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The Morrígan
K-KAW!
Chise drew herself away from one of her orders for the villagers and looked outside the window for the source of that sharp, yet quick call. Sitting strangely all in a row on the distant field fencing were three crows.
As Chise closed the gap between herself and the window, she took in how still the crows were and how intent their stares were directed towards the cottage. If she didn’t know any better, Chise could have sworn that their gaze was focused on the window… almost like… they were staring at her…
Against her better judgement, Chise had to test this theory by moving her head side to side. In response to this action, the crows still did not move. However,... their eyes… followed her the subtle movements of her head. Chise then proceeded to waving at them, curious if they would follow her hand. Sure enough, their eyes followed her hand.
“Who are you waving to, Chise?”
Chise immediately stopped waving, and hid her hands behind her back. Her face became flushed as she turned her attention towards Elias. He was attending to a couple of the plants on the table over from hers. Today, Elias and Chise decided to go to the greenhouse together since the order that Chise needed to make required fresh ingredients from the greenhouse, and Elias had to check on some of the new plants he brought over from his recent trip.
The Thorn mage settled the clippers down and walked over to see what Chise is looking at.
“It’s nothing, Elias,” reassured Chise, her face recovering from her quick blush, “I just thought I saw something. That’s all.”
“Like those crows on the fence post?” observed Elias, pointing towards the eerily still crows outside.
“Well,... to be honest, yes. This might sound strange, but I thought those crows were looking at me.”
“That’s because they are.”
“Huh?”
“That is The Morrígan, the goddess of war and fate. She incites warriors into battle and can help insure victory over one’s enemies. The Morrígan can even encourage those same to do brave deeds in return for victory. She is responsible for washing the blood of the clothes she had fated to die and make them pure and white for the afterlife.”
Chise gulped when hearing about such a goddess, and placed her hand lightly upon her throat. Especially at the part where she would wash off the blood off the clothes she had basically killed.
“So, if The Morri… the um, The Morrto… ?”
“Would if you would like, you can also call her ‘The Great Queen’ instead? Or perhaps ‘The Phantom Queen’? Most fae usually refer to her by those two titles. She has many other human names, but I’m afraid that they’re a bit harder to pronounce.”
“Yes, those two names help. Thank you. Anyway, this ‘Great Queen’... why is she here of all places instead out there in some kind of war?”
“She is here to bless you. The Great Queen blesses those who are worthy of protection by taking the form of three crows. I have often heard that she can be quite the shapeshifter, however the crow seems to be her favorite earthly form.”
“You’ve heard? You mean, you’ve never met her before?”
“I’m afraid not, but it’s better that way.”
“Why’s that?”
Elias gave the three crows one last, lingering look before strolling back to his plants, “As a mage closer to the realm of death than the realm of the living, I have a feeling that The Great Queen knows my reputation all too well and feels threatened by my presence.”
“Is that why she blessed me? Because she thinks that you’ll hurt me?”
Elias halted and turned his gaze back onto Chise. For a moment, the young apprentice thought she saw a hint of guilt and sadness expressed in her teacher’s eyes. But, such an expression did not last long. “It would seem so,” He explained.
Elias paused before stating softly, “Chise, do you… not feel safe here… with me?”
Chise’s eyes widened in response. She looked back outside to see if the crows were still there, and The Great Queen’s blessing was standing still on the fence post. A new, but bold idea sprouted in her mind. But, it was so rash that she didn’t think it could work. However, the possibility that it might work, while making her feel nervous for what’s to come, she couldn’t help but be a little excited.
Against her better judgement, she awkwardly and suddenly grabbed Elias’s gloved hand, which made the tall mage jump a little. He wasn’t used to such quick yet brash moments from Chise. Meanwhile, Chise’s face was glowing bright and red.
“C-Chise? Is everything alright?”
“U-Um, Elias? Would you… join me outside for a moment?”
Elias blinked a couple of times in response. Then, he remarked in a confused tone, “Of course, but…”
Then, Elias glanced down at his hand being held tight by Chise’s hand, “Do you need me to hold your hand while doing so?”
Chise’s eyes rapidly darted back and forth between Elias’s hand and her crazy, but small hands holding his giant ones like a mad woman.
“No. You don’t.” Chise quickly but softly muttering, rapidly bringing her hands back and turning her red face away, so that way, Elias couldn’t see her. “You can just follow me.”
Without waiting for Elias, Chise scurried out of the greenhouse with her head down.
“C-Chise! Wait up,” Elias called out to her.
“ I hope Chise is alright ,” Elias mentally worried, “ Maybe I shouldn’t have told her about The Morrígan and my relationship with her. ”
Elias ran after Chise through the front door, and out into the front yard. Once he spotted her near the crows, he stopped running and took measure to approach her with caution. He didn’t want to scare away The Great Queen’s crows. But, this proved to be fruitless because the crows flew off anyway. However, Chise didn’t seem to mind this. Instead, she crouched down and picked something off the ground.
Once back on her feet, Chise opened her palms to Elias and revealed three, long, black crow feathers.
As she handed the feathers over to Elias, Chise confessed, “To be honest Elias, when I first met you… I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel safe because I didn’t know you,.... I didn’t trust you,... and for a long time… I never really felt safe anywhere. But now,... I do.”
Chise lifted her head up to Elias’s eyes and smiled, “As much as I appreciated The Great Queen’s blessing and protection, I already feel protected because… you protect me. I know you now, Elias. I trust you. The only person that I feel like that needs protection is you.”
Chise then smirked and joked, “You’re going to need all the protection you can get if you’re going to protect this reckless Sleigh Beggy.”
Elias chuckled slightly, and happiness returned to his eyes once more, “Indeed, I will.”
Then, he glanced down at the feathers in his hands, “I don’t know if The Great Queen’s blessing can work in this way, but… with your blessings Chise… I feel safe and protected as well.”