Solstice
The sun, weak and pale, was sinking slowly through gathering clouds to the waiting earth. It cast a faint rose color over the black bare branches of the forest that stood waiting just beyond the edge of the village. Already she could hear the excited laughter of the gathered members of her clan. Suddenly a break in the clouds shot a brilliant shaft of light straight where she stood. A path! A sign? No. She smiled as she remembered solstices long ago. She was young. She was beautiful. She was eager to perform the rites needed to ensure the light would return; the crops would grow; the livestock would multiply.
Now she was old. No longer would she return from the solstice night carrying a merry-begot child within her womb. No, that road was closed long ago. And good that it was. The clan needed her now, not for any children she might bear, but for her wisdom, her skills. She knew what her role was and performed it well. She eased childbirth. She set broken bones. She remembered the chants that brought the rain. Yes, she was still a vital part of the life of her people.
The drums began to beat and somewhere nearby a piper was blowing a melancholy tune, sad to see the sun wink out. She felt an arm around her shoulders. Turning she saw a familiar profile, her consort on those long ago solstice nights. They had shared a wild passionate coupling, always aware that the heat of their love-making would warm the sun hidden in the earth on this longest night of the year. He handed her a cup of warm wine. “Remember when we would be the ones that all would gather around to watch? Making sure we acted our parts, lord and lady of the woods, with vigor?” He chuckled. “I can still hear the shouts of joy when I emptied myself into you and you cried with pleasure.”
“We were always willing to do our best,” she smiled up at him. He was still a handsome man and had lost none of his appeal for her. A shudder ran over her as she remembered his touch. “You always knew just what to do to open my womb for your seed. Seven times I came away from the rites carrying a strong new babe for the clan. You did your part well.”
“Seeing you laying there in the firelight, sky-clad, drove me mad with desire. It was all I could do to repeat the words for the rite. I always tore my new tunic I was in such a hurry to shed my clothes and begin the ceremony!” He laughed again. “And you were always already wet!”
“I had been counting the hours all day till darkness fell and we could begin! I thought it so unfair that we could only join as one twice a year! No wonder I was wet! I was nearly fainting I wanted you so badly!”
He took her hand and led her to the standing stone where they could watch the rites being performed below. Torches were flaming now and the piper had changed the tune to one of urgency, faster and faster beat the drums. She often wondered if the piper and drummer ever got a chance to join in the activities. How unfair to watch all around you lost in passionate pleasure and not participate! Now, years later, she knew that new musicians relieved them and they could run off to find their own lady of the woods.
They sat down and leaned against the stone. It still held the warmth of the sun and the couple relaxed and settled in to observe the glen as their clan began the work of calling back the sun. It was hard work and much wine was needed to continue all night long! He refilled her cup and his own. “To passions past,” he raised his cup to hers. “To life renewed,” she touched her cup to his.
As the night wore on the sounds of the revelers faded. A full moon rose and bathed the stone in silver.
Out of the smoke from the bonne fire two stately figures emerged. They looked down at the sleeping pair. “They were always faithful to the rite,” one said to the other. “Yes, and I enjoyed their couplings much more than any others. Not that I don’t appreciate all the rest but these two knew how to raise the blood to a fevered pitch and lose themselves in total passion. They never held anything of themselves back. They truly became US.”
“I would like to give them one more night together,” the lord of the woods, for that was who he was, said to his lady. “What do you think?”