Informally titled

Orin’s Tale

By Ayslyn Cerridwyn

    
Orin Thorhammer had lived a jaded life. Sitting in his favorite coffee shop, The Mean Bean, he liked to watch all the busy people bustle about, trying very hard to get out of the bad side of town. Orin didn’t like it much himself, but this was where he had lived since he left the county orphanage. He had a small and dirty apartment on the top floor of a neglected high-rise building. The sixteen flights of stairs to his room was tiresome, but it kept him in shape for his dancing. He worked at a local strip club, where amidst the smoke and hacking coughs of old ladies and bachelorette parties, he scrapped a living. He was by no means happy with his life, but always tried to see the good in everything around him. He paid for his coffee in folded one-dollar bills and left, ready to amble back to his apartment. Once he was safely in, he let out a deep sigh and removed his street clothes. He would never except that this was the life that he was meant to live. He longed so bad for there to be a place out there where he could have a family and a place to call home. With feelings of desperation floating in his head, he sat down before his altar and prayed to the Goddess to help him through these troubled times.

Two hours away from Orin was a giant hotel tucked into a forest grove. It wasn’t so much a hotel, as a castle, that had been built here two years ago, by a woman named Sabia Hawthorn. It was called Avalon and was a hotel that created a renaissance and medieval experience for their guests. But the operators of this hotel, the staff, management, maids, cooks and grounds people, where a coven of witches that sought their place in the world. Sabia welcomed all witches who wanted to stay with her, whether short term or long, and was now High Priestess of a coven of 53. The witches of the coven all respected Sabia, and some even loved her for what she had done for them. They felt safe in the castle, and enjoyed entertaining guests in their flowing gowns and robes. Sabia was not in the castle, however, but in the surrounding forest on her horse. Sabia enjoyed riding very much and it helped her relax from the stresses of running a coven and the hotel. She liked to think and today was pondering particularly depressing things. Today was her fifth wedding anniversary to her husband Richard. Richard was not a magical man, and had left her when she decided to build Avalon with her inheritance.  They had never been legally divorced, but they had not spoken to each other in three years. Sabia had been up since six riding the grounds on Luna and she was becoming tired. She turned back towards the castle and began home. The Beltane festival would be held in two weeks and it was no time for her to become depressed. She had much to do to prepare, and two weeks seemed like so little time. After leaving Luna at the stables, she went up to the castle and began her daily rounds, checking on meal preparations, reservations and guest relations. Eventually, she found herself in her office at quarter to noon, shuffling through papers on her desk, when Cerelina entered the room.
“Sabia, how are you doing?” she asked.
Cerelina was one of her closest friends. She knew about Richard and their anniversary, so it was only natural that she asked. Sabia sighed and pushed her long copper hair out of her face and looked at her friend.
    “I’m holding up. I just have this strange need to get out of here today, to get my mind off of things.”
    “Really? That’s weird, because I just realized that we are out of sage and we need it for the festival, but we wont be able to have any shipped in time. I was going to come and ask if you wanted to go to the magic shop in town and pick some up”
    “Umm”, she read the supply report Cerelina handed her, “You’re right, it wouldn’t be here in time”
    “Do you want me to call and have them bring your car up front?”
    “No, I don’t need any special treatment, Cerelina. I’ll just change and go to the garage. It will give me time to think”.

    Orin sat up in bed, having been awakened by a nightmare. It was the same one he had been having for years. He would see this beautiful woman with a sad smile and she would disappear and he could never find her again. He would always wake up in a cold sweat, even though the morning sun was beating down on him. Something felt different, he thought, like there was a different energy to the dream. I should probably have another reading done, he thought. And before he realized what he was doing, he was jogging down the sixteen flights of stairs, dressed and showered. Orin had his tarot cards read about every three months, or whenever he needed guidance in a matter. He always had them read by Mariana, a local witch who ran a magic shop on the lower east side of town. It wasn’t terribly far from where he lived, but Orin found himself jogging down the street as if something was pulling him along. He entered the shop to find Mariana behind the counter, shifting through a magazine. “Hey there,” she greeted him, “Are you in for another reading? How did you like a Grimore of Shadows?”
    “The book was great, but I need another reading. I had the dream again, but it felt more urgent this time,” he said in a hushed voice.
    “Ok, just let me set up the table.” She laid the magazine aside and wandered off. It was the title of the magazine article that caught his attention.  Coven at Avalon, it blazed off the page in front of a picture of a beautiful castle.
    “What’s this Mariana? Thinking of leaving the shop for Avalon?” he asked.
    “Oh no, this shop is my life, but it’s interesting. It’s really great that she does that for our people”.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, Sabia Hawthorn, she’s the high priestess and she owns Avalon, takes in Wiccans from around the country to live at Avalon. She lets anyone stay there, but naturally will dismiss anyone who causes any upheaval in the coven. You know, bad seeds. But it’s nice, they work at the hotel of course and she pays them and gives them room and board as long as they work. She comes in here from time to time, nice woman.”
    “Really, where is Avalon?”
    “It’s right outside of town, about two hours”, she said giving him a perplexed look, “I thought you of all people would have know”.
She turned abruptly at that and went to fetch her supplies. He busied himself reading the article, which told about the hotel and the jobs the coven did, and the festivals they held. But his mind was already coming to one conclusion: he had to go there; he had to be apart of Avalon. But how would he get there? He had no car. And what would he do? He had no work experience other than stripping. With these questions burning in his mind, he hardly noticed the woman who came in the shop. He read and reread the article, until a slight tap on his shoulder spun him around. There standing in front of him, with long coppery hair, was the woman with the sad smile. His eyes went wide with shock and she looked curious.
    “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to startle you”
    “Wh-what? Oh! No, you didn’t startle me, it’s just, you’re her.”
He suddenly felt afraid like in his dreams, when he knew she was gone and reached out to pull her to him in a hug. “I wont let go, not this time. You always get away, but I won’t let that happen again”, he said, inhaling the sweet scent of plumeria from her skin. Mariana returned and dropped her deck of cards with shock. “What are you doing!” she shouted.
    “Mariana, calm down, he doesn’t want to hurt me.” Said the woman.
    “Sabia, I’m so sorry, this is one of my regulars. Get off of her!” she shouted, batting at him, “He goes by Orin, his Wiccan name. Orin Thorhammer.”
    Sabia closed her eyes and looked into Orin’s mind. “He sees me in dreams, signs, his real name is Louis, but he doesn’t like it much. Oh, he has had so much pain in his life”.
Orin looked in to Sabia’s eyes and saw tears burning in them. Suddenly he could see a nice house and a man who was arguing with Sabia. He didn’t want her to build the hotel, he thought she was wasting her life, that this Wiccan thing was a phase she hadn’t grow out of. He cursed her and said he couldn’t take it anymore and left. Orin somehow had the knowledge that the two hadn’t spoken in years, and it saddened Sabia. “He didn’t deserve you, he didn’t understand”.
Sabia’s look became alarmed, “You can read me?”
“I don’t know what just happened”.
Sabia pushed away from him, gentle but firm. She looked at Mariana, who was still a little shocked, then back to Orin.
    “I think we should all sit down and talk”.

    An hour later, after Sabia and Orin had explained their stories, they were sitting at the tarot table with Mariana, delving into each other’s mind. Mariana placed her hand on Sabia’s, then Orin’s, signaling them to draw out. Sabia blinked and then, sat back and sighed. “He has to be a natural”, she started,” He has too much magic in him for it not to be so. But I can’t tell without further delving whether it was paternal or maternal, although the latter seems more possible. I will have to take him back to Avalon for that kind of training”.
    “Really? You wan to take me back to Avalon?”
    “Well, it is essential for further testing of your powers. No one I have ever come across has been able to read me, let alone tear down my barriers and see some of the most intimate moments of my life. And I think you would be a valuable asset to the coven with your skills.”
    “What skills? I can’t do the things your witches do. I can care for horses or do metal working, or hell, cook for that matter.”
    “But you can learn. And that is the most important thing. We can teach you all you would need to know to be a productive member of the hotel staff, but as for a member of the coven, that would await approval from the council”
    “But I can go there?”
    “What would you need to put in order?”
    “Well, I’d have to quit my job, no lose there and pack my stuff, I pay rent monthly and I’m good for this month. So, that’s about it”
    “I must ask, even though I know the answer, is this really what you want to do?”
    “Yes, you’re the one. I have to go with you. There’s nothing for me here, and everything I want at Avalon”, Orin said, his eyes burning with some inner desire.
    “Mariana,” Sabia said turning to the shopkeeper,” I came to get some sage for Beltane, I will need three pounds of it, could you prepare it for me?”
Mariana nodded and walked off.
    “Do you have any debts that need taking care of?” she asked Orin.
    “No, ma’am, I don’t”, said Orin.
    “Do you have any ritual supplies?”
    “No, I have mostly done my rituals without instruments”.
Sabia nodded and turned away, pulling out a cellular phone from her purse. She spoke quietly for a few minutes on the phone before she turned back to him and Mariana, who was coming back with the sage.
    “Remind me next time I come to discuss a contract with you Mariana. I would like to make you the sole supplier of Avalon for our ritual needs. Well now, I guess we must be going Orin, we have a lot to do”.
    “Wh-what? You mean now?”
    “Well yes. I figured you wouldn’t want to stay in your…. Um, station any longer”.
She turned and started out of the shop, Orin running to catch up with her.

    They had packed all of Orin’s worldly possessions into a duffel bag, which he found slightly depressing, but he wouldn’t need his bed or any furniture, and he didn’t have many clothes. They drove to the club, where he hardly enjoyed telling the manager that he was quitting. Then he hopped into the passenger seat of Sabia’s old Mitsubishi Eclipse, and they were headed down the highway to Avalon.
    “You know, I don’t think this car is what I would have expected”, he asked, after they reached the outskirts of town.
    “What did you expect me to drive? An old Volkswagen Van with flowers painted on the side?”
    “No, I just expected like a BMW or something. The article I read on Avalon said that the hotel made millions a year”.
    “We make a good profit, but it takes a lot to maintain the hotel, and I choose to pay my employees well. I could have a BMW if I wanted, but I like my car. It was the first thing I bought on my own after Richard and I…” she trailed off.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up. I feel like an ass about what happened back there. I have dreamed of you for so long, I never wanted to bungle our first meeting like that”.
    She drove for several minutes silently before she spoke.
    “Some people, they have to meet this way. A way where nothing is hidden, all the secrets out in the open, so that they can know each other totally, kind of like being given a fresh start where you can be yourself. I can say no more than that right now.”
    “So, what kind of jobs are there to do at Avalon”, Orin asked after a few miles.
    “Oh, there’s lots of things, we are always cleaning, cooking and taking care of the grounds. We have to clean our guests rooms each day, and clean any that are going to be checked into, otherwise we scrub them out every six months, but they are usually done before that ever comes around. We have receptionists that handle booking and reservations. We cook three meals a day for anywhere from 50 to 1000 people. The hotel has 200 rooms for guests; the other 100 are reserved for the coven, unless of course we have a booking dispute, then we'll let out a coven room if we have to. We have 53 current coven members, that includes myself, and it will be 54 if the council approves you. We keep about twenty horses in our stables and we actually have a veterinarian in the coven to tend to the animals. We have several dogs and cats and such, that are the coven’s pets, but we don’t let them out of our wing unless they are going outside, but there is a kennel attached to the stable. We also have a construction team, a few carpenters, welders and such that makes sure the castle is structurally sound and build furniture for the hotel. We have seamstresses who sew our outfits and shoes, did I mention that we all dress in medieval clothing?” she smiled at Orin and he knew it was the sad kind of smile she must always have.
    “Why do you keep yourself so lonely? Even though you are surrounded by the coven and the hotel guests, you are still lonely”.
    “When Richard left, and I started the coven, I vowed to do what was best for the coven. I made it clear that I would only involve myself intimately with the High priest when one was chosen. Thus far, the coven has not picked a permanent priest, only rotated the other men in the ritual duty. I do what is best for the coven and they will do what is best for me. They have obviously not found someone who they feel is suitable for me.”
    Orin sighed and watched the passing forest. He was sitting next to the woman in his dreams, and he did not know what to say to her. But he didn’t need to speak, delving into her mind had told him all he needed to know. Still, he felt compelled to tell her his heart’s desires, because deep inside, he was afraid that she would disappear. He took a deep breath, but could not seem to find words to express himself, finally he blurted out, “You know, I would be your High Priest”.
    “Of course you would. It seems all glamour and mystery and power, but it is really hard work. The High Priest is responsible for many things, a burden not many in the coven feel fit to bear.”
    “I would do it for you, anything for you.”
    “You must not do it for me, you must do it for the Goddess and the coven, never for me. Besides, you know very little about me”.
    “Really? I saw much in your mind, while we were delving. Memories you tried to shut off, but I got there first. Like the time when you were six and that girl on the playground called you a freak. You ran home and cried in your room, but the next day, you pitied the girl, because she had bruises on her face from her father. You knew how she felt because your step-father did it to you.”
    Sabia’s face was flush with anger. Orin could feel it fanning off her, a warm electric heat that crackled in the air.
    “If you would do anything for me, than never bring that up again. I left that life behind and I do not need you blundering into it with you newfound power. Just because you can see inside my mind does not mean we are meant to be. Be wary of what you see in there because it is catacombed with lies to protect my true self.”
    With that, she turned her full attention to the road and slowly, Orin saw that her hands had relaxed on the steering wheel. After what seemed like hours of uncomfortable silence, Sabia pulled off the highway, onto a gravel road with a sign proclaiming the Avalon Hotel. Orin’s insides began tightening with anticipation as he saw the towers of the castle bristling above the treetops.

    Sabia brought him before the council very shortly after they arrived. He was not shown a room or a place to put his duffel bag down; she just took him right in and started into her speech. He was guessing that she was still a little angry with him, and a prick of her energy let him know he was right.
    “This is Orin Thorhammer, whom I spoke with Theban about earlier”, she began,” His birth name was Louis Gretinsky. I found him at the magic shop in town and was astounded by his powers. He is clearly a second generation, or natural witch. I have not seen first hand the display of his other powers, but I know of them and their results from my initial dive into his mind. But it is not this however, that brought him to my immediate attention. It is that not only has he seen visions of myself in dreams, but that he is the only witch I have ever met who could dive into my mind as well”.
    She fell silent and there was a murmur among the coven members present. Orin could tell they were all higher-level members, because of the amount of cords they had and the different jewelry they wore.
    “So, you bring him before the coven for entry and testing of his powers. Do you think he will be loyal to the coven and protect our secrets? I am not questioning your authority as high priestess Sabia, only making sure this is what both you and he want”, said a tall witch with raven black hair. She smiled at Sabia with such gratitude and made a little bow. Orin, immediately dropped to the floor on his knee, “I swear it, that I am loyal to the coven and it’s priestess Sabia. She seeks to save me from a wretched life that I have lived.”
    “He is loyal to me and will therefore be loyal to the coven. I think he has great potential and with the guidance of the talented mentors we have that he can be great. He would make a fine High Priest, if he would learn the manners of the coven. I submit that he be accepted under the standard 90 day probationary period with full testing of his powers and then begin training at his appropriate level, as well as an apprenticeship to the hotel duty that best suits him. Does the council uphold my request?”
    The group of witches put their heads together for a few moments, and then turned back and the black hair witch spoke, ”We find him fit and you judgment sound, my lady, as always. We agree to the terms, but request he be station in the stables, Marion is in need of help these days”.
    “I see no reason why not, if it is suitable to Orin”.
    She turned to him and he nodded, shocked that it took such little time for them to decided to let him in. “I will take him to his room and then give him the tour, we will perform his dedication tomorrow night. See you all at supper”, Sabia told them.

    Before Orin had realized it, a year had passed, amid the hustle and bustle of the castle, his testing and training and his care for the horses. He had found that he heartily enjoyed working in the stables. It was strangely soothing to brush the horses and oil the saddles for hours at a time. Leading tours across the ground and participating in the jousts had all become some of his favorite things. Another one of his favorite things was walking his way as he tethered a horse to a nearby post. Sabia was looking as beautiful as ever in her long green wool robes that sheltered her from the chilly breeze. “Orin, I come on behalf of the council to inform you that this evening you will be initiated into your proper level. We will not reveal your rank before then, so don’t ask”. The morning sun blazed overhead and seemed to set her hair on fire. “Have you had any breakfast, Orin?” she asked, taking a tentative step forward. “No, my lady, I have not. I was running a bit late this morning”.
    “Good. You will eat nothing else on this day. I am to escort you to your room and wait with you till the proper time, when you will be dressed and brought before the circle.”
    Orin had seen very little of Sabia since he first arrived. She was always in her office or running about the grounds, but he caught glimpses of her now and then and saw her at meals. He had expected her to pay a little more attention to him, since she took such a personal interest in him at first. But alas, she had only called him to her office twice over the last year, once to do a review on his performance and another, to test his diving capability. Apparently, she had put up some new walls, because he could not read her this time, and he thought that this test was more for her benefit than his. He longed for her in his heart, and knew that she could see it, but her vow to the coven remained strong. Being around her and seeing what she was like only made it worst, because she was everything that he wanted and she was so close, yet so far away.  They swept into the rear hall, which was for the coven only, and up the spiral staircases on either side to the fourth floor, where his room was. She was leading him in the door, when Cerelina called to her. “Ah there you are Sabia! Escorting young Orin I see. There is a matter that I need you for Sabia, Galen will sit in with his until the ritual and prepare him”, she smiled at Orin and her mind was blank to him, “Such progress he has made in such a short time. He does not need the High Priestess’s aid today, he is strong as it may be.” She ushered Sabia away, and Orin felt disappointed. He would have had several hours alone with Sabia to tell her how he felt, and that was taken away. He nodded to Galen who came up and clapped his hand on his back and congratulated him, “The big day is finally here, your first initiation, we’re mighty proud of you young Orin”.
Orin smiled feebly despite his disappointment.

    Sabia closed the door behind her and looked at Cerelina, who wore the biggest smile she had ever seen. “Now that I don’t have to sit with him you can tell me what his appointed rank will be. He can’t try and read me here, though he has not been able to since he first came, but I understand the precaution,” Sabia said.
    “He will be appointed third degree. We have successfully tamed his wild magical energy and taught him of the coven’s manners and operation. I expect that he will want to take a seat on the council, but that it not what I wanted to speak with you about, Sabia,” Cerelina paused to lick her lips,” The council has finally decided to appoint you a High Priest. We have been debating the candidates for sometime now and have finally chosen one who will suit the coven. He is a most powerful and capable individual and I think he will do the job nicely. Understand, that if you do not like him you are not required to be involved with him, except at Beltane of course, but we leave that to your discretion.”
    “But your not going to tell me who that is, and the council sent you, cause you the only witch that I cant read anymore.”
    Cerelina smiled, “Don’t look so nervous. We picked right by you, because you have always done what is right for us. You have sacrificed yourself too much for us. Now we repay your with the same thoughtfulness and gratitude that you have given us. Now, you must go and prepare for the great marriage”. She nodded to the new set of robes laying on the couch, a beautiful blend of white and silver, with a veil and white slippers, and turned to go out.

    Orin was pacing nervously around his room, checking the clock regularly, to see each time that only a few minutes had passed. Galen had been giving him very nondescript explanations of what would happen, then about an hour and half before the ritual would start, ran his bath and set out his clothes which were delivered in a box earlier. It consisted of a brown leather loincloth and vest. Orin looked at Galen for answers, and he replied that this was worn no matter what rank one would receive. Orin slipped into the bath and tired to relax, but he was very afraid. What rank would they give him? Would he be worthy or would they make him a first degree? He seemed so sure that he had done well, but no one had really given him any counsel on what his degree would be. And then he heard something that shocked him. It seemed that his nervousness was causing his telepathic powers to leak out and he heard some of the conversations that were going on in the halls. He distinctly heard a woman’s voice, low and hushed say, “ they said that they have finally found a high priest for Sabia. They will be appointing him at the ritual tonight. I wonder who it will be?” Then she moved on, out of the reach of his powers. Or it would be better to say that his powers suddenly shut off as the shock of this news set in. A High Priest? No one had spoken to him about this all the time he had been here. They couldn’t possibly choose him without letting him know, right? The water suddenly seemed too hot for him and the steam filled air, peppered by incense and herbs was stifling. He pulled himself out of the bath and laid on the stone floor. His insides were teaming with despair and nervousness. Galen came in and said, “Ah, you’re out already, good, time to dress for the ritual”.

    The procession to the grove was very long and the night air was filled with many torches as they made their way to the circle. The hotel was blessedly empty as it was the off-season and the entire coven had turned out for the ritual, no doubt fueled by the promise of a High Priest. Orin caught glimpses of conversation as he went along, many disappointed that the naming of a High Priest would shadow Orin’s big day. “Well, they wouldn’t want to give any sign of who would be chosen of course. They will just spring it on us, no line up of candidates, they will just come out and say it,” Said a blonde witch who was walking near him. Orin felt strangely comforted but his other coven members. They really were like family to him now, and after all he had never had a real family before. When they reached the circle, he was placed on his knees in front of the altar and the other degrees filled the circle around him. Third degree in front sitting, second degree behind them kneeling, and first degree in the back standing. Orin’s mind seemed to shut down, but then he saw Sabia, dressed in brilliant white and silver approach the altar. He could not hear a word as she cast the circle and invoked the Goddess; he only saw her moving about, her beautiful robes swaying behind her. Then suddenly he heard her call his name, and he stood up as he had been instructed to.
    “Orin Thorhammer, our beloved brother, the coven has taught you and you have learned, the coven has tested you, and you have passed, you have loved the coven, and now we show our love for you”, Sabia spoke loudly, but there was a softness to her voice. She turned around and picked up the coven sword, its steel and silver set alight by the bonfire in the middle of the circle. She placed it up against his neck, and he could feel the sharpness of the blade on his throat. She was close enough now that he could smell the plumeria scent on her skin. He wanted to hold her, like he had the very first time he saw her, but then she spoke again, “How do you accept this coven’s judgment?”
    “With perfect love and perfect trust”, he said looking into her eyes and trying to fill the words with as much meaning as he could. Sabia drew the blade away slowly and the laid it upon the altar. She placed the crown of the High Priestess on her head and began the proper incantations to call the goddess. As it went on, Orin became tenser and worried about the rank he was about to be given, then suddenly she turned on him. Her skin was glowing faintly and her hair was billowing slightly around her. He could feel the Goddess inside of Sabia, and sank to his knees before her. The voice that came out of Sabia was a delicious meld of her voice and the Goddess’s.
    “This one is most worthy of my service. I bless you my child”.
He felt her hand upon his head and a glorious warmth spread through him, wasting away all his anxiety. Sabia took and deep breathe and he felt the Goddess leaving her. Orin remained on his knees and heard the sword picked up. It was tapped on one shoulder, “The Goddess finds you worthy”, it was tapped on his other shoulder, “The coven has found you worthy”, it was placed on his head, “And we here by confer upon you the rank of third degree”. Orin looked up and Sabia smiled at him and he felt such happiness that he had not let them down. She drew him into a short hug and Cerelina brought up his set of cords, white, red and black twined together. He bowed to her and she to him, and then bowed to Sabia, who placed a kiss on his forehead. Galen came to lead him away, and he sat down with the other third degrees. Sabia stepped behind the altar and Cerelina pulled from under it a golden box.
    “I am terribly sorry to spoil Orin’s big day, but as many of you have already heard, the council has finally picked a High Priest for the coven. In this box are the robes of the High Priest and tonight we shall marry the High Priest and Priestess.”
    There was a round of applause from the coven, and the knot tightened in his stomach. He saw many of the third degree men force anxious smiles, and Sabia's face showed apprehension. So they had not told her either. But Cerelina was speaking again.
    “Sabia has always done what is best for the coven. She entrusted us to pick one who was good for the coven, putting aside any selfish desires. We have thought long and hard over the past few months as to who would best suit the station of our High Priest. We naturally wanted someone who was strongly capable in the magics, someone who had the leadership qualities necessary, and someone who would be able to take care of our Sabia. As you all know, the primary duty of the High Priest is to attend to the High Priestess and care for her, but it is up to her how much care she needs.”
    Orin’s mind was racing. He kept checking over the list of qualities Cerelina had listed, seeing if he had them all, and he felt deep stabs of jealousy for the man who would be taking care of Sabia. Did it mean she would have to sleep with the High Priest? He knew the marriage was only symbolic and not binding, but she had said she would give herself over to the High Priest when one was chosen. Yet Cerelina said it was up to her discretion. All the ceremony was doing was dragging his anticipation out more. He wished she would just say it and get it over with.
    “Tonight is a night of celebration”, Cerelina continued, “The marriage of the High Priest and Priestess, Orin’s new found degree. There will be a great feast in the main hall afterwards to celebrate, and the new priest shall take his place beside Sabia. I know you all must be very nervous as am I.”
    She opened the golden box and from it pulled the golden crown of the High Priest. Orin’s breath caught in his throat as she began to spin around the circle. Magic swelled up off of her, making him dizzy and everything hard to see. Herbs were thrown on the fire and smoke filled the circle, obscuring all else. Drums were beating in the background, and there pace was quickening as she spun faster and faster. Orin closed his eyes and bowed his head and suddenly the music stopped. No one moved in the circle for several seconds. Then Orin looked up to see where Cerelina had stopped, only to find her standing in front of him. Confusion pounded through his head as he tried to comprehend what this meant, then the crown was slipped on him and he was pulled up, hugged by many around him. Slowly he realized that everyone was cheering and Cerelina was announcing the New High Priest. Orin looked around, half expecting to see another man there wearing the crown, but it was on his head and the gold cloak was being wrapped around his shoulders.
    “Do you, Orin Thorhammer, accept the position of High Priest that has been offered to you by the coven?” Cerelina asked.
    He bowed and staring straight into Sabia’s eyes said, “I accept the charge, with perfect love and perfect trust”.
    More cheers went up, but quieted as Sabia walked forward. She stopped in front of him, and then nuzzled one side of his face, then the other.
    “I accept him as my High Priest, with perfect love and perfect trust”, she said. Orin felt something warm well up inside him at the words. Maybe she did love him somewhere in her heart of hearts, but hid it because she had to do what was best for the coven. Cerelina began to perform the great marriage ceremony, and Orin couldn’t help but feel the binding powers of it. He knew that he would always love Sabia, whether she returned it or not.

    The feasting went on well into the night. Sabia sat at the high table with Orin on her right and felt strangely relived. The festivities were grand, with singing and dancing; Marion even presented Orin with his very own horse, and relieved him of his stable duties. Yet as the feast cleared out and Sabia helped clean up, burning questions invaded her mind. She was relieved that Orin was her High Priest, but what else? She had always had a likeness for Orin and had found herself often dreaming about him behind closed doors. Of course, she had put that all aside, but now he was hers. All she had to do was open herself up to him and he could be everything to her. She started up the stairs to her room, trying to clear her mind, but then the nagging thought of Richard popped up again. Should she just get it over with and file for divorce? They still had not spoken, but divorce had many complications. The biggest one was Avalon. If they were to divorce, Richard would get half of Avalon. Would he use that to get back at her? Try to sell it or drive it under out of spite? She secretly wished that Richard would not be an obstacle to her happiness and decided to call her lawyer in the morning. She would pay him off to stay away from Avalon. She entered her chambers closing the door and let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding and turned around to find Orin sitting on her couch. He, like she, was still wearing his ceremonial robes, as he stood up and walked towards her. “My lady, “ he said with a slight bow, “I came to speak with you”. Sabia’s heart was hammering in her throat as he moved closer, and she could feel a strange crackling sensation between them. She buried her emotions and threw up her walls, so that he would not see her desire for him. She stared around him, but he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
    “Very good of you to try and hide you mind, but it was a little late”, he breathe in her ear, “Our bond is stronger now because of the marriage, your walls are not enough. I can see your most intimate desires now,” he paused, “I want to be everything for you Sabia, you have know this since we first met, and now that I have the chance, I will not let you go. So you can keep fighting the desire you feel till it breaks you, or you can give in to it, and make the marriage stronger, more complete. I love you Sabia”, he turned her to face him, “I would never do you wrong. I know you feel for me, so why cant you just give in to it?”
    She bit down on her lip and turned her head away and spoke very softly, “Richard”.
    “Richard, a man who pushes you away, who does not care enough to call. He is nothing to you now. He does not deserve someone as beautiful and kind as you.”
Orin wrapped her in a hug, and she felt the warmth of his body against hers. “You can make the calls in the morning”, he spoke, “Tonight, forget him and know only me”.
    He kissed her neck and her ear, and let his lips hover over hers, the electricity crackling between them. She felt something in herself slip away, that last bit of resistance she had and closed the distance between their lips. Sabia had never had a kiss like this, as though she could never have enough of him, a release of the desire they both had held for so long, and the intimate delving into each other’s mind until she did not know where she ended and he began. He laid her down upon the bed and they consecrated their marriage before the goddess and the god.

     Orin awoke in the sunlight pouring in from the windows. He stared up at the canopy of a bed that was not his own. Suddenly the night came back to him, waiting for Sabia in her office, and then the delicious lovemaking that made the lights flicker in the room. He rolled over and found the bed and the room empty. He got up and went into the bathroom to find it deserted. Orin went for the door to the office and was through it before he realized he was still naked. But it was not Sabia sitting at her desk with a ready smile for him, it was Cerelina. He stopped, immediately aware of his nudity, but Cerelina only smiled and bade him to not be uncomfortable. “But, oh no, this looks like, oh man, Sabia is going to be angry”, Orin stammered. She stood up and walked over to him, “Why are you so worried? I knew this is what you would do, and you can’t believe how happy I am that Sabia had had some… well, release. She has been very lonely for so long and we knew you loved her and she you. This is what the coven wanted.”
    “Where is Sabia?”
    “She went out riding. She asked me to stay here and take care of business for her. I think she had some things she needed to debate for herself. But she told me to tell you that she would see you at supper. I’m going to go back to my office now. Take you time”, she said, giving him a good look over.
    He went into the bathroom and showered, and came out to find a set of robes laid out for him on the bed. The color was black now that he was a third degree, and a gold cord had been wrapped in with the others. A necklace with the emblem of the High Priest was also laid with it. He put on his new finery quickly, and was almost out the door, when the phone on Sabia’s desk stared ringing. He doubled back and picked it up by the second ring.
    “Sabia Hawthorn’s Office. Orin Thorhammer speaking.”
    “Hello, is Rebecca Hawthorn there?”
Orin recognized Sabia’s birth name and answered back to the woman’s voice.
    “No, I’m sorry, she is out riding right now. I am her assistant, would you like to leave a message with me?”
    “Oh, I would like to give it to her in person, but there is just so much to do right now. I am Mary Wetherford, her mother-in-law. I was calling to tell Rebecca that Richard… that Richard was in an accident last night. He was on the freeway coming home last night really late when he caught a patch of ice on a bridge and went over the side. He didn’t… he didn’t make it”.
Mrs. Wetherford dissolved into sobs on the other end. Orin’s insides had turned to lead, but he still retained his composure.
    “The Avalon Hotel gives its condolences, Mrs. Wetherford. I will inform Sabi… Rebecca immediately and have her call you as soon as she can. Do you have any information about the parting ceremonies, so that I may make arrangements for her to attend?”
    “I know that they weren’t close anymore. They hadn’t talked for years, but he still loved her very much. I think his pride just got the better of him. Tell her I said that. The funeral will be in three days”.
    She gave him the name of the funeral home and the time it would be held and he hung up. He felt cold and broke into a run out the door. He had to find Sabia and tell her, but he didn’t know how she would react. He ran up to the stables where Marion was brushing Freya, Orin’s new horse. She was all saddled up and waiting for him it seemed. “When I saw Sabia ride out, I figured you wouldn’t be too far behind, so I got Freya all ready for you”, Marion said.
    Orin nodded to him and mounted the horse, setting off down the path into the grove. The late afternoon sun peeked through the trees as he rode around the forest looking for Sabia. He called out to her now and then and he finally came across her at dusk, sitting on a fallen tree near the creek that ran through the forest. She was wearing robes of burnt orange, the cloak thrown over her shoulder. “I think we need to go back to the castle and talk Sabia”.

    Cerelina was watching the sunset out the High Priestess’s window when she saw Sabia and Orin emerge from the trees. Orin was leading the horses and trying to convey something to Sabia. She watched as the conversation went on, until Sabia turned on him and slapped his face. Cerelina was momentarily taken aback. She thought things were going well with Orin and Sabia? They were both so obviously in love from the beginning. But then she saw Sabia crumple into a ball, Orin picking her up and holding her, stroking her hair. Cerelina suddenly found herself looking at Sabia’s desk and saw there scribbled in Orin’s handwriting:

Richard Wetherford

MacMillan Funeral Home

Thursday, 4:00pm

Cerelina gasped and brought a hand to her mouth to stifle her sob. How terrible for Sabia that just when she’s found some happiness this tragedy strikes. She looked back and saw Orin picking Sabia up in his arms and carrying her towards the castle.

    For twelve hours since they had placed Sabia in her bed, she had not moved. The faint rise and fall of her chest and the occasional blinking of her eyes, were all that let Orin and Cerelina know she was alive. They were currently arguing over who would accompany Sabia home for the funeral.
    “I am her best friend and these people know me!” Cerelina was shouting, “I understand that you care for her, but I am more than capable to tend to her!”
    “I am her High Priest and I am sworn to look after her!”
    “What do you think it is going to look like if she shows up at her husband’s funeral with another man?”
    “I don’t care what it looks like! I’ve already told her mother-in-law that I am her assistant! But I will not abandon Sabia in her time of need!”
    “Why can’t we both go?”
    “Because, we both know that one us needs to stay here and attend to the hotel. I still do not know all of the administrative procedures that need to be handled. It has to be you that stays, Cerelina. Please, let me do this. I love her. I can’t let her do this alone, even if she is not aware of it I must”.
    They both looked to Sabia, who was as still as she had been a few minutes ago. Cerelina sunk into a chair that was sitting by the bed and sighed. Orin sat beside Sabia and stroked her face. “I feel so guilty”, he confessed, “I feel like this was my fault. If I had waited one more night to confess my love to her, this wouldn’t have happened.”
    “Are you trying to say, that Richard is dead because you and Sabia made love?”
    “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. We both had thoughts last night, of what it would be like if he was out of the picture. Not dead out of the picture, but if we could have been free of that burden.”
    “You seemed pretty free of it. Richard was no threat to you, and Sabia gave herself willingly”.
    “As long as they were still married it was a threat. I made her cheat on her husband”.
    “Trust me, you can never make Sabia do something she doesn’t really want to do, unless it is for the good of the coven”.
    “So is that why she gave in to me? Because it was for the good of the coven?” Orin said, his insides bubbling with anger.
    “Certainly not, while it did wax your bond to each other, it was not necessary for the good of the coven. In fact the coven doesn’t even really NEED a High Priest to survive, but having one makes us stronger because it makes the High Priestess stronger.”
    Orin relaxed a little and looked down upon Sabia. She seemed suddenly so small and fragile to him. “She is the most precious thing in the world to me. Excuse me, but I have some calls to make.” Orin rushed out into the office, his head turned from Cerelina to hide the tears springing from his eyes.

    A funeral was the most depressing thing Orin had ever had to endure. Since his family had died when he was very young, he had no conscious memory of ever attending one. Sabia had just sat there, motionless in her wheel chair, while Orin had tried to avoid any questions related to what Sabia did for a living. His heart leapt with joy when Avalon came into view once more and the castle walls seemed all the more solid and comforting to him. Only he knew that he would receive no comfort until Sabia was better. For the first two days, he and Cerelina tried a number of herbal remedies to awaken Sabia. Then they moved on to simple spells, working their way up to more complicated spells and potions. Many in the castle were restless and worried about the High Priestess. What would happen to them if she never woke up? Dehydration and malnutrition were becoming a bigger worry for Orin and Cerelina. If Sabia didn’t get any food or water, she would surely die. So they took turns spoon feeding her and massaging her throat until she would swallow. Orin would take her through the grounds in a wheelchair, hoping that something would rouse her. Cerelina took care of her during the days, while Orin would lie next to her in bed at night.
    “Orin, I think we should think about taking her to a hospital. She is beyond our powers. She needs professional assistance”, said Cerelina as they were switching shifts one night. Orin sighed and looked back at Sabia. It had been two weeks since she had collapsed. “Can’t we wait just a few more days? There are a few more things that I would like to try”, he asked. Cerelina only nodded and walked off. He knew time was running out on them, but on what? Sabia’s survival? The condition of her mind? Hope was running thin and Orin decided he needed more drastic measures. “Cerelina!” he called as she was walking out, “Have we looked at her charkas?” “No, we haven’t…” she started, but he saw the spark of recognition in her eyes. Thus far they had only tried remedies that were meant to revive the body or mind, but what if she was metaphysically hindered. “I’ll go get the supplies”, she ran off towards the supply room. Thirty minutes later, they had a circle set up on the floor with Sabia in the middle. “You ready, Cerelina?” Orin asked. She nodded, moving into position on the opposite side of the circle. Orin raise his arms and began, “Oh Great Mother, be here with us in this circle tonight! One of your beloved daughters is ill and we need you assistance. Please aid us in finding her ailment that we may return her to your service. Please Goddess, I call you by all your names, show us her chakras, so that we might repair them!”
    Tiny white lights began to fill the circle and began to circle around Sabia. They spun into a funnel and filled her body. Cerelina threw the revealing herbs on Sabia’s body, and it began to pale. There, tiny as pinheads, were Sabia’s seven chakras. “Cerelina, break the circle”, Orin breathed. She did so quickly and returned to her place, sitting back on her heels. “I will need to dive into her mind”, he said slowly. Cerelina’s eyes grew wide with shock, “You realize what this means, don’t you? Once you’re in there you could be pulled down with her!”
    “I know, but I must do it. I love her, and if this will bring her back, then I have to take the risk. All you need to do is be an anchor for me, so I won’t be swept away.”
    Cerelina smiled at him, but it was a sad smile, like Sabia used to wear, “You trust me that much”. It was a statement, not a question.
    “Just hold my hand, and don’t let go for anything”.
She nodded and they moved Sabia back onto the bed. She was in sitting position with her head listing to one side. Orin straddled her and took her head in his left hand, while reaching for Cerelina’s hand with his right.
    
    Orin was in a dark corridor, lined with doors. Wind blew down the hallway and told him that he was naked. But he knew what this was. There were many forms that the mind could take, and Sabia’s was that of a building. Behind all the doors were her memories, her fears, and all the things that existed in her mind, categorized and sorted. He knew instinctively that he was at the bottom of her mind, in the id as Freud had called it. If the problem was metaphysical, it would probably be in her superego. It had placed him here, naked and alone, in hopes of scaring him away. While he did feel very vulnerable, his burning desire to find out what was plaguing Sabia was stronger. He wandered around looking for a way up to the higher levels. He found an elevator that was broken and a set of stairs that was collapsed, before he came across a rope hanging in a corner. The rope went up to the third level, which relieved him, because he didn’t want to waste time looking for another way up. He reached out for the rope and it burned his hands as soon as he touched it. He jerked back, yet when he looked at his hand there were no burn marks on it. “Ok, if that is how you want to do it, I’ll play the game”, he said. He grabbed hold and tried to ignore the burn of the rope on his body. He screamed as it bit into his stomach and legs, but kept climbing. Somewhere he knew Cerelina was gripping his wrist harder, fearing for him and Sabia. When he reached the top, he threw himself down onto the landing, gasping from the pain. He laid there for a few minutes, trying to regain himself, then got up and continued on. He knew he was getting closer to his goal, when he heard the soft crying of a child. He had visions in his mind of a child like Sabia being detained by a monster or something, but as he turned the corner, that was not what he saw.
    Sitting in the corner was a young Sabia in a white nightgown. In the air above her were seven hovering globes, with a glittery substance trickling out. Orin knew that those orbs where her chakras. “Sabia, it’s me, Orin. I’m here to help you. Can you hear me?” he called to her.
    “They’re all broken. I can’t fix them”, she pouted, pointing up at her chakras.
    “I see that, but we can get them put back together.”    
    “No, they will never be whole again. Don’t you see, I killed him. I killed Richard”.
It seemed so ridiculous to him that this child was saying she had killed her husband. She was looking at him, all wet faced with a sad smile.
    “We did naughty things together. Naughty, naughty things. I broke the vows of marriage and now I must pay the price.”
    And then she was gone. He turned back to the chakras and realized that there wasn’t much time. There were only small amounts of psychic power in each one, and they were leaking away. He turned back and he was in a different room. He remembered it from the first time he dove into Sabia’s mind. Richard was there, yelling at Sabia, who was crying. “You slept with him, you little tramp! That’s all you ever were! Did you ever stop for one second to think about me and our vows? Till death do us part!” he slapped her hand as she was reaching for him. “So what did you do? You went and wished me dead! Well are you happy? ARE YOU?”
    “No, Richard! Don’t you see! I’m dying because of it! I never meant it in a literal sense. I just wanted the divorce so I could have a happy life with Orin!”
    “Sabia, no!” Orin yelled. She looked at him and smiled, but turned back to Richard.   
    “You didn’t kill him! If anything it was us! I had the same thoughts as you the night we made love! You didn’t put the ice on the road! And why was he out driving so late! Where would a man be that he was driving back at three in the morning! Cause I think I know where!”
    Richard looked vehement and Sabia was slightly shocked. She looked at Orin, then Richard and stammered, “Is he right? You had another woman this whole time”.
    “Yes, but this doesn’t change the fact that you killed me!”
    “Or was it your own guilt that iced the road?” Sabia countered.
    “You wished me dead!” Richard bellowed.
    “You are not even worth my time”, she growled back.
Then the room changed, and little Sabia was sitting on the floor crying. “He tried to blame me, when it was both our faults”, she wiped her tears, “I still can’t fix them”. He turned back to the chakras. “Can you turn them upside down, just for a little while? Until I can fix them?” he asked. She screwed up her little faced in concentration and the chakras reversed, holding in what little precious fluid they still had. He took her head in his hand and said, “I have to go now, Sabia. But I will see you soon. You’ve fought your demon, and now I know how to help you. The coven will fix your chakras and I will fill them.” Then he let go on her head and he was sitting on top of Sabia in her room at Avalon, Cerelina still holding his hand.  

    The procession to the circle was much more subdued than it was two weeks ago. Everyone wore cloaks of black over their brightly colored robes. Cerelina had drawn up a ritual that would allow them the repair Sabia’s chakras and fill them, but it was tricky. It involved the simultaneous raising of energy by the coven and Orin. He would have to continuously raise the energy and store it inside himself, until right before the chakras were sealed. Then timing was all that mattered. He and Cerelina had precious seconds to fill the centers and close them, or everything would go awry. Orin didn’t even want to think about what would happen if he and Cerelina were trapped with enormous amounts of energy in them. He just knew that it had to work the first time, or Sabia would be lost to him. So with a determine mind, he lead the line of witches down to the grove and hoped and prayed to the Goddess that it worked. They laid a naked Sabia on the altar and Orin stripped of his robes in preparation, because physical contact was essential for transferring all the energy needed. The other witches circled the altar, a closer formation than usual, but everyone was worried.
    “Brothers, sisters”, Orin called, “ Here lies a great woman. A woman who has helped us all in times of need. Who has been our mother, our sister, our daughter, and our lover. I want you to think of all the problems she has helped you fix, and use that energy to fix hers.” He jumped on the altar and began to chant to the God, drawing his energy into himself, while to coven turned clockwise, chanting to the Goddess. Orin could already feel the energy building in the circle, the crackling electricity between him and the coven. It was the dynamic between the Goddess and the God, the force that drew him and Sabia together. He knew that they were always meant to be together because of this, that he was destined to be a High Priest. He chanted louder as the energy grew, and first degrees on the outer circle began collapsing with the pressure of the energy. He could see his arms taking on a golden glow as the essence of the God filled him. He thought of all the things he and Sabia could have together. Leading the coven in balance, hand-fasted together under the moon, riding in the forests together, giving the Goddess a son or daughter, growing old and happy together and passing the coven on to those younger one day. All of these thoughts filled Orin with a brilliant inner light, of hope and happiness he had never know. He opened his eyes to see most of the coven on their knees struggling against the energy. He focused on Cerelina, who was glowing as well, but a silvery light, like Sabia had held at his initiation. It seemed that smoke was billowing in a circle around them, but it was sand and dirt, kicked up from the ground by the swirling energy. Orin could not see the rest of the coven now, only Cerelina before him and Sabia beneath him. Cerelina was panting, trying to hold the energy inside herself and in his mind he heard her whisper, “I can’t hold on much longer, Orin.” Small bolts of lightening were crackling around them, and then she yelled, “Now!” Orin reacted without even thinking, he threw himself down on top of Sabia and the physical contact sent the energy coursing through her body. Orin could almost see it rampaging through her veins and arteries, until it filled her up completely. He could hear a scream in the distance and knew it was Cerelina. Then he felt the silvery energy of the Goddess mix with his own golden energy, caressing Sabia’s chakras, making them whole. The energy slowly subsided and Orin fought to keep his head up to see if Sabia would wake up, but blackness was slowly creeping into his vision. He heard Sabia gasp just as consciousness slipped away from him.

    Orin didn’t know where he was. All he could see was white light and he heard singing off in the distance. It was beautiful singing, like none he had ever heard. Was this Elysium, he wondered? He tried to follow the singing, but it kept getting farther and father away. “No, wait! Don’t leave me!” he shouted, as he felt it slipping away. Then, like a shimmery veil being lifted, he saw the Goddess sitting on a throne of diamond and pearl. “Come to me, my child”, she said in an ethereal voice. He walked up to her and knelt, then she pulled him into her lap. She stroked his hair as if he was a small child, and sang softly to him in that beautiful voice. “It is not your time to rest my child. You must go back to the land of the living and care for you Sabia”, she said. As he looked up into her emerald eyes, her image began slipping away, and there before him was Sabia. He was curled up in her lap and she was singing to him and stroking his hair. “Sabia”, he whispered. She looked down on him with tears in her eyes, obviously startled.
    “Oh, Orin”, she cried, enveloping him in a hug, “You’re awake finally.”
    “Sabia!” he cried, peppering her face with kisses, “I thought I had lost you.”
    She buried her face in his shoulder, “No, but I was such a fool!”
    “Shh, shh”, he cooed, cradling her, the sweet scent of plumeria wafting off her hair, “You were scared and afraid. You didn’t know how to deal with the pain, so you took it out on yourself.”
    “You never gave up on me!” she sobbed uncontrollably, gripping his shoulders tightly as if he would get away. “I wont let go, not this time!”
    Orin smiled, remembering that he had said the same thing to her when they had first met. “I know, my love, I know.”

    Sabia and Orin sat at the high table for the Yule celebration. It had been seven months since he had been named High Priest and five months since Sabia and he had been married under the full moon, for real. Orin looked at her and she smiled, not a sad smile, but a truly happy one. She laughed, then winced, clutching her stomach, which was growing very large. “I don’t think the little one likes me laughing very much!” she exclaimed, pulling Orin’s hand down to feel the baby kicking. He smiled and gave her a kiss and felt unbelievably happy. He was surrounded by a warm and loving family of witches, in a beautiful castle, with a gorgeous wife and a child on the way. He had finally found a home.