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Late in the evening, with the chores mostly done, Niamh ventured outside to crack the ice on the water butt once more and bring in a copperful for the night's use. As she leaned her arms into the freezing water, something powerful pulsed about her, and she looked up warily. She knew the feel of that power ... it was Lilli, not so far away, casting her spells and wards to protect herself and her kin.
This new pulse of power crackled for a moment along the old wards that had proved effective against the Sidhe in the summertime, before melding with them. And for one who was only beginning to learn her own power, Niamh was surprised to realise that her hours spent listening to the winds gave her insight into the spell as it was cast.
"Be ye' loved or no,
Be ye' hated or no,
This land and the life upon therein hold my power ..."
Something about that phrase rankled in her, something she could not quite put her finger on. There was a recklessness about it that did not seem in keeping with her sister witch's usual coolness towards her power. But then, with the near constant press of this new power against the wards Lilli kept up, perhaps she was growing more desperate than she would like to admit.
A creeping cold up the fabric of Niamh's sleeve made her look down, and she realised she had been standing up to her elbows in freezing water far longer than was usually necessary. She hauled out the copper and laid it on the ground, wrapping her arms about herself as she pondered.
Brishen did not like it when she did this, for a neophyte witch without much control is more a danger to herself than anything, but if this new power was concerning his sister as much as this, then perhaps it was a risk worth taking. And besides, it was only one step away from listening to the winds, to add her own voice to that of the fiery witch she called family.
She stood stock still, ignoring the shiver in her limbs as she concentrated on the sound of Lilli's incantation on the wind, and slowly began to wind her own words about those of her sister witch, feeling the cool rush of Air through her as her element took the spell.
"Be ye ours or theirs,
Be ye welcome or revile,
These lands and the lives upon therein share my power.
A child secures the veil,
Together, the breath,
Together, the life,
Together, the source.
Mine human children,
Mine capable vessels,
Mine presence divine brought earth bound and tangible upon the air.
Seek their harm and fall,
Seek their friendship and thrive,
Be ye kin, heart's own, or chosen of familiarity,
All are safe within Mine power,
For life is my right to kindle as it is to give ..."
With the final, deafening pulse of power through her body, Niamh swayed, staggered, and fell, collapsing back against the wooden wall of the out-building and slumping to the drifting snow beneath, breathless and drained. But she could hear, now, her own voice twinned with that of Lilliana, a double strand of warded magic to protect and guide.
She looked down at herself and groaned, pulling her body up and out of the snow. Shivering and wet, Niamh hauled the copper up into her arms and turned back to the little cottage, bracing herself for Brishen's concern over the state of her. As her hand touched the door, she looked back at the darkening treeline.
"Whoe'er y'are, whate'er ye be ... leave us alone ..."
Late in the evening, with the chores mostly done, Niamh ventured outside to crack the ice on the water butt once more and bring in a copperful for the night's use. As she leaned her arms into the freezing water, something powerful pulsed about her, and she looked up warily. She knew the feel of that power ... it was Lilli, not so far away, casting her spells and wards to protect herself and her kin.
This new pulse of power crackled for a moment along the old wards that had proved effective against the Sidhe in the summertime, before melding with them. And for one who was only beginning to learn her own power, Niamh was surprised to realise that her hours spent listening to the winds gave her insight into the spell as it was cast.
"Be ye' loved or no,
Be ye' hated or no,
This land and the life upon therein hold my power ..."
Something about that phrase rankled in her, something she could not quite put her finger on. There was a recklessness about it that did not seem in keeping with her sister witch's usual coolness towards her power. But then, with the near constant press of this new power against the wards Lilli kept up, perhaps she was growing more desperate than she would like to admit.
A creeping cold up the fabric of Niamh's sleeve made her look down, and she realised she had been standing up to her elbows in freezing water far longer than was usually necessary. She hauled out the copper and laid it on the ground, wrapping her arms about herself as she pondered.
Brishen did not like it when she did this, for a neophyte witch without much control is more a danger to herself than anything, but if this new power was concerning his sister as much as this, then perhaps it was a risk worth taking. And besides, it was only one step away from listening to the winds, to add her own voice to that of the fiery witch she called family.
She stood stock still, ignoring the shiver in her limbs as she concentrated on the sound of Lilli's incantation on the wind, and slowly began to wind her own words about those of her sister witch, feeling the cool rush of Air through her as her element took the spell.
"Be ye ours or theirs,
Be ye welcome or revile,
These lands and the lives upon therein share my power.
A child secures the veil,
Together, the breath,
Together, the life,
Together, the source.
Mine human children,
Mine capable vessels,
Mine presence divine brought earth bound and tangible upon the air.
Seek their harm and fall,
Seek their friendship and thrive,
Be ye kin, heart's own, or chosen of familiarity,
All are safe within Mine power,
For life is my right to kindle as it is to give ..."
With the final, deafening pulse of power through her body, Niamh swayed, staggered, and fell, collapsing back against the wooden wall of the out-building and slumping to the drifting snow beneath, breathless and drained. But she could hear, now, her own voice twinned with that of Lilliana, a double strand of warded magic to protect and guide.
She looked down at herself and groaned, pulling her body up and out of the snow. Shivering and wet, Niamh hauled the copper up into her arms and turned back to the little cottage, bracing herself for Brishen's concern over the state of her. As her hand touched the door, she looked back at the darkening treeline.
"Whoe'er y'are, whate'er ye be ... leave us alone ..."