The wheel of the year keeps on turning and it's time once again for another story! The celebration is called Beltane and it happens around May 1st.
This time Scout gets himself in big trouble! Here is an excerpt from the story:
Flowers for the Dragon
Scout gazed across the campsite at Little Feather. Every time he looked at her his heart did jumping jacks and his head began to whirl.
“Ahhh, thought Scout, as he let out a soft, longing sigh. She is so dainty, sweet and lovely. She reminds me of a Marigold with that flowing, sunny orange hair.”
Scout just wanted to throw down the axe he was using to cut wood, run to Little Feather’s side, grab her delicate waist and twirl her around and around until she felt as dizzy as he did! Scout let another soft sigh escape, shook his head as if trying to wake up and turned back to his work.
Little Feather was sitting by the fire watching the forest creatures jump and tumble in the cool, sunny, late spring morning. She was in the process of weaving what was to be a very special tunic for her intended. She watched Scout out of the corner of her eye. His arm muscles rippled with the effort of his work. Thump! The axe came down hard on the log splitting it in two pieces. A squirrel jumped straight up into the air, ran up a stout Oak tree and began scolding Scout for the disturbance to the relative peace of the forest. Little Feather laughed merrily and turned back to her work. With each thread she wove she chanted softly of her love for Scout and imagined that she was weaving their spirits together into the body of the tunic. She and Scout had pledged to each other at Imbolg that, as the days of light grew longer, so would their commitment to each other until at last they would be handfasted during the great feast of Beltane. That would be May 1st. It was now the middle of April.
“My, my, thought Little Feather. Only about two weeks to go and so much to do! I must finish weaving and have our special tunics blessed by our village Shaman for the handfasting ceremony.”
Scout’s was only half completed and she hadn’t even started her own. She turned back to work with renewed determination. Mother Shaman had given her a bagful of special threads to weave into the wool tunics. The threads were brilliant shades of green, blue, red, silver and gold that shone in the sun like dragonfly wings and added a very special effect to the simple, black wool tunics. Little Feather had been instructed to weave the special threads into the tunics, so the appropriate colors would represent their corresponding Chakra energies throughout the tunic. This would give her union with Scout special energy. Mother Shaman said that if Little Feather wove the threads in exactly right that she and Scout would be filled with the magical energies of the Universe when they handfasted.
Little Feather concentrated very hard on her task. In fact she was so focused on weaving her threads that she didn’t see the faerie until she began to hover like a Hummingbird right in front of her face.
“Oof,” exclaimed the startled Little Feather.
She leaned her head back away from her work a little, so the faerie’s wings wouldn’t tickle her nose.
It was her friend Blossom. She loved to dance and play in the sunny meadow with Blossom. The two of them had spent many hours together while Little Feather was growing up. Little Feather knew that Blossom was probably feeling neglected, because she hadn’t taken any time out lately to play with her.
“Hi, Blossom! I’m so sorry I’ve been so busy lately. I just don’t have the time to play with you right now!”
Little Feather turned up her palm, so the wee faerie could light. Blossom looked a little sad, but seemed agitated about something other than their friendship.
“What’s wrong, Blossom? asked Little Feather. You seem upset about something.”
“I am! exclaimed Blossom. Beltane is not far off and our Faerie Princess, Flora, needs a champion to fight Cailleach!”
“Don’t worry, Blossom. Someone will wander into the trap. They always do, laughed Little Feather. The Shadowy Way is far too inviting to travelers. They just love to wander down into the caverns to get out of the hot sun and enjoy the beautiful, swirls of lavender, rose and yellow rock. You know all you have to do is get some poor hapless soul to take a cool drink and eat a sweet-cake. As soon as they eat and drink your Fae offering they’re hooked! Then you’ll have someone to champion the Princess. By the way, how is the Princess Flora?”
“Radiantly beautiful this spring, gushed Blossom. She always hates to retire to the dark caves during the winter, but the rest and lack of sunshine does her complexion good! Why, just this morning at dawn we were weaving some pretty pink flowers through her long, golden hair and the reflection of the blooms on her pearly complexion lit up the whole sky! I can tell it’s going to be a lovely summer, Blossom sighed.”
“Would you like to help me weave my threads, asked Little Feather? I’m sure your magic would be a big help.”
She was trying to distract her faerie friend as well as get on with her work. Blossom considered this for a moment, but then began to flit around in a most distracted way.
“I’m sorry, Little Feather; I’m just too worked up to think straight right now. If I tried to help you, I would end up weaving the blues where the reds go or something! I guess I’ll go and see if I can put a fresh enchantment on the cavern entrance to lure someone in. I’ll come by tomorrow to let you know if we got anyone!”
With that she flew straight up into the air and disappeared with a little “Pop!”
Little Feather just laughed and shook her head. She went back to work with renewed vigor. The sparkling morning soon gave way to midday and Scout wandered over to the fire to take a break. Little Flower had prepared a nice pottage with some fresh wild onions, mushrooms and early peas from her little spring garden. She had added delightfully aromatic herbs and Scout was fairly drooling as she ladled out a nice hot serving for him. Little Flower handed him a big hunk of fresh bread slathered with freshly churned butter to go with his bowl of pottage. Scout smiled down at her with such love and tenderness that Little Flower fairly glowed in response.
“I shall be the best cared for troll in the Universe!”
Scout’s praise made Little Feather blush. She felt as though she would burst with the love she felt for him. They sat on the fallen log in the meadow together while they ate their midday meal. The sun felt warm on their faces and soon Little Feather’s head began to bob. She yawned and stretched and told Scout that she would just lie down for a short nap right there in the meadow under the shady oak tree. Scout scooped her up into his arms and carried her to a patch of soft, sweet grass under the tree. He set her down very gently, kissed her on the forehead and told her that he would get back to work splitting the remainder of the wood, but he would come back for her soon. Scout realized how hard Little Feather had been working with all of the many preparations for their handfasting. He was a bit concerned that she would become overtired and ill if she didn’t take a little break, so he was glad to see that she felt relaxed enough to nap for awhile. Little Feather nodded very sleepily, curled up in a little ball and fell fast asleep. Scout walked away smiling and shaking his head. As he approached the pile of wood he was working on he noticed Blossom, Little Feather’s friend, perched on his axe handle.
“Blossom! What are you doing here? I thought you left an hour ago,” said Scout to the tiny Faerie.
“I did!”
Blossom squealed as Scout picked up the axe and began to swing it up over his head with her on it. She flew off, but hovered around Scout’s face.
“What are you doing, Blossom!”
Scout was beginning to become annoyed with her odd behavior.
“I am very busy with this project, little one, and I have no time for play. Little Feather lies yonder under the tree napping, so I suggest that you fly on and leave us for now.”
Blossom gave Scout a calculating look and began to sob in a most heart wrenching way.
“Oh dear, oh dear, ohhhhhh de-ah-r, sobbed Blossom.”
“Why Blossom, whatever is the matter? Scout spoke sympathetically to the tiny faerie and felt a bit ashamed for snapping at her. What can I do to help you? I hate to see you so sad!”
Blossom peeped out from under the hand she held to her face and gave Scout a long, appraising look.
“Do you mean it, Scout? Will you help me?”
Blossom was suddenly acting very excited. She began to flit around Scout’s face again until he waved his hand to shoo her away.
“Blossom, please tell me what you want. I grow impatient!”
Scout scowled at the faerie and she stopped short and just hovered in the air for a long moment.
“I desperately need someone to help me clean up around the cave entrance to the dwelling of Cailleach. It is all overgrown with brambles and soon we will have the exchange of scepter between Cailleach and the May Queen. Princess Flora will be very upset with me if I don’t get the courtyard cleaned up. The dwarfs and the brownies were supposed to help me, but they went off exploring on this fine spring day and have not given me any idea when they will return. I’m supposed to have the job done by eventide. It’s already past noon. What will I do?”
Blossom began to sob again so hard Scout thought his heart would break!
All right, Blossom! Show me the way and I will help you. It shouldn’t take that long to clean it up if we work together. Come on, now, stop crying and show me the way. There is nothing worse than a sad faerie! I’ll bet we can get the job done before Little Feather wakes from her nap.”
Blossom looked over at the peacefully sleeping Little Feather and smiled to herself.
“Wonderful, Scout! Follow me. Come on! This way,” Blossom called back over her shoulder and she flew off in the direction she wanted Scout to go.
“Faeries,” Scout muttered.
He gathered up his axe and headed off after Blossom. He paused briefly to look back at the slumbering Little Feather, shook his head gently and walked on. They travelled along a narrow, grassy path for a short while and then into the thick, dark forest. Scout walked around a sharp bend and up to a large cluster of boulders with some wildflowers and briers in front of what looked like a dark opening to a cave.
“Is this the area you need cleaned, Blossom?” Scout asked.
“No, no, we haven’t quite reached the courtyard yet, Scout. We must go through here and down into the cavern for a way before we reach it,” Blossom instructed.
“I hope it’s not too much further, Blossom, Little Feather will be awakening soon and wonder where I am!”
Blossom gave Scout a funny look and flew into the cave entrance. Scout sighed and pushed the brush aside to follow her in. It was very dark and Scout could see nothing but a small, blue ball of light glowing ahead.
“Come on, Scout, she cried. Please try to keep up!”
“It’s dark in here, called Scout. I can’t see where I’m going!”
“Blossom called back, “If you can stay up with me my light will guide you. Besides, we’re almost there!”
Blossom waited for Scout to catch up and then flew right in front of the big Troll to guide him along the narrow path.
“Good, she thought, I’ve almost got him. Now all I have to do is get him to take some food and drink and he’ll be under my spell until the job is done!”
If you would like to read the rest of the story, come visit me at the following link http://amazon.com/author/sharonmerlier to purchase your Kindle Edition
Have a great Beltane everyone!