Legends of Belariath
Ellohym
Moonlight's Youth
Creeping silently along the wall of the cottage, fingers grazing the cold, hard stone, the young maiden takes small steps, mindful not to stir up the slightest bit of dust as to let be known her presence. Eyes the palest of blue flash excitedly within the moon's light, darting to and fro in search of the one she seeks. Her breath catches slightly as the old woman comes within her sight, hobbling slowly and leaning heavily upon the gnarled cane, much like the hand that grips it. A tattered, woolen shawl billows gently about the old crone as the evening breezes dance lightly across the land, her gown of dark fabric nearly causing her to trip upon its hem. A few silvery tresses break free from the confines of the shawl which is wrapped about her head, looking much like the very moonlight itself as it caresses a wrinkled and leathery cheek. Onward the olde woman shuffles, her footfalls nearly inaudible upon the well worn path as she disappears within the dense forest surrounding the small village.
With a slow, deep breath, the maiden makes her move, lowering a hand to gather her skirts and sprint toward a large oak, pressing her lithe body solidly against its rough bark and peering around its thick trunk to keep the crone within her line of vision. Many moons she has plotted...many times she has lain awake within her bed, eyes fixed out the small window to peek through the crack of the wooden shutters awaiting the crone's passing. She had come to know the exact moment the olde woman would shuffle past only to disappear within the trees as she had upon the eve of every full moon before. How many nights she had dreamt of where the crone may be headed. 'Twas common knowledge that Nadinia the crone was a witch, most feared by the children within their village, and most respected by any whom had ever had need of her services, her holistic remedies having cured many the ailment. Noting the olde woman having finally passed about the bend, the maiden presses on, silently moving amongst the trees and pausing again once the woman was visible. Could one such as her sense the lass's closeness? Or was she oblivious to the tail that had finally decided to follow her, curiosity piqued far too greatly to let another full moon pass her by.
Lifting a slender hand to bring the hood of her dark cloak up about her head, the maiden blinks, having momentarily lost sight of the crone. Hearing a rustling to her left, the maiden shifts her gaze to see the olde woman gently brushing aside a mass of tree branches before slipping past them, thus becoming invisible yet again. Pulse racing wildly within her breast, the maiden quickly dashes toward the branches through which the crone had disappeared, and pauses before them, moving but enough of the brush to peer through. Before her, a small clearing in the wood, within the center of which burns a large bonfire, it's light casting shadows upon the surrounding pines. Hearing voices, the maiden quickly lowers herself within the tall grass, taking cover near a fallen tree, her cloak pulled tightly about her despite the warm evening air. Her eyes seek out again the crone, now surrounded by a group of other women seemingly as ancient as she. The women mingle about for a few moments, exchanging greeting and the like then silently take what seem to be their usual positions about the fire, canes being cast down upon the soft grass so as to link hands. The maiden wills her breathing to calm, fearful that the women could hear her, should the night breezes halt for but a moment. Biting her bottom lip in anticipation, she looks on, this being the moment she has been awaiting.
Slowly the crones begin to move about the circle, gnarled hands clasped to form a large ring, as an ancient chant in a tongue unrecognized by the maiden's ears flows from their wrinkled lips. The hidden maiden silently takes count of the women, whilst trying to seek out the names within her mind to match the familiar faces. Thirteen women she counts...thirteen crones circling the flames, with each step, their pace growing slightly faster. Focusing upon the crone she had followed, she counts again...this time, the passes about the fire...
One...she silently speaks within her mind, taking note of the quickening steps.
Two...Three...The women begin to release hands this time, many reaching to remove their shawls and kick off their shoes.
Four...Five...Six...Again more garments are shed, their movements becoming more fluid, their faces taking on youthful expressions, grey hair losing some of it's silver sheen.
Seven...Eight...Nine...Ten...The women by this time are dancing about, their arms moving in graceful gestures, their bodies spinning slightly as they move quickly about the circle, their chanting growing louder. The maiden blinks, noting Nadinia's appearance, the crone she had followed, the woman's hair now a deep chestnut, its silver light having disappeared. She watches as the woman quickly sheds her gown, revealing not the body of an olde woman, but that of a youthful maiden, looking to be much her own age.
Eleven...Twelve...The women chant loudly, ridding their now supple bodies of all their garb, tossing the garments this way and that, leaping about and twirling in an excited dance, yet ever keeping the circle moving about the fire.
Thirteen! ...Suddenly all footfalls come to a halt, the women quickly raising their arms toward the sky as a loud undecipherable word is spoken in unison. The maiden blinks, noting a faint blue light rising up from the fire, as if being sent forth to the night sky, disappearing within the stars after a moment's time.
After a short while, the women begin to move once again about the fire, shadows playing upon their now pleasing forms. Long tresses void of all gray caress slender hips which sway gently to an unheard rhythm, arms languid and rising toward the stars. Behind the veil of the brush, the maiden watches silently as the women dance about the flames, their bodies moving as if entranced. Shapely forms glisten with sweat within the fire's light as hair waves wildly upon the night breezes, again soft chanting flows from their lips. As the chanting falls silent, the women continue to dance about one another, not caring that the pattern about the circle has been broken. Gentle caresses are exchanged, light playful kisses given to one another as if taking great delight in the youthful bodies they now possess. The maiden watches on, enthralled by the actions of the women before her, firm breasts of one woman gently teasing the tender flesh of another's back, fingernails tracing the perfect curves of hips and roaming about shapely thighs.
Focusing a now wide-eyed gaze upon Nadinia, the maiden studies her intently, the woman's long chestnut tresses falling about her shoulders, pert nipples thrusting their way past the mass of tendrils as if to tease. Lifting a hand Nadinia brushes a few fiery locks of hair from the cheek of the lovely lass standing near her before leaning in to nip lightly at the woman's bottom lip. The red-haired lass quickly responds, hands roaming about Nadinia's form, grazing her buttocks with the nails of one hand whilst lifting the other to cup a firm breast, teasing it's pink nipple with her thumb. Their attentions increase in intensity, lips meeting in hungry kisses, tongues dancing wildly about one another.
Reluctantly the red-haired lass breaks the kiss, her tongue slowly raking down the other woman's neck and across her collarbone before continuing it's trail downward, teeth nipping lightly at the tender flesh between her breasts. Shifting to the left, she captures a nipple within her mouth, rolling her tongue about playfully whilst suckling, tugging gently with her teeth. Nadinia lets her eyes fall closed, thick, dark lashes fluttering against sun-kissed cheeks, head tilting back as a soft moan escapes full lips and her fingers entwine within the fiery tresses of the one giving her pleasure, urging her to continue her attentions. Noting the response, the red-haired lass slowly lowers herself to kneel upon the soft green grass, trailing hungry kisses across the woman's abdomen, biting gently her hip and thigh. With a swift movement, she raises her lover's leg, resting a shapely thigh upon her shoulder and running her tongue slowly along the length of the tender flesh.
Gripping a handful of fiery tresses to steady herself, Nadinia eagerly moves her hips forth to meet the fiery kisses, sharp ripples of excitement coursing through her being beneath the other woman's touch then gasping in delight as hot breath finds her womanhood. The red-haired lass grips the flesh of Nadinia's buttocks, lifting her hips a bit as to seek out her desired destination. With a quick dart of her tongue, she lightly runs the length of the woman's moistness, inhaling deeply the scent of her. Glancing up to her partner's face, she smiles to herself before moving to the small, pink nub, swirling small circles about it and nipping playfully with her teeth as if to tease the woman slightly before giving her the pleasure of a skilled mouth. Feeling the grip tighten about her red tresses, she lifts a hand to part the lips of the woman's wetness then slowly delves her tongue within the soft folds, caressing the inner walls whilst her thumb runs small rings about the pink bud she wishes not to leave unattended.
The maiden wills herself to look away, thinking perhaps she ought to simply leave the women to their ritual, yet she cannot, her own body seeming to respond to the display of affection shared between the thirteen beguiling beauties about the fire. Sweat glistening bodies twisting about in pleasure within the green grass, hips rocking to meet the caresses of fingers, lips and tongues. Feeling a knot within her own abdomen begin to tighten, the maiden slowly lifts a hand to her own firm breast, lightly teasing the nipple through the fabric of her thin summer gown, her pale blue eyes fixed upon the orgy of lovelies before her.
Nadinia begins to move her hips in small circles, greedily meeting the attentions of the red-haired lass. Her pulse begins to quicken, her breathing growing ragged, chest heaving slightly as her breasts bob with the gentle movement. The red-haired woman increases her kisses, feeling the woman's urgency, suckling upon the small pink nub of her lover's womanhood whilst sliding a slender finger within the moist warmth, curling it this way and that to coax the woman toward her release. Loosening the nub from her lips, she again thrusts her tongue within the moistness betwixt the woman's thighs, moving about wildly, her finger continuing its dance. Hearing Nadinia's moans she eases her finger from the slit to quickly rub the woman's pink button, her tongue delving within the sweet moistness mercilessly as Nadinia bucks her hips wildly against her mouth. Suddenly, the woman's back stiffens, arching violently forth as the inner walls of her womanhood quiver fiercely upon the fiery lass' hot tongue. A long, low moan flows from Nadinia's full lips as she presses her partner's face to her moistness, her body quaking under the throws of orgasm.
Noting Nadinia's sudden reaction, the red-haired lass continues to delve within the moistness of her partner, the woman's sweet nectar flowing over her tongue as her inner walls tremble with delight. Lapping at the woman's warm juices she simply lets her kisses linger for a moment, wanting to bring the woman down gently, her tongue moving slowly up and down along the wet folds of her womanhood. Feeling the grip loosen upon her fiery tresses, she tilts her green gaze upward to smile upon her partner, the woman's pleasure glistening upon her lips and chin. Nadinia leans forth to capture her partner's mouth in a kiss, savoring the taste of herself upon the fiery lass' lips before pulling her to the grass with the intent to return the pleasure given unto her.
Many hours pass, as the maiden looks on, her hand having moved beneath the folds of her gown to gently caress herself, her fingers moist with her own warmth as she trembles, having brought about her own release. Breathing raggedly, she lets out a relieved sigh, a smile crawling over her full lips, her eyes still upon the women whom have now come to form a large, writhing heap of bodies, all caressing one another in a frenzy of lust.
When next aware, the maiden blinks, having fallen asleep against the large oak she had leaned upon. Frantically, she glances about, looking to the clearing where the women had once gathered only to find the fire, now extinguished and smoking faintly as the sun's rays become visible over the tree tops. Rubbing gently her eyes with her fists, she rises from her hiding spot, pondering the past eve's occurrences. Had she witnessed such a gathering, or simply dreamt it? Stepping out upon the worn path upon which she had arrived, she takes one final look upon the clearing then wrinkles her brow slightly, focusing upon a small twinkling object in morning's light. Quickly she moves within the clearing, kneeling to retrieve the object from the grass. Within her palm she studies small silver object, some sort of charm perhaps. Slipping the pendant within the leather pouch at her waist, she lifts her skirts to hurriedly make her way down the path, fearing the sharp side of her mum's tongue should she be caught out from beneath the quilts of her own bed.
Anxiously would she await the moon's next fullness....