Lienna.
After the small conversation I had with Selene, we immediately began the preparations for the ritual that would help me meet the moon goddess in my dreams. A part of me was excited, but I also couldn’t deny the nervousness coursing through my veins. The shifter kings were around even though they were quite busy, I have to admit, their presence gave me some relief.
It was well into the night before Selene was through with the rituals and it was my turn to get ready. Some maids were called upon and my body was washed and cleaned, fragrant oils rubbed into my skin till it was soft and shining. My hair was brushed till a sheen appeared and meticulously styled so there was no tendrils floating around and framing my face. I was draped into a white linen that clung onto my body in all the right places and when I looked at myself in the mirror, a soft gasp escaped my lips.
I could barely recognize myself, even as I twirled around the mirror to assess myself, a pleased feeling flowing through me. The maids had done an incredible job and I felt more ready to meet the moon goddess. A knock came on the door and when I turned to its direction I saw Selene already walking in. Her eyes widened in surprise as her gaze fell on me, a small smile appearing on her face.
“You look marvelous, lienna.” She said, walking towards me. I smiled shyly, lowering my gaze to the ground.
“Thanks Selene. I think I’m ready.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Which is why I’m here, let’s get going.” She said, gesturing towards the door with her hands. I nodded my head, taking a deep breath to calm my rattling nerves and walked out of the room, Selene closely behind me. She led me through the corridors of the fortress, bringing me to another section of the castle that I had yet to explore.
As we arrived, I met Caspian there with some soldiers and he seemed to be talking with them. As if on cue, he turned around and our gazes met. My heart skipped a beat, but I managed to maintain my composure as we made our way towards him. By the time we were close enough, he was through with what he had to say to the soldiers and had already dismissed them.
“Your Majesty,” I greeted, bowing my head once I was close enough.
“Lienna,” he said, his voice firm, as I raised my head to look at him, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I answered, my voice grave.
A hint of a smile appeared on his usually stoic face. “You’ll be fine. It’s just a small ritual that would bring numerous benefits if it’s successful. You just need to relax.”
He said, and I nodded, balling my hands into fists. I had to do this.
“Remember,” he continued, his voice going back to being stern. “We are all counting on you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I promise to do my best.” I said, my voice solemn.
“That is good enough for me,” he said, and a small smile appeared on my face.
“If you’ll excuse me, your majesty but lienna needs to go now.” Selene said, bowing her head slightly as she appeared beside us. Caspian took a step back and I followed Selene into the room we would be using for the ritual.
The second I stepped in, a huge gasp escaped my lips. The room had been transformed beyond my wildest imaginations. The air was alive with an otherworldly energy, and the scent of white lilies enveloped me, sweet and intoxicating. There was a bed that had been placed at the center of the room, surrounded by a sea of white lily flowers, their delicate petals swaying gently in the moonlit breeze.
The full moon hung low in the sky, its gentle beam concentrated on the bed, casting an ethereal glow. The room seemed bathed in an soft, lunar light, as if the moon itself had descended to bless this sacred space. It was something out of a fairytale, a dreamworld where magic was real.
“Wow… I wasn’t expecting this,” I muttered, glancing at Selene, who kept walking ahead of me with a quiet confidence. She glanced back at me, her expression warm with a gentle smile.
“You’re meeting the moon goddess, even if through a dream,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your surroundings need to reflect it.” My heart skipped a beat, then began racing. Once again, I was reminded of how important this was.
Selene stopped just meters away from the bed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Please, get on the bed and lay on it. Let me begin the ritual.” She said, her voice low and soothing.
I nodded briskly and continued towards the bed, my footsteps light on the stone floor, my breathing careful and measured. Slipping into the silky soft sheets, I placed my head on the pillow and let out a soft sigh as the soft mattress accepted my body. The softness helped ease some of the tension in my body, and I felt my muscles relax, ever so slightly.
Selene began to burn an incense, the fragrance of sandalwood and vanilla wafting through the air. She murmured something under her breath as she walked around the bed, her footsteps a slow, deliberate rhythm. I lay upright, the moonlight shining directly on my face, illuminating every feature.
The incense smoke curled upward, forming tendrils that danced in the moonlight. The room grew quieter, as if the very world was holding its breath in anticipation. I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of the moment settle upon me.
Selene’s murmurings grew louder, the incense swirling around me in thick, fragrant clouds. The air vibrated with an otherworldly energy, and I started to feel weightless, as if I was floating on a sea of moonlight. That’s when I realized, the ritual had already begun. A shiver ran down my spine.
Quelling the panic that had begun to rise in me, I forced myself to take a deep breath and focus on Selene’s soothing voice. Her words were a gentle melody, weaving a spell of tranquility around me. The soft beam of the moonlight began to grow cooler, its gentle caress enveloping me, and I felt myself floating further away from the mortal realm.
When I finally became aware of myself and opened my eyes, I realized I was no longer in the bedroom where the ritual was taking place. Instead, I found myself standing in a vast field filled with lilies, their delicate petals swaying in the breeze like a chorus of ballerinas. The moon overhead was enormous, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the soft rustle of leaves. It was so enchanting, so surreal, that I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. I started to walk around, calling out for the moon goddess, my steps aimless and guided only by the gentle pull of the moon.
As I wandered through the dreamlike landscape, the lilies seemed to grow taller, their white petals shining like tiny beacons. Eventually, when I came to a stop, I found myself standing before a glowing entity sitting by a lake. Her long, white hair shimmered behind her like a river of starlight. I stopped, my heart skipping multiple beats. She had to be the moon goddess.
She turned around to look at me, and a soft smile spread across her face. My jaw slackened in awe as I stared at her, drinking in her beauty. She looked even more radiant than the last time I saw her if that was possible. Her skin glowed with an ethereal light, and her eyes shone like pools of pure moonlight.
“Hello, Lienna,” she said, her voice like music. “I’ve been expecting you.”