Lillipool was considered to be a Christian village, though for some time our coven had known that the Vykrothes had a circle nearby and Leapvaughn sheepherders lived in cottages on its outskirts. There was the usual small church, which I assumed Diarmuids clan attended to avoid persecution as witches. A mill cranked at the edge of the village. We passed by it, then came upon the village center. In Lillipools small, dusty square, peddlers displayed their wares amid clouds of blowing dirt. No one knew why grass refused to grow on the village green here, but my mother had once told me that although Leapvaughns have a gift for sales and carpentry, they were known to be barren farmers.
Falkner guided the wagon through the lane, stopping for passing villagers who paid us little mind. He brought the cart over to a small wagon at the end of the square, its side panel painted Ye Finest Wood Crafters. Ive got to pick up a table for Da, he said.Twill be a short while, if you want to walk around.
He helped us down from the cart, and we dusted our skirts and stepped forward gingerly, our arms linked.
I hope he is here, I said. His father likes him to tend the sheep, but Diarmuid prefers to spend his time in the village and at market.
Kyra nodded, averting her eyes as a tin peddler leered at her.Tis an odd village, she said. Like a desert in the Highlands.
As we walked past a tinkers wagon, a cart laden with fruits, and another with an array of bonnets, I kept searching for Diarmuid. I spotted a lad who walked with the same gait and another who seemed to share his broad smile, but I did not see my love.
When we reached the end of the row of carts, I spied a head of gingery brown hair. It was feathered back from his face, revealing startling blue eyes and a smile that warmed my heart.
Diarmuid.
There he is! I gasped.
Kyra squeezed my arm. You found him.
But he was not alone. A tall, swanlike girl with pale yellow hair walked beside him.
Who is she? Kyra muttered.
I dont know. Perhaps a friend.
Kyra looked back toward the cart. Ill go see if Falkner can find out.
I barely noticed that she had left my side. My Diarmuid was within reach, so close I could run into his arms, yet something kept me there, my feet mired to the ground. Who was the girl? I watched in horror as she said something to him, making him laugh. It had all the markings of flirtation. But then he chucked her under the chin, seeming more like an older brother. An older woman came by and handed the girl a tart. She took a taste, then fed the rest to Diarmuid with her bare fingers.
Such an intimate gesture. And he took it from her hand, licking his lips. Oh, Goddess, what did it mean?
Rose, Kyra said, softly resting her hand on my arm.Tis terrible. your worst fears confirmed! She is Diarmuids betrothed! They were promised to each other as children, and they are to be wed upon next Samhain!
I shook my head. An arranged marriage? How could it be? Why had he never told me? I pressed my hands to my hot cheeks. If Diarmuid was promised to another, we had no chance of being married.
Oh, Rose! Kyra squeezed my arm. Such dire news, and you with child...
It couldnt be. My hands dropped to fists at my side, and for a moment I wanted to rush over and pummel him. Diarmuid was not the hero I had thought him to be. He had lied to me.
But then, hed faced overwhelming obstacles. Perhaps hed been trying to protect me from this until he sorted it out? And if his parents had arranged the marriage, that meant hed had no choice. So he doesnt love her, I said, thinking aloud. And of course, his parents would want him to marry within his clan. Im sure its part of the reason they dont want him to marry me.
Not really, Kyra said. The girls name is Siobhan MacMahon, and she is not a Leapvaughn, but a Vykrothe.
An arranged marriage to someone from another clan? Anger rose in my throat, hot and painful. His parents thought it acceptable for him to marry outside his clan but not to marry me? Or was it that he could not marry a Wodebayne?
Falkner has the table loaded in the cart, Kyra said. Hes ready to leave.
But I havent... I glanced over at Diarmuid. Siobhan still hovered about him like a bee collecting nectar from a flower. It was hardly the time to march over and tell the boy I was going to bear his child.
This meeting had not worked out the way Id planned. Not at all.
Rose, youre crying, Kyra said gently.
No matter. I swiped the tears out of my eyes with the backs of my hands. I needed to see him with her. I needed to see the enemy.
I stared at the swan-necked girl who was fawning over Diarmuid. She was tall and lithe, with flaxen gold hair. Everything about her was the physical opposite of me.
Diarmuid could not love one so unlike me. How could it be, Goddess? How was it possible that he could love another at all?
Wed better go, Kyra said.
I felt her clamp my arm and pull me away toward the cart, my eyes still on Diarmuids betrothed. How could he even think of marrying another?
How could he?
9. On the Making and Charming of Poppets
I promised myself I would cry no more. Everyone knew too much sobbing could harm the child in a mothers womb, and I was beginning to learn that tears were futile. I needed to do something to secure my babys happiness and health.
It was time to use my powers.
Why had I not thought of this before? I wondered as I steadfastly sewed and decorated my poppets, working a little each day and night. The course of my relationship with Diarmuid ran parallel to my magick. Had I not captivated him completely with the rose stone? And then, when Id misplaced it, he had fallen away, never returning to our secret circle. It was so clear. I needed to enlist the Goddesss help to get him back in my arms.
I went through Mas cupboard of stones, searching for a gem to replace the rose stone. I weighed each stone in my palm and turned it about, hoping to feel a swell or glow of power, but nothing moved me. Perhaps a charm wasnt the right thing anymore. Time for a spell.
First I dedicated a candle to him, carving runes up the side that spelled his name. Although I had to hide the candle from Ma, I burned it whenever she went out, chanting to the Goddess to rekindle the love flame in this boy. And when the flame was doused, I censed my belly with the smoke, inviting my babe to feel my love for her father.
While working candle magick, I also searched for a powerful love spell. Although Ma had instructed Kyra on the making of love dolls, I could not recall the details. Searching my mothers Book of Shadows, I came across the spell. It was called simply Poppets.
Thou must craft two poppets to represent the two lovers.
What is done to the poppets shall be done to the lovers.
Cut two pieces of cloth shaped like a man, then two shaped like a woman. While cutting the cloth, bring to mind the person it represents. If the ideal lover has long, flowing hair or a comely beard, so should the poppet. Thou must heed the lover thou seekest is thine ideal mate, not a named lord or lady.
Stuff the figure with herbs governed by Venus. Such herbs: verbena, feverfew, yarrow, motherwort, rosebuds, or damiana.
Tis strong magick! Use only for a love that will have permanence, not for a mere dalliance.
Thou must thrice perform a love ritual over the poppets during the waxing moon.
The spell was very specific and promised to be very powerful. And I would give it all the more power by making my doll look just like Diarmuid and embroidering his name upon it. My own brand of magick had worked well when charming the rose stone; I felt sure this would be even stronger.
It took me days to construct the dolls, during which Ma noticed and encouraged my work. You are seventeen years of age, Rose. Perhaps tis time for you to fall in love with a gentle witch. She didnt see the name I had stitched upon it, didnt realize that I was making a Diarmuid poppet, designed to capture his love, and I didnt dare tell her that I was working magick she considered to be dark. When the dolls were done, I had to wait for the waxing moon to begin the spell. I felt impatient, but I knew that the spell would have its full potency only if I followed the instructions.
By the time I was ready to perform the spell for the third time, it was August and Lughnassadh preparations were upon us. During the weeks of preparing the dolls and consecrating them, I missed Diarmuid desperately. My only consolation was that we would have the rest of our lives together once we made it past this obstacle. I also noticed that the babe was growing, pushing at the swath of cloth I belted around my skirts. I had to adjust the girdle higher, which only seemed to accent the new lushness of my breasts. Perhaps this was the Goddesss purpose in waitingto give Diarmuid a visible sign of my love for him, the child within my womb.
10. Lughnassadh
Rising before dawn on the day of Lughnassadh, the celebration to honor the Sun God, I set off to my secret circle to complete the love spell. As I had done before, I placed the poppets facedown on the stone altar and consecrated the circle. I charged the girl poppet to be me, then picked up the boy, with feathery brown hair made of spun wool. Sprinkling it with salted water and censing it, I chanted: This poppet is Diarmuid, my mùirn beatha dàn in every way. As Diarmuid lives, so lives this poppet. Aught that I do to it, I do to him.
I kissed the Diarmuid poppet, then put him back beside the other on the altar. Kneeling before them, I moved the two poppets closer to each other, touching, turning, pressing face-to-face. As I moved them, I pictured myself reaching out to Diarmuid, meeting him, touching him, kissing and holding him so close in my arms, I could taste the salt on his skin.
When the poppets were face-to-face, I wrapped my red ribbon around them. Now may the Goddess bind these two together, as I do bind them here, I said. Around and around I circled them with ribbon, then tied it tightly so they would never, ever break apart. Now they are forever one. May each truly become a part of the other. Separated, they shall seem incomplete. So mote it be!
I rested my athame over the bound puppets, asking the Goddess to lend Her power to this and all spells I cast. Then I wrapped the poppets in a clean white cloth. I would stow them in the rafters of the cottage so that no animal or human could meddle with my magick.
After my task was done, I lifted my head to the bright midday sky. The heat was blistering hot today, casting a white glow across the land. Aye, twas the right day to honor the Sun God. I would go to Lillipool, but not until the sun had passed. Twas best not to make such a journey in the heat. Besides, of late my babe had drained me of strength. I no longer needed special herbs to calm my dizziness, but it seemed the babe wanted me to sleep the day away! I needed rest and a sip of cool tea.
By late afternoon, when the air had cooled and Ma was off preparing for the Lughnassadh celebration, I knew twas time to go. As I walked, I chanted bits and pieces of the love spell. Now may the Goddess bind these two together, as I do bind them here. Separated they would seem incomplete... The spell sustained me, and in no time the old mill of Lillipool loomed before me.
Today I was not so lucky as to find him in the dusty marketplace. I knew his coven would also be preparing to celebrate the sun festival, but what were his assigned tasks? To mull the wineor consecrate the circle? I wouldnt dare go near another covens circle, not that I would be able to find it.
Help me, Goddess, I prayed. Point me in the direction of my love.
I circled the dismal marketplace, hoping for an answer. Diarmuid did not appear, but as I paced, I came across a red feather. It sat in the middle of the lane, alone and abandoned, and the sight of it reminded me of the red feathers twined with ivy that I had used for our celebration of midsummer night. I had twined ivy around the feathersred for sexualityand festooned them around our circle.
Now this feather pointed down a lane. Was it pointing me toward my love?
I believed it to be so. Making haste, I followed the lane, which led past the church and quaint cottages to the countryside. My eyes followed the dark green patches of grass to a small hollow where a figure lay sleeping in the shade.
Diarmuid.
He was probably supposed to be tending sheep, though this summer heat would drive any lad to napping. I ventured off the road and crossed to him, my shoes whispering in the crisp grass. Although I did not call out to him, he stirred with my approach, rubbing his eyes. He turned toward me, saw me, then bolted upright.
What vision is this? he gasped. Has the Goddess herself descended, or am I but asleep and dreaming of love?
My heart melted. He was still the same Diarmuid, a poet and a tease.
I have come to reclaim you, I said firmly.
He took my hand and lifted it to his lips. You will always have my heart, Rose.
I want more, I said, thrilled by the spark of his lips upon my hand. We summoned the Goddess to bless our union, and she did. She looks down upon us with favor, yet you allow another to become your betrothed?
He stared at the ground.Twas not my doing, Rose.
Do you not remember your last words to me? That we were to be married forthwith?
I do, he said sheepishly. But tis not so simple a matter.
Aye, there are complications, but I have come to help you through them.
His blue eyes sparkled with regret. Im afraid you cant help, Rose. No one can help me. I have learned that a man cannot cross his elders or defy his clan. I need the approval of my coven, and they have vowed not to give it.
Aye, I face the same challenges, I said, thinking of my ma and the coveners who wanted to rail against rival clans. But this is no surprise, Diarmuid. We talked of it often. Twill not be easy, but you must remain steadfast and strong, lower your head and charge, like the ram in yonder field.
Would that I were a ram, destined to chew grass and laze in the sun. He reached for his throat and nervously squeezed the pentagram concealed by his shirt. Instead, I am a marriageable lad, a property of my parents dangled like a carrot before a horse.