Merrin


She knew Linnet would be waiting for her, but she lingered anyway. Who wouldn't, she thought, with the sun sparkling on the brook and glowing golden among the trees ? It was just too nice a day to hurry back to the chores that waited back at the House. She could picture Linnet's face even now, a mix of worry and frustration - she'd be cross with Merrin when she eventually got back, but not for long. Linnet never could be cross with anyone for long. It just wasn't in her nature. That was one of the things Merrin really liked about Linnet - even though she was older and had to behave as the responsible elder sister, she didn't act superior or officious, even since she had gained her grey robe. Not like some of the new initiates, who suddenly got so serious that Merrin was surprised they didn't burst. The mental image of Arene exploding mid-lecture made Merrin giggle aloud. Not that she wished her harm or anything .... but it would be sort of funny. Arene didn't mean to be a bossy-boots, Merrin knew, it was just the way some of them coped with their new responsibilities as initiates. Wonder what I'll be like afterwards ? she thought. Wonder what it's like .... learning the deeper knowledges and the Mysteries, helping the avowed Priestesses, learning to open to the hidden ways and talents that lay within, those skills that helped the House and the people of the land. The responsibility to the wider community, the common people who depended on them for healing and advice and intercession with the Lady and the God and the spirits. No time then to be dallying by the brook in the sunshine, thought Merrin, no time to linger without a care.
A splashing in the brook interrupted her thoughts, and the vague feeling of disquiet vanished in fascination at the leaping fish. Enchanted, she balanced her basket down on a tree root and scrambled to the water's edge, lying full length on her belly, chin in hands, watching the salmon play in the crystal water. Creature of wisdom, the salmon swam onwards with a flick of its tail and shimmer of shiny scales, disappearing among the rocks. Merrin smiled, then caught her breath. Only last night she had dreamed of the salmon. In her dream it had swum through the water, past a watery niche wherein lay three hazel nuts, the seeds of knowledge. She had reached down to grasp the nuts, but as she was a mere fingers' breadth away the salmon brushed her hand with its tail, and she had woken with a start.
Her gaze lingered where the salmon had vanished, wondering. It would be too presumptuous to even imagine that her dream could be reflected at all in reality - that would imply that she had dreamed true, and that was something that was reserved for those initiated, who had learned to tread the dreaming paths and open to their insight. So, surely there would be no harm in looking, for there would be nothing to find; it had been a dream, and only that. Nothing to fear in that .... but if there were ... she stifled a leap of excitement carefully. Merrin examined the creek bed, but could see nothing that resembled the hazelnuts of her dream. There, she told herself. Silly girl, see, nothing at all. Just a dream. So why are you disappointed ? Getting pretty uppity yourself now, aren't you, just like Arene ! Smiling wryly at herself, Merrin rose and brushed the leaves from her gown. She picked up her basket of berries, and turned to retrace her steps to the path back home. A glimmer in the water caught her eye; a fish's scales flashing in the sun, drawing her eyes down into the shaded water under a tree on the bank. And there, in a watery hollow, lay three round pebbles. Or not pebbles after all, it turned out as she bent closer, but three small nuts. Above her, she realised now, swayed the branches of a hazel tree. Why hadn't she recognised it before this ? She reached her hand into the water to pick up the nuts, then hesitated. If they were indeed the gift of the Salmon, it would be presumption indeed to take them for herself. A featherlight touch brushed her hand as the salmon glided past. Confident now, she picked up the hazelnuts and wrapped them in a scrap of cloth and put them in the little carrybag at her waist. What gift could she offer in return ? She considered the finger ring she wore, but lay her bronze arm-ring in the water hollow instead. The silver ring had belonged to her mother, so she had been told, and was all Merrin had of her other than her own life. She hoped the Salmon would understand, and forgive her the lesser gift. She touched the bag at her waist. Later, she would have to make a pouch to keep them in safely, and wear it on a thong about her neck under her gown. To remind her of the afternoon by the brook, and the salmon, and her dream.
1