The Gathering
Cecelia Smith
Copyright Cecelia Smith
Published at Smashwords
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The Gathering
She Who Need Not Be Told looked carefully at all the activity around her and smiled. It is said, by those who know, she has the most understanding smile anywhere. The time appointed for the Gathering was at hand. She must notify She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken. It is also said that She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken knows the hour of the Gathering. Nevertheless, it was her duty to notify her that the Gathering which would change everything was now. She would fulfill her duty. That was the law.
Marita, who held the ancient office of She Who Need Not Be Told, sang the call, a rippling sound which caused all activity to stop and everyone to listen instantly. She sang again a long, sustained note which gave the invitation to prepare for the big event. The playful activity of her court immediately changed to one of purpose and preparation. The long awaited Gathering was about to begin and each member of Marita’s court knew exactly what their particular function was. It seemed that in an instant the court was changed from one of playful fun to one of purposeful preparation. Marita rose from her seat in one flowing movement, her majestic robes of shimmering fabric with all the colors of the rainbow shone around her. To those in the far corners of the court she did resemble a rainbow, or did her graceful flowing robes changed her into a butterfly with rainbows streaming from her gracious figure. They were not sure.
The throng in her court parted on cue to form an aisle as she seemed to float to the door on her way to the domain of She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken. Three were the number of the ones whose duty was to manage the Gathering. One was the number who would attend without being told. After she informed She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken, then together they would go to the court of the Silent One, then all three would travel to the place of the Gathering for the great event.
Marita knew exactly what she was feeling. It was almost a new feeling. A tingle, an anticipation, an excitement and almost the urge to hurry. Hurry is not a tool she needed now, so she laid it aside and moved with calm excitement to the edge of her domain where she knew the Opposers would do their duty and attempt to delay or detain her. This part of the well planned event had to be. The Opposers appear unpleasant, but their work was also a part of the grand plan leading up to the Gathering, and must be done. Their work was also the law. They would do all they could to delay or divert her as she crossed their domain, which she had to do to reach the domain of She Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken. They were almost fair and as the rules state they had to remain in their own domain, but they were clever and would set traps at both boarders. She had held the office of She Who Need Not Be Told for an eternity and was aware of all the plans and schemes of the Opposers. In fairness to them she refused the specifics of their plans and recognized only the bare outlines. This would make their work more interesting for them. The folk from her domain would not cross the boarder with her. This she must do alone.
In her own domain all along the path to the boarder, she met folk intent on doing the work of preparation for the Gathering. There was music everywhere as songs were the main tools the folk used to do their work. They danced and greeted her with welcoming songs as she passed by. It is not often that she walked about the domain. But each one knew where she was going and why. Often on her journey to the boarder a few folk would leave their task and walk with her for a while. They sang with her and everyone listened to the music. As she reached the boarder and looked over to the adjoining domain difference in the two was immediately observable.
After crossing the boarder she was again alone. She sang one last melody allowing the notes to form a cocoon around her frame and stepped over the line into the domain of the Opposers. The crystal notes of her song shimmered around her causing the rainbow of her majestic robe to glow even brighter. All her colors were needed to cross the domain of the Opposers.