Sue Vincent’s #Writephoto : Shrine

This  is  my  entry  to Sue Vincent’s Thursday  Photo Prompt. #writephoto.

Rules  and  Pingback  Here. 

The  Shrine 

Rachel  and  Mathew  stood  in  the  moonlight. Mathew  looking  serious  said  to Rachel  “I  do  not  want  to  leave  you  but the  Witch and  Caladore  are  here to protect  you.” Rachel  bristled at  his  words  “I need  no one  to  protect  me  thank  you ” She  almost  growled  her  eyes  flashing  yellow  with  anger. Mathew’s  face  softened  and  he actually  laughed … “No”  he said   ” I can  see  that my  love . Can I  ask  at least  that  you  all look after each other?” Rachel’s  face  soften as  she  asked “And  who is  going  to  look after  you  amid  those  Vampire’s?  Surely  Roman  will sense  your presence immediately.” Moving  closer  to  her  Mathew  took  Rachel into  his  arms  and  said  “I shall be  one  of  hundreds, I will keep a  low  profile  and  stay  with  the young ones . Roman is  a vain  creature who  takes  little  note  of  those  he  considers   beneath his  notice.” Rachel  was  not  truly  reassured  but  because  she  knew  nothing  she  could  say  would  change  his  mind   she  smiled . They  kissed  and  said  their  farewells and  then  Mathew  was  gone, off into  the  bitter  winter  beyond  the  castle  walls.

For a  few  moments  she  watched  him  go  then  she  morphed  in to her  Werewolf self. Slowly  she  turned  and  padded out  of  the  castle  garden and  into  the  cold. The  moon was full and  every bone and  and muscle  in her  body  was  tingling in  the  silver moon magic. Feeling  her  blood  lust  rise  and  for  once  deciding  not  to  deny  it  she  headed off into  the  night  at  speed  she had  not used in ages. Oh! it  felt  good  to be  out  on  the hunt  on her own, the  wind in her face  and  cold heightening  her senses.

Lisa looked  across  the  table  and  asked Caladore  where  had Rachel  gone. “Look at  the  moon ” Caladore  smiled “Ah! replied  Lisa  she is  off on  a hunt. She has  not  been out on  one  since  she  left  to  find  Mathew.”  Caladore  replied “Well then she is overdue answering  the  call of her  nature. ” then with a  wry grin he added “More  supper  for us!”

Finding  themselves  alone  with Hope  in  the  castle  for  the  first  time  they  settle  the  baby  and  then spent  the  evening  and  the  night  happy in  each others  arms.  At the  first  rays  of another  enchanted  summer  morn  they  wrapped  Hope up  and  went  again  to  the  edge  of  the  castle garden  boundary to  where  the  the old  shrine  stood.  Lisa  asked  Caladore  had  he  ever  seen  this  shrine  before . He  nodded , “we have one  outside  our  Great  Hall which is  exactly  the  same. ”  Lisa was mystified ” Why  do  you have  one  there ” she  asked . “can  you  explain  what  these  carvings  mean, and  who is  that  man there ” Asked Lisa  pointing  to  the  head  of a  man  above  three  swans.

“Slow down” said  Caladore  “One question at a time , lets  sit down and I shall explain as  best I can”  Lisa sat next  to Caladore wide eyed. Taking  a  deep breath  Caladore  started  to  explain.  ” Many years  ago  before  even our our  present  history  was  set down in  stone  and  then paper  our  two races  were one.” Lisa Looked  shocked , she went  to speak  but Caladore  continued. “All was  as it  should  be  until  Elsenor the Great  fell in love  with  three sisters. He was truly  bewitched  by all three of  them and  could not  choose  who  to  marry and  have  as  his  Queen. These  three  Elf Witches  also  were deeply  in love  with  him. ” Caladore  stop  talking  while  he  accepted  a  drink  from Lisa. Taking  a  deep draught  he continued. ” The situation was  desperate, seemingly  there was no answer. Then Elsenor’s brother Brownin , who was  jealous of  his  brother’s  standing  and  rank decided  to  cause  mischief. Brownin  went to  the mother of  the three Elf Witches  and  asked  her if  she  could  solve  his  brothers  problem  for him . Unfortunately  for  all involved  this  Witch  was herself in  love  with Elsenor and  madly  jealous  of  her  daughters. ” Again  Caladore   stopped  to  take a  draught  of his  drink  then he carried on.  ” This  evil Witch  cast a spell  that turned  all three of  her daughters into  swans who  could  only  live if  they stayed on the lake  outside  Elsenor’s  great hall. Brownin  then, at  the  witches  suggestion  tempted  each  swan  from the lake so  that  they  died. Elsenor  died of  a broken heart at  the loss of the beloved  sisters. Brownin  became  the  Head  of  the  Great  hall of  Elves . He told  the  elders  that  the  Witch  has  turned  her  daughters  into  swans  and  they  bewitched him  into  luring  them to  their  deaths… thus causing  Elsenor  to die of  a broken heart!

The  elders  cast out  the  Witch and  also  every Witch Elf  from  the  race  leaving  only  the pure  Elf  females able  to stay thus  dividing  the Witches from  the  Elves  forever. ” Pausing again  Caladore  could  see questions  building  up in Lisa’s  mind.  “But ” said  Lisa “Elves  and  Witches  get  along  now ..don’t we .” “Yes indeed  we do”  smiled  Caladore.  “We have  learned  that  that  there  is  good and  bad in  every  race  now”

But  asked Lisa “You  have not  explained  about  the  shrine  yet? ” Caladore  smiled “I will now  if  you are  ready. ” The  Witch  was  so furious  at  Brownin’s  betrayal  that  she  turned him into  a huge  stone , she  then had  a  stone  mason  carve  the  face  of  her  beloved Elsenor  onto  the  front  of  the  shrine  and  beneath  him  three  swans, her  daughters. Finally  she had  the  mason  carve out  the place  where  Brownin’s face  would of  been and  there  she had  a  candle placed . ”

Lisa  walked  across  to  the  shrine and  ran her  fingers over  the  carvings….” there  are  no  bad  vibes  coming  from  this  shrine” she  said. “No ” answered  Caladore “This  one is  a  copy, the  original  shrine is  the  one  outside  our great  hall. There it  stands  and if  you  touch it  you can  still feel Brownin’s  trapped spirit’s  agony, you can  sometimes at  night hear his  screams! ”

You can read  more  the of whole story  story  so far here 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can  read  the whole  story  so far  here