Chapter Text
Guide us, Selûne
Shining lady of the night
Keeper of secrets
Master of blood and water
Illuminator of that which is not merely true,
but that which is vital
Hunter of man and beast
Guide us through the long dark
Guide us through returning death
Exorcize from us that false confidence,
that we may trust in your light instead
(Prayer to Selûne)
Nameless
She woke up because of the light shining in her face. The warm, flickering fire of a torch burned in her eyes and she immediately slammed them shut again, afterimages swimming across her eyelids. Her right hand tightened on something she was holding, biting into her fingers. She tried to lift her arm to protect her face, but her limbs were too heavy to budge.
One of the figures standing over her snapped something and the light moved away. With just the soft shine of the moon left, she could open her eyes and blink away the tears. The figures swam into view, too dark to see clearly except for the distant light reflecting on armor and weapons. She shut her eyes again and couldn’t help but mourn the loss of the fire - her body wasn’t just heavy, but also icy cold.
One of the figures said something, a different one than the first. Its voice was softer and higher, but just as commanding. Something touched her hand, the one that was holding something, and she somehow found the strength to jerk her arm away and pry her eyes open. The figures seemed clearer this time.
Closest to her was a woman in light robes, her hands raised and a satisfied smile on her face. She was limned in light, coming from the torchbearer a few feet away from them. The woman said something again and this time she tried to pay attention to the words, but they were still incomprehensible. The woman seemed undaunted by her lack of reaction and instead turned to say something to the large man standing on the other side of her. He wasn’t smiling and instead had his lips pressed into a thin line, nearly disappearing behind his facial hair. His eyebrows were pulled into a fearsome scowl and his gaze seemed to burn almost as much as the fire had.
It was a relief when he turned away to glance at the moon and then to nod at the woman. He gestured to another man, the last of the figures standing directly over her, and gave him a short command. The man twisted and then crouched to gather her in his cloaked arms, standing back up suddenly enough to give her vertigo. She twisted her fingers in the cloak, the fingers of her right hand folded around what she now could see was a dagger longer than her forearm. The man’s arms tightened securely around her as they started walking. The warmth of the cloak slowly chased away the cold, making place for pins and needles and, in a few places, even sharper pains. She closed her eyes again and gladly let herself be lulled into sleep.
🌙
Auron
Auron Crossbain couldn’t help but feel… cheated as he led the way back to the keep. He had trusted the priestesses when they performed the ritual to ask the goddess’ favor and assured him she would send help, but to find a mere child at the temple, filthy and shaking, powerless to protect itself even while clutching a dagger… With his wife’s affliction he had been forced to rely on the priestesses for magic and rituals and he had not been led astray yet, but this pushed the boundaries of his belief. A mere child could not help them.
And yet he couldn’t deny the signs were there, when Second Priestess Inedë pointed them out. The child had been lying on the stone altar in the Moon Pool, unprotected from the elements except by a simple undertunic. The child’s eyes could not handle the torchlight and had shone weakly in the light of the moon. The unnatural hair color over otherwise human features. The way its small hand had held the dagger in an obviously trained grasp. Altogether useless for now, of course, but perhaps in the future…
Inedë drew level with him as the keep came within sight.
“An unexpected gift, to be sure,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “No doubt the High Priestess may tell us more of Selûne’s will in this matter. She may have gifted us with a knife, but I have no doubt that it will turn into a sword in my Lord’s hand.”
Auron grunted. He didn’t doubt that the Crone had something to say about this. She had been old even when his father had settled into Karteros Keep and took control over the surrounding lands with a tight grip. Her faith in Selûne was unshakeable, but she also had a keen mind for opportunity. She hadn’t minded swearing her temple, her priestesses and herself to his father’s service, and to his own after that. According to his father, he hadn’t even had to bloody his sword overly much. So yes, the Crone was old and wily and there was no doubt she could help him turn this situation to their advantage.
The old keep towered over them, blocking out the moonlight. The smaller side door had already been opened for them at their approach, the guards saluting him respectfully. As they passed through the gatehouse and entered the outer courtyard, Auron saw the Crone was waiting for them. She had chosen a spot near the gate, but far enough from any buildings so that she stood bathed in the moonlight, making her white robes appear luminous. Theatrical biddy.
"Hail, my lord," she called, making no concession for the late hour. Her gaze roved over their group, snagging on the bundle carried by Rudi.
"Hail, priestess," Auron answered and swept up his arm to indicate the child. "This is the boon your goddess sent us."
At this signal Rudi stepped forward and moved the cloak so the top was open. The child was still fast asleep in his arms. The Crone stepped forward and frowned over it.
"And the signs?"
Inedë respectfully cleared her throat and stepped up next to the Crone.
"The child was laid upon the altar, with no protection against the elements except for the presence of the goddess. When she opened her eyes, they shone with her light. Even now, it is clear she has been touched by magic." Inedë indicated the child’s hair with an elegant turn of her wrist.
"I see she has a dagger."
"Yes, High Priestess. She seems to have some experience with it." The Crone nodded.
"Very well. It is appropriate that the Shining Lady has sent us a girl child, a crescent of potential that will only grow with time. Our goddess is rarely straightforward with her guidance." She turned to Auron and nodded again, more firmly.
"We will see to her education. We will need some allowances, such as reinstatement of the chapel for our use.”
“Do what you must, as long as it is repaid eventually,” Auron replied shortly, abruptly done with the whole ordeal. He caught Inedë's eye and inclined his head. She nodded back gravely. Then he turned to leave and find his bed. She would follow him when she was done with the child and if she had any sense, she would make it quick.