From the first moment I saw him, I knew he was the one. It was Beltane. I had been on stage all morning, preforming various dances and generally helping out with the rituals, and I was very tired. I was sitting with my back to the big oak tree and I had my eyes closed. I could tell that someone was standing in front of me, because I couldn’t feel the sun.
I opened my eyes and looked up, and my breath caught in my throat. He simply stood there, smiling, bo staff in hand, and waited for me to speak.
“Kimble.”
He nodded his head.
”Carina.”
He extended his hand.
”Would you care to walk with me?”
”I’m so very tired.”
”I understand. Do you mind if I sit?”
I nodded and he sat beside me.
”You dance beautifully.”
I blushed and nodded.
”I was watching you all morning. I never really noticed how graceful...”
He took my hand.
”You were beautiful.”
Again I blushed.
”Thank you, Kimble.”
”I would be honored if you would accompany me to the feast tonight.”
”I would be delighted.”
I could see his heart leap with joy. His eyes danced. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.
”You have made me very happy.”
I smiled at him.
”Carina!”
I looked off into the distance.
”Adrastea wants me. I must go.”
I got up. He took my hand.
”I’ll see you later tonight. I’ll be waiting by the bonfire.”
I nodded and walked back to Adrastea.
We spent that night together at the feast. We talked and danced and lifted our goblets to the many toasts that were that night.
After about the tenth toast, he turned and mumbled something to me that I couldn¹t understand over the noise of the people.
”What?”
He took my hand and drew me closer.
”Would you jump the Beltane fire with me?”
The question had me stunned. I thought that, perhaps too much drink had gotten to him and he was joking. But when I looked into his eyes I saw how serious he was. He stared back at me, waiting for a reply. What could I say to this? He was asking me to marry him.
”Yes!”
He smiled and stood and drew me up to him. Then, arm in arm, we walked through the bonfires.
A hush rolled over the crowd and my Mother came over to me.
”Carina, are you to me married?”
“Aye, Mother.”
I smiled. What more could I do? My mind was whirling with all the emotions I felt.
We were married at Lunasa, two festivals later, and almost immediately, I became pregnant with the twins.
It was around the time of their birth that Mother went up to Emain Macha.
I named my children Belenus and Brigit, after two gods most prominent in my life. The god of the sun, and the Goddess of fire.
It amazed me how much these children looked alike, except for gender. They both had flaming red hair and the same face. In time, Belenus’ hair became a rich brown and Brigit’s became the color of honey. But from birth, the two were inseparable.
From the age of three, when my third child, Epona, was born, Brigit was in a constant struggle to prove she could do all that Belenus could. This included learning the bo staff and going hunting with their father. Kimble encouraged her in this.
”What’s the use in fighting it, Carina? She’ll just try harder. Besides, at times, she handles the bo better than Bel.”
He was very proud of Brigit.
In time, she moved on to more feminine things, like playing the harp, my instrument. But she still kept with the hunting. And the struggle to outshine Belenus.
Even now, with the coming of her three children and her marriage to Audriel, she still enjoys going hunting both with her brother and her husband.
Phaecian once said that a woman like her was hard to find. That may be because she is one of a kind.
Kimble and I still enjoy a rich life full of love and family. Our children and grandchildren....I am too young to be a grandmother...Have brought us much joy. We still look upon each other with as much love as we had that night at Beltane. And shall ever after.