Chapter Thirty-One

Arianna and Darius were grateful when life returned to normal and they had their cabin to themselves. Sarah and Michael had a lovely wedding ceremony in the church and began married life in their newly constructed cabin. Patrick and Bessie moved to their home. A small cabin was built near the church for Vicar Edwards. Jean-Claude and Monique returned to Boston with an invitation for Darius and Arianna to visit.

The harvest was finished. Their cold cellar was laden with an abundance of root vegetables and apples, some spread out on cloth, some in bins, others pickled or in jams and jellies preserved in jars. The pungent scent of earth, apples, pickles and onions filled the lower chambers. With the sheep, hogs, chickens and occasional wild game, there’d be plenty to keep them through winter.

Darius and Arianna revered Christmas and the dawning of the year sixteen hundred ninety-three with celebratory meals, inviting the settlers to their cabin again. Thankfully George Alcott didn’t show up and Arianna was pleased there’d been no news of him or his soldiers.

With fewer chores Darius and Arianna went on long walks and horse rides, even swam in the icy lake occasionally. One day he accompanied her to her sacred clearing.

“How did you do this?” Darius asked, baffled by the changed appearance of her hallowed location.

She smiled at him. “With magic of course.”

“Obviously you couldn’t move such huge stones. I doubt a dozen men or a team of horses could move even one of these stones. Where did you find them?”

Arianna looked at the thirteen massive, tall, pointed stones that formed a circle in her sanctuary, and the dolmen, the unusual rock formation with one stone supporting another, in the middle.

“I found them in various locations and used my powers to bring them here. There was a dolmen and stone circle near where I lived in Ireland. I wanted my special location to remind me of Ireland.”

“It’s spectacular, Arianna, but…”

“But you don’t approve?”

“How will this be explained?”

“If not by witchcraft?” she said.

“Aye,” he replied with concern.

“I’ve placed a concealment spell and a protective circle around it. Only you and I’ll be able to see it.”

“Wouldn’t that also be unexplainable if a person riding through the forest hits an invisible barrier?”

“Watch,” she said. She took his hand and led him just beyond the stones.

A deer grazed nearby and as it neared the barrier, it simply moved around it.

“I don’t understand,” Darius admitted.

“It’s otherworldly, Darius. This place can’t even be felt by those without magic.”

“Except me?”

“Aye, because I’ve drawn you into my magic it permits you to see it and because of the blood and fertility ritual we performed, you can enter. I’ll be safe inside this circle,” she assured him.

“And getting to the circle?” he asked as he looked through the clearing to the cabin.

“I’ll have you or Wolf escort me. You’re both my guardians.”

The weather grew colder but there’d been no snow. In their bedchamber one night Arianna stood at the window observing the full moon. She breathed upon the cold leaded-glass pane, creating a mist. In it she drew a heart and placed their names within. He smiled at that and went to her.

“You’re so very beautiful, my wee witch.”

“You’re exceptionally handsome, my husband.”

“I still can’t get my fill of you,” he said, kissing her neck.

“Nor I you,” she replied.

“Come to our bed.”

She nodded and he helped remove her garments then she reveled in watching him as he undressed as well.

“Ohhh you’re an impressive man,” she said but something caught her eye. She returned to the window and looked back, beaming.

“It’s snowing, my love. Look at the beautiful, immense snowflakes! Aren’t they magical, Darius? We must go outdoors now!” She excitedly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.

“Like this?” he said looking at his unattired body.

She nodded and he managed to grasp a quilt as she pulled him down the stairs and out the door.

Arianna exuberantly rushed outside and twirled about in delight. With snowflakes cascading upon her lovely unclothed body and the moonlight shining on her waist-length red hair, she looked beyond beautiful, truly magical, like a faery or goddess.

“Aren’t you cold?” he asked as he remained on the steps, but she seemed entranced.

As the snow fell faster she smiled, held her face skyward and stuck out her tongue, then turned to look at him, green eyes shining.

“If we allow the first snowflakes of the season to fall upon our tongue and eyelids, it’ll ensure we’ll experience no hunger or tears of sorrow throughout the winter. Mama always said so. From my earliest memories, I recall she’d wake me, even in the dead of night, during the first snowfall and we’d go out together. Come stand with me, Darius,” she said holding out her hand.

The combination of her womanly sensuality and her childlike wonder brought tears to his eyes with the depth of love he felt for her. In truth, it frightened him. He wanted to hold her and never let go. She continued to lift her face toward the sky and caught the snowflakes on her tongue.

Keeping her fed wasn’t an issue, but whether he could prevent her sorrowful tears, he wasn’t so confident. He finally went to her, followed her lead and caught the snowflakes on his tongue. She wrinkled her nose and happily laughed. He wrapped them both in the quilt, then kissed her eyelids.

“Let’s go inside, my wee witch. You’re shivering and I’d very much like to warm you in our bed.”

“Aye, I’d like that,” she said.

There was always something to occupy their time. Tending to the animals, cutting and stacking wood, clearing paths of snow, keeping the many hearth fires burning, and the cooking and cleaning. Arianna delighted in her life with Darius, never having known such contentedness.

Family and friends visited frequently. Samuel and Kathleen’s children often stayed with them, even overnight, sometimes Rachel, too.

Elizabeth’s promiscuity settled…or perhaps she better concealed it so she wouldn’t have to contend with strict rules. Sarah fell pregnant straight after she and Michael were married. They were delighted and Darius and Arianna were happy for them. She didn’t miss Darius’s expression when she related the news. He dearly wanted a child but Arianna was relieved he didn’t make further suggestions of her carrying someone else’s bairn.

She found herself wondering if it was best she didn’t conceive. Although everything was peaceful, even blissful now, she worried what the future held. She’d been consistently working on protection spells, hoping they’d encompass the settlement and the surrounding native villages. Olathe’s prophetic words often haunted Arianna as did the memory of the beast with Alcott.

The fact there’d been no sightings of Alcott or his soldiers made her wary. She feared he intended something untoward. Darius said the snow likely kept the soldiers away, therefore she savored their present happiness.

Darius and Arianna spent considerable time alone and continued their healthy, very torrid physical relationship. They’d indeed made love in every chamber of the cabin, bar Liza’s chambers, several times. They’d even coupled down in the cellar. Often it was spontaneous, uninhibited, leaving them breathless, their bodies glistening with heat. Sometimes it was slow and tender. She thrilled at both.

It wasn’t only the frequent lovemaking they shared, but gentle caresses and familiarity of each other’s touch, the knowing looks. She adored having him as a lover, a husband and a friend.

They often sat on the covered porch watching the sun set or played in the mounds of fluffy white snow. They read by the roaring hearth, enjoyed chess and card games, and drank endless cups of tea. When their eyes met they sometimes chased one another to their bedchambers or made love by the fire.

One night they lay together after a fervent encounter on the braided rug by the firelight of the large hearth.

“I’ve never been this happy, Arianna,” he said softly touching her face. “I want you to know the profound joy I feel having you with me. When I walk into our cabin, smell the delicious meals, hear you singing or humming happily, or hold you when you sleep, something deep within me rejoices. You’ve brought love, warmth and enrichment to my life.”

She looked into his eyes, so serious now, and her own heart filled with a love so powerful, it almost took her breath away.

“I’m also happy, Darius. I adore being your wife and making a home with you. You’ve made me feel loved and protected in your arms. I always longed for a normal life and you’ve given me that, but it’s extraordinary, too. Thank you, my husband.”

They laughed together often. Although they didn’t always agree, they never argued beyond a healthy debate. The long winter allowed them to get to know one another on a soul level, she thought. There’d been some winter storms that made Arianna relieved she and Darius were safe inside their cabin and often warm together beneath their bedcovers.

When weather allowed, the small church was full. Vicar Edwards seemed a caring person and a fine speaker. Arianna thought the man had won over everyone. Yet sometimes she sat trying to determine something about him that seemed just beyond her memory.

Kathleen had recently discovered she was with child again, as were six other women at the settlement. One was Anna Schmidt who was thirty-seven and never conceived before. Arianna supposed the long, cold, dark winter nights accounted for the growing number of pregnancies.

Each time there was an announcement of an expected baby, Arianna and Darius were inundated with inquiries as to why Arianna’s belly wasn’t growing. It disturbed Darius more than her, for he suspected he was responsible. No one else knew he’d suffered the mumps since it had been when he’d been away at sea. Darius told her he didn’t mind alerting the others if it would quieten their questions, but Arianna disagreed, knowing men’s ability to produce children was highly regarded by many. She admitted she’d rather have others believe she may be barren, claiming she was accustomed to ridicule. He didn’t like her reasoning, therefore they now avoided that discussion.

One day when Darius was in the stables, Arianna lightly walked atop the snow and made it to her clearing. She’d missed being here. Leaning against one of the tall stones, she looked at the thick hoar frost on the trees. It seemed magical. When she heard the whisper of forest faeries, they peeked their heads out from the frozen bushes and frost-covered tree branches. She smiled and they drew nearer.

“The other one will need you one day,” a faery said.

“The other one?” Arianna asked.

“The witch with magic like your own. She’ll need you and the other witches to go with her.”

“I don’t know who you mean,” Arianna said.

“The descendant of the Celtic princess.”

“Do you mean Alainn?” Arianna asked.

The faeries nodded their heads excitedly; their wings fluttered so quickly the air hummed.

“Why would she need me?”

“She’ll explain.”

“She can cross the veil of realms and time,” a particularly lovely faery said.

The thought of meeting Alainn excited her, but she certainly didn’t want to leave Darius. When the faeries suddenly scattered, Arianna turned to see Olathe. She nodded to Arianna even though she was in her sacred space. It confirmed Arianna’s belief Olathe had magic. Although she was a good distance away, Arianna could hear her voice within her mind.

“I’m glad you’ve made him happy these moons, but we’re both aware darkness approaches. You attempt to protect him and the others, as well as my people. Your magic is powerful, but you can’t do it on your own.”

“Are you saying you’ll help me?” Arianna asked.

“I’m doing what I can. I’ve burned sage and asked for safe-keeping from the Great Spirit. He protects your people and mine, but it won’t always be possible. I sense peacefulness will not remain.”

“That’s unsettling.”

“It will be up to you, Hair of Blood-fire, to face the darkness, or send it away.”

Arianna sighed as Olathe disappeared into the wintry forest.

Olathe’s words gravely unsettled Arianna and she began working tirelessly on protection spells. She’d seen Darius looking at her oddly. Arianna was further distraught because she’d begun to experience terrifyingly real dreams. She’d often waken shaking and damp with perspiration, fearful she wouldn’t be able to protect Darius or the others.

One night Arianna woke from a particularly distressing dream, left Darius sleeping and made her way to her forest haven. She stood in the circle of stones, calling her magic. When she looked up into the dark sky she saw a silver glow surrounded the circle. Would it be a beacon to any who had magic…light and dark? It was a protected space; surely she was wrong. But as she stepped from within, she was encompassed with a sense of dread and her amulet glowed.

She shook her head, thinking her eyes deceived her, for standing staring at her just outside her protective circle was George Alcott. The look on his face was disturbing and the slow smile at her disbelief added to her discomfort. How could he be here? The snow was too deep. She could scarcely make it here.

“Does my presence perplex you, Mrs. Wyndham?” he asked.

Arianna ignored him, but stepped back into the circle, terrified when she could still hear him.

“Have you enjoyed our time together in your dreams?”

Arianna’s skin crawled, for she’d been sickened by the erotic dreams she’d had involving Alcott. She’d often moved from Darius during the night, which distressed her, for she liked sleeping in his arms or with their bodies touching. But she was fearful he’d be pulled into her dreams. He completely despised Alcott already. What would it do to him to witness her and Alcott intimate together?

She loathed the reoccurring dreams. She could clearly recall the scent of his skin, envision the red velvet curtains surrounding Alcott’s bed at the fort; the red rose he left on her pillow after they had lain together. She shuddered at her repulsion.

“I’ve been well satisfied in those dreams, Mrs. Wyndham.”

Arianna didn’t believe Alcott had magic of his own, but he was directly connected to the beast she’d seen that day. Though Arianna couldn’t see him, she sensed the beast may be here now. He’d feed on her fear. She instinctively knew he gave Alcott power Arianna didn’t want to consider.

She remained within the circle not daring to step out. She was cold, but sat inside the dolmen and created a magic glow, trying to stay warm. She eventually fell asleep and awoke to Darius calling.

“Arianna! Arianna, by Christ, where are you?”

When he stepped within the circle, Arianna crawled out from the dolmen. He lifted her into his arms, shivering and afraid.

“You might have died, Arianna,” Darius said holding her tight. “Why would you come here at night? When I couldn’t find you, I was terrified. I saw your footprints but barely made it through the heavy snow.”

“I was afraid to leave, Darius. I think there was a bear outside the circle,” she lied.

“Bears would be asleep now, Arianna.”

“It was a beast.”

“Like the one you saw last autumn with Alcott?”

“Aye,” she admitted. “I thought you didn’t believe me.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t believe you. I didn’t want to believe it, my wee witch. Promise me you won’t come out here alone at night,” he said.

“I won’t,” she agreed, still trembling.

“Let’s get you home,” he said.