Chapter 20
Flora’s P.O.V
Large chunks of moonstones were brought out into the open as Ezra stood watch.
They were big and heavy, but only us maidens had the permission to carry them out. Daphne and I walked out in a line, followed by Emma. We all held the moonstones in different shades of green and all shaped in perfect rounds, but their size was bigger, like boulders.
A faint circle had been drawn on the land behind the Castle and we placed the stones on the line, marking the circle and took our positions in front of the stones. Each stone was placed at least half-a meter apart.
At the centre of the circle, there as a large cauldron filled with clear water and the reflection of both the sun and the moon had fallen on it for two nights. This was moon water and it was to cleanse or mind and body and centre our thoughts. We were to drink this water at the end of the ceremony.
There were also flowers in different vases around the circle, all white and so fresh and fragrant that it filled my heart with joy. Incense sticks were lit up as well, but their scents were overpowered by that of the flowers. Tube roses had a strong scent and it only grew stronger at night. Since it was midnight, their scent seemed to be the strongest. Flowers were a must in Full Moon Rituals, especially the ones like this, which were held during the onset of summer. It wasn’t time for tube roses to bloom yet, but somehow, the Castle gardens managed to have them in bloom all year round.
Ezra came to the middle of the circle, dressed in pure white robes and with a crystal in her hand. Each of us were dressed in white too and all of us had a crystal that symbolized our birth month. Since mine wasn’t known at the time of me becoming a Lunar Maiden, I was given a quartz crystal shaped like a pyramid. I held it in my hand now and closed my eyes as Ezra was given a flaming torch by a Lunar Maiden, who then rushed back to take her place in the circle.
She stood close to the cauldron where a smaller circle was drawn and filled with inflammable material. Ezra held up her torch and touched it to the circle, causing it to light up in a show that was both dangerous and magical.
“My fellow Maidens.” Ezra’s voice was firm yet gentle. “Tonight, the moon and the sun are as far from each other as possible. Tonight our emotions, both good and bad, are at the forefront of our mind. Come…let us centre our thoughts and cleanse our emotions. Let us choose good over evil, light over darkness, and dedicate our life in prayer of our creator, the Goddess of the Moon, Selene.”
We closed our eyes and began chanting the ceremonial song of the Full Moon ceremony. All maidens joined us one by one and it created a beautiful melody that soothed the soul and cleared the mind.
Tonight was one of the nights when the soldiers and other inhabitants of Lindersay were allowed to view our ceremony and join us as well. And then the howls sounded.
Our brothers and sisters in wolf form, joined in our ritual chant, in a language that was universal; a language that was our soul…the howl of the wolf.
“Come now, my Maidens.” Ezra called. “Drink the water purified by the sun and the moon and cleanse your soul.”
One by one, we left the circle and went up to Ezra, the fire of the inner circle having died down by now. Ezra dipped a small goblet into the water and drank the first gulp before passing the goblet to the next maiden. Each of us took turns dipping the goblet in the water and took a sip before wiping it with a piece of cloth and handing it to the next maiden.
I put my quartz inside a pocket in my robe and went to the inner circle where Daphne handed me the goblet after it had been her turn. I took it from her and walked up to the cauldron, watching the full moon reflect inside it, right at the centre. I dipped it at the reflection of the moon and drank the water in one go before wiping the goblet clean. Somehow the water tasted different, sweeter.
“I hope this ritual helps you find direction.” Ezra whispered to me with a smile.
I nodded, understanding her words and gave a small bow to her before exiting the inner circle and handing the goblet to Emma, before retaking my position.
*
*
Andre was waiting for me as we came out of the circle. I had Emma walking in the middle with Daphne and Emma on either side of me. Daphne immediately gave me a nudge with her elbow.
“Good evening, My Ladies.” Andre gave a small bow. “It was a wonderful ceremony. I feel extremely lucky to be able to witness it.”
“Oh, you sure know how to flatter!” Daphne laughed. “Soldiers are allowed to watch two of the Full Moon ceremonies in a year and one Blue Moon ceremony during the summer is celebrated with the entire Castle in view.”
“Then I guess I have much to look forward to this year.” Andre gave me a smile. “Especially since my eyes were glued to only one person.”
“Oooohh!” Daphne and Emma both cooed from beside me, making me blush. Goodness! With friends like these!
“But I was also wondering…” Andre looked thoughtful for a second and Daphne, being the nosy woman she is, instantly asked, “About what?”
“There will be a Blood Moon in two months time.” Andre told us. “Will there not be a ritual to celebrate that?”
“A Blood Moon?”
“Yes,” Andre looked confused. “It’s when the moon is blood red and bigger than usual. There are rituals to celebrate a Blood Moon.”
“A Blood Moon ritual?” I blinked at Andre, surprised to hear there even was a Blood Moon ritual. Why did Ezra never-
“We do not have Blood Moon Rituals.” Ezra’s voice came from behind me, startling all of us. “They were banned from Lindersay centuries ago.”
“My apologies, My Lady.” Andre bowed to Ezra. “I overstepped my boundaries.”
“Yes, you did.”Ezra said, much to my surprise. “Please learn about the rules of Lindersay before you speak of our rituals.”
“Of course,” Andre bowed again. “Please, accept my sincere apologies. I acted like an ignorant fool. If you’ll excuse me…”
“You may leave.”
Another curt reply had me looking at Ezra wide eyed. I was sure Emma and Daphne were doing the same as they stood impossibly still beside me. I didn’t realize when Andre left from beside me but when Ezra finally turned to face us, her eyes were stormy. This was the first time I’d ever seen her this mad at anything and it stunned me how this woman could ever be this angry.
“The same applies to all of you.” She told us sternly. “Never speak of the rituals that weren’t taught to you by me. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Shrine Maiden.”
We bowed as she left like a whirlwind, her skirt floating behind her like the clouds. When she was gone, Daphne, Emma and I looked at each other and I immediately shook my head.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Daphne raised her eyebrows at us, a smirk on her face.
“No! Absolutely not!”
The only thing we got from Daphne in return, was a knowing smirk. Shit!
