Pathways of the Druids

by Christopher J. Pine

  “Hail and welcome friend,” said the first as she bowed low before him. Her hair was brown and flowing, as were her limbs. She was half as tall as a small tree and a bright green light sparkled from her eyes. She was beautiful. But dryads were not human. They were the pure essence and spirit of the trees, and now they had chosen to change into a form that he might recognise. Sirarch returned the bow.

  “Laaneg, it is a welcome sight to see you again. My dear friends, please tell me what the danger is, and how I can be of service to you.”

  The dryad’s voice sounded like a rustle of leaves in the wind and, as he looked at her, her thoughts were entering directly into his mind.

  “A dwarf has threatened us by lighting a fire. We have driven him away from the forest with a warning, and to punish him further we’ve taken his slave from him. We would ask that you help us by taking the slave back into the world she understands and where she belongs.”

  “I thank you and I shall only be too pleased to help you,” said Sirarch. “Where is the slave you speak of?” The dryad gently gestured to a spot a little further away in the trees.

  “The girl is over there with my sister, Neaj.”

  He walked over to them and spoke softly to the girl.

  “Wake up gently now, and be careful how you sit up while I cut those bonds. I’d better introduce myself properly. My name is Sirarch. I’ve been asked by my dryad friends to help you out of these woods, and back into the world you understand. Now breathe gently, be calm, and tell me your name.”

  Rronish flinched as she tried to look up, but the hazy remains of the potion were still clouding her mind. Her wrists hurt, someone had just cut her bonds and she could hear a voice speaking to her.

  “My name is Rronish,” she mumbled. “Where’s that evil little dwarf?”

  As Sirarch cut her bonds, Rronish rolled backwards and tried to stand up to put a little distance between her and this man. But feeling ill she staggered and fell, collapsing on the ground. Sitting on the grass again she looked up to see a youngish man with a kind face. He appeared quite tall and of medium build, with light brown hair and blue eyes. It was hard to guess his age as he had not shaved recently, and there were fine lines around his eyes. Rronish tried to feel brave.

  “What was your name again?” she asked nervously. “And why would you want to help me - and who or what are they?!”

  “I am Sirarch, and these are my friends. They’re dryads. It’s they, not me, you have to thank for rescuing you from the dwarf.”

  Laaneg and Neaj were standing a little distance away, and now they moved quickly and noiselessly towards Rronish. Then in the blink of an eye they were standing over her, and with a hand as soft as leaves one of the dryads stroked her face. Laaneg’s thoughts fluttered and entered into her mind.

  “Young girl, you have a chance of a new life in front of you now, so make your choices wisely. My sister and I offer it to you as a gift. Take it and treasure it and walk your paths with care.”

  Rronish couldn’t move and was shaking as she looked up into the creature’s glowing green eyes, but she managed to stutter an answer.

  “Thank you for your help. I will take great care.”

  “Sirarch, we must leave you now,” said Laaneg, “but you should visit us more often. We value your friendship highly. Farewell for now, my friend.”

  Rronish was too stunned to speak further, she could only watch in awe as the dryads bowed to Sirarch, then turned and began walking towards the woods. As they walked their bodies began to shimmer and they turned into a mist, fading noiselessly into the trees. Rronish couldn’t move, not believing what her eyes had just seen.

  “Firstly, I’ll make you some tea to clear your head,” said Sirarch, who had seen this sight many times. “The dryads are not human, they are tree spirits, and they took great offence at the dwarf’s behaviour. They’re shy creatures and they don’t normally get involved with people. But as a punishment, they took you from him. Your fate has been changed! A god must have smiled upon you. If that dwarf is wise he will never come back here again, he’s had his final warning.”

  He lit a very small fire and soon a small pot of water was heating up. Searching around in his small backpack, he found some powder from the root of a healing plant and added this to the black pot with a brass handle which was now hissing gently as the water boiled. As he did this, Rronish told him of her capture, enslavement and life at the One-Eyed Magpie, and how she was sold as a gambling debt.

  “Now, your tea’s ready,” said Sirarch, “sip and drink it slowly. Well, I did stay at the One-Eyed Magpie for one night and I did see a dwarf there, but I don’t remember seeing you at the time.

  “The dryads have no need of the dwarf’s possessions so they’ve left them for you. Here’s his knife, this blanket, a sack of food and his water sack. You may as well have all of them.” He handed her the items.

  “Thank you. Perhaps one day I’ll meet that dwarf again...” she remarked as she handled the knife. She didn’t know why, but felt she had few choices left to her but to trust this man. “Could you take me back to my father, Bleddyn?” she asked. “He’s a chief of the Cantiaci tribe. He would be very grateful and I am sure reward you handsomely.”

  “I haven’t heard of your tribe,” said Sirarch, “and it’s not just a question of money. Your father’s lands are probably a great distance afar from here. And you just had difficulty standing up because of where your wrists and ankles have been injured when the dwarf tied you up.

  “I think it best if we go first to see the priestesses of Sulis for healing. Once we’re there, I’ll be able to ask their advice on what we should do, and then we’ll see where it would be best to go.”

  Rronish stared at him in puzzlement.

  “I don’t believe you. The priestesses of Sulis are just a myth. When I was a little girl, my grandmother used to tell me stories of how they would appear at shrines. She said they were able to heal people in magical ways.”

  “Oh, they’re no myth,” Sirarch smiled, “as I shall show you. There are three of them. The oldest is Nylen. No-one can estimate how old she is, and it’s best not to ask. She has two daughters - there’s Rocinne who is just above a maiden, and the other is Raulen who is a young maiden. Between them and with their magic they can change the length of a person’s life and affect what happens to them during their lifetime. It will be a very fortunate moment for you to meet them - they’ll be able to assist you in many ways.

  “Now, we’re going to stay here and rest for most of today, so could you cook one of those rabbits the dwarf left behind?”

  Rronish wasn’t sure if she believed him, but Sirarch looked quite serious.

  “Yes, I could cook a rabbit for us, but why don’t we leave now and eat later? I feel well enough to travel.”

  Sirarch was calm but adamant.

  “The way through the woods to the shrine is a very narrow pathway and can only be found at night. Also, there’s a new lady tonight and very little cloud, so it’s best we wait for nightfall and the rise of the lady. Don’t worry, I have excellent sight and I’ve travelled this way many times. After we’ve eaten, we’ll doze until it gets dark, then head south through these woods.”

  “The woods look very dangerous to me,” argued Rronish, “and no-one travels through the woods at night.”

  “Normally, and for you, that might be true,” said Sirarch, “but I usually only travel at night. My family have lived in this area for many lives and providing you stay on the path that I know, you’ll be quite safe. Besides, there’s a wolf pack that moves through this area and there are many other things in the forest, so it will be much wiser if we’re on the move.”

  “Well,” she conceded finally, “if you say you’ve done this before and I have no choice in the matter, I shall just have to follow behind you. So I’d better start cook
ing the rabbit.”

  “Yes, a good idea,” he smiled again, “but keep the fire small.”

  They ate their meal and slept lightly until it was time to continue their journey.

  “Wake up, Rronish,” said Sirarch, shaking her gently. “The day is turning to dusk now and it’s time for us to make a move.”

  “I’m ready,” she said. “But I just don’t see how we can find our way in the dark.” She stood up and began brushing the dirt off her clothes.

  “It will all become clear to you as we go along. I’ll put the food, water and the knife in my backpack so that will only leave the blanket for you to carry. It might turn chilly so you should wrap that around yourself to help keep you warm.

  “Listen carefully, for when we reach the woods it will be quite dark. But once I find the path it will seem like we’re walking in twilight. It’s important you don’t stray off the path for any reason, but you’re quite safe while you stay on the path, so remember that. I can see a lot better than you anyway because I’m an elf. And I’m going to get you home safely, so just follow me.”

  “What did you say? You’re an elf? I thought elves were another myth. Something else it seems I was wrong about.”

  “Yes, an elf and sometimes we’re also called nightwalkers, though we don’t like that name. You’ve led a sheltered life in your father’s tribe, but then most people are wandering through their lives half asleep with no knowledge and little understanding of the real world around them. Still, now you’re beginning to wake up and notice that the world is so much larger than it appears to be.”

  They’d been walking for some time and the wind was beginning to rush the chill night air around them. Rronish followed and watched as the tangled shrubs and trees appeared to move aside for him and let them through. She was cold and shivering.

  “Sirarch, I’m so cold and I can’t see a thing,” she called out. “Are you sure we’re not lost?”

  “No, Rronish, we’re not lost. We’ve been skirting around the edge of the Great Wood. The entrance to it is over there by those two tall trees - look, do you see where I’m pointing?”

  “No, it’s all just black. I can’t see a thing and - oh, I just fell over. I just can’t see like you seem to be able to.”

  “Well, look, the next part is easy, it’s a fairly clear path to the entrance and it really isn’t far at all.”

  Rronish looked at the two tall, black and gnarled trees that she had finally arrived at.

  “All I can see here is thick woodland. There’s no path at all.”

  Sirarch smiled as he walked forward and stood between the two large trees, placed his bow on the ground and then stretched out with his hands so that he could touch both trees at the same time. He spoke in a language that Rronish had not heard before. A blue mist arose between the two trees and, as it cleared, a path could now be seen leading deep into the woods.

  “Step through onto the path, Rronish, I’ll follow right behind you,” he said. Picking up his bow, he stepped onto the path and the gateway to where they had come from vanished behind him as he entered.

  “Can you give me back my knife please?” asked Rronish nervously.

  “I’ll keep it for now. A knife would do you no good here anyway, and as we’re under the protection of the guardians of the path we’ll be quite safe. They usually take the form of an animal, so if any animal approaches you the best thing to do is just stand still. Just be respectful of everything you see. And this is important - never step off of the path until I say you can.”

  Rronish looked along the path. It was clear and bright in the light from the goddess and the wind had vanished when they’d entered the path. It even felt quite warm.

  “It’s not far to the shrine now, we should easily be there by morning. Just follow me and try to keep up.”

  After they had been travelling for some time, Rronish had fallen a little way behind. Suddenly she could hear the noise of padded feet running behind her, and as she looked around she saw two large black pumas dragging a small deer that they had killed along the path towards her. She screamed, and as she turned to run she twisted her ankle and fell over face down on the path. With a low snarling growl, the nearest puma let go of the deer, leaped into the air and upon landing pinned Rronish to the ground with one paw on her back. With the heavy weight of the puma making it difficult for her to breathe, Rronish stiffened, feeling the hot breath of the animal sniffing at the back of her neck.

  Sirarch gave a loud whistle. The two pumas looked up and with a low growl they grudgingly moved to one side as Sirarch ran back down the path.

  “It’s all right, Rronish, these are the path’s guardians. You startled them by trying to run. I really should have watched you a little more closely.”

  “Whatever they are, what are they doing now? Look at me, I’m shaking! Did it bite me? I thought it was going to kill me!”

  “No, the puma didn’t bite you, there isn’t even a scratch on you. She was only checking you out. They must have been out hunting and were surprised to find you here. Now they’ve gone away further up the path. Can you sit up? We’ll wait here while you get your breath back. The shrine is only just around that corner. Once there you’ll be able to relax.”

  The two pumas had lost interest in them, and had now bitten deeply into the deer carcass, dragging it along the path towards the shrine. They dragged it to the edge of the path at a gap in the trees. Leaving the deer there, they travelled a short distance further until in front of them was a large pool of water. Both animals dived into the steaming hot spring waters of the Shrine of Sulis.

  “I felt so powerful being in the form of a puma out hunting in the forest,” said Rocinne. “What do you think of the girl Sirarch has brought with him? I imagine she must be in some kind of trouble.”

  Raulen ran her arm just under the water and splashed Rocinne. “I can’t guess, but it’s always good to see Sirarch again, and he’s always helping someone or other. She looked nice, though. Perhaps we can help her. Let’s go and find mother and tell her about our guests, and the deer we brought back for the larder.” The two girls laughed as they daintily stepped onto several white stepping stones that led out of the spring waters. Then they reached for some towelling and their robes.

  As Rronish and Sirarch finally turned the last corner of the path and passed through the trees, the shrine came into view. When Rronish looked behind her, the path had completely vanished. All she could now see behind them was dense woodland. In front of them lay the Shrine of Sulis. It was a large bubbling spring of steaming hot water leading down into a small lake. They seemed to be in a small valley, completely surrounded by woodland on all sides; mist climbed from the edges of the trees to the sky. Dotted around the lake were several large, circular, white stone houses covered with thatched roofs.

  “It’s beautiful - and so peaceful here, Sirarch,” said Rronish.

  “Welcome, my dear.” The voice came from just out of her sight. As Rronish turned to her left, a tall and very old lady came into view. She had long white hair and strong, piercing brown eyes. She was dressed in a dark blue hooded robe, bound at her waist by a plain leather platted belt. Around her neck was a silver chain with a silver medallion showing the goddess in her three phases shining over a lake. Rronish sensed a strange energy flowing around this impressive woman.

  “Sirarch, it’s so good to see you again. My daughters told me you were on your way here to see us, and bringing a friend with you.”

  “It’s so good to be back here again, Nylen,” said Sirarch. “I don’t seem to be able to visit you often enough. Now, I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, her name’s Rronish. I met her in the woods and some dryads I know have asked me to help her. She is in great need of your assistance and healing.”

  Nylen turned and looked at Rronish.

  “Of course I’
ll help you, child. My name is Nylen. You look tired, you must have been walking all night to get here. If you’d like to rest, please go and sleep in that first house overlooking the spring, where you’ll find a bed prepared for you. We’ll awaken you later and one of my daughters will bring you some refreshment.”

  “I thank you, Nylen. I am surely in need of your help.” Rronish knelt on the ground in front of Nylen.

  “Please don’t worry, go ahead and rest in that house and we’ll talk again after you’ve recovered.” They watched her walk slowly away, and then Raulen approached.

  “We’ve put her in the hut just as you asked, Mother, and we put her clothes by the cauldron,” she said.

  “She seems quite a strong girl,” observed Sirarch. “Nylen, could you tell me what fate lies in her future?”

  “Well, let’s go and see what the gods are prepared to tell us.”

  They travelled a little way to a clearing in the woods where Rocinne was busy tending a large cauldron hanging over a small fire. Nylen paused before she spoke.

  “All of you must help me by forming a circle around the cauldron. Rocinne, gently place her clothes into the water. Now I’ll see what the mysteries are surrounding this child.”

  As Rocinne put the clothes into the water, Nylen leaned forward with her arms in the warmth of the cauldron. The surrounding area seemed suddenly to darken, and bright images and knowledge quickly began to flash into her mind.

  “I see fire and panic and battle. There’s a serious task here that must be done. No Sirarch, I don’t believe it was an accident that you were asked to look after her and bring her to us. You must help her. My instincts tell me that she’s part of a much greater game.

  “The future is made up of many possible patterns and, as you are aware, the future begins with a single thought. Then a path for the future can emerge, and you are in the pattern that you’ve created. Now the gods require her to alter part of a pattern that has already begun. They require the future to be changed. This could be a very dangerous task both for you and for her.”