It seemed like forever before the time of the full moon came; that day I went to my room early, pleading a headache, my cousin agreed to stay in a guest room that night to spare my tender hearing.
Around 4 hours after sunset, I climbed out of bed, put a dark cloak over my dress, then slipped out of my room and into the silent city.
I made my way back to the clearing; Galeorhin was already waiting for me.
"Am I late?" I asked him as I entered, he started visibly.
"Lheora Yhanni, you startled me, and I am early."
"Apologies."
"Accepted. Are you ready?"
"Honestly, no, shall we go?"
"Very well, it is necessary for you to be blindfolded, just in case you change your mind."
I nodded, he slipped a cloth over my eyes and took my hand, and I shivered.
"Nervous?" he asked, gently leading me through the forest. I nodded - it was near enough to the truth.
"We're nearly there," he told me, a short while later I nodded again.
Suddenly, I froze, I smelled smoke - even though my people don't burn wood there are still forest fires occasionally.
The very idea of killing a tree to use it for warmth was an abomination, I couldn't move, the very thought of it chilled me beyond reason.
"Lheora Yhanni!" Galeorhin grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "It's dead wood, Shakali, from the ground, I swear we have not harmed any living thing!"
(Shakali = Elven word that translates as sweetheart/dear friend. - AL)
"On your Honor?" I managed to blurt out.
"My honor as a priest."
I was uncertain but chose to believe his words.
"Very well," I said, "lead on."
"Stop here," he said. We had walked another quarter hour or so to reach this destination, I could feel the heat of the fire, and smell it.
"My brothers and sisters, my fellow Lord high priest, I bring before you one who wishes to learn of the True Gods."
Galeorhin removed the blindfold, I was in the center of a circle of hooded people, and I could not tell if they were men or women.
"There is a test," said the second priest, I recognized Lord Rhialhins voice, "are you prepared to take it?"
"What test?" I asked firmly.
"A test of your belief in the True Gods, or are you afraid?"
That was, without a doubt, the worst thing he could have said!
"Of course I am not afraid, my heart is pure and my beliefs are not false!"
He held up a glass, filled with some kind of dark liquid, and handed it to me.
"Then drink the Nectar of the Gods and know their voices, if you are true."
I took the cup and drank from it, the taste exploded in my mouth and I collapsed to the ground.
At the same time I was still standing, I could see my body on the ground, and all around me were swirling, vaguely elf shaped lights.
"What is going on?" I wondered.
"Greetings, Lheora Yhanni Nikaria."
I spun around, standing before me was a tall woman, dressed in green, with leaves for hair.
"Who are you?" I stammered, overcome by her beauty - no mean feat when you are born into the most beautiful race of the world.
(The Historians' statistics show that over all the elves are the most visually attractive race. - AL)
"I am Salya."
"Blessed Goddess!" I gasped, she smiled knowingly.
"Just so," she agreed, with a gesture she summoned forward two other women.
The first was younger than the other two, a tall gracious blonde who made me feel like a clumsy human.
"I am Lyari," she said in a condescending tone that suggested I should know this already.
"My Lady," I replied with a curtsey.
"And I am Hyjora," said the third, who was older, in appearance than Lyari, and had dark blue hair that flowed around her face.
"And we are Electis and Riax," said a cold voice behind me, I was nearly too afraid to turn, but I did.
The two Gods, and I can describe them no other way, wore the shape of men but it was easy to see who they were.
Electis, the Fire Lord, had flames dancing around him. Riax, the Death Lord wore a long metal weapon with a skull as its hilt.
"My Lords," I said, curtseying as low as I could, as much out of fear as respect, and this time I did not rise.
"She is strong," commented Lord Riax, as though I were not there.
"But young," Lady Salya said, in a tone that suggested they were continuing a previous conversation.
"Could she be the one?" said Lady Lyari casually.
"A very interesting aura," remarked Lord Electis, as he looked at me in a rather predatory manner.
"We are not here to decide that now," Lady Hyjora reminded them, "we are here to test her."
"Indeed," agreed Lord Riax. "Look at me, Lheora Yhanni Nikaria."
I steadied myself mentally and looked up to meet his eyes, he did naught but look at me for the merest fraction of a moment, but it seemed like an eternity.
"She has not lied," he announced. "She is honest in her desire to honor us."
"Be welcome to the fellowship of our followers, dear child." I recognized Salya's voice, but I was still captivated by Lord Riax eyes.
"Welcome indeed," chorused Lady Lyari and Lady Hyjora, I wrenched my gaze away from Lord Riax and curtseyed.
"I am most humbly pleased that you consider me acceptable."
"Most acceptable," remarked Lord Electis, "Lord Riax, do you not find her acceptable?"
Dimly I wondered why he was putting such an emphasis on the question.
"Of course, I said she was honest did I not?"
His reply was casual, almost bored, but it seemed like there were two separate conversations in progress.
"Yes you did," he agreed, equally blandly.
"Well we had best not keep her here too long, it is her first time traveling out of her body," scolded Lady Salya. I found myself thinking that she sounded a lot like my cooking tutor.
One by one, the Goddesses bid me farewell and disappeared into the mist, followed by Lord Electis who said nothing, then Lord Riax approached me - I took a hasty step backwards.
"No need to fear me, Lady, Elves do not fear me, remember?"
"Yes, but most Elves have not met you in person, My Lord."
I winced, cursing my tendency to speak without thinking.
"Apologies," I said hastily, "I meant no offense, My Lord"
"Of course not, and I am not offended. In fact I will tell you something that will, perhaps, allay your fear of me. It is not I who decides when a living thing will pass from its Life, I am merely the messenger, as it were, of Fate who controls all."
I was feeling rather strange by now, rather like I'd had too much wine.
"It was not truly what you represent that frightened me," I replied boldly, "it is just that, well, you look scary!"
There are not many people who can say they have made Death laugh, in fact I am probably the only one. He laughed, I didn't think he was laughing so much at me, personally, as he was laughing at my boldness.
"When next you have the chance to speak with Galeorhin Galues, in private, ask him to tell you what I told him at his first initiation."
"I will, My Lord," I promised.
"Now close your eyes and think about where your body is, that will take you back to it," he instructed me then faded into the mist.
I did as he said; when I opened my eyes I was back in the middle of the circle.
"I saw them!" I panted, trying to catch my breath.
"Welcome, Sister," said Lord Rhialhin.
"You look exhausted, Lheora Yhanni," commented Galeorhin.
"You should return to your home," said Lord Rhialhin, "there will be many more meetings at which you can learn all you need to know."
"My thanks, my Lord, but I do not know the way," I pointed out; Galeorhin helped me to my feet.
"I will escort you to the house of your Mother," he offered formally.
"My thanks," I replied, still barely capable of forming a coherent sentence.
The trip home passed in a blur, without quite realizing how we had gotten there, I was home.
"Meet me at the clearing on the next full moon, I will show you the way."
"My thanks," I replied, and he started to walk away. "Oh I was supposed to ask you, something."
He stopped walking and waited patiently.
"I'm sorry I can't remember," I said helplessly.
"I'm sure it will come to you, Farewell my Lady."
"Goodnight, my Lord."
I walked back to my room; grateful that it was too early for anyone to be awake, and wondering how I could contain all of my questions for another twenty-eight days. (The Elven calendar has 28 days to a month, and 13 months in a year. - AL)