Marei - book one. Part three: Shadow. Chapter 21

Because Grandmother’s balance and endurance were slightly less than usual because of her pregnancy and because Claudius’ foot was still sore from the ankle injury we left the day before the Beltane celebration so we would have time to rest and relax before the celebrations. The journey down the hill was made easier by the addition of some sturdy walking sticks that Gurek had brought in from the woods. Together we joked and laughed in the warm spring weather.

Claudius had borrowed a set of clothes from Gurek that were better suited to the climate and terrain than his flimsy wrap and broken sandals. He looked luscious in a dark blue and green striped tartan kilt and a moss green full sleeved, open necked shirt. Gurek was at least a head shorter than Claudius so the kilt was a wee bit short, revealing his well formed legs and an inch or two of thigh.

Once we reached the beach, the sun had fully crested and was halfway to dusk. I had not been to the ocean since Beltane last year so I spent the late afternoon chasing waves and collecting shells, temporarily released from shadowing Grandmother. Later that evening Gurek and Claudius collected piles of driftwood and started a blazing fire to chase away the darkness.

We slept under the clear chilled sky just beyond the tide line, the almost full moon lighting the beach enough so it looked as if morning was dawning. I lay awake for hours, listening to the rhythmic sound of the tide and counting the stars until my eyes drifted shut. If I dreamed that night, I have no memory of it, only of sleeping soundly, curled into my cloak until morning. The next morning, we were awakened by the shrill cries of the seagulls hustling for our supply of food.

Beltane had dawned crisp and clear with fine misty dew draped over the trees that were just beyond the surf and the barest of mist lingering close to the dampened sand at the edge of the tide line. As the sun rose, the morning warmed from the night’s gentle chill into a pleasantly warm spring day; today would not be so hot as to be uncomfortable or dangerous, but would keep us all satisfied wearing our new, brightly colored spring clothes. Grandmother and I stepped into the woods to don the new dresses that had been designed to make ourselves look like the riot of flowers that were blooming on every available surface. Grandmother’s short sleeved dress was a pale purple, the color of lilacs or the inside of the crocus and flowed in wide folds from under her growing bosom to her ankles. Mine was the daffodil yellow dress I had struggled so hard to make during my winter alone before Grandmother had arrived. I had not grown much since I had cut and designed the dress with the exception of my own growing bosom which swelled against the fabric and threatened to spill out if I moved too much. Though I would be shadowing Grandmother and not participating in the partnering rituals of the day, I felt pleased that though I had not planned the dress to be provocative, it would surely draw a gaze or two.

We returned to the beach to find that Gurek and Claudius had heated some cured meat over the coals from the previous evening’s fire and made some oatmeal. I was not disappointed to note that Claudius’ eyes did indeed stray to my almost exposed chest. Shortly after we had eaten our breakfast and thrown the remains to the waiting seagulls, we began to hear more voices than those of the gulls.

Singularly and in groups people began arriving on the beach, flocking to our already burning fire and setting up camp sites in a crescent shape behind the fire pit. As the sun rose to mid morning and the tide dipped towards low we heard the beginnings of a loud cry from the paths in the woods. The children that had been playing on the beach turned like the flock of gulls they had been chasing and headed straight for the woods, cheering and calling with wild abandon.

From out of the paths in the woods, John Woodsman strode forth in a hooded, brown ceremonial robe hoisting a twenty foot, flower-topped pole over one shoulder. Layers of ribbons wound round the pole from previous year’s Beltane celebrations. The sheer quantity of woven ribbon bulged out from the pole and doubled the girth of the naked pole. Ursa and John had placed a pair of matching floral wreaths on the top of the pole and Ursa was carrying a basket of ribbons spooled on small pieces of wood.

The tide was still receding so John brought the pole just above the edge of the water line to give everyone a chance to dance as close to the ocean as they could. Everyone who had gathered on the beach clustered around John and Ursa as Gurek and several of the other men dug a deep hole in the sand for the pole so it would stand sturdily as the dancers wove round repeatedly. When the hole had been dug deeply enough to support the top-heavy pole John bellowed “Hup!” and planted the base of the pole in the wet sand. Children scurried to scoop piles of wet sand with hands and feet into the hole and both men and women packed it tightly around the pole until it was standing tall and steady on the beach against the cerulean blue sky.

Grandmother walked to the May pole, splashing her bare feet in the gentle surf like a small child. Gurek had followed her and stood just outside the reach of the lapping waves, watching her intently with a wide, proud grin. I joined her, letting the chilly water lap at my toes and dampen the bottom hem of my dress.

John bellowed to all who were on the beach, though few were far enough to require his booming bray. “Oyay! Oyay! Weddings at the pole! Step forward if you’ve done your time and still want more!” The crowd around him laughed appreciatively at his joke and dutifully three couples stepped out of the mass and stood next to John, each couple holding hands. John nodded with satisfaction.

“Else and Seamus; good to see you both still smiling. What with the wild way ye started last year we all wondered if ye’d make it through the year without one killing the other! Though there were bets on who would do the killing and who would make it into a cairn, we’re glad to see that none of us were correct.” The crowd laughed again as the delighted young couple playfully pushed each other then kissed passionately.

“Aohden and Laisrian,” he paused to inspect Laisrian’s pregnant belly. “I see that the Gods have favored yer union with a blessed child. May yer boon be strong and healthy and yer birthing easy.” Aohden nodded his thanks and placed a hand protectively on Laisrian’s belly as she grinned from ear to ear.

“Kevin and Berriona? Really?” He laughed loud and long, throwing his head back in the characteristic gesture of mirth I had come to know and love. “I must say I am surprised. If I recall correctly, neither of ye was pleased with yer pairing last year, but both were willing to celebrate in the name of the God and Goddess, even if ye did not find yer bed with yer intended partner. None of us saw ye afterward and we all assumed that ye had such a horrible time together that ye left for home at earliest light. Now I can see that perhaps we didn’t see ye because ye stayed longer in the groves than the rest!” Both of them stood taller and prouder as they looked longingly at each other. I could see in their eyes the kind of devotion that Grandmother and Gurek shared.

“We didna see either of ye at the handfasting ritual last year though. Have ye been properly witnessed to yer year and a day?”

“Aye, sir. We were duly witnessed by our parents and grandparents on the day after the Beltane gatherers dispersed.” Kevin stepped forward and held out a folded piece of parchment paper to John. John opened the crinkly paper and read what was written on the inside.

“Yer good Grandmother took the time to commit the date to paper for us, and all of your elders have affixed their seals to the bottom of the page. Though ye are a day early for the handfasting contract, I suppose we can let ye take part in the celebrations.” He handed the paper back to Kevin with an exaggerated wink. “Well now, if there’s none else to be wed,” John paused dramatically as if waiting for a last minute decision from someone in the crowd, “I suppose I’ll have to be doing my duty as the marriage priest for this year.”

“As you all know well, marriage is not to be undertaken lightly. It is a sacred union, a mirroring of the eternal partnering of the God and Goddess. Ye have all spent your handfasting time, living as husband and wife, wife and husband. Ladies, do you agree that ye wish to spend more than a year and a day in the bed of yer man? Will ye put food on his table, milk his goats, wash and mend his undergarments no matter how soiled, birth his children and pleasure his bed?”

Two of the women replied with a loud and ringing “I will.” Feisty Else added on an exclaimed “Ye betcha!” to the promise of fealty. The crowd cheered lustily, banging drums, ringing bells and clapping hands.

“Lords, do ye agree that ye wish to spend more than a year and a day in the bed of yer woman? Will ye plant and hunt to keep her fed, chop and lug firewood in the winter, understand the womanly need for fancy ribbons on dresses, sire her children and pleasure her bed?”

All three men virtually yelled their answers to John as again the crowd hooted and shouted; banging on the instruments they had brought with them.

John’s voice rang above the crowd’s ruckus, “Family of celebrants; we have six more married people among us! Strike up the tune and lay the broom!”

From out of the crowd, Ursa brought a wide whisked broom made of flowers from the first blooming fields as the joyous wedding song sprang forth from half a dozen flutes simultaneously. Holding hands, the couples skipped and danced sun-wise three times around last year’s woven May pole, then leaped like deer over the broom Ursa had placed on the ground. When all three couples had jumped the broom, they joined hands alternating men and women and wound a circle dance in the middle of the cheering and clapping crowd. As both song and dance circled round to the end, they partnered with their new spouses and kissed quite passionately amid much applause until the end of the song.

The excited congratulatory chatter persisted until John raised his voice over the din in a bellow that turned all attention good naturedly towards him. “Now lords and ladies; which of ye thought that a year would do ye good and found instead that ye’d be better off dancing the pole with someone else? Step forward now if ye seek to companionably break the bonds of handfasting that ye took on the beach last spring.”
This time only two pairs stepped forward from the crowd. Neither couple was holding hands and one couple were standing in postures that looked almost defensive; arms crossed at their chests and backs facing each other. John nodded and grinned with as much satisfaction as he had at the married couples.

“Beirnis and Conchubbar,” he addressed the more amiable of the two pairs. “I’m glad to see that ye took the time to test that childhood infatuation. Not all young playmates are destined to stay their lives under one roof.” They both nodded their assent and looked at each other with a gaze of friendship mingled with sorrow’s wisdom.

“Alannah and Bercnan, ‘tis sad indeed to see ill will between ye. But that is indeed the purpose of the year and a day; it allows only enough time to know if the match is good, but not enough time to truly ruin the heart. Perhaps the distance will allow ye to be friends again later.”

“Now then, it is time to publicly disperse the temporary vows you took last year, since they are not satisfactory to body or soul. There can be no argument brooked by this separation. Both parties agreed to the initial trial and now both parties agree to the dissolution. If any properties or material goods were purchased jointly and need to be parceled out, the couples may see the good Kevin Abernathy for a fair decision after the renouncement of the vows. As we have all trusted Kevin’s decisions in the past and known them to be fair, his decisions in the present and future will be respected and utilized.”

John turned from addressing the crowd to speak directly to the four people in front of him. “Ladies, do ye agree that ye no longer wish to share house and home with this man, and that ye will bear him no ill will, nor intentionally do harm to him or his family in the future because of this separation”

Beirnis nodded and uttered a quiet “I do agree” but Alanna virtually shouted her assent.

“Lords, do ye agree that ye no longer wish to share house and home with this woman, and that ye will bear her no ill will, nor intentionally do harm to her or her family in the future because of this separation?”

Both Bercnan and Conchubbar firmly stated their agreement, but as he did Conchubbar turned to look sadly at Beirnis, a sigh following his confirmation.

John raised both hands to the clear blue sky. “We have all heard that these two pairs no longer wish to be bound together and that they have assented not to bear the burden of ill will against the other party. None here or abroad shall find any reason to criticize their decisions either during the vowed year, or now that they have returned to the list of eligible dancers. We celebrate their fine intellects in knowing their hearts needs and desires and support them in this new stage of life as we did before and will again.” The crowd cheered again, banging on drums and blowing shrill notes on the reed flutes.

As he had for the married couples, John bellowed, “Strike up the tune and lay down the broom!” Ursa was ready and brought forth a broom that was dried and brown, looking brittle in the bright morning’s light. She laid it carefully on the ground as a cheerful reel was started on the flutes. The four separated people grasped hands, alternating male and female as the married couples had done and danced widdershins around the broom. The reel became faster and faster and just when it seemed none could go any faster, the former couples broke out of the circle dance and stepped forward as a group to crush last year’s now fragile marriage broom. The twigs of the handle broke with loud snaps and cracks and the carefully dried floral collection from the top of the broom virtually disintegrated. Tiny pieces of browned flowers were caught by the playful ocean breeze and spread across the beach.

All four of the people dancing called out triumphantly as they smashed the old broom. When they were done, all were finally smiling. Beirnis and Conchubbar grasped each other in a bear hug of friendship and with a sheepish but satisfied grin, Alanna and Bercnan grasped forearms in a classic symbol of friendship. The crowd cheered again, wild and unruly.

“Now then,” John’s huge voice boomed above the cheering, “it is time for these newly separated folk to join the weaving dance and proclaim them-selves single yet again. We give them the privilege of choosing the first ribbons of the spring!” The crowd cheered for them again as they gathered around Ursa and her basket of ribbons, each one taking a spool of shining ribbon.

John bellowed in his giant’s booming voice, “All those who wish to dance the May Pole should fetch their ribbons to be attached to the top of the pole by our newly wedded friends.” People all over the beach flocked to the pole. Claudius hung back from the crowd and approached Grandmother and I where we stood, a short distance away from the ribbons and pole.

“Will you be joining the dancing Láidáin?” He asked Grandmother, looking over his shoulder at the gathering throng.

Grandmother shook her head and smiled indulgently at him. “Not this time, my sweet young friend. My field has already been planted, so I leave the dancing to the young and still fertile. You’re welcome to join the dancing – you don’t need to be local or druid trained to join in; all you have to do is know how to go over and under.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her and repeated the tail end of her phrase, “over and under?”

“The men have the red ribbons and the women have the white. All the men face widdershins and the women face sun-wise. When the music starts, you begin to walk in the direction that you’re facing. When you encounter the first woman, you duck under her ribbon and continue walking. At the next woman, you let her duck under your ribbon. Then you duck under the next woman’s ribbon and so on over and under until you all run out of ribbon. This is often the first introduction that the young men and women have with each other and often it is from the glances made at this dance that the couples know who they want to be paired with after the dark falls.

“All of the ribbons are different lengths, but two of the ribbons are longer than the others so that one man and one woman are left at the end. They lead the choosing of partners for the remainder of the festivities, alternating between a man picking his woman and a woman picking her man and sealing the choosing with a kiss. Each person picked has the opportunity to refuse the one who chose them by presenting their cheek to be kissed instead of their lips. Then the picked person will return to the group in hopes that they will be able to pick their heart’s desire, or be picked by them. The choosing continues in order from the longest ribbons down to the shortest.”

Claudius glanced at me, standing slightly behind Grandmother. “Will Marei be allowed to join in the dancing? Perhaps she could lead me in the dance.” His neck flushed slightly as his eyes lingered slightly on me.

My heart thumped once in my chest as our eyes met. Did he find me attractive? Was he implying that he would want to partner me in the dance or perhaps in the festivities in the dark later that night? All at once I became impatient with the constraints of the shadow role and I ached to be allowed the freedom to dance and flirt and know the touch of a man. Instead I knew I would have to stay close at the side of my Grandmother and experience the Beltane dancing and merry making with only as much enthusiasm as she could muster. I sighed and stared at my figuratively hobbled feet burrowing into the sand.

I chafed at the length of time that remained until I could be free of the shadowy bonds and walk alone, be free to do what I wanted and with whom, regardless of what Grandmother was doing. Grudgingly I had to admit that I understood the reason behind the shadow period and that abiding by the training rules of the Sacred Wanderer was well worth whatever sacrifice I had to make. But right now, with the potential for obtaining that which I desired directly in front of me, it was agony to only watch and wait. I sighed again. I suppose the irritation of watching and waiting when you wanted something had value too; how else was I to learn patience? At that moment I was not sure patience was a virtue I cared to possess.

With a twinkle in her eye Grandmother shook her head again, looking back and forth between Claudius’ flushed face and my obvious irritation. “Marei is bound as a shadow for another two rituals time. Until the new moon after that second ritual she must remain silent, tied to the Steward’s actions, witnessing but not directly participating except through the Steward’s participation.”

Claudius cleared his throat and looked as if he would say more, but then Grandmother gave Claudius a playful shove on the shoulder. “Go and dance. What would be better than to experience the ways of a different culture first hand, instead of through long dead tales of war and glory?”

With one more furtive look at me, he shrugged and a timid smile played across his full lips as he looked longingly at the dancers. At another teasing push on his shoulder he finally crossed the sand towards the basket of ribbons Ursa held. In a flurry of good natured teasing, the women and men picked spools of ribbon from the basket. The newly married couples hoisted the woman on top of the man’s shoulders so Else, Laisrian and Berriona could attach the ribbons with metal pins to the top of the pole. Amid the throng I caught a glimpse of Meallán, the young wheat thresher I had noticed at the Samhain festival last year, and of Little John Woodsman, old enough now to dance round the pole.

The dancers lined up, men and women facing each other; the women in brightly colored dresses and most of the men were wearing nothing but their best kilts. Several of the older people from the local villages had brought instruments with them, Grandmother included. She struck up a merry but slow-tempo jig on a high pitched reed flute. Within moments, the well known tune had been echoed on other wind instruments and several of the drummers had added an infectious counter rhythm. I had a small hand drum with me that I added to the mix of instruments and voices.

With a curtsey at the men, the women began the dance. Holding their white ribbons high for the men to duck under they each had the chance to fully appraise the physical virtues of the men they encountered. Then as they ducked under the purposefully low red ribbons of the men, the women’s bodily charms threatened to spill out of tight bodices. The men leered good naturedly and the women laughed, their light giggles raising above the sound of the music.

Claudius was hesitant at first, barely meeting the eyes of the young women he passed as he wove over and under the white ribbons. But after he became comfortable with the rhythmic pattern he began to relax and a smile crept onto his face. One of the women, a seamstress named Maeve who had attended all of the rituals I had been to and been priestess of the Beltane ritual last year, had been eyeing him as she approached. As he passed under her ribbon she reached out and smacked him flirtingly on the bottom. In surprise his head shot up, eyebrows raised almost to his hair line as he looked towards the woman on his left.

I stifled a laugh at the expression of shock written on his face, but then swallowed it when I saw her wink boldly at him. Until that moment, I had not entertained the notion that by participating in the dance, Claudius was offering himself as an available man and might actually accept the advances of another woman. I had naively thought that he would only dance and then spend the night in the company of myself, Grandmother and Gurek as always. A band of anger tightened the muscles in my forehead as I considered the implications of Maeve’s brazen actions.

Inside me a fiery debate raged; on one hand, Claudius was an attractive man who deserved to be flirted with, by many women. Maeve obviously had good taste, so she couldn’t be all bad. Claudius had every right to want to participate fully in the rituals of Beltane; didn’t I also long to fully know the night’s rituals? And I was not able to take part on my own in the rituals, leaving me exempt from the night pairings; I had no claim to Claudius.

But oh how I wanted to lay claim to him. Watching him dance round the circle, laughing down at Maeve as she teased him all I could feel was a burning desire to be Maeve; to have it be me whose eyes he was timidly daring to seek, even when I was not beside him. I wanted to be the one who would lay with him, naked under the stars, exploring the essence of divinity merging.

As I mindlessly drummed, my mind began to wander and I pictured myself dancing around the circle next spring. I was looking for Claudius, ducking and weaving around and under the red ribbons of the other men in the circle. As I came around near the group of drummers I could see him; his eyes met mine and burned into my soul, labeling me forever as belonging to him. He passed so near to me as we danced that I could feel the brush of his muscled thigh against my hip. “Tonight” he whispered as we passed. My heart began to thrum in time with the steady beat as I imagined that our two ribbons were the longest and we stood together at the end of the dance. I could almost feel the press of his lips on mine as in my mind he leaned in to kiss me and seal the promise of meeting later, in the groves, in the darkness.

My inner reveries were broken by a loud cheer. I opened my eyes to see that the ribbons had been fully wound as I had indulged my fantasies. At the center of the circle were Meallán and Maeve. Traditionally the man was allowed to make his choice first and Meallán did not hesitate to choose a broad shouldered red-head with unruly short hair who immediately signaled her pleasure at being chosen by kissing him full and long on the mouth. Maeve also did not hesitate and pointed straight away to the man she had been eyeing for the entire dance; Claudius.

This time his entire head flushed bright pink in embarrassment or excitement or both and he stammered a bit, taking one step back and away from the group. Maeve laughed throatily, tossing her chestnut hair over her shoulder and parted the crowd to reach him.

“Well, lad?” She questioned him cheekily, arms akimbo and one hip thrust out to the side provocatively. “I get first pickin’s and ye’re one whose taste I do not yet know by action or reputation.” Her eyes raked him up and down with a practiced measuring glance. “I can see that ye’re a foine specimen too, quite ‘andsome to look at and a wee bit timid, which I find right endearing. Will ye join me in the private games later this e’en?”

Claudius gulped and looked at Grandmother who nodded encouragingly. Keeping his eyes wide open, he leaned forward and kissed the saucy brunette on the lips. My heart fell as I watched him kiss another woman after I had imagined so vividly the feeling of his lips on mine. Unbidden tears rose in my eyes and I swallowed hard around a thick lump in my throat, forcing the emotional response to abate. I would not cry; Claudius had every right to make merry with anyone he chose and I had no right to feel badly about it.

Though I tried to hide it, Grandmother still saw the slight dampness that misted over my eyes and with her eyes full of compassion she turned to speak to me. “Marei, you will have your turn, both to choose your heart’s desire and to dance round the May pole. I know it’s hard for you to watch now and not participate, but you will get the chance to be the woman you envy.”

I wished now more than at any other time that I could question Grandmother about those cryptic remarks. Did she mean that I would have my chance with Claudius, or within the circle, or both? I mulled over the possible meanings to her statement and vowed that I would add this question to my list of questions to ask when my time of silence had ended.

The group of dancers had all paired up successfully, to the delight of all involved. Already the group was breaking off into the chosen pairs and excitedly bringing their evening’s intended back to family members and friends for introductions. As Claudius led Maeve by the hand to where Grandmother and I were standing I wiped away any stray traces of tears and swallowed hard to present a neutral face to them both.

As they neared, Maeve recognized Grandmother and dropped Claudius’ hand to give her a hug. “Láidáin! Is this foine young man with ye then? Ye’re lookin’ right foine yerself, all rounded at the belly. Is it Gurek’s doin’? We’ve not seen ‘im in town this past winter long.”

Grandmother smiled broadly and nodded answering her questions in order. “Yes, Maeve; this young man Claudius is a visitor to the House on the Hill. He’s a historian from Rome interested in knowing more about our ways and practices.” Claudius’ face registered surprise that she had not told Maeve the real reason for his visit. “I had invited him to join us for Beltane but I see that it’s your invitation he has truly accepted. I trust that you’ll explain fully to him the reasons for all that we do here today in a way I am not able.”

Grandmother raised her eyebrow mischievously at Maeve and they both laughed with delight as Claudius blushed bright pink at the implication. “He’s a right timid feller, ain’t ‘e? I think I’ll ‘ave a grand time givin’ this quite attractive visitor a lesson or two.” As Maeve spoke she both winked at Claudius and placed her hand possessively on his bottom, giving it a teasing squeeze. Even I had a hard time holding in a laugh at the astonished look on Claudius’ face as she kept repeatedly handling him and openly discussing their upcoming intimacy.

Grandmother interrupted the laughter, answering Maeve’s second question with her hand on her rounded belly. “And yes, my current fruit is from Gurek’s seeds; we’re to be wed after the babe is born.”

I had been with Grandmother and Gurek when they had consulted the augury to determine if the child could be kept and if they could join in marriage, so it was not surprising for me to hear that they would be wed. Maeve, however, clapped excitedly like a young child and virtually squealed with glee, impulsively hugging the older woman tightly.

“Láidáin! Tis a miracle, this is! We’ve all though ye’d live and die a-lonely atop that great white hill, serving the ‘Ouse and seekers. And Gurek; ‘e’s far too ‘andsome a man to ‘ave lived without a woman in ‘is bed for so long. Tis a right foine pleasure to ‘ear that ye’ll both be findin’ company and love, finally!” She took a step back, still holding tightly to Grandmother’s small shoulders. “What does that mean for the ‘Ouse’s Steward now? Will ye retire the post and live down a-town with Gurek? ‘Ave you read the signs?”

Grandmother nodded again, a brief shadowed look haunting the hollows of her face. “I have; we both have – Gurek was with me when I read the augury. We were permitted both joys – the mixed blessing and sorrow of retiring my position as Steward to become a wife, and the joy of birthing the baby we both longed for in our advancing years…”

“Aye, ye must be at an age where yer moons are not comin’ as steady as afore,” Maeve interrupted. She laughed heartily, a booming ring of a laugh that was almost as loud and infectious as John’s. “I must say, I won’t be disappointed when my moon ceases flowing and I can settle down to being a crone. But fer now, I intend to put all my foine womanly skills to use. No need in wasting away the years of motherly hips by lyin’ lonely in me bed!” She cast a lascivious glance at Claudius, who was still standing awkwardly beside her and ran her hand slowly up his arm.

Bemused as Claudius squirmed under Maeve’s forward attention, I wondered if he had ever had a woman respond to him as Maeve was; perhaps the brassy brunette would be good for his ego. Certainly I did not begrudge her the choice; I had to agree that Claudius was quite an attractive visitor. When I thought no one was looking I ran my eyes longingly up and down his well formed frame, savoring the sight of him in the more traditional clothing of my people. I wondered briefly if he was regimental under the kilt or if he had chosen to bind his parts in a cloth as some of the younger men had taken to doing.

Maeve caught me staring and laughed conspirationally at the desire I had briefly allowed to show. “Seems this wee lass a’hind you shares me opinion of our friend’s foine figure. She was just givin’ ‘im the up-en-down as if she’d like to eat ‘im up. She’s not so young as to be forbidden from the dance – is she yer ‘prentice then? Servin’ a year’s time in the shadow of yer movements? Are ye trainin’ her to replace ye at the ‘Ouse?”

I missed Grandmother’s reply as the blood rushed to my face. In horror at having my feelings revealed so casually I turned to look at Claudius, sure that I would find him contemplating the ground in that way he did when he was uncomfortable in a situation. Instead I found him gazing wide eyed at me, a tender, sweet smile curving the corners of his lips. As our eyes met, a surge of lightning’s wild current passed between us and I could not look away from his deep green eyes. I felt certain I had never noticed the exact color of his eyes before, how they were light in the center like young fresh leaves and darkening to a deep piney ring on the outer edge.

Though I did not see it happen, Grandmother told me later that Maeve noticed the look that passed between us and let it pass with a knowing smile. What I did notice was that she put her arm around his waist possessively and broke the gaze by pressing against him. I felt bereft without his eyes to stare into and my heart was still beating wildly in my chest like a frightened rabbit in a snare. Just then Gurek approached Grandmother, draping his arm around her shoulders and kissing her affectionately in the crook of the neck. “M’khindẻǽ, the time for the handfasting draws nigh.” His brows knit in tenderness and concern. “Are you sure that you want this as I do?”

Grandmother turned her head and they kissed lingeringly. “M’khindẻǽ, I want this more than you could know. I am so certain, after all our many years serving each other within the confines of our duties, I long only now to serve you in pleasure. If our custom was not wise in expecting the handfasting first, I would marry you today.”

Gurek’s smile shamed the bright spring sun and to my amazement, his eyes filled with tears. “I love you, Láidáin, and will love you for as long as I live.”

John’s great voice broke into the romantic moment. “Oyay! Oyay!” When he had the crowds full attention, he continued, “The time for this year’s handfastings has arrived! All who wish to take the temporary vows of trial may step forward now.”

Seven couples came forward to try their hand at a year of commitment, including Grandmother with Gurek and Meallán with the red head from the May pole. The couples were all holding hands or standing with arms around shoulder and hip.

John addressed the group more seriously than he had addressed either of the other groups that had preceded them. “Being handfasted to another person requires a commitment that is at times harder to maintain than that of marriage. To be handfasted, ye agree that ye will spend a year and a day, until the next Beltane celebration, as if ye were a married couple. Ye will share the same bed, the same roof, the same finances, the same troubles and the same joys. In all ways, including your interactions with all others, ye will conduct yourself as a married person would, for the entire year. Regardless of whether yer year will lead ye to the marriage broom or to the breaking broom, ye must endure this state for the year, come what may.

“Not all couples who undertake the handfasting in joy find that the joy remains with them after the year and a day has passed. This is why earlier today we had the opportunity to celebrate the breaking of a bond that was harmful. At the next Beltane, ye will be given the opportunity to further your commitment or to put aside something that is not beneficial. Either way you choose, ye will be greeted happily and with love by the community that surrounds ye and we will support and accept yer decisions.”

John took the time now to address each couple as he had previously, calling each person by name and offering a pleasant bit of congratulations and well wishes. He stopped when he reached Grandmother and Gurek and held his arms wide. “Láidáin and Gurek! Though I had seen ye sharing a roof with my own eyes, I was not expecting the pleasure of yer presence in this group. My fool’s heart swells to see ye both so happy. But with this open admittance of yer love, I believe that we must call Council with regard to filling the position of Steward of the House, should ye choose to leave it behind and remain in married bliss, as my beautiful wife and I do.” John pinched his wife’s ample behind as she passed behind him and she laughed and swatted playfully at his hand.

Grandmother nodded gravely to John. “Call the Council, my dear old friend, for I do not expect to see this year’s broom again. I would have a formal decision for my successor before my year and a day expire.”

John clapped his great meaty hands together to signal an announcement was to be made. “Oyay! The Lady Steward of the House on the Hill has decided to commit herself for a year and a day to the good blacksmith and priest, Gurek Gillpatrick! Should she jump the marriage broom next year, we will need a new Steward to ascend to the top of the hill. After this happy ceremony, I call Council to the pole to discuss.”

The crowd shouted encouragement to Grandmother who blushed a bit, but was smiling broadly as she looked at Gurek and squeezed his hand. John continued to speak to each of the people who accepted the call to handfasting. As he finished with the last couple, he raised his arms to the sky to begin the binding words of the ceremony. Before he was able to speak, a woman’s voice interrupted him from the edge of the crowd.

“John! We ask a boon of ye, afore ye begin!” Pushing through the crowd were a man and woman with slightly nervous but determined looks on their faces.

John’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Devor Driscol and Fhionn Moreton! I’ll be blessed! When ye did not appear earlier in the day I thought I’d not see either of ye this year. Yer late for both the marriage broom and the breaking broom!”

Fhionn reached out to hold Devor’s hand in his. “Aye, John. We purposely missed both of the ceremonies as we’ve been arguin’ day in and day out as to whether we wanted to break or bind. Even as near as this mornin’ we could’na decide.”

Devor picked up the conversation where he left off. “That is why we ask a boon of ye. We know it’s not much done, but we’d like to spend another year and a day trying out a marriage between us.”
John eyed them both skeptically. “And what makes ye think that ye’ll be any more successful this time around than ye were last year?”

The couple looked at each other, with laughing smiles. Fhionn explained, “we had a rough start as neither of us was what the other was expecting and being married was not at all as easy as we had thought. Durin’ the long winter, I think we both expected to be jumpin’ the breakin’ broom today, but then we began to talk and make changes in ourselves. Now we are not yet satisfied that this is everything we want out of a romance, but we are also not yet satisfied that it is not.”

Devor blushed but looked John straight in the eye as she spoke. “Now that we are beginning to learn how to please each other, in more ways than one, we would like to spend another year.”

John grinned his answer and wrapped both of them in a giant bear hug. “Of course ye can have another year! The handfasting was designed for just such as this; it’s not required that you marry or break if you need more time. I’m glad to see that ye’re not being hasty in making either decision. If ye want, ye can continue to handfast every year until you die!” His laugh boomed loud and the crowd joined him in his delight. Smiling with relief the couple stepped into the line of participants.

John addressed the now eight pairs of men and women. “Ladies, do ye agree to spend a year and a day in the bed of yer man, with all yer words, actions and deeds behaving as a married woman? Will ye put food on his table, milk his cows, wash and mend his undergarments no matter how soiled, pleasure his bed and accept as offerings from the God and Goddess any children that might healthily result of this union?”

All the women happily shouted their agreement with John.

“Lords, do you agree to spend a year and a day in the bed of yer woman, with all your words, actions and deeds behaving as a married man? Will ye plant and hunt to keep her fed, chop and lug firewood in the winter, understand the womanly need for fancy ribbons on dresses, pleasure her bed and accept as offerings from the God and Goddess any children that might healthily result of this union?”

The men all cheered their assent to John’s stipulations.

“Men, put yer left hand over your woman’s right hand and hold yer hands out to the center of the circle for the binding ribbons to be tied.” Ursa called to the group, bringing out one last spool of red ribbon. Wrapping the spool around each pair of hands three times, she tied the ribbon tightly and then cut the length used from the common spool until all eight couples hands were bound together by the bright red ribbon.

Ursa wrapped her arm around her husband’s big waist as she concluded the ceremony. “Now that ye have been bound, ye are unable to untie or cut yer cord until ye have consummated the vows ye just took. And for those who must answer the Council call, ye may have to be bound for quite a while!” She grinned teasingly at Grandmother and Gurek who laughed and kissed, displaying their ribbon bound hand to the cheering crowd.