Promises Beyond The Veil Of Light ( PT 2 )

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Part Two

 

It was the beginning of the weekend in Veiled Forest as the creatures both large and small searched for places to hibernate for winter months ahead. Some never minded the freezing temperatures, especially those that had heavy coats giving natural warmth like the wolves, rabbits, squirrels and many other creatures . Yet there was also the magic of this forest that kept even the harshest of conditions in check and gave each season a promise of hope.

 

Standing outside the door of the large family cabin, Willowmina felt relieved it was Saturday and there was no school, she'd had enough of the bullying that went on, with teachers who never understood what she was on about half the time. Mina's somber mood was being transferred to all of nature. In this forest news traveled fast from wolves howling out their sadness into the atmosphere.

 

Dark clouds appeared like monsters ready to devour anything that stood in their path as an angry sky rumbled. Trunks of trees remained rigid and empty of leaves, their branches interlocking. Mina tried to bring happier thoughts to mind, of how she loved in the Spring how the bluebells grew all around the Alder trees.

 

Once when Mina was really sick, her mum took a knife and peeled some of the bark from the Alder's branches leaving them to dry in the sun, it released a juice from the cones that was ready in the Autumn and boiled them together, Nina gave the concoction to her daughter for persistent diarrhea, but Mina had no idea of the amount to use and was neither sure of how to go about preparing. Her mum always said: “If you're not sure then don't touch.” But it always fascinated the child just how much her mother did know of plants and trees.

 

Winter would soon be on its way as the month of October was nearing an end. Even so this time of the year had always been special for Mina and her mum. Living in the forest wasn't a problem, she lived in a magical world with all the wonders that were around.

 

This place really existed for her family but was invisible to 'The Others,' as her and mum Nina liked to call people in the contrasting world. A veil of light was like an invisible wall hiding them from civilization, it was only through Nina's ancestral families magical hands touching the brilliant light that they could pass through, so the family always felt safe.

 

Spending time collecting all the ingredients for Samhain and putting their energies to rest for the winter months ahead had always been rewarding. In Nina's garden old potatoes had begun peeping above the earth, lifting their bold heads to reveal sprouting tips rooting around and disturbing carrot heads, their green leaves waving in the cold breeze.

 

It was the time of year when potatoes prepared the earth for next springs growing, pushing ever forward, routing a way through and distributing soil this way and that, while onions sectioned off their own territory, breaking down old tomato leaves that were way past their prime. Thick skinned parsnips refused to budge comfortable in their desired spot they'd picked out last spring and matured into giants. But like thieves the potatoes pushed on with determination.

 

“Hallelujah!” Chimed the Borage flowers in unison. “At last those exasperating vegetables are doing their jobs.”

 

“About time too,” sang out some nearby lavender,” their flowers almost over and drying out nicely on the stems ready for picking.

 

The yellow tansy flowers Nina used for dying material didn't have anything to say, due to the fact they'd turned a murky brown and were old and on their way out.

 

It was also at this time of the year, that Willowmina's father Kendrick would appear, but from where? The girl had no idea, he always returned for the feasting celebrations of their Sabbaths and would stay for maybe a week, but then he'd be off again.

 

But now thoughts of dying rested heavily on Willowmina's mind, the pain cut through her like a knife to the core. Cancer was eating Mina's mum alive and no amount of concoctions would help. With her mum getting worse, it wouldn't be long now. The girl felt so helpless as to what to do, wanting to relieve her mum's pain.

 

Nina had refused to go into hospital. In Mina's mind, if dying was inevitable, she hoped her mum would go in her sleep, at least then she wouldn't be aware.

 

Coming in out of the cold, Willowmina pulled her black hoodie down and noticed the fire was almost dying too. Picking up some logs she'd very proudly chopped herself, the girl knelt down and placed them on the fire as she heard her mum calling.

 

Turning Mina realized Nina was waving her over with an envelope in her hand. Mina was unsure of what was coming. Willowmina came to standing and made her way over, wiping the dirt from her hands onto black tracksuit trousers her mum had got from the charity shop, a place that Nina had loved browsing around when in town.

 

Nina wore a green jumper over blue cotton pajamas, she'd acquired it when on one of her visits at a cancer shop way before even knowing she had the disease.

 

Feeling concerned that at ten years old Willowmina might have to look after herself when mum had gone, she looked at the envelope and asked. “What is it mum?” Mina became more frightened as Nina took her hand, exploring the dirt under Willowmina's finger nails that seemed to blend in with her black nail varnish Mina had bought with pocket money her mum had given her.

 

“Butterfly, this is for you.” That was her parents nickname for her when she was born. Placing the envelope in Willowmina's hand, her voice was husky as if in need of some water. “I want you to hold onto this and only read it after I'm gone.” She took Mina's other hand and pressed the envelope into her palm. “Don't tell anyone about it,” she paused... “Not even dad. Promise me you'll keep it safe, it's our secret.”

 

Looking Nina straight in the eyes, Mina could only do what she asked. “I promise mum, I won't tell a soul.” Feeling overwhelmed, tears began filling Willowmina's eyes, she couldn't hold them back as they streamed down her cheeks.

 

Cuffing the sleeve of her woolly green jumper, Nina wiped away her daughters tears. “Don't cry butterfly, I'll be fine and so will you, we'll be together again sometime in the future.”

 

Looking down not understanding what she meant, Mina didn't wish to die just yet, or in the near future however bad things got, so the child decided to change the subject. “Can I get you some water mum?”

 

“Yes, that would be nice. Could you make me a cup of mint tea as well, it's so refreshing.”

 

Mina was glad to be doing something positive for her mum. “Of course,”replied Mina. The air was so cold in the cottage, that even the mice that shared their home were nowhere to be seen. A chill went through Mina as she filled the kettle with water and placed it on the logs of the fire, waiting for the whistle which came pretty quickly with the hot burning embers.

 

Mum always kept little muslin bags she'd made herself, in a box on one of the shelves, already for making infusions from plant material they'd collected. Mina had become quite adept at deciphering all the different plants and their healing properties, this was more important to the child than anything she was ever taught at school, especially as Mina loved everything about alchemy and the healing properties of plants.

 

Mum had taught Mina well, though she did find the forest mushrooms to be confusing, some were so much alike the girl hardly knew where to start, but mum told her to go to the library and keep on reading up as much as she could but never to give up however confusing it got.

 

All the small wooden boxes sat neatly on shelves that her dad had made, each one labeled. Finding the mint was easy it was mum's favorites. Taking the box down and lifting the lid, Mina inhaled the fragrance, it always reminded the girl of fresh new potatoes in Summer that mum would add mint giving flavor, then there was the pea soup with added mint she would make too.

 

Nina also hung bunches of mint and lavender along the ceiling beams which deterred insects, though still many would enter, but the sweet smell was magic to their senses.

 

Mum grew lavender in their small garden at the back of the cottage, one of her favorites along with marigolds. Nina's especially kept the golden flowers to decorate graves and honor the dead.

 

The vegetables and herbs that she blessed had their uses too. It didn't matter that the garden was small, everything did its bit as they happily went about their business. The child and her mum had the whole forest to wander and enjoy, picking wild plants to cook with.

 

“Always treat everything with respect,” mum would tell Mina. “When you pick flowers, herbs or mushrooms, always pick at the right time like I showed you and speak kindly preparing the plant for picking then thanking each one for its help.”

 

In her mind Mina was thinking about the forest, as she placed the muslin bag into a mug and poured on the hot water letting it seep, while mum always said it bought out the flavor.

 

They never had any watches or clocks in the cottage, Willowmina would use her senses to time things, which always seemed to work because she was never late for school. Mum would say, “people don't use their senses enough and rely too much on technology.”

 

By now afternoon was drifting into evening with darkness already upon the cabin. Willowmina had already decided that if mum was comfortable, that she'd spend the next day making candles, they would need lots as Winter set in. Feeling in a more positive frame of mind, Mina took the tea over and sat beside mum.

 

Sitting up and taking the mug, Mina plumped up her mum's pillows. “Thanks butterfly,” she whispered. As Nina took a sip, it was such a worry to her daughter as mum began to cough. “Quickly butterfly get me a bowl.” Nina's coughing became more violent.

 

Mina bought the bowl over, her heart sank with fear as blobs of blood appeared and mum retched. The child had seen this so many times just recently as Nina tried to keep fluids down. At ten years old Mina never got used to the fear that rose up as she held her mum's hair back.

 

The child waited for Nina to stop as beads of sweat mixed with tears dripped down her cheeks. It was the pits to see her mum suffer like this and caused Mina's body to tighten and shiver. The child's teeth clenched tight together as she couldn't understand how someone who was so gentle and kind would have to go through this.

 

Eventually the coughing stopped. “don't think I can drink anymore butterfly.” Mum lay back on the pillow, Mina took her mug and Nina managed a faint smile as her hair lay matted. Once Nina had such beautiful long, dark hair, but now it was almost all silver gray strands which snaked across the pillow as she closed her eyes.

 

The wind began to pick up as Mina lit some candles. Already they were casting shadows around the room. Clutching the envelope, the girl took it over to a secret hide-hole which was above her bed that only mum knew about. Removing a secret door that matched up with the walling, inside was a wooden compartment which held a few magic items mum had given her. The girl studied the envelope and wondered what its contents held, but knew she needed to keep her promise of not looking so placed the envelope with the other items.

 

She made her way back to mum deciding to sit with her a while. Tomorrow was Samhain, when Mina would be once again reunite with her kin. She wished for better days when her and Nina would prepare for the evening, but it all felt senseless with mum feeling so rough.

 

As the wind whistled around their cabin, the wolves began to howl as they did every night which was a sound mum loved. Mina never minded their howling calls as they were her mum's totem, friends and protectors, but fear struck Mina as a dark shadow crossed in front of the window and the door began to creak open.

 

To be continued...