Chapter 25
The Betrothed
Druantia and Eoghan arrived at the entrance of the Nemeton of Arras. The outside of the nemeton was a wall of trees and vines that protected the sacred grove inside. The entranceway was an arched tunnel made of ivy leaves and white flowers. Druantia could see people on the opposite end, but the passageway into the nemeton was long, and the figures looked like green blotches.
Druantia laid the still unconscious Eoghan on the ground and walked to the threshold of the grove.
Two muscular Celtic warriors, daring enough to look Druantia in the eyes, met her at the entrance and refused her refuge. They wore full Gaelic war armor. They each carried a sword and several daggers, with a bow and quiver strapped to their backs. The warriors looked similar, brothers no more than two years apart.
Druantia smiled and seductively swayed towards them, attempting to lure them into a euphoric trance. She bit her lower, strawberry colored lip and blew them each a kiss.
“Now, now, Cadman, you know who I am,” Druantia said and ran a finger down one of the warriors’ breastplates. She lightly dragged her finger across his collarbone as she walked around him.
Her touch sent a shiver through Cadman’s body, but he remained silent. She turned to the other guard when Cadman did not pay the slightest attention to her efforts. “Caedmon,” Druantia sighed and dragged her finger up and down the warriors bicep, “Come now, my dear, you do remember me, don’t you?”
She whispered in his ear and a crooked smile appeared on the warriors face. Druantia turned back to Cadman and whispered in his ear, causing him to reveal the same wicked smile.
The guards quickly came back to their senses and shook off the mischievous look. “We do remember you, Druantia, which is why we cannot let you pass into Arras,” Caedmon responded.
Druantia knew she would get into the sacred grove one way or another. Her face hardened and she petulantly pushed her shoulders back. “Listen to me. I am your queen and you will let me pass.”
Both guards drew their swords and stabbed the blades into the ground. A line of fire spread across the entranceway, blocking the goddess.
“You will not enter the grove. The Druidess has seen what you want and will not grant your marriage,” Cadman said, trying to avoid eye contact.
Roots sprung from the ground and tree limbs leaned towards the goddess as she shouted, “I am your queen!”
In her temper tantrum, Druantia’s foot accidentally slid into the fire and flames engulfed her dress. However, the flames quickly extinguished when a female in a simple white tunic and girdle made of bronze covering her breasts and torso exited the nemeton. She carried a pale yellow staff made of yew and a gold sword that hung from her hip. Her dirty-blonde hair was pulled back into a bun, held together by a silver dagger. Her delicate, feminine features slightly resembled the two brothers guarding the nemeton, with the same cheekbones and blue eyes.
Druantia’s anger grew when the Druidess laughed at the goddess’ burnt appearance.
“What exactly are you laughing at, Haley?” Druantia said through gritted teeth, barely able to control her temper.
Haley calmed her laughter and clutched at her stomach, slowly catching her breath. “It’s just…you look ridiculous, Dru.” Haley burst out laughing again.
Druantia snapped her fingers and her appearance returned to its natural beauty. “Are you going to let me in our not?”
Eoghan moaned behind Druantia and Haley’s laughter abruptly ceased. She ignored Druantia’s question and walked over to the unconscious, wounded man. “How long has he been like this?” Haley asked while feeling Eoghan’s forehead.
“He is none of your concern, High Priestess. Now let me into my grove.” Druantia crossed her arms and pouted unattractively.
“It is my grove, Druantia. The Celtic pantheon established the rule that fertility goddesses need permission to enter nemetons for a reason. They do not want you marrying every man you get your hands on." Haley didn’t take her eyes off Eoghan as she spoke. "Brothers, come help me."
"Who is he, Hale?" the brothers asked in unison.
"He is a MacBeatha and a member of the o’Conaill clan,” Haley answered. “We must get him inside."
Before Cadman and Caedmon reached Eoghan, the closest oak tree swung a branch down and scooped Eoghan off the ground.
“He is my husband-to-be and future King of the Druids. With your powers of divination, Druidess, you should have seen that.” Druantia confronted Haley with a victorious smirk as she held Eoghan hostage. “If you wish to care for the young Gàidheal, let us cross the threshold.”
“Very well,” Haley growled. She stomped her staff on the ground and the line of fire protecting the nemeton vanished. Haley watched helplessly as the oak trees passed Eoghan’s limp body into the Nemeton of Arras.
Once inside, a large, lush green circular clearing surrounded by woods, greeted Druantia. A giant white oak tree in the center of the nemeton appeared to be centuries old with Celtic knots carved into its trunk. Dense forest of colossal oak trees protected the circle. Illuminating mushrooms wound up from the moss-covered roots to the trees’ canopy. The fading sunset peeking through the trees cast a faint rainbow across a creek that circled the clearing. The soft, slow trickling of water, combined with the translucent hues of rainbow, added to the serenity of the nemeton.
At least twenty Druids circled the great white oak. They wore forest green cloaks with the hoods pulled over their heads, shielding their faces in shadows. The Druids swayed in unison as they eerily mumbled their prayers.
“Ahh, it is nice to see the Prayer of Sunset. It’s not often performed,” Druantia said as she passed the Druids, who paid her no attention.
“You, of course, would not see it, because the various warriors you choose to sleep with every night do not pray to nature,” a voice rung out through the nemeton.
The Druids stopped mid-prayer, surprised by the disembodied voice.
Druantia rolled her eyes, waved her hand dismissively, and continued walking. “If you slept with one or two of the warriors yourself, Nemetona, you would see how much they pray.” Another wicked smile crossed her face as she glanced over to Caedmon and Cadman. Both men blushed at her comment.
A woman emerged out of the trunk of the closest oak tree to Druantia. Instantly, everyone in the nemeton dropped to their knees, bowing to the goddess.
Nemetona was a petite goddess, slender and pale. She had short hair that swept across her forehead but did not come down past her ears. She had deep brown eyes with flecks of green, and was only covered by several thin, long branches with a few oak leaves stemming off the limbs. The branches wrapped around her legs then flowed around her lower waist. Two limbs moved up to wrap themselves twice around her breasts. She was barefoot, but soft green and blue moss appeared under her feet as she walked.
Druantia laughed at Nemetona’s appearance. “Dressed like that I am surprised you have not slept with throngs of our warriors, Nemetona.”
“The groves I protect are natural and untouched; therefore, I should be natural and untouched. I merely cover myself as much as I do out of respect for our Druids,” Nemetona said and bowed politely at the Druids still kneeling. “Why are you in my grove, Druantia?”
“I am Queen of the Druids. I have a right to be wherever they may be,” Druantia stuck her chest out proudly.
Just above Nemetona, the tree she had emerged from slowly brought Eoghan down and laid him at her feet. Nemetona raised an eyebrow accusingly as she said, “Do you care to answer truthfully, Cousin?”
Druantia pouted and folded her arms across her chest childishly.
“He does not belong to you, Druantia. You are disturbing a destiny that should be left alone. If it is rocked too much it will only delay the outcome of our world,” Nemetona kept a strict face while scolding Druantia.
“Oh hush, Nemetona. You have always been an extremely depressing goddess: A waste of beauty and p
ower.” Druantia snapped her fingers and Eoghan woke from his slumber.
Eoghan was startled at first. The last thing he remembered was Breanna throwing him into a tree. Now he gazed up at a half-naked woman wrapped in tree branches and a group of Druids.
“Who are you?” he looked up at Nemetona.
“I am Nemetona, and Druantia here has brought you to the…”
“The Sacred Grove of Arras,” Eoghan stood up and finished Nemetona’s sentence. He stared at the white oak. “I never in my life thought I would see The Great White Oak of Arras.”
In his excitement, he held his hand out behind him for his best friend to take. When his hand remained empty, he turned quickly to find that Bre, the one person who should always be at his side, was nowhere to be found. Her absence caused panic to surge through his chest, followed by a pang of guilt in thinking she may still be cross with him.
“What is wrong, my sweet?” Druantia asked.
Druantia’s words caught him off guard and he did a double take at Druantia. “My sweet?” he shook his head wildly to move on from his shock. “Where is my group? My Bre? She should…”
Druantia cut him off, irate with his choice of words. “Your Bre? Your Bre?”
The trees creaked and the wind whistled through the branches as Druantia’s anger grew.
“Let me tell you something, Eoghan MacBeatha,” Druantia emphasized every syllable. “Your precious Breanna nearly killed you. If it were not for me healing you and bringing you to my grove...”
“My grove,” Nemetona corrected her, but Druantia ignored it.
“You would have died because of that ungodly girl,” Druantia continued, furious.
Be quiet, Eoghan. She will kill you if she thinks you are not solely hers, said a familiar voice in Eoghan’s head, a voice he could not put a face to. Bow your head and apologize, then compliment her vanity.
Eoghan followed the desperate warning and said, “I apologize for misspeaking, My Queen. A frivolous child such as Breanna does not compare to the beauty of a goddess.”
Druantia looked pleased. Eoghan took it as a sign of her forgiving his emotional indiscretion.
“Much better. Now, let me create a place for us to sleep tonight.” Druantia bit her lower lip with anticipation.
Druantia whistled, and suddenly the trees wove their limbs together to create a beautiful open floor dwelling with only the treetops as a roof. It was raised above the ground, and the trees formed stairs up to the floor created by their limbs. Druantia waved her hand and furniture appeared on the floor: chairs, a stone fire pit, tables, and a large bed.
“Druantia, you have come to the grove for a proper wedding. The proper way is to have separate sleeping quarters,” Nemetona sighed disapprovingly and then turned to address Haley. “Druidess, take Eoghan to your tent and look after him. I believe he still needs to be filled in on a few aspects.”
Nemetona appeared worried as she gave Eoghan another sidelong, pitiful glance. She spoke psychically to Haley, this is not Eoghan’s destiny, but there is nothing I can do without sending Druantia into an uproar and killing Eoghan, or worse, Breanna.
Haley nodded in response. She kept behind Eoghan, keeping herself out of his view and slouched halfway into the shadows of the trees.
Druantia huffed, displeased with not spending the night with Eoghan and even more upset that Haley was the one taking care of him. However, she did not protest because they agreed to perform the wedding ceremony. She winked at Cadman and Caedmon and then beckoned them to her newly formed shelter.
Haley shook her head in disappointment as her brothers followed Druantia. “Some bride to be,” Haley sniped.
Keeping to the shadows, Haley continued to hide her face. She grabbed Eoghan by the arm and dragged him over to her sleeping arrangements. It was a large hut made of perfectly cut tree limbs, bright colorful leaves, and white silk ribbon. When they entered, Haley waved her hand and another heather bed appeared in the corner of the room, opposite of her own.
“I know you, but how?” Eoghan shifted around the room, trying to get a better look at his host.
“We met in passing a long time ago,” Haley said and turned her back to him. She moved about the room, tidying things uncomfortably.
“Where? When?” Eoghan repositioned himself in front of her, but Haley was quick and turned before Eoghan gazed upon her face. Strategically, she moved to a dark spot in the room, just out of reach of a candle burning on an end table. Eoghan followed her, still trying to sneak a glance.
Haley cowered backwards from Eoghan. She licked her finger and thumb and snuffed out the candle on the end table. She sought sanctuary in the coolness of the darkened area. Standing in the dimmed light, her anxiety eased and she confessed, “There is no need for concern. I assure you that our meeting was a small happening in a grand scheme.”
“You saved me from Druantia’s wrath, for which I thank you; but the way you said it, it felt familiar,” Eoghan said, moving closer and squinting to makes out the lines of her face in the dark. Haley accidently put herself in a corner and Eoghan was quick to close the gap between them.
Butterflies filled her stomach as Eoghan drew closer. Her breathing sped up, and her heart raced. A panic attack rumbled in her chest, which made her panic even more. She placed her hands defensively out in front of her, and when Eoghan reached to grab her wrist, she shot out purple light that created a protective barrier around her. Even though Eoghan could not move closer, the light betrayed Haley as it illuminated her face.
Eoghan stumbled backwards, shocked by the sight of his host. He never would have thought it to be her.
“Haley!” Eoghan gasped, trying to get back to his feet. “How? Where?” He stammered.
The light disappeared and Haley undid her breastplate as she walked to a nearby chair. The breastplate made a loud clang as she tossed it on the table and unbuckled her sword from her hip. The echo of the clattering breastplate served as the physical sound of her panic transformed into anger.
“How you ask?” anger forced tears to well in her eyes as she berated him. “Your precious o’Conaills convinced my parents when I was thirteen to give me to Nemetona. While you were off on various adventures with the o’Conaill brothers, I was sold to a goddess for more powers. Oh? Where you ask? I have been here for the last five years. My only saving grace was that Nemetona allowed my brothers to come with me.”
Eoghan, finally stable on his feet, slowly walked towards Haley. The angry tears dripping down her cheeks pulled at his heart as each droplet splashed against the floor.
“You left me, Eoghan. You were my betrothed. Our parents, the leaders of two tribes, promised us to each other. We were meant to form the largest Celtic tribe known in history, but you let them sell me.” Haley sobbed into her hands, her words muffled as she cried. “You were supposed to protect me; but your only cares were for war and your precious Etruscan Princess.”
Eoghan rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her. “I am so sorry, Haley. I never meant for any of this to happen to you. I did love you, I swear. I was ready to wed.” He kissed the top of her head.
Haley pushed Eoghan back and wiped her eyes. “Love me? If you loved me, you would not have left when I begged you to stay. You had a choice, Eoghan…and you didn’t choose me.”
Haley walked to her bed where a bedside table held a gold bowl filled with water. She grabbed the bowl and walked back to Eoghan.
“I assume you want to see where Breanna and your clan members are now. I also assume you know how to use this.” She slammed the bowl down on the square, wooden table next to him, spilling water onto the floor.
“No, not right now,” he said, pushing the bowl away as he remembered how angry Bre was the last time he saw her. Resentment brought a bitter taste to his mouth, but he was angry with Bre for not controlling her temper.
Haley turned around, surprised by his answer.
“Your sweet Breanna must be worried sick about yo
u,” she answered coldly, hoping to hurt him.
“Stop it, Haley. I did not mean for you to have this life. I did not persuade your parents to give you to Nemetona,” Eoghan said, staring sternly at Haley.
“I believe you mean to say sell me! They sold me, Eoghan. They sold me to gain more power,” Haley shouted and threw her arms up in the air. She began rambling in Gaelic and fiddling with various objects on the bedside table.
Nauseating turmoil replaced Eoghan’s bitter resentment. Since they met as children, Eoghan had always been protective of Haley. He let her down when he chose to leave and he could never make it up to her. In one fluid motion, he crossed the room and grabbed Haley quicker than she thought possible. Quicker than what she prepared for. One hand wrapped around her lower back and the other released her hair from the silver dagger. She tried to protest, but was silenced by his warm lips on her own.
When Eoghan released Haley, he smiled, pleased that he stopped her pain-filled rambling. From outside, they heard Druantia’s giggles accompanied by grunts from Haley’s brothers.
A shiver ran through Eoghan’s body. “Disgusting! And she expects me to be with her?”
“How do you think I feel? Those are my brothers in there with her.” Haley said with a curled lip, revolted. She clapped her hands and the room fell silent.
“Well done, Hale! A silencing spell. I have not performed one of those in years annnd you did it without uttering a word. You are an accomplished Druidess. I am proud to know you and call you my friend.” Eoghan warmly smiled. He meant every praise he gave Haley.
Haley blushed and hid her face behind her hair, but her stomach sank.
“Friend,” Haley breathed heavily and walked to her bed.
Eoghan bit his tongue, flung his head back and stared absently at the ceiling. He shook his head reprehensively at his actions and poor choice of words. Haley was a strong, beautiful warrior Druidess that feared nothing, but somehow he always managed to hurt her. All he wanted to do was help her and protect her from harm, but tonight, and for the last five years, he was that harm. Haley was right. He abandoned her, and that infuriated him more.
As she lay down on her heather bed, she rolled over and faced the wooden wall. She pulled a wool blanket over her shoulder and curled into its protective warmth.
“Goodnight, Eoghan. We have a lot to figure out in the morning. Get some rest.” She snapped her fingers and the lights extinguished, leaving nothing but moonlight to illuminate the room.
Eoghan looked from his bed to Haley’s. He headed towards his own, but stopped. His mind urged him towards the safety and respectfulness of his bed, but every nerve in his body screamed to turn around. Whether it was the presence of the fertility goddess or his own desire, he sat down on Haley’s bed, leaning his back against Haley.
She held her breath, too scared to talk. All she ever wanted was Eoghan, but their life together was stripped from her years ago. Eoghan’s warmth flowed into her as he lay down next to her, squeezing his legs behind hers. He fit her like a key.
Nerves made butterflies zoom in her stomach and her mouth dry, but she cleared her throat and said with a cracking voice, “You realize that when we both turned eighteen we were to be wed, right?”
“You turned eighteen last month,” Eoghan whispered in her ear. “Happy birthday, Hale.” He kissed her neck lightly.
Haley’s breath was bated as her heart pounded. She found his hand and intertwined their fingers. Eoghan moved his arm to wrap around her waist. He flexed his muscle and slid Haley closer to him. His breath fell on Haley’s ear, sending an electric shiver through her body. He smiled, watching her body betray her as she tried to hide her desire.
Haley did not have to see it to know the smile on his face. She never forgot how he looked, acted, smelled; it was seared into her memory.
“It is only Druantia’s presence in the camp making you feel so…” She cleared her throat uncomfortably, “friendly.”
“I don’t think it’s only me feeling this,” Eoghan whispered, inching closer.
“No, it’s the whole camp. The last time Druantia was here, ten babies were born nine months later, and the time before that there was…”
Eoghan abruptly rolled her over and cut her off with a passionate kiss. This time, she relaxed and enjoyed his aggressiveness.
As the night passed, few people in the nemeton slept.