Part 2 - A Joining of Worlds

The next few weeks pass dreamily for Rio. Lost in a part of Nara's bliss he had barely imagined possible he fills himself with Glow as their chosen date, the equinox approaches. The sense of completeness is a strong and powerful attraction and after one particularly glorious afternoon of scampering through the Sacred Grove after each other in squirrel form, and the subsequent wrestling match in human, Rio finds himself sitting comfortably on top of his mate-to-be. He holds her down firmly, the happy victor this time, and leans over to rub his forehead on her forehead, his nose wispily around her nose, and his lips lightly across hers.

"You are in my thoughts, my heart, my soul and my mind." He tells her feeling the light touch of her telepathy. "Blessed are we that Nara and Sylvanis have brought us together in this sacred place" He looks happily into her eyes.

"Together we are stronger than we could ever be alone..." He gives her a quick kiss. "...and I can tell now that I shall never be alone again."

Rolling off of her Rio lays for a moment in the soft turf breathing the scent of her, listening to the wind through the trees and watching the clouds drift gently by. Then, catching the scent of the evening stew drifting through the air, he pops up and with a sweeping gesture offers Glow a hand up. "Come my beloved... we don't want to keep dinner waiting."

They walk hand in hand back to the small set of buildings only to find Raagnar, Dre and Elrin there waiting. Elrin strides up and offers his hand. "So... I understand congratulations are in order for you two. I guess it had to happen what with you being the way you are... uh... no disrespect intended of course." Rio grins and lets go of Glows hand in order to shake Elrin's.

"Thanks Elrin. I see you've returned none the worse from your recent trip. Dre was telling us last week that you've become sort of a celebrity within the circles of your church." The small talk continues through dinner with the subject shifting slowly from Elrin's expanded church roles to the quality of vegetables in the stew to Dre's latest triumph in a gaming hall and settles finally on Rio and Glows upcoming joining now just several weeks away. As dinner is finishing up Rio raises his glass to the others indicating he wishes to make a toast.

"My friends... I have been truly blessed to find such happiness as there is here among you at this time. I do not know what the future holds, only that Glow and I have promised to see it together. When I came among you I was a lost man... an... otherworlder..." he pauses considering as if for the first time the true weight that word carries before continuing "...but now I feel that I am finally at home."

A very far away look passes over the druids face as he remembers back to events of the Wood Between Worlds and the adventure launched therein. "I just wish Eric and Cherri could be here with us now."

"Anyway..." he says breaking his own reverie, "...here's to us. May the future smile on you as it has on me and may we all find whatever it is that we most desire." He clinks glasses with all around coming lastly to Glow seated next to him.

"Although..." he says quietly so that only she can hear, "...I think for myself that the search has already ended."

********

The equinox eve finds the weather threatening as the seasonal storms begin to wander through in slow rolling waves. "Glorious weather for the evening observance." Rio says to no one in particular as, along with the rest of the grove's occupants, he prepares for the nights ceremony. He continues quietly gathering the boughs and acorns required for his part of the nights activities and pats the small pouch of dirt tucked within his tunic. It's refreshing and invigorating to have the wind howling through the trees, the scent of rain heavy in the air.

"It will make for a good impression on the young to see that Tempest has favored us with his presence for the ritual." He thinks to himself. "So much like the equinox observances back home used to be."

When the time nears Rio joins the rest of the mid-level Initiates in a circle around the Great Druid with an outer circle of lower level Initiates and other believers around them. He catches a glimpse of his beloved in the outer circle standing next to Dre of all people. "Hmm... I wonder if Raagnar is here also ?" but the thought is cut short as the Great Druid begins the Ritual of Seasons and he is caught up in the ceremony and storytelling.

The Great Druid tells the story of the beginning and how the forces of Nature were called upon to rise up and restore the balance that the old gods had come so close to destroying in their own divine way. The story is accentuated by the ritual raising of Nature Spirits released to welcome the new season. Lightning, thunder and the gusty wind add their own emphasis to the scene until it seems that all the elements of wind, water, earth, air and life are dancing wildly within the circles, which if the truth be known, they actually are. Without looking back Rio knows the Great Druid is deep within the communion, transforming from human to animal to spirit almost faster than can be discerned with the naked eye. He FEELS the power focused within and upon her to an extent that he never has before, and for the first time begins to have a true understanding of why his kind fight each other to advance into the Druidic hierarchy.

"To hold such power. To be held by such power."

When the rain finally bursts upon the scene it washes over the ceremony like a cleansing sheet stripping away the last remnants of doubt and disbelief from the few who might still be harboring such thoughts. Despite the cold rain and chill wind all within the circles stand rapt as the story nears it's climax. The Great Druids voice rises and falls in pitch and timbre as it takes on the different aspects of her power. She reaches the point in the telling where humans, the Druids, are called to join the battle for balance. Rio and the rest of the inner circle turn to face her. Her form is blurred as she reaches out to touch the inner circle one by one, blessing them and being blessed by them. (Later Rio will remember that the form was of a large tiger, another remembers that of a small dragon while another will remember only the kiss of the wind and water).

Then, so touched, the inner circle collapses onto and through her and begins to expand outward toward the outer circle. Each member of the outer circle receives the gifts of a small elm branch and cluster of acorns from those within. Then, with their portion of the ceremony completed, Rio, and the rest of the original inner circle, turn to watch the outer circle proceed inward advancing to within a few feet of the Great Druid where they hurl the gifts into the maelstrom of Druidic energy and natures power swirling within.

"And there was balance !" This last spoken so softly and with such force that Rio later wonders if it had been Sylvanis voice.

With a sudden release the spirits are gone, the ceremony is over and once again the Great Druid stands alone, herself at the center of the circle. She draws a deep breath and announces in a crystal clear voice that carries throughout the grove.

"It is come... We are welcome in the new arc and are charged once again with maintaining the balance of seasons." She pauses, more vibrant and alive than Rio has ever seen. The mantle of power still echoes in her words and shines in her eyes. " All present are invited to stay with us this night and to witness the joining of my granddaughter Glowing Forest and Rio of The Other World at the sunrise."

Rio stands firm still lost in the majesty of the moment until he feels a light tug at his sleeve. Turning he finds Dre at his side, her eyes wide with wonder and questions concerning the ceremony and what we all witnessed. He smiles at his elvish friend saying only that it was but a small part of Nara's power that was visited upon us this night and that if she would seek more detailed answers she will have to take up the ways of the Initiate.

The storm seems somehow less severe now that the Ceremony of Observance is past but the rain continues to filter in through the trees offering no chance of dryness while still outside. While this doesn't bother Rio in the least he can tell that it might not be ideal conditions for his elvish friend and he reiterates the Great Druids offer of shelter for the evening. Dre gives the question a few moments of serious consideration but then realizes how wet she actually is and politely declines saying that she certainly will not attend the joining looking and feeling like a bedraggled swamp rat. Rio tries to explain that it really won't be much but a few words by the Great Druid followed by Rio and Glows exchange of promises and declaration of mating but Dre seems intent on envisioning, or at least treating it like, a grand ceremony complete with the pomp and circumstance usually reserved for the rich or royal.

"Goodbye Rio," she says taking her leave. "Raagnar and I will be here before the sun so don't start without us."

He smiles and waves watching her go until she is out of the grove and off around a corner. Then as he is about to turn to look for Glow, he feels her arms reach around him from behind. He leans his head back next to hers and kisses her temple. He allows himself to be held for as long as she will and then turns to hold her as well. Her wet clothing clings to her figure in a revealing and alluring way and the Druid is suddenly amazed that such a dynamic and beautiful woman should consent to be, nay, want to be his mate.

"You are as beautiful as the moon on a clear night and we will be together, heart and mind, body and soul, until Nara takes us into herself at the end of days." Rio looks her up and down his desire clear on his face and thoughts. He reaches out and cradles her breast in his hand. The thin fabric of her dress, cool and wet to the touch can not hide the warmth of passion he feels within her as well. With more than a bit of self control he raises his hand up to her shoulder and then tucks it neatly around under her hair as he pulls her close whispering in her ear.

"And I shall join with you in the trees, and by the rivers, and in the meadows and fields, and every place that we come together shall become holy ground, made sacred by the bond and balance that we will bring both to the place and to each other."

********

The hour before sunrise finds Rio and Glow sitting quietly together welcoming those coming or returning for the joining. The turf, still damp from the nights rain, shows their passage grudgingly as they gather quietly near the small ash the two have selected. Dre, dressed a revealing but not provocative fashion, comes in on Raagnar's arm. The barbarian might actually have washed for the occasion (that or he was caught out in the nights storm) and does look remarkably neat. "Well... for a barbarian anyway." Rio smiles to himself and shakes the large mans hand firmly after accepting a hug from Dre. Glow stands up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek as he bows to her.

"We'll be starting in a few moments." she tells them. "Please join the others."

When the first rays of the sun strike the tips of the trees the Great Druid calls the assembly to silence.

"Know all who assemble that what is done here today requires neither our presence nor approval. The joining of a man and woman is a choice that they make freely unto themselves. None here have the right to interfere." She pauses, her tone making it clear that this is the Great Druid speaking. Then her stance relaxes and her voice softens."

"Having said that I am glad that they have asked for and received my blessing. We all have been witness to difficult and wondrous times. We have seen ourselves tested and risen to the occasion. There are many who would be here but are gone in the dark night of events past. It is our task to remember them as part of the same cycle that begets this joining for indeed we are all, ourselves, woven into the fabric of the earth and life."

"I wish my granddaughter, Glowing Forest and her chosen Rio, of the Crescent Isles, the happiness and tranquillity that comes from being joined together. My the strength of Sylvanis guide their hands and their hearts."

As the Great Druid yields to join the rest of the assembled Glow and Rio walk hand-in-hand to the spot in front of the small ash tree and kneel facing each other. Glow sets a small bowl between them and partially fills it with water. Then she takes a small spade and digs up a handful of earth crumbling the rich black dirt into the bowl.

"This is the land of my birth. With it comes my promise of joining to you."

Then Rio reaches into his tunic and brings out a small leather pouch. He opens it with care and dumps its contents, a sandy reddish-brown clay, into the bowl.

"This is the land of my birth. With it comes my promise of joining to you."

He carefully blends the mixture with a small flat piece of bark until it is no longer the dirt of two separate worlds but rather something new and joined together in and of itself. Then, taking a pinch of the mixture between his fingers, he reaches over to her and makes a streak down each of Glows cheeks and another across her forehead.

"With this joining I declare you my mate." His smile is radiant.

Then Glow takes a small bit and repeats the process leaving a streak down each of his cheeks and another across his forehead. To his ears her voice is the music of natures song as she makes her declaration.

"With this joining I declare you my mate."

The two lean into each other and touch foreheads. It is done. Then each takes another pinch of mud and makes a small mark on the trunk of the tree beside them. They stand to face the assembled and Rio speaks in a clear voice so that all may hear.

"Our joining is complete... our Declaration Tree chosen. Let any who wish to share this moment with us come forward and be so marked."

As the small crowd gathers around them Rio and Glow use the remaining mud to mark the back of the left hand of any who wish it, smiling and accepting congratulations and well wishes from each. When the mud is gone the two stand arm-in-arm chatting happily with everyone until the crowd thins enough to move inside for a breakfast of eggs, flatcakes with cream and heavy syrup, juices and spiced berry pie. Rio catches a look of amazement on Glows face and inquires to the cause.

"It's Raagnar." she says quietly so the barbarian will not overhear. "That's his fifth plate and he's still eating with gusto."

Rio smiles and watches the big man devour almost an entire plate in the time it takes him to finish his last cake. "I shall devour you with the same passion." he whispers to her reaching under the table to place a hand on her thigh.

She raises her eyebrows momentarily and then with a look that speaks volumes says in a low husky voice, "Careful my husband... less YOU become the hunted and devoured."

Rio laughs aloud catching the rest of the table off guard at the outburst. Oblivious to this he eyes his new bride and then settles into an embrace punctuated with a long and lingering passionate kiss.

[Continued in Part 3 - Separation]