Beltane
Eve
by Jill M Earlam / Dragonlady
As
the fires of Beltane were lit on the heath, next
to the forest, there were cheers and the happy
sound of people enjoying themselves, eating and
drinking and waiting in breathless anticipation
of the God and Goddess, who would surely come
to bless this Beltane celebration.
Delphi
stood smiling, watching the children dance around
the maypole, screaming and laughing with delight
as they held the ribbons, weaving in and out of
each other making that age old pattern, beginning
again the dance of creation even though none of
them knew what tonight would bring.
She
stood at the edge of the forest, a little way
from the people, who were beginning to feel the
effects of the drink and the dancing and as the
youngsters were taken home by their sisters old
enough to celebrate the day but not quite old
enough to join in the rituals, which came later.
Delphi
could feel Janus calling her and slipped between
the trees. It was dark within the confines of
the forest but she could still see the fires burning
brightly and the full moon was just visible, her
beams split by the branches of the tall trees.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, she could
feel his presence; he was very close. She turned
around as she felt his touch. He was there, standing
before her in his white robe, his face hidden.
As he pulled back the hood of his robe she could
see he wore the silver circlet, with the blue
crystal in the centre. The stone was of the deepest
blue and seemed to glow brighter, matching his
eyes, as he smiled gently at her. He looked like
a god standing there before her; tall, long silver
blonde hair and fathomless blue eyes. She felt
as if she was drowning as she gazed into the depths
of those eyes; it was like looking into the deepest
lake and seeing your own reflection. Janus took
her hand and kissed it before drawing her gently
into his arms. As she felt the strength and firmness
of his body against hers, through the robe he
wore, she sighed with pleasure to be back in his
arms.
"How
I have missed you, my love." His whispered
words made her shiver with anticipated pleasure
and he held her tightly.
They
stood together, arms around each other totally
oblivious to all that was going on just beyond
the edge of the trees. He released her and she
turned her face up to look at him and as she did,
his lips came down to meet hers, gently at first,
a feather touch barely there until her hand touched
his cheek and she felt his breathing quicken.
He reluctantly took his mouth off hers and spoke
into her ear, "Let us go to our place, my
love. I want to love you."
As
they reached the opening in the forest, as one
they dropped to the floor, lying on a bed of soft
mossy grass only feet away from the edge of the
pool, which sparkled in the moonlight.
"I
love you so much" her whispered words were
muffled as once again, his lips found hers, kissing
her with such passion. His fingers started to
unfasten the bodice of her dress and his hands
slipped inside, caressing her back. He slipped
the dress off her shoulders and his lips caressed
her neck, moving down to take one of her erect
nipples between his lips while he gently rolled
the other one between his fingers. She arched
her back as he took the dress off her; his hands
were hot, gently urgent as his caresses moved
between her legs to stroke that mound, covered
in soft dark hair. As he gently traced those lips
with his fingers, she opened her legs to allow
him to touch her and as his fingers found that
sensitive little place, she moaned with pleasure.
"You are so beautiful" he spoke quietly
to her as she implored him, "let me love
you"
Her
hands reached up and she undid the tie on his
robe. As it fell open she saw he was naked underneath
and she caressed his firm body with her hands,
flicking her tongue over his nipples, dropping
butterfly kisses along his chest and stomach,
stopping only to take hold of his manhood, her
fingers caressing up and down, feeling him grow
at her touch.
He
was so hard and ready for her, he could bear it
no longer and he gently entered her, his erect
shaft finding its way inside her, their bodies
becoming one as their lips met again in the sweetest
kiss. Slowly and sensually they moved together,
their breathing quickening as waves of desire
and love washed over them.
She
heard the animal come crashing through the forest.
He stopped and pawed the ground; he was so near
she could almost feel his breath.
She
was close, so close to reaching ecstasy and felt
the hardness and strength of Janus inside her
as they moved as one, his breathing fast and shallow,
whispering words of love in her ear. She felt
him tense, his body arching as he cried out her
name releasing his seed inside her and as she
held his shuddering body she felt the waves of
pleasure washing over her. And at that moment,
although neither of them knew it, the child was
conceived. Their bodies trembled with released
passion and love as they lay holding each other,
neither one wanting to move lest they break the
spell.
The stag still watched as if hypnotised and as
they looked back at him, (wondering what he was
going to do), his outline wavered and before them
stood Herne, tall and powerful. Before they had
a chance to get to their feet and cover their
nakedness, from between the trees She appeared
- beautiful in her flowing blue gown, dark hair
falling down past her waist with a silver triple
moon circlet on her forehead. She smiled at them
and as she went to Herne, they spoke without words.
By this time Delphi and Janus were on their knees,
their heads bowed towards this great god and goddess.
She
spoke to them in a voice full of tenderness, "stand
up my dears, do not be afraid." They stood
before Herne and the Goddess heads still bowed.
She was trembling in fear because as High Priestess
to the Goddess she should not be with a mortal
man. Yet the Goddess was smiling at her, look
on her face, which seemed almost to suggest forgiveness.
Janus
threw himself at Herne's feet in such terror crying,
"Please don't hurt her; forgive her. Punish
me instead. I love her so much." He lay prostrate
on the ground, his shoulders shaking as tears
coursed down his cheek. Delphi wanted to run to
him, but did not dare move, until she felt the
Goddess give her a little push and she looked
at her and smiled, "Go to him, don't leave
him to cry alone." Even Herne was smiling
down at her as she threw herself on the floor
by the side of Janus and took his face in her
hands and as she saw the look of such abject sorrow
on his face, her tears began to fall. They held
each other, just sitting waiting for the wrath
of Herne to descend on them.
Then
Herne spoke, "We have been watching you for
some time now and know just how long you have
fought against this love you feel. We know you
have not deliberately sought to deceive us and
for that we will not punish you." The Goddess
spoke, saying, "We see the love and devotion
you have for each other and who are we to come
between you? when we both have felt that utter
misery of being without the one you love. You
deserve each other and of course there is now
the child to think of too."
As
She spoke these words, Herne closed the gap between
them and put His arms around Her and gently touched
Her lips with His. The forest stirred, the Moon
came out from behind a cloud and a sun flared
into being, high in the cosmos.
Delphi
suddenly realised just what the Goddess had said
- she was with child.
"You
shall be released from your Priestess duties but
you may remain with the other Priestesses as long
you as you wish, showing them the way and deciding
who shall succeed you as High Priestess. I shall
make sure all know it is my decision and all will
be well. It is meant to be, the child inside you
has shown me that."
At
the Goddess's words, Delphi got to her feet and
kneeled before her and took her hand. "I
don't know how to thank you. I have no words but
if you can see my heart you know how I am feeling
right now." She kissed the hand of the Goddess
who smiled down at her. Janus stood and bowed
his head before the mighty Herne, whose voice
reverberated through the forest as he spoke. "Look
after her and your unborn child, there are those
who will attempt to destroy what you have - do
not let them. Love each other the way we love
and you will survive through the ages. You shall
continue as Druid and sing the songs and tell
the tales of the Bards but I shall speak to your
master and tell him. If you ever need us, come
into the forest and call and we shall come."
As
Herne spoke these words, the Goddess came to him
and slipped her hand into his and they turned
and walked away through the trees, leaving Delphi
and Janus.
* *
*
An excerpt
from Beltane Eve - by Jill M Earlam / Dragonlady
© 2007 |