Chapter 54 Beltane It was early on Beltane Morn when I walked to the chapel along the riverbank.
The sun glinted upon the heavy dew,
Causing the droplets to flash like jewels of yellow,
Orange and red.
As I made my way along the path I spotted a movement amongst the drooping willows,
And my mind was taken back to the day Dan and I first met.
Was it by the riverbank or at the chapel?
I never really understood what happened that day,
But as he stood and waded across the river I saw this was unmistakably Dan,
And he smiled in welcome,
Climbing out of the water to give me a guiding hand through the last of the boggy ground,
Taking slightly longer than necessary to let go.
You're out early,
He commented.
May morn,
I replied.
It seemed fitting to come to the chapel.
I surveyed the pinnacle of rock towering above us,
Swathed in white blackthorn blossom,
Green hawthorn and crowned with golden gorse.
Below,
On the slope down to the river,
The first bluebells shimmered.
I've bought a few flowers.
I held up my bunch of fresh cowparsley,
Bluebells and red campions.
You?
Been doing a spot of fishing,
He paused,
Peaceful,
Helps me think.
He glanced towards the chapel.
Can I come up with you?
Of course.
We made our way along the grassy slope together,
The valley slowly coming to life around us,
Patches of frost and mist rapidly dispersing as the sun came through more strongly.
A heron rose from the riverbank,
Its wings flapping heavily in the cool morning air.
When we finally arrived,
Dan sat on one of the wooden benches whilst I arranged the flowers,
As always rejoicing in the simple beauty of the altar,
The sparkling water and the sunlight filtering through the windows.
Suddenly,
Dan chuckled.
Joanne and his maidens.
He shook his head,
An amused smile playing around his lips.
He really thinks he's going to find them,
You know.
I nodded.
I hate to disillusion him,
I agreed,
Sinking Dan onto the bench,
But what can we do?
He's young,
Commented Dan,
He'll learn.
Learn what?
I asked.
The chapel felt cool in the early morning air and I shivered.
Dan hesitated for a second,
Then put his arm around me.
That magic isn't quite as he thinks.
His arm shifted,
But he did not let go.
I know I'm always saying it's in the feeling,
But it's true,
It's subtle.
A clue here,
A hint there,
And if you aren't looking out for it,
The magic can be right under your nose and you wouldn't see it.
There are no flashes of light or puffs of smoke,
It's all in here.
He put his hand to his chest.
Look at Rose,
He continued.
She was an ordinary woman,
But a wise one.
Hers was a simple magic,
Carried out for good and the healing of the local community.
And it worked.
She might not have received many thanks for it,
And if she did it would only have been a loaf of bread or a comb of honey,
But these things are not done for payment.
People who create the real magic,
Real healing,
Go about their work quietly.
They don't shout about it and tell everyone how wonderful they are.
There are no thanks and no rewards,
It's just something they have to do.
I gazed at him,
Realising there was so much more to Dan than met the eye,
So much more for me to learn about him.
And suddenly I wished with all my heart I would have the opportunity to do so,
For in that moment I realised I loved him.
He took my hand in his,
And the real magic,
He continued,
As he looked steadily into my eyes,
Is the way I feel when I'm with you.
