It was dusk and the Moon Mistress looked down at the land below from upon her silvery throne. Beneath her bright glow that was the same as it always was, the world was changing, denizens awakening from some long forgotten slumber to rise into a world that had changed and forgotten of their existence.
On the shores of beaches and lakes, horses that were sinister in their perfection waded forth, shaking their long wet manes and tails, snuffling at the wind and the scent of humans residing close by.
Beneath forgotten mounds the earth split open for processions of gaily garbed people who rode forth upon horses whose hooves made no sound, save for the jingle of bells upon their harness. The people themselves were near luminous, their clothing regal and as delicate as a butterfly’s wing that fluttered on some unforeseen breeze. Around the more noble horse riders, others danced with light feet and tambourines and drums, an infectious beat coupled with the melting melody of wood pipes that created a haunting song that seeped into the dreams of any sleeping nearby.
As the moon rose higher, gracing them with her light, another procession was taking place, one that was more sinister and deadly in nature.
Down empty forest paths thirteen dark horses galloped silently, hounds with blood red eyes weaving between voicing howls that harkened of death resounding into the night.
~~~
“I swear I woke up this morn to find all the cleaning and washing done and dry already!” The housewife told her friend, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Is that so? What was yer man trying to sweeten ye up for then?” Her friend shook out a sheet for airing, sending a knowing wink back at the first wife.
“That’s what I thought, but he insists twasn’t him that done it! If I hadn’t known better I would swear ‘tis like those stories me grandmam used to tell me of the wee folk. Ye know the ones where they do the house chores in the middle of the night?”
“Now really, if ye don’t want to tell be done with ye! Bringing up stories of the wee folk…”
Calista raised an eyebrow as she walked past, the story ringing in her ears. Before her the world was bright, not with sunlight but with the wisps of the sound that was visible to her. The story between the two wives was a bright yellow stream, abounding with the pleasure of the first wife at having a free day and just a tint of dull green envy on the other woman’s behalf.
Typically, Calista would have thought the tale nothing but fancy but… she had heard other disturbing stories recently, tales that told of bloodshed and tainted with fear and superstition. A woman’s newborn baby had been stolen in the night, all which was left a wooden replica of the lost child in its crib. A man had walked by a lake and left soon after when he had seen what looked to be five human livers floating on its surface. A nearby town had said that five men had gone to that lake after seeing a wild horse frolicking around it, in mind to capture it.
Tales intertwined with folklore. Things a minstrel would have spun to earn himself a good supper, for people like nothing more than a tale with a bit of gore and mystery and knowing full well it was a tale only and that they themselves would be safe.
Shaking her head over the various stories she’d heard spoken around her, Calista continued her way out of town. There were too many people and too much gossip, she needed some solitude to distance herself from all the different vibes she was getting otherwise she’d work herself into a state with the blend of fear and adrenaline it was causing.
From the directions she’d be given, there was a nice glade in the forest nearby with a rushing river. At this time of day not many people would be there, though later in the afternoon a few of the young couples would go there for picnics. For now it would be a good enough place for her to practice on her violin and sort out more of those tales she’d heard.
The closer she got though, the uneasier she felt. It was as though there was a current on the air and it was warning her about something about to happen. Hesitatingly slightly, she caught the barest hint of a violin; it’s clear notes drifting on the air before her. Moving forwards, caught by the melody and the mastery with which it was played she came upon the clearing and it’s stream, surprised to find two people already there.
One was the violinist, clear in Calista’s mind by the song he played and the soft croon of his voice as he wooed the other with his words. The woman, Calista could tell, was speaking as well… her words uttered softly that she twisted the waves of sound so that she could hear…
" – Will follow you wherever you lead. Whatever you say so long as this song plays will I obey, even to your abode will I go in its watery depths..."
Calista let out a small gasp, unable to believe what she was hearing. Did she just promise she would
kill herself? she thought in shock.
Her gasp must have alerted the man to her presence for his next words were directed at her, “Lady, standing fair and tall, would you listen to my song? Listen to its gentle sway, its lover’s call. Come sit by me, and listen to naught else in the world but my music and its promise sweet.”
Calista swayed, her blind eyes narrowing at the words he spoke so lyrically. They were sweetly spoken, and indeed he had the other woman in his thrall… but it was the fact that he was calling attention to his music that broke Calista from her stupor. The music while sweet on her ears appeared a dark and rusty red to her eyes, a fog that wrapped around the woman, clouding her senses and leaving her defenseless against the words he spoke that held the same sinister fog.
A simple mental twist and Calista was able to separate his words from his meaning, and was shocked at what he was speaking of.
“Come with me; follow me down in a merry dance to deep still water. Reside by me in my home amidst the rushing river, leave behind breath and land and sink ever down till still you are; a pale wraith in these cooler climes.”
With understanding came fury, the tales she’d been hearing all along verified by this evidence of creatures long gone returned.
“Your music does not hold me in thrall,” Calista warned, walking closer to the water sprite. She had no idea what kind he was; only that he was sinister in his intention.
A male laugh greeted her, “What manner of being are you, to withstand my call? Unlike this other, who bows to my merest whim,” his violin played a sickeningly sweet tune, and the woman beside him sighed happily.
Calista felt her eyes narrow in a cool glare, analyzing the music he played and its effect upon the girl, “Leave her be, she serves you no purpose!”
“Oh but she does, fair one. She is a warning to all and reminder to few. That which was forgotten has returned once more to walk these realms and she is but one of many sacrifices to our ways,” the humor in his callour words grated on Calista’s nerves.
“Leave her be, I said!” Calista snarled, injecting as much threat as she could into her words, enhancing them to strike fear into his heart.
Mocking laughter and a flourished finale greeted her ears, shortly followed by the sound of a body wading slowly into the river.
“No…” Calista whispered, “STOP!” She dared not walk closer to the water, but injected as much command as she could into her words, willing the woman to obey her.
For a frozen minute all that was heard was the sound of the rushing waters.
“Follow me, follow me…” the lover’s chant, compelling in its promise.
“What… what’s happening?” a confused murmur, a spell being broken.
“Come back to the shore!” the sharp order, made sharper still by fear and desperation.
~~~
Calista huddled in front of the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket provided by the tavern owner’s wife. Beside her sat the woman from the riverside, similarly attired though the hem of her dress was soaked through from her walk into the water.
Around them were gathered as many that could fit into the tavern, other retelling the tale of how Calista had saved the young woman from certain death at the hands of the Nix, a water sprite known for his handsomeness and music.
“Lucky it was you saved her, missy. My grandfather told the story of the Nix luring women and children into rivers and lakes to drown to me. Never would have thought to hear of them again, really. Lots of tales of this sort going about but this is the first real encounter I can say I’ve ever heard,” a man commented on behalf of the general room.
Calista looked up, frowning, her turquoise green eyes dark with worry.
“He said, remember all the tales forgotten, for they walk the realm once more. Beware the Wild Hunt.”
OoC: So you know - the horses in the lakes are
Each Uisge, the cradle snatchers can be any kind of pixie or fairy that does such things and the Nix I've explained. House cleaners are
Brownie's or others of that ilk. Smaller fae creatues hate cold iron... and can't cross running water if you're in a bind.
For other things to use might want to look at
this place.
And you don't have to make as long a post as I did... I got caught up >_>;