Morrigan (31 page)

Morrigan stammered when she realized that her
cheeks were damp. She thought she might be able to use those tears
to her advantage. “I . . . I hate her!” Morrigan cried. “I had to
come see her, Mother! I had to face the women who killed my father,
who kept us apart all these years.”

Ceridwyn gave Arianrhod a sidelong glance.
“Is that so? And what did you have to say, Sister, in reply to such
allegations? What lies have you told my daughter to try to turn her
against me?”

“I told her nothing. She came here only to
disparage me, as I’m sure your own soldiers can attest to. I had
little time to speak in my defense before your somewhat dramatic
entrance. So tell me, Sister, what have you to fear?”

Ceridwyn leaned close, her voice dripped with
loathing. “I fear nothing. It is you who should cower in fear. This
may well be the last time the sun will set for you!”

Morrigan didn’t have time to ask her mother
what that meant, and before anyone could speak again, Ceridwyn
grabbed her roughly by the arm and dragged her through the dungeon.
Arianrhod locked gazes with her until they turned the corner and
were out of sight.

Ceridwyn continued to pull her through the
castle corridors. Her hand was wrapped so tightly around her
forearm, Morrigan was sure she would have bruises in the shape of
her mother’s handprints for days to come. They didn’t stop moving
until they were back in her bed chambers. Ceridwyn made sure to
give the sleeping guards a few swift kicks in the ribs as they
stepped over the threshold. They slept so deeply, even that didn’t
cause them to stir. She slammed the door shut behind them and threw
Morrigan on the bed, her eyes flashing with barely controlled
outrage.

“How dare you defy me, you disobedient little
wench! I should have you whipped for such impertinence.”

Morrigan cowered before her mother’s fury.
The room felt charged with electricity, and Morrigan was small and
powerless in comparison. Still, she knew she had to try to appease
that wrath if she was ever going to find a way to defeat her mother
and set Arianrhod free.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I just had to look her in
the eye—my own aunt who tried to destroy us and steal your crown.
If it wasn’t for Arianrhod, my father would be alive; you would
never have sent me away. Maybe we would all be a family.”

Ceridwyn seemed contemplative. “You say that
you hate this woman for killing the father you never knew.”

“Yes! I hate the witch responsible for
ruining my life.”

It wasn’t even a lie, because she wasn’t
talking about Arianrhod anymore. Her mother had killed her father
and tricked her into using her powers. The one woman who should
have loved her had done nothing but tear her life to shreds.

“Well then, if this is true, it will not
grieve you to learn that Arianrhod will be sacrificed as part of
our ritual tomorrow night.”

At first Morrigan blanched and then almost
gagged. She recovered quickly. She hid the horror and panic that
threatened to swallow her whole. This was her only chance to
convince her mother that she was on her side, and she was going to
take advantage of it. She even managed a small, conspirative
smile.

“I have only one request, Mother, if the
ritual must happen as you say.”

“And what is that?” Ceridwyn’s voice dripped
with sarcasm.

“I want to cut the bitch open myself.”

All hint of anger faded, and Ceridwyn looked
down at Morrigan with real pride in her eyes. “Perhaps I have
misjudged you, Morrigan. It seems you are my daughter at heart
after all.”

It was a long sleepless night for Morrigan.
Her mother’s murderous revelations had darkened her thoughts, and
her harsh and rash treatment of Filtiarn weighed heavily on her
mind. How she wished she had given herself time to think. If she
hadn’t let her temper get the better of her, Tiarn would still be
there. She would have had some backup from someone who was more
familiar with the castle layout and possibly even her mother’s
plans. She could only hope and pray Arianrhod would come up with a
plan, because she was clueless.

Morrigan paced around her room restlessly,
trying to think of a way out of her predicament. Her mother had
smartened up. She doubled her guards, plus added a pair of
sorcerers who would be able to combat any magical tactics. She
considered jumping from the balcony into the moat below, but even
if she survived the long fall, that would leave Arianrhod alone and
defenseless. She owed her aunt for the mistakes she had made. She
wasn’t going to leave her to the mercy of Ceridwyn and Hecate.

In her desperation, Morrigan even tried to
call on the faery, Willow, but neither she nor the Goddess she
served answered her plaintive cries. Frustrated, she plopped down
on her bed and heaved a loud sigh. As usual, Danu and Dagda were
the only ones to offer her any comfort. Even in their Guardian
forms, there was little the cats could do to protect her now that
they were being watched by sorcerers. She laid her head back
against the pillows, feeling the tears burning behind her eyes, but
unwilling to give her mother the satisfaction of making her break
down again. Ceridwyn had already taken away her father, her dreams
of a happy family, and maybe even her soul mate. Morrigan wasn’t
going to let her mother take her self-respect as well. The time for
weakness and self-indulgence had passed. Now it was time for
action.

Eventually, Morrigan saw the sun breaking
through the clouds on the horizon. She stood to peek out the
balcony doors. Even in the morning glow, the three moons clung to
their spot in the heavens. It was a beautiful yet foreboding image.
Morrigan wasn’t sure she would be alive when those moons returned
to light the night sky once more.

Even as she stood admiring the beauty of what
might be her final sunrise, her door was thrust open. This time,
there was no pretense of motherly love or affection. Ceridwyn
stormed through the door and threw a white gown onto the bed. She
was followed closely by Hecate and her faithful cur, as well as
three pretty handmaidens. The dog raised its lips at Danu and
Dagda, who stood by her feet with their backs arched.

“Good morning, Daughter,” Ceridwyn greeted
her coldly. “I trust you slept well.”

“Yes, Mother.” Morrigan avoided her eyes,
hoping to appear weak and dominated.

“That is good.” Ceridwyn nodded. “Then we can
begin preparations for the ritual. You must first be cleansed of
all your impurities before you enter the sacred circle. These
maidens will perform the ceremony.”

“Are you certain they are pure?” Hecate
demanded. Morrigan cringed at the sound of her raspy voice.

Ceridwyn nodded. “They are all virgins. I
tested them myself last night and they were held in confinement by
the elder crones until I retrieved them this morning.”

“Good,” Hecate approved. “The girl must be
touched only by maidens until the ritual begins or the cleansing
will be fruitless.”

“Yes, Mother.” Morrigan swore Ceridwyn rolled
her eyes. “I am well aware of the procedure.”

“That is well. We want no mishaps.”

“I have been preparing for this moment for
the better part of twenty years, Mother. I have left nothing to
chance.” Ceridwyn turned back to Morrigan. “There will be no food
or drinks consumed, with the exception of the purified water you
are given as part of the cleansing. Do you understand?”

Morrigan nodded.

“You are not to speak to the maidens during
the cleansing, nor will they utter a word to you. They will cleanse
you, dress you, and adorn you. But you must remain silent from the
time the purification begins until we come for you. Do you
understand these instructions?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Ceridwyn eyed her daughter warily. “If you
truly meant what you said last night, all will be well. You shall
have the revenge you crave. Afterward, you will live a life of
luxury, as is your birthright.” She took a few steps closer, and
Morrigan could feel the heat of Ceridwyn’s sour breath against her
face. “Betray me, and you shall die alongside my treacherous
sister.”

Morrigan couldn’t help but tremble. She knew
it was a very real threat. “Yes, Mother, I understand.”

“That is good,” Ceridwyn told her. “But I
still think it best I have a little insurance until the ritual is
successfully completed. I cannot have you doing something reckless
that might interfere with my plans.”

Ceridwyn signaled with a snap of her fingers,
and two soldiers stepped in to the room carrying with them a pair
of small iron cages. At once, Morrigan knew what her mother
intended, as did Danu and Dagda who began to snarl and hiss in
protest. That didn’t slow down the guards who nervously inched
their way closer.

“No!” Morrigan cried. “Oh please, no! Can’t
they just stay here? They won’t do anything. I swear.”

“If you follow directions, you will have
nothing to fear. Your familiars will be fine and you shall be
united before daybreak,” her mother assured her. “Now take the
Guardians and put them into the cages. I do not want to risk them
attacking the guards. They might splatter blood on your white
gown.”

Though Morrigan had promised herself she was
going to stay strong, she couldn’t help but let a few tears sneak
through. “Please, Mother, I’m begging you; I’ll do anything you
say. Just please don’t take them!”

“Silence!” Ceridwyn boomed. The perfumed oil
bottles that lined the vanity shook with the force of her voice.
“This is not up for debate. Do it at once! Or I shall kill them
now!”

Morrigan knew her mother wasn’t making idle
threats. She would kill them and probably enjoy every second of it.
She had no choice but to hand over her beloved pets. Before she
sent them away, she pulled them each close, nuzzling their heads
against her cheeks. They didn’t complain when their fur got damp
from her tears. They continued to purr and nudge her
affectionately, as if they were telling her it was all going to be
okay. She only wished she could believe it was true.

“I love you both,” she told them and gave
them each one final stroke. “I am so sorry about this. But I
promise we’ll be together soon.”

Ceridwyn watched with impatience as, one at a
time, Morrigan reluctantly slid the animals into the small cages.
They didn’t fight or squirm the way they used to when she was
bringing them to the vet in their pet carriers. In fact, they
didn’t seem to mind at all until the guards came to pick them up.
Then they growled, spat, and threw themselves against the iron
bars. Razor sharp claws snuck through the gaps, and one of the men
cursed as his hand welled with blood. They didn’t attempt to
transform. Maybe the cage was magic proof or maybe it was just too
confining. Either way, there was nothing they could do but watch
her with sad, beseeching eyes as they were carried away.

Morrigan wept silently as she watched them
disappear from sight. She wished she had left them back in the
safety of the woods. She knew she had probably signed their death
warrant, unless she somehow managed to stop Ceridwyn. Her mother
might keep them alive to make sure she cooperated through the
ritual, but afterward, their abilities would make them too much of
a threat. It was just one more reason she had to fight with all the
strength she could muster.

Ceridwyn smiled, but even the friendly
gesture seemed threatening now. “See, that wasn’t so terrible, was
it? Be a good girl, and you shall see them again soon.”

Morrigan dried her tears and held her head up
high. “Let’s do this.”

“So be it.” Ceridwyn signaled for the girls
to come closer. “Let the cleansing begin.”

With that, Ceridwyn turned on her regal heel,
and with her royal entourage following behind her, she left
Morrigan to begin her own preparations. The three girls were not
much older than Morrigan. They watched her with a strange
combination of fear and pity, but they didn’t speak and neither did
Morrigan. She would follow Ceridwyn’s rules until she found an
opportunity worth taking. She wasn’t going to jeopardize the lives
of her only friends for nothing.

Without a word, the maidens began making the
preparations for the cleansing. They gestured for her to remove her
clothes. She did so and felt a little self-conscious. When she got
down to her lacey undergarments, she slipped the little raven
statue into her hand, hoping the girls wouldn’t notice it. Before
long she was naked and blushing before them. It made her feel very
vulnerable to stand so exposed, even in front of other women.

If her nudity made them uncomfortable, they
didn’t show it. Perhaps they were used to these types of activities
or maybe they just wanted to get it over with as much as she did.
One of the girls produced a handful of freshly dried herbs. She
placed the tip of the bundle into the fireplace to light it and
then blew on it until the greenery started to smolder. She waved
the smoking herbs all around Morrigan, filling the room with a
thick mist of smoke. The sweet smell made her feel lightheaded at
first, but the more she breathed in the addicting fragrance, the
more she began to relax. It was as if the girl was brushing away
her fear, her exhaustion, and even her pain, with each swipe of the
smudge stick. The girl continued on until the entire bundle had
burned out. Morrigan felt almost disappointed when she realized
that part of the cleansing was over. It had actually been
invigorating.

Next Morrigan was led over to the large
claw-foot bath tub. While one of the maidens had been busy with the
smudge wand, the other two had filled the bath with steaming hot
water. They added a sprinkling of pure sea salts and an abundance
of different dried herbs, which turned the water the color of
simmering black tea. They also added a few drops of scented
essential oils from perfume bottles etched in gold and decorated
with elaborate beads and stones. She smelled hints of lavender,
chamomile, and rosemary, but the other scents were
indistinguishable. The watery brew gave her that same strange,
heady feeling, but this time she didn’t fight it. She just sat back
and enjoyed it. The cleansing was revitalizing and was giving her
the strength she needed after a long, sleepless night.