Raelin always enjoyed going out to gather her own herbs. There were many thungs that grew wild around Rhydin. With the winter gone, spring come and in full bloom.She had only a little while before summer set in and the nice herbs went away replaced with weeds. Not that weeds didnt serve their prupose now and again.
Since the day Zaos had died,she had avoided this place.The woods had always welcomed her. And she had always loved the outdoors.Long before she had come to Rhydin she had loved them. But these woods held more fear and doubt than anything else. Bad memories, she didnt wish to relive. But she couldnt run from the past forever.
There was nothing left of the manor that once stood there, nature had over run it.Moss crept over what once was the first floor foundation, ivy twined along beams that once held the marvous structure up. There was nothing there,just light. No old ghosts,no pain.
Pressing her hand along a tree trunk she could hear the woods whisper to her. The trees knew of her pain,though it had ended now. Zaos was alive and they were married. But that did not erase what had happened there.
How so many lives had ended.In one night. The scent of blood was gone,the feeling of magic was ever present in Rhydin,but she felt no danger here now. She let her self recall the pain,the loss ,the fear. Then she took a breath and released it.
There was no evil here. She walked on letting her mind let go of all that had happened there in the woods. Acacia would be proud of her. For too long now even after he returned to her, she did not come ehre to this place that had been his end. To these rows of trees that once held cross bows and now held only ivy and moss. The light flitered in naturally,butterfkies flittered about,deer rompped through the grass.
Raelin had no answers for how he had come back to her. He had though, retuned.Not as Zaos though, as Zach. His face was the same, his hair was now more brown than red, his eyes icy blue rtaher than deep pools of sapphire. And now he had the ability to shift in to a white wolf. It had been soon after that , that the coven had welcomed her in to its fold.
Perhaps it was fated to be. They were meant to be together.
Jeardra was dead. Skylar was alive and in love. And Zaos was alive,his body and spirit. She looked down tot he lovely ring upon her hand. She knew he was at the shope,w aiting for her with Sky and Sage. With her basket of herbs mostly filled she headed out of the woods and back for home.
When she got tot he shope customers were leaving and Sage was behind the counter. "Where is my brother and my husband?" Sage smiled, "Your brother and Zach went to the store down the block."
Raelin sat the basket of herbs down. "Which store?" There were many in the market place. Sage was blushing, "Zach said it is only proper that a man wear the right thing to an occasion."She handed Raelina slip of paper. "Acacia dropped this off."
On the paper, was in invite to a celebration at Acacias house. It was to be a festival,food,drink, and Raelin saw a masked ball. Beltane had come and gone, and they ahd done a little celebration for that. But she knew Acacia had soemthing up her sleeve. Then at the bottom she saw that there was to be a wedding at the festival. "Whos getting married?" Many of the witches in the coven had men they loved, most were already attached to them,being witch and consort,husband and wife, shifter and his beloved. Raelin notcied Sages cheeks burned red.
"Oh my goddess." Raelin cried and hugged Sage. "My brother asked you to marry him?" Sage nodded. "Yes, over two weeks ago." Raelin shook her head, " and this is how I find out..you two hidding this from me.Did Zach know?" Sage shook her head, "No. Skylar told no one.. he wanted to surpise you. "Raelin smirked and hugged Sage all the tighter. "This is wonderful. "
"So your not mad?" That voice was male and Skylars form the door way. Raelin shook her head at her brother. "You scamp.. you should have told me.." She rushed her brother and hugged him. "But how could I be mad, a festival and a wedding. My brothers wedding to boot. "
