18 Springs

Sitting in the pool as High Priest Freyr poured something into the waters, I sink into warm liquid, wishing I could turn into one.

Apparently, where I am is the place only the Dancers can enter. As High Priest Freyr was a Dancer, he is the only one able to accompany me in here.

It is almost like a sauna with a pool of warm water in the middle and the moons shining their lights down on us. From here, they look a lot bigger and brighter than I ever saw them before.

And, for some reason, I felt all the tension in my body melt the moment I walked into the water, sighing with relief. Silence filling the place except for the little rustle of the leaves on the branches of the trees.

"It feels nice, doesn't it?" High Priest Freyr said, smiling at me as I just floated on the surface of the water, letting everything soak in.

"It really does. Is there something in here that is helping me?" I asked, tying all my hair up in a bun to keep them out of the warm water.

"There is a reason only we can access this place." High Priest Freyr said, sitting on the edge of the tub and sighing with relief as he dipped his feet into the water, sitting on a protruding rock. "This place is filled with the goddess's energy.

"If anyone that is not personally blessed by her, comes here, they will die from the energy. Normal Werewolves cannot come here as they please.

"But for us, who have the goddess's blessing, this place is like a place for rejuvenation. Though, I was blessed by her years ago so I can only come here with you." He took some water in his hands, splashing them on his face. "After these couple of days, I will never be able to return here again."

I looked at the forlorn look on the man's face, before going back to look at the water all around me.

This entire place is barricaded by large rocks, making it impossible for anyone to look inside it and it is filled with water up to the rock barriers. There sits one lone tree in the corner of this place.

I stared at the red cherries hanging off its branches, almost beckoning me to eat them.

"Can I have those?" I asked pointing to the tree.

"Ah, the cherries." He said, tilting his head at them. "Would you like to get them for you?"

"Oh. No. I can-"

Without waiting for me to say anything else, High Priest Freyr extended his hands to the tree. Almost immediately, the tree started to shake and some of the cherries fell.

Before they could touch the water, however, they were caught, mid-air by the High Priest Freyr. Using the stones as a pathway, he walked to me, handing a hand full of cherries into my hands.

"Thank you," I said, taking the cherries from him and popping on into my mouth.

These tasted like nothing I ever had before and I have had my fair share of good cherries. Well, this is sad. Soon, I will not be able to come here anymore and this taste will forever be on my lips.

"I can see why you are not eating this," I said, smiling at him.

"You caught me." High Priest Freyr said, grinning. "I did not want to remember the taste of these. If I did … I would be bothered by it massively."

"Well, if it is delicious it is delicious," I said, popping another one into my mouth. "And it would make for a good memory."

"I suppose that is one way to look at it."

We both fell silent, staring at the large moons in front of us. I do hope you are watching over me. You chose me to have this happen to tonight and I am going to be looking to you to give me strength.

_________________________

It hasn't been too long since I last slept with someone but to be sleeping with the King, even if it is for the sake of 'transferring blessing', I am still nervous.

As High Priest Fryer was helping me get ready, he asked what I was going to do with my mouth.

"I had not really thought of that," I mumbled, touching the side of my face. All that was left of that side is my dried out, exposed muscles and my teeth.

It is truly a miracle that I still have my teeth intact, if I am being honest. This was not an injury I thought I would have survived.

The flesh tore all the way down my neck, so I needed to use a cloth type of face mask to keep everything hidden. It did not help that the scars ran up my mouth, almost reaching my eyes as well.

Again, this was not an injury I expected to survive. But here I am.

"Isn't there something like an illusion thing I can use?" I asked, looking at myself in the mirror for two seconds before putting it down.

It is hard even for me to look at myself. I can't imagine what other people would feel if they saw me.

Not many people in this place know about my injury and even lesser have seen it. This is the medal I got for winning the fight to stay alive, but it is not something I wish to show off anytime soon.

"I'm afraid magic like that is not possible. Not in the place." He said sadly. "There, you are supposed to be vulnerable and true to yourself. So you cannot hide anything."

"Then. I will have to show this?" I asked, immediately dreading the look of disgust I am going to get from him.

I don't have to care about him for his opinion to hurt, especially if it is for something that I am very, very conscious about.

"You don't have to." High Priest Freyr said, taking my hands in his. "This is something most of the people do not know. But, the Blesser, that is you, do not have to give the person you are blessing, the blessing.

"If you do not think they respected you enough or you do not think they are worthy of it." He explained while looking me right in the eyes. "This decision is between you and the goddess.

"Besides, if you do not deem him worthy, that does not mean she shares the same sentiments. People behave differently depending on the person they are interacting with.

"And that does not mean they are bad people necessarily. It just means they are mortal. The goddess already did her job, giving them the blessing last night.

"She deems the king worthy of taking care of this kingdom she bestowed on us and gave him her blessings to prove it. So that everyone knows and respects him."

He pointed to the faint mark on my throat, continuing, "The blessing inside you is for you to choose whether you will give him the complete blessing or not.

"If he is a great king, he will be able to make do without the full blessing. Though, getting the full blessing would make it better, it is not a hundred per cent necessary.

"While she judged him as a potential leader, you judge him as a subject. This will ensure he never has the full support of the people, even if they follow him."

Saying these words, High Priest Freyr tucked some of the stray hair behind my ears, looking closely at my exposed face. "This is not something you HAVE to do. Do not compromise your feelings for someone else.

"If you deem him not worthy of receiving the remainder of the blessings, then he is not worthy. No one will question you about it and he cannot force it out of you.

"But, this goes without saying, give the person a chance before making any decision. You might be pleasantly surprised."

I paused for a second, staring at this kind man with years and years of experience, taking the time out of his hectic schedule to sit down and talk to me calmly about the things I did not know.

I can definitely see why the goddess chose him. Though, I can't say the same thing about me.

"Even if you say that, I don't know if I am comfortable enough to walk up to him like this," I said, pointing to my face, apologetic.

"I never said that you needed to show your face." He laughed. "Did you forget? I said that you need not make a compromise on your side.

"If he wishes to have the full blessing, he will have to make sure you remain comfortable enough to agree to sleep with him.

"But, between you and me, he does not know that." He winked at me, a twinkle appearing in his eyes. "So, test him. Make this soon to be great King Alpha bend to your will, not you to his, as others would make you believe.

"And see, if he is, indeed, worthy." He said, handing the cloth to me as I took it in my hands, feeling strangely empowered.

"Ok."