmother, I would teach you, but I'll only teach you if you truly want me too."

Eilise thought about it. She wished God was here. What would he say? He would tell her to follow her heart and honor her mother.

"Okay, Mother, teach me."

"Well," said Lahrlin, "the first thing you must know is that here, we are not mother and daughter, but sisters."

"Sisters?"

"Yes, don't call me Mother here. Call me by my name. Lahrlin."

Eilise laughed.

"Larr-linn?"

"Close," said Lahrlin with a smile, "It's Lah-r-lin."

"Lahrlin," said Eilise.

"That's right, Eilise," she said. "Now let's stand up."

The two stood and faced each other.

"Now hand me you dress," said Lahrlin.

Eilise lifted her dress up over her head and gave it to her mother.

"Repeat after me... Is mise Eilise..."

"Is mise Eilise..."

"Is é seo..."

"Is é seo..."

"Mo dheirfiúr Lahrlin!"

"Mo dheirfiúr Lahrlin!"

Lahrlin kissed her new sister on the lips.