Circle+of+the+Druids+revised

**__Circle of the Druids__**
(Written by Kristie Hackley, revised by Misato)

Druisilia Galanodel was excited, and a little scared. It was four days before Beltane, her thirteenth one. Unlike the others she had celebrated before, this one was dedicated to her initiation into the Druid's Circle. She had to start her journey on the morrow, and was nervous about being able to complete all the tasks of her initiation. Her older brother, Whestyn, was worried for her. He wanted to keep her safe, but he understood that it was her destiny; one she must face alone.

"You will see her at Beltane." Their mother explained to him, patting his dark brown hair.

Unable to sleep, Dru slipped into her brother's room. He slept fitfully, illuminated by the moonrays. "I'll be all right." She whispered to him, kissing his soft brown locks. Resting her carved eagle pendant upon the bedside table, she smiled. He had made it for her when she had come of age this past autumn. He'd keep it safe for her until she returned.

Dru rose at dawn, her stomach still in knots. Making her way out of the village, she traveled to the lake resting before the sacred grove. She would have to become one with the elements, understand her past, and be reborn. Only then would she become accepted into the Circle. And she only had three days to do it in. As she reached the edge of the lake, she removed all of her possessions and clothes. Rolling them up in her soft wool cloak, she laid them beneath the shelter of a bush. Stepping into the chill waters of the lake, she tried to supress a shudder. The swim across it was short, and her body quickly became numb enough that the cold no longer bothered her. Rising from the waters at the base of the sacred grove, she listened to the wind as it cut through her like a knife. It whispered to her the first task she was to accomplish.

The Potion of Ages. An elixer created by the four elements of the Wilds. She would have to gather the components and create it from what the sacred grove had to provide.

It took her three days to gather the required components and set up the altar correctly. She built the fire of dried yew sticks and oak leaves. She brewed the potion of berries, sacred water, and three drops of her own blood in a cleaned rabbit hide, and stirred it with the feather of an eagle. Breathing across the sweet smelling steam, the magics began to gather. When it was finished, she dipped her hand into the brew and drank.

She fell into a wistful sleep, laying out upon the cave floor that had been her shelter these past few days. Her life came up before her, visions of her past sweeping acrossed her sight. Dru saw all the lessons she had learned, in this life and the last. When it was over, the Great Goddess of the Wilderness came to her and laid a robe upon her chill and naked body, granting her the Cloak of Rebirth. When she awoke, the cave was dark, and her body was warm. Her sight adjusted to the night light, and she found the cloak Jaspeth had placed upon her was real. Soft greens and browns, even shades of red and yellow, woven into a gentle cloth made especially for the children of the groves.

Drusilia put on the robe, relishing in its comfort and weight. Following the whispering winds, she went back outside the shelter of the cave to find a dozen other robed figures encircling the site of her fire, now burning nearly at tall as she. The Circle of Druids had come for her. Stepping up to fill in the open gap among them, she recited the words of prayer and devotion:

//Oh Great Goddess, In the time before time, In the world before worlds, You were there. Oh Nature's most devine Mother, harken to me at this time, As I come to proclaim my allegiance to you, the protector of all wild wood and all the animals; I am a bud bursting forth in flower, as such I have yet no wise and learned things to say. So much is new to me but I hope you will understand these few simple words spoken in faith and fealty. I thank you for all you have revealed to me and that I have the means to understand. I ask that revealations continue, and that my eyes, heart and mind will always be open to receive these great gifts. Oh Great Goddess, thank you for listening to me, and giving me your acceptance.//

With that, the druids raised their hands to the night dark sky, and sang out their response in the ancient druidic language. Their voices were joyous, celebratory, as they accepted her into their Circle. The High Druidess stepped forth, her chiseled face illuminated by the fiercely burning fire. "Welcome, Moonwhisper." They all bent their heads and looked upon her with pride. And with that, she returned to her village, where the Beltane celebration had already begun.