Rose POV~ 

   As I finished readying myself for the feast and Samhain celebration, I walked to the clearing which would be used for the ritual after the welcoming feast. The guests had clothes prepared for this occasion. NO weapons and armor were allowed, while any estari could keep their staff with them. 

   Walking barefooted on the soft grass pathway, petals, and candles leading the way while purifying the body of any evil attachments, curses, and/or Horcruxes/possessed Items or beings. carefully placed ancient magic runes are carved into each candle here. The wards surrounding the kingdom slowly purify everyone who enters. 

    Low tables on top of blankets are filled with fruits, vegetables, and drinks. From water to juices to alcohol that will make you shit-faced after 10 glasses. Sweets of all kinds are also there. Fish was also served, though there was little, it was mainly for mithlandir. Cushions were laid about near the tables for people to sit and feast on the food while they chat with friends, family, or acquaintances.

      Soon we reach the archway that allowed entry to the festivities. The music softened as walk to the head table. Already sitting there was Galadriel, Elrond, and Thranduil. Their conversations halted as I approached them.

"I hope you are enjoying yourselves in festivities. The dances are about to start soon. If you know the dance, you are free to join, though many elleths and submissives are the ones who dance the most as this is a day of thanks and renewal. Those here without a mate are to dance till the end of the night... Unless they find someone to mingle with * music starts * Ah! I must leave you now, Lady Galadriel, are you joining us this time, or are you stay here?"  I said while smirking a bit towards her. She has visited us before, each time after the festivities of the night, she would come to me about an ellion she had a crush on. Though she doesn't know it yet, is that said ellion is waiting for her to take part in the tradition. I have told her of the traditions, and how to dance, though she is too shy to do it without the initiate. With a single nod, she stood as we walked over to where to dance is to start. 

    I and Galadriel slowly start the dance. Slowly picking up the speed as we danced in sync with the music. Soon enough, Galadriel is whisked away by dobby. I giggle and laugh with the other elleths and submissives that are dancing along.  Elrond's company has already found their mates.  I sigh as the music ends. I smile and catch my breath along with the others. A low baritone sound coming from the cellos and violins as we begin the Samhain ceremony. 

​"We meet within these blessed bounds to celebrate Samhain, the time of passing from one season to the next, passing from the old year to the new, passing from life to death to life. The pumpkins are ripe in the fields as the North wind chills the air. The Earth is dark and cold and brown-the Earth that was so fair. The Wheel has turned full cycle, from birth to death at last; and we look back for knowledge from the life that now has passed--the knowledge that is the seed of all we will be and feel—the knowledge that comes from living the turning of the Wheel.

Green is extinguished in a blaze of yellow, red, orange, and brown. Thought loses its power, drawn to the earth where the Queen of Darkness reigns. We offer ourselves up to her, asking for rest, for release, for freedom from the daily, the ordinary​To wander in our dark wildness until the sun returns.

Invocation-Opening the Circle-Calling in the Crones of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water

On this dark and sacred night, we come together to honor this special time which marks the shift of attention from the physical to the spiritual from that which is seen to the power and wisdom of the unseen.

We invoke this love, guidance, and insight by joining together in thought as well as heart feeling as we create a magic field of connection.

Expanding out through the top of the head we spread out effortlessly into the sky, the heavens, the

Stars, the radiance of the cosmos, the spiraling galaxies with their magnificent ability to cleanse

the soul while restoring peace, the black holes in all their mystery. We honor this sacred space.

Relaxing all of our senses we begin to listen to the voice of Mother Earth through the soles of our feet. We extend our listening abilities further, like deep roots they penetrate all nooks and crannies. Any secret doorways and paths to the Underworld are touched as we avail ourselves even more deeply to open to the world of magic, fairies, and Earth Crones with their deep understanding of the ways of Nature. We honor this sacred space.

We expand our consciousness to the direction before we joining with the Spirit Ones. Here we connect with their power to dream and to affect the world of dreams.

We relax into the realms behind us, merging with the Fire Crones. We humbly acknowledge their cauldrons of transformation and we allow ourselves to be purified by them.

We allow the right and left sides of the body to open, soften and release outward into the spiritual field of wondrous information. The Water Crones await us with their powers of divination, always ready to assist yet quiet until we ask.

In all directions, we continue to release and spread our antennae out into the universe- releasing stagnant energies while letting go of our hold on old patterns that no longer

serve us.

As we continue this expansion

We connect with our ancestors

Our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers Aunts, Uncles, cousins,

Grandparents and Great grandparents

Dear friends who were our family...

With those who have come before us

And those who have spent time with us...

We honor those beings who are yet to "be"

We connect in the heart with these spirits

And together

Expand further into the infinite space

Then gently and slowly

We shift the direction

And bring our attention back to the body.

Back to our physical being.

Knowing we have created much room in our inner chambers

We relax and trust that through this vehicle

We will have a greater capacity to speak to and be spoken to by loved ones,

New insights await our call

And healing love prevails in our hearts.

We honor this sacred space." My kingdom speaks with me as I begin the chants of the night. With offerings made and done with, for now, we dance in the small circles. Galadriel and Mithlandrir translate and teach/show the guests how to perform the ritual. Magik dances in the air, as light glows from the ground. I begin the chant.

"What is this night?

--It is the night of Samhain.

What is the meaning of this night?

--It is the feast of the dead.

What do we honor on this night?

--We honor those who have gone before us into the dark, and who left us the legacies of their existence.

After this feast of the dead, what will we do?

--We will learn from the shadows, and prepare for our night.

How do we recognize ourselves on this night?

--We clothe ourselves in darkness. We study the deep secrets. We become wise.

Who helps us?

--Our Goddess helps us.

What is our Goddess?

--She is the future's hidden void, the great black matrix, the beginning and the end of all things.

Who is our Goddess?

--She is the Virgin of Light, the Crone of Darkness, the Mother of Time.

Where is our Goddess?

-- She is in our hearts in all seasons of the turning year.

Who is our Goddess?

--Behold, she is ourselves."   We wait as the magic in the air settles before going any further. Soon, we close the circle and the end of the Samhain ceremony. Everyone sits as we feel the magic become alive. As we remember our loved ones and the ones about to be born. We give thanks to my mother and father as everyone makes their final offering. I smile as I feel the magic hug me and the air gently blows my hair. As we close, I say goodbye to my old life and ask for a blessing in this one. I give thanks as everyone starts to dance once more. 

    I Go and sit next to Thranduil who is chuckling at a very giddy and very drunk Elrond. I giggle as Elrond finally passes out. Thranduil shakes his head before grabbing some fruit. I pour a glass of juice and take a much-needed drink. I let out a pleased sigh as I allow myself to relax.

    "Are you going to speak your mind... or are you going to keep staring?" I say while not looking at him. I wait a minute before looking towards him. My breath hitched as I felt his eyes looking at my soul mark.  My soul mark appeared when I first came here. I never went searching for them because of my new responsibilities. Though, ever since Thranduil came to my kingdom, I have been restless. When my people first found out that I had a soulmate... let's just say, I couldn't stand or eat for a week.  So much dancing and food. 

     I'm pulled out of my thoughts by a gentle touch on my mark. A small gasp escaped me as I catch a glimpse of his. The deathly hollows with vines and antlers. My exact mark... I look into his eyes. Icy pools of liquid mercury filled with awe, love, lust, and something else I couldn't decipher. 

    Soon I am pulled into a tight embrace. I felt safe, protected from the horrors of the world. We are interrupted by the sound of cheering. I look up from where my head was rested. Everyone was looking towards us shouting, clapping, cheering, and some, from the other company, are wolf-whistling. I felt the heat rise to my face as I try and hide in my mates' embrace. Soon I was being carried away from the festivities as the others laugh and cat-call as we leave. 

     I laid my head against him as he walked us to his chambers. He walks toward his bed and sits with me in his lap. I sigh happily as I feel him kiss our mark that resides on the right of my neck, I nuzzle his head as he wraps his arms around my waist. Being so close to each other like this, I could feel he was in pain. I sit up, not taking notice of my position, straddle his lap. Grabbing hold of his face gently, I undo his glamor. He tries to look away, as if guilty or ashamed. I kiss all over his face, not ever kissing his lips until a deep guttural warning growl escaped him. Pulling me into a deep bruising kiss. He licks my bottom lip, begging for entrance, but I don't allow it. 

     He growls once again as he grabs my thighs making me gasp. He takes the opportunity to slip his tongue in my mouth. I try to fight for dominance, a losing battle as he wins, rubbing shapes onto my thighs. Soon we break apart for need air. During the entire make-out session, I was healing my mate of any scars, injuries, and curses. I smile at him as I see his face free of the dragon's cursed flame. I kiss the newly freed area as well as our mark. 

     "My mate... Mine... I accept you..." I say as I nipped at the mark. It glowed in acceptance. Before I could say anything else I was on my back with a very aroused elven king above me. He brings me into a very loving, passionate kiss. Making me let out a quiet moan. Trailing kisses down my neck he kisses and nips at mine. I whimper and whine as I felt the start of my first heat. The soft glowing of my mark makes him pause. 

      "My beautiful mate... My queen... I. Want. You... Mine to hold... Mine to love... I have waited a long time for you... I can't wait anymore..." He said while staring right into my eyes. Pleading, begging me to want to continue. I nod, he smiles at me before kissing my forehead. 

"My king... mate... I have never been touched... I am pure... Untainted... please be gentle..." I plead. I have kissed, but I would throw up later. I felt like I was betraying someone. I look back at him. He had the look of awe and lust as he stared at my body. His eyes met mine, he bent down and captured my lips in a sweet and gentle kiss that spoke more than that of words. 

TBC...