Burkheart Witch Saga Book 3

by Christine Sutton

This time his tears could not be stopped. As he dried his eyes, the two of them made their way down the makeshift aisle.

  "I wish your mom was here to see this. She would be so proud of you."

  "I know she would. She is here with us, Dad. I can feel her watching."

  "I can feel her, too."

  They walked up through the rows of chairs where her loved ones sat. All of the forest creatures that had attended Kayla's memorial were here in her childhood home only two days later to celebrate her marriage.

  When they approached the podium where the priestess stood, Grace could see that Harry was just as nervous as she was. He looked at her and smiled.

  Suddenly, any fear that she had fell away like water shedding off a mountainside. She saw in Harold the Prince Charming she had always wished for. He was her knight in shining armor, her support when she stumbled, and the love of her life. Looking in his eyes, she saw the same from him. She knew he loved her more than anything, and that he would always be a wonderful husband and an amazing father. During the short time Aurora had been in the world, he doted over her, changing diapers and preparing her bottles. He loved to sit and rock her to sleep, and he had already bought her every stuffed animal known to man. She knew she and their daughter would always be loved.

  "Who gives this woman?" The priestess asked.

  "I do," David said, squeezing Grace's hand and kissing her cheek before he took his seat next to Doc.

  Harry stepped forward and joined Grace at the podium. He almost stumbled because his knees were shaking so much. Grace chuckled and smiled at him through her white veil.

  "Grace and Harold, know now before you go further, since your lives have crossed you have formed eternal and sacred bonds. As you seek to enter this state of matrimony, you should strive to make real the ideals that, to you, give meaning to this ceremony and to the institution of marriage."

  The priestess took a length of gold cord and draped it over the couple's joined hands.

  "Know that within this circle, you are not only declaring your intent to be hand fasted before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to your higher powers. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here only strengthen your union and your love for each other. This union will only grow stronger through the years as each of your souls grow. Do you still wish to perform this ceremony and pledge your love?"

  "Yes, we do," they said in unison.

  "Excellent. Will the guests please stand?"

  All of the guests stood up, and all eyes were focused on the loving couple as the priestess called blessings from each of the four elements.

  "Blessed be this hand-fasting from the east and the element of air. Openness and communication, and purity of the mind and body. From the east, a new beginning with the rising of each sun, and the understanding that each day is a new opportunity to show your love for each other."

  "Blessed be," the guests said in chorus.

  "Blessed be this hand-fasting from the south and the element of fire. Energy, passion, creativity, and a loving home. From the fire within you generate light, which you will share with one another in even the darkest of times."

  "Blessed be."

  "Blessed be this hand-fasting from the west and the element of water. You have absolute trust in one another, and vow to keep your hearts open in sorrow as well as joy."

  "Blessed be.

  "Blessed be this hand-fasting from the north and the element of earth. Sustenance, fertility, and security. The earth will enrich you, and help you to build a stable home to which you may always return."

  "Blessed be."

  Grace chuckled as she heard the sniffles coming from her bridal party. Daisy and Violet were both teary eyed. The priestess continued.

  "Grace and Harold, will you honor and respect one another?"

  "We will."

  "The first binding is made. Will you share each other’s pain and always seek to ease it?"

  "We will."

  "Will you share in each other’s laughter, and always look for the positive in each other?"

  "We will."

  The priestess took a white strip of cloth from the podium and wrapped it around the couple's hands.

  "As your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow. The rings?"

  Harold turned to Jorek, his best man, and took the ring. He placed it on Grace's finger. Daisy handed Grace the ring and she placed it on Harry's shaking finger.

  "I now pronounce you hand-fasted as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

  All of the nervousness drained from Harry as he lifted Grace's veil and took her in his arms. When their lips met, they both knew everything would be okay from here on out.

  The couple turned to face their guests, and Grace looked up to the staircase. Kayla stood there at the top of the landing and smiled down on her family. Grace indicated to David to look back. He burst into joyous tears when he saw his beloved standing above them. Roland had come through for her after all. Her final wish was that her mother could be there on her wedding day. She was not only there; she looked so happy.

  She raised her hand and blew a kiss before she faded away.

  27

  Aurora sat at the head of the table, her mother on one side and her dad on the other. She silently counted the candles on her cake.

  One… two… three… four… five.

  She had just received her certificate for counting to thirty from her teacher, Ms. Locke, so now she practiced her counting wherever she was. It was time for her to make a wish and blow out all five of her candles, then she could open her presents.

  She breathed in until her chest felt like it might explode from too much air, and then she blew out the candles as hard as she could. She got four of them and then took a little breath to blow out the fifth one. She was sad that her wish might not come true, but then her mom told her that it was okay, because she got them all out. She would not tell anyone what she wished, because then it wouldn't come true.

  "Time for presents," her mom called out after everyone had eaten a piece of birthday cake.

  Grandpa gave her a new bike with training wheels. Training wheels were for babies, but Grandpa told her that he would help her learn to ride without them. Poppa Doc and Gramma Joy gave her a pretty new dress with pink flowers on it and a stuffed bear that was almost as big as she was. She got a dollhouse from Uncle Mooney, play make-up from Daisy, and books and games from Gus and Vi. A bunch of pretty flowers and other stuff were left at their door by all of the creatures from the forest. Jorek even made her a crown of yellow flowers. She wore it while she opened her other presents. She decided to never take it off.

  After the last of the cake and ice cream were eaten and presents were opened, Aurora sat on the couch, snuggled up next to her mom and dad. She was still wound up from the fun of her party, but she yawned and stretched, snuggling in tighter against her mom's side.

  Everyone was about to leave, so Aurora gave kisses, hugs, and thank-yous to her family and friends while they walked out the door. When the last guest left, Aurora walked back to the living room and sat down next to the teddy bear from Doc and Joy. She wrapped her arms around her fuzzy new friend and closed her eyes.

  "Aurora, you have one more present over here. We must have missed it," Grace said, and handed the glittery blue box to her daughter.

  "Who is that from?" Harry asked.

  "I have no idea," Grace replied.

  Aurora opened the box and looked at the gold necklace sitting inside. Her eyes lit up as she surveyed the small pendant.

  A gold filigree tree sat inside a circle surrounded by Celtic knots. In the center of the tree was a bear paw that had a tiny green stone embedded in the pad.

  "Mama, it's so pretty! Can I put it on? Please?"

  T
he fog of sleepiness had left the little girl, and now she was jumping up and down with excitement as Grace removed the necklace from its box.

  Under the tray that held the chain in place, there was a card.

  This should fit

  just right

  Grace lifted the card out and handed it to Harry with a questioning look.

  "I'm sure it's just a gift from one of the nymphs or something," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

  "Mama, put it on me!" Aurora said, holding up her golden hair and jumping up and down.

  "Okay, okay, Curly. Stand still for ten seconds so I can put it on." She unclasped the necklace and slipped it around Aurora's neck. She joined the clasp and turned the girl around. "There. You look gorgeous, my dahling."

  "Thank you, Mama! I love it!" The little girl ran out of the room to the bathroom so she could see her pretty new necklace in the mirror.

  Grace and Harold collapsed onto the couch, both of them exhausted from the events of the day.

  "She had a good day, didn't she?" Grace asked.

  "Yeah, I think she did," Harry said, and he kissed her forehead.

  "I wish my mom was here."

  "I know, honey. I do, too."

  "I just wish I knew that she was all right. I wish I could talk to her and sit with her and hear her tell me that I'm doing a good job."

  Harry knew his only job at that time was to be there and hold Grace until she felt better. She always seemed a little sad around Aurora's birthday.

  "It'll pass, Harry. I know she's gone, but I still miss her, you know."

  "I do know, babe. I do."

  "Well, let us see if we can get Curly to sleep, shall we?"

  "Ha! You might need a magic spell to accomplish that," Harry chuckled.

  "Well, let's try for a bath first. Tiny steps."

  They headed into the bathroom to get Aurora's bath started. When they walked in, she was standing at the mirror, still staring at her new necklace.

  "Hey there, Curly. Time for your bath."

  "Okay, Mom. Can I keep my necklace on?"

  "I don't see why not," Grace replied while she added some bubbles to the warm water.

  "I don't want to ever take it off," Aurora said, getting her bath towel and pajamas ready.

  "Never, ever?" Grace said, reaching over and tickling her daughter's tummy.

  "Nope. Never, ever, ever!" Aurora giggled.

  "Okay then, get yourself all clean. Wash behind your ears and make sure you get that curly head of yours all spotless."

  "I will, Mama."

  Grace left, leaving the door cracked open. She waited in her bedroom until Aurora called out to her. The little princess came running down the hall wearing her cartoon pajamas, waving her hairbrush in her small hand.

  After hair was brushed and a story was read, Grace tucked her little one under the covers and kissed her goodnight. Harry came in as Grace was getting up to say goodnight as well.

  "Hey there, Curly, look what I brought." He held out the stuffed bear she had just received for her birthday and placed it next to her bed.

  "Thanks Daddy." She sat up to give him a hug and kiss goodnight.

  "We love you so much, little girl. You know that, right?"

  "I love you, Daddy and I love you, Mommy and I love you, Frederick the Bear."

  "Frederick?"

  "Yep. His name is Frederick the Bear."

  "All right, goodnight then, Frederick the Bear," Harry said with a smile. "Ready for lights out?"

  "Yep!"

  "Hey Aurora, what do you think about going camping this weekend?"

  She looked at her dad with wide eyes and motioned him to lean in close so she could whisper in his ear. He leaned in close, cocking his head to hear her secret. She held her hands up around her mouth and said in a loud whisper, "That was my wish, Daddy!"

  "Well, then, I guess it came true. We'll get up early tomorrow to get ready, okay?"

  "Yay," she cheered.

  "All right, time to get some sleep. See you later, alligator."

  "After a while, crocodile," she giggled.

  "See you soon, baboon."

  "Okie dokie, artichokey." The little girl burst into laughter. "You are silly, Dad!"

  "Nighty-night, Curly."

  He closed the door and smiled to himself, wondering how he got so lucky.

  28

  Aurora woke from a deep, sugar-induced sleep. Her room was dark except for the little kitten-shaped night light that illuminated one small corner. Her mom had given it to her when she was four, when she started having bad dreams. She told her mom that she was five now, and big girls did not need night lights. She was glad now that her mom had not taken it out yet.

  "Daddy?" Her small voice echoed in the darkness.

  "Aurora, over here," a husky voice said. "Right next to you."

  "Who… who's there?"

  She wanted to jump out of her bed and run down the hall and into her mom and dad's bed. But she knew that only babies slept with their mom and dad, and she was a big girl now, so she would stay in her room. Aurora pulled the covers up around her face, hoping no one answered her.

  "It's me, Aurora. Frederick the Bear."

  "Frederick?" she asked, still fearful but a little less so.

  "Yes, don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need your help."

  "You need my help?"

  "Yes I do. I am trapped here and I need to get home to my mommy and daddy. I miss them. Can you help me?"

  "What can I do? I'm just a little girl. Maybe my mommy and daddy can help you. They are really good at helping people. I bet they are even good at helping bears."

  "No, they won't believe. It has to be you."

  "They will believe. My mommy is the queen of the forest. She has lots of powers and I know she'll help you."

  "No, it has to be just you. No adults allowed."

  "Oh."

  Aurora was no longer afraid. She knew that since Joy and Doc had given Frederick to her as a present, he could not be bad. She decided she would do whatever she could to help him. He was her friend and since she was the princess, she should help her friends when they needed her.

  "Did you get the necklace in the sparkly blue box?" Frederick asked her.

  "My new pretty necklace? Did you give that to me for my birthday?"

  "No, but I know who did."

  "Who?"

  "I'll tell you later. Will you help me get home to my parents?"

  "Yes, I'll help you. You should be with your mommy and daddy."

  "Thank you so much, Aurora," the stuffed bear said as she reached out and hugged him tight.

  "It's okay, Frederick, don't be scared. We can get you back to your mom and dad soon, and then you won't be sad anymore." She yawned and settled back under the covers with Frederick in her arms.

  "Let's get some sleep," Frederick said. "We can get started tomorrow."

  Also by Christine Sutton

  I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did, please consider leaving a review.

  Book 1 in the Burkheart Witch Saga Available Now!

  Book 2 in the Burkheart Witch Saga Available Now!

  Book 3 in the Burkheart Witch Saga Available Now!

  All in one

  For more of the Burkheart Witch Saga please look for Book 4 Just Right: In 2015

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  Coming 2015

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  Burkheart Witch Saga In Audio will also be available summer 2015! Read by Julia Whelan