Scarlet wrote this as a comment- I know when you read it you will understand why I made it a post. I really am amazed by what a beautiful writer she is. I am humbled that she writes these words on my blit.
I promised a charm for tonight, and here it is. Poppy, if you google ‘wildermagen’ you will see who this story is about:
As dusk whispered past, that nether time that is neither twixt nor tween, Wildermagen saw full dark falling and lit three candles. Two of white and one of red, she bent forward with hands cupped, holding the flames near her heart for just a moment. It was nightfall on Samhain, and she was preparing a charm to greet the English winter.
The moon was not yet risen, so she knew she must create light for her spell. The fire was kindled in the hearth, casting its glow upon the walls of her cottage. Her broom stood in the corner, bristles up, to keep its magic from spilling out. Tonight the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was thin, and Niall, her pagan Lord, her warlock Master, would be here soon, to celebrate the mysteries of the night with her. Ursidae, her familiar, growled deep in his throat and half rose on his haunches. Wilderhaven moved more quickly; Niall must be almost here.
She was ready for the charm: She placed three flat stones in front of the hearth. On top of one she poured salt, to symbolize the element of the earth. On top of another she poured water, to symbolize the river of life. On top of the third, she placed a sprig of rosemary, to symbolize heartfelt remembrance, for people and places in her past whom she loved.
Rosemary, despite its feminine name, is considered a masculine herb, one whose powers include love and protection. She would burn it in a while, with Niall by her side. She swept her red-blonde hair up into a sorceress twist, and placed her witching bonnet carefully atop that great pile of hair. She sat quietly now. She must not make sudden movements, must not inadvertently create hail or tempests that may delay Niall’s arrival.
She was an unusual witch, in that she was not born so. Her power was derived from Niall’s pleasure in her, from his taking her to slake his own desire, from the force of his warlock will matched to hers. He was her true magic-mate, her enchantor, the source of her magical flame. So tonight, like every night, she waited for him, for the time when they would come together in that black part of the night, to tear the veil away from her heart. She whispered mane, tekel, peres, words that translated as taken up, carried away. For thus would she be when next she laid eyes upon him.
Isn’t she a stunning writer?
Very, VERY excellent, Scarlet.
That’s beautiful and lovely, Scarlet.
Scarlet, brilliant, very appropriate for this particular Blit.
‘Wildermagen’, I thought that I recognised the name, a closer look at the first print confirmed my thought.
An attractive plant, a magical plant, an attractive, magical, dangerous plant.
I spent nine years in the Middle East this plant and it’s derivatives are common out there,
I tried it, several times, it’s wonderful, magical stuff, then I stopped, had I not I would either still be using, or dead.
I am too willful to be an addict, in the Sub-continent it is called the old mans’ panacea, understandably so.
Poppy, you share two of your namesakes qualities, I have yet to make up my mind about the third.
Love and warm hugs,
Paul.
Incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
Oh Scarlet…this is so beautiful. I would happily read anything you write – I’ll be waiting breathlessly for that novel.
Hi all, glad you enjoyed it! Wildermagen is of course Poppy’s witch-name, and Niall is an Irish king, the first of the O’Neill’s by legend. Apparently he was quite a lover and progenitor, and more than 20% of the Irish today share his genetics.
I thought it was a good warlock name for another O’Neill we know.
Thank you, Poppy, for adding photos and making it a post! You helped the mood so much. And thank you for letting me write and be creative here. xo Scarlet
*Sigh*
That was gorgeous and inspiring. Nicely done, Scarlet! And beautiful photos, too, Poppy!
Oh THAT Great (times 200 or so) Grandaddy Niall! I got the poppy reference, and I even knew rosemary is for remembrance (thank you, Ophelia) but I kept trying to twist Niall into Devlin and it just wasn’t working.
If this is the start of your next roman á clef, you’d better be prepared with a fairly extensive clef at the back of the book to help some of us out.
Again, terrific job, Scarlet.
Thank you, Pink. You write some lovely things yourself!
Dev, next time I’ll be sure to include the clef notes.
Of course Niall was you–who else would Wildermagen’s warlock lover be?
Thanks for the nice things you say.
Good! About the clef notes, that is. Not that I’m demanding or anything.
You are clever and creative and wonderful (no more C words in my vocab) – thank you for the explanation and the story.
Scarlets keeps surprising me…
Wonderful!
XXX
Maria
Beautifully written, Scarlet! You are very talented and I can’t wait for more.
Wildermagen and Niall asked me to thank all of you for your kind words and interest in their story, and send their best wishes. They’ll be back (perhaps) next Halloween.
Actually, they didn’t exactly send best wishes. They said, “How would you like to be turned into a toad, eh?” but I figured that was just joking around witch-type banter.
Rrribit.
(Wildermagen and Niall are Canadian? Who knew, eh?
)
Witches and warlocks can do ALL the accents, Dev. Maybe you’ll have them on your blite with the he said/she said?
Dev can’t do accents. It is only me that can- with my Texan- right from my heart.
Oh yes, Scarlet. Poppy is planning to run for mayor of Lubbock even as we speak because she will be easily mistaken for a native daughter. Has her speeches written and everything.
Just for the record, I believe every word Poppy says. If she lies, I swear to it. You really can’t expect anything else from girlfriends, Dev. There is a girl code, after all. We learn it in kindergarten.
I knew that.