Willow of Endless Waters the Journey Begins, Page 5

water. She gasped for breath and nearly fell off the stool. The scarves reminded her of the silver hair of the woman in the endless waters. What was happening, and how could all this be connected? Willow became lightheaded, and Audra caught her arm as she stumbled to the floor. "What's wrong, my daughter?" she asked. Willow could not speak; her head was spinning with the visions of the woman in the endless waters. Audra placed a rolled-up blanket under her head as she lay on the floor. One of the scarves gently blew across her face and rested upon her chest. Her arms brushed against the soft scarf. It was a cooling touch. What is this made of? She thought. Mother has never used this fabric in any of the garments she has made for the villagers or for herself.

  As she opened her eyes, her mother was sitting next to her, stroking her hair. Willow gazed into Audra's eyes, and calm settled in. Just the two of them were in the house. Audra pulled her gaze away for a moment as if needing time to formulate her thoughts, then turned back to Willow and began to speak to her in a soft and gentle voice, yet her lips did not move. "Willow, I know you have seen Ellura, the woman of the water, and I can no longer pretend I do not believe in the ancient stories of the people who live beneath the waters. There is so much to tell you, Daughter, but you must never tell anyone we speak together this way."

  Willow sat up and held onto her mother so tightly. "Oh, Mother, I thought perhaps it was only a dream." Then she told her all the events of her past visits to the shore. She reached under her clothing and revealed the pearled shell with the silver threads and told her mother the woman of the water had given it to her.

  Willow looked up her mother, who had tears in her eyes. "Somehow, Willow, I always knew you had the gift and that someday you would encounter Ellura. You must not let anyone see that shell."

  "Who is she?" asked Willow. Just as Audra was about to tell her more, Raven entered the room with the twins, covered in foul-smelling mud. The festival would be starting soon, and they had to get the twins cleaned up and finish the special dish waiting in the smokehouse.

  Willow spoke through her mind to her mother. "Mother, when will you tell me more?"

  "Not now my daughter."

  Willow knew to speak no more of it right then.

  8

  Nyle and Seth did not go fishing this day. Nyle knew his wife would worry, and she needed him to be close by. She needed his support for this special day. Seth went to the smokehouse and brought out the large fish that had been smoking for days with its crust of sea salt and herbs. The berries they had picked earlier that week had been marinating in the wine from last year's batch. Now it was time to put it all together on a large platter that had been handed down from Nyle's mother on the day Audra and Nyle had been promised to one another. They had grown up together, and it was a given in the village that when it was Audra's coming-of-age, she would sit with Nyle's family at the festival. And so she did.

  Willow climbed onto the stool to bring down the large willow baskets that hung from the beams in the kitchen. She filled them with fresh breads that had just finished baking. Soon the meal would to be delivered to the tables that had been set up in the festival area. One could feel the excitement in the air all through the village. Children were dressed in their finest garments and had been given strict warning by their parents to remain unsoiled. The young girls' mothers brushed and braided their daughters' hair with multicolored ribbons and combs their grandmothers had made for them. The entire family was involved in preparation for this festival.

  Though Audra had awaited this day ever since the birth of her first daughter, uneasiness fell over her like a veil. She tried to dismiss her fears by staying busy with last-minute details on her dishes. Nyle carried the platter of crusted fish, smothered with the berries soaked in wine, and Seth carried the large woven baskets full of breads to place in the center of the festival table. Their family was responsible for the center dish because Nyle was the most successful fisherman in the village and often netted the largest catches. It was an honor to be chosen to prepare the center dish.

  Other families started trickling in with their dishes, and soon the tables were filled with the best dishes the village had to offer. Nothing was spared for this event. Children picked fresh flowers from their family gardens and wildflowers that grew near the marshes, and arranged them on the table. The table was filled with colors and with aromas that lingered in the air. One only needed to pass the table to be pulled in by its wonderful assortment of smells to stimulate one's appetite. Those nearing the table commented about this dish and that dish. Speculation ensued about which family made which dish and how it may compare to their own dish. All were eager to fill their plates and start savoring each morsel. This happened only once a year, and when the moon was at its fullest.

  Soon the village was filled with laughter and song. The musicians danced as they played their instrument throughout the crowds. The children were playing, and the young girls gathered together to share their feelings about the evening event yet to come. Parents mingled but did not discuss their daughters and sons' prospects, but that's what was on everyone's minds. The conversation circled around the food, children, and general village gossip. As the evening began to settle in and the moon began to rise over the forest, families started the cleanup and returned to their homes to prepare for the bigger event about to take place on the knoll.

  When Willow's family returned home, the smaller children were put to bed, and Raven was given instructions, as she would be in charge of the care of the twins while Willow, Seth, and their parents attended the evening event. Seth was allowed to go because he too would soon be on the knoll, awaiting one of the young girls. He was still too young, but Nyle wanted him to be prepared and to experience this momentous event.

  Seth and his father strolled up to the knoll in advance of Willow and Audra, who would make their entrance with the other young girls. Willow's mother brought in the dress for Willow, who put it on. Audra made some last-minute adjustments, and then finished her hair with pearls from the endless waters.

  Moments before they were to join the rest of the girls, Willow slipped back to her sleeping loft and reached under her pillow to retrieve the shell with the silver threads and put in on, concealing it under her dress. She returned to her mother, who looked into her eyes and spoke without words: "You may wear the shell, but do not reveal it."

  Willow replied without words: "Thank you, Mother."

  Willow and Audra joined the young girls and their mothers and began their walk. The music became softer as the moon rose over the knoll. As they entered the knoll, their mothers joined their families, and the young girls stood at the edge of the knoll, against the massive boulders that protected them against the endless waters below. Willow stood behind the group, closer to the edge. She had not made her decision and wanted to be anywhere else but there. She was afraid to think about it too much, for fear her mother would hear her thoughts and worry.

  The eldest girl began her circle around the knoll, stopping at each young boy and thanking him for being a part of the village and expressing how he would be a fine catch for any of the young girls. Then, as everyone suspected, she took her place in front of the family of the young boy she had chosen. Their families had been very close, and she and the boy had grown up knowing they would someday have a family of their own.

  One by one, the girls made their way around the circle, each choosing their future husband. It was time for Willow to enter the circle. She stood alone against the boulders as the moon hovered over her, revealing the silver strands in her dress and swirling her golden hair in the night air. She stood for a moment and then took a step forward. In an instant, an ominous cloud crossed in front of the full moon. The wind began to howl and became stronger and stronger as it whipped over the edge of the knoll. Its salted winds cut into the villagers' faces. Then, suddenly, the waves crashed against the edge of the knoll, shaking the boulders.

  Willow stood there beside the boulders as if frozen in place. As the others began scrambling
about, trying to find shelter, the waves became more intense, grabbing at the edge of the knoll, pulling it back into the water. Villagers frantically gathered their families and ran toward their homes. No one seemed to notice that Willow was still standing in the midst of the crashing waves—no one except her mother. Audra started running toward her daughter, extending her arms in panic. She seemed to sense something no one else did.

  Fear rushed over Willow as the waves crashed over the boulders. Everyone had scattered for cover and assumed Willow and her mother had done the same. As Audra raced toward the boulders where Willow stood, out of the crashing waves came the vision of the woman with the long, silver hair, glistening and swirling as the waves leaped over the boulders. She knew it was the woman from the endless water, Ellura. Her mother and her mother's mother had told her stories about her, but she had never seen her herself.

  Audra cried out for Willow and reached out for her. The waves rushed over Willow before Audra could grab her. The arms of Ellura encircled Willow, and the endless waters swept them away. As quickly as the wind and water had come, it was gone, and everything was still again. Willow's mother fell to her