Thursday photo prompt: Shimmer #writephoto

For visually challenged writers, the image shows the dark silhouette of an island in a shimmering lake, surrounded by shadowy hills. The sun is breaking out from behind the clouds in rayed splendour

Rachel stands on the shore of the lake looking across to The Island and Ewan’s castle. It dark and cold, so cold, she shivers. She is lost, her lover gone, her baby gone, her enemies almost upon her, she shivers. Then suddenly the first silver rays of dawn reach through the clouds and shimmer on the lake.

Shimmer
Silver hope spreads out like fingers
Rippling the waters of life.
The fear of the dark still lingers
Clouding our minds and causing strife
The future is outlined dark , black
For now we have the moment
The past full of all we lack.
The War is upon us in earnest 
What will the dawn bring?

This is part of Sue Vincent's #writephoto

*********

To be continued.

If you wish to read Lisa’s and Rachel’s story up to this point you can find it here.

Thursday photo prompt: Light #writephoto

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a woodland scene with a dusting of snow and the sun, rising as a rayed orb through the boughs of a tree.

The Light.

Many miles away from where Thraun had taken Rachel, Lisa and Alicia where traveling through the wilds. Gathering as many men, dwarves and elves as they could find to join with them in the fight against the vampires.

Lisa turned to Alicia and they spoke as one, ” Thraun has delivered Rachel, she is with her kind. ” “Yes” said Alicia, ” I hope she has more good luck than we are having.” The two witches had travelled miles and seen hardly anyone on their journey who was either fit or willing enough to join them. So far they had only found fifty men, ten of which were women and children, a score of draves but no elves. Their hope was that the elves were all together and marching to meet then as promised.

The harsh winter was taking its toll on everyone and everything. It was all the harsher for being an unholy winter not a natural one. Lisa shielded her eyes against the winter sun, shed turned to Alicia and asked, ” The news Corvus brought us about the death of Mathew, is it definitely true? ” Alicia reined her steed in and looking Lisa in the eyes replied quietly. “Yes quiet true and sadly Rachel knows the time and manor of his passing. Though as it came to her in a dream she may choose to ignore it for now.”

Lisa felt such pain for her friend Rachel who had lost so much, her lover and her child.

The witches carried on in silence. Cold and tired but not defeated. Back at the Castle Ewan was making progress, gaining strength, regaining his memory of the terrible battle. Luckily his mind was processing the information this time. He was regaining his strength ready for the next battles.

Which each dawn he greeted the stragglers that arrived through the castle gates, either by chance or by the witches guidance. All who arrived at the gates were fed and found lodgings and trained by those soldiers true and valiant who had survived that evil battle.

Rachel stood on a hill miles away looking towards the weak winter sun, as did Ewan from his castle Ramparts. They were imploring the fates for a miracle.

The two witches approached a copse where they could see men, many men. The two stoppeda looked toward the trees where the sun was shining through. Like a beacon. Afraid to admit to eachother what they saw masses of men, drawves and by far the most welcome sight, beautiful tall blonde haired blue eyed elves.

The sun glowed like an orb through the trees like hope spreading it’s light. At once the witches, Rachel Ewan and Calador the elf all communed with the light. Their souls flew up the light and travelled far above the world. There they met and felt the warmth of millions of souls past, present and future. They were all gathered up in the warmth and before they left the holy place they felt and received new strength and hope.

One by one they returned to their bodies, Rachel last as she had found the beautiful and newly whole soul of Mathew there.

Once they were all back in their reality they were happy in the knowledge of being one. And so every group now marched toward the Castle and the stronger Ewan. The four remaining races united and ready to face the Vampires. All full of hope.

*********

To be continued.

If you wish to read Lisa’s and Rachel’s story up to this point you can find it here.

This is part of Sue Vincent’s #writephoto

An Autumn Cinqku.

This month Kat Myrman is writing a Cinqku a day. I read her first two on loved them so I am going to try one now.

“A cinqku must always have 5 lines and a perfect seventeen-syllable count. The lines typically follow a 2,3,4,6,2 format. There is no title requirement on the second line. As for syntax and diction styles, it follows the free Tanka style originally. There are no metric requirements for a cinqku poem. Additionally, the final line must contain a cinquain or kireji turn for emphasis.

Leaves fall

Days grow short

Food is gathered

The nights grow longer

Ready for renewal

Harvest.

A poem of two sides.

Today it’s a poem of two sides. All I did was change two words for one in the top line and three words in the bottom line. What a difference that made.

A poem of two sides.

I put on my crown of thorn

And vow no more to mourn

The passing of my days

Lost in depression’s maze

New resolutions I will make

To smile and cope

Pretending it’s not fake

Farewell to joy farewell to hope.

***********

Remove my crown of thorn

And vow no more to mourn

The passing of my days

Lost in depression’s maze

New resolutions I will make

To smile and cope

Pretending it’s not fake

Farewell sadness welcome hope.

Thursday photo prompt: Clouds #writephoto

This is my entry for Sue Vincent‘s Thursday photo Challenge. #writephoto.

Clouds

There

Is light

Believe me

There must be light

Even the darkest

Dawn gives way to light

I don’t believe it now

Yet if I can only keep faith

All will be well, yes all will be well.

Glimpses of bright truth burst through the grey clouds.

Today a child is born.

Irena got there first a huge smile on her face,

Happy to be doing her real job, even if it was in a strange place.

She could not believe the sight that met her eyes,

There was a cat and a dog and the lady from up the way and doves covered the skies.

Well she thought we can’t move her now she will have to give birth here in the gazebo!

It felt so good to be wearing her blues again, Jo was flapping quietly rubbing Mares’ back pretending he was in control…. but that was all in vain!

Anya arrived she almost hurdling the bushes, how are things going she asked Irena, who smiled replied you have made it for the pushes.

So between the three of them a little babe was born. It was strange it took all night but some how it did not not seem long

Annya cool and calm

Mares seemed so calm , in fact she was serene,

Anya was amazed and told Irena for a “first time mum” she was the calmest she’d ever seen.

There seemed to be so many people there,angels people later said,

With golden flowing hair and bright rings around their heads.

The pets from up the road and the lady too,

Shepherds arrived with their sheep they all wanted to be there too.

It all seemed so surreal Oh! was it a dream.

Here in the gazebo with doves and sheep and things!!

The star above the hotel began to burn so bright it turned the scented garden and gazebo into a haven of light.

And so the babe is born.

The first day of the new dawn.

This child has come to lead the way to take us to a better day.

The shepherds brought their sheep

As gifts to the young king and his parents in love to keep.

Josh has bought his friendship band he placed it in the baby’s hand.

The children offered up the paper chain they had made with Mares and she in turn has kissed them all and blown away their cares.

On their way towards the hotel Delph in a limousine our three wise men are approaching fast they want to warn Jo again and fast.

But for now all is light and all is love as the star shines down from heaven above, born for us this day our saviour to wash our sins away.

Image from Pixabay

This is another excerpt from a version of the the Nativity story, that I wrote all through December 2011. It started here Mary and Jo Part 1

Mary and Jo Day 11

Anya was busy she had three rooms left to do

Then another hallway after that she would be through.

Suddenly her vacuum died and went quiet,

Turning round she found the housekeep looking concerned and white!

“According to your records you were a doctor in your country, is that true.”

“Yes “said Anya , thinking that was another life, “just what is that to you.”

“It is that young couple staying in David’s room they have no money and she is not well. Could you check her out I will get Hannah to finish off your rooms.”

Without another word the two women made for David’s snug

Anya pleased to be able to use her given expertise, felt like giving the Jean a hug!

When they arrived Mares looked stressed with pain, fear in her eyes.

When she was told of Anya’s skills she was so relieved she cried.

Irena was there too and she smiled at Anya you need to reassure our patient that we know just what ticks

And what she has here, now, is a case of Braxton Hicks.

Anya checked Mares out and with Irena she agreed

That for Mares to rest and relax really was of the greatest need.

Jean the housekeeper smiled and said that would be fine

David was sharing with the concierge and the manager had seen the couples good effect on his business so he certainly would not mind.

Irena gently told Mares that before she had travelled here and become a maid she had been a midwife and Anya was a doctor and so a birthplan between the three of them made.

Jo was so relieved he went for a walk

And as he was hoping Gabe turned up for a talk.

Gabe told him to fear not that all would go well and after the babe was born as soon as Anya told them all was well they should pack up and go.

Happily humming Anya almost skipped along to her room

From the back of her cupboard she dug out her Drs bag and her books from where they had laid hidden in the gloom.

At last she thought, I can again do just what I love,

Even if it was just for a short time it was like a gift from up above.

Irena too was happy she and Anya were good friends they had travelled to this hotel together and now together they could practice medicine again!

Magi.com had landed and were Hilton bound in their hired limousine they needed food , drink and rest but after that to find the babe they were very keen.

After research on the plane they were even more determined not to contact herod.com again.

This is another excerpt from a version of the the Nativity story, that I wrote all through December 2011. It started here Mary and Jo Part 1

A Sea of Souls.

This is a mystical moment from this past weekend spent in Cumbria with The Silent Eye. The weekend was entitled The Full Circle : Finding your way home.

It was late morning on the second day of the course and we visited a ring of stones and trees. Physically there were eight of us present, (one of our number was unwell) After a few moments instead of the space of this large place holding only eight people I was aware that I was caught up in a crowd of thousands of souls. I have a fear of crowds and I was afraid. One tree called to me and drew me to it.

I did confide this to one of my companions and she assured me, as the tree had done, that I was safe. There is more to tell.

A Sea of Souls

Gently you called to me

Through the crowds of souls

You led me safely through a boiling sea.

I was trembling, frightened of drowning whole.

I had the word upon my lips

Whispering to you, I know you heard.

I was alive from toes to finger tips.

As you held me safe and shared with me my word.

I am Here

Here we are at the busiest time of the year and I seem to be stuck here in limbo. No time, no space and honestly no words. I am doing my best to keep up with your posts please be patient with me, I will get there Honestly.

Talking of getting there I am in Preston this morning on my way up to Penrith to meet up with The Silent Eye for their December workshop, Full Circle: Finding the way home.

We meet today at 2pm at Penrith Castle. I am very excited and looking forward with an open mind.

Memories.

This morning, like last night I find myself in a reflective mood. After a fitful night full of unsettling dreams I sit here in the early dark disturbed by what my dreams have touched on. In an attempt to clear my mind of these niggles I have written a Naani.

Image from Pixabay

Memories.

Memories fill my head

Faces living, faces dead

Some happy some sad

Life is full of good and bad.