It is the day of the Vernal Equinox and Sirena stands high on the mountain top quietly watching the flames. She shivers in the cold wind, but does not don her hood and shawl. She knows that this ceremony is important to Belnus and to herself and she has prepared as best she can. This morning she bathed in the pool by the waterfall and put on her simplest dress; she knows instinctively that it would be wrong to wear her well worn heavy garb when she wants to honor her God. She squints in the perpetual twilight that surrounds The Empire and hopes she will be able to determine exactly when it is midday. She feels the wind increase and looks up to see a round patch of lighter grey in the sky. It is the sun at its zenith and she begins.
She raises her arms over her head and says “Belenus, God of the Flames, please hear your humble priestess. I have tried to do all that you have commanded of me. I have accepted the powers that you have given me to heal and I have been using them as wisely as I can. You have blessed my dance and I have given you all the passion it creates.”
She hesitates as she thinks of the one time she didn’t dedicate her dance to him and she shudders. Then she continues, “You and I have found a balance, even as today is a balance between the light and the dark. For this I thank you and ask that you accept this simple offering of life.”
She lowers her arms and picks up the rush. She lights it from the blazing fire and then lights the candle. She blows out the rush and watches the candle sputter in the wind. Her face falls as she realizes she did not remember that wind is always present on a mountain top.
She quickly picks up the basket, tips it upside down over the candle flame and removes the lid. She crosses her fingers that she has caught only male moths and that no females will be harmed. Then she smiles in satisfaction as she sees all three moths flutter out and head toward the wavering white light of the beeswax candle. The moths plummet down in a spiral flight path toward the white light on a fruitless search to find a female. Their wings alight as they enter the flame and Sirena drops the basket at her feet and claps her hands with delight. Then she realizes what she has done and slaps her hand over her mouth.
She calls “Belenus, I have once again obeyed even though I am not happy about it. Please honor me with your Blessing.”
The winds begin to blow stronger and the candle flame goes out. She turns toward the fire and sees the flames grow and sway with a dance of sparks as they lick the wood. She feels great warmth in her heart and begins to dance.
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