The Almost One Night Stand

Chapter 21

She laughed, "You have no idea."

"Okay, well, hate to break up the party, but you have places to be, Ni," Jax said as he motioned to the two young girls approaching us. "And these guys have their own matters to attend to."

Nimue pulled Gabe and me into a tight hug, "Listen to Jax and trust your instincts. I love you both," she whispered and gave each of us a deep kiss. Despite her efforts, I could see the worry in her eyes as she gave us one last look before following the girls away.

"Where is she going?" I asked Jax.

"The initiates will take her to Brigid's temple. She'll need to go through the purification rituals and speak with the goddess privately." He stepped close to us and whispered low, "Do not trust your eyes and ears in the grove. Trust your instincts. Listen to the trees, they will lead you in the right direction." He took a step back as a trio of men approached. They were clad in woolen robes, and one had a staff and a stole embroidered with various symbols and lettering.

"Greetings gentlemen," the man with the stole said. "We have been informed that you seek Lady Nimue's hand in marriage. As is the tradition on Avalon, you must face a Druid's trial before gaining permission from the council to marry our Lady." Gabe and I exchanged confused glances and tried to remember what Jax had said. "You will be asked to enter the grove one at a time to seek permission from the trees to connect to the Isle. If the grove finds you worthy, you will have the blessing you seek."

We were instructed to remove our shoes and shirts. I gave Jax the wedding rings for safekeeping and watched as Gabe entered the grove first. About ten minutes later, I walked past the treeline. I couldn't see Gabe, but I thought I could hear his voice and started towards it. When I stumbled on a large fallen log, I stopped. Now he sounded like he was behind me. I shook my head in confusion and stood still. Before I started to move, I remembered what Jax had said about not trusting what I heard. It was a trap. Gabe wasn't calling to me, the grove was tricking me, making me wander in circles instead of finding what I was meant to find. The only problem was, I had no idea what I was supposed to find. I shut my eyes and reached out, placing my palm on a tree trunk. I pulled back feeling a tingling sensation, then touched the tree again. This time the tingling increased like a current of energy. My heart felt like it was racing and then I heard it. I heard the trees talking to me.

Gabe's POV

I wandered in circles for what felt like hours until I finally sat down on the grass and tried to shut out all the sounds and fake voices I was hearing. As I lay back, I dug my fingertips into the dirt and felt a vibration pass through me. It felt like sitting next to a giant bass drum that pounds and reverberates causing sound ripples that grow. I could feel the forest. The small creatures that roamed the forest floor scurried and their steps felt like music notes dancing along my skin. Then I felt him.

Hello pretty boy - I said, reaching out across the forest, sensing him.

Gabe? Wait, how are we talking? I could hear the shock in Luke's voice even though it was in my mind.

I chuckled, I have no idea. I just knew you were there. Did you find what you needed?

Sort of, but I feel like I haven't found everything yet. What about you?

Same. I can feel the connection, but there's something else I need to locate. I'll let you know when I find it. I stood, removing my fingers from the ground, and felt myself turning westward. As if a string were pulling me, I felt drawn toward a gigantic ash tree. It was ancient and towered above me. When I stood directly in front of it, I placed my hand against the massive trunk. My mind was flooded with visions - men in robes chanting, large bonfires with people dancing and laughing, a woman and man, both naked wearing only masks, jumping over a fire to a waiting ceremonial bed, ancient armies clashing, a lone soldier fallen, his head in the lap of a woman with solid black hair.

I fell to my knees gasping as the visions faded. What the fuck was that? I scratched at my chest as it began to feel like it was burning. I felt raised skin and looked down to see an odd mark over my heart. It looked like a vertical line with five small horizontal lines coming off to the right side of the original line. It was similar to a tattoo but had actually been burned into my skin. Found it, I called out to Luke.

Me too, he said back.

Luke's POV

Just after I heard Gabe's voice in my mind, I felt a pull to my left. The trees whispered to one another like old friends sharing secrets, and somehow I was allowed to listen as well. Come closer they whispered, not much farther.

I stumbled into a circle of hawthorn trees, the ground littered with fallen thorns from the trees. They stuck in my feet, but still, I walked forward. I could feel my feet bleeding as I came to rest against the base of one large tree. Its branches were heavy with soft white blossoms. I closed my eyes to rest, not even bothering to remove the thorns.

"You sacrifice much for her," a woman's voice said. I opened my eyes to see an older woman, her head covered with a veil kneeling on the fallen thorns before me. "Are you sure she is worthy of your sacrifice?"

I jumped to my feet, "How dare you say that?" I demanded. "Nimue is worth everything! I'd give my life for hers if needed. I don't know who you are, but if all you have to say are bad things about her, then just leave."

The woman laughed, "I meant no harm, Lucian Taylor. I only wanted to determine your level of conviction. She will need you in the upcoming days, you and your other lover." She motioned for me to sit again, and when I looked down, all the thorns were gone.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously.

"A maiden, a mother, a crone," she said cryptically. I leaned my head to one side as she continued, "Who I am isn't important, Nimue is. Her journey is just beginning and your family will become part of that journey." She placed a hand over each foot and I felt a tingling sensation as the wounds healed, then a burning sensation on my chest over my heart. "So very fitting," she murmured as she looked at the mark. It looked like a capital H with the left vertical line missing. "Come," she said standing and holding her hand out to me, "Your lover awaits. Nimue will come to you soon as well."

Found it, I heard Gabe say.

Me too, I said back, then I took her hand and followed her out of the grove to see Gabe standing with Jax with a huge grin on his face.

They both lowered their heads to the woman. "Goddess," Gabe said in a low voice. What? My eyes bulged as I realized who she was. I think I made a strangled noise because they all looked at me and laughed. "Leave it to you, man," Gabe shook his head at me with a silly grin, then grabbed my hand and kissed me firmly. "Let's go get married," he chuckled.

Author's Notes:  So the grove accepted Luke and Gabe.  The threads are coming together quickly now.  

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