Ceridwen's Gift
a New Orleans Magick story
by Tal Greywolf

------

   Raynard Langley sighed and stared out the window at the constantly falling
rain.  A cold, steady rain that fell from dark skies, lit only by the lights
coming from the city.

   Despite the rain the streets were busy, even at the late hour.  Bourbon St.
and Royal St. were always active, with people walking up and down the well-lit
passageways, ignoring the falling drops and the cold air to party in the French
Quarter.  A city that almost never is asleep, much like Las Vegas, catering to
the curious and conventional.

   He tore himself away from the window and looked around.  There was no one
else immediately within the store, Diane having gone into the back for a break.
Sometimes he wondered why the owner kept the store open late, but he already
knew that answer.  Mystic Visions was one of the few spots where pagans and
wiccans could come and gather into the late evening hours.  And truth be told,
they did a good business with tourists looking for something unusual from New
Orleans, be it a little voodoo doll or a book on the magical heritage of the
city.

   Raynard sighed again.  Despite knowing folks who were different, special or
powerful, he was ordinary.  No powers, no abilities, nothing other than his
ability to visualize and dream, and wish.  But dreams were all they were, and he
knew that fact, even if he didn't like it.

   'I'm not a Gregory,' he thought to himself.  'Not like him, and his
abilities.  Or like Marsha or the other weres.  Or like any of the other folks I
know.'  He sighed deeply.  'But such is your fate, Raynard, so you might as well
get used to it again.  Even if it does suck rocks.'

   A motion at the window caught his attention and he turned to look.  Just
another couple walking down the street, passing by without a second thought.
Raynard let out another sigh, then his eyes widened and a tiny croak came from
his throat.

   Standing across the street was a unicorn.  A real, honest, golden horn and
everything white unicorn.  His tail flicked lightly, sending drops of water into
the air.  The falling rain didn't seem to bother him in the least, his blue eyes
staring at Raynard across the street with intensity.

   Raynard shook his head, as if not believing what he was seeing there.  When
he looked up again, the unicorn was gone, vanished completely.  The sound of
boxes behind him being dropped made him jump, and he turned around to see his
co-worker Diane there.

   Raynard often wondered why Diane worked at the shop, but then again it takes
all kinds.  She was quite a lovely sight, with the kind of physique you'd find
dancing on the stages of the Crescent Cabaret rather than standing behind a
counter of a bookstore.  And while there were a few customers who would try to
get her attention, she brushed them off, usually abruptly.  Yet she would always
find time to talk with him, although he would admit he's hardly worthwhile, at
least physically.

   "Sorry for taking so long," she said, placing a box on a chair, "but I had
to dig to find what I was looking for.  Are you ok?" she added, looking at
Raynard closely.  "You don't look so hot."

   "I'm... not feeling too well, no."  Raynard shook his head. "It's late, and
my eyes are starting to play tricks on me."

   Diane nodded.  "Tell you what, I'll close up shop and you can head home.
Get some sleep, you look like you could use it."

   "Thanks."  Raynard gave her a sheepish grin, and went over to a rack where
his coat was hanging.  "You going to Rhiannon's gathering Saturday night?"

   "You think I'd miss it?"  Diane winked.  "Winter Solstice and Yule party?
Even if it wasn't Rhiannon throwing it I'd still try to make it."

   Raynard smiled gently.  "Ok, I was thinking of going myself around 6ish."

   Diane let out a soft humming sound.  "Are you asking me if I'd like to go
with you?"

   Raynard chuckled.  "Well, if you're not going with someone else, I would
love your company."

   "Silly."  She stuck out her tongue then winked.  "Meet you here at 6 then."

   "It's a deal."  Raynard finished putting on his gloves, then opened the
door.  A blast of cold air hit him, and quickly he went out into the street and
started homeward.

   The rain continued to pour from the skies, but Raynard paid it no attention.
All that mattered to him was getting home, into his apartment and feeling warm
again.  He still felt a little shaken, the image of the unicorn still in his
mind.

   Passing by an antique store, he paused and looked at a mirror. Rather than
his image, the mirror reflected the unicorn, gaze matching gaze as he stared in
surprise.  Around the neck of the unicorn was a silver amulet, the same as the
amulet that he wore around his neck.  An amulet with Celtic knot work, the
images of animals all entwined together.

   Raynard backed away slowly from the mirror, thoughts in turmoil from the
images.  Why a unicorn?  Why me?  Why the amulet?  He started down the street
again at a brisk pace, his ears picking up a soft clip-clop sound from behind
him.  He didn't know if he was being followed, but the total strangeness made
him afraid.  He ran, reaching his home and quickly unlocked the door.  He
slammed the door shut and wiped his brow, then started taking off his coat and
gloves, letting them lay on the floor.

   The room was warm, so he started stripping off the remainder of his clothes,
leaving a trail as he headed towards the bedroom.

   Reaching the doorway, his body and mind froze as he came face to face with
the unicorn, standing in his bedroom like it belonged there.

   The unicorn looked at Raynard with unblinking eyes, then glanced down his
chest to the silver amulet.  Watching without making a sound, Raynard saw the
unicorn touch the amulet with the tip of his horn, a soft white glow emanating
from the gems from the touch.  A warm, slow feeling spread across his chest, and
he looked into the unicorn's eyes with amazement.

   The unicorn watched his reaction, almost seeming to smile from it.  An ear
flicked, and Raynard had to stifle a laugh from the absurdity of the situation.
Again, the unicorn looked into Raynard's eyes, holding them for a long, silent
moment...

   ...and suddenly thrust his horn into Raynard's chest, impaling him with the
sharp weapon.

   Raynard stood there stunned, his mind unable to function.  Then the pain and
shock hit him, and he groaned, feeling himself falling to the floor.  Time took
on a peculiar feeling, everything moving in extreme slow motion.  The unicorn
watched him without a sound still, as he could feel himself starting to slip
away.  His chest felt warm, very warm, a glow brightening from somewhere down
there. The light flared brightly, then the darkness rose and swallowed him, all
thoughts gone.

---

   The feeling of a damp cloth on his forehead brought Raynard back to
awareness.  The cloth covered his eyes, and his body felt like it was on fire.
He stirred slightly, and someone settled down alongside of him.

   "Na, don't move.  You've had a nasty shock, and your body needs to adjust."
The feeling of more cool water dribbled across his forehead, and Raynard sighed
gently.

   The voice was female, gentle, but with a clear sound of command behind it.
Whoever she was, she didn't want him to move.  Not that he could, his body
didn't really feel like it was his to begin with.

   "Wha... what happened?"

   Another voice answered, this one clearly male.  "You had a bit of a rough
up, lad."  There was a hint of amusement, along with a gentle chuckle.  "But
nothing serious, you'll be up and around soon enough."

   "I..."  Raynard's voice was rough, and he coughed.  "I thought I was dead."

   "Well, you're not."  The female voice sounded a touch tart, but it turned
gentle again.  "It was not my choice, but it was the best way to bring you here.
Drink this, it'll help you."

   A cup was held to his lips, and Raynard drank down the contents.  It tasted
spicy, sweet, soothing.  The fire inside of him started to cool, and he sighed
gently.

   "Thank you."  Then the words she spoke penetrated his muddled thoughts, and
he tried to sit up.  "You mean it was real?  The unicorn, my being stabbed?"

   "Lay back down, child!"  A hand pressed against his chest, and Raynard
obediently sank back.  "I don't need you to suddenly break into hysterics,
especially since you're ok.  And I said that you're ok."

   "Mori, give the lad a break, will you?"  The male sounded a touch impatient.
Raynard felt a hand take his, and gave it a gentle squeeze.  "Like I said, you
had a nasty shock," the male continued.  Your spirit was a lot stronger than we
could have guessed, and it made things a bit more difficult.  But you're here
now, and that's the important part."

   Raynard coughed again, and felt the cup at his lips again. "Take another
drink, child."  The female voice turned gentle again. "You need to rest for a
little longer.  Once you're recovered, we'll explain what you want to know."

   He sighed deeply, but the strange beverage was making him drift to sleep
again, his thoughts muddled and confused.  There was something he wanted to
know, something essential.  "Am... I.. alive?"  Before he could hear an answer,
all rational thought collapsed, and he fell into a slumber.

---

   Raynard blinked and opened his eyes, then closed them tightly again.  The
light was just a little too bright, making tears start to stream down his face.
He rubbed them for a moment, then tried to look again, forcing his eyes to
focus.

   Sunlight streamed down from the sky, broken into rays by the green canopy
overhead.  The air was cool but crisp, a light breeze blowing and making leaves
and branches sway gently back and forth. Soft chirps and melodies came from
above, birds flitting about from tree to tree.

   "Ah, you're awake again."  The voice made Raynard turn around, and he came
face to face with a raven-haired beauty.  She wore a dark-red dress that tended
to dance about from the breeze, a black leather belt wrapped around her waist.
Her eyes were bright green, glittering with amusement that showed on her lips.
She looked perhaps mid-30's in age, but Raynard knew instinctively that she was
much older than that.

   She came closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.  "I'm Mori, one of your
guides here," she explained.  "And one of your teachers.  I am sorry for the way
that we had to bring you here, but there is no harm done to you, and you will be
returned in nearly the same moment as you left."

   Raynard looked a bit puzzled.  "A guide?  Returned?  What... where am I?"

   Mori laughed, a deep, warm laugh.  "I'm sorry, Raynard.  I suppose you're
terribly confused over things."

   "That would be an understatement."  Raynard managed to smile, the laughter
making him feel a little better.  "After all, last I remember, I was being
stabbed by a unicorn."

   "You were."  Raynard blinked as another person appeared literally out of
thin air.  He was dressed in leathers, a longbow strapped on his back along with
a quiver of arrows.  He looked and sounded very much the huntsman, but the voice
was the same that he recalled from before.

   "The unicorn was my idea," he said in a simple tone.  "Mori felt that simply
bringing you here would work, but instead it took a shock to make you lose hold
of your physical self."  His expression softened and he scuffed the ground with
a toe.  "Sorry if it took you by surprise."

   "I..."  Raynard didn't know what to think, and abruptly sat down.  "Where am
I?  And what am I doing here?"

   Mori smiled again, sitting down next to Raynard.  "You're in what, oh, I
suppose you'd call the Summerland.  The home of the Tuatha de Danaan, or those
that remain."

   Raynard blinked.  "The children of Dana?  Of the old Celtic legend?"

   Gwyd nodded.  "The very same.  Like anything else from legend, there are
bits of the truth mixed in.  As you well know from your experiences in the
past."

   That made Raynard smile a bit.  "I guess you do know about me, then."

   "More than you could imagine, child."  Mori smiled gently, placing her hand
on his.  "We've watched you and others for a long time, waiting for the right
moment, the right time to offer you a gift.  In some respects, what you desire
most in your heart.  For some, it's peace of mind, others it's fame and
fortune."  Her eyes sparkled suddenly, and Raynard found himself transfixed.

   "But you, you've given of yourself freely and helped those in need often
enough.  In all of your past lives you've done so."  Her words made him blink in
surprise, causing another laugh to come from her.

   Gwyd laughed as well, a deeper booming sound.  "Don't be surprised, why do
you think you've always found yourself attracted to things Celtic?  That's your
past calling you, lad.  It is as much a part of you as any of your dreams."

   Raynard coughed and looked a bit flushed.  "I... think I can see that," he
said shakily.  "But I still don't understand why I'm here.  Maybe you're right
and I've been a caring spirit, but why me and why now?"

   "Why now?"  Gwyd chuckled and shook his head.  "Because it's Yule, the
Winter Solstice.  Is this not the time of the year when gifts are given to those
deserving of them?"

   Mori nodded and picked up the thread.  "It's a time of transformation, when
the nights begin to shorten and the light of the sun returns to the world
slowly, and waits to be reborn from it's slumber.  And that is why you're here,
child.  To receive the gift that remains close to your heart."

   Raynard shivered.  "Please... don't tease me like that."  He looked into the
faces of both Gwyd and Mori.  "I don't like to be teased about that, and I've
long ago accepted the fact that I can't have my wishes."

   Gwyd bent down and shook his head.  "Lad, we're not teasing. On our word and
honor, we speak only the truth to you.  Your desire has always been to know what
it is like to be other things, other creatures.  You've always had that desire
within you for centuries. Ours is to give you that desire."

   Raynard closed his eyes.  Part of him felt it was just a dream, his
imagination playing tricks on him.  But deep down he knew that they were telling
him the truth.  Fragments of past lives drifted in his thoughts, along with the
knowledge that where he was he'd been before, in the past.  Old teachers, old
lessons, trying to understand things that happened to him in the past.  Knowing
that they meant well, and were always gentle and caring in their own ways.

   He opened his eyes slowly, and met Mori's eyes.  She remained silent, but
her eyes spoke only the truth to him, a truth that reached into the core of who
and what he was.  With a soft sound he let out a deep, long sigh and nodded.  "I
understand, I think.  I hope."

   Gwyd gave his shoulder a light shake, while Mori merely squeezed his hand.
"I know, it's hard for you to except, Raynard. But you will understand as you
learn."

   "Learn what?"

   Mori smiled.  "Learn what it means to be a part of all things in the world."
She took out a small crystal vial and handed it to him.  "This is what we call
Ceridwen's Gift.  Three drops from her cauldron, the distilled essence of life
itself.  As Gwion learned, and as Taliesin did, you'll be a part of the world,
all things real and imagined."

   Raynard looked at the vial, the small liquid shimmering in the light.  "A
small drink for a large dream," he murmured to himself.

   Gwyd nodded gently.  "Your dream, lad.  But one we feel is time you should
have granted."  He grinned a bit wider and winked.  "But you know about dreams
being made real, don't you?"

   Raynard looked at him puzzled, then started to chuckle softly, recalling
with clarity a couple he knew who lived in the Quarter like him.  "Oh, I guess I
do, don't I?  Never really thought about that one."

   Mori winked warmly.  "We do look after you and others," she said gently.
"Just because our abilities are not as they once were doesn't mean that we've
turned our back on the world. Individuals like you are treasured as you remember
who we are and honor us in your actions and deeds.  Thus we return the
appreciation in our own ways."  She nudged his hand and smiled. "Go ahead, it's
our gift to you."

   Raynard again peered at the vial, then looked at Gwyd.  "What will happen to
me when I drink this?"

   "It'll be like the world is opening anew inside of you," he replied, a warm
sound in his voice.  "And you'll learn what it is to be all creatures, and all
things."

   An odd chuckle came from Raynard.  "Sounds like something I read in a story
once."

   "'Tis not far from the truth," Mori chimed in.  "It will feel as if all the
knowledge of the earth herself is pouring into you. But a knowledge that is
meant for you to learn.  With it, your body will learn as well."

   Raynard nodded, then placed the vial to his lips and tipped his head back.
The precious liquid reached his tongue, and he could taste a slightly odd tang.
Then the world spun around him, and he found himself flooded with images,
thoughts, impressions, visions. He closed his eyes, realizing that he had fallen
to the ground, laying on his back, the cool earth supporting him.  His mind spun
again...

   ...looked at his body laying on the ground as he stretched into the air, his
branches reaching for the sunlight...

   ...flew on the thermals high above the forest, wings straining to glide
higher still...

   ...floated slowly against a mountainside...

   ...felt the cloud against his cliffs...

   ...slowly rained down upon the land...

   ...flowed to the sea...

   ...stood over himself in his bedroom, his silver horn glinting in the dim
light.  He touched his body, a white light coming from his horn to envelop them
both...

   ...and the darkness surrounded him once again.

---

   The soft clatter of silverware woke Raynard from his slumber. Raising up on
his elbows, he saw Diane with a tray in her hands, several glasses and plates
visible.  On seeing him awake, she smiled gently.

   "So the sleeper awakens," she said lightly.  "I was beginning to wonder if
you were going to finally come back to the living or not."

   He chuckled gently, then gingerly felt his chest.  If there was any sign of
an injury, he certainly couldn't find it.  "You might not know how close you are
to the truth there," he said in all seriousness.  "And what are you doing here,
anyway?"

   Diane smiled, settling the tray in his lap.  "I got a call late last night,
someone said you were hurt.  I came over, and found you in a heap on the floor,
burning up with a fever.  So, into the bed you went, and I took off down to the
A&P for some medicine for you. After I made sure you were better, I fixed
breakfast."

   He smiled gently.  "You really didn't need to do that, you know."

   "Oh, will you hush?"  Diane gave him a mock glare.  "You're always going on
about not wanting help, but you need it right now. As weak as you should be, you
need to rest.  And if I have to sit on you to make sure you're resting, I will."

   He threw up his hands.  "All right, I get the point."  Diane grinned and
shook her head at him, then winked.

   "I need to get something out of the kitchen, I'll be right back."  She left
the room, and Raynard chuckled gently at her departing back.

   Just on a whim, he looked at his hand.  He closed it, making it into a fist,
then opened it again.  "Not like it could be a paw," he whispered to himself,
then shivered as he watched the fingers and hand grow fur, the nails turning
into claws.  He sat there stunned for a moment, then the events of last night
hit him fully.

   Diane walked back into the room, carrying a glass of water. Before she could
see his hand, he slipped it under a sheet, willing it back to normal.  The
sensation of his hand returning to it's true shape made him sigh gently, and
Diane walked back to the side of his bed.

   "Problems?" she asked, curious at the sigh.  Instead, Raynard shook his
head, and a rather wry smile graced his lips.

   "I think you better sit down," he said.  "Because I have something
interesting to tell you."

---

copyright 2015
by Tal Greywolf
all rights reserved