Morgana stood in the archway before the assembled elders. Colden was standing to the left as her chosen companion. Each of the woman gathered had one, generally it was their teacher or a family member. As Aunt Seph was dead, as was the rest of Morgana’s family, she was glad that Colden had offered to be there for her. A ripple had gone through those gathered when he had been introduced. Morgana had been worried that Dalan was going to have a heart attack on the spot.
Morgana took three steps forward into the room, raising both hands up she lowered her hood back letting it fall down her back. She sunk to her knees as two druids came forward and anointed her forehead with a burned twig of Rowan. A wreath of hawthorn flowers was placed upon her head and a woven thread of silver was placed on her left wrist. By this she was lead before the elders. They waited for her to begin. She was to introduce herself. Nothing had been said about how, that was up to each candidate. Morgana had been up all night working on hers, pouring over the old tales. She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to the elders.
“I come from the line of Amergin, he the Great Druid. I come from the line of Lorelei, she the Great Druidess. My Mother is Danu, my Father the Dagda. I come from the line of the Great Bear, he who was High King of All Kings. I come from the line of the Lady of the Lake, she who was High Priestess to all who bend knee to the Olde Ways. I am the daughter of Magic. I am daughter by blood. I stand before the Elders called by blood and by right to take my place in the line of my ancestors.”
Her words finished she knelt again hands crossed over her chest, fingers resting on her shoulders. There was a murmur from all those gathered. Morgana was the first for the trials; she had no idea if what she had done was acceptable or good. She could not look around to see the faces of those gathered to gauge the reaction all she could hear was the whispering noise.
“If you are the true daughter of Amergin the words of his challenge will reside in your soul. We would have you give them to us.”
Morgana remained as she, until she was given leave to move she could not. She took a moment to get the ancient gaelic words clear in her mind and then she began to speak, trying to keep her words clear and hide the shake in her voice.
Am gáeth tar na bhfarraige
Am tuile os chinn maighe
Am dord na daíthbhe
Am damh seacht mbeann
Am drúchtín rotuí ó ngréin
Am an fráich torc
Am seabhac a néad i n-aill
Am ard filidheachta
Am álaine bhláithibh
Am an t-eo fis
Cía an crann agus an theine ag tuitim faire
Cía an dhíamhairina cloch neamh shnaidhite
Am an ríáin gach uile choirceoige
Am an theine far gach uile chnoic
Am an scíath far gach uile chinn
Am an sleagh catha
Am nómá tonnag sírthintaghaív Am úagh gach uile dhóich dhíamaíní
Cía fios aige conara na gréine agus linn na éisce
Cía tionól na rinn aige, ceangladh na farraige,
cor i n-eagar na harda, na haibhne, na túatha
“You pass the first test.” The elder said as she finished. “I give to you the greatest treasures of the tuatha. What do you now possess?”
“Four great treasures were given to the people. The Dagda’s Cauldon from which no company can leave unsatisfied, the Spear of Lugh which keeps battle from he who wields it, Claiomh Solais the Sword of Light from which none can escape its victory and Lia Fail, the stone of destiny that sings for and restores the Kings of the people.”
“You pass the second test.” Morgana relaxed a bit this was going easier than she thought. Only one test of the first trial remained. “What is your true name?”
Morgana balked. What the heck kind of question was that for the third test. She had as far as she was aware never been told her true name. She knew the ritual involved but she had never done it. A pit formed in her stomach as she realised that in running away from her training with Aunt Seph she had just royally screwed herself. She remembered Colden’s words “Don't allow your doubt to over shadow absolute clarity” She took a deep breath letting her inner voice speak through her.
“My name is Morgana Brigit Lorelei Danann, Fireblood of the Tuatha.”
“Rise then Morgana Brigit Lorelei Danann, Fireblood of the Tuatha. You have passed the first trial. Go with our blessing and prepare for the second.” A hand appeared with a dagger and the silver thread was cut from her wrist and the hawthorn wreath removed from her head.
Morgana quickly rose and pulled up her hood as she was meant to. She turned and slowly left the room knowing Colden was following behind her. She kept her head down and her pace such until she reached her room. She opened the door stepping in letting the raw nerves that had gripped her leading to this moment wash away. She leant on the wall letting out a slow hissing breath.
“I passed.”
