Chapter 24 It was my calling,
Explained Justin,
As they sat together in the sunshine outside the chapel.
I can explain no differently,
But it was in my heart.
I have spent many years protecting the innocent,
Travelled to great castles far across the water,
Fought in combat,
Yet always I have dreamed of a tiny chapel with a stone altar beside which I would keep my vigil to truly seal my life as a knight of the realm.
And it is all I thought it would be,
He continued softly.
It is so very peaceful here.
Truly,
Peace is the sound of heaven on earth.
He looked into her eyes and she saw love and vocation there,
Mixed with a passion for his quest.
And you,
He paused,
Choosing his words carefully.
Forgive me,
My lady,
But you have long been at the centre of my search.
Of you I have also dreamed.
I have known your need of protection,
And believe I have come at this time to your aid.
Rosenwyn nodded,
Admitting to herself she too had felt a strong pull on Beltane Monag when she first sighted Justin across the valley.
She remembered the love she felt emanating from him,
And also the pure hatred she discerned from the other figure.
In the warmth of the day,
Rosenwyn shivered.
And what of your vigil?
You say you are here to aid me as best you can,
Although how and why,
As yet we know not.
Your presence is welcome and I thank you,
But your vigil is important too.
Justin nodded.
I would like to undertake it on the night of the Midsummer Celebrations,
He continued,
If that is well with you.
And what will this entail?
Merely to spend the night alone,
In the chapel,
In prayer.
I must contemplate my vows to God and my vocation as a Knight of the Realm and all it means to me.
There will be a full moon that night,
Mused Rosenwyn.
A powerful time indeed.
The ceremony of the full moon will be performed when she is at her height,
But we shall be on the hilltop above the rocks,
As is our custom at special times such as this.
She smiled.
The chapel will be yours and yours alone.
I wish you well.
Thank you.
Justin paused.
They say the vigil is a time of difficulty and of temptation.
It is said visions appear before the very eyes and voices are heard,
But it is important to separate fact and duty from fantasy and to remain focused on what is right and upon God.
Our duty means a great deal to us,
My lady,
And our God,
Although I understand she whom you worship on the night of the full moon differs.
But in the end,
All are one,
Even if some people refuse to see it,
Replied Rosenwyn,
Her thoughts turning to Father Christopher.
And I bring you this,
A gift which I have brought across oceans and carried with me for many moons.
For the moment I saw it,
I thought of the chapel and valley of my dreams and knew in my heart it belonged here.
Justin produced the green and violet crystal and Rosenwyn gasped,
Completely taken aback by its unexpected beauty and the way it shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight.
May I?
I would be honoured.
Rosenwyn held out her hand and Justin dropped the crystal onto her palm.
It felt icy cold and strangely heavy,
And she had an unexpected vision of a girl holding the crystal high in the air,
Snow swirling around her,
The crystal flashing in a rainbow of colour all around.
So profound was the vision that Rosenwyn drew in her breath sharply,
The crystal dropping from her hand.
My lady?
Justin was on his feet at once.
Can I help in any way?
A drink perhaps?
Rosenwyn nodded and gestured towards her silver chalice,
Which Justin immediately brought,
Filled with refreshing water.
It is indeed a crystal of enormous power,
Murmured Rosenwyn when she had recovered herself a little.
They both glanced at it,
Lying almost hidden in the grass,
And Rosenwyn bent to pick it up.
It lay once more in the palm of her hand,
Glowing gently in the sunlight,
But she could feel its distant heartbeat connecting her to the earth from which it came.
Please take it,
She offered it to Justin,
And guard it for me.
I fear the time will come when we will have need of it,
And perhaps at the moment it is safer in your hands than mine.
She raised her eyes as the figures of Prior Richard and Father Christopher appeared at the gate to the enclosure.
