Awakening
The Gifting
Rhiannon produced four large white candles from within her small cloth pouch, handing one to Fana, Fawn, Dagmar and Falcon, who then went and stood automatically at the four compass points. Fana at north which was the earth, Fawn at the south which was fire, Falcon stood at east which was for air and Dagmar was at the west which stood for water. Walking in a circle behind them with a besom casting the circle walking from north to south then east and then west stopping at each as she called down the element of that compass point to protect all those within, after each corner was called, with a single gesture by Rhiannon the candle was lit.
Stepping into the centre Rhiannon threw back the hood of her cloak, which until now had been obscuring her face and hair. Looking radiant and having a shimmer swirling around her whole being she laid the staff reverently onto the ground and raised her hands saying….
“Hail Mighty Mother
Your children gather within this sacred grove
To bring to you
A new daughter, ready for Your gifting.
We ask you to walk among us
In this our sacred circle
To anoint and gift this daughter
So she can better protect and nurture
Our Great Mother Gaya.
We ask that you come and be amongst us
Accept your daughter into your service
To honour and serve
In perfect love and perfect trust.”
She stood for a moment not moving, hands raised high above her head, then ever so slowly she lowered her arms and looked about. Her face had not changed as such but there was a subtle difference and her hair which was white now had a green and brown tinge to it. “My children, I thank you for inviting me, I thank you Rhiannon, for permitting me to use you as a vessel, my most beloved daughter. Come forward my daughter and let me greet you.” stepping forward timidly Dagmar looked into the woman’s eyes she swore she saw two souls looking kindly at her. Holding out her hand of the vessel Rhiannon awaiting the girl in the centre of the circle. As Dagmar approached timidly and reached out to touch the hand of Rhiannon she felt a tingle as she touched the woman’s fingers. Grasping the girls hand in a strong grip the woman closed her eyes “You have many gifts my daughter. You have the gift of communicating with animals, plants and trees. You have also the gift of direction and the healing touch which is very strong. You are empathic with many creatures human, animal and fae. Child you have many gifts in you and I am also going to gift you with the gift of sight. This gift is so you can always see beyond the curtain and through enchantments.” She then pulled the girl to her breast and gave her a hug and then kissed the top of her head, this kiss sent a lightning bolt through Dagmars being, from head to toe.
The woman then stepped away from the girl and returned to the centre and the girl turned and walked back to her place in the circle. Rhiannon raised her arms and a change came over her that was startling and also very visual. A golden aura rose from the woman’s shoulders and head drifted up in a solid column to then take on the shape of a woman momentarily and then vanished. Rhiannon seemed to slump into herself for a moment but then she gathered herself and stood up straight and proud. Looking in to the eyes of every member of the circle as she slowly turned on her heel in a circle. Holding her arms bent at the elbow with palms facing up Rhiannon called….
“Great Mother we thank you for your presence within our circle.
We ask you to bless and protect your newly gifted daughter.
Leave this circle knowing that you are always welcome here.”
She walked widdershins and closed the circle blowing out candles and using her besom to open the circle and let energies escape. Turning to the group with a radiant smile on her face Rhiannon said “This was the most amazing gifting I have ever had the honour of attending. Let us go and celebrate this wondrous occasion and we can explain what needs explaining. Come my children let us rejoice in her unconditional love and feast on her bounty.”
As they broke the circle and began walking back to the house Dagmar felt different. She felt as if she had weightlessness in her step and she could see and hear much more clearly as well. Everything looked bright and surrounded with very bright auras which dazzled the girls eyes and she nearly stumbled. Fawn caught her by the elbow and then in a kindly manner slipped her arm around Dagmar’s shoulders, hugging her gently to her side the older girl led the younger one to the house. As the girl looked around she saw that everyone seemed a little tired yet very excited and all were glowing from a source within. She stared around the room and everything was dazzling her eyes “Why is everything glowing and very bright?” Dagmar asked, Falcon walked over to her and took her hand saying “Sweetling. All the gifts you had been carrying in side have now been let out. Sort of like having birds in a cage, you open the door and they fly out. The door to your gifts has been opened and now we will teach you how to keep them under control so that they do not get in the way of everyday life as empathy for all would.“ Walking to a large table with high backed chairs around it and laden with all kinds of foods and drinks he pulled out a chair and gently pushed the girl into it. Fawn having stayed by Dagmar’s side through all this sat down next to her, watching her friends face and searching her eyes, for what she did not know. Fana broke the spell by handing the girl a cup of water saying “This, my sweetling is what happens when the doors to your gifts are opened and why I wanted the Wise Ones with us when the gifts came to you. Even if we had not held the ritual you would have had it happen today. You would have had a vivid dream with a woman talking to you and if you are lucky you remember what she said. Between all of us I think we will be able to instruct you on how to use the gifts and how to make a buffer around you so that the gifts do not interfere with YOUR life. Empathy with all creatures and trees is the main one which we will have to work on. Do you understand what empathic is my precious?” “No Fana I have no idea.” “It is a gift of being able to share another beings feeling. That may be a good thing to some extent but you could pick up on all the feelings of every individual within a twenty pace radius. The feelings of fear, sadness, anger, joy, and so on will bombard you from all directions. I have an idea! Just sit there quietly and let yourself feel. There I can see it on your face you are already picking up on our feelings. What is the impression you are getting?” asked Fana gently. Dagmar closed her eyes and concentrated “I feel someone is feeling anxious and a little worried and they have a silver aura. I can feel air, lots of air as if I am flying and it feels wonderful.” Dagmar opened her eyes and looked at Fana “What does all that mean Fana?” “Well sweetling you were picking up on feelings and thoughts. I think I know who gave you the flying experience but I am not sure who belongs to the silver aura. I do not have the sight so cannot see auras not through enchantments.” explained Fana. Rhiannon stepped forward chuckling a little and shaking her head “You have a VERY strong gift my daughter. You felt my concern and anxiety which seemed to be stronger then the joy I feel for the wonderful gifts you have and the gift YOU are to us and yes my aura is silver. I will teach you how to see them and how to ignore them as well. Falcon you cheeky man, you shared a memory with our precious daughter.” Looking at Falcon whilst speaking, with a cheeky twinkle in her eyes Rhiannon graciously gave the floor to him. Stepping in to what now seemed the centre of a circle which surrounded the girl. “My question is, did you enjoy the experience sweetling? I ask because that was in a way a test and I see you passed it with flying colours. You have a very strong empathic gift as well as communication gift otherwise you would not have been able to fly with the falcon as you did. You felt his joy at flying, the freedom he feels and the exhilaration he experiences. We all have knowledge to share with you and you have much to learn. I hope that you will enjoy this phase you’re your maturing because this is THE most exciting time for any child who has gifts.” He stooped and gave Dagmar a kiss on the cheek and went to sit a
t the table and help himself to some food. Rhiannon went to take his place near the girl and just stood looking at her, reached out and gently stroked her right cheek then the left and then she closed her eyes and with both hands reached out and gently touched every part of Dagmars face. After a short while she placed her left hand on Dagmars heart and her right on her forehead, a sudden bright flash of light pulsed from Rhiannons hand and into the girl. The girls’ eyes were wide open during this whole process and she knew she had not imagined any of what had just happened. The bright light felt good in her body and she welcomed it.
Rhiannon stepped away from the girl “I hope that what I have just given you will help you buffer your gifts. It is a shield that you can call up at will and you can adjust it so you can have dim awareness or no awareness. We will work on that tomorrow. That was another gift from the Great Mother that she shared with me before leaving us this evening. She sees you as a very special being and I can understand why she would think that. You have very powerful gifts which have now been awakened and your life path leads you to a destiny of massive proportions. I don’t know details just that you are indeed very precious my darling daughter.” After saying that she turned and went to sit next to Falcon who held out his hand to her for which she reached with a gentle smile playing around her lips. No more was said and they all began to eat.
After they had sated their hunger, yawns began to escape the girls mouths and Fana began to shepherd them to their room telling Rhiannon and Falcon she would be back soon and they can talk a while. Walking the tired girls to their room and getting them changed into night dresses and into bed took no time at all. Fana kissed both girls on the cheeks the forehead and then the lips and bade them sweet dreams. She walked out the door softly closing it behind her. As she arrived back where she had last seen Rhiannon and Falcon she saw that the large table had been replaced with a much smaller version with low soft couches arranged around it, within easy reach of all. Falcon was just finishing adjustments of the pillows on his couch as Fana entered. Rhiannon was already reclining on her couch looking very relaxed with her eyes half shut and head resting gently on a round pillow. As Fana sat, she opened her eyes and looked directly into Fanas “Where has this beautiful child come from Fana? She is SO gifted. How did she end up in the human realm? Who are her parents?” she asked. “From what I gather she has grandparents who have raised her the old way. Her mother died giving birth to her. I can see elven and fae blood in her. She has the gift of tracking and direction which is predominant in elves. The gift to communicating and having empathy with trees and plants is a dryad gift especially with the strength she seems to have.” Falcon sat down and shook his head “There is something so very familiar about that childs face and aura. I know her family but I cannot put faces or names to them. What has Titania been doing about all this, since I heard that Niamh found the child in the first place. How DID she manage to step through the curtain, only those of true fae blood can pass through. We must discover her family tree and soon. Tomorrow we will all take turns teaching Dagmar how to use her gifts and how to buffer herself from them. I for one am becoming tired and will now bid you good night. I am planning on letting my falcon half go flying maybe we can find her family tree this way. Bright Blessings my lovelies.” As he stood and turned to leave he blew each of them a kiss accompanied with a cheeky smile.
Rhiannon laid her head back on the round pillow and let her mind float free, Fana did likewise enjoying the companionable silence. Both sat up at the same time startled at the others sudden movement. “I have just had a thought Fana. I have heard that Titania has been absolutely devastated by the girls disappearance. Could this be the child whose mother fell in love with a certain elven price? It has been told by story tellers at festivals and feasts for a long time. No name has ever been given that tale.” “I know which tale you speak of and yes there are coincidents at every twist but we do not know if who you are thinking of and her elf ever had a child. We do not know if they are still alive. I have heard of many who have chosen live in the human realm with human neighbours and human looks. I have never been there but I hear it is not so different from here apart from the weather and the cold.” said Rhiannon. Fana had listened intently and after some careful thought had to agree that there was a mystery here to be solved. She had hear of the story, it was a sad story where there were twins born and one was taken and brought to the fae realm and the other left with relatives of the mother who had also taken up residence in the human realm many seasons before. Every story has a grain of truth in it, so she had always been told as a child, Fana wondered if Titanias missing daughter and granddaughter were all part of this tale. “Rhiannon do you remember when Titanias granddaughter went missing, oh about 150 cycles ago? Tittianna and Titania were absolutely beside themselves. Then it was discovered that the elven prince Walker was also missing, all the romantics immediately suggested that the two had run away together. Could it be that the romantics were very close to the mark?”
Rhiannon looked at Fana and smiled, “yes daughter I do and I was one of the romantics who had the two elope. I had been thinking similar thoughts and was also thinking that this may be the twin left behind. I am wondering where the other twin has been hiding because their gift will also have come upon them this night. I hope that there are teachers to help the child if our little precious is anything to go by.” She said with a chuckle to the younger woman as she got up and stretched “I will be off to bed now daughter and I will see you in the morrow when the Father yet again smiles upon us. Maybe we will have inspirational dreams that will help us with the task ahead. Sweet dreams my daughter.” “Sweet and blessed dreams to you also gentle mother.” Replied Fana and they both parted at the door with a hug and kiss on the cheek, one heading to the room shared with two girls and the other to the room shared with her husband of many hundred cycles.
Learning the gifts
The girls woke up at the same time and both stretched like big cats. They climbed out of bed on their respective sides and began looking for a place where they could do their morning ablutions. Spotting a hidden door Fawn triumphantly marched in and shut the door firmly. After both had cleaned themselves up and dressed in clothing found in their closets, Fawn had a lovely cream dress which had a wide skirt and ended at the ankle. It was gathered at the waist and had large puffy sleeves which could be adjusted for the wearers comfort; Dagmar had an identical dress in very pale blue. They helped each other combing and braiding their hair, both avoiding talking about what had happened the previous evening. When they had finished they quietly left the room and tip toed on bare feet down the passage and then out the large doors leading to the grove. It was a glorious morning and everything felt right. The girls looked about and saw a small table with bowls of food and a jug of cool water, feeling their tummies rumble gently they burst out giggling and race each other to the table.
They were sitting in the sun eating some fruit when Fawn could not help herself any longer. “Dagmar, what do YOU think of the gifts which have now been opened? Do you feel any different? My gifting was a quiet affair with mother, Slate, Clove and Lavander there to guide me, I have the gift of empathy and communication with trees and certain bushes. My buffer is very simple a piece of bark and a small twig in this leather pouch that hangs around my neck stops me from hearing their constant chatter and feeling their feelings. Don’t worry too much about it, there are lots of ways of having things buffered and I am sure with the Wise Ones helping it will be easy” trying to sound certain to reassure her friend Fawn was nodding her head as if to emphasise the fact.
Falcon with a large bird resting on his left forearm and Rhiannon with a black bird on her shoulder and a black cat keeping up with her, walked in just in time to see Fawn nodding her head. “Good Morning, my darlings. Did you sleep well?” called Falcon as he and Rhiannon made their way to them. Rhiannon was wearing a simple long flowing deep blue dress w
ith a white long sleeveless vest over the top and bare feet and Falcon was also wearing a long robe, but his was green and a brown long vest over it. Rhiannons hair was unbound and falling like a long cape over her shoulders and swaying at her knees and falcons long hair was also unbound which meant it was a shaggy mess as was his beard. As the pair reached the table, Fana walked through the door also wearing a simple long dress that was a warm brown and a green long vest over the top, also bare footed.
“Good Morning to all!” called Fana as she approached the table “I see lovely food to break my fast with and my tummy is telling me it needs feeding soon” she laughed out loud. “Well then let us give thanks to Our Mother Gaya who has provided us with this food so that we can nurture and protect her. I am ravenously hungry this morning. Ahh, nothing like a good gifting to get the blood pumping.” Commented Falcon with a chuckle rubbing his hands together surveying what was on offer, picked up a plate and began to pile slices of bread with cheese and some large slices of fruit and then sat down next to Dagmar. “I see you have already broken your fast sweetlings. Are you both rested? We have a lot of work ahead of us today, especially you little precious one” he said, looking directly at Dagmar. The girl looked down at her hands in embarrassment, blushing slightly for being the centre of attention. “Yes gentle father, I am. I just wish that this were not happening. I honestly don’t like being the centre of attention; it makes me feel VERY uncomfortable. I want to learn and be able to control these gifts. I now understand why I thought I heard my name called when I was watching rabbits and they were sitting there looking right at me, no fear at all. I also feel uncomfortable that you all see as a precious thing now.” She replied still looking at her hands which were on her lap under the table with a small tremble in her voice. “Oh sweetling EVERY one of our children is precious. You have some incredible gifts and being that you have come from the human realm we are wondering how this all came to be. You have powerful gifts which also make us be a little more protective over you. I am sorry if we have made you feel uncomfortable darling, which was NEVER our intention.” replied Falcon.
Fana and Rhiannon soon had plates in front of them and were sitting at the table. Concern etched into her face Fana looked at the girl “The last thing any of us want is for you to feel uncomfortable and unhappy. I can assure you of that! It all sounds much more complicated than it actually is. We will teach you ways of using your gifts and buffering them. You will more than likely find your own way of buffering using bits from all our teaching.” she said, gently reaching out and touching the girls hand. They were all quiet after that statement eating their food and deep in thought. Rhiannon broke the silence “Well Dagmar, how would you like to proceed? These are your gifts and you are the one who has to now adjust to live with them. I cannot speak for the others but I will be happy to help when you want and not push anything at you. You in return must promise me that you will talk to us about your discoveries so that we can help you understand them. All gifts have different strengths and weaknesses, not one gift is the same in two individuals.” As she finished speaking Rhiannon looked around the rest of the group and saw all heads nodding ascent.
After the meal Fawn and Dagmar went for a walk in the forest and the girl sat down asking “How do you know when your gift is working? Do you hear voices or feel feelings?” “Well for me it’s a feeling…..ummm…Oh I know! When a tree is not well and I am standing near it I may get a bad tummy ache or just generally feel unwell. I then have to work our out if it is me or one of the trees or shrubs. Sometimes they give me clues, such as having an earthy taste in my mouth, you know like soil, or I smell soil. Does that make sense?” slowly the girl nodded her head “Yes it sort of does make sense Fawn. I can taste soil and smell it right now. Does that mean the trees want to communicate with me?” asked Dagmar as a look of excitement crept into her eyes. “Yes I think so. Now all you do is let your feeling go, relax and let them guide you to them. They are usually very gentle!” answered Fawn.
And with those words of advice the girl relaxed and let the tree take her to it ‘Ahhh young one, Merry Meet, we are so glad your gift has been opened. You have such a strong white light about you we were itching to talk to you. You have much gentleness about you that is good. To stop us from intruding take a little back from our trunks. Keep them in a leather pouch near your skin and hold it in your hand when you wish to commune. Merry Part sweet child may our branches brush again soon’ and with that Dagmar felt herself be gently released from the grip of the tree. Fawn was standing very close to her friend with concern written all over her young face “Are you alright? We were talking and then you went a still as a statue and then you nearly buckled at the knees. Did you talk to the trees?” “Yes I think I did Fawn. A very kind and gentle tree. I have no idea if it was a male or female and it referred to itself as ‘We’, I was also given a way to buffer them, the tree told me what to do.” Dagmar stood up and walked over to one of the ancient trees and pulled a small piece of bark off the trunk. She held it in her fist against her chest and smiled “It DOES work. I cannot hear them.” The girl looked at Fawn and smiled; they turned and began walking back to the house slowly.
Fana and Rhiannon were quietly reading in the shade of a large tree as the girls entered the enclosed garden. Both looked up as the girls walked through the opening, seeing happy faces both women visibly relaxed. The girls directed their path towards the women and sat down on the grass near them “Fana” began Dagmar “Would you happen to have a small leather pouch which I may have to keep some bark in and hang around my neck?” “I have no idea sweetling. I will have a look when I next go to our room.” Replied Fana with Rhiannon saying “and if you can’t find one I most likely will have a few floating about” ”So we assume you have been out learning a little about your gifts? “asked Fana. Both girls nodded with Fawn saying “Dagmar had a conversation with one of the ancient trees in the grove. They gave her the knowledge how to buffer from them.” With that Dagmar opened her hand and showed a small piece of very dark bark resting in her palm.
Fana did have a small pouch with a very long draw string and gave it to the girl who immediately placed the piece of bark inside, closed the pouch and then hung it around her neck. As they all gathered for the mid-day meal there was a buzz of excitement surrounding the adults. The girls were exchanging glances every now and again seeing the adults bubbling over with suppressed anticipation. After the meal the adults immediately left and went inside to attend specific tasks.
Dagmar and Fawn were left to their own devices for the afternoon, with only the instructions for the girls to please bathe and dress nicely for the evening meal. With that in mind the girls decided to explore more of the ancient forest. They walked in companionable silence for a long time and then they came to a small slow travelling stream. They sat at the edge of the stream and put their feet in the water when Dagmar closed her eyes and began to feel her surroundings; she reached up and took the pouch from around her neck, immediately being bombarded by much chatter and many confusing emotions. She put the cord back around her neck very quickly and let the pouch bounce off her chest. Her face relaxed immediately and she enjoyed gently feeling what she wanted to feel, she was teaching herself to focus on what emotion or mumbled thought she wanted to follow. Fawn sat quietly watching her friend covertly and then openly, she saw the flicker of concern and then after the girl had replaced the pouch, the relaxed almost exultant look on Dagmars face.
Their silent interlude was interrupted by “DAGMAR! FAWN! Time to bathe and dress!” and both girls jumped slightly with fright. Getting up slowly they began to make their way back to the house to have Fana fuss over them. As they arrived in their room they saw two baths steaming, ready and waiting for them. Both were shaped like water lilies with only four or five petals used and it stood on four small stems. Fana had laid out clean clothing which neither girl, even from the distance they were glim
psing them from, remembered packing and a large towel awaiting their clean bodies. With no further ado the girls undressed and began splashing and scrubbing, both having found that eth baths were deceptively deep and they were nearly up to their necks in soapy, bubbly water. Fana gave Fawns hair a good scrub first and then turned her attentions on Dagmars hair, adding more soap and building the whole lot up into a high froth. As she gave the girls back a scrub she saw some redness and peered a little closer and then dismissing it as a small rash from where she rubbed against something.
Both girls had beautiful long gowns waiting for them on their sides of the massive bed. Dagmar found a long dress that from the waist had many petal shaped material of different shades of gold, green and brown that reached to her ankles, with a very low back and sleeves which came to long points. Fawns dress was the same style but in shades of green and brown. Both let Fana administer the hair styling which was a very simple affair this evening, both girls had their hair undone and falling down their backs in rivers of gold down to just above the knees, as was in Dagmars case and masses black, gold and brown waves which swished way past Fawns bottom. Fana then told them to stay put and rushed to her area and returned carrying two cream coloured cloaks with wide hoods. Fana placed them reverently over the girls shoulders and then tied the cord which held them in place, she then stood back and sighed. “Oh Girls! You both look just so beautiful this evening. There will be a special guest at our evening meal and I wanted you to look your absolute best. Oh by the Goddess you girls are just so lovely.” She sighed again and went to get her own, it was dark brown long very light looking also cloak, with a very wide hood. Fana then led the way to the garden where they have been having their meals since arriving.
Falcon was already there fussing over several birds which Dagmar now knew to be Falcons that had their own tree made of branches tied together in intervals up a very thick branch which was buried deeply in the ground for stability. Sitting on a soft looking large chair Rhiannon sat with a black cat on her lap and a black bird with feathers on the wings and in the tail, a Magpie as the girl soon learnt, on her shoulder. She looked up from giving the cat a big scratch up and down the cats back and gently nudged the cat off her lap. Rhiannon smiled and waved to the trio as they entered, sitting with her was a tall man with long dark hair wearing soft brown leather pants and s deep forest green tunic with a large leather belt that had many small pouches hanging off it. He had a tall staff leaning against the back of the chair, but still in easy reach, that had large different coloured gems stones imbedded in it as well as feathers and other things that had been tied on over the years.
As they approached he stood and the girls found that they had to tilt their heads back slightly to look this man in the face. Rhiannon made the introductions “Daughters, I would like you to meet Beriothien. He has been travelling for a very long time and he has stopped by for a short visit.” “Merry Meet, Beriothien” the three said in unison. The woman then continued “Beriothien, I would like you to meet my lovely daughters. This is Fana Dryad of the Forest of Karnayna and her daughter Fawn and this is Dagmar our newest daughter who has just had her gifting not two nights ago.” announced Rhiannon proudly. Falcon called them to the table announcing that some of the hot food will get cold if they didn’t sit down soon.
They all moved towards the table sorting out who was sitting where, with Fawn and Dagmar choosing to sit together. Falcon sat next to Fawn with Fana on the other side of him. Next to Fana sat Rhiannon and next to her sat Beriothien, who nodded quietly in the girls’ direction. Before the meal began Rhiannon said the prayer “From forest to stream; From mountain to filed; From the fertile Earth's nourishing yield; We now partake of divine energy; May it lend health, strength and love to us. Blessed Be”. The meal was a busy affair of passing bowls and plates from one side of the table to the other. During the meal no conversation was held as such, only comments on the lovely food. As they finished their meal and all had pushed their plates to the centre of the table conversation began amongst the adults. Falcon turned to the stranger and asked “Tell me my son, when was the last time you came by for a visit? I know it has been more than ninety cycles.” “Yes gentle father I came with my betrothed to have your blessing. We stayed for a few days and celebrated winter solstice with you. We then continued on our way.” replied the man. Rhiannon was speaking with Fana, occasionally glancing in the direction of the girls.
Then the stranger turned to the girls and asked “So which one of you two had the gifting?” “She did.” said Fawn as she pointed at her friend. The stranger smiled at Fawn in thanks and then turned his attention to Dagmar “Tell me sweetling, what are your gifts?” “Umm, I am empathic and can communicate with trees, humans, animals and fae. I also have a healing touch and trackers sense.” replied the girl with a shy smile. “I also have the trackers sense. It is very useful when in a very deep forest or in a deep mine shaft. I can feel animals but I would not call it empathic. That is the extent of my gifts. “smiled the man and his Indigo eyes met her sky blue ones, something similar to an electric charge leapt between them, they both blinked and looked away.
After a short while they all began to move away from the table and sat around either on soft chairs or on the soft green grass. The girls chose to sit at the feet of Falcon and the stranger as they were discussing if the best way to hunt was with bow and arrow or with falcon in the end conceding that depending on the hunt also depends on the weapon. “Ah Beri, I miss seeing you. I so enjoy our discussions. We will have to get together and go on a hunt.” said Falcon with a large grin on his face. “Gentle Father sent me a message when you wish to go hunting and it will find me within ten days. I should be here within five to six days after that. So send a message and expect me within sixteen days. I have missed those times as well and would love to learn more about the old lore.” the girls became bored with the conversation and wandered off to sit under a large tree and simply chat about nothing of importance. A short while later Fana called to the girls that they were to bid good night because they were leaving in the morning and had a long way to travel. “But the village is not THAT far away?” said Fawn to her mother. “I know sweetling. No we are travelling to the palace to speak with Titania.” Saying good night and a Merry Part to the stranger the girls headed of to their room and bed.