For
the moment here in the pre dawn light it was quiet and safe. The Protectorate
was guarding them
all. Every once in a while there would be the small noise of one of
them walking post. She had never
been more grateful for their presence than she was at that moment.
Not
wanting to burden her Sister's she had said nothing of the happenings
in the Glade. The deaths
haunted her, and now Jewel of Tao was sick also. Healing the physical
ills of Jewel had been easy, too
easy and the scars from the heart stones still burned a little from
the healing work. Trying to warn
Jewel, she had told her the facts, Anything she was able to do would
not last, and they had urged the
girl to seek out Azeron and let him know what was happening. I hope
the girl follows through, she
thought.
Resting
her arms on the side of the bed Veil laid her head upon them thinking.
The light touch startled
her and the voice even more, "Deep thought's Veil?" Smiling
she turned her head to look as Bella
opened her eyes. "Nothing you need to worry about Mother."
She replied. "Bah!" Came the retort. Not
able to help herself, Veil started to giggle. Leaning over she kissed
Bella's cheek. Whispering, Do not
deny your path for me Mother, I would be happiest if you followed
your destiny. A weak smile crossed
Bella's features as she spoke again, "Thank you Mother Veil,
I would wish the same for you."
"I need to tell you something quickly before I tire again."
She continued.
"I will not choose a leader to follow me. Instead I want each
of you to decide on your own which
Mother you will follow. Tell them that each needs to come to the stone
and vote. Make sure they
know time is important. Send that message for me Veil?"
Nodding she promised to tell the others.
"Now be a good lass and get Mother Celes, We need to talk."
Leaving the side of the bed Veil moved to wake Celes. "Celes,
Bella wishes you." She said softly.
Celes eyes flew open as if she had never been asleep and she nodded
Leaving
the pair alone, Veil sat at the desk to write her message.
An urgent
message to all of the Sisterhood,
The mother Superior Belladonna would like all members to come to the
stone and swear fealty to the
new Mother you would like to see hold the stone. It is her wish that
the Guild decide who will take that
position.
May
the Maiden guard your travels here.
Reverend Mother Veil of SIM
Celes Xavier (7/26/01 5:25:07 pm) Re: A dawn conversation
Walking
up those stairs I had a sinking feeling that once again I would be
tested. I looked toward
Mother BellaDonna, she had a gleam in her eye and a grin on her face.
"A test!", she had proclaimed. Is
it just me or does everyone get tested this hard? Oh well, there was
only one time I could remember
that I had totally failed one of her tests and that was when I was
still a Novitiate. I learned fast from
that time on to always be ready for BellaDonna's pop quizzes. Pondering
the question for a little while
and trying to get the absolute best way to phrase my answer, I once
again answered correctly. I love
to listen to people talk...
"Um,
Bella if I may interrupt here? You know I love you and I will always
follow any decision you make,
I always have. So if you are wanting someone else to take control
of the stone, then I would
recommend Reverend Mother Veil. That would be my choice. There are
certain thing Veil can do that I
cannot. However there is one thing I ask of you. I know it may sound
a little silly but I would like to
perform the ceremonies. The induction ceremonies. The advancement
ceremonies. If I had to go
through those long speeches then so will everyone else.", *sheepishly
grinning with a raised eyebrow*.
Veil (7/27/01 12:31:17 pm) Re: A dawn conversation
Looking
up as Celes came back down Veil asked. "Did Mother wish to chat
with Zappania as well?"
Celes Xavier (7/27/01 4:50:47 pm) *nods to Veil's inquiry*
Its
your turn to talk with BellaDonna now Zappania. *giving her a warm
smile*
Zappania of SIM (7/27/01 5:39:46 pm) Re: *nods to Veil's inquiry*
*looks
up with mystical stare*
Indeed it is, M'lady. But I must tell you all something before I venture
on...
{Ooc
comment,, I moved Zappania's next post into it's place in the story
on the Visit page. Veil}
Zappania of SIM (7/31/01 6:15:08 pm) Any Way the Wind Blows: a
conversation between friends.
Zappania
followed the wall up the stairs as she turned a corner. Everything
was so
dimly lit in the stair well just as it was in BellaDonna’s corridor.
She did not know what to expect
and, admittedly, was quite nervous for some odd reason. She glided
slowly by the fuming
incense stenchers, dried flowers, and randomly placed gifts that BellaDonna’s
loved ones had
placed.
Her past memories came to the front of her thoughts as the situation
reminded her
of the time when her mother passed away. Her heart sunk into her stomach,
but she quickly
tried to change her mood. She knew that nothing good could come out
of this if she were pulled
to the negative side of her expectations.
The candles around the Mother Superior’s bed illuminated it like
a shrine. As Zappania
came closer to her, she could see that BellaDonna’s eyes slowly
cracked open a bit...just enough
to see the approaching figure. BellaDonna let out a deep, comforting
sigh that pushed tears of
joy and relief to Zappania’s cheeks. She scurried to her bedside,
knelt, and grasped BellaDonna’s
hand. For minutes she sat there with BellaDonna’s hand pushed
against her cheek.
“Mother....” she cleared her throat, “..old friend.
These days are sad for me. You are
my oldest friend in these here lands, and yet I have not made the
time to see you for the past
many moons. But even through my pain and self-disgust, I have never
had a moment when I did
not sense you near me.” Zappania gushed. BellaDonna struggled
to voice some words of
wisdom, but the strain was so difficult. “Shh. You need not speak.
Save what energy you have. I
can feel what you are thinking just the same. This unspoken bond we
have had ever since you
rescued me from a horrid life in Britain so many years ago, has shown
itself more times than not.
Mother, these are hard times,” she paused so she wouldn’t
cry all at once, “and you are needed
more than ever before this. Ironically, it is now, that you are down,
that we need you the most.
Seems to always happen that way....heh,” she soaked up a tear
with her sleeve, “listen to me
going on, heh.”
“Y---you . Know. What has to. Be. Done,” BellaDonna forced
the words out.
Zappania’s nervous smirk faded fast, “....Yes. You speak
of the triad, no?” BellaDonna struggled
a nod. “Aye, I know now. I also know of the other Mothers’
fates.....because of the vision.”
BellaDonna smiled, “It.......was time. Now.....your gift.........you
see..now,” she put
her hand up to Zappania’s face.
“It WAS you in my vision. You know exactly what happened,”
Zappania began to
exite.
“.....yes.....................She touched you”
“And, yet, I am more confused than ever...” She looked up
to see BellaDonna’s eyes
closing and her voice turned to a whisper, “but I have faith,”
she slowly began to back away from
her bedside to the exit, “and soon we will all decide which way
to face the future.”
Zappania glided slowly down the stairs with one thought protruding
in her mind: time
to pay a visit to the stone.
