She could be described in many ways. Some would describe her as matured and wise, innocent yet devious, kind and giving. No matter how she would be described, her stunning looks couldn’t be denied. Long curling light auburn locks, bright green eyes, skin as pure as snow, ample chest, slim waist, curvaceous hips. She was the perfect model of what all in nature is supposed to be, perfect beauty. Yet if u asked her, she would say she was nothing special, just ordinary, and nothing exceptional. Even her modesty was part of her attractiveness.
She lived in a simple cottage, nothing out of the ordinary, except for where it was located. She had strategically placed it in the center of a wooded area. There was a river that ran through the extensive back yard of the house, just a short walk, where she drew her water. No fences, no gates. Nature provided all she needed; it just took a little more work to get it. Though she felt hard work kept her strong and healthy. And in fact, she was very healthy even though she was still young at twenty-four.
There was a song on her lips, as she would gather her day’s supplies. If she would turn around, she would notice the sweet woodland creatures trailing behind her as if they were tame pets. Sometimes she would put a little skip to her step, just to have them misstep, then giggle at them. When she had gathered the water, food and firewood for the day, she would return home to prepare a light lunch.
Normally lunch consisted of a nice salad, which she would share with the rabbits and squirrels. The animals adored her and would help gather berries and nuts for her and leave them in a basket she kept on the porch. Nearly every morning when she would go outside, it would be almost all that she needed for that day. As for meat, the wolves and pumas would share with her, bringing a share for her. She so loved to reward them for their help. She did build a very strong bond with all the creatures.
After lunch, she would walk down to the river. As her toes would touch the water, she would already begin to feel revived. She would walk into the center, and lie down, letting the currents twirl her. The strong currents swirling around her, she would feel alive, reborn, at one with nature, at peace. With arms raised above her head, the fish would rub against her body, the snakes curling around her, their scales cleansing her. She loved bathing in the river. She always felt so fresh and in a way, holy, sacred.
When finished bathing, usually a couple of hours, she would lie on the warm rocks of the bank and absorb the sun’s precious rays. Feeling her skin being warmed, the soft, gentle breeze cooling her soft, supple flesh. She would be smiling, listening the birds singing and dancing in the sky, just for her. The butterflies would come, landing on her, tickling her with their tiny feet and their fluttering wings. All around her the animals were bathing themselves as well and basking in the sun. Most times she would fall asleep. Awaking to find the forest creatures awaking with her. It was if they were all joined, all one.
She would sit up after she awoke, stretching, smiling, and so blissful. On her walk back to her log cottage, she would play with all the creatures. She loved them very much and loved to be with them always. She had no need for clothing or shoes and the feel of the forest floor under her feet seemed to energize her. She could not imagine having to wear confining clothes, constricting her. In fact, she only owned two simple dresses and one pair of shoes for going into the village.
She was so happy with her life, seldom knowing a “bad” day. The only time she would be saddened would be when one of her beloved would become injured. Should that happen, she would take care of them and heal them as if they were one of her own children. They would never harm even each other. They would go outside her forested territory, should they need to hunt.
Walking inside her cottage she would feel proud with how well she was able to make everything in it. How she seldom had to go to the neighboring village to buy anything. If something from town were needed, the townsfolk would normally trade some of her wares for whatever she needed. Otherwise she would trade using some of her knowledge of crafting nearly anything out of that, which was already on-hand. She had no need or want for money whatsoever.
One day when coming back from getting some wax for candles, she was singing a tune and thought she heard something. She stopped singing and turned an ear to listen. It was weak, barely audible moaning. She asked her favorite puma, who she called Queen, to go see what was hurt. Queen came back a short time later and motioned for her to come quickly.
She ran quickly behind Queen, running through the forest, branches scraping her body, leaving little cuts. When she arrived to where Queen had led her, she saw a young man lying on a bed of pine needles, moaning, barely able to move. Quickly she bent down to touch his face. He was fevered and sweating. She asked Queen, by thought as always, to run home and bring her the blanket off her bed. She sat and scooped the man into her lap and arms, using her dress to wipe the sweat from his face and asked him “What is your name?” No response, only a soft moan. She thought “poor little thing” and began singing to him, comforting him.
Queen returned with the blanket and helped the woman lay it out and place him on top of it. She called for the wolves. She asked two of the strongest young males to help her pull the young man back to the cottage. They came over and grabbed a corner of the blanket in their strong jaws, she grabbed the center of the top of the blanket and they dragged it, as smoothly as possible, home. They helped her get him on the bed then sat in the doorway watching her get water and wipe his face and remove his clothes, covering him with a very light blanket.
He looked as if he couldn’t have been over twenty-two or twenty-three years of age. His skin was pale in color. He wasn’t from around here. She wondered if he even spoke her language. He had dark green eyes, reddish blonde hair, perfectly shaped and blushed lips. His jaw was perfectly chiseled and his body frame, though slight, was muscular. She bathed him with a cloth and bowl of water then left him to sleep while she went to gather some herbs.
The young man was just coming into consciousness as she returned home. She put some water over the fire to boil for tea and went to his side. She said “Hello. How are you feeling?” He looked up at her and reached for her hand, which she moved closer to his. He mumbled with great effort. But, she couldn’t understand him and said, “Shh, rest now, I’m making you some tea, save your strength.” He looked as if he couldn’t understand her either and tried to sit up. She laid her hand on his chest, motioning for him to lie still. He lay back down and she got up to put the herbs in a copper cup and poured the water over them, letting them steep and cool for a few minutes.
She took the tea and helped him to sit up, placed it to his lips and helped him to sip it. He choked at first at the taste then took bigger sips. She was humming to him keeping him calm as he finished it. He lay back down and gave her a smile and a blink in thanks. He tried to speak again but she still couldn’t understand him. She thought to herself, “This isn’t going to work.” She wondered if he could read her thoughts and said to him through thought, “ Just stay calm and sleep. Do not worry about anything, I’ll take care of you.” “My name is Flidais. Can you understand and hear me?” She did hear his reply. “Yes I can hear and understand you. I wish to thank you for finding me and caring for me.” “My name is Adammair.” She told him to rest and he closed his eyes and once again dozed off.
She got her supplies of sage, burning bowl and feather fan. Placed the sage in the bowl and placed a small ember in the bowl, fanning till it began to smoke. She fanned the smoke over him with her hand going in an outward motion. Speaking in thought, as she would always do, “Go from here, never to return! Illness and negativity release from his body!” She did this all aver his body until the sage was finished. Then she placed her hand on his chest, closed her eyes, raised her face to the heavens, lifting the free arm upwards and said “Heal!” She felt the fever coursing through her body and out her raised fingertips into the air. She continued till she felt no more illness coursing through her.
Flidais went outside to rest on the porch with the creatures encircling her. They told her to come lay down and rest, she must replenish herself with goodness, which she did, with them lying against and around her. She felt the power drawing into her from the earth and the animals and fell fast asleep.
After a couple of hours Flidais awoke. She felt a bit weakened still and began to meditate, drawing the powers of the universe into herself. When she felt strengthened once again, she slowly stood and went into the house. It was dark, as it was coming upon nighttime. Lit candles and put the cauldron over the fire to begin to prepare a hearty rabbit stew. She checked on Adammair. He was still resting peacefully and a bit warm to the touch. She moistened a cloth, folded it, and placed it over his forehead.
She gathered the vegetables for the stew, put on a kettle for tea, and began chopping them, then the meat. She put them in the hot water of the cauldron and stirred before going to Adammair’s side. She wiped the sweat from him body, and he began to stir. Flidais hummed for him, a sweet song. Helped him to sit up as he drank and told him dinner would be done shortly asking him if he felt he could eat anything. He told her he could and she thought “This is good, he will be better in no time at all.”
She sat at his side, humming to him, till it was time to check the stew to see if it was done. She rose and he reached for her. “Don’t go!” “I am going nowhere, dear” she replied. Checked the stew then filled two clay bowls. She took it to him feeding him with her own carved spoon. He ate the entire bowl and waited for her to eat. He noticed how delicately she acted, even while eating, taking each bite as if she was kissing the spoon.
She noticed he was grinning at her and asked him “what? Did I do something?” “Other than looking as if you are an angel, no.” She laughed and told him she thought he must still be fevered, as his mind was not working properly. To this they both laughed and she sensed he was feeling much better now. She got some more stew and fed him, to which he ate that entire bowl as well. She was very pleased. He thought it was the best meal he had ever eaten.
After they were finished, she placed the dishes to the side to wash in the morning and pulled a chair beside the bed. As soon as she sat, he reached for her hand. He felt a very close connection to her and felt as if goodness was streaming from her to him at the very touch. She felt a connection with him as well, though she didn’t know how to define it. They sat just looking at each other for a lengthy time, enjoying each others' company.
After quite some time he began to tell her how he came to be where she had found him. He spoke of a land far away. Of beautifully lush, rolling hills. Of an island with many crops and simple, kind people. Of how they were very proud people and practitioners of druidry and majick. It sounded like such a wondrous place. Flidais could feel the excitement and love he had for this land of his.
He told her how the Tuastha De Danann (peoples of the goddess Danu) had come to his land in a mist after being banished from the heavens for their great knowledge. How they were a race of deities and heroes, how their skills of art, science, poetry and majick, were revered all over his beautiful Ireland. Adammair, though excited, was becoming tired. Flidais grinned as he yawned. She said to him “You as if you are an innocent babe. Now close your eyes and rest like one”. With this, he did fall quickly asleep.
Flidais walked outside and called the forest creatures to come with her. She did feel a bit tired so called a stag to allow her to ride him as they went for a stroll through the forest, looking to make sure all was well. After her tiring day, she also needed the peace and serenity. After about an hour, she began to nod off, the relaxing sway of the stag’s saunter lulling her to sleep. He turned and headed for her cottage.
It was early morning hours when they got back, and she laid down for sleep.
She dreamt of the things he had spoken of, of great heroes, and great majick,of rolling hills and great peoples. She dreamt of kings and cattle., cattle that could feed hundreds in a single milking. OF fine, strong warriors and scholars.
The vision, unbeknownst to her, was her future.
Morning came all to soon and she checked on Adammair then began her morning routine. When she returned, he was just waking. They said their good mornings to each other and she prepared him something to eat. After breakfast he asked her if there were somewhere he could bathe and she told him of the river and they planned to go after resting a bit.
She called for the stag once again and led him into the cottage. The stag kneeled and she helped Adammair onto his back, then he stood and they went for the short jaunt to the river. When the stag walked into the water, he easily slid off the back and Flidais asked if he needed any help. He told her no and she lay down on the rocks to sun herself while he washed.
