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Initiation - Chapter 1. Part 3
By Damh the Bard

As the light left us the people of our Tribe began to gather in the main roundhouse at the centre of the village. Many of our warriors were already there, shouting, fighting, and worse for drink, even at this early hour. A wonderful warm fire was burning in the centre of the roundhouse, and the sweet smell of cooking pork filled my senses, making my mouth water, as the pig who had almost taken my life only 4 hours earlier, now slowly turned on the spit. Kiva was there, across the room sitting with her father and foster brother. She smiled at me across the fire, but tonight, apart from occasional glances, we would refrain from talking to each other. Only the Bards would speak tonight, and our gossiping and giggling would only get us into trouble with the Druids - best not to tempt fate. My reverie was disturbed by a booming voice which silenced even the warriors.
It was Talhairm, our Chief Bard who spoke. “My friends! Gather your belongings, your drunken friends, and your lovers! It is time to go to the Grove of the Bards!” A great cheer went up as Talhairm turned to leave the roundhouse. It was warm inside, the cold chill of Winter bit into me as I stepped out into the night, and I wondered why we had to leave the comfort of the roundhouse to go out into the forest, and the cold, to hear the Bards. As I looked around I could see that many others were thinking the same, but as we processed along the forest path, and heard the distant ringing of harp music floating between the trees on the still, night air, I soon realised that the cold, the trees, and the procession were all part of the Bards’ magic.
Ahead I could see the glow of the central fire lighting the faces of the circle of Bards. Many sat playing the music of the Sidhe on their harps, whilst others stood in their blue robes, quietly watching as we all took our places in the Bardic Grove. As I stepped into the clearing, across the entrance into this sacred place, I was sprinkled with water from a woman’s hand, and bitter incense was blown into my face by a bearded man. “May you by purified by fire, and water,” the woman said, then she bid me enter and to take my place. I sat on a log and looked around the Grove. The white trunks of the silver birch trees reflected the dancing flames. Up above the Lady shone down from a cloudless sky.
Soon, all were seated. Then Talhairm stepped forward into the centre of the Grove. He spread his arms and smiled at us. His dark hair looking black in the fire’s glow.
“Welcome! Welcome. This morning the Bright One blessed us! He is returning from His sleep, and soon, we will begin to plant our crops. Tonight, we gather in this, the Grove of the Bards, to celebrate our Gods, our Ancestors, and our Land. But first, join us in our communion with the Gods. Hear as we drink from the Cauldron, and draw into us, the sacred brew of the Goddess!”
I watched as the Bards joined hands, formed a circle, and shut their eyes. There was silence, anticipation, as Talhairm drew in a deep breath, and the other Bards followed his example. Then they sang, one continuous note, their sacred word of power.
“Aaaaaaaah-ooooooooooo-weeeeeeen.” Silence for a few moments, before they intoned the word again. “Aaaaaaaah-ooooooooooo-weeeeeeen.” My head felt dizzy, spinning, lights flashed before my eyes. “Aaaaaaaah-ooooooooooo-weeeeeeen.” It was in this state of trance that I noticed the face between the trees. It was Dylan, and I could feel him inside my head, looking around, searching for my Spirit. And all the time the Bards’ voices echoed around the Grove. Then, as all around me became a mass of dancing lights, I was certain I saw Dylan change. At first his features took on a canine quality, then in an instant, he fell to all fours and took the form of a blue-grey wolf. I must have blacked out as the last thing I saw was the wolf jumping out of the forest and I felt him pull me from the Grove into the dark woods. I heard screaming, as people ran from the creature. Then there was only blackness.