Pouring another drink for her and me, she smiled sweetly at me as I settled down beside her. Resting her head on my
shoulder, she laughed softly and finished her drink.
“I am famished.”
“Well, Annwyl it is very late, and I doubt the kitchen staff will be there. We can, of course, go and explore,” I mentioned
and laughed even at my own words.
“You? The king in the kitchen? Don’t be ridiculous. We shall drink the rest of this wine, finish our rituals and then you are
to take me to our bed.”
She kissed me lightly on the cheek and then poured herself another drink. She seemed gleeful, happy even, and I didn’t want
to burst her bubble. Her family's arrival could wait.
A fter many more glasses of wine, we got to the point where I had to pull out another bottle of red. One of which I’d hidden
for special occasions in the bathroom cabinets. We sat together enjoying each other’s company and filling in some of
Ornella’s memory gaps.
She wrapped herself neatly in my arms as she laid between my legs with a lightweight blanket over us both as the fire
burned to cinders. The sun would start to rise soon, but we had the option to sleep in as the festivities wouldn’t begin till later
in the day, and we would have to get some much-needed shut eye.
“Shall we burn our promises to each other and then get some rest?” I asked, playing with some of her long hair.
She nodded sleepily and as much as I didn’t want to move, I shifted from beneath her as she sat upright. Heading towards a
cabinet across the bedroom, I pulled out two small pieces of parchment paper and the red candle.
“We use a red candle in this type of magic as it symbolises love, protection, prosperity, and strength. It has also been
anointed with sacred oils.”
“What type of oils?” Ornella asked curiously.
Placing the items on the small table, I sat down on the fur rug in front of the fire and poked at the small flames to light the
candle. Once lit, I placed it into the candlestick.
“It has been anointed with rosemary for protection and amyris for love and healing. Clove oil for prosperity and grapeseed
oil for strength. This spell is from the very first Obsidian rulers. It is believed that by lighting this candle and declaring our
vows to the Goddess, we invite her into our marriage to bless us.”
She sat in front of me listening to each and every word, looking intrigued. It annoyed me how magic had been forgotten and
removed from her family and her way of life. Especially when it was something I lived and breathed.
“We each write down the promises we wish to make to one another and then burn the parchments in the flame. After
releasing our vows to the Goddess, we will then go to bed.. This same candle will then be used in our ceremony.”