“Mother,” Brighid called from above, “Let us down. The issue was under control.”
With a chortle, Arianolwyn said to us, “Stand, stand. No formalities today. Rise and greet your grandmother.” Warmly, she held out her arms and embraced us tightly.
“Now what do we have here?” she said, as she released us and inspected the girls. Tapping Lucy on the head, she said, “This one is strong with elemental earth. Child, call the flowers to rise from the snowy ground below us.”
Stuttering, Lucy said, “I…I don’t… don’t have magic.”
“Tish tosh,” she responded. “Call the flowers before I get disappointed.”
Looking to Daisy, Lucy knelt to the ground and softly whispered a prayer. With her words, a row of white flowers popped through the snow.
Smiling, she looked at Daisy who said, “I did not do that. It had to have been you.”
With a look of disgust, Camille snorted. The woman pointed at her. “Call the fire you have been given and burn off this snow.”
Fear filled Camille’s eyes. “I have no magic. It was a trick.”
“Are you saying I am a liar?” the woman boomed “Arianolwyn does not lie. Call Fire before you anger me.”
Kneeling to the ground, Camille slowly murmured words and a small spark of fire spread along the ground burning the flowers. Laughing, Arianolwyn said, “You must practice controlling your magic.”
Pointing to Michelle, she demanded, “Water is your gift. Call the rain before these flames burn down the forest.”
Confidently, Michelle held her hand above towards the sky and cried, “Water, I call you to rain down on us. A gift to our Mother Goddess – Arianolwyn.”
Soft rainfall began to fall and cover us. The shower of rain lasted barely a minute but the warm rain melted the snow covering the ground and brought the flowers back to life.
“And you,” Arianolwyn said, as she walked to Viv who had been silently watching. “You, child, have been blessed with Air. Show me what you have been gifted with.”
Viv called a strong gust of wind. The magic she sent was not controlled and it soared into the sky. The force of the magic she called was so strong that it knocked the goddesses from the sky. As they landed with a thud, the three deities stared at Viv with looks of surprise. I knew they were wondering the same thing I was. How did she have magic inside her that was strong enough to compete with many Air elementals? Brushing herself off, Snowystra glared at the girls and cast a stream of ice at them. In their defense, I called a strong wind while the other elementals called their magic. My Air magic slowed hers but it was not enough to stop it. Stepping forward to assist me, Daisy, Bay and Blaze sent a stream of their magic at the speeding magic. Everything was happening so fast. Realizing that I was not strong enough to face Snowystra, Viv stepped in front of her friends ready to protect them.
Moments before the Viv would have been hit with the dark magic, Danu stepped forward and cast a lavender ball of light that grew until it surrounded the forest. In response, Snowystra sent lime colored sparks out from her fingertips to the sphere until it exploded, sending millions of small pebble-like magic through the air, covering the ground and the river.
The river changed to a purple color with blue froth. Gold and silver butterflies jumped from the water as they swam upstream. A flock of squirrels with metallic green fur flew overhead. Along the river bank, trout snapped their teeth as they scrambled to the nearest bush. Their black and pink bodies shimmered in the sunlight.
“Enough,” the sound of Arianolwyn echoed. “Three can become one again if needed.”
Her words quieted the goddesses. Walking to her, the three sisters took hands and bowed.
“Brighid has spoken. The balance will be restored.” Arianolwyn said firmly. “Snowystra, you will leave here now.”
Snowystra glared coldly but nodded before covering herself with a veil of black light and fading away.
With gray eyes focused on the golden eyes of Brighid, she said, “You will be called again to heal the wounds of your sisters. But, you are done for today.” Turning into a burning ball of light, Brighid floated away.
Arianolywn’s gray eyes turned a milky white as she looked at the girls. “Danu, these girls have been blessed by you. Watch over my new grandchildren.” With those words, she evaporated into a mist and disappeared.
Danu stood before the girls. “Thank you,” she said simply before changing to a ball of lavender light and disappearing.